princess baltic cruise reviews

An Active Traveller’s Review Of The Princess Cruises Baltic Sea Itinerary

I’ll be honest with you, until I accepted an invitation from Princess Cruises to experience their Baltic Sea itinerary I’d never considered booking a cruise .

It wasn’t because I’d heard bad things about cruising, or that the idea of visiting multiple countries in one trip didn’t appeal to me, I think I just assumed that I wouldn’t enjoy staying in close quarters with so many other people all taking the same trip as me.

Full disclosure, as I write this I’m travelling as a guest of Princess Cruises aboard one of their newest ships the Regal Princess .

I’ve just spent the day at sea and tomorrow morning I’ll wake up in Copenhagen Denmark where I depart the ship and head home.

If you’d like to take a look at the full itinerary on the Princess Cruises website please click here .

A FIRST TIME CRUISER’S REVIEW OF THE PRINCESS CRUISES EXPERIENCE

I’m an active traveller who loves researching new destinations and putting together an itinerary that fits my style of travel , so to tell you the truth I was quite intrigued to find out what the cruise travel experience was like. Having spent five days aboard Regal Princess cruising the Baltic Sea I’m thrilled to say that I’ve taken to cruising like a duck to water . Pardon the pun.

On arriving at the German port of Warnemunde where I was meeting the ship, I was quite intimidated by the sheer scale of the vessel.

If you’ve never seen a cruise ship up close imagine the biggest multi-story car-park you’ve ever seen and triple it. To put it into perspective using some fun stats the ship’s captain Tim Stringer shared with me, the ship is 141,000 tonnes when fully loaded, uses around 700,000 US dollars in fuel to sail the 11 day route around the Baltic, and rises 60 metres above the waterline .

To put it bluntly, it’s bloody enormous.

That being said, this means that the ship has pretty much the same amenities as a land-based resort. I’ll go into more detail about what’s on offer later in the post, but for now I’ll simply say that I’ve been extremely happy with the level of comfort and service on board .

PRINCESS CRUISES’ BALTIC ITINERARY IS IDEAL FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELLER

The first thing that piqued my interest in Princess Cruises’ invitation was their Scandinavian and Russian itinerary.

An 11-day cruise, the ship travels around the Baltic Sea calling in at Copenhagen, Oslo, Warnemunde (Germany), Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki, and Stockholm , and guests can check in and out at either St Petersburg, Copenhagen, or Warnemunde; which is where I joined the ship last Wednesday.

In some cases, special requests can be made to join the ship at any of the other ports. Contact your booking agent or Princess Cruises directly for more information.

Of the full 11 day trip only two days are spent at sea, one at the beginning and another toward the end of the route. The ship docks in St Petersburg for two days, and spends one day in each of the other ports on the itinerary. This brings me to one of the main reasons I decided to join Princess Cruises here in the Baltic; as a cruise passenger you can visit Russia without a visa .

GUESTS CAN VISIT RUSSIA WITHOUT A VISA

Anyone who has ever tried to get a Russian visa will tell you that it is a reasonably complex process , not a simple ‘just check the box’ kind of task. It can be costly (around £200 for British travellers), and you have to attend a Russian Visa Application Centre in either London, Manchester, or Edinburgh to submit your application.

Full entry requirements for UK citizens can be found here .

Cruise or ferry passengers can stay in Russia for 72 hours without a visa if they have booked tours through officially licensed companies. Guests are free to use any authorised travel agency (not just cruise ship tour companies), however the visa-free exception applies only to those who join an organised tour.

You can confirm that the operator is licensed by asking them to send you a tour ticket , which is called a blanket visa or booking confirmation, and will let you pass the customs/immigration offices without any other documents except a valid passport and key card for the ship.

Note that if anything happens to your passport during your stay you must get an exit visa to leave Russia so be militant about keeping an eye on your documents during your stay

MY 48 HOUR CRUISE STOP IN ST PETERSBURG

I opted for a two-day tour of St Petersburg and booked through Princess Cruises for two reasons:

Number one, they were offering second row seats to watch the ballet Swan Lake at the oldest theatre in St Petersburg as part of the package!

Number two, the ship always waits for its own tours to return, whereas if you have an issue with a third party tour and don’t make the port in time for departure the captain will not wait for you.

READ MORE POSTS FROM MY TIME ABOARD REGAL PRINCESS

PRINCESS CRUISES’ BALTIC SEA ITINERARY IS ON POINT

If you sat me down and asked me to make a list of cities in northern Europe that were on my bucket list, every single one of those on Princess Cruises’ itinerary would have made the grade.

Showcasing the very best of Scandi culture and Baltic charm, the route encompasses iconic sites like the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Tallinn’s picturesque medieval streets, and Copenhagen’s colourful Nyhavn neighbourhood .

If you follow me on Instagram you can watch highlights from my stories in my gallery; check out the wanderlust inducing pics in my feed by clicking here .

Over the course of the next seven days I’ll be adding more city guides to this section of the post so book mark it and pop back soon 😊

THE EXPERIENCE IN PORT FULFILLED MY DESIRE FOR ADVENTURE

I was a little bit nervous about whether or not I would enjoy cruise travel. I often see cruise ship tours as I explore the world and more often than not the participants look like cattle being herded around by a rather stressed guide talking in multiple languages. I think in some cases this is true of cruising, but it’s far from the experience I’ve had with Princess Cruises.

Other than in Russia, where guided tours are mandatory for everyone departing the ship, their Baltic itinerary allows for self-directed travel at each port . So that’s exactly what I’ve done. For me, a tour-bus style scenario isn’t enjoyable, but in every port I’ve been able to get off the ship and either walk to or hop on some public transport to get to the points of interest I’m keen to see.

If you do choose to manage your own itinerary at each port just be aware that YOU MUST BE BACK AT THE SHIP IN TIME TO DEPART . They will not wait for you if you are late and you will be responsible for making your own way to the next port of call to carry on the cruise!

Not sure what to pack for your next cruise? Take a look at my cruise packing list here .

THE REGAL PRINCESS ‘ON BOARD EXPERIENCE’ IS IMMENSE

I feel this section should be a whole new blog post on its own, there’s just so much to say.

I’ll start with my cabin (known as a stateroom), which I thought would be the most important place for me on the ship however it’s actually the place in which I spent the least amount of time!

PIN THIS POST TO YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS FOR LATER 

Save this post and re-visit it when you want to book your next cruise!

REVIEW OF BALCONY STATEROOM ABOARD REGAL PRINCESS

• My First Look at Regal Princess
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I’m staying in a balcony suite which can be arranged as a queen or twin room. I’m on the 12 th deck, called Aloha (there are 19 in total), and I’m pretty close to the back of the ship.

The room is well equipped with a desk and chair, mini-fridge (which you can opt to have set up as a mini-bar), shower room, and hanging clothes storage . The bed is extremely comfortable and the pillows are firm but soft enough to pummel into which ever shape is comfy. The balcony is a luxury but to be honest it’s so cold here that I’ve not actually been out to sit on it yet. If you’re on a tight budget I’d suggest that an internal room would be more than adequate – you’ll only be in there to sleep and shower.

As a British traveller who loves her tea the one thing I’d suggest you note is that there are no tea and coffee making facilities in the room , however one call to room service and there’s a pot delivered to my door within minutes. If you’re made keen on tea you could bring a travel kettle with you, just remember to bring a US plug adapter.

Other in-room amenities include a flat screen TV, bath robes and slippers, toiletries including shower gel and shampoo, and a hairdryer.

MEDALLION CLASS WIFI – YOU CAN SKYPE FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE BALTIC SEA

As someone who is permanently attached to one of a number of devices I was thrilled to hear that the ship offered the next generation of satellite WIFI, known as Medallion Net . For as little as $9.99 per day I could connect all my devices, and although the speed wasn’t akin to the super-fast broadband we have at home, I could do 90% of what I needed to without too much waiting around.

If you’re looking to make VOIP calls, update your social media and share photos with friends the net will be more than sufficient.

REVIEW OF THE FACILITIES ON BOARD REGAL PRINCESS

There are a huge amount of facilities offered on the ship and I’m sure I’ll forget to cover a few in this guide so I’ve linked to the PDF ship guide produced by Princess Cruises and you can download it here .

The public areas of the ship are spread across decks four to seven, and on decks 16 to 19.

DINING OPTIONS ON REGAL PRINCESS

The ship has three main dining rooms that serve a la carte breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day . They are located at the aft of the ship on decks five and six. Here you’ll find traditional restaurant favourites as well as a menu of daily specials. Depending on your food and beverage package you can dine anytime or book a table each night.

In addition, Regal Princess also offers two specialist restaurants, an Italian and a Grill, as well as a 24 hour café, two buffets, a pizzeria, burger bar, gelato stand, pastry shop, and smoothie bar. I certainly found that my tastes were catered to and I’m confident yours well be as well .

By far my favourite dining experience was the Wine Maker’s dinner. For a $40 cover charge per person you can treat yourself to a four-course dinner with paired wines on a private table in one of the main restaurants . George our maître d shared his knowledge of the ship’s vast wine cellar and served up some truly sumptuous dishes accompanied by delicious wines from around the world. This would be the ideal dining experience if you’re celebrating a special occasion during the trip.

Vicki from @MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld has put together this  guide to dining options on board Regal Princess, check it out if you’re keen to see the various restaurants and bars in more detail.

ON BOARD ENTERTAINMENT ON REGAL PRINCESS

Wow, where do I start.

I think my favourite of the ship’s many amenities is the fitness centre. I know that sounds really dull but making sure I kept up my fitness allowed me to make the most of my time away .

Equipped with everything you’d find in your local gym back home, the ship also offers yoga, pilates, spa treatments (try the ginger and lime body scrub and massage) and personal training sessions, as well as health seminars covering a range of topics like spinal health and nutrition.

Read my smart tips to stay fit and healthy on a cruise here.

There’s also a running track that encircles the 19th deck; seven laps make a mile. It’s a great way to kick start the day, especially when the ship has just arrived into a new port as you have first dibs on a view of the new destination!

You’ll be pleased to know that next on my list is the Sea View Bar. As the ship sails away from each port the bar tenders whip up sundowners to be sipped on the deck as the sun sinks below the horizon. Situated on deck 16, the Lido Deck, here you’ll find most of the swimming pools and sunbathing areas on board, and despite the Baltic weather (we averaged about 16 degrees with sunny skies) I found I spent quite a lot of my free time here .

As soon as the sun has set the giant movie screen jumps to life and each night a programme of movies plays under the stars. If you’re lucky you can nab yourself a spot in a hot tub and settle in for the duration, it’s heavenly!

Other highlights include a casino (only open when in international waters), a theatre (the shows are fabulous, my favourite was Fiera), a nightclub, and a signature feature of Regal Princess, the SeaWalk.

Although I’m not great with heights I loved walking out over the ocean and watching the waves crash 60 metres beneath my feet . It was such a thrill to see the ship below and look out toward the oceanic horizon.

IS THE PRINCESS CRUISES EXPERIENCE RIGHT FOR ACTIVE TRAVELLERS?

In short, I found that Princess Cruises offered everything a traveller would need to enjoy their stay aboard and allowed their guests to define their itinerary in every port.

My initial concern that I would find myself in an ‘organised tour’ scenario was far from the relaxed, independent experience I enjoyed, and I would recommend Princess Cruises and their Baltic Sea itinerary to other active travellers of any age. For me, the main attraction of cruising is the convenience of a multi-stop itinerary without the need for multiple flights and hotel check-ins .

I did find that there was a much smaller proportion of people my age (early 30s) compared to those over 60, however I didn’t find this off putting and actually met a number of very interesting retirees who chose to cruise in order to see as much of the world as possible in their later years.

My time on board was incredibly enjoyable and thanks to the amazing hospitality, 5-star amenities, and world-class itinerary, I’d definitely recommend the experience to my friends and family, and book to travel with Princess Cruises again.

If you’ve enjoyed my active traveller’s review of Princess Cruises’ Baltic Sea itinerary keep an eye out for other posts in the series coming soon!

INSPIRED? PIN THIS POST TO YOUR TRAVEL PINTEREST BOARDS!

Have you been cruising before? Would you recommend it to other active travellers? Share your experiences with me in the comments below.

This is quite an amazing blog post. Keep up the great work.

Am now prepared to go on this cruise. So informative with helpful tips and suggestions!

Great news, thanks for your comment Kim. I hope you have a fabulous time aboard!

This looks cool! As a Latvian, I have also never thought of going on a cruise in the Baltic Sea – not until now haha. I doubt they go to Russia now though

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On Board the Regal Princess – Cruising Scandinavia and Russia

• Last Updated 1 March 2024

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My review of the 11-Night Scandinavia and Baltic Cruise from Princess Cruises, onboard the Regal Princess.

It was the trip of a lifetime. A 10 day Baltic Cruise through Scandinavia and Russia with Princess Cruises. From Berlin to Oslo, by way of Tallinn, St Petersburg, Stockholm, Helsinki, and Copenhagen… this was a dream itinerary for me and a trip I was very excited about.

But what about the ship itself? This is both a review of the Regal Princess and all its amenities – as well as a review of the 11-Day Scandinavia and Baltic Cruise itinerary.

I’ll be covering the whole trip in detail – including a summary of everything I got up to and all my highlights.

Since first writing this post, I’ve done a second trip onboard the Regal Princess: a 4-night cruise around the UK . So I feel like I know the ship pretty well by now – and I have several more blog posts covering pretty much everything you could want to know about the Regal Princess.

For now, though, here’s my review of the 11 Day Scandinavia and Baltic Cruise on the Regal Princess…

Is the Regal Princess Baltic Cruise For Me?

Regal princess baltic cruise itinerary – 11-day scandinavia and russia cruise, my regal princess review: the cruise experience, dining on board, ship facilities: pools, lotus spa, and gym, regal princess cabins, entertainment.

• Final Thoughts

Disclaimer:   My trip was kindly supported by Princess Cruises in collaboration with Traverse Events. As always, all words and opinions in the post are my own and unbiased. 

READ MORE: 9 Reasons to Book a Summer Seacation with Princess Cruises

O r: Isn’t Cruising Just for Old People?!

Until I went on my first cruise a couple of years ago , I was dead against the idea of cruising. In my head, a cruise ship was a giant floating resort that I’d be trapped on, surrounded by retirees who hated travel and were only there for the all-you-can-eat buffet.

But the reality is quite the opposite. Dan (who is an awesome blogger) has put it much better than I could in his cruise FAQs post , but to sum up I can say that cruising is a great way to travel, and not exclusively for the older market.

This cruise really is perfect for anyone – especially for someone who wants to see a lot of Scandinavia in a short space of time. Cruising is kind of like a mini tasting menu – you see a small amount of a lot of places, and you can use the experience to decide where you want to revisit. The added bonus of this particular Regal Princess cruise is that you can visit St Petersburg without a visa – for two whole days!

The Regal Princess has facilities and fun stuff for all ages. A lot of the organised activities were perhaps better suited to an older crowd (I’m not really a fan of ballroom dancing)… but then again I’m not the kind of person who likes organised activities. And I think everyone can enjoy their way through the collection of pools, hot tubs, and bars on board!

READ MORE: 12 reasons to take a cruise in your 20’s and 30’s . Great post from my cruise buddy Jess! 

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For me, the biggest draw with this particular cruise was the itinerary . The 11 night cruise takes you all over the Baltics, calling at some of Scandinavia’s prettiest cities.

