At a conference in Quebec, Joanne Salzedo, director product development, shore excursions, land programs for NCL, discusses the company’s top ten shore excursions worldwide.

Copenhagen brewer Carl Jacobsen founded the Glypotek, the museum adjacent to Tivoli.

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Performing at Tivoli.

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Silver Cloud arrived to beautiful weather today in Copenhagen. First stop for this tourist - Tivoli, of course. Welcome to the world’s happiest nation! For more about Copenhagen, visit http://www.cruisingfromcopenhagen.com
 

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Carlito Gay-Ya has a way - with people. As the bartender at Silver Cloud’s aptly named “The Bar,” Carlito is a real crowd pleaser. He is never without a smile, a friendly greeting, and, of course, your favorite cocktail.

How does he keep such a positive attitude day after day? After all, he encounters all kinds of passengers, some perhaps a tad difficult to deal with. Nine years with Silversea, Carlito says he begins getting ready for his bar shift by “leaving any problems in the cabin,” which could double as good advice for cruise passengers.

If you are a long-time cruiser, you may remember Carlito from Crystal Cruises, where he worked from 1992-1999 and one year achieved the distinction of “Employee of the Year.” Crystal rewarded him with $2000 and a business class ticket home.

Carlito hasn’t lost any of the qualities that make his service recognizable, as on Crystal. He genuinely enjoys meeting people. That’s just Carlito’s way.

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Sailing ship cruises offer an intimate experience that connects you with wind and wave while providing a closer view of marine life and ship operations. It can be an exhilarating experience, feeling the power of the wind as it fuels your voyage. However, it is reassuring to know that these ships also have engines that are quite capable of keeping you on course should the wind not cooperate.

Passengers often participate in some of work that goes into sailing, and many people return from their cruises with new enthusiasm for sailing. There is much less formality aboard sailing ships than on the typical cruise liner as passengers come to know and make friends with the crews, as well as fellow shipmates. For the most part, the ships have all the accommodations for dining, lounging and, yes, even partying, but it’s all more relaxed and smaller.

There is a quite a variety of sailing ships offering cruise vacations, and travelers can find as much or as little luxury as they want to afford, particularly as it relates to their private cabins or communal berths. Sailing ship vacations also offer opportunities to visit smaller ports that may not be tourist traps because the larger cruise ships do not call there.

Itineraries are available to the Caribbean and Mediterranean, on ocean crossings and to exotic areas such as the fjords of Patagonia, the Andaman Sea, and the Queen Charlotte Islands. Sailing to these destinations offers opportunities to enjoy destinations in an up-close and intimate way that is not as easily achieved on on traditional cruises.

Tallinn has been overrun by the Goths, the Pope’s Knights, the Danes, the Germans, the Russians, and now - the cruise ships.

Weekly, during the summer, ships disgorge thousands of history-hungry passengers onto waiting tour and shuttle buses, a weekly booster shot to the Estonian economy.

For some of those passengers, Tallinn is the highlight of their Baltic cruise. Yes, St. Petersburg typically is the main drawing card, but Tallinn has a few surprises up its Medieval Age sleeve. For starters, Tallinn’s ancient architecture has the effect of fooling passengers into thinking they have arrived in the Middle Ages.

Our ship approached a cityscape that might have been familiar to those seafarers of long ago: red-tiled rooftops, church spires and the onion domes of Russian Orthodox churches.

We docked within walking distance of the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its miles of winding cobblestone streets and quaint medieval houses, Tallinn is Northern Europe’s best-preserved Old Town.

The settlement of modern day Estonia began around 8500 BC. In 1154, an Arabian geographer marked Tallinn on the world map. The town quickly became an important trade town.

In Hanseatic times, luxury furs, wax and honey from Russia were delivered through Tallinn’s port, while salt from Portugal and woolen fabrics from England and Flanders came through on their eastward route.

My first stop once off the ship and at the entrance to the Old Town, was at a flea market a few yards from the shuttle bus drop off. All the vendors spoke English, and were happy to take whatever currency offered: Euros, U.S. dollars, whatever.

With a handful of sugar-covered almonds in hand, I headed through the stone arch to the old city. First stop was to climb the vertigo-inducing circular stairs at St. Olav’s church. Between 1549 and 1625, St. Olav, at 522 feet, was the world’s tallest building. After a couple of fires it was rebuilt, so the climb today is only 404 feet, well worth the effort for the view. On a good day, you can see Helsinki 50 miles across the sea.

