Sunday 18th May 2014
After an eventful few months we have decided to go on a Baltic Cruise.
On the Royal Princess - Visiting:
Copenhagen, Denmark.
Oslo, Norway.
Aarhus, Denmark
Warnemunde, Germany. - For Berlin
Tallinn, Estonia.
St. Petersberg, Russia.
Helsinki, Finland.
and Nynashamn, Sweden. - For Stockholm.
Cruise booked and paid for. Not the usual three months research before booking.
Monday 19th May 2014
EasyJet flights booked Gatwick to Copenhagen and return.
We have also booked a night in the Gatwick Premier Inn and return train tickets for less than the long term parking cost at Gatwick.
Saved money and will be able to get up at a sensible time and have breakfast before the flight.
Tuesday 20th May 2014
Night in a hotel in Copenhagen booked for the night before our flight home.
Time to Leave.
Monday 18th August 2014
Home
Leaving home we dropped the car at work before taking the train from Blackwater to Gatwick. Arriving at Gatwick railway station we took the short walk to the inter-terminal monorail. Riding the monorail we found the Premier Inn and checked in for the night. After dinner we took our large suitcase to the bag drop in the terminal. The check-in agent looking up from her computer asked where our child was. We were surprised that she knew we had a daughter and said it was only us this time. Then she realized that she still had the previous passengers booking details on her screen. Having finally sorted out that we were not smuggling a child we returned to our room for the night.
Tuesday 19th August 2014
Gatwick
Waking at four o'clock we checked out and walked to the monorail. Arriving in the south terminal we got through security and found breakfast. When our flight was called there was no gate number so we had to stand around near the gates and wait. Eventually a gate was given and we found our gate. Boarding the bus we drove for so long we thought we were driving to Copenhagen. Eventually we arrived at our plane and boarded. We then took off and flew to Copenhagen having a snack and a drink. When we arrived at Copenhagen airport we collected our case and left the terminal.
Finding the Metro ticket office we brought two 24 hour passes. Climbing the stairs we boarded the first metro train for the ride into town. Getting off of the train we walked through town until we got to the Little Mermaid. Taking a few photos we then jumped a bus to the cruise terminal as it was time to check in.
Having completed the formalities we used the lift to get to our deck and found our cabin. Having unpacked we joined the mandatory emergency drill and then found our dining room for dinner before bed.
Tonight - Sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark to Oslo, Norway.
Our cruise route.
Wednesday 20th August 2014
Oslo
We woke and opened our curtains to find we were proceeding north up the fjord towards Oslo. The shore was close due to the narrowness of the fjord. We enjoyed seeing the houses dotted along the shore as they slipped past.
Arriving in Oslo we walked down the gangway to be met by the usual photograph opportunity. We purchased two "Hop on Hop off" open top bus tickets. Riding through town we didn't bother with the audio guided tour but just followed our progress on the map to our first stop for the day.
As thundery showers were forecast for the afternoon we decided to make the sculpture park our first stop as shelter would be limited. Arriving at the Vigeland sculpture park we walked in to find our first life sized nude sculpture. The first of hundreds of nude sculptures and bronzes. The sculptures are all by the same artist, Gustav Vigeland and cover the whole of life from babies to old age.
After enjoying the park we boarded the "Hop on Hop off" to our next stop the Kon-Tiki Museum, here we found the two rafts used by Thor Heyerdahl. Kon-Tiki and Ra 2. Taking the bus back into town we strolled around the shops, markets and parks before finding a café by the cathedral. We ordered coffee and "Verdens Beste" the Norwegian National Cake, and very nice it was too.
As we walked back towards the ship the rain started. Between the showers we walked around the castle and then returned to the ship.
Tonight - Sailing from Oslo, Norway to Aarhus, Denmark.
