A friend of mine recently referred to Berlin as Europe’s most eclectic city. Certainly, it is hard to think of another European city that was as divided as Berlin — and with the United States, Great Britain, France and Russia controlling the various sectors. All have left their influences as have the great tragedies that this great city endured.
When cruise ships call on Rostock & Warnemunde, cruise passengers often have the opportunity to visit Berlin. It makes for a long day, as the transit alone will take up to three hours each way.
I recommend that you consider instead staying two or three nights (at least) in Berlin before or after your Baltic cruises.
As I wrote in Back In Berlin, the city is relatively inexpensive, there’s abundant history, inspiring architecture, wonderful restaurants, efficient public transport (the cost from the airport to the city center by public transport is less than US$3) — and typically for less than US$100, you can travel between Berlin and Stockholm or Copenhagen, where many cruise ships depart to explore the Baltic Sea.
The perfect itinerary: Fly from North America to Berlin, stay two to three nights (visit Dresden is possible), then fly to Copenhagen or Stockholm, where your Baltic cruise is likely to begin, stay two nights in the embarkation city and two nights in the disembarkation city. This makes for a long, but enjoyable, trip. Don’t have that much vacation time? Tell me about it. See Epiphany In Sweden & The (Im)Balance Of Life & Work In America.