London.
Too much too see too much too do, the best capital of the world, historic sites, world class theatre, great restaurants, care on tourist traps. Good things to do are river cruises, the Tower, the London eye, shopping in Oxford street, Regent street ( Hamleys toys) and Knightsbridge, (Harrods) but the large Malls are at Westfield Shepherd's Bush or Stratford. Stratford is east London where the Olympics were in 2012, you can still see a lot but some of its changed, the stingray swimming pool is now a Pringle. Around Stratford and the docklands is the DLR the Docklands light railway, great for a cheap day these automated trains go to Greenwich and the Cutty sark through docklands, -young kids will like the front seats as if their driving the train, the DLR Also runs from Bank Stn, and you can connect to the Emirates airline cable car from the O2 dome ( millennium dome ) to the Excel exhibition centre. Windsor, Hampton court, Cambridge are all an hour out of town but well worth a visit.
Try a pub, try a meal just off the Main Streets there cheaper. If your in Holborn my favourite is My old Dutch for lunch or dinner these are thin Dutch pancakes not USA bigger breakfast ones, Also for cheap food, at lunch on the go, go to Sainsbury's, Tesco's and Marks and Spenser have meal deals, around £3 for a sandwich, drink and snack of chocolate or fruit.
Transport is good if staying a few days get an Oyster card which works on the tube, the national rail, the DLR, buses ( not HOHO) some river buses, and Emirates. It's touch in touch out a lots automated, you can use contact less cards now and it will C&P costs to the maximum daily fare, care our crush hours are in fact
6.30 am to 10 am and
4 pm to 7 pm but trains can be full at all times.
We have free papers metro am and Evening standard evenings. Lists of shows are in the ES.
ZFL the Zoo for London is at the North end of Regent's Park, the tube station of Regent's Park is an option but Camden Town is better for the entrance. Camden also has good street markets. Madam Tussaud's is at Baker street , pre book a time slot it's very busy, the London planetarium is next door, the area is famous for Sherlock Holmes.
Westminster is great to view and a walk to Trafalgar Square, Buckingham palace, Piccadilly Circus is great, and the Hard Rock cafe is at Hyde Park Corner near the palace above Green Park.
St Paul's is famous walk up Fleet Street past the courts of justice, to St Paul's for a good view then from St Paul's go to the river and cross the Millennium bridge to the Tate and the Globe Shakespeare's theatre great views of London there inc the Globe, Shard, Gurkin, Cheese-Grater, and the bridges.
Avoid tourist currency exchange in the tourist streets try post office, the main banks, Thomas Cook. For mobile Sims use Lycra mobile there everywhere normally outside shops.
Avoid London Bridge railway station under the Shard as its having issues on its refurbishment, and on escalators stand on the right walk/ run on the left, if you stand on the left the London commuters will not be nice. We have serious construction work for crossrail at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham court Road, Farringdon, and Liverpool Street. Outside Victoria station there is work as well but trains not effected.
For the brave we have a bike hire scheme nicknamed Boris bikes after our mayor there cheap and great to get around but take care as at busy junctions we have had fatalities.
Currency the pound, ( or the quid) .
Dover.
Overlooked as a place to tour as people use it just for a nights sleep, pre or post cruise but it's a quaint town, my mums side came from it, the castle is impressive great views, a small tight hight street with market dome days and shops to stock up on booze. Canterbury is close famous for pilgrims and the cathedral. Kent is beautiful the garden of England famous for hops and fruit. The beach at Dover is a bit stoney, but nice and you can watch the ferries go in and out or hike the White cliffs. The cruise pier is along a dangerous narrow and busy road, used by trucks you can walk it but to be honest taxi is best.
Seas
Whilst the Baltic was calm, albeit muddy in places, the North Sea can be very active so bear that in mind. It can be cool and open there.
Port Tours.
Copenhagen.
Last time we did the fairytale canal cruise and a city walk, it was good it started with a walk from the ship to the canal boat via the mermaid who was in Japan at the time. The canal tour was nice a funny guy narrating, the ship was wide and reasonable to view until you got to the city where high walls prevent some viewing. The city walk was good everything close, we walked all the way back to the ship with the guide. A stop for juice and a pastry, was ok, rushed and with a small shop the kids wanted coke etc I am sure that's why it's there, queues for the restroom.
The port us close to the city and HOHO stops outside the small barrier, there are good shops there.
This year day 1 we are doing the Castles of New Zealand and Day 2 a three hour walk, lunch, and then drive to two castles.
Currency Danish kroner.
Stockholm.
Last time we did the city walk and Stigtuna, now the city part was good, great viewing loverly places but Stigtuna IMHO is not worth the motorway drive to it, it's a tourist trap a tourist street a small church, yes nice yes OK, not worth 40 min drive each way. The food was served in a nice restaurant to say four coaches a bit school canteen food ok, and good restrooms. Slightly rushed. I say avoid this tour stay in Stockholm, visit Old town, Vasa, Royal palace, town hall and Abba museum if you can. Or go DIY. Looks like we are docking near the city centre a different dock to 2010 and closer to the old town. There are boats to Vasa.
We have a private tour of all of those.
Helsinki.
There was a shuttle to the town, Rock church is the main place to see, Porvoo a short drive, we have a tour with a local guide.
St Petersburg
A great city and my views are strong as we had an absolutely fantastic two days with Anastasia in 2010 and booked a varied and edited tour for this year, it's more flexible and cheaper than
DCL and no coming back to the ship between tours day and evening. Hermitage, saviour of split blood, Catherine's palace with Amber room, and Peterhoff are musts, the Faberge museum and private river cruises are great, we went on the subway last time and we visited a private church that had a wedding. Peterhoff park and fountains is amazing, We had a good cheap lunch there, we paid for our guides dinner there. Whatever trip you do ensure at least one way is by hydrofoil it's great for the fun, great for kids and saves a lot of time in traffic. The port has a duty free shop you can access without getting through immigration. If your on a private tour do take a copy of your passport for border control and if tipping in $ or € make sure is new unspoilt larger notes, no rips, as they can't change them easily. If staying out later and on Main dinner ask the restaurant manager to swap you to late dinner that night. Cabanas in the Med had a carvery most nights I hope they do the same on our cruise.
Tallinn.
We dock very close to the market and start of the old city, a walk of ten minutes or a short taxi. Care bits of it is a maze around the old walls, the market there and at the port is very good and good port free wifi and in the city as well. We did a DCL tour last time, best of tallinn, part coach part walking we visited a park and the Eurovision tallinn music festival site nice with good views inc the ship. Limited time may make things rushed. We have booked a private part car part walking tour this time. The food here is fantastic there was a DCL shuttle here. Spend your last Euros here and keep some for the city market and port market.