Next summer, we are planning to cruise in Norway for 12 days. So far, we are thinking of 5 nights pre-cruise in Amsterdam and 5 or 6 post-cruise in Zurich. The hotels are $$$$$$. Being Canadians, we are used to being the "poor" country! If we have to lower our standards in class of hotel, we will. Our only "must" is A/C. Lots of their hotels don't have it. As the trip nears, we will give Priceline a shot.

As for food, we have always been pretty good about that. When the Euro was $1.63 Canadian, we just didn't splurge. We still managed to eat fairly well. (Don't forget, for years our dollar was also $1.63 U.S., the currency we had to calculate not only in the U.S., but also in the Caribbean and even for our cruise itself)

You mention ships' exhorbitant tour prices. For the Norway cruise, I can't even find any private tours. It seems that the only option is the ship's selection. When we will be on our own, whenever possible, we will take public transportation rather than a tour. We love to explore on our own. Our goal is not to see everything, but to see some and soak up the atmosphere!

I feel like I am rambling here! It must be the morning coffee!

Happy travels!

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Stan,
I did not consider the short tourist season of Moscow and St. Petersburg. No wonder the hotels have to charge so much!

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