Cruise Do-It-Yourself: Day 1: In transit, Copenhagen, Embarkation

After a 10-hour flight from Los Angeles, arrived in Amsterdam at 9am local time, midnight our time, for a 3 hour layover. Fortunately, at Schiphol airport they have these snooze chairs and bean bags. We were able to catch a few hours of sleep before boarding the one hour flight to Copenhagen.

Snooze chairs at Schiphol Airport

Finally arrived in Copenhagen around 2 PM. Bought the 24-hour city pass (75/40 DKK adult/child) at the ticket machine at the airport. This is where we hit our first snag with credit cards. The ticket machine only takes credit cards with PIN codes. The Capital One Visa I tried to use to save the foreign transaction fees did not have a PIN code. I had to use my Schwab ATM/debit card to complete the transaction.

Our experience with credit cards: In every place we tried to use credit cards, a PIN was required (except in Russia - the restaurant where we used a credit card did not require a PIN). However, if there is a human attendant at the shop, they can print a receipt which you can sign instead of entering a PIN code. So on the bus ticket machines, we couldn't use credit cards without PINs. Also, taxis seem to be hit or miss. In Aarhus, I was able to use a credit card without PIN but in Copenhagen, the taxi drivers did not seem to know how to accept credit cards without PINs.

Took the M2 metro to Kongens Nytorv station and walked about 500m to our hotel Phoenix Copenhagen. Arrived at the hotel around 3pm and was told our rooms were not ready yet. Are you serious? Check-out time is 12pm and they couldn't get the rooms ready by 3pm? We just flew for 15 hours and now we had to wait another 30 minutes in the lobby for our rooms. One room was finally ready after 30 minutes and was told the other one will be ready after another 30 minutes. Whatever. We're just happy for any bed to lie down on.

Tiny room with tiny beds

Slept for a couple of hours and walked down to Nyhavn for the canal tour. There is a canal tour at the end of Nyhavn. Do not take this tour. Well, you can if you want to pay 75 DKK. If you want to pay 40 DKK instead, walk a little further down the right side and you will see this:

Nyhavn

The Little Mermaid

Opera House

Sand Sculptures

After the canal tour, we took the metro from Kongens Nytorv station to Nørreport station and ate dinner at Torvehallerne market. We didn't realize that since it was already around 8pm, most of the stores were already closing. At Ma Poule, they had one duck confit sandwich left which I was lucky enough to get. The rest of the family got shawarma dishes from a stand outside the market.

Duck confit sandwich. 55 DKK. Yummy!

Following day, checked out of hotel at 10am and took bus #26 to Rådhuspladsen for the free walking tour from Sandemans which was supposed to meet at the steps of the city hall.

After waiting about 10 minutes past 11am, checked the website (they had free wi-fi at city hall) and realized that the free walking tours had been cancelled until July 26. Bummer. S**t happens. Decided to walk down Strøget back to our hotel.

Along Strøget, you'll see a lot of these shawarma places

Pastry shop

Another pastry shop

On the way back to the hotel, stopped at Baresso Coffee on the corner of Kongens Nytorv and Store Kongensgade for some drinks. From the hotel, took a taxi to Frihavn terminal which cost 175 DKK. Embarkation was a breeze. Arrived at cruise terminal around 12:30pm, filled out some health forms and was able to check-in in about 15 minutes. After boarding, tried to go to main dining room for lunch but was told that only the buffet is open.