Stephanie Serino's Travel Blog

I booked a half-day city tour of Helsinki through Crystal Cruises , which was a nice introduction. The city is celebrating its 200th anniversary as the capital of Finland, so there isn’t a preserved medieval quarter here (like Stockholm and Tallinn); instead new buildings and old blend together to create a fascinating cityscape. It's no wonder Helsinki was named the 2012 Design Capital of the World.  Monument to Finnish composer Jean Sibelius I enjoyed seeing the Sibelius Monument at the waterfront park named for the composer. The monument was created by the Finnish sculptress Eila Hiltunen in 1961 (apparently, it caused quite a stir as the first abstract public monument in Finland). The famous Rock Church (also called Temppeliaukio Church) was special, but I think the Post Office thrilled me more with it's clean lines.   The Post Office in Helsinki After the tour, I stayed in town walking all along the narrow, cobblestone streets. Each block has such a ...

Tallinn from Dome Hill First stop on my Baltic Cruise aboard Crystal Cruises ' Crystal Symphony was Tallinn, Estonia. This charming medieval walled city on the sea could call itself the Dubrovnik-of-the-North: narrow, winding, pedestrian-only streets with adorable cafes and shops,  and plenty of sea views to engage your camera. You could do a short walking tour of the old town so you notice all the highlights (an inexpensive shore excursion option), but it's fun to just wander aimlessly too. Architectural details catch your eye like a 17th century clock on the side of Holy Spirit Church and a dragon gargoyle.  Unfortunately, I was not the only tourist here; the streets were crowded. Corny tourist traps abound and vendors in period costumes sell everything from spiced nuts, elk soup and elf shoes. And there are an awful lot of burlesque clubs and 'adult' entertainment on offer. But the history is interesting (I loved the story of their singing revol...

St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia Cruising the Baltic Sea was as wonderful as I expected.  Every destination was special, but by visiting so many in one trip I really experienced the region and learned about their relationships with each other and the sea. Here’s a quick summary of my trip: 3 days in Stockholm at the Scandic Grand Central 11-night cruise on the Crystal Symphony 3 days in Copenhagen at the Scandic Copenhagen Crystal Cruises' "Journey of the Czars" itinerary included these ports of call: Tallinn, Estonia 3 full days in St. Petersburg, Russia! Helsinki, Finland Warnemünde, Germany St. Petersburg was as amazing as I expected, but the Amber Room at Catherine's Palace was mind blowing. I knew I'd love Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen and wandering the Old Town of Tallinn, but was surprised how much I liked the canals of Stockholm and the architecture of Helsinki. All the Scandinavian ports were clean and ...

My Baltic Cruise departure date finally approaches and I wanted you to know my schedule. My last day at work will be Thursday July 19, and I won't be back at my desk until Monday August 6. If you anticipate any travel needs, please get in touch as soon as possible so I can help you before I go. Don't worry: I'll have my laptop with me so I can access reservations and answer questions (although the time difference and busy itinerary may make it difficult), I will have a colleague available to assist you while I'm away and the 24-hour hotline is always available if you have a travel emergency. This trip will be amazing! I'm escorting a group of 85 guests sailing on the Crystal Symphony's " Journey of the Czars " from Stockholm to Copenhagen with three full days in St. Petersburg. It's my first time cruising with Crystal Cruises , which has been voted the World's Best Large-ship Cruise Line 17 years in a row by Travel & Leisur...

You're invited to set sail with me this summer on Crystal Cruises ' " Journey of the Czars ." The Crystal Symphony departs from Stockholm on July 23, 2012 for an 11-night Baltic cruise ending in  Copenhagen on August 3.  With overnights in both Stockholm and Copenhagen, and three full days in St. Petersburg, this is an amazing itinerary. It will be a pleasure hosting this Signature group on such a fabulous ship! Click here for more information . I'll be happy to answer your questions, just call me at 607-279-1734.