FUN-travel: At Sea – Day 8 – Princess Baltic Cruise

July 31, 2014 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: At Sea – Day 8 – Princess Baltic Cruise 

Day 27 – Sunday, July 27 – At Sea – Princess Cruise – Day 8 – hazy w/high light clouds & sun – low 70’s – sunrise 4:13 – sunset 9:56

Tallinn, Estonia 2014 5

Tallinn, Estonia

What I LIKE

  • 7:30 – hot cappuccino
  • Total R & R day
  • 11:15 – breakfast Deck 16 – steak (from last night) & eggs w/hash browns
  • 12:00 – open final lunch buffet
  • – waited to see if sushi & shrimp would appear like last sea day
  • 12:15 – soft serve swirl cone @ pool
  • 12:30 – nap
  • 2:15 – shower for…
  • 3:00 – wine tasting – $20 ea w/discount coupon – sit w/2 Canadian couples
  • – 6 glasses – champagne, sauvignon blanc, Silverado chardonnay, italian red – Simi Landslide cab – Mondavi Reserve Cab ($135 bottle)
  • 4:15 – stroll thru atrium
  • 6:30 – dinner @ Alfredo’s
  • – pizza, calzone, meat ravioli w/cream & cheese, minestrone & veggie antipasto
  • – pretty tasty – Australia McPherson 2012 Shiraz
  • 7:30 – downpour (1st rain on this cruise)
  • Pass under the Great Belt Bridge
  • – huge expansion bridge
  • – costs $36 Euro ea way
  • Early night night

What I DON’T LIKE

  • Waited 30 mins for shrimp
  • – soggy & sauce needs more horseradish
  • – forgot to take wine description sheets
  • tired of dining room – need a change
  • – starting to get real bored w/food
Tallinn, Estonia 2014 19

Tallinn, Estonia

WKW (Who’s Kidding Who) – tired of being on this ship

FUN-travel: Nynashamn, Sweden – Day 7 – Princess Baltic Cruise

July 31, 2014 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Nynashamn, Sweden – Day 7 – Princess Baltic Cruise 

Day 26 – Saturday, July 26 – Nynashamn, Sweden – Princess Cruise – Day 7 – not a cloud in the sky – 70’s – sunrise 3:37 – sunset 9:59

What I LIKE Nynashamn, Sweden 2014 2

  • 7:30 – wake up
  • No hurry
  • 10:15 – take tender ashore
  • – nobody in line – only takes 15 mins
  • Decided not to take 1 hr bus ride to Stockholm @ $59 ea
  • (don’t need to see another big city)
  • Will enjoy small seaside resort town
  • Take laptops for fast, free wifi
  • 10:45 – decide to not take local hop on, hop off bus @ $18 ea
  • – town just not big enough to justify cost
  • Take nice walk to harbor – 30 mins
  • (they have blue line painted on sidewalk so you can’t get lost)
  • – filled w/small shops & restaurants
  • – TI (Tourist Info) has free wifi but no place to sit

Nynashamn, Sweden 2014 3

  • 11:30 – walk up to city center
  • 11:40 – only Subway sandwich shop has free wifi
  • – you have to sign up to MyCloud to get it
  • – buy sandwich, chips & 2 drinks = 88 kroner = $13 US
  • 1:15 – internet not free anymore
  • Head back to TI on waterfront for fast wifi
  • – got 5 travel days posted

Nynashamn, Sweden 2014 4

  • 2:30 – take walk along waterfront
  • *2:56 – remember I took tender from ship
  • 3:00 – board tender
  • 3:40 – arrive back to ship
  • 6:00 – sail away – small islands dot the sea – lots of sail boats
  • 7:15 – happy hour martini’s – Wheelhouse bar
  • 8:00 – dinner @ Crown Grill – costs $25 pp
  • – included in promo rate found on site in March
  • – scallops starters – spinach w/goat cheese & heirloom tomato salad
  • – 12 oz NY strip w/garlic fries (cooked perfectly) & sea bass – nice Carmenere $6 extra
  • 10:30 – back to room

Nynashamn, Sweden 2014 1

What I DON’T LIKE

  • Can’t get wifi @ Subway – takes 10 mins
  • *2:55 – Princess in harbor not @ pier!
  • – feel panic attack coming on!
  • – not supposed to leave until after 5:30
  • Crooner’s is only place to get a martini
  • – Wheelhouse bar shorter pour & no olive tray
  • Forgot my notepad

FUN-facts – I re-checked the Princess website in March and found the “3 for Free” promo rate. I got a lower cabin rate as well as a $50 shore excursion credit, $175 cabin credit and one meal in the premier dining room.

