Cruising The Baltic Sea

Beautiful, secluded anchorages, picturesque canals, bustling marinas, dramatic cities - all await those considering a Baltic cruise.The nine countries bordering the Baltic Sea offer an immense variety of cruising grounds, people and cultures. There are thousands of harbours and innumerable anchorages, and it would take an entire bookshelf, to cover them all in detail. The information contained in this book has therefore been chosen for its value both at the planning stages - preparing the yacht, choosing the most suitable route, timing and communications etc - and again on arrival, when a general overview of each individual country is followed by specific harbour information. Where detailed cruising information is readily available - effectively Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland - only selected harbours are covered, chosen, with a few exceptions, as fulfilling certain key needs. Where cruising information is more limited - Poland, Kaliningrad, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Russia - many smaller harbours are also featured in detail. In addition to comprehensive suggestions for further reading (and sources in each country from which they may be ordered) more than 200 websites are listed, again chosen for their relevance both at the planning stages and en route. Details of internet access points are included for most major harbours. This 4th edition (2017) has been produced by a team from the Royal Cruising Club and contains substantial changes. Apart from the routine updating of the text and plans - many newly drawn for this edition - and the addition of new photos, there are also some major changes. In particular coverage of Finland has been reorganized, and reflecting the fast pace of change since the last edition, the Baltic States and Poland sections have been improved significantly.

With the success of my first Baltic Sea book, I have taken the material and greatly expanded it, adding more detail, restaurant and shopping recommendations and new photographs. The Baltic Sea is one of the most popular regions in Europe for those who want to cruise. There are seven to 10-day cruises offered that include such memorable cities as Copenhagen, Tallinn, Helsinki and Stockholm. And the crown jewel of any Baltic Sea cruise is Saint Petersburg, the grand imperial capital of Russia. Normally the weather is cool, yet bright. And the days during summer are long, what the Russians call the "White Nights." If you have ever wanted to learn about this region and what it offers, this is the book to purchase. It is NOT a detailed guide that offers individualized walking tours or presents dozens of hotel and restaurant listings. I have included my favorite restaurants and shopping venues, but the focus of the book is to describe the landscape, discuss the relevant history and give you tips as to how to maximize your days in port. Remember that when you cruise, you have a limited amount of time in each port. So it is best to become familiar with where you are going before you get there. Not all cruise lines offer a comprehensive lecture program that will provide you with such valuable information. I have been lecturing for Silversea Cruises for ten years and I have made 42 tours through the Baltic Sea. Combined with my 46 years as a geography professor, I believe I am in a good position to present you with a valid picture of what you will find in the Baltic Sea.

With the success of my first Baltic Sea book, I have taken the material and greatly expanded it, adding more detail, restaurant and shopping recommendations and new photographs. The Baltic Sea is one of the most popular regions in Europe for those who want to cruise. There are seven to 10-day cruises offered that include such memorable cities as Copenhagen, Tallinn, Helsinki and Stockholm. And the crown jewel of any Baltic Sea cruise is Saint Petersburg, the grand imperial capital of Russia. Normally the weather is cool, yet bright. And the days during summer are long, what the Russians call the "White Nights." If you have ever wanted to learn about this region and what it offers, this is the book to purchase. It is NOT a detailed guide that offers individualized walking tours or presents dozens of hotel and restaurant listings. I have included my favorite restaurants and shopping venues, but the focus of the book is to describe the landscape, discuss the relevant history and give you tips as to how to maximize your days in port. Remember that when you cruise, you have a limited amount of time in each port. So it is best to become familiar with where you are going before you get there. Not all cruise lines offer a comprehensive lecture program that will provide you with such valuable information. I have been lecturing for Silversea Cruises for ten years and I have made 42 tours through the Baltic Sea. Combined with my 46 years as a geography professor, I believe I am in a good position to present you with a valid picture of what you will find in the Baltic Sea.

Covering the North Sea and Baltic coasts of Germany and Denmark, this guide is based on selected routes and provides all the necessary details and plans of ports along them. Now in its third edition, this text provides more detailed coverage of the coasts of Mecklenburg and Vorpommern to the Polish border, an area that has seen many changes in the last decade.

