Baltic Sea Cruise; Part I

Wow!  I TOTALLY didn't expect to like "cruising" as much as I did, but it's REALLY, REALLY cool!  As a caveat, I should qualify the previous statement by clarifying that I don't think I could actually go on a cruise on which you are on the ship for any length of time, but...as a floating hotel on which you spend a few hours in the evening, and then spend the days at "ports of call" it's AMAZING!!!!

Our journey began last Tuesday with a flight from Minneapolis to Stockholm, Sweden, via New York (with a TEDIOUS five hour layover).  It was a LONG journey, but was not a problem, since we got 1st class/business class on the flight from Minneapolis to New York AND from New York to Stockholm.  SUCH a treat!

We arrived in Stockholm around 10:00 on Wednesday (I think...everything is a blur at this point, and we NEVER really seemed to know what day it was while we were gone).  We took the train from the airport to Central Station in Stockholm, and then took a taxi from the station to the Royal Caribbean berth in the harbor. 

We had NO idea what to do, but watched everyone around us, and eventually got checked in, and, after awhile, boarded the ship. 

Waiting to board the ship!

We got on the ship before we were able to go to our cabin, so had lunch at the Windjammer cafe, walked around the deck for awhile, explored the ship and then went to our cabin when it was ready. 

LUCKILY Duane got a room with a balcony, so we were able to go "outside" for air (even though the balconies around us were, apparently, "smoking platforms").  I can't imagine having a room on a lower deck (or on the interior of the ship).  I think they'd be REALLY claustrophobic!!!!!  

After unpacking, we hung out in the room until the mandatory 4:00 MUSTER drill, in which we had to go to our lifeboat station and stand in rows to be ready, should there be a disaster at sea. 

Duane then FORCED me to go to the dining room for dinner (I was feeling anti-social, and crabby).  I'm SOOOOO glad he did!  We met our table mates, and they were AWESOME!  Gary and Daryl were friends from Charlotte, North Carolina, and Venessa, Sarunas, and their son Teddy were from Plantation, Florida, and all were COMPLETELY the coolest people ever!!  Had we missed the first night, we probably wouldn't have bonded as we did...(and we DID!). 

We left port around 6:00 and headed to Helsinki, Finland.  The channel we followed out of the city was AMAZING!  There are hundreds of little islands as you head out to sea...all with quaint little cabins/houses.  It was AWESOME to sit on our balcony and watch them all pass by!  It was even MORE awesome to see Venessa and family peek around the corner of their deck at us after dinner.  We were "cabin neighbors"!!!!!

After walking the deck a few more times, and continuing to explore the ship, we went to bed (since we were totally out of sinc with time in the U.S. and were EXHAUSTED!!!).  The water was VERY smooth, and it was a LOVELY night!

The View from our balcony!

A lighthouse on the way to the Baltic Sea

Thursday morning, we woke up in the port of Helsinki, Finland.  Finland is AMAZING!  As it turned out, this was the ONLY day of sunshine we had on the trip (between rain showers throughout the day!).  We got off the ship, and, following Rick Steve's guide book, headed to Market Square.  Market Square had stands selling local fruits and vegetables, crafts, souvenirs, and local foods.

Getting ready to head into Helsinki!

Helsinki, Finland

After wandering through the market, we climbed the hill to Uspenski Cathedral...it was SOOOOO beautiful! 

After touring the church, we headed to Lutheran Cathedral to look at another example of Finnish churches.

We walked through Senate Square, did a little shopping, then headed back to Market Square to continue looking around.  It started pouring, so we headed to Rick's recommendation for lunch...Kappeli Cafe.  In the 19th century, this was a popular hangout for local intellectuals and artists.  As we were sitting down to eat, I looked at the couple at the next table, and they were reading through Rick's book as well...TOO FUNNY!!!!!

After lunch, we headed back to Market Square, so that Duane could buy earrings for his friend Jenny,

then walked down the esplanade to Stockmann Department Store...a HUGE, old, ritzy, shopping mecca.  Surprisingly, neither of us bought anything!

After Stockmann's, we headed to the botanical gardens, looked around a little bit, then headed back to the "pickup" location for the shuttle back to the ship. 

We had time before dinner, so sat on the deck and enjoyed a glass of wine (well...I DID, anyway!), watched various seacraft pass by the ship, and relaxed.

We then went to dinner ("formal" night), and shared stories of the day with our table mates!

Our "official" ship photograph!!!

After dinner, we walked the deck for awhile,

then caught the shipboard "Broadway Revue" show in the Masquerade theater (NOT fabulous...but they sure looked like they were enjoying themselves....), then went back to the room for some time on the balcony, and bed!

TO BE CONTINUED...