If you want to do a self-guided tour, follow this advice:

From the cruise ship piers, it’s a 45-minute walk to Toompea Hill, where you’ll want to begin your tour on your walk back to the ship.

Toompea Castle proudly sits on the crest of the Upper Old Town, presiding over the city sprawling below. A wooden fortification was originally built on the same hill in the 9th Century, but was toppled by the Danes shortly after 1200. The Danes constructed an impressive stone edifice, much of which still remains today.

For seven centuries foreign rulers governed Tallinn from this spot until Estonia established its first republic and constructed the Riigikogu - the Estonian Parliament - on the same grounds.

Unless your ship has an unusual schedule you’ll miss the raising and lowering of the national flag, measuring a little over six feet by about ten feet, and hoisted at sunrise (but not earlier than 7 a.m.) and lowered at sunset (and not later than 10 p.m.). While it is lowered, the national anthem, “My Fatherland Is Dear To Me” is played.

After enjoying the marvelous view from Toompea HIll, begin your walk down and back to the ship. The upper part and lower part of the Old Town are divided by Niguliste (St. Nicholas) Church, the patron saint of sailors and merchants.

Allow three to four hours to make your way back to the ship, stopping for lunch at Olde Hanse (great mushroom soup) or Peppersack, both medieval restaurants.

In Peppersack, medieval fights with swords entertain. Oops, stop piercing my waiter! No clashes of metal in Olde Hansa, but lots of period songs and dancing.

If you prefer Russian food, head to Town Hall Square which is named (duh) Town Hall Square, and stop in at Troika.

Built in the 1400s, Tallinn’s impressive Town Hall is the world’s best-preserved town hall. Take a look inside at the exhibitions of medieval torture machines. In the square you’ll find knives, spoons, utensils made from juniper, typically used in Estonian homes for ornamental purposes. On the corner of Town Hall Square, Town Hall Pharmacy, which dates back to at least 1422, is the oldest active apothecary in all of Europe.

Find St. Catherine’s Passage for craft workshops in a medieval atmosphere. Also, at Master’s Courtyard visitors can shop for jewelry and handicrafts, view art exhibitions, and sample confections made in the popular Café-Chocolaterie.

For linen tablecloths, wool scarves, and sweaters go to Muurivahe Street. For bakery goods it’s Bun Passage (Saiakang), just off Town Hall Square. Stop in cozy, candle lit, cave like Kehrwieder, for coffee.

Be sure to walk lengthy Pikk St. with its lovely churches, especially the Russian Church.

When you get to Viru Street you’ll be at the shuttle stop for the return bus to your ship. If you have energy left, forget the bus, and take the street named Stout Margaret. This will take you outside the town wall and back to port.

Tallinn is a lovely port to visit. My only disappointment was passing through the Old City wall to reality. McDonalds the conqueror!

Click on the link below for an audio Interview with Hilena, Tallinn Tour Guide.

Tallinn Town Square  
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tallinn town square.mp3 (1515 KB)

The Avid Cruiser’s 60-second review of Silver Cloud’s Suite 605.

Tallinn Town Square  
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tallinn town square.mp3 (1515 KB)

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Silver Cloud’s morning newspapers represent nine nationalities, testimony as to how cruising is expanding beyond the North American market.

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She’s Italian, so it is not surprising that she is easily excited, gesticulating each point she emphasizes.

This week, however, Silversea Cruises gave Selvaggia Rimoldi, cruise consultant on Silver Cloud, something to get excited about: the most significant savings she’s seen come across her desk during her six years with the company.

Silversea only yesterday rolled out “unprecedented” 60 percent savings for 2010 voyages, plus free air. The luxury operator calls the promotion the “biggest savings incentive in its history.” But is 60 percent off really significant? Or is it just a marketing gimmick designed to make people feel they are saving big? The truth is not as apparent as it may seem, and the answer falls somewhere in the middle.

“Before we had the Silver Savings with up to 50 percent off, but only on select voyages,” Selvaggia remarks in Italianized English that is as much song as conversation. “The new offer is on every single voyage - a 60 percent savings - with air included.”

As an example, Selvaggia ran the numbers to calculate the savings on a 2010 voyage on Silver Spirit, which will begin service in December. The total per-diem came to $400 per person for the nine-night voyage from Barbados to Fort Lauderdale: $3680 per person with all port charges, taxes and air included.

