We chose this as we have never cruised the Baltic Before, was a 60th celebration for my husband. Hope the following information helps, also to enable others to weigh up the information correctly we spent £1,500 ish on the cruise for 2 x people. Embarked at Tilbury, embarkation signs not good to port, follow information given in your letter. Check in pretty painless, smooth and straight onto the ship. In room 1 hour early. Ship was slightly lacking in seating, used the main restaurant and food was fine. Mainly used the buffet, but on our particular cruise there were lots of elderly people who seemed to covet the seats for a long time so availability was not abundant. Beware of people lying about holding seats for others just to have their meal alone, you have paid the same as them. Lots of outside areas on decks 10,11&12 with seating area outside on the back of deck 9. Very relaxed atmosphere on the boat, had the option of asking for a trip around the bridge on deck and amazingly he got it! One rough day at sea, bring sea sickness tablets. There are several bars, draught beer not available in all bars, if cans then expensive, otherwise about the same price as England £3.30 per pint. Just a little bit about the ports we visited and our experiences: AMSTERDAM - 2 mile walk into Amsterdam and no shuttle, we took a trip for £36 euros, quite good value, river trip and view around the city, the trip on the boat would have cost 16 euros if done independently, so you do the maths. COPENHAGEN - A 50 minute walk to the town (Nyhaven), straight along the waterfront past the mermaid and you will be right in the centre of things. The Neto boats are 80dk each, get there early. No maps or shuttle from the boat, only a hop on/off bus at 25 euros each. GERMANY - Berlin trip - City tour and boat. 3 hour trip both ways, certainly good value for money, if anything, would be good to do slightly less and perhaps experience the museum at Checkpoint Charlie. Boat trip was too crammed in, should be less people to a table, food was fair. ESTONIA - Tallin, free shuttle bus provided for 2 mile journey to the old town. Very picturesque, lovely square, market stalls, everything within walking distance. ST. PETERSBURG - City Tour, Peter & Paul Fort- Good tour, got to see a lot of the city as well as 3 photo stops and a visit to the fort. Well worth doing - GRAND ST. PETERSBURG TOUR - Smooth disembarkation, full day trip including lunch 9-6pm, the all day trips are around £100. We visited Catherine the Great Palace where the Romanov family used to reside at during the summer months. Very busy, we arrived early, so one of first groups in. Lunch in local restaurant which was adequate. Then onto the Hermitage Museum - WOW! - fantastic. our tour guide must have been speechless at the end of the day because the poor woman talked all day and she was very knowledgeable. Take your camera because you are going to need it!

WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!