Scandinavia & Russia Cruise
We awoke on our first morning in the Belgium port of Zeebrugge and were off early on the ½ hour coach journey to the small but historic City of Bruges. We embarked on a walking tour accompanied by a local guide. We walked along the narrow-cobbled streets admiring the many Medieval buildings of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The church of our lady being particularly memorable. We then boarded a small canal boat carrying 30 people for a ½ hour tour of the canals of this great city. We then after a beer in one of the squares headed back to the ship.
After a day at sea we arrived in the Danish City of Copenhagen. We were moored next to one of the iconic features of the City the bronze Statue of the Little Mermaid. We were off this morning on an hour coach tour of the city. We were dropped off at the famous Tivoli Gardens & Amusement Park in Central Copenhagen. We had an hour`s stroll through the Park and the stunning Gardens. We then, with our young German guide keeping us informed of the local architecture, walked to a larger Canal boat for an hour’s tour of the wonderful Canals passing amongst others the Nyhavn area steeped in a long heritage. We then cruised in our Canal boat through the Harbour and were dropped off at moorings next to the Eclipse.
We were advised to wake up early and witness the stunning sail in to our next port of Stockholm in Sweden. I peered through the curtains of our balcony to see the Ship slowing navigating through the Stockholm Archipelago and the many unoccupied islands some with just one wooden house on them. We moored right in the centre of Stockholm at the Stadsgarden Cruise Terminal overlooking the City. We boarded an Excursion Coach to take us to the Abba the Museum. My wife was in her element looking at all the Abba Memorabilia and the chance to make a recording of her singing Mamma Mia on a karaoke machine! We finished the tour with a coffee in the Pop House Café. We were then, after a brief tour dropped off into Central Stockholm. We boarded a tourist Hop on Hop off bus which took us past all the major sights of Stockholm including the Vasa Museum, Ice House and beautiful City Hall. We then made our way back to the ship.
We were staying overnight in Stockholm so on Day 2 we decided to use the remaining hours using our Hop On Hop Off ticket and ride into Stockholm on the sightseeing boat which had a stop next to the Cruise Terminal. We arrived back at the Ship ready for a late afternoon departure.
I sat on the balcony admiring the sail away back along the archipelago which was more stunning then ever and probably one the highlights of the holiday after 60 km we were back in the Baltic Sea heading to Tallinn the Capital of Estonia.
After a short shuttle bus to the edge of the old town of the City of Tallinn the Capital of Estonia. We walked with our local guide past the flower market into Tallinn`s old town, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. We were given a tour around the Medieval Streets and told stories of the Estonian Vikings who inhabited the area in the 13th Century. After a stop in the Town square for some local beer we made our way to the railway station for a short trip on the bright Orange local train to the suburb of Nomme where we visited the local market selling fresh fruit, meat & fish. We then stopped in the café at the railway to enjoy a piece of local cake with coffee. We the made our way back to Ship via the train.
We left the sunshine of Tallinn to arrive the following morning to grey overcast skies of the Russian City of St Petersburg, we were joined in Port by several other Cruise ships from different countries. Tourism is clearly very big for St Petersburg. We had an afternoon tour of the City starting with a Canal boat trip which past the stunning gold cladded buildings of the City and were, to be honest breath-taking. Buildings of such splendour I have never seen before! We then went by Coach to the Yusupov Palace the place that Grigori Rasputin was believed to have been murdered. An excellent afternoon tour despite the grey clouds and showers.
Day 2 in St Petersburg involved a Coach and walking tour of the City which despite the rain gave us another view of the breath-taking buildings while hoping all over the city constantly going over the many bridges that connect each island that makes up the City.
After a day at sea in which we had excellent sunny weather to enjoy the pools and sun loungers of the top deck we arrived in the port of Warnemunde for the City of Rostock and 2.5 hours from the German City of Berlin. We decided to take a local tour which included a ride on the Mollie steam train which was 40 min journey through villages of northern Germany ending up in a seaside resort for afternoon tea followed by some free time to enjoy a beer by the beach.
We then had 2 days at sea traveling on the Baltic Sea and then on the North Sea back to Southampton. Overall the Celebrity Eclipse was a modern Contemporary Ship with excellent facilities to enjoy a great holiday on board.