And in the middle, there are two whole days in St Petersburg. Normally it’s pretty tough to get a tourist visa for Russia, but if you visit on a cruise and have an official tour booked you can enter the country visa-free . Which is a massive selling point!

The normal itinerary starts and ends in Copenhagen*, but we did a slightly altered version of the full trip. Instead, we started in Berlin Warnemunde and ended in Oslo – but we still saw all the stops and got the full experience of the ship. These are my highlights of the Baltic cruise itinerary…

*This is the biggest turnaround, but you can tailor your cruise to suit. Guests can also embark/disembark in St. Petersburg, Berlin (Warnemünde), and Helsinki.

Tallin, Estonia

Tallin is normally the third stop of the cruise, but instead it was our first – after a full sea day sailing from Warnemunde. I thought it was a really pretty city, and had a fun day there, but I think one day in Tallinn was plenty of time to see most of the city so it makes a great cruise stop. We weren’t on a tour and just explored Tallinn at our own pace – the city centre is pretty small and walkable so this definitely isn’t somewhere you need a tour for.

We started the day in the Old Town, exploring the beautiful churches and pretty cobbled streets. After an extortionately priced coffee in the Raekoja Plats Square, we wandered down to the KGB museum. The tour of the secret 16th floor of the Hotel Viru was fascinating and hilarious (the guide kept making jokes that no one seemed to get). Finally, we spent the afternoon exploring Kalamaja district – a reclaimed industrial area from the Soviet era that’s become a hipster hotspot.

St Petersburg, Russia

For me, the massive draw of this Baltic cruise on the Regal Princess was getting two full days in St Petersburg. Russia is a country I’ve always wanted to visit, and St Petersburg in particular (thanks mostly to the movie Anastasia ).

Because you have to have a tour booked to see the city, we booked the Best of St Petersburg 2-Day tour through Princess Cruises . It took in all the major highlights of St Petersburg – which I covered in this blog post , along with lots of gorgeous photos of the city. We also booked to see Swan Lake at the Alexandrinsky Theatre. It was absolutely one of my highlights of the cruise, and something I really recommend.

Helsinki, Finland

After two full days in Russia, a half-day in Finland felt a little short. But we still packed it full of fun stuff with the Helsinki by Land and Sea tour. A cruise through the Helsinki Archipelago felt like a dreamy way to start the day, out in the fresh air with densely forested islands on either side and the dazzling blue of the Baltic glinting away.

Back on land, we had a whistle-stop tour of Helsinki’s highlights, before a couple of hours of downtime. It definitely left me wanting more of Helsinki, and of Finland in general.

READ MORE: Island Hopping in the Finnish Archipelago – all about my last trip to Finland.

Stockholm, Sweden

After spending several days in Stockholm a couple of years ago, this was familiar territory for me – which is good as one day never feels like enough time for this city! It was lovely to spend a sunny morning exploring Gamla Stan, the colourful old town, and stop for fika (the Swedish ritual of having coffee and cake with friends).

For lunch, we swung by one of Stockholm’s most famous restaurants – Gondolen . It’s suspended in a crane-like metal structure above the city’s port, and has some seriously amazing views. Along with excellent Swedish food !

Copenhagen, Denmark

Normally the first port of the cruise, for us Copenhagen was the penultimate stop. It was a gloriously sunny day, and we made the most of it with a bike tour of the city. The bikes were electric, which made life easier – but even so, my personal recommendation would be to take a bus from the port to the city centre before beginning a bike tour. It was a nice intro to Copenhagen and we were able to see a lot of the city’s most famous sights. And I loved just cycling around in the sunshine, soaking up the ambience of the city.

Oslo, Norway

We didn’t have long in Oslo as we had to leave in the early afternoon to catch our flights. But Norway itself is a country I’ll definitely return to, and I’d like to spend at least another day in Oslo to see it properly. What I did see was a modern, cool-looking city with a LOT of trendy coffee shops.

Apparently, Oslo is known for architectural innovation – and the cubic glass shapes of the Opera House on the water’s edge were a pretty good example of that.

As the cruise ends in Oslo, you could easily extend your trip to see more of Norway. You could also visit Bergen, or head to Flåm and the Aurlandsfjord area for a couple of days to explore the fjords and surrounding villages!

All in all, it was an incredible itinerary with a lot of great stops. And as I said before, it’s a great way to sample a lot of this part of Europe in a short space to time. I definitely left most cities wanting more, and I’m already forming some plans to revisit a few of my favourites.

This was my first time travelling with Princess Cruises, and only my second ever cruise, so I had no idea what to expect. And while the itinerary was absolutely the biggest draw for me – I was excited to discover a new ship experience!

Cruising, in general, has a bit of a reputation, as I touched on above. It can sometimes be seen as too formal, or aimed at an older audience. But a cruise is whatever you make of it. The Regal Princess is a huge ship with loads of facilities and amenities, so guests can do whatever makes them happy. For me, that was mostly enjoying my leisure time, hanging out with my friends, and getting tipsy in the hot tub!

READ MORE: My UK Seacation with Princess Cruises

There’s a huge schedule of activities every day, featuring everything from tango lessons to Russian doll painting, but not much of it appealed to me. That doesn’t mean I had nothing to do, though. I had over a dozen bars to explore, seemingly endless food to sample, multiple pools and hot tubs to unwind in, and the occasional outdoor cinema experience. And that was plenty to keep me busy for eleven days!

READ MORE: 17 Things to do on a Regal Princess Sea Day

Service is always a big thing for me when it comes to travel, and on the whole, I thought the service on board the Regal Princess was fab. Particularly in the restaurants and bars. Our waiter Edgar from the Symphony Dining Room deserves a special mention, as do Peter, Prakash, and the rest of the team at Club 6. Everyone in the bars and restaurants was super friendly and really made us feel welcome.  The only thing I felt was lacking was a poolside order service – people didn’t come round very often and I didn’t love tearing myself away from the hot tub to get another drink!

I did think that the staff doing the checks as you got on and off the ship at the port could have been a bit friendlier. If walking into the dining room every night feels like coming home, surely coming back on board should too? I get that they’re busy doing a big job and dealing with a LOT of people every day – but it never hurts to smile! On the whole, though, the rest of the ship’s staff were amazing and I always felt right at home!

My favourite thing about cruising – besides the itinerary in this case – is always the food! There’s SO MUCH of it, and it’s all so good! I’ve already written a full review of the Regal Princess dining options and a breakdown of all the different restaurants, so I won’t dwell on it too much here.

But just in brief, the food on board the Regal Princess was excellent. And the choice is fantastic! There’s the main dining room, two enormous buffet restaurants, a poolside grill and pizzeria, a zillion cake options at the 24/7 International Cafe, and Alfredo’s pizza restaurant… all included in your cruise fare! Then there are speciality dining options and a few additional restaurants available for an extra charge. There’s so much to choose from, and absolutely no way you could get bored of it all. In fact, you could probably eat in a different restaurant every night!

My highlight was the Wine Makers Dinner, which at $40 was – I think – a pretty reasonable option for a special dinner. That price includes all your drinks, and every course is paired with a specially chosen (and generously poured) wine. It’s great if you want to try something different or mark a special occasion.

If I wasn’t in port exploring a new city, chances are I was in one of the hot tubs on the Regal Princess! This was definitely one of my favourite parts of the cruise. We had sunny, cold weather (the winds were literally Baltic!), but there was still nothing better than sitting in the hot water watching the world sail by. Especially with a glass of bubbly in hand!

There are three pools on board – two on the main lido deck, and a third in The Retreat, an adults only area near the front of the ship. While the main pool area was often quite busy, we frequently had The Retreat more or less to ourselves – so the two hot tubs there were by far my favourite. Better still, they were within calling distance of the bar, so we didn’t have to get out to order a drink.

Gym and Sports Facilities

Confession time – I never once used the sports facilities on board. No surprises there, if you know me! But if you’re less lazy than me, or you feel the need to burn off all those delicious breakfast pastries, the Regal Princess has you covered with a wealth of sports facilities on board. My fellow cruiser Charli DID make use of them, and came up with a great list of ways to stay fit and healthy on a cruise . So check that for inspiration, and check the list of sports facilities below to plan all the ways you’re going to combat your cruise indulgence:

• Fitness Centre with a well-equipped gym and a private aerobics studio
• Outdoor Jogging/Walking Track
• Center Court – can be used for basketball, tennis, volleyball and badminton
• Driving Range
• Batting Cage
• Simulated Laser Shooting
• Lawn Court – a grassy area for putting, bocce ball, croquet and lawn bowling
• Game Lounge –  including table tennis and virtual gaming with Kinect TM  systems
• Lots of daily activities, from ballroom dancing to zumba to yoga. Check the daily schedule for more details.

Princess Cruises Lotus Spa

This was one area of the Regal Princess’ facilities that I made sure to try! The Lotus Spa is a Princess Cruises staple and has been named Best Spa on a Cruise Ship by Spa finder Wellness 365. It’s a surprisingly big space, and the ambience inside was fabulously tranquil. On such a large ship, it feels pretty hard to escape all the crowds and noise – but the Lotus Spa felt totally cut off.

I spent a couple of hours relaxing inside The Enclave, the Lotus Spa’s thermal suite. Despite being fairly small, it wasn’t crowded or cramped inside. It’s a really beautiful space with a big hydro-therapy pool (I loved lying slumped on the bubble bench), two steam rooms, and a sauna.

Next, I had a full body Swedish massage in one of the stylishly decorated treatment rooms. It was so relaxing that I actually nodded off towards the end – and had to head back to The Enclave to lie down afterwards! If you have a sea day on your Regal Princess cruise and you need to escape for a while, I highly recommend the Lotus Spa experience.

I was in a Balcony cabin on my Regal Princess cruise, and was lucky enough to be right up on the Lido deck near the top of the ship. So the views from my balcony were gorgeous!

Balcony cabins are usually 214 to 222 sq. ft. At first glance, my room looked kind of small, but in actual fact it was surprisingly spacious. The rooms are really well designed to make use of the space, and I liked the enormous wardrobe area. But my favourite part of the room was the bed! Princess Cruises are known for their beds – which have been voted among the best cruise ship beds by Cruise Critic  – and I adored mine. It was so comfy, and I found it very hard to tear myself away from it most mornings.

My other highlight was the balcony, a lovely big space with a table and chairs which was perfect for lazing about watching the world – or the sea – go by! If you’re not on a tight budget, it’s definitely worth the splurge to opt for a room with a balcony. The interior cabins look perfectly nice, but you can’t beat waking up to a brand new view from your own private balcony every morning!

As I’m writing this post, I still can’t get over just how much there is to DO on board the Regal Princess! I feel like I haven’t even touched on half of it. In this Regal Princess review, I’m only really covering the aspects of the ship that I tried for myself – and the ones that I think would interest travellers similar to me.

I never had time to try the Princess Live gameshow experience, for example. And I’m gutted about that because it sounds right up my street – live gameshows filmed in an on-ship production studio? Totally on board with that idea! And I only glimpsed the enormous casino, but I did wind up embarrassing myself on the dance floor of Club 6 most nights. Again – it’s all about tailoring your cruise to YOU. There’s something for everyone.

What I did have time to enjoy, I’ve tried to include here. From the Instagram-worthy Seawalk (a glass walkway 128 feet over the ocean), to live music performances in the elegant central piazza, to the coloured fountain show after dark… there’s just so much to do on the Regal Princess that you’d struggle to do it all.

Princess Theatre

I’ll be honest here; I had visions of cringey cabaret and cheesy audience participation. Thankfully, the Princess Theatre is a far cry from the Butlins-style evening entertainment I was picturing. In fact, it’s a full-blown theatre company with a different show every night – and with several big musical numbers created by some incredible directors and choreographers.

During my 10 day Baltic cruise on the Regal Princess I caught three shows. The lively, pop-song-packed Fiera was great fun, while Princess’ signature show BRAVO was a bit more sedate and featured some incredible talents. The singers were all amazing, and the production quality was almost West-End-worthy. My favourite was the Sweet Soul Music show, though, which really showed off the dancers’ talents – and made the most of the two powerful female lead singers’ stunning voices.

Movies Under the Stars

On the Lido deck, there’s a massive outdoor screen towering above the pool. During the day, there were occasional shows – like recordings of live concerts, or nature documentaries – which was great entertainment when we were chilling in the hot tub. I loved watching a Shania Twain concert from a sun lounger with a beer in hand!

But at night, the whole Lido deck transformed into an outdoor cinema – complete with blankets and fresh popcorn. It’s such a cool idea, but unfortunately, May in the Baltics wasn’t quite the right season for al fresco viewing! It was a little bit too chilly most nights, but in nicer weather (or for people who packed more sensible clothing than I did) this is a fantastic idea!

My Regal Princess Review – Final Thoughts

Hopefully, what this post shows is that  you really can have whatever kind of holiday you want on a Princess Cruise. Want to drink the bar dry and pester the DJ with terrible song requests all night? Head to Club 6! Want to chill out in the sunshine with a book? Hit up a cabana in The Retreat! In need of some R&R… book yourself a treatment at the Lotus Spa.

There’s something for all tastes and ages so just tailor your own cruise around you to create your perfect holiday.

If you’re thinking about a cruise, but you’re not too sure it’s for you, I really recommend booking a Baltic cruise like this one. An interesting itinerary packed with cool cities, a ship full of fun things to do, and plenty of different ways to unwind. It’s the perfect combination.

My final highlight of the cruise? The Sail Away party as we left Copenhagen on the official first day of the cruise – our last night. Because you just haven’t lived until you’ve attempted to do the Cha Cha Slide inside a hot tub after many glasses of champagne!

Cost: from £ 1,269 Start/Finish: Roundtrip from Copenhagen, Denmark Next cruise dates: click here

Have you ever taken a cruise on board the Regal Princess, or any other Princess Cruises ship? Share your experiences in the comments. I’d love to hear what you thought!

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12 thoughts on “On Board the Regal Princess – Cruising Scandinavia and Russia”

what an awesome way to see a great region of the world!

It’s a great way to see a lot in a short time!

This ship looks wonderful. You should try a cruise around the Black Sea (Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia and Ukraine)

Ooh that’s definitely on my cruising wish-list, thanks!

This is a really good introduction to cruise travel for those who haven’t tried it before. We also dismissed it as ‘not our style’ until we tried it and loved it! Definitely would try it again.

Same here!! This is my second cruise now and I’d definitely do another. Not at all what I’d expected and a geat way to see a lot with a short timeframe!

We are going on this cruise on 27 April! My excitement level is now 5 x after reading your post!! Did you see anything of Warnemunde? Were people saying it was worth the long trip to Berlin? Any clothing you’d recommend? Thanks Tamara

Eek that’s so exciting Tamara – I’m thrilled for you. I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time!!!

I didn’t see much of Warnemunde as we started the cruise a day later than the itinerary due to time constraints, so we flew into Berlin and drove to Warnemunde and pretty much got straight on the ship. I personally probably wouldn’t spend 2.5 hours driving to Berlin and back just for one day, but if you’ve never been and you’re keen to see Berlin I guess it wouldn’t be too bad. Warnemunde itself is quite pretty. Or if you want a day trip that’s not as far as Berlin, these are all well recommended: Schwerin Castle, Wismar, Lubeck, and Bad Doberan. From Bad Doberan you can take a steam train back to Rostock, which is very close to Warnemunde, so that’s probably what I’d do if I did the trip again!

