Kalyn Michele: Cruising the Baltic Sea

Cruising was never on my radar. If anyone even suggested the idea of going on a cruise, the first thing that came to mind was my 82 year old grandmother. God love her. She cruises with a best friend and they always have a grand time. As nice as her trips always sounded, I couldn't get past the thought of retirees, buffet food, group tours, a breeding ground for germs, and the possibility of getting sea sick. Why couldn't I see the fun that could be had?!

I overcame these negative perceptions and booked us on a cruise through the Baltic Sea. Then I had a moment of doubt after the purchase and Googled everything and anything on the topic of getting sea sick... seriously.. I am paranoid about getting sick while traveling. So what pushed me past these negative perceptions to make the final purchase? We really wanted to see the northern European countries and get a chance to get into Russia, even if it was only for a day. The northern European countries are very expensive so cruising seemed like the best option to see more for less. We weren't thrilled at the idea of only having a few hours in each city, but tried to think of this trip as a snap shot and taste of each destination. If we loved what we saw and felt time wasn't enough, we could always return to that specific city in the future.

5 countries in 7 days.
(Click on the links below to preview a short write up and photos from each city.)
Copenhagen, Denmark // Stockholm, Sweden // Tallinn, Estonia // St. Petersburg, Russia // Helsinki, Finland

A whirlwind of a week that left our feet aching from walking miles upon miles on cobblestone streets, our bodies gently swaying from the motion of the ship, our camera card and minds full of beautiful memories, and our senses overwhelmed in the best possible way.

Of all the trips we have done in the past year, this one provided leisure and ease of mind. Coordinating all the logistics between travel connections, hotel or rental house proximity, food shopping, cooking/cleaning etc. can be taxing. To be able to sit back and not have to worry about any of these things made this vacation much different. Relaxing if you will! Add in the fact that Royal Caribbean offers a Royal Tots program aka daycare on the ship and it takes vacationing to a whole new level.

Top-notch hospitality is what we received from the Royal Caribbean staff. Every interaction we had with any employee was one of warmth and friendliness. This level of hospitality brings the best environment for everyone and makes a trip that much better. Three towel monkeys for our little boy, extra entrees and desserts at dinner, high-fives from the stateroom assistants as they saw B running past them.. little things that add up to make big impressions!

So as I once turned my nose up to the thought of cruising, I will now graciously admit that my experiences have proven otherwise. It may not be a top means of transportation or way of travel for everyone, but it's worth considering. We weren't lured into booking another cruise while on ship but we may consider one more.. Recruiting friends for a 2017 Mediterranean.. Who's in?

Travel Notes

Planning for Ports
The hours in port go SO FAST! If you don't plan ahead, you might miss some highlights in each city. If you choose to do a guided tour then don't worry about this. I knew that we would be on our own in all ports except Russia so it was important that I had an itinerary laid out ahead of time. A helpful guidebook for us was Rick Steves Northern European Cruise Ports.

Food
It is said that cruisers return home from a vacation at sea with a few extra pounds added to them. No surprise there! The amount and variety of food available at all hours is tempting.. oh so tempting. The options are bountiful. From laid back poolside sandwiches and finger foods to buffets and five course dinners, there's enough variety to please even the pickiest of eaters. Specialty dining at select restaurants within the ship is also an option. We especially liked the fact that there always seemed to be food available, which Brecken took note of by the second day. The self-serve soft ice cream machine was a hit.

Beverages
Water, tea, coffee, and lemonade are all free of charge. If these options don't quench your thirst, you might be better off to purchase a beverage package. Love wine? Here's a note you won't want to miss: Two bottles of wine or champagne per cabin can be brought on board during embarkation. Forget this note and you will kick yourself once you see the price per bottle on board.

Royal Tots
Babies ages 6-36 months are welcome at this nursery program. Check out the program once on board and the staff will get your child's registration set up. An hourly fee of $6 during the day and $8 during the night applies. Hours will be rationed per family if there is a high demand for nursery care. In our case, 25 children within this age range were on the ship and only Brecken and another little girl used the daycare services. B loved the nursery and the trained professionals caring for him were wonderful.

Activities
There's something for everyone on these cruises. A schedule of activities is posted throughout the ship on digital monitors and a print out of the following days activities is provided the night before. Some activities cost a small fee while others are free. Some examples included napkin art, movies, art auctions, beer and wine tastings, dance lessons, bingo, health and wellness lessons, etc. Take advantage of these activities!

Itinerary- 10 days and 9 nights