Baltic Beauty

The problem for many people is that going to the Baltic means going north where British cruisers like to follow the sun south.  A lot of people don’t know enough about the Baltic and it has so much to offer.  St Petersburg is the big attraction that is why many cruise ships will spend two days in port here.
 You can also visit Estonia, Gdansk in Poland, Stockholm, Helsinki and Copenhagen.  English is widely spoken in these countries which I always find helps.  Where the ship docks in all these places can vary.  Somewhere like Tallinn is about a 10 minute walk to the centre from the port and Stockholm is a 20 minute walk.  One of the main problems with cruising the Baltics is the fact you need different currencies for the different countries.  They all have their own currency.  The cruise lines will cruise the Baltic between May and September.  Within this time there really isn’t a best time to travel.  The weather can really very.

So what are the highlights of the Baltic?

A night at the Ballet or Opera in St Petersburg.
The church in the Rock in Helsinki
The fountains of Peterhof
A river excursion from Gdansk to Westerplatte
A day trip to Berlin

What are the top tips for visiting?

Buy local currency at the first port, then you can change whatever is left at the next, and so on. 
Take the Ships shore excursions in St Petersburg where possible as this saves you having to purchase a visa.
Book your shore excursions in advance to guarantee you your preferred trips. 

So who are some of the cruise lines sailing to the Baltic?

Fred Olsen
Princess Cruises
Cunard
P&O
Costa
MSC

Have you travelled to the Baltic?  What was your best bit?