Berlin 'Discovery' excursion from Warnemunde more than worthwhile for us [a highpoint of cruise]

[LinRon2]

We just finished our 10 day Baltic cruise on the Voyager OS [June 5 sailing from Copenhagen].  We had signed up for the Berlin "discovery" excursion but were very hesitant given the excursion entailed a 3.5 hour bus ride both ways.  I looked for any info on this board before we went, but didn't find much [that was recent].  So thought I'd provide a word here now [june 20, 2022].  Of course, Warnemunde is being given as one alternative on Baltic cruises instead of St. Petersburg [given the Ukrainian conflict etc] and Berlin is one excursion choice at that port. 

Well, in a word, we had a great time.  The bus was modern, large, comfortable...and we had rest stops along the way.  It was quite interesting viewing all the alternative energy structures across the German countryside [wind turbines and solar panels].  The 3.5 hours went by quick both ways. 

But the highlight of the trip was a professional guide that joined our group once in Berlin.  He was great and we visited all the major bucket list sights (Brandenburg Gate, Bundestag, checkpoint Charlie, remnants of the wall memorial, and other sights) where we exited the bus for short guided walking tours at every site.  Then, after seeing the sights, we were given 3 hours on our own.  We wandered the streets buying some german chocolate at a large department store [selling nothing but chocolate] and stopped at a cafe for brats and beer  We finished up perusing some requisite souvenir shops before getting back on the bus for the ride back to the Voyager OS. 

Whatever doubts we had about the long bus ride, it turned out to be a high point of our cruise.  Berlin is a great city and so much history there, it would have been a shame to NOT have visited [even if just for the day].  Hope this helps anyone thinking about this excursion [actually there were several versions on a Berlin trip; but the trepidation is probably that long 3.5 hour bus ride like we were wary of].  For us, the ride was enjoyable and not the ordeal it might sound like when reading.  And the guide that was provided really made the trip ;more than worthwhile.