Warning long catch up post.
Andrew, this is so helpful. I really appreciate the time you have taken to educate us on how to do this properly. All of your UK advice has been helpful, actually, and it is so nice of you to take the time.
Thank you for those kind words, greatly appreciated.
All the more reason to do private tours if possible.
We're also hitting the Hermitage before it opens with Anastasia, but do I need to specifically ask to see the Treasure Room? Sounds special....uh, what is it?
Hopefully we have early entry as well
Couldn't re quote all of your post here, but Thanks, I am glad its resolved and have assurance /guarantee will be good.
Thanks Andrew and Celestine, I think I was close to guessing the prices of food right...here's hoping we don't run out of food money before we get on the boat! I will definitely check out the coupons.
Only 1 more day to pack and be ready to board our plane...I am starting to get nervous and thinking I should start worrying less about magnets and more about essentials.
Safe travels, many posts on jet lagg, from an old hand at transatlantic flights, 1/ Set watch to UK time after check in, 2/ Eat and light drink to UK time, 3/ If you can eat light at airport and drop airline meal, or eat on airline early, try to slow down ad relax sleep asap. In UK try to work to UK time and ie if arrive at breakfast, eat breakfast, try not to booze or take tablets.
aloha,
Boy just had an short earthquake just a few minutes ago. It was a 5.9 magnitude. Nice shake but everyone is doing well.,\.
Man can't wait to go on this cruise.
aloha,
Hawaiian mickey
Just had an earthquake.
The epicenter was about 45 min to an hour away from us. Can't wait to get out of CA for a couple of weeks!
Hopefully a small one, take care.
We agree. Andrew, you have been so helpful and such a fount of knowledge. Looking forward to meeting you.
Thank you and I look forward to meeting you and everyone on the cruise.
Andrew,
I have to echo all the others sentiments. Your insight and advice and helpful maps etc have been invaluable to me and all of us. Your love for Disney definitely shines thru 
Looking forward to meeting you and your family. I hope things work out for the best with regards to Anastasia tours and the payment situation.
Okay gang, enough of you have convinced me to hang "something" outside on my FE. Our cabin number is #6089. If you have extra gifts and care to include us fine, if not don't worry about it. Not sure what my FE will look like but be prepared to laugh in case its just a big old SOCK! 
I would be more inclined to find out what the weather forecasts are for the Baltic ports. I have started putting our clothes out in anticipation of packing next week, but I'm nervous that I'm taking too many sleeveless tops for myself and short sleeve shirts for DH. We're hoping to get by with just a lightweight jacket but thinking we might want to throw in a sweatshirt too
UGH! Big bugs and me don't get along at all 
Boy that is a lot of ships in port at one time. Expect crowds and long lines! 
GOOD MORNING!
Okay, off to work now that I've caught up on the latest news. Looking forward to meeting and seeing everybody in a weeks time. We leave one week from tonight. 
Firstly, thank you for those kind comments it is really greatly appreciate, my aim has always, bee to 'tell you as it is'', try to help, and show passion for my City and UK, I hope and trust it will give you all ''added value'' to enjoy your time here, and you will come back. 2012, will be a great time to visit.
As per weather, the issues are to all of us who knows, currently warm and sunny here, but UK, and Baltic can change quickly so prepare for everything, we have had a long sunny spell, and so has Northern Europe, that will be fantastic, we will pack our bags on Saturday afternoon 17th, after looking at the weeks forecast. Leaving it very late. Hope we can use the pools and go not have rain.
This is the list of cruisers that have PM'd me with their cabin number for the postcard exchange:
Madisonznana
Caropooh
Marla Hellwig
MrsG
smilis
Caven553
Samanthasmom1
KathyInCitrus
BluegrassBelles - will need 2 postcards since there are 2 households represented in the cabin
drleblanc
jilljill
Gadd Family - not on DIS but traveling with jilljill
CousinOrville
RJAYL
Vactime
I'll get out the list of cabins to those that have responded. If you still wish to join in and haven't PM'd me, please do so today or tomorrow.
I would like to be included, please, and have ordered a special print of 2 x 100Postcards. So outside this list can share with anyone on this thread.
Who's Going On A DCL TOUR ??
I thought it would be fun to post the DCL tours that we're doing to see who all is going with us !