Thursday 21st August 2014
Aarhaus
We docked at eleven o'clock so after a lay in we had brunch then went to join the queue to get off the ship and out of the container port. As we were docked in a commercial port, we were not allowed to walk and had to use the shuttle bus service provided. When we got to the meeting point there was no queue so we were off and away on the shuttle. After only ten minutes we were out of the port and free to go.
We walked through Aarhus alongside the canal past all the cafés. We were heading for the Open Air Museum and after walking for 15 minutes it started raining. So we stood under a tree and put on our pack-a-macs. The rain didn't last long and we soon arrived at the museum. Basically the museum is a collection of old buildings around the canal. The buildings have all been moved from the town centre as it was developed over the years. It was very pretty and interesting to see the insides fitted out as they would have been.
The school house even had the original desks complete with carved initials of the children who had sat there. Stacked in the corner were even wooden rifles for weapon handling and drill. After walking around the museum we left and walked through the Botanical Gardens on the way back into town. Stopping at the windmill for a photograph. We decided to have a coffee and a sandwich at one of the cafés. Then a visit to the cathedral on our way back to the ship. After a short siesta we had dinner and then went to the evening show before bed.
Tonight - Sailing from Aarhus, Denmark to Warnamunde, Germany.
Friday 22nd August 2014
Warnamunde
Getting up at 06:00 we had breakfast and then went to the meeting point for the train to Berlin. After a short wait we were issued with our tickets for the train and took the short walk to the railway station. Boarding the train we were given stick-on numbers to wear, these went straight in the bag. We will not be walking around all day with stickers on.
After a while the train left for the three hour trip into Berlin. As we travelled we were given a useful piece of paper with drop off and pickup locations and a paragraph in German saying "Please Help. We are tourists and have to be at the pickup point by a particular time." Hopefully we can get by without resorting to that.
Arriving in Berlin we transferred onto a coach for the short trip into the center of the city. We were dropped off at the Hilton Hotel and had to return there at five pm for the pickup. An easy landmark for any taxi driver.
Walking away from the hotel we headed to "Checkpoint Charlie", the crossing point between east and west Berlin when the wall was up. A scene in many a cold war spy film. At Checkpoint Charlie the actors pretending to be American soldiers were charging two euros for a photo so we snapped ours from over the road. We then walked along to a section of the wall that is still standing. We saw the basements of the houses that were knocked down to make the cleared area on the east side of the wall.
Walking on we found the Brandenburg Gate for a photo opportunity. Continuing on we arrived at the River Spree and found a café beside the river and had a local delicacy "curry bratwurst" for lunch.
After lunch we jumped on a river cruise for an hours trip up and down the river whilst enjoying coffee and cake. Then strolled back towards the hotel for the three hour train trip back to Warnamunde and the ship. Getting off the train at the port the rain started and we quickly pulled on our pack-a-macs for the walk back to the gangway. We got back on board just in time for the ship to sail. Then up to the cafeteria for a late dinner.
Tonight - Sailing from Warnamunde, Germany to Tallinn, Estonia.
Saturday 23rd August 2014
At Sea on the Royal Princess
Relaxing day at sea. After a lay in we had brunch and watched a movie (Noah) before exploring the ship and checking out the many shops on board. At half four we went to the theater for the Captains Circle welcome back party. As we are Gold members we had our invitation delivered to our cabin that morning. We enjoyed the drinks that Captain Dino bought us. Then we spent time getting spruced up for the formal dinner. After watching the pouring of the Champagne fountain and having a couple of complementary glasses of Champagne we went in to dinner. Only four courses tonight as we are watching our diet. LOL.
Tonight - Sailing from Warnamunde, Germany to Tallinn, Estonia.
Sunday 24th August 2014
Tallinn, Estonia
We docked at eight and sat in the Horizon Court eating breakfast while the early rush off of the ship took place. At nine we wandered down to the gangway and straight off as it was quiet.