Clothing-wise, you’ll want some fancy clothes for the formal nights, but don’t feel like you have to wear a ball gown as I saw plenty of people looking rather casual still. I dressed in the kind of thing I would wear to a wedding. Most nights I wore a dress and some sparkly flip flops to dinner and that was generally fine. Other than that, you want at least a couple of swimsuits in case the first doesn’t dry before your next pool session! And lots of comfy clothes for exploring cities. Decent footwear is a must!

Hope that helps – have an amazing trip!

Ps any comments on shopping? On board or what to look for in particular ports? Best prices?? ?

I didn’t really do any shopping myself so I’m not sure. I’d avoid the souvenir shops that pop up close to the ports, though, as they’re always overpriced. Look for markets or local independant shops instead. In Tallinn the Kalamaja district is a really cool area with pop-up shops in an old industrial warehouse type building, and some nice restaurants. It’s a great place to pick up more interesting souvenirs and hand-crafted goods etc. Gamla Stan in Stockholm is another great area for shopping, there are loads of unique little boutique shops there. We found a really cool little jewellery shop there – I wish I could remember what it was called.

Wonderful thanks! I’ve read about a tour with a company called Friends of Dave in Warnemunde which takes in the sites you mentioned so we are giving that a go. Looking forward to reading about your next adventure Emily!

Aaah that sounds perfect!! Have a great trip :)

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• Princess Cruises

Sailing the Baltic

By BevC , October 26, 2005 in Princess Cruises

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My husband and I are planning a 10-day cruise - Copenhagen to St. Petersburg - in July, 2006. I am prone to motion sickness and would like to know others' experiences in the summer in the Baltics as far as roughness or calmness of the sea. Any tips on seasickness remedies that really work would be appreciated, too. I want to be prepared. :) Any tips on the best shore excursions would be helpful as well. Thank you.

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My husband and I did the Baltic cruise in Sept. It was an incredible experience. I also am VERY prone to sea sickness! It was not a problem for me on this cruise. Since the Baltic is pretty much surrounded by land, it was more like a lake than a sea. It is also so port intensive that most of your sea jouney is over night. This makes sea motion much less difficult for me.

With that being said, I always have the transderm patch with me on cruises. They work great. Just be careful not to touch the patch and then touch your eye. It can cause bleary vision.

As far as shore excursions, by far the train into Berlin was definitely the highlight of our trip.

You will have a great time on this entire trip.

For shore excursions, and all other questions re: Baltic cruising, check out the Baltic boards. You will pick up a lot of helpful tips and info.

Our July 2005 cruise was from Rotterdam to Copenhagen, and we didn't experience any significant waters. I think those itineraries that originate in the UK face more moderate seas as they transit up. You should be in good shape, especially taking precautions.

St. Petersburg was the highlight for us. Stockholm was very nice, too. All great stops!

Have fun researching and planning.

sunprincess

Did the Star Princess Baltic cruise this past August. Awesome cruise ;)

Port intensive, but, worth every moment.

Not rough at all for us. I think you will be ok.

I too can get seasick, although lately seem fine on Princess ships - it's the little boats that get me! Years ago I used the patches. I would have to cut them in half. Now I always bring bonnine with me - just in case.

Many say ginger is very good. There are many posts about seasick remedies if you do a search.

As mentioned be sure to check out the Baltic board for great tips.

Here is a link to my cruise review:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=12514

Cruiseteach

I did this cruise several years ago. It was awesome!!! In fact, I still have a cruise report that I never posted ('cos I never finished it :( )

I, too am very prone to seasickness. The first morning out, crossing the English Channel/North Sea, I awoke sick as a dog. I was so upset!! My traveling companion immediately called the ship's infirmary and they had me come right down. They gave me what they called "The Shot" and a box of something called Avomine. They told me to go back to my room and take a little nap and I would be fine. And were they right!!!

I have, as I said, suffered from motion sickness all my life, and I've tried it all- every pill, the patch, (which I would never recommend!)Seabands, ginger tablets, ginger cookies,etc, etc. Nothing has ever worked like that stuff. I truly never felt another twinge and was never groggy or anything.

I intend to ask my doctor for a prescription before my cruise in March.

One thing I want to tell you about the trip- Avoid buying the stacking dolls onboard. They are very expensive. Once you get to St. Petersburg, they will be available everywhere at a fraction of the price. The real buy, though are the lacquer pins. They are about $2.00 in St. Petersburg and make a wonderful souvenier for everybody back home. You can buy them fo everyone you know and they will think you are a super friend.

We've done the Baltic twice (neither time with Princess), 5-99 with NCL, and 8-05 with Oceania, both times Baltic Sea was very smooth, North Sea mild chop.

As noted above, a very port intensive cruise, with great ports.

We chose NCL back then and Oceania this past summer, because we wanted to transit the Kiel Canal, a very pretty part of Germany. Few cruise ships can use the Kiel, as there are too many low bridges. None of the Princess ships used in Europe can make it through the Kiel - Tahitian & Pacific Princess could. (Oceania's Regatta is a sister ship of TP & PP).

NCL's Dream will be doing that route next summer - but I can't recommend that ship. Oceania's Regatta also will be back (highly recommend that ship/line), and HAL's Prinsendam also can go through the Kiel. Swan-Hellinic's Minerva II (another sister to TP & PP) also does the Kiel.

We were on the September 12 sailing of the Star, it was wonderful. We did have heavy seas coming out of Russia that evening the ship tossed alot, I love it but I'm sure alot of people did not. They put out the little white bags. I believe that the earlier in the season that you go you will have calmer seas.

As far as the ports they are all fantastic, we did them all on are own so I really can't tell you which excursions. We obtained our own Visa's for St. Petersburg and did everything on our own it was truly incredible, that was the highlight of the trip. Make sure any tour in St. Petersburg includes the Church of the Spilled Blood, The Hermitage, a canal ride and the fountains of Peterhof, I feel these were the highlights.

Thank you all for your great comments and excellent ideas for this cruise. I've not been on a cruise in many years so am really looking forward to it. Soda cards, latte coupons, what's not to love!! This web site is awesome, chock-full of superb ideas and information! Now, if I can only learn how to navigate it! :) I'm sure you'll hear more from me as our cruise gets closer. Thanks again.

We were on the Star Princess Baltic cruise in August. We met up with our Roll Call members and Sunprincess (who has posted here) was one of those members. I too have posted a review of the cruise which can be found at www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=12469 .

We took different excursions to Sunprincess so you may like to have an insight into someone else's tours.

It was a wonderful cruise but be warned it is very hectic. We were so impressed with Princess that we have already booked for next year on Dawn Princess when we will be taking the Alaska cruise from Seattle on 27th May. Prior to the cruise we will be doing Princess' Land Tour of the Rockies starting in Calgary. We look forward to planning this one.

Good Luck with your plans

From Suron in Bristol England ;)

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Baltic Cruise with Princess Cruises | The Itinerary

What to expect on a Baltic Cruise with Princess Cruises

When I think of a cruise I imagine long warm days sailing through the Mediterranean sea sipping wine and meandering in flip flops through the cobbled streets of a Greek town. Or floating in the Caribbean with a rum cocktail exploring white sand beaches to the sound of steal drums.

But cruising doesn’t have to be confined to the Southern hemisphere. What about all those awesome Scandinavian and Nordic countries we want to explore in style without hundreds of internal flights, changing hotel rooms and stress.

Welcome to a Baltic Cruise.

Recently I embarked on my first ever cruise with Princess Cruises and it wasn’t through the Med, oh no. We were sailing the Baltic sea and exploring loads of new countries and cities north of the equator – what a week of adventure!

Want to know what it’s like on board a Princess Cruises Ship?

Read: my princess cruises review  aboard the regal princess.

Having done a couple of Mediterranean cruises before  I was incredibly excited for this new itinerary. 6 countries in 9 days all with so much charm I was yet to discover.

Let’s take a look at the itinerary for a Princess Cruises Baltic Cruise :

I must admit I’d never thought to visit Estonia before, but our first destination docked in Tallinn – the country’s capital – and it was so cute! Cobbled streets with a walled old town and real gothic feel.

We took a trip to the KGB Museum which actually turned out to be really interesting! Held inside the Hotel Viru the museum itself is tiny, more of a guided personal tour than a lavish museum with swanky displays and info points, but it’s fascinating. Our guide led us up to the secret floor once used by KGB spies and told us stories of how they bugged the walls, phones and even side plates inside the hotel!

Entry costs 11 euros and lasts around 45 minutes to an hour and we managed to simply rock up and get in on a tour but you can also book online – it’s worth a stop off!

The main square is lovely for a coffee in the Estonian sunshine. It reminded me a lot of Krakov in Poland with stunning architecture, wide cobbled streets and friendly people! Although do be prepared to pay top mark for your drinks in the main square as it’s a popular spot indeed.

READ: 48 Hours in Krakov – What to Do, Where To Stay and What To Eat

If you fancy something a little different to explore then you can hop in a taxi to the hipster area of the city where we found a cool place for lunch in Tallinn – F-Hoone. With super reasonable prices, delicious traditional and fusion dishes and an epic desert menu, this is certainly the place to eat in Tallinn.

Around F-Hoone just a short walk away you’ll find the old markets and a very cool little building with some pop-up shops, perfect for a spot of scandi shopping. Vintage dresses, local jewellery designers, cool homeware and more. Just make sure to leave room in your suitcase!

Tallinn is a pretty cool little place to explore – definitely do this one on your own and take it at your own pace. Make time to find a viewpoint and look out over the city and try some of their Estonian Piroukad – delicious little pierogies you don’t want to miss!

48 Hours in St Petersburg

Russia. One of the big pulls on this trip for me! It’s a tricky country to get into and usually your visa will set you back around £60-80 but if you book a tour with Princess they sort all of this for you so you’re able to head off and on the ship as you please – just watch out for the queues and possibly an interrogation at the passport window, we are in Russia after all!

We started our time in St Petersburg with a trip to The Hermitage Museum – the largest Museum in the world! Now I’m not usually a huge museum person despite having visited a number in my time! But I have to say that The Hermitage was fascinating and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

It does get incredibly busy however so they offer a limited number of early entry tickets – these are well worth investing in if you can get hold of some. It was like having the entire place to ourselves for an hour which is great for photos and taking on information from your guide.

In the evening as we were docking over night, we booked another shore excursion – The Russian Ballet! We made our way to the Alexandrinsky theatre in St Petersburg to watch Swan Lake with a gass of fizz and felt very special indeed. This excursion is amazing if you’re stopping in St Petersburg on your cruise, what an experience you don’t want to miss!

The next day we visited Peterhof Palace, a stunning house around 40 minutes outside of St Petersburg’s centre. Peterhof gets super crowded so be prepared to be shuffled along by the babushkas and take your photos fast!

On our tour I adored visiting the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood and St Isaac’s Cathedral – both were absolutely stunning. The architecture and detail in both buildings was insane. For me they even rivalled some of the cathedrals in Barcelona.

On both days we had lunch included in our tours which meant we got the chance to try some traditional Russian food – a big hobby of mine when I’m in a new country! The Russian food we had was tasty even though it didn’t look great! My favourite restaurant was a place called Biblioteka – super funky interiors, nice staff and well put together plates, definitely a cool place for lunch in St Petersberg if you’re looking for somewhere to eat….Just watch out for the vodka shot chasers with each course, when in Russia ey!

We also got a chance to enjoy a river cruise through St Petersburg which was also lovely as the sun came out and we were all given a glass of fizz to relax with as our guide talked us through the sites.

We did so much in our 48 Hours in St Petersburg, it was incredible and a real highlight of the cruise. I’d definitely recommend booking a Princess Shore Excursion for Russia to get your visas and help you navigate this wonderful city.

SEE MORE: WATCH MY CRUISE VLOGS HERE !

I’m gonna just put it out there: I LOVE FINLAND. It’s one of my favourite places in the world and every time I come back it fills me with instant feelings of ease. I’ve visited Finnish Lapland before on one of the most inspirational trips of my travelling so far, explored the central sauna region of Finland and spent a few days in Helsinki too! So when I saw we were stopping off here on our cruise I was very excited.

READ : 8 Surprising Reasons Why Finnish Lapland Should Be Your Next AUTUMN Break

We booked onto a land and sea cruise with Princess to see as much of Helsinki as we could during our stop here. It started on a boat sailing around the city with a lovely insight into the more rural side of Finland. With quaint little red wood houses, individual wooden piers out into the lakes for post sauna dipping and lots of greenery it was incredibly relaxing floating along to water with the incredibly fresh Finnish air filling our lungs.

READ: Exploring Central Finland – The Sauna Region

After the first part of our tour we swapped our oars for wheels as we took to land! Stopping at some beautiful buildings and sculptures with our guide talking us through the local culture and lifestyle in the city, it was nice to see the contrasting sides of Helsinki from the bustle of the centre to the tranquil outskirts.

If you can, head over to The Sibelius Monument in Sibelius Park as that really is something to behold, and check out some of the open air markets near the water for a Cinnamon bun and a nice hot coffee!

READ : What To Do With a Few Hours in Helsinki

Of course one of the big cultural activities in Finland is Sauna and there are plenty of places to try it in Helsinki. My favourite is Löyly , a super modern and uber cool public sauna in the centre. Book in advance on their website to come down for a session – A two-hour booking for the sauna costs around 19 euros – and their restaurant has awesome food too for a spot of lunch.

Sauna is a way of life in Finland, so I think it’s a fantastic thing to do during your stop in Helsinki. The Find believe the sauna draws out not only physical toxins, but mental ones too and most big decisions are made in a Sauna. Give it a go, see how you feel…and enjoy that post-sauna beer too!

Personally for this stop I think it’s best to explore on your own instead of booking a tour. Walk around, use the trams and get a feel for the Finnish capital.

Stockholm is another city I’ve wanted to visit for such a long time, so when I saw it on the itinerary I was a bit giddy! I’d head wonderful things about the architecture, the people and most importantly – the food! So getting a whole day to explore was such a treat.

We went it alone again for this one instead of booking a tour and I’m glad we did, there’s so much to see!

For the ABBA fans amongst us there is of course The ABBA Museaum in Stockholm which I have to say looks like a lot of fun! But instead we chose to spend our time exploring the beautiful cobbled streets of the old town and the cherry blossoms which had just bloomed in the city centre.

In Sweden they Fika, so we did too! Fika is a Swedish term for having coffee and cake with friends, and there’s plenty of pretty places in the old town to Fika! It’s such a lovely concept and we just couldn’t resist – especially with a big slab of blueberry pie!

Food was a big pull for me visiting Stockholm and I was right to be excited by it. The flavours are so fresh, as is the fish and if you’re lucky with the weather like we were there’s nothing better than sitting outside in the sun with a cold glass of wine and some gravlax. If you’re looking for a good spot for lunch in the city then  Erika Gondolen is a real winner. With panoramic views of the city and top notch nosh, grabbing a table there would be a big recommendation from me.

I loved our time in Stockholm and I cannot wait to come back. It’s certainly one of the cities on our itinerary that has sparked even more wanderlust in me after having a taster with Princess. As with a lot of Scandinavian countries it’s a pricey one, so make sure you take some extra spending money so you can really enjoy yourself…and eat lots of cake!

