Cruising the Baltics
As we had booked some months ahead, we were able to take advantage of the many enticing offers Celebrity offered such as the free drinks package, and on board credit. These offers are really worth having because the on board spend is drastically reduced.
We flew into Stockholm and spent the night on board, which gave us a day to enjoy the delights of Stockholm. We picked up the Hop on Hop off bus and made our way to the ABBA Museum getting there early to avoid the crowds. Thoroughly enjoyed being taken back to the 1970s, and even had a go at singing myself on stage with a hologrammed ABBA! Next stop,we headed to Gamla Stam, the Old Town, and was enchanted by the beautiful old buildings and winding streets. Like many of the other places we visited on this cruise the architecture is very pleasing. Some of our friends took a short boat trip out amongst the many islands in the area.
Next stop was Helsinki, which was surprising nice. Again we used the Hop On Hop Off bus, stopping at the Segovia Monument, and The Rock Church, yes a church built into a rock! Then we headed down to main harbour area, which is also home to an impressive cathedral and seat of government. This area is very photogenic and much time was spent strolling around. . Again boat trips were possible, for a change of scenery.
Just across the water was my favourite stop at Tallinn. What a magical place the Old Town is. I felt like I was stepping into a Grimms Fairytale book, with the many pointed church towers and onion domed tops, Dutch influenced buildings, cobbled streets and pretty shops. We came across the main square which was buzzing with families and people enjoying a café culture, A brass band played in one corner which added to the pleasant vibe. A place I'd like to return to and explore further.
Next stop was St Petersburg, which if you read another of my journals on this site, I have visited before in Spring. This time we were in the height of summer so I was keen to revisit Peterhof Palace and see the golden fountains in their full glorious splendour. The gardens were beautiful, with numerous fountains to enjoy. After this we revisited the Hermitage Museum, seeing other art works and remembering others. One can spend all day there and only see a fraction of the artworks. The Winter Palace, in which the Hermitage is housed is a work of art itself. I'm sure Cinderella was there for the ball! St Petersburg is a truly beautiful city.
Leaving St Petersburg we headed to Riga in Latvia, which was substantially cheaper, when buying drinks and food. Whilst similar to Tallinn, the infrastructure for tourism isn't really in place. There was far more graffiti and it didn't have the same feel. However, around the parliament buildings and streets nearby, it was pretty, having a medieval feel about it. More cobbled streets and churches added to its charm. Glad I have been there, but probably wouldn't return.
Our final day at sea gave us a chance to enjoy the ship. As expected the food and service on board was 1st rate. Various options to entertain included a variety of theatre shows, music, a silent disco, which proved very popular. The spa, solarium and pool areas were popular, despite the cooler weather.
We travelled with couples who had cruised before and also non cruisers, and all agreed the whole trip was very enjoyable.