That $400 per person/per day does not seem at all pricey when you consider that luxury cruises once commanded per diems of $700 or more per person/day. Plus, Silversea’s new fare is air-inclusive. Moreover, $400 per day could represent a good value when you consider that it also includes complimentary beverages served throughout the ship - including fine wines, spirits and champagnes, in-suite bar and refrigerator stocked with your preferred beverage selections, open-seating dining, 24-hour complimentary room service, and all on-board gratuities.

Checking another cruiser, Selvaggia ran the numbers to compare rates in one of her favorite cruising regions, Rome to Venice, during one of the priciest times of the season and again on the new Silver Spirit. With the savings, the fare came to $4,770 per person with air and other charges included. You can take an $800 air credit if you choose to use frequent-flier mileage or book your own air. Taking the air credit would bring the cruise-only rate to $3,970. “It’s unbelievable,” Selvaggia says.

There is no question that Silversea is competing in a tough economy at a time when it and competitor Seabourn are bringing additional capacity into the market. And while some would question the logic of a 60 percent reduction across the board, reminding people of the savings is probably a good idea at a time when consumers are extra careful about how they are spending discretionary dollars. An easier way of doing the math and save some ink would be to publish fares that are only 40 percent of the total of what Silversea would like to receive.

There are additional savings that you will not find in the brochures. Booking on board with Selvaggia and her colleagues saves you an additional 5 percent. And if you’re a Venetian Society member, you can save up to 75 percent off published rates.

A real savings? For those who have the time and the money, absolutely.

Following is the fine print and a few other sample savings provided by Silversea.

The free air package is available from 22 gateway cities in the U.S. and Canada on most voyages in 2010 (excluding expedition cruises). It is a capacity-controlled program valid only for new bookings made by December 31, 2009. Additionally, there are specially priced air programs available from another 50 cities.

• AFRICA: Silver Wind’s January 23, 10-day cruise (#2003) sailing roundtrip from Cape Town with calls in East London, Maputo, Richard’s Bay, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Mossel Bay. Silver Savings fares start at $4,238 per person, including roundtrip air.
• CARIBBEAN: Silver Shadow’s March 30, 7-day cruise (#3007) sailing roundtrip from Barbados with calls in St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Bart’s, Tortola and Bequia. Silver Savings fares start at $2,758 per person, including roundtrip air.
• FAR EAST: Silver Whisper’s February 5, 9-day cruise (#4003) from Singapore to Hong Kong with calls in Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hue/Danang (port of Chan May), Ha Long Bay and Haiphong. Silver Savings fares start at $4,918 per person, including roundtrip air.
• MEDITERRANEAN: Silver Spirit’s May 29, 7-day cruise (#5015) from Rome to Venice with calls in Sorrento, Sicily, Kotor and Dubrovnik. Silver Savings fares start at $4,358 per person, including roundtrip air.
• SOUTH AMERICA: Silver Cloud’s February 4, 8-day cruise (#1003) from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro with calls in Punta del Este, Itajai, Sao Paulo (port of Santos) and Parati. Silver Savings fares start at $4,238 per person, including roundtrip air.

All fares listed above are per person based on double occupancy for a Vista Suite and do not include port charges and handling fees that can range from $100 to $275 per person on these sailings, depending on the itinerary. (Note, Selvaggia’s calculations include port charges and handling fees.)

With a course charted along the Gulf of Finland from St. Petersburg to Tallinn, Estonia, Silver Cloud provides me with what must be the world’s best office. Thanks to shipwide WiFi and a Blackberry with an international data plan, I am connected and filing stories in real time. For people like me, technology is liberating, allowing me to work from anywhere - even miles from nowhere.
 
Others find they are able to mix business with pleasure and that they can stay away a little longer if they can check in with the office and their businesses back home now and then.
 
 

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After three full days docked at the English Embankment, we finally threw off the bow lines and waved good-bye to St Petersburg from the decks of Silver Cloud. Like President Obama, passengers on Silver Cloud found our visit to Russia to be enjoyable and rewarding.

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Silver Cloud spends three full days in St. Petersburg, which allows enough time to get to see and experience this beautiful city.

Silver Cloud offers a number of tours, ranging from Splendid St. Petersburg, a 3.5-hour overview of the city for US$79 to a full-day excursion to Moscow and the Kremlin for US$1099.

Quite a few people I spoke with enjoyed the Splendid St. Petersburg tour, but the local tour operator and Silver Cloud’s Shore Excursions desk recommended a four-hour Peterhof Palace tour for $169 (more on that below).

