7/18/10 Mickey's Baltic Ballyhoo Part 6

[RJAYL]

Don't laugh too hard, your DD isn't too far behind.
At least we weren't too crazy letting her drive home on the interstate on Friday evening. That would have been a suicide mission since her Driver's Ed teacher didn't take her on that road. I'm thinking of doing that sort of road in FL, 417 would be better since it's not as crowded.

My DD is I was laughing because of my DS who got his license the end of last August!

My DD is too good looking for her own good & is a real pain in the A__!

And No I do not look forward to her driving as I will not be able to keep a handle on her!

 

[scrapycruiser]

Yea ! The Magic is finally heading to England !!

I am really confused about Stockholm ! Would love to hear what everyone is doing there. I would book the City Hall, Royal Palace and Old Town Shore Excursion, BUT only if DCL would allow us to stay behind in Gamla Stan and get our own transportation back to the ship. Anyone know if they allow that ??

I see they have opened up more SPA times. I was able to get a 10:30 am appt on a sea day.

 

[RJAYL]

Yea ! The Magic is finally heading to England !!

I am really confused about Stockholm ! Would love to hear what everyone is doing there. I would book the City Hall, Royal Palace and Old Town Shore Excursion, BUT only if DCL would allow us to stay behind in Gamla Stan and get our own transportation back to the ship. Anyone know if they allow that ??

I see they have opened up more SPA times. I was able to get a 10:30 am appt on a sea day.

Well you can take the DCL tour Stockholm Vasa & the Royal Armory $79 per adult & stop worrying?

 

[RJAYL]

Wunermunde is in the upper 70's all week nice!

Hopefully it will be even warmer when we are there, and can spend some time at the Beach!

 

[jilljill]

Wunermunde is in the upper 70's all week nice!

Hopefully it will be even warmer when we are there, and can spend some time at the Beach!

That sounds really nice right now. I'm sick of our 90 degree weather, it's too early for these temps.

 

[jilljill]

My DD is I was laughing because of my DS who got his license the end of last August!

My DD is too good looking for her own good & is a real pain in the A__!

And No I do not look forward to her driving as I will not be able to keep a handle on her!

We have a 1 year long permit now. DD can only drive with DH or I or someone that is over 25 that we approve for the first 6 months. The next 6 months there are strict time and occupancy restrictions for her driving without us. So she will finally get a real license on 6/4/11.

 

[RJAYL]

That sounds really nice right now. I'm sick of our 90 degree weather, it's too early for these temps.

You are complaining about 90's & you have a house in FLA!

I have been reviewing London, I would like to get my London Eye tickets however I am worried about BA flight I was planning on the first day after our flight & the London Eye tickets are for the exact day!

 

[RJAYL]

We have a 1 year long permit now. DD can only drive with DH or I or someone that is over 25 that we approve for the first 6 months. The next 6 months there are strict time and occupancy restrictions for her driving without us. So she will finally get a real license on 6/4/11.

My DD will have her permit by then!

 

[MrsG]

You are complaining about 90's & you have a house in FLA!

I have been reviewing London, I would like to get my London Eye tickets however I am worried about BA flight I was planning on the first day after our flight & the London Eye tickets are for the exact day!

I can't imagine that BA won't be settled by then. I still don't know if I'd want to do the eye on the day I arrived. Can you rearrange your days and maybe do it another day?

 

[MrsScooby]

Yea ! The Magic is finally heading to England !!

I am really confused about Stockholm ! Would love to hear what everyone is doing there. I would book the City Hall, Royal Palace and Old Town Shore Excursion, BUT only if DCL would allow us to stay behind in Gamla Stan and get our own transportation back to the ship. Anyone know if they allow that ??

I see they have opened up more SPA times. I was able to get a 10:30 am appt on a sea day.