Our last big stop on the cruise was Copenhagen, another place I’ve wanted to visit for a while. For this we booked a private tour around the city….by bike! I’ll hold my hands up and say I’m not the best biker in the world but these were electric and so much fun! Copenhagen is a great city to bike around and the cars and people are incredibly considerate so even if you’re a little nervous, definitely give this a try.

On our Copenhagen bike tour we saw a few landmarks of the city including the Little Mermaid, which was a lot smaller than I imagined it would be!

The royal residences were incredibly open and you can walk right into their courtyards – it’s quite interesting to see, and after that we made our way over to Tivoli Gardens which I think are a must if you’re visiting Copenhagen. First of all they’re absolutely stunning with beautiful gardens, flowers and trees. They also have some adorable cafes to sit with your coffee – we especially loved Cakenhagen for a delicate cake and cup of the good stuff! Well worth a visit, especially on a sunny day.

Our time in Copenhagen whizzed by and as we cycled back to the ship I really felt like we’d done so much on our little two wheeled adventure! What a great way to see the city!

Didn’t get much time in Oslo as we were departing mid-route but if you’re booking this cruise you’ll have time to explore and see the city. Take a look at my travel blogger buddy Vicky Flip Flop’s Weekend Guide to Oslo for some ideas on what to do during your time there.

We just about had time for a coffee and some people watching at a local vegan cafe before it was time to head to the airport, but we did see some awesome looking floating saunas around near the library if you’re brave enough to give those a whirl!

AT SEA DAYS

We had two full at sea days during our trip which were much appreciated after lots of walking and exploring in our city stop offs!

Find out everything there is to do on a sea day:

Read: my princess cruises ship review.

I’d never thought about doing a Baltic cruise before but it was incredible. I got to see so many cities and countries that have been on my bucket list for ages and yet I’d never got round to visiting. It was a fantastic way to taste lots of new places all in one week and the amount of new experiences we crammed in was astounding!

I love a Mediterranean cruise for relaxation and a good re-charge, but for exploring new cities and a sense of adventure, it’s Baltic all the way!

Find your next cruise with Princess Cruises here !

Would you try a Baltic Cruise with Princess Cruises?

*Paid collaboration with Princess Cruises. All photos and opinions are my own – I absolutely loved seeing a new part of the world from the comfort of our cruise ship, well worth booking!

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Scandinavia & Baltic Cruises

Unpack once and visit seven different scandinavian countries.

Best Cruise Line Itineraries

Recommend Magazine 12-time winner

On a Baltic cruise with Princess®, unpack once and visit seven different countries within Scandinavia and the Baltic region. Let the gold-lined palaces and monuments recount stories from these revolutionary regions. Along the way, meet the many famous figures that call these lands home. From Vikings to castles and cathedrals, relive history as you come face-to-face with these significant sites.

Scandinavia & Baltic cruises

On a Scandinavia and Baltic cruise, discover a whole new way of life. Feel the spirit of Stockholm’s Gamla Stan, hear from craftsmen in Tallinn and explore Helsinki’s Senate Square, where art, culture, religion, politics and education converge. Trek throughout these cities alongside expert guides who hold secrets of seasons past. Or step into the homes of locals to uncover long-standing traditions.

Featured Scandinavia & Baltic Cruise Ports

Discover some of the world-renowned destinations that await you on an Scandinavia & Baltic cruise with Princess.

With a history as long as its city wall, Berlin is a staggering destination for any traveler. On a Baltic cruise, honor those who lost their lives at the Holocaust Memorial. Watch history unfold as you visit the 20th-century remnants of the Berlin Wall. Or enjoy a change of pace touring the rooms and gardens of German dukes before you at Schwerin Castle.

Copenhagen boasts equal parts charm and culture. Before you set sail on your European cruise, indulge in thrills at Tivoli Gardens, and ride a bike along Nyhavn’s waterways, passing multicolored homes on the way. Tour ancient fortresses, like Kronborg Castle, which inspired Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” Or make a stop to see Copenhagen’s most famous symbol, The Little Mermaid.

With a deep-rooted respect for design, Helsinki is cloaked in elaborate styles from the present and past. On a Baltic cruise, admire the creative architecture of Suomenlinna Fortress, and learn about the city’s naval past. At Market Square, shop hand-crafted goods, or see a collection of artifacts at the Kiasma Modern Art Museum.

As a major trading port, it should come as no surprise that Oslo is home to many valuables. On a Baltic cruise, visit Vigeland Sculpture Park, and view over 200 colossal figures created by a famous Norweigan sculptor. Watch experts blow glass at the Hadeland Glassworks gallery. Or snap a photo at the Holmenkollen Ski Jump, featured during the 1952 Olympic ski-jumping competition.

Covering 14 separate islands, Stockholm is a cultural playground waiting to be explored. On a Scandinavia cruise, waltz through the Royal Palace, and explore 600 royal rooms. Capture postcard-worthy shots of Stockholm City Hall, one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. Or transport to the 10th century when you arrive in Sigtuna — Sweden’s original capital — and discover where it all began.

Travel back in time as you walk through the medieval streets of Tallinn, admiring the city’s preserved history and architecture. On a Russia cruise, journey through the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and learn about tsar regime. View tombs and coats of arms that live in St. Mary’s Cathedral. Or get a rare taste of local tradition at the Museum of Estonian Drinking Culture.

If you are interested in the longer Scandinavia & Baltic cruises, you’ll love Princess® Epic Voyages. Learn more about our expertly curated itineraries for your next extraordinary adventure.

Why Cruise Scandinavia & Baltic Cruises

From astounding fjords to astonishing palaces, the treasures of Scandinavia and Baltic region welcome you to explore.

Step back in time

Get up close to historical gems on a Baltic cruise with Princess. View ships and treasures found in royal burial mounds of the Oslo fjord at the Viking Ship Museum. Or learn what it’s like to be a prize winner at Stockholm's Nobel Peace Museum, and get up close to the world’s oldest preserved warship at the Vasa Museum

Fjords & Viking Legends

Formed by the hands of the glaciers

A Baltic cruise is your key to the Norwegian Fjords — Mother Nature’s crown jewel. Upon arriving in Stockholm, ride along the brinks of Tyrifjord, a 52-mile inlet that boasts greenery and deep blue waters. Relax amidst the serenity of Oslo Fjord, and discover treasures from beneath its seas at the Viking Ship Museum. With Princess, sail to Scandinavia’s oldest capital and revel in the natural wonders before you.

Unique Architecture

Magnificent and monumental

Travel to lands where ancient architecture abounds. Wander the cobbled streets of Stockholm’s old town, Gamla Stan, one of the largest and best-preserved medieval city centers in Europe. Explore a treasure trove of late Renaissance and Rococo architecture in Copenhagen, like Rosenborg Castle, Kronborg Castle or Frederiksborg Castle. Or walk through 'Upper Old Town,' home to some of Tallin's oldest and most notable structures. Experience it all on a Baltic cruise.

Shore excursions

Our award-winning Scandinavia and Baltic cruise shore excursions bring you to palaces, Viking heritage and hidden gems. In partnership with Discovery™, tour three royal residences in Copenhagen — including Fredensborg and Frederiksborg Castle. You’ll also enjoy a Hamlet-themed journey through Kronberg Castle, which inspired the famous play. Or travel through a traditional Danish village, and discover hundreds of years of history along the way.

Local connections

On a Baltic cruise, learn the secrets to crafting an Estonian beer from a master brewer, and pair your sips with snacks. Journey through Tallinn’s most notable sites — including Palace Square and the Great Guild Hall. Or stroll through Stockholm’s ‘Haymarket,’ and sample regional delicacies while hearing from chefs and vendors.

Enjoy even more history and culture with More Ashore late-night departures and overnight stays. On a Baltic cruise, see Berlin’s most iconic sites — like Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate. Or stroll under the Nordic twilight, and end the night at Oslo’s Ice Bar.

Baltic & Scandinavia Cruise Onboard Experience

Curated comfort, world-class entertainment and international flavors await you.

Experience Scandinavia without ever stepping off the ship. Our onboard activities bring the diverse cultures of the region directly to you. Sing, dance, feast and celebrate in a way that only the Baltic and Princess know how.

Accommodations

Your home away from home

Your stateroom is where you rest and recharge between adventures. That’s why every room is equipped with the expertly designed Princess Luxury Bed, 100% Jacquard-woven cotton linens and our SLEEP program created by a board-certified sleep expert. From interior cabins to full suites, unwind in any of our staterooms, and enjoy peace of mind with the option of connected rooms for families of four or more traveling together.

Flavors that inspire

Take a week-long vacation on a Bahamas cruise with more to love, calling on additional Caribbean ports. Visit Princess Cays for a day in the sun, sand and surf. Then have more time to explore Trunk Bay – one of the “Cruise Wonders of the World” – during a late-night stay in St. Thomas on Eastern Caribbean itineraries. From relaxation to adventure, experience cruises to the Bahamas that have more range with Princess.

Entertainment

Find your joy

Embark on adventures by day, and indulge in entertainment by night. Watch Movies Under the Stars® at our 300-square-foot outdoor theater. Attend original productions from Broadway legend Stephen Schwartz, composer of  Wicked . Or learn traditional moves, like Flamenco or Irish stepdance, and listen to popular music from the destinations on your itinerary. On a European cruise with Princess, the choice is yours.

Youth & Teen Center

Step outside the classroom

Our European cruises were crafted with every guest in mind — even the younger ones. From 6-month old babies to 17-year old teens, kids can unwind and relax or play and explore. In partnership with Discovery™, kids can learn even more with special insights about Italy, Greece and everywhere in between. With engaging activities on board and ashore, kids can see history books come to life before their eyes.

Reset, recharge, relax

Your European cruise should be every bit as refreshing as it is inspiring. Unwind in the Sanctuary, a retreat just for adults, and relish in tranquility. Or book an appointment at the Lotus Spa®, named "Best Spa on a Cruise Ship" by Spafinder Wellness 365™. Enjoy relaxing treatments — like facials, hot stone massages and detoxifying wraps — that will leave you recharged for upcoming adventures.

Vegas hits the seas

Experience the thrill of cards, dice, roulette and blackjack at the casino onboard our European cruises. Learn from experts — like our staff or perhaps other guests nearby — and put your skills to the test. More casual players can pull up a seat at the slot machines for the same adrenaline at their own speed. For an afternoon full of games, join fellow travelers for Bingo, or compete in scheduled group tournaments.

Sailing Scandinavia & Baltic cruises

Our Princess fleet includes ships that range from small to large vessels. While aboard, marvel at Europe’s breathtaking scenery and enjoy regionally inspired cuisine. Those sailing on Scandinavia and Baltic cruises even have the chance to experience Sky Princess®.

European Cruise Articles

Read about storied attractions, charming history, diverse cultures and preparation advice for cruising Europe.

Explore Europe

Learn all about our exciting options to visit Europe from cruises to in-depth cruisetour vacations. 

The top ten things to do in Norway

Planning a holiday to Norway? Discover the best museums, restaurants, cafés, attractions and experiences in the Scandinavian country.

Must-do summertime activities in Scandinavia

Discover the best summer holiday activities in Scandinavia, including wild swimming in Stockholm and rooftop drinking in Oslo.

Five reasons to cruise from Southampton

Looking for a cruise vacation from Southampton? Set sail to Canada, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Florida and around the British Isles with Princess Cruises.

How to see Stockholm from a unique perspective

Ice bars, rooftop tours, meatballs and more – use our handy city guide to get a fresh view of Sweden’s brilliant capital.

Six places to see the Northern Lights in Norway

Hoping to see the Northern Lights in Norway? Discover the best places to try to catch a glimpse of Mother Nature's exceptional light show

Travel, Airfare, & Hotels: Let Princess get you there

Princess EZair® Flights

Stress-free airfare

Remove the hassle from air travel and give yourself the gift of flexibility, time and a thicker wallet with Princess EZair® flights. We negotiate lower rates with the airlines, allow you to modify your flight up to 45 days prior with no penalty and protect you if your flight is late or canceled.

Princess EZair flight quotes are available on our cruise search result details pages.

Airplane to Ship Transfer

We get you where you need to go

Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us. A uniformed Princess representative meets you at the airport after you've retrieved your luggage and transports you directly to your ship or hotel without you having to worry about the logistics of navigating a new city.

Cruise Plus Hotel Packages

Stay longer and relax

Extend your cruise vacation and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the representative’s services.

Cruise deals & promotions

Start planning the vacation of your dreams with a cruise you'll love at a price you can't beat. Explore our latest featured deals, snag some last-minute savings and see how our all-inclusive packages can make your getaway even better.

#PrincessCruises Europe Connections

See Europe through our guests’ eyes.

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Best Cruise Lines For Baltic Sea Cruises: Our Top Picks

by Judith Eve | Nov 9, 2023 | Destination Guides & Ports

When it comes to cruising the Baltic Sea, choosing the right cruise line can make all the difference in your experience. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to decide which one to go with. Factors such as itinerary, onboard amenities, and overall atmosphere can vary greatly between cruise lines. In this article, we will explore some of the best cruise lines for Baltic Sea cruises .

One of the top cruise lines for Baltic Sea cruises is Royal Caribbean. With a variety of ships and itineraries to choose from, Royal Caribbean offers something for every traveler. Their Baltic Sea itineraries typically include stops in popular ports such as St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Stockholm. Onboard, guests can enjoy amenities such as rock climbing walls, Broadway-style shows, and specialty dining options.

Another great option for Baltic Sea cruises is Celebrity Cruises. Known for their luxurious onboard experience, Celebrity Cruises offers a more upscale atmosphere compared to some other cruise lines. Their Baltic Sea itineraries often include unique ports of call such as Tallinn, Estonia and Riga, Latvia. Onboard, guests can indulge in fine dining options, spa treatments, and even attend lectures by destination experts.

Understanding Baltic Sea Cruises

Baltic Sea cruises are a popular way to explore the northern European region, including the Scandinavian countries. The Baltic Sea is a unique destination that offers a combination of history, culture, and natural beauty.

The Baltic Sea is one of the largest brackish water bodies in the world, and it is surrounded by several countries, including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden. Baltic Sea cruises usually start and end in popular ports like Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki, or St. Petersburg.

During a Baltic Sea cruise, passengers can enjoy a variety of activities, including exploring historic cities, visiting museums and art galleries, shopping, dining, and experiencing local culture. Some of the most popular destinations on a Baltic Sea cruise include Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; and Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Baltic Sea region is rich in history, and passengers can learn about the Viking Age, the Hanseatic League, and other significant events that shaped northern Europe. The region is also known for its diverse cultures, and passengers can experience traditional food, music, and customs.

The best time to cruise to the Baltic Sea is during the summer months, from May to September, when the weather is mild and the days are long. However, some cruise lines offer Baltic Sea cruises year-round, and passengers can enjoy winter activities like ice skating and skiing.

When choosing a cruise line for a Baltic Sea cruise, passengers should consider factors like itinerary, ship size, onboard amenities, and price. Some of the best cruise lines for Baltic Sea cruises include Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Royal Caribbean International.

Overall, a Baltic Sea cruise is an excellent way to explore northern Europe and experience the unique history and culture of the region.

Top Cruise Lines for Baltic Sea Cruises

When it comes to Baltic Sea cruises, there are several cruise lines that stand out for their exceptional itineraries, onboard amenities, and outstanding service. Here are some of the top cruise lines to consider when planning a Baltic Sea adventure:

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean is one of the most popular cruise lines for Baltic Sea cruises. Their ships offer a wide range of onboard activities, from rock climbing walls to ice skating rinks. Royal Caribbean's Baltic Sea itineraries typically include stops in popular destinations such as St. Petersburg, Stockholm, and Helsinki.