Perhaps the best way to see St. Petersburg, however, is to work with your travel agent to arrange a private tour. I did this in 2005, and it allowed us to see quite a bit more than we would have seen on one of the organized tours.

No matter what you choose, you’re only going to get a taste of Peter the Great’s city. After all, this city of 5 million spans a large area, covering more than 200 square miles. Add to that the choke of traffic, and even three days here gets consumed fairly fast. These are general guidelines that will help you plan a visit to St. Petersburg. Again, work with your travel agent to formulate the best program for you.

Plan to spend one day in the city itself, and another day visiting a couple of palaces outside the city. That leaves you one day to fill in with tours of your choice.

In the city, you’ll want to visit The Hermitage, the world’s second largest art museum (Paris’s Louvre is the largest), a cathedral or two and Nevsky Prospect, Russia’s most famous street.

The Hermitage alone boasts some 400 rooms containing more than 3 million exhibits (Catherine the Great began the collection in 1764 with only 225 pieces). For a taste, visit the “masterpieces of the masterpieces,” such as the original works of art by da Vinci, Michelangelo and Rembrandt.

The Hermitage houses the second biggest Rembrandt collection outside Amsterdam as well as the largest collection of French art outside France, including original works by Degas, Renoir, Monet, Cezanne, Gauguin and Matisse. Book a private tour if possible to visit the Hermitage, as you will not only be allowed in early but also breeze through the museum past the large tour groups.

Plan to visit St. Isaac’s Cathedral, St. Petersburg’s largest, and/or the ornate neo-Byzantine Cathedral of the Resurrection, also called Church on Spilled Blood, constructed on the very spot where tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881.

When visiting any of these attractions, you’re either on or near Nevsky Prospect. The famed street is to St. Petersburg what the Champs Elysses is to Paris, or Broadway to New York.

Ask your guide to take you to a cafe for a coffee, Russian beer or Soviet champagne (technically, sparkling wine). “Walk along Nevsky Prospect, have a cup of coffee, watch people pass by, and you understand all of Russia,” says Timophey Beliaev, of the Corinthia Nevaskij Palace Hotel, situated on Nevsky Prospect.

At the end of the day, take in ballet or opera. St. Petersburg is chock full of theaters, notably The Mariinsky Theater, one of Russia’s largest and oldest music theaters, famous the world over for opera and ballet.

On one of the two other days, visit Peterhof, a magnificent 18th century European palace and gardens, features more than 150 fountains and four cascades.

Head to the suburbs of sprawling St. Petersburg to visit the region’s impressive palaces and parks. From the cruise terminal, you can get to Peterhof, a magnificent 18th-century European palace and gardens (inspired by Peter the Great’s visit to Versailles in 1697), by bus or hydrofoil.

Take the hydrofoil if possible, 30 minutes each way as opposed to about an hour each way by bus, advises tourist guide Tatiana Ivanova. She recommends that time-pressed cruise passengers stroll only among the gardens at Peterhof to admire the waterworks, featuring more than 150 fountains and water-jets that shower gilt statues of ancient gods and heroes.

Though not all cruise lines offer it, combining Peterhof with Catherine’s Palace works well (you can easily do this on a private tour).

Situated at Pushkin, also about an hour from St. Petersburg but only 30 minutes from Peterhof, Catherine’s Palace is striking, with an imposing facade in white, gold and blue. Inside, are the real treasures, including the Amber Room, which was dismantled by the Nazis and smuggled to South America — lost forever. Russian craftsman used six tons of amber to replicate the panels that adorned the walls and reopened the room in 2003.

The first thing you need to know about visiting St. Petersburg is that you will need a visa. That’s right, the tedious and time-consuming paperwork for obtaining a visa must be completed — but not necessarily by you. That’s because Russian visas come with several caveats. The one you need to know about is that if you are arriving by cruise ship, the cruise line that operates that ship has a relationship with a ground operator approved by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That ground operator has obtained a “blanket” visa to cover all passengers on the ship.

These so-called “transit” visas, good for visits of up to 72 hours, allow you to exit the ship only on group or private tours conducted by that ground operator. You are not allowed to disembark the ship and travel on your own — not even to stroll Nevsky Prospect, the most famous street in all of Russia — unless you’ve taken the time to apply for a tourist visa.

But there’s a way around all of this. Let your ship take care of it. As one tour guide told me, “Think of me as your visa.”

