The options for getting to Berlin
| Option | Total time | Price guide | Best for | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise line excursion | 10 to 12 h | From 190 USD by train, 260 USD with a hop-on hop-off bus (one cruise line's older prices) | First cruise, peace of mind | The most expensive; the ship waits for its groups |
| Coach run by a third party (GetYourGuide) | 10 to 12 h | From 111 USD for "Berlin on your own", 201 to 235 USD with a guided tour or Sachsenhausen | Travellers who want free time | Times are set around the ship's arrival, to check |
| Train on your own | 2 h 30 to 3 h 15 each way | One-way ticket about 39 EUR; less when booked in advance (travellers' reports, to check) | Independent travellers, small budget | A delay can make you miss the ship: it will not wait |
| Private guide | 10 to 11 h | About 1,700 USD for two (GetYourGuide offer) | Small groups, tailor-made | High price |
What to see in 5 to 6 hours
Get off at the main station and stay on the east-west axis: Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, then Checkpoint Charlie and the Topography of Terror by metro. The Reichstag needs online registration: do it before you leave the ship. For a fuller day, see Berlin in one day.
And if you stay in Warnemünde?
Warnemünde has its beach, its lighthouse and the Teepott; the station is a few hundred metres from the centre and the neighbouring city of Rostock is reached by suburban train. This is the choice of travellers who have already seen Berlin or do not want to spend 5 hours on a train.
Which to choose
- Safety first: the ship's excursion or a guaranteed coach with return to the port.
- Freedom and price: the train, with a return time set 2 hours before the ship leaves.
- Short stop: stay in Warnemünde.
