My wife and i have done the Baltics twice,and there is just one place that you must see,and that is the ship "Vassa",which is in Stockholm Sweden. The ship is between 300 and 400 years old and sank on it's maiden voyage,with about 100 people on board,including the King and Queen of Sweden,who were saved,but a lot of the people drowned. The Swedes have restored the ship,and it is the most spectacular sight that i have ever seen,when you walk into the museum and first see it. It has been brought back to it's original condition. The problem was that it was too top heavy,and was not even under full sail when it sank. When it was constructed it was built with the hull too pointed at the bottom,and they could not get enouh pig iron into it,to stablize it. It is a must to see. Helsinki is very nice too,with a wonderful market not far from the port. I hope this info will help. Trevor I.of Rugeley Staffs.

We have just been back from Thompsons cruise due our our health and age we did not want to take daily exurstion which start at 9 am and expensive. all port of calls are mostly walking distance, we took the local tour buses for city tours where it was possible otherwise shops restaurents is always near by you could walk several times in a day to go in and out of the ship. we had a wonderfull time, we are going to the Nile Cruise in December, let us hope we will enjoy it. Take nice clothes especially for the Captains Party, Proper Ball room function, Sadly we booked last minute and did not have the time to buy Ball Gown but still enjoyed the evening in skirt and top. Have fun. Tania

Tallin was our favourite, but as a,n, says you probably don't have enough time. Try to get to the old town early as it is nicer before the guided tours arrive. You can buy an interesting liquor called Vanna Tallin, which comes in different flavours. In Stockholm try to visit the Vasa museum. I ship rescued like the Mary Rose, but because of the brackish nature of the Baltic, in much better preservation, and better presented. Lunch in the museum was lovely and not over priced. We docked in Rostock and took the bus to Warnemunde, the weather was not good, so I didn't see it at its best. Would probably stay in Rostock and shop next time. Have a lovely holiday.

Monday 30th – Tallinn, Estonia – docked portside - sunrise 4.06/sunset 10.44 Oceania Regatta and Sea Cloud II were also in port. The ship offered a transfer shuttle to town for $12pp. We walked. It took 15 mins to get to the town walls. What a beautiful city, in the sunshine, full of restaurants and cafes along the cobbled streets and squares. Good place for shopping too. I bought a cardigan from the Sweater Wall for €33, and there were great linen products – table clothes, napkins etc. All handmade and all reasonably priced. Lots of amber too. Unfortunately we had to be on board early as we sailed at 2. I wish we could have spent longer here (I would suggest swapping the whole day in Helsinki with the half day in Tallinn).

Friday 27th - Helsinki - docked portside - sunrise 3.58/sunset 10.49 Aida Bella only other ship in port. The ship offered a transfer shuttle to town for $12pp. We walked. Out of the barrier by the ship, up to the junction one block away, turned right and waited at the bus stop for the #16 which came almost immediately. An all day ticket for bus and tram cost €6pp. It is a 10 min bus ride into town, we got off at Esplanadi and wandered through the market looking at the fresh fruit and produce and handmade goods. Then we visited the Uspensky cathedral and Senate Square before jumping on the 3T tram for a 45 tour of the city. Afterwards we went back to the market and ate fresh made crepes from one of the many stalls there €18 for lunch for 2. We intended to catch the pub tram, which leaves at 2 and 3 from Rautatientori (one block to the right of the main train station) and costs €8 but we caught the bus back to the ship instead. Bus stop is on Esplanadi just before Stockmans department store.

Thursday 26th- Stockholm docked starboard -sunrise 3.22/sunset 10.09 We docked at Stadsgarden. The ship offered a transfer shuttle to town for $12pp. We walked. Followed the blue line painted on the side walk to the port gates and then a straight flat walk along the front, over the bridge to Gamla Stan. It took around 30 minutes. Stockholm is beautiful city and we enjoyed strolling around in the sunshine.

This is from my cruise review from Century earlier this year: Tuesday 24th - docked Warnemunde starboard - sunrise 4.37/sunset 9.51 Fred Olsen Balmoral was also in port. We had arranged a hire car from Hertz. When you book on line make sure you request the St Petersburger Strasse location in Rostock. The pickup is in the building on the right as you disembark. There were only one other couple that we saw hiring a car. It cost around €70 for the day. We drove though Bad Doberan to Wismar which is a pretty old town (but we collected a parking ticket there!), then down to Schwerin with its beautiful castle. If you are there at lunch time I can recommend Kartoffelhause No 1 on the corner of Puschkin strasse and Schlosstrasse. #61 on the menu is called Auflauf and it is like lasagna made with potato instead of pasta (kartoffel means potato so you get the theme). Lunch cost €25. We then drove on to Rostock. After returning the car (and leaving €5 for the parking ticket) around 6 we walked into Warnemunde itself - what a gem of a town! Simple walk from the ship - turn right, past Hertz, take the underpass to the station, and then the canal lined with restaurants and shops is on your right. Everyone in town was sitting out eating and drinking in the late sunshine. Walk up to the light house and you will get to see the wonderful sandy beach with the most unique deck chairs - I won't describe them you will just have to go and look for yourself.