The cruise lines are all dressed up with plenty of places to go, but they still need some more dance partners. And they are prepared to use all their wiles to get more people to join them out on the floor — er — make that, out to sea.The bargains and values on cruise vacations have never been more impressive, especially for itineraries later this year as the cruise lines look to fill berths during the fall and early winter when the family-travel market is in its school-days lull. The ships will sail, and the cruise lines know they are going to have to be aggressive to fill them.

Although demand has been dampened by the worldwide recession, cruising has never had more to offer, in terms of both hardware and itineraries, both of which have been polished and refined to a high luster.

Certainly, the gleaming ships provide resort-style services and amenities. Nowhere is that more true than on the Freedom of the Seas, one of Royal Caribbean’s mammoth flagships, which will be making for the Caribbean out of Port Canaveral this fall. A destination unto itself, the three-year-old Freedom keeps everyone happy and entertained and well fed with a what-will-they-think-of-next assortment of activities, amusements, eateries and public spaces. Somehow, Royal Caribbean has created the largest cruise ship, equipped it with the most toys, and yet managed to create an experience that doesn’t feel crowded while maintaining a personalized service standard.

And if you like to sail on ships while they still have that new-car smell, Costa Cruises has a couple of fresh models for your consideration: Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica, both introduced this spring. Fully loaded with an elegant array of bells and whistles, including a retractable roof over the top deck pool on the Pacifica, these ships are offering a variety of European and Mediterranean itineraries. And part of the appeal of a vacation with Costa Cruises is the mix of European and U.S. travelers on holiday, providing a unique and fun cultural experience, even when the ship is at sea.

Another attractive European option, Azamara Cruises, a sister company of Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean, has packaged land tours with dozens of its Mediterranean cruises. For instance, one itinerary has the Azamara Journey boarding passengers in Istanbul on Oct. 3 and departing a day later; it can be combined with four days of touring Neveshir, Ankara and the surrounding regions of Turkey. The land portion of the vacation adds a fulfilling dimension of history and culture to the vacation.

For those looking for a more seasonal destination, Canada/New England itineraries are perfect for some bracing weather and brilliant fall foliage. Running from one to two weeks, these cruises skirt New England and enter Quebec, typically making stops in Boston, Montreal, Bar Harbor, Halifax and Quebec City. The schedules are designed so that there’s plenty of time for a Maine lobster dinner and for poking around historic cities and quaint fishing villages. With two ships on this route, the Maasdam and the Eurodam, Holland America Line spices the trip with visits to rocky and rugged Quebec’s Gaspé, where guests may see roaming herds of caribou and elk or eagles and puffins sharing protected coves.

Providing a bit more of a temperate climate, Panama Canal cruises are also abundant in the fall, and this continues to be a trip worthy of repeating several times. Princess Cruises is offering five canal departures each month this fall: a weeklong roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale aboard the Island Princess and 15-days one-way connecting Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles. Of course, the canal itself is an amazing experience, but the trip also provides access to beautiful and historic ports of call in Mexico, Costa Rica and the Caribbean where you’ll find turquoise waters and white-sand beaches, coral reefs and tropical forests, exotic wildlife, colorful histories of pirates and adventurers and fascinating national treasures.

It’s been the opinion here for quite some time that a cruise vacation provides the best overall travel value. Given the bargains and savings available through the end of 2009, combined with the quality of the ships and the diversity of the itineraries, that belief has only grown stronger.

What will Larry bring to Azamara? That remains to be seen, of course, but one can only imagine that the luxury cruise veteran will notch up “deluxe” category Azamara to contend with Oceania Cruises, which commands higher per diems and, in my opinion, a superior on-board product.

During its inception Azamara announced its aspiration to be a “deluxe” category cruise line, positioned between premium cruise lines (like sister brand Celebrity) and luxury brands (such as Silversea and Regent). Deluxe, however, probably has more meaning to cruise line marketing departments than to consumers. Azamara is essentially in the premium category, along with Celebrity.

Though I enjoyed my sailing on Azamara, I was frustrated by some of its policies. It’s a small issue perhaps, but as a Sky Suite guest last year, I was entitled to complimentary speciality coffees - but only if I ordered them in my suite. Ordered in the Mosaic Cafe, that cup of cappuccino - free on Oceania - cost me nearly $5 ($4 plus 18 percent included gratuity). I could, however, return to my suite, order the complimentary cappuccino, and return to the Mosaic Cafe with coffee in hand. And oddly, a can of Coke was $4 from my suite fridge, and only $2 at the beverage outlets outside the suite.