The walk into the old town only took about ten minutes and we were soon inside the walls. Walking to the top of town we saw the cathedral with it's classic Russian onion spires. Dodging the tour groups we found our way back through the maze of small streets to the town square. Sitting in a café we watched the tourists whilst drinking coffee and using the free internet.
After a rest we wound our way back through the streets to the harbour and the ship. Back in time for lunch and a concert on the large screen. At half four the gangway was lifted and we sailed from Tallinn. In the berth next to us was a German cruise ship. As we left the captain did his party piece. The theme to "The Love Boat" played on the ships horn. Turns out that the TV series was filmed on two of Princess Cruise Lines ships. The German ship in response sounded it's fog horn, so the captain played the theme tune again.
After a shower and change we went down for dinner. Having eaten we sat in the atrium and listened to a string quartet play before retiring for the night.
Tonight - Sailing from Tallinn, Estonia to St Petersburg, Russia.
Monday 25th August 2014
St Petersburg, Russia
After an early breakfast we went to the theatre to collect our tour tickets and meet the other passengers on our tour. After a short wait we were called to the gangway. The first lesson of the day was dealing with Russian immigration. Very stern and not talkative. With the correct paperwork in our hands we got the necessary stamp in our passports and we allowed through. Outside we found our coach and guide for the two days. We were all through promptly and left the port on the way to our first stop of the day. While we drove our guide introduced herself as Irena and issued us all with radio receivers and earpieces.
After an hour in the coach we arrived at The Peterhof Palace. Only the second group to arrive we took our place in the queue waiting for the palace to open. Half an hour later the security guard finally arrived and they could let us in. As we entered it started to rain and looking back we could see at least ten coach loads of tourists standing in the queue in the rain. Once inside we were guided around the palace Irena kept up a running description of everything to be seen and as we heard her on the radio receiver we didn't have to crowd round to hear her words.
After the tour of the palace we went outside to look at the gardens and see the water cascades and fountains turned on. We enjoyed watching the workmen who were doing maintenance work on the fountains quickly moving their tools before they got washed away.
On the coach and driving back to town for our next stop. This turned out to be the Yusupov Palace. This is where Rasputin was murdered and we were guided down into the former wine cellar that the conspirators had converted into a private dining room so no-one would hear the murder. Then it was time for lunch. We entered another of the many palaces in St Petersberg and found our dining room. We were served wine and vodka with a starter of caviar on blini (small pancakes). The main was chicken supreme with rice followed by a cheesecake for sweet.
Back on the coach we drove to the "Peter and Paul Fortress".
Again we strolled around and listened to the guided tour then it was time to get back on the coach to go shopping at Nevsky Prospekt. As we arrived we were given more vodka. It's important not to breathe in whilst drinking vodka as it has the same effect as paint stripper - it BURNS. LOL. If this is a ruse to get the tourists drunk so they will spend more money, it works. Then it was time to return to the ship exhausted for dinner and bed.
Tonight - St Petersburg, Russia.
Tuesday 26th August 2014
St Petersburg, Russia
Up early again for a quick breakfast before rushing down to the gangway and through immigration. This time it was quicker as we were already known and had the stamp in our passports. We were all early as no one wanted Irena to get cross with us. We were again the first bus out of the port and drove through town to the Hermitage Museum. Arriving we waited at the door for opening time.
At eight o'clock the doors opened for tour groups only and we went in. Irena led us on a mission to be the first group to arrive at all the most important exhibits. We saw paintings by Da Vinci, Monet, Rembrandt, Rubens and Renoir. After a while we walked up to a closed door and stopped. We stood confused as Irena looked at her watch and said the "Michael Angelo" exhibition opens at 10:30 which is now and the doors opened in front of us and we walked in first again. The Hermitage Museum is spread over several buildings one of which is the Tzars Winter Palace that was stormed during the revolution, so even the building itself is an important exhibition.
