Happy BERTH DAY
Mum and son’s Baltic cruise fun
WE might sound like unlikely shipmates – a mother and her grown-up son.
But a 16-night P&O cruise around six Baltic states was the ideal break for me and Finlay, 20, with its mix of famous and unknown stops.
Granted, we passed time on board differently. My cabin had a balcony so I could have a drink watching the sunset and world go by.
Fin was happy with his indoor cabin and having wilder nights with some other younger guests on board.
But there was plenty of fun on dry land on this belter of a Baltic cruise.
Skagen
Not a tourist hot spot but this fortress town’s history was brought to life for us thanks to a top local guide. We spent a fantastic afternoon walking the 1,200m Little Belt bridge. You get stunning views over the fjord.
Klaipeda
We arrived on a rainy morning so Lithuania’s third largest city looked grim. Our local guide recalled what life was like under Soviet rule: queuing for bread, families who spoke out, including hers, sent to Siberia, some never to return.
After a tour of the local brewery, Svyturys, and sampling local beers, we managed to made our way back to the ship two happy passengers.
Helsinki
in the Rock, built into a lump of granite, is also a must.
Since he was small, Fin has wanted to visit his namesake country – and posed near an appropriate shop sign.
St Petersburg
because it was used as a vegetable store. I wonder what Stalin would have thought of the souvenir £230 Russian dolls. The £ 1 bottles of vodka were more popular.
Gdansk