We have cruised on the Star twice before but did the Baltic on the Jewel of the Seas. I love the Star. We had a great time in all the ports and pretty good weather, a little rain. Enjoy!
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Teresa and Larry
#35-Coral Princess 3/27/12
14 night Westbound Panama
60th Birthday Celebration
#36-Allure of the Seas 9/20/12
7 night Eastern Caribbean
Hi there, we haven't travelled on Star, but have been on both Golden and Grand which I believe are almost identical in build, and loved them.
The Baltics are one of our favorite parts of the cruise world (along with the Norwegian Fjords - haven't got to Alaska yet). Every port feels so clean & friendly, and such a contrast between them all, from Stockholm to St. Petersburg, to Tallin, all very different but sharing a tightly knitted history (good and bad).
Was there anything/port in particular that you were interested in? Please feel free to ask & we'll do out best to answer. But please be aware that we are off on P&O's Oriana next week, so replies may be delayed.
Happy cruising,
Alan & Katrina
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Next Cruises:
3 July P&O Oriana "7 P&O ships in port"
20 July Caribbean Princess "Norway & Iceland"
History :
Golden, Grand(2), Sea(4+1 aborted)
Adonia(4), Arcadia, Artemis(2), Aurora(5), Azura, Oceana(3), Oriana(9), Ventura(2), Victoria(5)
QM2, QE2(9), QV(4), Caronia(2), Minerva II, Fred.Olsen(8 ), NCL Jade, =X= Eclipse, HAL Ryndam
Mainly I was wondering how the views were from the ship. Is a balcony cabin necessary? We figured we would be at each city almost every day, so don't know if a balcony is necessary. Thanks for responding.
Hi again, whilst many will say that once you have had a balcony you would not want anything else we are in the small group who were happy to return to an inside stateroom rather than a balcony (okay it means we can cruise twice as much )
The inside staterooms on that class of ship, along with the aircon and good use of mirrors and colours, mean that we do not feel at all closed in, so you needn't worry frm that aspect.
As for the cruise itself, well most of the time you are away from land, so you could be anywhere, also as the ship makes the full journey in and out of the Baltics, a balcony along the sides will spend half of the cruise in the shadow of the ship, which combined with we always seemed to be on the wrong side of any wildlife action was a drawback.
When sailing into ports, we tended to head to the cut away walkaround at the front of the ship, which was covered, so no problems with rain & well sheltered against the wind. From here you get the full view of the land ahead rather than a view of whatever you happen to be passing at any given time.
Having said all that, it really does come down to personal preference between the privacy of a blacony as opposed to the cost saving of an inside cabin with plenty of opportunities to watch from the deck or promenade.
Hopefully this has given you some food for thought.
Alan & Katrina
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Next Cruises:
3 July P&O Oriana "7 P&O ships in port"
20 July Caribbean Princess "Norway & Iceland"
History :
Golden, Grand(2), Sea(4+1 aborted)
Adonia(4), Arcadia, Artemis(2), Aurora(5), Azura, Oceana(3), Oriana(9), Ventura(2), Victoria(5)
QM2, QE2(9), QV(4), Caronia(2), Minerva II, Fred.Olsen(8 ), NCL Jade, =X= Eclipse, HAL Ryndam
I think it's not necesary a balcony cabin in this cruise, but you must be outside when enter and exit in the Stokolm bay because it's wonderful to see the landscape!
Enjoy the cruise
I have not cruise to the Baltics before. But I have cruised Alaska and the reason I suggest a balcony in Alaska is the wildlife. More than any other cruise I have been on my Alaksan cruise I saw humpback whales, eagles, Dall Porpoises, otters, and sealoins all from my balcony. My question for the group is does the Baltics have this type of wildlife? Is it depending on time of year? If you don't have the wildlife than a balcony would be nice but not as important. We cruised Alaska at the end of May and the humpback whales were in migration.
__________________ One part age; three parts liquor!
Freedom of the Seas 2012
Carnival Splendor 2010
Carnival Freedom 2008
Carnival Elation 2007
Celebrity Infinity 2006
Carnival Ecstasy 2005
Carnival Paradise 2004
Star Princess 2003
Viking Serenade 1994
I understand your question, if you were going to go to Fiords it will be different because of the landscape and wildlife, but it's not the same in Baltic sea. For me the only thing is Stockolm bay, but not for the rest of ports of call. Maybe it's beautiful to see when you arrive to Helsinky or Tallin but not to San Petersburg.