More FF – There are 296 kitchen staff members on board the ship.
Not so FF – Apparently everyone who got the promo dinner was signed up for tonight and the staff is overwhelmed.

zNynashamn, Sweden 2014 5

FUN-travel: Helsinki, Finland – Day 6 – Princess Baltic Cruise

July 29, 2014 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Helsinki, Finland – Day 6 – Princess Baltic Cruise 

Day 25 – Friday, July 25 – Helsinki, Finland – Princess Cruise – Day 6 – not a cloud in the sky – 80 – sunrise 3:57 – sunset 10:44

What I LIKEHelsinki, Finland 2014 1

  • 7:30 – wake up
  • Fall back to sleep
  • 9:30 – down for hot cappuccino
  • 10:45 – head off ship for self tour
  • $12 shuttle to town – RT pp
  • 11:20 – arrive
  • short walk thru Esplanade Park to…
  • – Market Square – next to harbor
  • – filled w/vendors selling food, fish, fresh veggies & fruit, clothing, souvenirs, lace, etc
  • – searching for good souvenir deal on grandkids stuff
  • – find nice man who does & another lady
  • Up to Senate Square – old buildings – University & St Nicholas cathedral
  • Looking for water & wine to take back to ship
Helsinki, Finland 2014 6

Senate Square

  • Stockman – on corner @ end of Esplanade – huge department store

    Helsinki, Finland 2014 12

    Market Square

  • – sells everything from clothes, to electronics, to groceries
  • – just like Corte Ingles in Spain
  • 1:30 – shuttle back to ship
  • 2:00 – take laptop down to cruise terminal for free & fast wifi
  • 2: 30 – finally get connected – internet but no email
  • 3:25 – board
  • 3:30 – pepperoni pizza on Deck 16 – pretty good
  • 4:30 – sail away – lots of little islands
  • 5:00 – little nap
  • 7:00 – happy hour martini’s deck 7 – more good stuffed olives
  • Tonight’s captains gala
  • – invited to cocktail reception but opt out
  • food usually better on this night
  • 8:15 – dinner in Concerto deck 6
  • – Symphony dining on deck 5 full
  • – escargot & ravioli starters, salads
  • – Lobster & shrimp – Elements 2009 Sonoma Meritage
  • – $15 extra charge – good but not that good
Helsinki, Finland 2014 10

Market Square

  • 9:15 – Princess Live – Marriage Match Game ShowHelsinki, Finland 2014 13
  • – like the Newlywed game – pretty funny
  • 10:15 – sunset really spectacular
  • – ship is going very slow & water is like glass
  • – colors in sky & sea unlike anything I’ve ever seen before
  • Get another hour back

What I DON’T LIKE

  • 8:15 – my 7:30 hot cappuccino is now lukewarm
  • – get thrown out of one vendor stall when I asked for better price
  • – I kid you not!
  • – they have sign that reads 1 for $5 – 3 for $12 – 10 for $35
  • – wanted to buy 11 things
  • Can’t connect to free wifi
  • Escargot has no garlic – the French would be appalled!
  • Chris always carries a camera & didn’t
  • – run back to room for movie camera – miss sunset

FUN-fact – Finland is the home of Nokia and the creator of Angry Birds.
More FF – Helsinki was chosen to be the World Design Capital In 2012.

FUN-travel: St. Petersburg, Russia – Day 5 – Princess Baltic Cruise

July 29, 2014 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: St. Petersburg, Russia – Day 5 – Princess Baltic Cruise 

Day 24 – Thursday, July 24 – St. Petersburg, Russia – Princess Cruise – Day 5 – clear blue skies – low 80’s – sunrise 4:42 – sunset 11:15

St. Petersburg (Peterhof), Russia 2014 42

Peterhof

What I LIKE

  • 8:30 – wake up
  • slept good
  • R & R day
  • TV destination show on Helsinki
  • – good info on arrival & history
  • 12:30 lunch – more of the same on buffet w/a few additions
  • – make nice salad
  • 1:30 – take walk on Decks 17 & 18
  • – 7 laps = 1 mile
  • – find adults only pool area & Sanctuary area
  • (additional charge) imagine that!
  • 2:30 – back to room to catch up writing these
  • 2:30 – make 8:00 reservation for Jigger’s section
St. Petersburg (Peterhof), Russia 2014 20

Peterhof

  • 6:30 – happy hour @ Crooner’s Bar – Deck 7 Atrium

    Tallinn, Estonia 2014 2

    Tallinn, Estonia

  • Hendrick’s & Bombay Sapphire martinis – VG & only $8.95
  • – comes w/dish of big stuffed olives – garlic, cheese, anchovies
  • Find out they have Tanqueray 10
  • Order 1 of those too!
  • 8:00 – tonight’s Italian night
  • – Carpaccio & eggplant starters
  • – veal & scallops entrees – just so so
  • – Simi Landslide – 2010 Alexander Valley cabernet
  • – extra charge $19 & they pull out the nice wine glasses
  • Get an hour back

What I DON’T LIKE

  • Internet is so slow & expensive on ship

FUN-fact – The ships has 3710 passengers. The top three countries represented by the number of passengers is the US, Mexico & Canada.
More FF – Putin has said if you want to come to Russia for the 2018 World Cup you will not need a visa. They are expensive and difficult to get as they are very picky.

