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An amazing experience

Rotterdam Retired Cruise Review to Europe - Northern Europe

Cruises: 2-3 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 26

Overall rating:

4 out of 5
Verified Review
Rotterdam Retired

12 Night Vikings & Czars (Rotterdam To Copenhagen)

Sail date: July 04, 2006

Ship: Rotterdam Retired

Cabin type: Oceanview

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 14 years ago

Review summary

A pleasant, intimate cruising experience with plenty of options for on-board activities.

Ports of call

Oslo, Norway

5 out of 5
We loved Oslo perhaps most of all. It surprised us as we were not expecting to discover such a wonderful city! We unfortunately missed the Resistence museum, but we will have to console ourselves with the thoughts of returning to Oslo again. The best part was simply getting "above" Oslo and enjoying a wonderful hike down the mountainside through Norweigian woods. Breathtaking views and clean air, a great rejuvenating way to start the trip.
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: A hike down the hilltop 2 train stops above the ski jump, and a lunch stop at the restaurant halfway down from there on the way to the ski jump.

St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

5 out of 5
Wow. Of course, the palaces, the churches, the monuments, the statues, the history... all were amazing. Alexander Nevsky Cemetary is another place to visit, where Dostoevsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, and other artistic and literary greats are buried.
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Monument to the Siege of Leningrad, commemmorating the 900 days the city was besieged in WW2.

Tallinn, Estonia

5 out of 5
Perhaps getting a bit over-touristed, it seems to be a kind of "Disneyland" of real quaint medieval Europe. So many shops everywhere, all with pretty much the same items. But still an amazing walk through architecture and history. Stop by the old Antique shop and gander a bit at Soviet-era "junk", and stop into Hell Hund for some Estonian beer.
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Shopping for amber jewelry, I guess. Mostly just seeing the old town and walking around.

Warnemunde (Berlin), Germany

5 out of 5
We found getting around this area of Germany ourselves very easy. We took a train (very easily) to Rostock, walked around and enjoyed the old city there and particularly the astrological clock. Then another train took us to Schwerin where we enjoyed another walk around a quaint old town and visited the picturesque Schloss Schwerin there.
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Rostock's astrological clock in its most historic church.

Warnemunde (Berlin), Germany

5 out of 5
We found getting around this area of Germany ourselves very easy. We took a train (very easily) to Rostock, walked around and enjoyed the old city there and particularly the astrological clock. Then another train took us to Schwerin where we enjoyed another walk around a quaint old town and visited the picturesque Schloss Schwerin there.
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Rostock's astrological clock in its most historic church.

Oslo, Norway

5 out of 5
We loved Oslo perhaps most of all. It surprised us as we were not expecting to discover such a wonderful city! We unfortunately missed the Resistence museum, but we will have to console ourselves with the thoughts of returning to Oslo again. The best part was simply getting "above" Oslo and enjoying a wonderful hike down the mountainside through Norweigian woods. Breathtaking views and clean air, a great rejuvenating way to start the trip.
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: A hike down the hilltop 2 train stops above the ski jump, and a lunch stop at the restaurant halfway down from there on the way to the ski jump.

Stockholm, Sweden

5 out of 5
We crisscrossed Stockholm in seeing and visiting so much of the history's great architecture and history. The original tomb of Descartes; the changing of the guard; walking down side "streets" less than an armstrech wide; the Ice Bar; etc.
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Climbing to the top of City Hall for a breathtaking view of the city, and if possible a Vasa museum trip.

Helsinki, Finland

5 out of 5
Helsinki was another great, clean Nordic capital that surprised us.
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Sibelius Monument, the rock church, and the very nice cafe in the promenade.

Aarhus, Denmark

3 out of 5
Highly recommend taking your own detours here and ignoring typical cruise tours. So much time wasted that could have been spent seeing things.
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Himmelbjerget, in the lake country.

Aarhus, Denmark

3 out of 5
Highly recommend taking your own detours here and ignoring typical cruise tours. So much time wasted that could have been spent seeing things.
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Himmelbjerget, in the lake country.

Helsinki, Finland

5 out of 5
Helsinki was another great, clean Nordic capital that surprised us.
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Sibelius Monument, the rock church, and the very nice cafe in the promenade.

Tallinn, Estonia

5 out of 5
Perhaps getting a bit over-touristed, it seems to be a kind of "Disneyland" of real quaint medieval Europe. So many shops everywhere, all with pretty much the same items. But still an amazing walk through architecture and history. Stop by the old Antique shop and gander a bit at Soviet-era "junk", and stop into Hell Hund for some Estonian beer.
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Shopping for amber jewelry, I guess. Mostly just seeing the old town and walking around.

St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

5 out of 5
Wow. Of course, the palaces, the churches, the monuments, the statues, the history... all were amazing. Alexander Nevsky Cemetary is another place to visit, where Dostoevsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, and other artistic and literary greats are buried.
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Monument to the Siege of Leningrad, commemmorating the 900 days the city was besieged in WW2.

Stockholm, Sweden

5 out of 5
We crisscrossed Stockholm in seeing and visiting so much of the history's great architecture and history. The original tomb of Descartes; the changing of the guard; walking down side "streets" less than an armstrech wide; the Ice Bar; etc.
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Climbing to the top of City Hall for a breathtaking view of the city, and if possible a Vasa museum trip.

Pros: Too many great things to pick one.

Cons: Visa issues limiting travel options in Russia.

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