Baltic Ports

[Pontius Navigator]

We are on the Connie on her Baltic cruise on 4 Aug.

 

Can anyone tell us about berthing and facilties? Do they run shuttle buses into the cities for those who want a free run ashore and not as part of a tour group?

[nydolphin]

have you tried the Roll call Board for your Cruise;

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=389766

or the Northern Europe & Baltic Board;

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=192

I think you may find your answers there.

Have a great cruise and bring the Constellation back safely as I shall be on the cruise sfter yours.

[Mines]

We are on the Connie on her Baltic cruise on 4 Aug.

 

Can anyone tell us about berthing and facilties? Do they run shuttle buses into the cities for those who want a free run ashore and not as part of a tour group?

 

They have shuttle busses in most ports, where necessary. Minimum charge is $5 but can be more depending on distance. There are no busses in St. Petersburg as you cannot do "on your own" without a visa.

[cruisestitch]

As far as I know, there are no free shuttles at any Baltic port. On a few tours that end in city centers you receive a ticket for a shuttle back as part of the tour price, but not all of the tours do this and you have to watch carefully, read all tour descriptions to see which do and which don't, etc.

[Boo's Mom]

We did this cruise on the Connie one year ago.

There were no free shuttles.

[amanda blake]

two years ago all shuttles were free..into all baltic ports except for St. P...and Klaipede, since it is within walking distance....part of your cruising price...but no more...just another way to increase revenue....

[Pontius Navigator]

Thanks all.

 

We went on the QE2 in August last year and they laid on free buses and on P&O in Florida and Key West (tender) they were free too.

 

For the Baltic we think that the jetty in Copenhagen will be a short walking distance. Thanks for the tip about Klaepedia.

 

As for rollcall, we are registered but I though this might have been a better call; it appears we have the answers we want.

[lynncarol]

We did the same cruise in June. The shuttle charge was at least 10 dollars apiece (and up to $20) in some ports. Find out exactly where the ship is docking. (Apparently, it can vary from one Baltic cruise to the next). In Copenhagen, Helsinki and Stockholm our dock was a long distance from downtown, in Talinn an easy walk, and Oslo and Warnemunde we were right berthed in the city.

[Mines]

For the Baltic we think that the jetty in Copenhagen will be a short walking distance. Thanks for the tip about Klaepedia.

 

 

The walk from the pier to the centre of Copenhagen is about 2 miles. It is a pleasant walk along the shore, past the little mermaid to the Royal Palace and then through some small streets to the centre. It took us about 40 minutes at a quiet pace, seeing sights on the way. You could try walking there and taking the shuttle back.

 

Klaipeda is a shorter walk to the town. Again you may want to ride back - taxis are not expensive.

[Dick in Falls Church]

In Copenhagen, if you berth near the little mermaid, there is a hop-on hop-off bus which stops right at the dock. City buses also stop there, if you can figure them out.

 

In Helsinki, the hoho bus also was right at the dock.

 

In Stockholm, we used the shuttle (then free, a few years back) to get to town.

 

As mentioned, in Talinn, an easy walk.

[Pontius Navigator]

In Copenhagen, if you berth near the little mermaid, there is a hop-on hop-off bus which stops right at the dock. City buses also stop there, if you can figure them out.

 

You will find English is spoken so that is no problem.

 

From the cruise berth you can walk along waterfront but be sure to cut inland and go through the Castle Fortress next to the port. This is an active military barracks but the public can walk through. You need to bear left out of the castle and then right into Ameliagade. At the end of this you enter a square with the Royal Apartments.

 

After this exit the opposite side of the square and bear left and then right towards Ny Havn. On the Ny Havn turn right, north west, to the end. Turn left leaving the square on your right to enter the Stroget a one mile long shopping street. At the end, towards the left is the Tivoli Gardens.

 

If you are very disciplined, instead get a bus to the Tivoli Gardens and walk back to the ship.

[zeitgeist]

I just returned from the Baltic cruise with the Century.

 

At most ports, they offer a shuttle for 10$ pp. If you share a taxi with 4, you will pay less in most ports.

 

Copenhagen: Ship docked at Langelinie. Quite a walk to the city center, but doable.

 

Stockholm: Ship docked at Stadsgarden 167, quite far away from the city. We took a taxi to the Vasa Museum for 160 kroners (4 persons).

 

Helsinki: Although there are berths directly in the city, the Century docked far away in the industrial port. No taxis! We had to take the shuttle. All other cruise ships docked right in town. I suppose, Celebrity Cruise wants to sell the shuttle tickets.

 

St. Petersburg: No chance to leave the ship individually. We booked a private tour for two days and a ballett performance at the Mariinsky with Anastasia Travel Corp. and they welcomed us directly after customs and it was fantastic for a fraction of the costs of the ship's excursions.

 

Tallinn: The ship docks close to the center of the city. Short walk.

 

Klaipeda: Nothing to see & to do in Klaipeda. We rented a car (via Europcar) and drove to the Curonian spit, the main attraction in the area. The rental car was delivered directly on the pier for a small fee.

[Skeezics]

Re Copenhagen: On your way back to the dock, there is an interesting museum dedicated to the Resistance during WWII. Is on your left away from the water as you start out on the long jetty. We walked in, had lunch and bought some amber jewelry; then had a leisurely walk back to the ship. Loved this cruise. Did it Constellation's first season. Very port intensive.

[sarh]

Last week shuttles were $12 each (children charged full price so it was $48 for family of 4) We found a bus at Helsinki for 1.1euros to the harbour (walk off the ship and first right about 1min walk, number 16 bus). Oslo, Klaipeda, Warnemunde could walk into town. Copenhagen could probably walk - we took HOHO boat for approx $5 but was a mistake as they run infrequently and so are difficult to HOHO. Tivoli shuttle at $22 was a good buy as it included admission. Shuttle cost makes some of the tours very good value (eg Riga).