To Russia with Love - Baltic & Northern Europe "Ports" Review by Mark Waters

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Home > Member Reviews > Mark Waters's Port Reviews of Brugge, Warnemunde, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Stockholm

Mark Waters's Port Reviews of Brugge, Warnemunde, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Stockholm
Celebrity Eclipse cruise in August 2011

Member Name:	Mark Waters
Cruise Date:	August 2011
Embarkation:	London (Southampton)
Destination:	Baltic & Northern Europe
Member Review:	Mark Waters's Celebrity Eclipse Review

	Brugge Port Rating: Took a Celebrity excursion into Brugge with plenty of time on our own once the guide got us to the centre. Charming medieval town with all the Belgian cliche's readily available, Mussels and Fries, Chocolate and Beer. Do take a boat around the canals - only 5 euro and our guide was a scream - look out for the sleepy Labrador snoozing on one of the canal facing window sills. Watch the cost of snacks and drinks - 35 euro for a beer, coke and two cream cheese on toast. Half Moon brewery well worth a visit
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	Warnemunde Port Rating: Best surprise of all the stops - Warnemunde was lovely with sand dunes, white sand and cute little houses. The bars were reasonable and welcoming and the town was very relaxed in the Baltic sunshine. Rostock was a good example of what happens after severe bombing followed by Stalinist rule - not the prettiest of German cities. We saw the town as part of a trip to Karl's Strawberry farm the kitchest destination in all of Mecklinburg. Everything that can be made from Strawberries and quite a few things that shouldn't can be purchased here. You can also milk a plastic cow, take a ride on a tractor and get lost in the maize Maze. Good for kids but after the Strawberry cake and coffee it's charms began to flag. One thing - if coffee pots float your boat then do go there - they have the largest collection in the world nestled amongst the plastic sharks in the eaves of the huge wooden barns that make up the complex.
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	Helsinki Port Rating: We went independent in Helsinki and it it is an enjoyable destination. After spending a few hours wandering around the sea fortress of Suomolina - easy to get to by public ferry every 15 minutes from the main harbour next to Market Square, we mooched around the market - ate reindeer meatballs and salmon at one of the stalls and picked up a lovely original painting from a local artist. The Russian orthodox cathedral is well worth a climb up to it's dazzling interior. The main shopping street has some great glass shops and if you're into Moomins this is your town. Good shuttle service back to the ship
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	St. Petersburg Port Rating: The 5+ is for the stunning city - I'd rate the service and attitude of it's inhabitants at 2 at best. Be prepared for a very frustrating session with the passport control, impressive modern terminal staffed by a stroppy unpleasant team that opened and closed channels when they chose and delayed disembarkation by as much as they could. Once on your tour (the only way to go without a visa) the guides appeared to be keener to get you to the souvenir emporium of their choice than showing you the truly breathtaking city. Highlights, The Church of the Spilled Blood, the interior of St Isaac's Cathedral, the view across the Neva River to the golden spire of St Peter and Paul and of course the Hermitage and the Winter Palace. Lowlights - Street vendors - very pushy, don't try going off on your own in the Hermitage even if the guide says that's fine, a rather vicious babushka will have very different ideas. Also don't try asking for a second bottle of water with your lunch, you may well offer to pay but it is not authorised under any circumstances!! Do visit the fantastic Singer Sewing machine building (now a bookshop) on the Nevsky Prospekt near the Church of the Spilled Blood. A Beautiful Art Nouveau building. Do go to a Folklaw evening - the costumes, singing and dancing is superb. If we went again we'd do an independent tour out to Catherine's palace and Peterhof as the reports from fellow cruisers said this was great.
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	Tallinn Port Rating: Tallinn was gorgeous - lovely town and friendly proud people. The Song ground where independence moves first started was quite moving as was the forest burial grounds that the Estonians prefer, paganism still being a strong steak in the Estonian make up. Great souvenir shopping and Photo opportunities at every turn. Excellent tour here and the guide was great Do have a drink at Old Hansa just off the Market Square - if you like garlic there's a restaurant where even the ice cream contains the vampire repelling bulb. Locally produced linen is good value and the market at the dock is well worth a visit. Top of my list of place to go back to.
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	Stockholm Port Rating: Gamla Stan - the old town was fascinating with little lanes and specialist shops. Very good for Art Glass and Antiques. It is possible to eat reasonably, open sandwiches and a drink at one of the small cafe's were good value The Vasa museum despite it's daunting queue is well worth it. The place is large enough not to feel crowded and the ship that sank in 1628 is in superb condition,with more than enough to occupy you for several hours. The hop on hop off boat around the harbour allows you to see all the main sights and stop where-ever you like - good value. As I was with an ABBA freak a visit to a Stockholm record shop produced 4 previously unknown CDs.
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	Copenhagen Port Rating: Big city with a big city feel, the Stroget is the best walk to give an impression of the city as you walk from the posh end with its Louis Vuitton and Chanel boutiques through to the Macdonalds and Souvenir shops at the City hall end. Tivoli is good fun, a small city centre theme park with thrill rides but has managed to retain it's historical charm with Indian and Chinese Pavillions. I thought when in Denmark that I should try the herring. Mistake, they make their presence felt for many hours afterwards!!
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