We had looked forward to another visit to Tallinn but after our exhausting two days in Russia we decided to skip the Upper Town.
Instead we stuck to the Lower Town and went to our favourite bar/restaurant for an extended lunch.
From RCI Port Information:
“Ship clearance expected at 7:30 am and all onboard is set for 4:30 pm
Ship will dock at the Old City Harbor, located at approximately 10-15 minute drive from the city centre. Limited taxis are available at the port exit (150m from gangway).
Shuttle Service:
Shuttle service is provided by the Port, please see details below. Tickets can be purchased from the shuttle ticket booth on the pier and also from the shuttle coordinators at the drop off/pick up point in the city. Tickets can be purchased with Euros (€) or US Dollars ($).Shuttle Price: $6 / €5 per person – One Way or $10 / €8 per person – ReturnDuration: 10-15 minutes approximatelyDrop Off: Russian Culture Centre (big yellow building), Mere Blvd. Last shuttle from the city will be at 4:00 pm.”
Our first cruise on Royal Caribbean took us to Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallinn, Stockholm, Skagen, Stavanger and back to Southampton.
Day 9 Monday, July 1st: Tallinn, Estonia
We missed our usual breakfast in the Sapphire as we stayed for too long in our cabin. Instead we went up to the buffet on deck 11. The buffet breakfasts suffered the same issue as the ones in the Sapphire, namely the food didn’t stay warm on the counters. I had cold scrambled eggs, cold mushrooms and mildly warm American bacon.
While we ate breakfast Aida Prima docked next to Explorer. This would mean a few thousand more tourist as well as lots more bikes running around the city.
Into Tallinn
We walked from the ship across the dock and turned right along the gravel path towards the lower town. The old brick pier was fenced off and one whole side of the facing was now coming away.
Some of the paths round the Fat Tower were under repair and the tower itself was undergoing renovation. We walked along until we came to the cafe where one of our friends was having a drink and a rest.
The temperature had risen and we sat outside enjoying our coffees and chatting about our time in Russia.
When we reach the town hall square we walked around looking at the busy bars and cafes.
Linda sat on the “sausage dog“ seat at the top of the square and I walk past the Town Hall down to the Vero Gate. The streets were packed with people and I stopped just before the gates and took a quick picture and then I walked back to the square.
Lunch at the Beer House
After a busy two days in St Petersburg we had decided to limit our sight seeing in Tallinn and to head for our favourite restaurant (from our earlier long weekend visit.) We sat outside and enjoyed a glass of the micro brewery lager while we decided what to have for lunch. All our friends joined us and we settled down for a convivial lunch with the local beer and food.
Back to the ship
We walked back down a different street and past below the Fat Tower and walked along to the cruise terminal.
Looking back to below the Fat Tower.
Along the path to the ship.
Near the cruise terminal, the market of small stalls was very busy as was the area in and around the covered bar and shops.
While I waited for everyone to catch up I went to the back of the shops to get this view of the docked ships.
Once back on board we had to wait for the bar to open. Then we had another beer before going back to our cabin for a rest and to get changed for dinner.
Leaving Tallinn
Evening
We had decided to try a different bar for a pre-dinner drinks but the Star Lounge, at the end of the Royal Promenade, had a band playing so loud as to make conversation impossible. Plus the lounge had only two other couples in it and we turned around and left.
We found a table on the Royal Promenade and managed to intercept all our friends so they could avoid the ear blasting taking place in the Star lounge.
Our evening meals were by now well organised, as we entered the Sapphire restaurant, we are reserved our table for the following evening. Then we headed off to our table to be greeted by our efficient and friendly servers.
I started with Caesar salad followed by a pork dish. Our waiter noticed my dissatisfaction with the meal and instead brought me a chicken curry. This was my third evening having a curry! I had a rice pudding with added coconut and mango again this was delivered cold, which I now know is not unusual for RCI.
From dinner we went straight to the theatre to watch the production show in the theatre.
The ship’s clocks would go back an hour overnight.