If these nickel-and-dime issues have not been sorted out already, I’m sure Larry will bring a sense of clarity and continuity to Azamara, which got off to a bumpy start when the cruise line was launched in spring 2007. Azamara was hammered, particularly in the online cruise chat rooms and forums, and it has yet to gain the awareness of Oceania.

Azamara surely will benefit with Larry at the helm. I wish him fair winds as he sets off on this new journey.

Peterhof’s gardens and fountains are stunning. Peter the Great took inspiration from Versailles. The 155 fountains, many of which are gilded, are hydro-powered: no pumps. Peterhof is about one hour by tour bus from the cruise ship docks. Our return journey is by hydrofoil.

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Touring Peterhof Palace and Gardens in St. Petersburg.
 

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Avid Cruiser Jeff Rowland has been following my Silver Cloud cruise virtually. He writes from his home, “One of the main areas I like to take advantage of are the whirlpools whenever I cruise. Would like to hear your opinions on what Regent, Seabourn and Silverse has to offer in this area.”
 
I can certainly say that what Silver Cloud offers is adequate, and yes, the whirlpools have been put to good use on this sailing. The photo above, however, was taken when the ship was nearly empty - passengers were out on tours in St. Petersburg. There are two whirlpools on the pool deck as well as a sauna at the spa.

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St. Petersburg, Russia, from Silversea Cruises Silver Cloud, at 12:44 a.m.

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When in Stockholm before or after your cruise, visit Saluhall, one of Stockholm’s oldest markets and one of the world’s top ten markets, according to a 2007 ranking by Bon Appetit magazine.

Silver Cloud is docked in downtown St. Petersburg. No matter, you still need a visa to walk across the street - or you must be traveling with an authorized tour operator. The Hermitage is situated near the gold-domed building in the upper left. Silver Cloud will spend three full days in St. Petersburg.

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Citizens of the United States are the largest demographic group on Silver Cloud this week, but as a whole, they make up less than half of the passenger mix, accounting for 103 of the 263 passengers on board (the ship’s capacity is 296).

Australians number 74, and the United Kingdom is short 21 of its citizens this week.

A lonely two Kiwis roam the decks, same for the Venezuelans and for the French (who would have thought with so much champagne on board?).

Austria ridded itself of only one citizen to Silver Cloud this week; and Spain sent eight, enough for full-time flamenco lessons for the whole ship.

There are four Chinese on board; one Irishman, which could account for why the whiskey bottles are always a few fingers shy of the bottom; four Italians, living la dolce vita; eight Mexicans; six Swiss; seven Germans; six Brazilians; 12 Canadians; and two Chlleans.

Who takes care of all of the non-native English speakers and single travelers? The lovely international hostesses, Anita Labs, who hails from Germany; and Johanna Alarco Jeri, from Peru. No one ever need feel left out, alone or isolated. If only the world could get along as well as Silver Cloud’s passengers.

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The photo below of the uncrowded dock was taken today as passengers disembarked Silver Cloud.

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Posted via email from the avid cruiser

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In St. Petersburg, Silver Cloud is docked only steps away from the Hermitage. Of course, you must possess a visa or go with an organized tour to step ashore. Russian regulations, not the ship’s. (To learn more about Russia’s visa requirements, search http://www.portprofiles.com)
 
Photographed from Silver Cloud’s aft end, in the distance, is the Azamara Journey, roughly 40 percent larger than Silver Cloud but capable of carrying more than twice the number of guests (710 vs. 300).
 
Azamara Journey is in the premium category while Silver Cloud is in the luxury category. While the designations may mean more to those in the industry than to prospective cruisers, sailings on luxury vessels typically cost more than sailings on premium vessels. Luxury cruises, however, arguably offer the greater value in that nearly everything, with the exception of spa treatments and shore excursions, is included in the fare.
 
Moreover, luxury cruise fares are have tumbled in recent months, and luxury cruise companies are offering either steep discounts or generous on-board credits (sometimes both), to bolster demand. For those who can afford it, luxury cruises offer a strong value proposition, especially in the current economic quagmire.
 

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If you are in need of a virtual get-away, come with me. I’ll be sailing on Crystal Symphony, Silversea Silver Cloud, Regent Seven Seas Voyager and Seabourn Odyssey from now until the end of July.

Please leave your questions or comments about the ships or tell me where to point my camera if there’s something you want to see on the ship. Need to know about a special restaurant or stateroom? Just ask.

