We are going to the Baltic in September, never been on this ship before or to this region, though we have cruised the Norwegian fjords. This was on a small Fred Olsen ship that could dock close to the ports we visited and we were able to go ashore without booking a tour or worrying about transport as all the docks were in easy walking distance of the town. I know some cruise ships have to dock a fair distance from the port if they are too large to get right into the dock, so could anyone who has done this cruise before tell me please how close the ship docks to these ports, and if it is practical to go ashore without booking a tour. We also spend two days in St Petersberg but there is no choice other than to join a tour in Russia so I've left that off the list:-
Copenhagen
Helsinki
Tallinn
Riga
Kiel
Skagen
Many thanks