I would do this cruise again. Next time we would try to be as independent as possible, rather than using tour operators. All the ports, except Russia, (and I don't know about Copenhagen) are very accessible. Our memories are great. Get one board credit, as much as you can. If you're a drinker, use a drinks package.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We went early, there was little delay in coming aboard. When we got there we were welcomed all the way. Free coffee was available. On board A fantastic buffet lunch was being served in the Garden Cafe.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Food in the buffet was fantastic. Everything we wanted.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Fun to watch some of the sea days competitions and bands. The fitness centre was well equipped.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The two shows we loved the most were Burn the Floor, a spectacular Latin dance show, and The Million Dollar Quartet which was our favourite, a great story, wonderful music and skilled musicians.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
We never had a bad experience. They were all so friendly and helpful.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Great ship, lots to see and do.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Loved our cabin, plenty of room. The bed was a bit short for us, that was our only minor complaint.
Ship tip
It's an amazing ship. My advice is relax and have a great time. Also see if you can get a deal with as much on board credit as possible, as things are expensive. A glass of wine or beer will set you back $10 for example. To get some laundry done will cost $20-$30. Also avoid school holidays if you don't want to be around hoards of kids. If you do have kids, there's heaps for them to do.
This was our favourite port. We rented bikes, which were easily avaiable near the ship; no need to organise it before hand. And we simply explored on our own. Had a wonderful day.
We took a 2 day excursion we booked through Viator. We saw lots of spectacular buildings and museums, but the tour guide was not good. She had lots of knowledge which she told us in a steady stream, but she was very focused on getting to as many things as possible in a tight timeline, and threatened us that if we did not keep up with her, we would have no time for lunch. I would certainly not recommend this tour to anyone, though the sights are worth seeing. The write up from Viator was not what we got on the tour.
This was our not a great day. The ship was late in arriving and so the tour operators were out of whack. They held us onboard in the main theatre for an hour or more, and let us go in small groups as the buses arrived. We had booked the Hop-on Hop-off bus, the Red line. Though we managed to get on initially, the buses were often too full; there were not enough of them to service the cruise ships that were in town. Stockholm , however, is beautiful, and worth visiting. I spoke to a person later who simply made her own way, using the public transport system, and she said it was great. At the end, because of incorrect directions given by a staff member of the Hop on Hop off Red bus, we almost missed getting back to the ship on time. It took a kindly Hop on Hop off Green line bus driver to make a mercy dash, with no stopping, and not asking for money, to get us back to the ship. So I am recommending this line rather than the one we used.
We are looking at this cruise for a family trip 6-10 families, I have been on the Getaway in the past (loved the ship) would love to chat about your experiences.
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