I always take balcony cabin or suites because I like to get off at any time of the day or night and have never been in an interior cabin. I have a good time in my balcony taking pictures or just looking around, but in Baltic it's not as necesary as in Fiords.
Blaumarin your English is very good. Much better than my Spanish. Sorry to hear about your animals dying. That is the sad part of having cats and dogs.
I was in Malaga Spain last year on my cruise.
I loved your pictures. Stokolm Bay looks a lot like Alaska. Here are pictures from my Alaskan cruise.
Can you see the face in this picture?
__________________ One part age; three parts liquor!
Freedom of the Seas 2012
Carnival Splendor 2010
Carnival Freedom 2008
Carnival Elation 2007
Celebrity Infinity 2006
Carnival Ecstasy 2005
Carnival Paradise 2004
Star Princess 2003
Viking Serenade 1994
Dear katlady,
You are very kind.
I suffer a lot for my animals but I love them all, they give me so much and they ask for nothing¡
Your pictures are really wonderful and you are very right, it looks like Stokolm I can't see the face, I'm sorry, I look for again!
If you like landscapes you must go to see Norwegian Fiords is beautiful to sail between high mountains with lots of waterfalls.
Last August we were there and visit Flam, Hellesylt, Geiranger, Bergen, Stavanger and Oslo, and on 24th July we are going again to Fiords and North Cape.
Your dog is so cute. He remains me of Buddy Boy. They have the same look on their face. Is he a little troublemaker to. The cat is so pretty I love siamese cats. We enjoyed Malaga the weather is simlar to California. I love the piassco museum. The face in the picture of the mountain is on the right hand corner. It looks like a lumberjack/mountain man. I would love to take a cruise to Norway it's the money that stops me.
__________________ One part age; three parts liquor!
Freedom of the Seas 2012
Carnival Splendor 2010
Carnival Freedom 2008
Carnival Elation 2007
Celebrity Infinity 2006
Carnival Ecstasy 2005
Carnival Paradise 2004
Star Princess 2003
Viking Serenade 1994
As always, you're very kind. I'm in love of my dog jajajaja, it's so pretty, and so tender!
It's no troublemaker but sometimes Gordon doesn't want to do what I ask him to do.
I live in Valencia and there are not many cruises from my city, only some cruises ships of MSC but I have never cruise with this company, I go with Costa Cruises and once with Royal Caribbean in the Navigator Of The Seas.
I liked this company and I would like to make a cruise in the new Oasis OTS, I read every new about this ship. It's so so so big !
Well, money is only money, maybe you are lucky and you can go to see Fiords someday !! maybe sooner than you think!!!
I am so happy to find a new cruise site!
If I may weigh in on the balcony debate, it really depends on the price. We just came back from the Baltic on the Celebrity Constellation. We originally booked an inside (as we agree totally with the previous poster that you can cruise MORE) but we always check the prices in relation to each other. If an outside cabin is only $100 more on a 12/14 night sailing, then of course we book it. On our Baltic sailing, they kept lowering the prices so we moved from inside to outside for $50pp. Then to a balcony for an additional $100. When we got there, we had been upgraded to a suite! First time in 70 cruises.
In any case, we totally enjoyed our balcony because it was nice to be able to escape and sit outside in the sun in the peace and quiet.
Those who mention the sailing into Stockholm thru the archipelego are right, it is a NOT TO MISS part of the sailing... however sitting on our balcony sipping coffee was just a little bit nicer than the first time I did it up on deck. Moral... price relevant!
Nice to see all the lovely pets, too!
Nice greetings from Warnemünde, Germany.... maybe we will see you here!
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Dave (71 cruises)
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Touring and Traveling is my passion!
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The cat is so pretty I love siamese cats. We enjoyed Malaga the weather is simlar to California. I love the piassco museum. The face in the picture of the mountain is on the right hand corner. It looks like a lumberjack/mountain man. I would love to take a cruise to Norway it's the money that stops me.
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