Leaving the Hermitage we went to the River Neva for a canal cruise. We slid under some very low bridges into the canal system and saw more palaces from the comfort of our boat. Returning to the main river as the water was rising and we didn't want to get stuck we passed the Cruiser Aurora which fired its gun during the October Revolution. Returning to the jetty we heard that all the canal tours after ours had been canceled due to the high water.
Back on our coach we found yet another palace where we had lunch washed down with more vodka (Getting used to this). After lunch we walked to "The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood" a long name for a very pretty traditional Russian church with onion spires. The church got its name as it was built on the blood left from the assassination of Tzar Alexander II. The blood stained cobblestones are still visible through a gap in the marble floor under a canopy inside the church.
The whole of the inside is decorated with mosaics and is stunning.
Then it was a last chance shopping trip with even more vodka. We bought a Faberge Egg and a Matrioshka doll set before returning to the ship. We just had enough energy left to climb the 14 flights of stairs to our balcony suite. Having rested for a few minutes we changed and walked back down to the restaurant for dinner. After only three courses and half a bottle of wine we crawled back up to bed. Completely spent we were soon asleep and had a good nights sleep.
Tonight - Sailing from St Petersburg, Russia to Helsinki, Finland
Wednesday 27th August 2014
Helsinki, Finland
Waking up in Helsinki we caught a shuttle bus into town and walked through the park to the harbour. Wandering through the market on the harbour side we came across Tommi Toija's 8 metre concrete sculpture of a little boy peeing into the harbour. We carried on through town visiting the two cathedrals and window shopping. We had just about finished our visit when the weather changed and it started raining so we quickly returned to the shuttle bus and jumped a bus back to the ship. We spent a relaxing afternoon on the Lido deck eating ice cream and drinking coffee. We watched from our balcony as the ship sailed from Helsinki hoping to see late returning passengers miss the boat. No luck everyone was back on board.
Tonight - Sailing from Helsinki, Finland to Stockholm, Sweden.
Thursday 28th August 2014
Stockholm, Sweden
We arrived in Nynäshamn which is half an hour drive from Stockholm as our ship was too large to enter the port of Stockholm. Taking a tender (small boat) ashore we hopped onto the coach that was taking us to town. We were dropped off at the opera house and walked across the bridge to the Royal Palace. We grabbed a coffee before watching the Royal Guard march to the palace for the changing of the guard. Walking around the palace we stood in a cobbled square to look at our map and decide what to do next. As we were talking we heard a knocking noise. Jackie looked over her shoulder to see a very large coach stopped with it's front bumper inches from her back and the courier banging on the window. Ooops seemed that we were in the way. We hadn't even heard it drive up to us. Moving aside so they could park we walked down through The Gamla Stan (Old Town). Weaving through the medieval streets we arrived at the harbour and decided to take a water ferry around the harbour. The trip was nice getting a different view of the city. Getting off at one stop we walked to the ABBA Museum, well it wouldn't be Sweden without ABBA. Stopping Jackie from dancing in the street we returned to the water ferry and Gamla Stan to find lunch in the town square beside the Nobel Prize Institute. After finding our way through the maze of little streets and passageways we grabbed a coffee and cake at a café in the park before returning to the ship. We were the last few on to the coach for the return journey to Nynäshamn. Sitting right at the back of the coach Jackie was so tired she went to sleep on Martin's shoulder. As we arrived at the ship she woke and realised that the Japaneese gentleman sitting next to her was sleeping on her shoulder. He woke and was at first embarrassed until he realised that Jackie had been asleep as well and saw the funny side of the situation.
After the ship sailed we changed for the formal dinner night. As it was the Captain's Gala Dinner there were seven courses. Then it was time for bed climbing the stairs was hard work with overfull stomachs but we finally made it and fell into bed for a well earned nights sleep.
Tonight - Sailing from Stockholm, Sweden to Copenhagen, Denmark.