If you prefer, follow me on Facebook or Twitter.

Missed my post about Crystal Symphony? Click on Stockholm Gets New Nobu Restaurant.

As discussed before on Avid Cruiser, Silversea Cruises offers complimentary wine and spirits to guests.

So what exactly is Silversea pouring? Let’s start with the champagne. Silversea’s complimentary pours are Perrier-Jouet, generally preferred by guests from the United Kingdom; Pommery, the preference of many American guests; and Drappier, a new offering for Silversea that is the French president’s preferred brand, according to Tim Donvin, Food & Beverage Controller on Silversea.

House pour wines number about 80 different brands from regions worldwide, says head sommelier Vanja Vrhovac (pictured). Wines are chosen primarily based on Silversea’s heritage (an Italian company) and the regions where the ship is sailing. For example, on sailings in South America, regional wines, such as Malbec, are provisioned.

In addition, Silver Cloud offers a selection of about 50 premium wines, available at an extra charge. One passenger I spoke with said prices for the premium wines were about half of what he paid for the same brands in restaurants in the United States.

Not an oenophile myself, I am content with the complimentary pours. When I ordered white wine with room service earlier this week, the room steward brought along a bottle of Chateau Saint Marie, a Bordeaux blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion and Muscadelle. I had no trouble quaffing a glass of the 2007 vintage.

Starting this month, complimentary wines are being upgraded, Vrhovac says, citing such new brands on board as Conundrum and Caymus, from two of California’s best-known wineries.

House pour spirits include fine brands, but you can cough up a little extra for the best brands if you wish.

Silver Cloud’s guests may also request bottles of wine and spirits to be delivered to their suites.

During a typical 10-day cruise, more than 1,900 bottles of wine and 400 bottles of champagne are consumed along with beer and spirits.

One special wine experience on Silver Cloud is Le Champagne, which offers a Relais & Chateaux dining experience with paired wines. For $200 per guest, the dinner includes a paired wine with each course of the Degustation menu. The menu is offered for $30 without the special pairings.

On this sailing, a Bordeaux menu was featured last night that started with Dom Perignon, followed by Sauternes, which typically costs $140 to $180 a bottle, then a selection of other wines that average around $150 per bottle. For oenophiles, Le Champagne appears to represent a good value.

I wasn’t aware of it, but Yasar Kibar was. Silver Cloud’s Chef de Rang, a position between the waiter and head waiter, saw that my eggs were getting cold as I talked to a passenger who stopped by my table to chat. When the conversation was over, Yasar came over and asked if he could replace my cold eggs with warm ones. Rarely do cruise passengers experience such attentiveness, but on Silversea, you can expect such high standards.
 
Yasar, who studied food and beverage management at Cornell, says his dream is to open a Starbucks in his native Turkey. If the 41-year-old succeeds, his customers can be assured of a warm cup of coffee and a warm dose of hospitality.
 

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If you really want to see a region and get to know what makes it tick, a river cruise may be perfect for you.

River cruise ships are smaller than ocean-going cruise ships, typically holding a few dozen passengers or a few hundred, although there are exceptions at either extreme. Due to their smaller size and low draft, river cruise ships can go where ocean cruise ships cannot, and sometimes to where no other transport is practical: Rivers are an excellent way to reach some attractions in Egypt, Russia or China, for example, although river cruises in Europe are the most popular.

During river cruises, which are usually extended itineraries lasting one week and longer, the countryside is almost always in view, which is comforting to some travelers. While some of these ships are simple, almost Spartan, you can find river ships outfitted with the amenities of a resort, with sun decks, dining rooms, lounges, fitness facilities, and other features.

Accommodations, meals onboard, entertainment and some special activities are usually included in the cruise price while bar expenses, sauna, massage, laundry and cleaning, and phone calls are not. Most cruises have a variety of onboard and offboard activities, with easy and informal access to cities and countryside.

The latter include guided tours to historic and cultural sites, and other points of interest. Guides often will provide a running commentary while sailing past noted attractions.

Popular river cruises include trips along the Nile, the Willamette, the Mississippi, the Yangtze, the Mekong, the Danube, the Rhine, the Seine and the Volga. There are several dozen river cruise companies with fleets of one to 20 ships.

4 p.m. Silver Cloud departs Helsinki in one hour, transiting the Gulf of Finland to Peter the Great’s city, his “window to the West” and to Europe.
 