St. Petersburg (Peterhof), Russia 2014 11

Peterhof

FUN-travel Tip – Our tour guide yesterday was one of the best we have had in Russia. If you are planning to come to Russia and want a private guide you can contact Elena Egorova at egelena@yahoo.com. You will need a visa if you are flying to Russia but if you come by ship and stay for no more than 72 hours Elena can get you in on a tour visa just like the ships do.

FUN-travel: St. Petersburg, Russia – Day 4 – Princess Baltic Cruise

July 29, 2014 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: St. Petersburg, Russia – Day 4 – Princess Baltic Cruise 

Day 23 – Wednesday, July 23 – St. Petersburg, Russia – Princess Cruise – Day 4 – blue skies w/scattered clouds in distant – high 70’s – sunrise 4:43 – sunset 11:14

St. Petersburg (Peterhof), Russia 2014 15

Peterhof Gardens

What I LIKE

  • 6:25 – wake up to hot cappuccino from my love
  • 7:00 – ready to go
  • 7:15 – head down for cappuccino to go
  • 7:30 – arrive theatre & tour takes off – not hurry up & wait
  • 7:50 – tour bus departs for Peterhof Palace & Gardens
  • – didn’t see this when here last week on purpose
  • – Princess gave us $100 credit for excursion
  • – this is only one we will take (way overpriced)
  • 9:00 – arrive & walk to entrance
  • 9:30 – inside tour begins
  • 10:30 – garden tour begins
  • UNESCO site – overlooks Sea of Finland
  • – designed by Peter the Great
  • – one palace entrance by carriage & the other by gondola from the sea
  • Features Grand Cascade – fountain depicting Samson prying open lion’s jaws
  • 11:00 – fountains turned on
  • – all gravity fed & no pumps – pretty spectacular
  • 11:30 – back to bus
  • 12:00 – souvenir stop – need to spend left over rubles

St. Petersburg (Peterhof), Russia 2014 41

  • – end up spending more money for sweet painting of church on spilled blood
  • (wanted Moscow St. Basil’s but not there)
  • 1:15 – arrive ship – stop for salads @ small bar on way inSt. Petersburg (Peterhof), Russia 2014 34
  • – shrimp & chicken curry
  • – take to go – eat on balcony w/glass of wine so I can…
  • 2:00 – take nap
  • 7:30 – dinner @ same dining room Symphony Deck 5
  • – warm crab & artichoke dip just so so
  • – Caesar salad is completely different from 1st day
  • – nice & crisp w/much lighter dressing – VG
  • – fish/scallop/shrimp skewers w/mango lime salsa & pad thai
  • – more just so so
  • – attempt to get some hot chili or sirachi sauce
  • – neither on board
  • – Spellbound 2012 Napa Petite Sarah (Mondavi wine) VG!
  • $5 upcharge on wine card
  • 9:00 – Wheelhouse bar Deck 7 – martini & glass of wine for…
  • 9:15 – Princess Live jazz show – piano, guitar, drums & horns – VG
  • 10:00 – down to Deck 6 for Motown – no one there
  • – head to room
  • – over & done

St. Petersburg (Peterhof), Russia 2014 33

St. Petersburg (Peterhof), Russia 2014 2

Peterhof Cathedral

What I DON’T LIKE

  • 4:25 wake up
  • 5:25 wake up
  • 7: 35 to 7:45 – have to stand in line for passport control
  • 12:45 – have to stand in line for passport control again to get on ship – what a joke!
  • Favorite waiter Jigger has no tables again
  • Food’s inconsistent

FUN-fact – Peterhof Palace & Garden was the most well organized tour for handling large crowds. Each room had an attendant that controlled the flow and made it a very enjoyable experience. And just as an FYI – it looks a lot like Catherine’s Palace inside. I wouldn’t pay to do both.
Not so FF – The Netherland’s response to the downing of the Malaysian Airlines plane has been extremely moving and they should be commended for their handling of this terrible situation. Each passenger is being given dignity and respect with military honors as they arrive by plane from the Ukraine.

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