Baltic Cruises - Things To Consider

According to travel experts, June is the best time of year for Baltic cruises and Scandinavian cruises. The busy season is just beginning around Europe, but the crowds haven't quite surged to their July-August peaks yet. The cruises run from May through September to Scandinavia, Russia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden. The port-of-calls are particularly stunning in Eastern Europe, offering museums like The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, a beautiful archipelago in Stockholm and swanky shopping in Copenhagen. The weather can vary greatly in terms of sun, rain and wind so it's best to check out the weather forecast before you go and hope for the best.

There are many Baltic cruises offered but here are some of the best itineraries. Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers a 7-night Russia and Baltic cruise leaving from Stockholm and wrapping up in Copenhagen (or vice versa) in July and August, spending three days in St. Petersburg. Prices start around $3,604 per person, including gratuities and drinks. The UK's Fred Olsen Cruise Lines offers a 14-night "Treasures of the Baltic" adventure leaving from Southampton en route to Berlin, with three days in St. Petersburg starting at $2,266 per person for the cruise only. Costa Cruises' "Baltic Discovery" offers 12 nights starting in Amsterdam on August 5th, calling at all major ports and spending two days in St. Petersburg for $1,970, including flights and transfers. Princess Cruises has great Russian and Scandinavian cruises that run 10 nights from May to September, departing from Copenhagen and stopping at Gdynia, as well as two days in St. Petersburg for $1,678 including flight. Lastly, Swan Hellenic's 16-day "Journey to the Land of the Tsars" cruise departs from Dover in July, spends three days in St. Petersburg and tours the Kiel Canal starting at $3,975 per person, not including flight.

When you're traveling on Baltic cruises, remember to get a Russian visa for St. Petersburg. You'll need to wait for the proper paperwork to come in and you'll have to pay $65 but it'll be worth it to have permission to navigate the city freely. You should also be aware that taxi fares are around $20 one way, so don't get swindled! In Helsinki, you can take the #16 bus into the city for just a few dollars. In Poland, hop the train from Gdynia to Gdansk, which is little more than $10 and only takes a half hour. You can exchange your money at the first port and exchange leftovers at the next port to ensure you get the best rates. Baltic and Scandinavian cruises may seem like a lot of work, but in the end it's totally worth it to save money and travel to all these European countries.

Practically speaking, Baltic cruises are ideal for people who dislike those long treks from the ports to the epicenter of adventure. For instance, you're dropped off right in the heart of Oslo, Norway. Tallinn is just a ten minute walk from the port and Stockholm offers a 20-minute walk or 15-minute taxi ride. In Helsinki, you'll take a fifteen minute shuttle to all the action. Even though these tours are often overshadowed by the Eastern and Western Mediterranean cruises, you'll find that the traffic isn't as congested in Eastern Europe and you're treated to more offbeat adventures.

More about baltic cruises

Europe Cruises

They may sound lavish, but Europe cruises are actually one of the least expensive ways to see the continent. The all-inclusive nature appeals to travelers, which allows you to budget for your other activities more accurately.