Meantime, it tea time on Silver Cloud, docked with the aft of the vessel overlooking Helsinki’s central attractions, including the market that is less than 100 yards away.
 
You could liken it to being in one of the best hotels in the city, except this one takes its guests on a journey.
 

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Silver Cloud, like most other luxury vessels, includes a replenishable stocked minibar at no additional cost. Fresh flowers and fresh fruits also are provided on a continual basis. Of course, this is typical of the luxury cruisers and also of some categories of “premium” designated vessels.
 
One interesting side note: If you order room service with a glass of wine, you’ll typically get a whole bottle (you may also order bottles of spirits at no extra charge). Room service is especially well done on Silver Cloud, even down to the table cloth.
 

Posted via email from the avid cruiser

Posted via email from the avid cruiser

Founded in 1550 by Sweden’s King Gustav, Helsinki was developed as a harbor town to compete for Baltic trade with Tallinn. The Finnish capital developed around the port.
 
Situated in the city center, South Harbor is the central cruise passenger traffic hub. Cruise ships dock at Katajanokka or other quays within walking distance of the city center and the Kauppatori Market Square, a colorful way to begin exploration of Helsinki.
 
Silver Cloud, shown above, will be in Helsinki from noon until 5 today.

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Silver Cloud commands a good docking space In Helsinki, within walking distance of the colorful market and Senate Square.

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We moved our clocks ahead one hour last night and will dock in Helsinki at noon today. Just offshore are small beautiful islands like this one, interesting to watch on our approach.

Posted via email from the avid cruiser

Among the activities on cruise ships are big-screen movies, with complimentary popcorn and sodas. Some cruise ships, such as Disney, Carnival and Princess, offer outdoor big-screen movies. Silver Cloud also offers en-suite movies as well as a DVD lending library - at no additional charge.

Posted via email from the avid cruiser

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from the avid cruiser

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from the avid cruiser

As a woman in her bathrobe (about to take a dip in the chilly Baltic) waves from the end of the pier in Stockholm’s archipelago, Silver Cloud’s passengers and crew stand mesmerized by the beauty of this passage. “I knew it was meant to be beautiful,” Robin, from the United Kingdom tells me, “but I didn’t expect it to be this beautiful.” If they haven’t already, avid cruisers should put a cruise to or from Stockholm on their must-do list.

Posted via email from the avid cruiser

With few exceptions, luxury cruise lines, such as Regent, Seabourn and Silversea, include alcohol in the cruise fare. Of course, you typically pay more up front than on non-luxury vessels, but many passengers find it convenient not to have to sign each time they order a drink.

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The champagne has been cracked, and Silver Cloud has set sail. The first part of our journey takes us through Stockholm’s beautiful archipelago, with its 30,000 islands, islets and rocks, certainly one of this planet’s most beautiful passages.
 
Beautiful weather with a good forecast as we make our way to Helsinki. Did I just hear someone say tha life is indeed very good?

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From Stockholm’s city center, board bus #1 to Frihamnen, the Freeport, where Regent, Crystal, Silversea, Oceania and more cruise brands embark passengers. Bus fare: SEK26 (about US$3.50). Note that you cannot purchase a ticket on the bus, but automated kiosks are easily found. The Stockholm Card, a good value for tourists, includes free transportation. Order online (see http://www.cruisingfromstockholm.com) or purchase at the airport, in hotels or elsewhere.
 
The bus is easy and fast (15 minutes from city center to Frihamnen). However, if you have lots of luggage, you may want to pony up for a taxi (SEK200) instead of making the 10-minute walk from the bus stop to the terminal.
 
By bus, head left at the T-junction the bus is facing when it terminates at Frihamnen, following the blue line painted on the pavement for cruise passengers. Well marked, the cruise terminal is situated adjacent to Dackmagasinet 8.
 
Though well-equipped to handle cruise ships and passengers, Frimhamnen is arguably Stockholm’s most unattractive port, so enjoy your time in Stockholm’s stunning city center before making your way to the ship. There is little, if anything, to see or do near Frihamnen.

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I am soon headed to Silver Cloud for our 6 p.m. departure from Stockholm. In about three hours, I have walked from Stureplan and visited all of the sites in the preceding posts. Again, Stockholm is easy to see on foot.

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Stockholm is compact, which allows visitors to see a lot in a short time. Most visitors make their way to charming Gamla Stan. With its cobblestone streets, Stockholm’s Old Town is one of the world’s best-preserved Medieval cities.

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