Princess is another great option for Baltic Sea cruises. Their ships offer a more refined and elegant experience, with a focus on relaxation and luxury. Princess' Baltic Sea itineraries typically include stops in Copenhagen, Tallinn, and Oslo.

Celebrity is known for their stylish and modern ships, as well as their exceptional service and gourmet dining options. Their Baltic Sea itineraries typically include stops in St. Petersburg, Stockholm, and Copenhagen.

Silversea is a luxury cruise line that offers all-inclusive Baltic Sea itineraries. Their ships are smaller, allowing for a more intimate and personalized experience. Silversea's Baltic Sea itineraries typically include stops in St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Tallinn.

Holland America

Holland America is a popular choice for Baltic Sea cruises, with their ships offering a classic and elegant experience. Holland America's Baltic Sea itineraries typically include stops in St. Petersburg, Stockholm, and Copenhagen.

Disney offers a unique and family-friendly Baltic Sea cruise experience, with their ships featuring Disney-themed entertainment and activities. Disney's Baltic Sea itineraries typically include stops in St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Tallinn.

MSC is a popular choice for Baltic Sea cruises, with their ships offering a wide range of onboard amenities and entertainment options. MSC's Baltic Sea itineraries typically include stops in St. Petersburg, Stockholm, and Copenhagen.

Oceania is a luxury cruise line that offers all-inclusive Baltic Sea itineraries. Their ships are smaller, allowing for a more intimate and personalized experience. Oceania's Baltic Sea itineraries typically include stops in St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Tallinn.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is known for their innovative ships and wide range of onboard activities and entertainment options. Their Baltic Sea itineraries typically include stops in St. Petersburg, Stockholm, and Helsinki.

Overall, there are many excellent cruise lines to choose from when planning a Baltic Sea adventure. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly experience or a luxury getaway, there's a cruise line out there that's perfect for you.

Judith Eve, loves to write riveting articles on crusingtonpost.com. She hails from the sun-kissed regions of South Florida, residing within a stone’s throw of the bustling Fort Lauderdale and Miami cruise ports. As a native Floridian, Judith’s love for the ocean and cruising extends as far back as her memory can recall.

Her lifelong passion for travel has taken her to countless destinations around the globe, but cruising, undeniably, holds a special place in her heart. Judith has embraced the elegance of luxury liners, relished the intimacy of boutique ships, and marveled at the innovation found on the newest megaships. This varied experience makes her a well-rounded and knowledgeable commentator on everything cruise-related.

Balancing her writing career and family life with effortless grace, Judith is happily married, mother to two wonderful children, and a doting grandmother to three grandkids. Much like Judith, her family shares her enthusiasm for the sea, often accompanying her on cruise adventures and enriching her articles with their unique perspectives.

Her work for crusingtonpost.com provides readers with insightful, engaging narratives of her travels, from vivid descriptions of the picturesque locales she visits to in-depth reviews of the cruise lines she travels with. Her writing is not only an exploration of travel and cruising; it is a testament to her zest for life, her commitment to family, and her love for the ocean.

Endearing herself to readers with her warm, personable writing style, Judith has become a trusted voice in the cruising community. She is the go-to source for tips, advice, and comprehensive information on cruising. As a tireless explorer and devoted family woman, Judith Eve embodies the essence of the adventurous spirit, inspiring readers to set sail and create their own sea stories.

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Which Cruise Line Is Best for the Baltic Sea?

Embark on an unforgettable Baltic voyage with the best cruise lines. Find expertly curated itineraries and exceptional service for an unparalleled maritime experience.

Book A Cruise Now

For many travel enthusiasts, embarking on a Baltic Sea cruise is a dream come true. The region, rich in history, culture, and natural beauty, provides a riveting experience for anyone looking for a one-of-a-kind marine trip. With many cruise companies vying for your attention, picking the ideal one can take time and effort. In this article, we'll look at some of the top competitors and help you determine which cruise line is right for your Baltic Sea adventure.

List of Cruise Lines Is Best for the Baltic Sea

1. the norwegian dawn.

The Norwegian Dawn promises a seamless blend of luxury and discovery. With 2,997 reviews, this cruise line has attracted notice for its excellent service and varied itinerary.

Norwegian Dawn has many reviews reflecting a wide range of traveler experiences. Whether you want to visit St. Petersburg's historical monuments or Stockholm's stunning surroundings, this cruise might be your ticket to Baltic splendor.

2. The Holland America Rotterdam

The Holland America Rotterdam has established itself as a top competitor. This cruise line, which has 93 reviews, provides a more intimate experience for individuals looking for a stronger connection with the destinations.

The broad itinerary of Rotterdam guarantees that guests get a complete flavor of the Baltic's different cultures and scenery. This cruise line is worth considering if you prefer a more relaxing and refined journey.

3. Celebrity Silhouette  

The Celebrity Silhouette is a popular choice for Baltic cruises , with several departures throughout the year. This cruise line has received 2,076 excellent reviews for its excursions, such as the Best of Scandinavia and Norwegian Fjords.

Celebrity Silhouette is noted for its modern luxury, first-rate onboard amenities, and well-planned itineraries. This cruise line may be an excellent alternative for touring the Baltic region if you want to combine comfort with excitement.

4. Nieuw Statendam

The Nieuw Statendam is a newcomer to the Baltic cruise sector. This cruise line is gaining popularity for its innovative itineraries and emphasis on less-traveled areas, according to 254 reviews.

The concentration on Iceland and Scotland distinguishes Nieuw Statendam, giving a unique experience for travelers wishing to venture beyond the conventional Baltic routes. If you're an adventurous soul looking for a path less traveled, this cruise company might be a good fit.

5. Sky Princess

Princess Cruises' Sky Princess is a magnificent vessel that offers a 14-night exploration of Northern Europe . With 281 ratings, this cruise promises an immersive experience focusing on client happiness. While pricing information is unavailable, Princess Cruises is known for providing excellent service, extensive entertainment options, and well-curated itineraries that showcase the best of the Baltic.

6. Celebrity Eclipse

Celebrity Eclipse by Celebrity Cruises offers excursions to Greece, Italy, and France. Celebrity Cruises continues to impress with its devotion to luxury and design, garnering 1,933 reviews. While pricing information is not accessible, Celebrity Eclipse is a cruise critic's favorite, making it an appealing option for travelers wanting a blend of elegance and cultural immersion.

Related:   How Many Days Does It Take to Cruise to Europe ?

The finest Baltic Sea cruise company depends on various factors, including personal tastes, travel style, and preferred destinations. Whether you like larger ships' majesty or smaller vessels' intimacy, each cruise company provides a distinct viewpoint on the Baltic region.

Consider the duration of the cruise, the exact cruise destinations visited, onboard amenities, and, of course, the evaluations of other travelers before making a decision. Finally, the finest Baltic Sea cruise company corresponds with your travel goals and ensures a great vacation through this enchanting part of the world.

Also Read :  What Is the Best Time to Go on a Baltic Cruise?

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Baltic Princess ferry

Cruise line TALLINK-SILJA LINE (Ferries)

Baltic Princess ferry current position

Baltic Princess ferry current location is at Baltic Sea (coordinates 59.80379 N / 19.43629 E) cruising at speed of 20.1 kn (37 km/h | 23 mph) en route to SE STO-FIMHQ-FI TKU. The AIS position was reported 59 seconds ago.

Specifications of Baltic Princess ferry

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Baltic Princess ferry Review

Review of baltic princess ferry.

MS Baltic Princess ferry is a Ro-Ro passenger vessel operated by the Estonia-based company TALLINK-SILJA LINE . The ship has a max capacity of 2800 passengers and 600 cars plus 75 trucks/trailers. The vessel was launched in 2008 and currently operates on the Sweden-Finland ferry route Stockholm -Aland Finland ( Mariehamn )- Turku (crossing time 10,5 hours).

As cruise ferry, Baltic Princess has 927 cabins (double and quads/max capacity 4 passengers) with a total of 2500 berths, all located on decks 5, 8 and 9. All staterooms are air-conditioned, with en-suite bathrooms and are both inside and outside. The ferry company provides bed linens, towels, and toiletries. Some staterooms are wheelchair-accessible (adapted for disabled passengers). Cabins for passengers with allergies and passengers traveling with pets are also available.

All cabins are with bunk beds (wall-mounted), en-suite bathrooms (angled sink, wall-mounted toilet, shower cubicle, hairdryer). Baby crib and potty (1 per cabin), as well as bedsides/rails (2 per cabin), are provided complimentary upon request. Room service can be ordered 4 days prior departure.

Cabin categories include:

• (Deck 9) Executive Suite / double cabin (size 26-31 m2 with balcony) - double bed, sofa, armchairs, WC, shower, TV, refrigerator, complimentary minibar, phone. Special in-cabin breakfast and refreshments (soft drinks and fruits) are included in the "Europa 22 hour" mini-cruise fares.
• (Decks 8-9) Junior Suite / double cabin (size 26-31 m2) - slanted windows, separate bedroom, sofa, double bed, armchairs, WC, shower, TV, minibar, mirrored vanity table (writing desk with stool), refrigerator, phone. Special in-cabin breakfast and refreshments (soft drinks and fruits) are included in the "Europa 22 hour" mini-cruise fares.
• (Decks 8-9) Deluxe / double cabin (size 11-14 m2) - windows, double bed (non-convertible to twins), sofa, WC, shower, TV, phone, refrigerator, complimentary minibar. Special in-cabin breakfast and refreshments (soft drinks) are included in the fares.
• (Decks 8-9) Premium Cabin (Double Outside, size 9 m2) - porthole window, double bed (non-convertible to twins), WC, shower, TV, mirrored vanity table (writing desk with stool), refrigerator. Special breakfast is included in the fares.
• (Deck 5) Family Cabins (2 connecting inside cabins, capacity 4-8 persons) - 2 porthole windows, 2 bathrooms (WC, shower), 2 lower bunk beds, 4 upper bunk beds, 2 sofabeds, 2 TVs.
• (Decks 5-8-9) A-Class Cabin (Quad Outside, size 9-10 m2) - porthole window, 1 lower bunk bed, 1 sofabed, 2 upper bunk beds, WC, shower, TV. Cabins for allergic passengers are also available.
• (Decks 5-8-9) B-Class Cabin and E-Class Cabin (Quad Inside, size 9 m2) - no window, 1 lower bunk bed, 1 sofabed, 2 upper bunk beds, WC, shower. Some cabins are adapted for passengers with allergies and passengers with pets.
• (Deck 5) Allergy Cabins are in categories Family (4x), A-Class (9x) and B-Class (17x) each with WC, shower, TV.
• (Deck 5) Handicap Cabins (for disabled passengers) are in category A-Class Outside (size13 m2), each fitted with 2 lower beds (fixed), WC, shower, TV, wider doors (for wheelchair access).
• (Deck 5) Pet Cabins (for passengers with pets) have capacity 2-4 persons, WC, shower, TV, linoleum flooring. Pet cabins are available in categories A-Class, B-Class and C-Class.
• On Deck 2 are located most of the staff and crew cabins.

All passengers must vacate their staterooms 30 min prior to homeport arrival. Passenger registration ends 1-hour prior ferry departure.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

As facilities, the Baltic Princess ferry offers:

• On Deck 7 are located most of the ship's dining venues - Grill House, Katarina's Kitchen, Buffet Restaurant, Pub Bar, Italian Restaurant, Starlight Palace Restaurant, Sea Pub, Happy Lobster.
• (Deck 7) New Grande Buffet (Self-Service Restaurant) offers Scandinavian and international dishes, soft drinks, tea, coffee, wine, and beer - which are all included in the buffet meals price. The buffet restaurant has several theme-food stations, including Grill, Cold Table (meats, seafood), Green Market (Salads), Warm Dishes, Desserts.
• (Deck 7) Sea Pub offers various beverages, classic pub snacks, small stage (for live performances by guest musicians).
• (Deck 7) Grill House offers steakhouse food specialties.
• (Deck 7) Happy Lobster offers fresh fish and seafood. The menu is based on the day's catch. Brunch is also served here.
• (Deck 7) Tavolata Ristorante Italiano serves traditional Italian food specialties, Deli items, premium olives, Roi Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
• (Deck 7) Piano Bar offers live music performances, coffee drinks, cocktails.
• (Deck 7) Cigar Club is a classy smoking lounge with leather armchairs and a selection of premium cigars and cigarettes.
• (Decks 6-7) Starlight Palace is 2a -deck entertainment complex with show lounge (dance floor, grand stage / lower level) and a panoramic restaurant (capacity 956 seats, with floor-ceiling windows).
• Onboard entertainment options include live performances by local music bands, party games, quizzes, music parties, bingo, karaoke.
• (Deck 6) Fast Lane Restaurant allows passengers to create their own warm dishes and make fresh salads. There are also chefs for made-to-order food, as well as ready-made options.
• (Deck 6) Iskelma Bar offers local dance music and karaoke.
• (Deck 6) Coffee & Co (Cafeteria / Patisserie / Coffee Bar) offers cold and warm beverages, light snacks (including fresh-baked pastries, yogurts, fruit smoothies, sweet crepes) and meals (made-to-order food and ready-made options). Coffee drinks are fresh-brewed (from freshly ground beans). The Cafe also has a takeaway desk.
• (Deck 6) Tax Free Shop is a duty-free store selling special occasion gifts and souvenirs, alcohol (brand spirits, wines), tobaccos, luxury-brand perfumes and cosmetics, jewelry, watches, sunglasses, leather goods, confectionery, fashion clothing and accessories, toys, electronics and gadgets, gourmet sweets, Deli food, handmade teas and spices. Special offers (shopping promotions) are offered on each ferry crossing. Payments can be made in cash or via bank cards (VISA, MasterCard, EuroCard).
• (Deck 6) Cosmetic Boutique sells luxury perfumes, cosmetics, skincare products.
• (Deck 6) Gifts & Toys Shop sells fashion clothing (for adults and kids), designer jewelry, cosmetics, gadgets and electronics, gifts, souvenirs, toys.
• (Deck 7) Fashion Street Boutique sells designer clothes and accessories (Tommy Hilfiger, Guess, Esprit, Superdry, Marc O' Polo, Desigual).
• (Deck 5) Conference Department (opening hours 9 am - 9 pm) has all 9 different conference rooms with combined capacity 450 seats. The largest meeting room has 324 seats. All rooms are fitted with the latest technology presentation equipment. there is a separate lobby area. Conference facilities are closed during peak season (mid-June through mid-August) as the area is built into "Summer Center" (play area for kids-themed activities).
• (Deck 5) Kids Harbour / Children's Playroom is the ship's indoor playground area fitted with TV (for watching cartoons), Ball Pit Pool, craft tables. On each cruise, kids here meet the cartoon character Moomin and the SILJA LINE mascot Harri Hylje (Harry the Seal). Also here is the PlayStation Lounge (separate room for video games and arcade machines).
• (Deck 5) Beauty Salon offers professional services by certified cosmeticians, hairdressers and masseuses (face and body treatments, hair styling and coloring, manicure, pedicure). Reservations are required 24 hours prior departure.
• (Deck 2) Sauna Department has 2 reserved saunas, unisex public saunas, bar, swimming pools (for kids and adults).
• (Decks 6-7) The casino has gaming tables (roulette, poker) and slot machines.
• (Lobby Deck 6) Wi-Fi service, ATM / cash machine (next to Information Desk / Reception). A nurse can be also reached via the Reception. Small lockers are available for valuables.
• (Deck 10) The Club Disco Nightclub (capacity 90 seats) offers DJ hits, club music, party quizzes. On Deck 10 is also the ship's Navigation Bridge.
• Sun Decks (10 and 11) are outdoor deck areas. On Deck 10 is the Wheelhouse/Navigation Bridge.