Friday 28th August 2014
At Sea on the Royal Princess
Day at sea relaxing and enjoying the facilities that the ship provides. We found the golf course, the basketball court, the Sanctuary and the gym. None of these things did we actually use. However the ice cream parlour, the giant outdoor movie screen and the Sea Walk Bar we did. Back at our cabin we relaxed on our balcony with coffee ⁄ hot chocolate and cookies before making our way up to the highest deck we could reach to watch the ship pass under the Øresund bridge. There was only a couple of metres clearance between the ship and the bridge as we passed under. Then back to the cabin and bed.
Tonight - Sailing from Stockholm, Sweden to Copenhagen, Denmark.
Saturday 29th August 2014
Copenhagen, Denmark
Arriving back in Copenhagen our cruise was over and we found our way off of the ship. Finding the bus stop we got tickets into town and the Metro station. At the station we got 24 hour passes. Riding the metro out to our hotel we dropped our bags as we were much too early to check in. Our hotel was the Bella Sky Comwell, a modern hotel that leans and twists in a strange way.
Returning on the metro into town we visited the Little Mermaid and then walked through town and found a nice café for lunch. Later we found the Tivoli Gardens and the statue of Hans Christian Anderson. Making our way back to our hotel we checked in. As we were leaving early in the morning to catch our flight we asked about booking a taxi. The hotel receptionist replied that we didn't need to as there were always taxi's outside. Having inspected our room we made our way up to the bar on the top floor for a drink and to enjoy the view. We could see the Royal Princess but as her sailing time drew near the clouds closed in and we didn't see her sail. Returning to our room we set our alarm for four o'clock as we needed to be at the airport in plenty of time to catch our flight home.
Sunday 30th August 2014
Copenhagen, Denmark
We were kept awake most of the night by the thunder and lightning of the storm passing through Copenhagen. Getting up a four we vacated our room and checked out. At the desk we asked for a taxi to be told that there was a two hour wait. As we had to get to the airport we decided to use out 24 hour tickets that we purchased the day before and use the Metro to go in towards town and then change trains for the line out to the airport. I would only take half an hour so we left the hotel and walked through the rain and puddles to the Metro station.
The train arrived and we rode into town. Getting off at the station we looked at the board to find out how long we would wait for the next train to the airport. The only train on the board was the next one back to our hotel in 45 minutes. We then noticed that there were a lot of people milling around. The Metro had shut down due to the terrible weather conditions.
We decided that our best option was to catch a bus to the airport from the bus stop up on street level so we rode the lift up. Arriving at the street in the dark with the rain pouring down we studied our transport map and managed to select a route before the map dissolved in the rain. Waiting at the bus stop for fifteen minutes, watching the indicator count down to the bus's arrival we were full of hope that we could still make our flight. When the bus arrived it was jam packed and the group of lads also waiting squeezed in. Realising we were not going to get on the bus we needed another plan.
We saw taxis coming around the corner but before they got to us they were flagged down by other people. Walking through the deep puddles in the direction the taxis were coming from we eventually managed to flag one down. Throwing our cases into the back we asked to go to the airport. Usually we would ask the price before getting into a taxi but this time we didn't care.
Arriving at the airport with an hour to the departure of our flight we had made it. Dropping our case off we joined the queue for security. The sign said 15 minutes delay for security we were still OK. What the sign didn't say was that was the time to get to security, it didn't include the half an hour of queues inside security.
Finally clearing security we looked to see which gate our flight was on only to realise it was the furthest gate from the terminal and another 15 minutes walk. Almost running we dashed through the passageways and arrived at the gate to find very few people waiting.
As we waited to board a baggage trolley turned up outside and there sitting in the pouring rain was our case right on top getting soaked. We finally boarded the flight and departed Copenhagen on our way home. Arriving at Gatwick we collected our dripping case and grabbed breakfast to eat on the train. Collecting our car we drove home. The end of another fabulous adventure with six more countries visited to add to our list.