Eurodam Review

4.5 / 5.0
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Whirlwind 24-day cruise in summary

Review for the Baltic Sea Cruise on Eurodam
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chirk
6-10 Cruises • Age 60s

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Additional details

Sail Date: Jun 2015
Cabin: Neptune Deluxe Veranda Suite

We're active independent mature travelers who went on our sixth cruise, our second with Holland America. Combining the highlands and Baltics meant 9 countries in 24 days!

June 25, 2015-July 19, 2015: Holland America Eurodam to Denmark, Norway, Scotland, England, Germany, Russia, Finland, Estonia, Sweden

Here is our summary, in appreciation for the help we always get here.

Cabin Review

Neptune Deluxe Veranda Suite

Cabin SA

Good size and space; comfy bed; great views. Also: tired and worn and scratched.

Port Reviews

Copenhagen

We were in town twice:

First time: Beware: the hop-on-off buses are all a little different and not all are reliable. We were among the first to be enticed on board with claims they would leave in a few minutes. It was an hour before we left. Then we had to switch buses. Then we were at risk of missing the ship upon our return! Great town that we got to know well—we held off using our Cope cards till our next stop, which was a full day. But since it was sunny, we paid to go up the Our Saviour Church with its winding exterior staircase to the peak for great views, as well as the canal tour—the coolest part is the minimal leeway between the bridges and the boat

Second time in town:

Disembark isn’t until 11 for some reason. We leave on the public bus cruise shuttle and have a grand time to Rosenborg Palace (the only one MM has been in where they allow you to photograph the jewels/crowns), climbing the round tower for great views, bopping into Hans Christian Anderson display (awful), and into Tivoli, the oldest amusement park. We didn’t hear that the bus shuttles stopped at 3:30! Paired with another couple for taxi back.

Oslo

Dock is basically downtown. Highlights include Nobel Peace Museum (pretty static), fun waterfront, cool Opera House and fortress, Viking museum (I did not go). There’s more to Oslo than first meets the eye!

Kristiansand

Dock in small town with minor charm. We did not do an excursion and could have skipped this.

Greenock (Glasgow)

Easy 20 minute walk through the small town to the train station for a 40 minute ride into Glasgow. Though the info said the first train is at 8:30, there was one at 7:30 and the ticket clerk sent us scrambling to catch it and pay for tickets on board. Good town for a “hop-on-off bus” which takes one hour 50 minutes for the full route. (If we had seen Edinburgh first, this would have been very disappointing.)

Tallinn

Spectacular walkable city! About 20 minute walk (half mile) into town--wonderful old wall, numerous churches, colorful buildings, lots of artisans in medieval garb, tons of trinkets (wools, Vikings, sheep, linen, felt). MM goes up the dome church tower, the St. Olav tower (which was the highest in the world in 1500—does not open until 10), and the old wall for aerial views.

Helsinki

Sunrise at 4:25 and sunset at 11:34! Old Town is about 40 minutes’ unappealing walk or a city shuttle for $10E each. We grab a cab for $15E to the market center, which is darling. Took the ferry to Suomenlinna, the maritime fortress. Strolled up to the Olympic stadium, over to the rock church then a taxi back. The more we walked the more we liked Helsinki.

Stockholm

Great city! Make time to watch the sail in and sail out for views. Dock is amid unattractive grain elevators and shipping yards. City shuttles again for $10E each or take the city bus. Tourist kiosk is too small to handle the mobs but we were among the first to arrive—you can get your Stockholm cards redeemed or purchased there, which allows you to ride all transit. (We had purchased online at home: two days in the minimum.) Then take the No. 1 or 76 buses into town. Royal Palace is nice but do not wait for the changing of the guards: takes almost an hour and is very boring.

On to Sodermalm, and up many steps to the skyview gondola restaurant that has a great view. Ferry to Djurgarden (beware: they pack you in like NY subways): spectacular Vasa museum; fun Abba museum (you can be the fifth member and see your video later!); Skansen.

Day 2: 9:30 ferry to Drottningholm, the summer palace, which was not worth the time though hour-long ride was nice. The vast grounds were surprisingly barren:

Next to the ice bar, inside the Nordic C Hotel: only 60 people at once so you need a reservation. ($205K including a drink).

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