Midship on the top deck (Heli Deck 12) there is a helipad - helicopter landing area used in cases of emergency.

All onboard emergency instructions are displayed in staterooms, on the TV screens and at the ship's assembly stations (aka muster stations). Life jackets are issued at the assembly stations. In case of emergency, the use of elevators/passenger lifts is forbidden.

TALLINK-SILJA LINE deals

• 2-day cruise deals ("Europa 22 hour") are offered only shuttle ferries with departures from Helsinki (embarkation 8 am) to Tallinn (disembarkation 12:10 pm on the next day).
• On all Tallink-Silja ships (excepting shuttle ferries) is available Room Service with a la carte priced special occasion gifts, sweets, and beverage menus. However, cabin services must be ordered 4 days prior departure.
• Onboard Conference Rooms are equipped with data projectors and white screens, and available for booking with group rates (extra charge pp). The room must be booked for at least 2 hours, and for a minimum of 10 persons. Catering (snack package or buffet meals, also refreshments) can be booked additionally.
• Smoking on the ship is prohibited in all cabins, restaurants, bars and lounges, corridors, elevators, stairwells. Smoking on the ship is allowed at designated areas and only on outdoor decks (look for "Smoking Area" signs).
• "Collect and Save" program is based on collecting stickers with onboard purchases (on all Tallink-Silja ships stores). The program allows purchasing of selected products at up to 57% discount prices. With every purchase (min value EUR 10), the passenger receives 1 sticker (to be glued inside a campaign folder). By the "Collect and Save" campaign, passengers can buy different products after collecting 10, 20 or 30 stickers. These products are handed out and paid at the Info Stand or at the ship's shops. The "Collect and Save" offers are limited to a time period, or until select products are out of stock.
• "Club One" is the company's loyalty program rewarding passengers traveling frequently with Tallink-Silja ferries. By the program are accrued bonus points - based on ferry tickets and onboard purchases), but also on Tallink Hotels rooms booked via Tallink-Silja. The program has 3 levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold) determined by the bonus points. Bonus points can be used for booking voyages, getting onboard shopping and dining discounts, Tallink Hotels ( Tallinn and Riga ) 10% discount plus benefits, Tallink Takso (Tallinn) 5% discount, Europark (Helsinki) 15% car parking discount.

Garage Decks are numbers 3 and 4. On Deck 1 are the Engine Room (extending to Deck 2) and other technical rooms. On Deck 2 are the ferry's Spa (Sauna Rooms, Swimming Pool), technical rooms, crew cabins and facilities (dining/bar lounge, mess hall), the Brig (ship jail). Car Deck 4 has a hydraulic mobile platform, which (when lowered) divides it horizontally and doubles its passenger car capacity.

Follows a list of car decks related safety procedures:

• Disabled passengers or those requiring specific assistance should visit the ship's Information Desk (open 24-hours).
• Apply handbrake and place the vehicle in park or 1st gear position. Switch off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, headlights. Gas cylinders, if any, must be switched off. Lock the vehicle.
• From your vehicle take only valuables and essential hand baggage.
• Make a note of your vehicle's location and garage deck number/stairway before leaving the car deck.
• Access to the ship's vehicle (cargo) decks during the voyage is prohibited.
• Smoking on vehicle decks, as well as in cabins and passenger lounges is forbidden.
• Wait for the onboard announcement before returning to your vehicle.
• In order to avoid air pollution, don't start the engine until instructed.

The shipowner Tallink ( fleet , 1989-founded, headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia ) is an Estonian shipping company that operates Baltic Sea cruise ferries and RoPax vessels with direct services connecting Estonia with Finland and Sweden. and Sweden with Finland and Latvia.

Photos of Baltic Princess ferry

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Other TALLINK-SILJA LINE cruise ships

• Baltic Queen ferry
• Silja Europa ferry
• Silja Galaxy ferry
• Silja Serenade ferry
• Silja Symphony ferry
• Tallink Megastar ferry
• Tallink MySTAR ferry
• Tallink Romantika ferry
• Tallink Victoria I ferry

Baltic Princess ferry Wiki

The ferry was specially designed for passengers and cargo shipping operations on the Tallinn-Helsinki route. Since February 2013, the ferry operates the route Turku-Aland-Stockholm. On the Tallinn - Helsinki route was deployed the fleet mate Silja Europa. This was TALLINK's 4th cruise ferry. The vessel was ordered on December 19, 2005. Its construction started on November 14, 2006 (keel-laying ) at STX Europe ( Rauma Shipyard Finland )

The ship was christened on March 6, 2008 ( Helsinki, STX Finland ), launched on March 9, delivered to TALLINK on July 10 and entered service on July 5, 2008. Vessel's forward section (hull and superstructure) was constructed at the French shipyard, then towed to the drydock in Helsinki, where the hull was completed. The shipbuilding order was financed by a EUR 132 million loan from a bank syndicate (HSH Nordbank, Nordea Bank, SEB Bank, EIB).

The ship is powered by 4x Wartsila marine diesel engines (model 16V32, combined output 32 MW). The propulsion system includes 4x bow thrusters (combined output 7,2 MW). The hull is ice-strengthened (class 1A Super) which allows year-round operations on Baltic Sea routes with extreme ice conditions.

The vessel's flag-state/registry in 2020 was changed from Estonia (MMSI 276673000, Port Tallinn ) to Finland (MMSI 230639000, Port Helsinki ).

Cunard Queen Anne cruise review: A lovely new ship that's still coming into its own

Editor's Note

Are you thinking of a cruise on Cunard 's new Queen Anne ? Be warned: It's not like any Cunard ship you've seen before.

The storied cruise brand's first new vessel in 14 years is notably more contemporary in its look and feel than the line's three other ships, including the iconic Queen Mary 2 .

It also offers venues that embrace the latest trends of travel and cruising in a way that Cunard ships haven't done in the past.

As I've seen on two visits to Queen Anne since it debuted four months ago, including a weeklong stay in September as it sailed the Norwegian coast, the $600 million vessel offers more choice in dining and entertainment, more wellness options, and more of a focus on onboard celebrations than we've ever seen on a Cunard ship.

That's no small thing, given that Cunard has fielded 149 ships in its 184-year history.

Still, even as Queen Anne ushers in a new era for Cunard, it's a vessel that holds true to the traditional values at the core of the line — particularly a formality and elegance that harks back to the grand old days of ocean liner travel.

Overview of Queen Anne

Queen Anne is the new belle of the ball when it comes to Cunard ships. Unveiled in May, it's far younger and more up to date than the three other ships in the Cunard fleet, which range from 14 to 20 years in age. It also has a smorgasbord of new-for-the-line dining and entertainment venues that tap into the latest trends in hospitality.

Unlike other Cunard vessels, for instance, Queen Anne features a wide array of extra-charge eateries, ranging from a Mediterranean cuisine venue where the dishes are sprinkled with African and Arabic influences to one of the first contemporary Indian restaurants on a cruise ship.

That's on top of the four relatively formal main restaurants that have long been at the core of the Cunard dining experience (one each for each class of onboard cabins — if you're in a Britannia-class cabin, your main eatery is the Britannia Restaurant; if you're in a Princess Grill suite, your main eatery is the Princess Grill).

Queen Anne also has a broader array of entertainment options than past Cunard ships, including an all-new cabaret venue that is home to a murder mystery theater show for part of every cruise.

Like all Cunard ships, it's a vessel that maintains longtime ocean liner traditions such as gala evenings where passengers wear black tie and ballgowns and nightly dancing in a grand ballroom (something you no longer find on most ships).

But alone for now in the Cunard fleet, Queen Anne aims to bridge the gap between such traditions and a more contemporary sort of cruising — not just in the venues it offers on board but in its overall look and feel.

It's been a change that hasn't been without controversy. Some Cunard regulars have mercilessly (and sometimes hilariously) panned the ship at online review sites, citing both the new look and what they say are obvious design flaws.

Queen Anne also clearly has suffered from teething pains in its first four months at sea, with Cunard fans reporting listless service, mediocre food in some eateries and uninspired entertainment. These are all things that I saw, too — so much so that I'm hesitant to recommend that passengers book this ship just yet. While lovely, it's not quite ready for prime time.

That said, if Cunard can work out the kinks over the coming months, particularly in the areas of service and specialty dining, Queen Anne has the potential to be a wonderful cruise ship.

What I loved about Queen Anne

The new look.

Put me down as firmly in the camp that loves the new look. Make no mistake, I have long enjoyed the ocean liners-of-old design of Cunard vessels. Sailing on the Atlantic-crossing Queen Mary 2, in particular, is like stepping onto the movie set for "Titanic," which definitely has an appeal. Combined with Cunard's focus on old-style tradition and elegance, it has given Cunard something unique in the world of cruising. But that doesn't mean the brand has to be forever stuck in the past.

In my view, which admittedly isn't shared by some Cunard fans, Cunard has artfully updated its design and onboard offerings for modern-day cruisers in a way that doesn't lose the tradition and elegance for which its ships have long been known.

Related: This movie will give you a sense of a transatlantic Cunard voyage

The British feel

Like all ships operated by United Kingdom-based Cunard, Queen Anne has a particularly British feel. It's a vessel where mushy peas and fish-and-chips (along with other British culinary favorites) are on the lunch buffet not just once a sailing but every day , and afternoon tea is a major event. It's also a ship where one of the busiest drinking spots is the (very traditionally English) pub.

But beyond such Britishness in food and drink, it offers a uniquely British style of prim and properness that is perhaps Queen Anne's most distinctive feature. It is a ship, for instance, where even on nights when the dress code is a relaxed "smart" casual, most passengers arrive for dinner in a jacket, some in full coat-and-tie. It's a vessel where you generally don't see people being loud or garish or otherwise inappropriate.

For American cruisers increasingly aghast at the way some passengers behave (and dress) on mass-market American vessels, where anything-goes American values rule the day, it can be wonderfully refreshing — a throwback to what cruising was across the board not all that long ago. Of course, for some Americans, it might come off as just plain stuffy.

What I didn't love about Queen Anne

The hard-to-navigate top deck.

Getting around the top deck of Queen Anne is easy — if you're staying in a top suite. Otherwise, it's like navigating a maze. That's because a significant chunk of the middle of the top deck is devoted to a private sunning area for the swells in top suites. If you're not booked in such a suite (and thus do not have the secret keycode to enter and cross this elites-only zone), you can't easily get from the sunning and sports deck areas at the front of the ship to the pool area at the back. The only way to do it is to descend into the interior of the vessel and walk across its already congested buffet restaurant (called the Artisans' Foodhall).

This, in turn, adds to the congestion of the buffet, which itself has design flaws (most notably, its self-serve drinks stations are inexplicably located along the crowded walkways through the eatery, such that you'll smack right into people pouring hot coffees and teas as you work your way across the space).

Queen Anne is more packed with people than Cunard's three other vessels, in a way that affects the experience. Seats are hard to come by for some shows, and the crew seems more harried than usual. The cabin experience is also diminished in some cases.

The numbers tell the story: At 113,000 gross tons, Queen Anne is 24% bigger than Cunard's last new vessel, the 14-year-old Queen Elizabeth. But Cunard has jammed 44% more cabins (and thus 44% more people) onto the vessel. Queen Anne holds 2,996 passengers at double occupancy (two passengers per cabin), up from Queen Elizabeth's capacity of 2,081 passengers at double occupancy. Notably, this drops the ship's "space ratio" of space (measured in hundreds of cubic feet) to passengers to just 37.8, which isn't a great number. By comparison, Queen Elizabeth has a space ratio closer to 44. The line's flagship Queen Mary 2 has a space ratio around 56.

The spotty service

I truly was excited to sail on Queen Anne, as I've long loved the elegance and refinement of Cunard vessels. I figured Cunard's first new ship in 14 years would set a new benchmark for the brand. Alas, what I experienced on board was a vessel that wasn't quite functioning right, mostly in the area of service.

I've sailed on more than 200 ships in 30 years of writing about cruising, including lots of just-out-of-the-shipyard vessels, and I've rarely encountered one where the crew members seemed as untrained and indifferent as they seemed on Queen Anne. It wasn't in every space. The servers in the exclusive restaurant for Princess Grill passengers were fabulous, catering to my every need. The bartenders at the casino bar (Room 1840) were a delight. But in many other venues, I regularly encountered crew who didn't seem to know what they were supposed to do or how to interact with passengers. Some venues also just didn't have enough staff to function properly.

Queen Anne cabins and suites

Queen Anne has 28 cabin and suite categories — a large number. But finding the right cabin category for you isn't as complicated as that number might make it seem. As is often the case on cruise ships, many cabin categories on Queen Anne are essentially the same, with the exception of where the rooms are located.

For instance, there are nine categories of balcony cabins, all basically the same in size and decor. The only differences among most of them are whether they are located at the front, middle or back of the ship and whether they have a clear or obstructed view.

Similarly, there are five categories of ocean-view cabins (those with a window but no balcony) and six categories of windowless inside cabins. The only difference between them is location.

There are eight categories of suites, some of which also are essentially the same except for their locations.

All that said, when booking accommodations on Queen Anne, it's important to know that the type of cabin you book will have a significant impact on your cruise experience beyond what you'll experience in your room.

Unlike most lines, Cunard still operates with an old-school class system, where passengers dine and lounge on ships in different places depending on their cabin category.

Most of Queen Anne's 1,498 cabins — including all inside and ocean-view cabins and most balcony cabins — are what's known as Britannia cabins. When you book passage in one, you'll dine in the ship's cavernous Britannia Restaurant at night (when not at an extra-charge specialty restaurant) and only have access to the non-elite lounge areas of the ship.

For those wanting something more exclusive (and willing to pay for it), there are three higher tiers of accommodations with ever-greater levels of pampering and perks:

• Britannia Club cabins . These 162 balcony cabins are similar to standard balcony cabins but come with access to a more intimate private restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Princess Grill suites . A big step up from Britannia Club cabins, these 127 rooms — all suites — come with concierge service and access to an exclusive lounge area (the Grills Lounge) and a restaurant (the Princess Grill) for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In addition, you'll get access to a spacious private outdoor sun deck called the Grills Terrace.
• Queens Grill suites . These 65 suites are the ship's finest accommodations. Measuring 484 to 1,440 square feet, they come with butler service, concierge service, upscale touches such as fresh flowers, and access to an elegant private restaurant (the Queens Grill) for all meals. In addition, you get access to the same Grills Lounge and Grills Terrace as those staying in the Princess Grill suites.

My room was a Princess Grill suite, and the exclusive private areas that came with it really were wonderful. I particularly loved my special access to the Grills Lounge, a stylish bar and lounge space. Filled with curvy chairs upholstered in luscious peacock blue fabric, with a striking circular chartreuse seating area as a focal point, it served as a quiet escape from the ship's bustling public areas.