Scrapycruiser ( Gina& Bruce ) : OSLO HIGHLIGHTS
TIVOLI GARDENS & HARBOR TOUR
CULTURAL SPLENDOR OF BERLIN
Where are you going ??
Not final yet, but most likely:
Copenhagen -- Charming Copenhagen Walk and Cruise
Germany -- Signature Tour with guide and driver
St. Petersburg -- Walking Tour of St. Petersburg, Evening Canal Boat Tour
St. Petersburg -- Catherine's Palace and Hermitage Museum
Tallin -- Best of Tallin with Concert and Lunch
Stockholm -- City Hall, Royal Place and Old Town
We are a group of five adults (two are my kids)
These are the ones we're doing:
Berlin: "Berlin On Your Own" (basically just the train service)
Tallinn: "Old Town and Lahemaa National Park"
Not a lot, we prefer mostly to go on our own.
We are doing the Molli Steam Engine in Germany
Skansen Museum and Swedish Fairytales in Sweden
Estonian architecture and art for families in Tallin
Kevin and Kate
Copenhagen - Tivoli and Harbor Tour
Warnemunde - Berlin Cultural Highlights
St. Petersburg - Ball at Catherine's Palace
We're also seeing St. Petersburg with Anastasia and doing the rest on our own.
St P's day 1 - walking tour for all 4 of us
St P's day 2 - Hermitage & Peterhof for me & Paul only
All other ports - DIY
Celestine
Tivoli Gardens & Harbour Tour
Stockholm & Vasa
St. Petersburg day 1&2: Private tour Anastacia
All the rest: DIY
We are doing the following booked through DCL:
Lion King Show in London on Saturday
Oslo:Hadeland Glass Works and Viking Ships
Copenhagen: Tivoli Gardens and Harbour Tour
Berlin: Sights and Sounds of Berlin
St. Petersburg Day 1: Peterhof Parks and Fountains/Evening Canal Boat Tour
St. Petersburg Day 2: Catherine's Palace and Hermitage Museum/A Night of Russian Ballet
Tallin: Old Town, Fishing and Mini Zoo
Stockholm: Stockholm, Vasa and Royal Armory
We are going to book the castle tour on debarkation day once we board
We also have booked:
Palo Brunch on Monday July 19 (Day 2)
Palo Tea on Friday the 23rd (Day 6)
Palo Dinner on Wednesday the 28th(Day11)
Oslo: "Hadeland Glass Works and Viking Ships"
Copenhagen: "Tivoli Gardens and Harbour Tour"
Warnemunde: "Berlin Past and Present"
St. Petersburg day 1: "St Petersburg Shopping Experience"; "Evening Canal Boat Tour"
St. Petersburg day 2: "City Highlights and Hermitage"
Tallinn and Stockholm: DIY (HoHo bus)
All above look very nice, we are on:-
Shore Excursions
Copenhagen
Charming Copenhagen - Walk and Cruise
Oslo
Hadeland Glass Works and Viking Ships
Stockholm
Historical Stockholm and Sigtuna
St Petersburg
Private tours two days.
Tallinn
Best of Tallinn with Concert and Lunch
Warnemunde
DCL Berlin Private tour, by train.
Sailed on the June 12 voyage. Maybe helpful information for those are just leaving:
Oslo: Hop on Hop off is excellent. They DO accept USD. Buses run timely for weekdays.
Copenhagen: Hop on Hop off excellent. They DO accept USD. Visited Amalienburg Palace "under construction." If you have to choose b/w Am. Palace and the Rosenburg, go to Rosenburg if you want to see a furnished Palace vs one in the remodeling stages.
Weather was nice, but we FROZE the entire cruise. Pirate Deck party was quick picture taking of the buffets/desserts and then eating the loot in our cabin while watching the World Cup. Long Johns would have been wonderful.
On land, the weather was pleasant but a hoodie was needed. Pack the sunscreen even if the weather is cloudy. We got sunburned.
Isle of Man, Liverpool, and London had a wonderful awaited heat wave. Glad I had capris and short sleeved shirts.
Happy and Safe travels to all of you!!!! Wish we were still there. The jet lag reminds me we still are.
Heidi
Thank you Heidi.
Don't remember seeing you on the boards.
(Wed is around 40%)
Good Morning All
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