Set sail and dive into Europe's magnificent port cities with Rick Steves Mediterranean Cruise Ports! Inside you'll find: Rick's expert advice on making the most of your time on a cruise and fully experiencing each city, with thorough coverage of 23 ports of call Practical travel strategies including how to choose and book your cruise, adjust to life on board on the ship, and save money Self-guided walks and tours of each port city so you can hit the best sights, sample authentic cuisine, and get to know the culture, even with a short amount of time Essential logistics including step-by-step instructions for arriving at each terminal, getting into town, and finding necessary services like ATMs and pharmacies Rick's reliable tips and candid advice on how to beat the crowds, skip lines, and avoid tourist traps Helpful reference photos throughout and full-color maps of each city Useful tools like mini-phrasebooks, detailed instructions for any visa requirements, hotel and airport recommendations for cruise access cities, and what to do if you miss your ship Full list of coverage: Provence, Marseille, Toulon and the Port of La Seyne-sur-Mer, Cassis, Aix-en-Provence, Nice, Villefrance-sur-Mer, Cap Ferrat, Monaco, Cannes, Antibes, Florence, Pisa, Lucca, the Port of Livorno, Rome, the Port of Civitaveccia, Naples, Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii, Herculaneum, the Amalfi Coast, Venice, Split, Dubrovnik, Athens, the Port of Piraeus, Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, Olympia and the Port of Katakolo, Crete and the Port of Heraklion, Rhodes, Istanbul, Ephesus, and The Port of Kusadasi Maximize your time and savor every moment in port with Rick's practical tips, thoughtful advice, and reliable expertise. Heading north? Pick up Rick Steves Scandinavian & Northern European Cruise Ports.

The nine countries bordering the Baltic Sea offer an immense variety of cruising grounds, people and cultures. There are thousands of harbours and innumerable anchorages, and it would take an entire bookshelf, to cover them all in detail. The information contained in this book is therefore selective. It has been chosen for its value both at the planning stages - preparing the yacht, choosing the most suitable route, timing and communications etc - and again on arrival, when a general overview of each individual country is followed by specific harbour information. Where detailed cruising information is readily available - effectively Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland - only selected harbours are covered, chosen, with a few exceptions, as fulfilling certain key needs. Where cruising information is more limited - Poland, Kaliningrad, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Russia - many smaller harbours are also featured in detail. In addition to comprehensive suggestions for further reading (and sources in each country from which they may be ordered) more than 200 websites are listed, again chosen for their relevance both at the planning stages and en route. In order to facilitate the latter, as well as for general communication, details of internet access points are included for most major harbours. This 3rd edition has been produced by a team from the Royal Cruising Club and contains substantial changes. Coverage of the West Coast of Sweden, the Gota Canal and the Gulf of Bothnia has been extended and there is more detailed information on the Baltic states. Throughout there are new plans and photographs and the technical data on countries and navigation has been thoroughly revised. Beautiful, secluded anchorages, picturesque canals, bustling marinas, dramatic cities - all await those considering a Baltic cruise.

Cruising the Baltic Sea: This personal guide gives you just the right knowledge to enjoy your Baltic cruise and saves you hundreds of dollars from the hidden costs of guided tours. Do it yourself options in-lieu-of guided tours of recommended tourist sites are detailed. The book concentrates on the following Baltic port of calls:Warnemunde, Germany and its Berlin extensionStockholm, SwedenTallinn, EstoniaHelsinki, FinlandSaint Petersburg, RussiaCopenhagen, DenmarkThis book gives you concise and quick up to date information regarding each of the above destinations. This information is categorized as follow:Geographical location of all tourist sites The origin of each port of call's name Synopsis of historyDemographic dataA detailed description of all tourist attractions and your options on how to reach each of themEconomic data and currency usedYear round climate dataBuy this book to provide you with a spectrum of knowledge and options to get the most out of your Baltic cruise and associated site tours.