One deck up, the private Grills Terrace was a similarly serene and uncrowded oasis for decktop lounging that felt a world away from the busier public areas atop the ship.

Like all Princess Grill suites, my room measured about 300 square feet, including its balcony area. That's quite large for a cruise ship cabin, and it was room enough to contain everything I could want in a cabin for a week at sea: a king bed that could be split into two single beds, a built-in desk area, a separate built-in cabinet hiding a miniature refrigerator, a seating area with a sofa and chair, built-in closets, and a bathroom.

For the most part, I was happy with my Princess Grill suite on Queen Anne. While it wasn't inordinately high-end in its finishings, it had a clean-lined, contemporary look that felt modern and up to date. A recurring circular motif in its carpeting, lighting and mirror gave it a whiff of an art deco feel, one that was augmented by the room's red and gold accents (a nod to Cunard history, as they are two of Cunard's signature colors).

While surprisingly small in relationship to the overall size of the room, the bathroom in my Princess Grill suite was modern and bright, with a well-thought-out layout that made the most of its limited space. I particularly liked the relatively large walk-in shower and ample shelving space for toiletries — a sign that its designers understood what matters most to cruisers (unlike the designers of the poorly laid-out bathrooms on the new Seabourn ship that I just tested a few weeks ago ).

If my Princess Grill suite had a flaw, it was in the lack of adequate storage in the room. Given the formality of Cunard ships, which requires that passengers pack elegant eveningwear (think ballgowns and tuxedos) in addition to everyday clothing, the storage needs for Cunard passengers are higher than for passengers on some other lines. Cunard ships (and Queen Anne in particular) also often make longer sailings that require more clothes.

While there was enough storage in my room to pack away everything my companion and I brought for a weeklong sailing, it would have been tight if we had been on one of the ship's longer two-week sailings. I can't imagine how it'll work for passengers on the monthslong around-the-world sailings that are planned for the vessel starting in January.

One detail of the room I truly loved was the placement of large nightstands with large drawers on each side of the bed where I could hide away all my electronics and their cords, books, papers, glasses and the like. Bedside storage at this level is increasingly rare on ships. What's more, each of the nightstands was topped with a U.S.-style 110-volt outlet, a British-style 220-volt outlet, and both USB-A and fast-charging USB-C ports. Bravo, Cunard, for knowing how to keep us charged.

Other Queen Anne cabin tidbits:

• Every cabin has a small hair dryer that works with the ship's specific current. Leave yours at home.
• Rooms have nicely wide personal safes that can hold even a big laptop.
• There are Cunard-red "Do Not Disturb" magnets to stick to your door when you don't want to be disturbed. Flip them over, and a steward will make up your room. It's not a sophisticated system, but it works.
• Cabin televisions offer a wide range of movies on demand at no extra charge, a nice touch (some of Cunard's competitors charge as much as $11.99 to watch a movie).

The Princess Grill suites seem like a sweet spot to me when it comes to the higher-end accommodations on Queen Anne. They get you the same exclusive access to private indoor and outdoor lounge areas as the higher-priced Queens Grill suites and access to a private restaurant, too, but at a significantly lower price point.

That said, if you're looking for the ultimate in Queen Anne swankiness, you'll find it in the Queens Grill suites.

The best suites on Queen Anne

The two largest Queens Grill suites, called Grand suites, measure an astounding 1,440 square feet — nearly five times the size of my Princess Grill suite. They boast a bedroom, a master bathroom with a separate bath and shower, a large living room, a dining room, a powder room, a private balcony, and a walk-in closet.

Also impressive are the ship's four Queens Grill Master suites, which measure 896 square feet. They also feature a bedroom, a master bathroom with a separate bath and shower, a living room, a dining room, a powder room, a private balcony, and a walk-in closet.

The remainder of the Queens Grill suites are split between Queens Grill Penthouse suites, which measure 501 to 527 square feet, and slightly smaller Queens Grill suites, which measure 484 to 500 square feet. Each has a bedroom, a bathroom with a separate bath and shower, a living area, and a private balcony.

In addition to fresh flowers, Queens Grill suites come with personalized stationery, fresh fruit daily, predinner canapes and a complimentary minibar, including alcoholic drinks and soft drinks.

As noted above, Queen Anne's designers have packed a lot more cabins on Queen Anne than on earlier Cunard ships, and they did it in part by shrinking the size of some cabins. While standard balcony cabins on Queen Anne are just a tad smaller than balcony cabins on the line's past two new ships (236 square feet versus 239 square feet), the differential with Princess Grill suites is more noticeable.

Princess Grill suites measure 335 square feet on Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria — about 10% more space than my Princess Grill suite on Queen Anne. Princess Grill suites on the line's flagship, Queen Mary 2, measure a far more generous 381 square feet.

At the Queens Grill level, there are notably no two-deck-high duplexes measuring more than 2,000 square feet on Queen Anne, as you'll find on the Queen Mary 2, which remains Cunard's reigning monarch for over-the-top accommodations.

Related: Cunard cabins and suites guide: Everything you want to know

Queen Anne restaurants and bars

Cunard has never been known for having ships that offered lots of dining options, but that changed notably with the debut of Queen Anne. It boasts 15 different places where you can grab a bite — more than double the number on the line's other ships. It also offers quite a few bar options, including several new-for-the-brand venues.

Restaurants

As on all Cunard ships, the dining scene on Queen Anne revolves around four main restaurants: Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess Grill and Queens Grill — only one of which you will experience during any given cruise.

In keeping with Cunard's old-fashioned class system of dining, you'll be assigned a table in one of the four eateries for the duration of your cruise based on the type of cabin you book.

The vast majority of passengers — those in the least expensive windowless inside cabins, ocean-view cabins and most balcony cabins — are assigned to the least intimate of the four eateries: the expansive, two-level Britannia Restaurant. It's packed with close-together tables that can hold 596 people at a time — a banquet hall sort of number.

Dinners on the lower level of the Britannia Restaurant take place during two fixed seatings each night, while the second level is reserved for diners on an open-seating plan (arrange this in advance). Breakfast and lunch have open seating.

Passengers who pay up for one of 162 premium balcony cabins will be assigned a table in the more intimate Britannia Club restaurant. It's designed to hold up to 339 passengers and doesn't turn over tables for multiple seatings. If you book this class, you have a specific table in the eatery that is available whenever you want to dine during breakfast, lunch and dinner hours.

Even more intimate and upscale are the Princess Grill and Queens Grill restaurants, which are assigned to passengers staying in suites. The Princess Grill is for passengers booked in the ship's 127 smaller suites, known as Princess Grill suites. The Queens Grill is for passengers in the ship's 65 biggest suites.

In the Princess Grill and Queens Grill, as with the Britannia Club restaurant, you'll have a specific table that is available to you whenever you want it during dining hours.

Among the four main eateries, I only was able to experience the Princess Grill, as I was staying in a Princess Grill suite. Serving mostly classic Continental cuisine, it offered a refined dining experience with top-notch service, as you'd expect from an eatery reserved for passengers in top suites. Elaborate dishes such as chateaubriand and Dover sole meuniere (the latter expertly deboned and plated tableside) were available every night, as were such showy desserts as bananas Foster and cherries jubilee that were flamed tableside — a throwback to first-class travel during ocean liner days.

In addition to the four eateries above, Queen Anne also has a wide range of alternative dining options — something that isn't the case with other Cunard ships.

These include four new-for-the-line extra-charge dining concepts: Aranya, an Indian eatery; Tramonto, serving Mediterranean dishes; Aji Wa, a Japanese restaurant; and Sir Samuel's, a steakhouse.

I tried nearly all these new restaurants while on board and, alas, was disappointed with them all for varying reasons.

Both Aranya and Tramonto, which came with upcharges of $35 and $20, respectively, seemed like eateries added to the ship as afterthoughts. Both were in carved-out corners of the buffet area, and they had the ambience you might expect from such a location. From my table at Aranya, I looked out over a sad landscape of empty tables and a trolley cart with glasses in the buffet. Tramonto's ambience was better, thanks to the addition of a built-in wine cabinet blocking the buffet view. But it still suffered from being aside one of the main thoroughfares into the buffet.

Foodwise, the 38-seat Aranya was the biggest disappointment. The "carefully crafted spice-led journey" that it promised was almost devoid of spice across much of its (very limited) menu. A turbot wrapped in banana leaf came out dry. The one choice of naan that was available (plain) had the consistency of cardboard. It was nothing like the fabulous Indian eateries you'll find all over the ship's home country (for a similar cost, my companion and I feasted on truly wonderful Indian cuisine in London just the night before boarding).

Aranya also was plagued by servers who seemed only half awake (one server tried to fill our water glasses with tap water twice in five minutes, even though we clearly told her the first time we were drinking sparkling water).

The cuisine at the 38-seat Tramonto wasn't quite the disaster it was at Aranya, but too many dishes at this venue arrived cold, tasteless or otherwise underwhelming, and the servers were inattentive, even absent at times.

Both Aranya and Tramonto suffered, I suspect, from not having their own kitchens on-site. It appeared that waiters at both outlets were walking out of the eateries periodically to head to the buffet kitchen to grab dishes. They also apparently had to travel long distances to get drinks, as the eateries had no bars of their own. Our charge for sparkling water at Aranya posted as coming from the Panorama Pool Club bar, suggesting that our server had to walk to the back of the ship to get it.

Aji Wa, the Japanese eatery, had a much better atmosphere and served lovely sushi and other Japanese dishes. Its main flaw was disorganized service. During one of two visits, we sat at the sushi bar, ordering small sushi plates directly from the chef (as instructed) a couple at a time. Alas, nobody cleared these dishes away as we finished them, such that dirty dishes were piling up all around us by the end of the evening. We then sat for 20 minutes waiting for someone to notice we were done and bring us a bill. We finally got one, but just for our drinks. We had to wait again for a second bill for the food portion of the meal — a separation of charges that surely makes sense to someone in the accounting department at Cunard's U.K. headquarters but, of course, is nonsensical to the customer.

Sadly, I wasn't able to try Sir Samuel's, Cunard's new signature steakhouse. The eatery was unavailable for the entire week I was on board due to a private event that was being held in the space.

Other places to dine on Queen Anne include the Golden Lion pub, a mainstay of Cunard ships. On Queen Anne, it features a tasty new pub menu designed by chef Michel Roux Jr., who owned London's Le Gavroche restaurant, the first U.K. restaurant to receive three Michelin stars. (He also created an exclusive gala menu for the Queens Grill restaurant.) I particularly loved the steak-and-ale pie. It looked underwhelming on the plate but was fabulously rich and yummy.

You'll pay up to $11 a plate for lunch at the Golden Lion, but it's a worth-it upcharge. Some items, such as the quintessentially British Scotch eggs, are available at no extra cost.

In addition, Queen Anne passengers can eat in casual comfort at the Artisans' Foodhall, the ship's buffet. It features active food stations instead of traditional self-serve buffet lines, with a chef standing by at each station to make a dish just for you — a nice upgrade. There also are preplated dishes available to grab and go. The array of dishes is more limited than on some mass-market ships, but I never had trouble finding something to suit my taste.

That said, for something fast and casual, my favorite outlet, hands down, was the new-for-Cunard Wellness Cafe on the second level of the ship's Pavilion pool area. Part of Cunard's expanded focus on wellness, it offered no-extra-charge, built-to-order healthy food bowls that were not just tasty but beautifully plated. You could pick from a long list of healthful items such as edamame, kale, quinoa, roasted broccoli and charred cauliflower and top it all with grilled salmon and other proteins, as well as fresh dressings such as miso, lime and ginger. It was the one new eatery on Queen Anne that was a clear home run.

Eat there, and then blow your calorie count at the nearby Pavilion Gelateria, which serves massive extra-charge gelatos starting at a very reasonable $2.50 for one flavor. The Pavilion is also home to a grill for no-extra-charge burgers and hot dogs.

You'll also find small bites available from morning to night at the Carinthia Lounge. Located off the Grand Lobby, it's a European-style coffee bar by day with lovely handmade pastries and other elevated breakfast bites at no extra charge. At night, it morphs into a wine bar that serves artisanal cheese and charcuterie sourced from small producers for an extra fee (on my sailing, $6.50 for a selection of three cheeses or meats).

The Carinthia Lounge also serves oysters on the half shell at night ($6.50 for three oysters) and a few other small snacks that pair well with wines.

Room service is available day and night with several solid options including the same Michel Roux-designed burger you can get in the Golden Lion pub. That said, many of the better items come with an upcharge, which isn't always the case with room service menus on ships. The burger will set you back $11, while the room service steak — from the ship's Sir Samuel's steakhouse — will cost you $25 to $29, depending on whether you order a sirloin or filet. With an added lobster tail, the plate cost jumps to $40 to $44.

If you're heading out for a drink in the evening on Queen Anne, you're probably heading to one of two places: the Commodore Club or the Chart Room.

Located at the top of the ship overlooking the bow, as it is on all Cunard ships, the Commodore Club is the hot spot for drinks in the evenings, and for good reason. It's an elegant and inviting space with an impressive martini menu, friendly bartenders and lively entertainment (on my sailings, a pianist who took requests and played to the crowd).

The Commodore Club is such a popular venue on Cunard ships that the line has made it bigger than ever on Queen Anne, even bigger than its counterpart on Queen Mary 2, which is a far bigger ship.

Just off the Grand Lobby, the Chart Room is the main bar and lounge for the ship's lower-deck interior areas. It has a creative list of specialty cocktails themed around the signs of the zodiac (I loved the Leo-themed Natural Leader cocktail, made with pisco, lemon juice, raspberries and elderflower syrup) and the stylish art deco-inspired decor.

A third major drinking spot in the interior of the ship is the Golden Lion pub, which is just down the hall from the Chart Room past the Queens Room — the ship's ballroom. It's definitely the place to go for a pint of beer and a chat or a full-blown pub meal. Just be warned that it sometimes morphs into a karaoke club at night and is often taken over by trivia and bingo sessions, which sort of wrecks the cozy British pub ambience. In my view, it's a space that suffers from mission creep, though people who love karaoke, trivia and bingo with a side of John Smith's bitter ale surely will disagree.

Another option for a drink in the afternoon or evening is the Carinthia Lounge. As mentioned in the dining section above, it's a coffee bar by day but morphs into a wine bar as the day goes on. It has a wonderfully diverse wine list that includes things like Hungarian furmint, a wine you don't normally find at cruise ship bars.

Alas, as an evening drinking spot, the Carinthia Lounge suffers a bit from a ho-hum setting along a sometimes busy corridor through a shopping area — the reason, I suspect, for why it wasn't drawing much of a crowd at night when I was on board. It also closes down early. It's much more popular during the day when it functions as a coffee bar.

Note that the Carinthia Lounge is one of the venues on Queen Anne where the servers seem particularly out to lunch. You apparently get to order just one coffee here, after which your server will disappear, never to be seen again.

Yet one more bar option, one that is something of an unexpected gem, is the bar attached to the ship's casino, Room 1840. Most casino bars on ships are dreary places you don't want to visit unless you're in the casino to gamble. But the Room 1840 bar is both striking in its design and home to a fabulous cocktail menu focused on Negronis (in addition to a classic gin Negroni, you'll find creative variations on the Campari-infused elixir made with everything from double-oaked whiskey to tequila).

The Room 1840 bar is also one of the few bars on the ship where you'll find proper oversize ice cubes for cocktails such as Negronis — something that is standard at any semidecent cocktail bar on land but sorely missing from most Queen Anne bars (to be fair, this is a flaw not just with Queen Anne bars but bars on most cruise ships).

And, no, Room 1840 isn't smoky. Unlike on most ships, you can't smoke in the casino on Queen Anne.

In addition to the above, there are small interior bars attached to the Queens Room, the Bright Lights Society cabaret theater, the Artisans' Foodhall and the Sir Samuel's steakhouse. But none of them are venues you'd necessarily visit specifically for drinking. They are more bases for the waiters serving these various areas.

On the outside decks of the ship, you'll find bars at all the main sunning and pool areas, including at the front-of-the-ship sports deck (known as the Observation Deck) and at the back-of-the-ship Panorama Pool Club. One of the outdoor venues, Cabana, is a new-for-the-line rum-focused venue touting 50 different brands of the drink.

Queen Anne activities

As is typical for Cunard ships, the top decks of Queen Anne are mostly devoted to relaxing pool and sunning areas. This isn't a ship where you'll find lots of family-friendly decktop amusements such as waterslides and kiddie splash zones.

This is in keeping with the clientele of the brand, which is mostly older adults. Cunard has never been known as a family line.

Queen Anne is also one of the relatively few cruise ships with a top deck designed specifically for operating in a wide range of climate zones.

At the heart of Queen Anne's top deck is The Pavilion, an enormous central pool area that — unlike the main pool areas on the last two new Cunard ships — is topped with a retractable glass roof designed to keep poolgoers warm and dry on cold and rainy days.

It's a retractable glass roof that is not only functional but beautiful — a showpiece for the ship. Soaring higher and feeling airier than the typical magrodome (as such retractable glass roofs on ships are called), the giant structure above the pool was created by Martin Francis, the U.K.-based design wizard who figured out how to make the glass pyramid at the Louvre Museum stay up.

The Pavilion, moreover, is much more than just a covered pool area. Underneath the dome — in addition to a pool, three whirlpools and lounge chairs — is a bar, a grill for poolside food, a gelateria and a stage for entertainment.

Just forward of The Pavilion is an open-air sun deck that is the closest thing the ship has to an amusement zone. Called the Observation Deck, it has a paddle tennis court that doubles as a pickleball court, a putting green, a golf net for practicing your drives, a table tennis table (or, as most Americans would call it, a pingpong table) and — this being a British ship — deck quoits. If you're an American, you'll have to Google that last one.

There's also shuffleboard, here and elsewhere along the outdoor decks. It's that sort of deck-top vibe.

One other top-deck amusement, located toward the middle of the ship, is an archery range — something you won't find on most cruise ships. Indeed, while Royal Caribbean has offered a watered-down version of archery on its ships with toylike bows and arrows, Queen Anne is the first ship where you can shoot real (and very sharp) arrows with a real bow. You do it during formal reservations-only sessions with an instructor, and you have to sign your life away with a waiver form before you start.

In addition to the public areas above, there is an open-air deck area toward the middle of the ship that is exclusive to the swanky set staying in the ship's Princess Grill and Queens Grill suites. The center-of-the-ship placement of this exclusive area, alas, blocks regular passengers from moving across the top of the ship — a major design flaw.

The top of the ship is also home to a new-for-the-line, glass-enclosed Wellness Studio. Just past The Pavilion Pool (under the same glorious glass dome that covers that venue), it offers yoga, Pilates, Zumba and line-dancing classes during the day for an extra charge.

The Wellness Studio is part of the major expansion of wellness offerings at Cunard mentioned above. It was added to the ship in part to get all the fitness classes that the line normally offers in interior fitness areas up to the top deck, where participants can enjoy natural light and views of the sea all around.

That said, Queen Anne still has a good-size fitness center and a spa with a thermal pool complex in a lower part of the vessel. The latter venue is a wow with heated loungers, experiential showers, a reflexology footpath with textured stones, a cold room (a first for Cunard), a large steam room, a Himalayan salt sauna, and a traditional sauna. There's also a relaxation room and a wellness suite.

Two-hour passes to the thermal complex are available for $59 per person.

If you're looking for activities in the interior of the ship, there are two main places to go: the Queens Room and the Golden Lion pub.

The Queens Room — a staple of Cunard ships — is the ship's grand ballroom and the place to dance the night away to big-band music. But it's also the spot for afternoon tea at times — a big thing for the ship's heavily British crowd — and occasionally other activities such as low-impact chair yoga.

The Golden Lion pub is home to frequent trivia contests (often several times a day), darts competitions, bingo and karaoke nights — so many such activities, in fact, that passengers looking for a traditional pub experience may be disappointed.

Other activity areas in the ship's interior include the small casino area called Room 1840 mentioned above. It's just forward of the Queens Room. There's also a small Games Room for card playing just off the Grand Lobby.

At the very top of the ship, off the Commodore Club, is a library with one of the best views of any library at sea. Just beyond it is a very small children's area called The Zone (as noted, Cunard isn't a line that draws many children).

Other interior areas include dedicated space for weddings and wedding receptions, part of a bigger focus on celebrations at Cunard, and a large number of shops.

Queen Anne shows

Cunard has beefed up its entertainment offerings with the debut of Queen Anne.

In addition to an 835-seat main theater (the Royal Court Theater) offering Broadway-style shows, it's home to a new-for-the-brand, 132-seat cabaret-style theater called the Bright Lights Society.

The former is home to a wide variety of entertainment during any given cruise, from full-blown musicals to comedy shows and vocalist performances. (It's also used for lectures by a rotating list of guest speakers and occasional screenings of feature-length films.) The latter offers a murder mystery theater-type experience on some days and a lively cabaret-style musical show on others.

On my sailing, the two big main theater productions were a smoke-, strobe light- and laser-infused musical production called "Imagination" and a shortened version of the West End musical "Pride and Prejudice (sort of)" — the latter a comedic retelling of the Jane Austen love story. Both were entertaining, if not the sort of wow productions you'll find on the ships of cruise entertainment leaders Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line .

The Bright Lights Society (the name is an oblique reference to the fact that Cunard was the first ocean liner operator to use electric lights on its ships) was a fun and lively venue — when I was able to get into it. Alas, all six performances of what some passengers said was the best show in the venue, the interactive murder mystery "Noir," booked up seemingly instantly on the first day of my cruise, so I never was able to get a reservation to see it.

With Queen Anne's passenger count significantly higher than Cunard's other vessels, there just isn't room in the Brights Light Society venue to accommodate the demand for its shows.

The "Noir" show was the only show in the venue for three of the first four nights of the cruise. For the last three nights of the sailing, the space was home to "Fizz," a cabaret-style show with musical and burlesque elements and a loose storyline of romance for which I did manage to snag a reservation. It was energetic and amusing, with the cast of five pulling in the audience to become part of the show.

Additional entertainment, including the occasional comedy show, vocalists and silent discos, takes place in the Queens Room, the ship's ballroom. On Queen Anne, it's a space that has gotten a makeover compared to the ballrooms on other Cunard ships to make it more multipurpose, and it often hosts some of the same acts that play on different nights in the Royal Court Theater.

With clusters of modern ball lamps hanging from its ceiling, evoking planets floating in the sky, and a stunning, multicolored marquetry wood floor as a counterpoint, the Queens Room has a dreamy, make-believe quality unlike anything seen before on a Cunard ship.

A large digital screen behind its semicircular stage and high-tech lighting add to its more modern feel.

The Queens Room is also rounder in its design and more open to its surroundings. Its top level, in particular, is open to an area of boutique stores and the passing traffic of passengers moving between the front and back of the ship.

Queen Anne itineraries and pricing

Of Cunard's four ships, Queen Anne is the one that spends the most time sailing out of Southampton, England — Cunard's traditional home. Nearly all its sailings during the year begin and end in the port.

Still, that doesn't mean Queen Anne only sails in the vicinity of the British Isles.

For all but the first few months of the year, Queen Anne operates an unusually wide array of Europe itineraries out of Southampton that can get you to just about every corner of the continent, from the far reaches of the Baltic Sea to the full expanse of the Mediterranean.

Some of Queen Anne's Europe sailings out of Southampton go all the way to the Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa.

Queen Anne's trips from Southampton are diverse not only in where they go but in length, as the ship operates everything from quickie two-nighters to Hamburg, Germany (a good way to test the vessel to see if you like it), and seven-night sailings to Northern Europe to far lengthier voyages of 14 to 19 nights to the Mediterranean and Canary Islands.

During the first few months of every year, Queen Anne sets off from Southampton on an even more ambitious voyage around the world. Since the ship's debut in early 2024, it has become one of Cunard's main ships for such lengthy voyages.

The around-the-world voyages (two of which currently are on Queen Anne's schedule for 2025 and 2026) typically last nearly four months and include stops in North America, Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe. In addition to selling passage for the entire cruise, Cunard also sells shorter segments of the voyage that focus on particular regions along the way.

Prices for Queen Anne sailings start around $400 per person, based on double occupancy, for a two-night sailing from Southampton to Hamburg. More typical seven-night sailings out of Southampton start at $1,159 per person, based on double occupancy. The ship's first world cruise, a 107-night trip kicking off in January 2025, starts at $17,536 per person.

The above rates include all taxes and fees.

Note that you'll pay a significant premium to stay in Queen Anne's Britannia Club, Princess Grill and Queens Grill accommodations as compared to standard Britannia cabins. A voyage where a balcony cabin in Britannia class starts around $3,000 per person might cost closer to $5,000 per person if you book the same balcony cabin in Britannia Club class or $7,000 per person if you book a Princess Grill suite. A Queens Grill room on the same voyage might set you back more than $9,000 per person.

What to know before you go

Required documents.

A passport is required for all itineraries, and passports must be valid for at least six months. The name on your reservation must match that on your passport. Double-check if you've recently gotten married or use a different version of your name.

Queen Anne guests will find an automatic service charge of $16 to $18 per person, per day, depending on cabin category, added to their onboard account and final bill. You are allowed to adjust this amount at the Purser's Office desk before disembarking.

In addition, a 15% gratuity is added to bar bills. You should not feel pressured to add an additional tip.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on cruise ships

In recent years, Cunard has upgraded the Wi-Fi service on its ships and now offers a relatively fast connection through Starlink satellites. As is often the case with cruise ships, the service isn't free, nor is it inexpensive. Passengers can choose an Essential plan that allows web browsing and access to emails and social media sites for $18 per day if bought for the entire voyage (24-hour access is available for $24). A Premium plan allowing for streaming costs $24 per day if bought for the entire voyage (24-hour access is available for $36) is also available.

The above rates allow you to log in on a single device. Multidevice plans are also available. They'll cost you more in absolute terms but are a much better value if you are buying Wi-Fi for several people. On my voyage, a multidevice plan for four devices was the same cost as buying two single-device plans.

Note that top-tier members of the line's Cunard World Club loyalty program get credit toward buying internet plans.

Carry-on drinks policy

Cunard allows every passenger of drinking age to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne onto ships at boarding. The line charges a corkage fee if you bring the wine or Champagne to an onboard restaurant or other public areas to drink.

Smoking policy

Smoking (including e-cigarette smoking) is allowed only in designated outdoor areas. It's forbidden in cabins, on cabin balconies and — with one exception — in all other indoor areas of the ship. The exception is that passengers can smoke cigars and pipes only (no cigarettes) in Churchill's Cigar Lounge, the ship's dedicated space for cigar smokers.

Unlike on some cruise ships, smoking is not allowed in Queen Anne's casino.

Queen Anne has self-serve launderettes on cabin decks where passengers will find washers, dryers and ironing boards for use at no extra charge. Even the detergent is free. The ship also offers extra-charge laundry, pressing and dry cleaning services.

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry services

Electrical outlets

You'll find North American-style 110-volt outlets and European-style 220-volt outlets in cabins, along with USB ports.

The onboard currency is the U.S. dollar. But you won't need cash while on board. Queen Anne operates on a "cashless system," with any onboard purchases you make posting automatically to your onboard account. You'll receive a keycard that you can use to make charges, and Cunard will charge your credit card at the end of the sailing to settle the balance.

While on board, you can check your balance at the Purser's Office or via your in-cabin television.

Drinking age

You must be 18 to consume alcohol on Queen Anne in most parts of the world. When the ship is sailing in U.S. waters, Cunard enforces the U.S. drinking age limit of 21.

During the day, there is no specific dress code, and people dress casually. If it's a sea day, and you're bound for the pool deck, that means looking like you're going to the beach — T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits are just fine. Just note that swimwear is not permitted in indoor dining areas, so you'll want to change from that bathing suit before heading to lunch inside the vessel.

During the evenings, there is an official dress code, and it's more formal than at many lines. Cunard has always been known as a line where passengers dress up — and its dress code reflects that (though it's not nearly as formal as it was just a few years ago).

On most nights, the Queen Anne dress code is "smart" attire, which Cunard defines as a dress shirt and trousers, skirt and a top, or a cocktail dress. Jackets are optional, but many men do wear them. Some men even wear coats and ties on casual nights. This is a ship where passengers get very dressed up, and you might feel out of place if you don't.

Unlike on some lines, jeans are not allowed in restaurants in the evening, and the line is strict about it. You will likely be turned away if you show up in them, and you'll definitely get dirty looks from Cunard's formality-loving regulars.

Every few nights, the dress level on the ship becomes much more formal as the ship holds "gala evenings." These are shipwide events where passengers are encouraged to dress to the nines, and they generally do.

There are typically two gala evenings on every seven-night cruise and more on longer sailings. Cunard asks men to wear black tie or dark suits. For women, Cunard suggests floor-length dresses, ballgowns or off-the-shoulder cocktail dresses.

Cunard typically designates a theme for each gala evening, set in advance so you can plan your wardrobe. Examples include Black and White Gala Evening, when passengers are encouraged to wear black and white, and Red and Gold Gala Evening, when red and gold are the go-to colors. Some sailings also have a Masquerade Ball, where the line suggests passengers spice up their attire with masks.

Note that if you really, really hate the idea of getting all dolled up for a gala evening, you'll find that there are a few designated places on the ship (such as the pub) where you still can drink and dine without the formality. That said, the dress-up nights are a big part of the Cunard formula. If it doesn't sound appealing to you, maybe you're picking the wrong ship.

Related: What to pack for your first cruise

Bottom line

Queen Anne is a lovely ship that, alas, isn't yet running like it should. The design of the vessel, which is more contemporary in its look and feel than what we've seen from Cunard in recent years, is meant to usher in a new era for the brand, and it does. In my opinion, it's the most beautiful new Cunard ship to debut since Queen Mary 2 arrived more than 20 years ago.

But four months after opening, some of Queen Anne's venues still are struggling to deliver the sort of friendly and intuitive service that they should, given Queen Anne's positioning as a "premium" product that is a step above mass-market cruising (in some of its messaging to consumers, the line even refers to itself as offering a "luxury" experience).

In addition, several new-for-the-line dining concepts on the ship are struggling to hit their stride and may need rethinking.

Cunard, no doubt, will tweak all the above and eventually get it right, maybe by the time you are on board. And there's a lot already to love about Queen Anne — particularly the higher-end experience available in the ship's already smoothly-running Princess Grill and Queens Grill areas. If Cunard can work out the kinks with the rest of the ship, particularly in the areas of service and specialty dining, Queen Anne has the potential to be a wonderful cruise ship.

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