I'm right there with you on Stockholm
Initially we (I mean I because my family is not helping at all) planned on going to the Vasa in the morning, then the public Viking tour, then a quick lunch and then the Royal Armory and then back to the ship. Probably take the public ferry or the HoHo boat or the Public bus (#76) from place to place. But read somewhere that the Stockholm card can save you time as you can avoid standing in line to buy transport tickets or museum tickets. So with the Skansen so close to the Vasa (10-15 minute walk?), I was thinking maybe we can fit in a short (45-60 min) visit to Skansen if we get the Stockholm card

The Stockholm card includes the HoHo boat and the public bus, but not the public ferry-so if pressed for time we might need to pay extra for the public ferry Not likely we will save money with the Stockholm card but we might save time and aggravation with it

Also, just want to add, the HoHo buses might be great for other ports, but not too practical for transport during weekday traffic in Stockholm and short time in port to consider

I don't know if DCL will allow cruise passengers to stay behind on a tour It would make sense in this situation if they did-but maybe they are worried about being liable for anyone technically on their tour being left behind

I'll probably try to add on a foot massage once on the ship. So hard to plan spa ressies in advance for me. On our first cruise I did and wound up wishing I had skipped them. The Red Door Spa we have at home is just as good as the service on the ship-so not a must do for me. Saving up for a Keratin hair treatment so I can keep from looking like a chia pet on vacation

 

[jilljill]

You are complaining about 90's & you have a house in FLA!

I have been reviewing London, I would like to get my London Eye tickets however I am worried about BA flight I was planning on the first day after our flight & the London Eye tickets are for the exact day!

Considering the normal high should be the upper 70's right now, yes I'm complaining.



I think you would be fine booking your Eye tix for that day. Just book later in the afternoon in case you would have to take a redeye instead of the day flight. (At least I think I remember you saying you have a day flight.)
I'd be more concerned about my hotel ressie being cancelled if I didn't show up to check in than pre-booking the Eye.

 

[MrsScooby]

Wunermunde is in the upper 70's all week nice!

Hopefully it will be even warmer when we are there, and can spend some time at the Beach!

Temp sounds perfect

I have been reviewing London, I would like to get my London Eye tickets however I am worried about BA flight I was planning on the first day after our flight & the London Eye tickets are for the exact day!

I can't imagine that BA won't be settled by then. I still don't know if I'd want to do the eye on the day I arrived. Can you rearrange your days and maybe do it another day?

We have the London Eye booked for the day we arrive, but didn't have much choice as we only have a day and a half in London before the cruise (Plus on Delta airlines-so no strike issue to worry about..yet). Really hoping for as much as possible in these ports- doubt anyone will see us up late on the ship
From what I heard the London Eye is a "must see" on alot of lists so I would hate to miss it. Gotta bite the bullet Robert and pick a day and hope for the best. Hard making decisions when certain important factors are totally out of your hands though.

 

[MrsScooby]

Wondering how my DH and I will keep in touch while on this trip. So used to having the cell phones for texting and calling whenever we lose track of each other in a store. We do have walkie talkies (if I can find where we put them) and thought maybe they would be an option, but not sure if they would work in other countries

Can you buy a temporary cell phone with a few minutes in Europe ? Don't need to call anyone in the US, but like the security of having a phone available for emergency purposes. How spoiled right? Doesn't seem that long ago that we never carried cell phones and relied on public phone booths.

 

[Celestine]

Wondering how my DH and I will keep in touch while on this trip. So used to having the cell phones for texting and calling whenever we lose track of each other in a store. We do have walkie talkies (if I can find where we put them) and thought maybe they would be an option, but not sure if they would work in other countries

Can you buy a temporary cell phone with a few minutes in Europe ? Don't need to call anyone in the US, but like the security of having a phone available for emergency purposes. How spoiled right? Doesn't seem that long ago that we never carried cell phones and relied on public phone booths.

In the UK you can buy SIM only cards which you could put in to your existing phone & then add on a value either by buying a card, or online & some prepaid SIMs include some minutes/value (you can pick up SIM only cards for as little as £1 in high street retailers such as Argos). Not sure whether that would be of any help in any other country though

Celestine

 

[Celestine]

OK, so I had a reply from the Stockholm TI. SL cards can be purchased from the TI at Frihamnen 638. Assuming we actually dock here, this is what we'll buy as it also includes the ferry. This leaves us flexibility by not prebooking anything and hopefully we'll see what the eaerlier cruises get, e.g. ship "taxi" to town which may not be cheaper tha the SL card at 100K, but easier. Whilst the Vasa would be of interest to DH & I, the girls would have had their fill of all things nautical in Oslo! Current plan is to get to Gamla Stan, Viking tour, Hard Rock cafe (buy a beanie) & then over to Djurgarden if time permits

Celestine

 

[RJAYL]

I can't imagine that BA won't be settled by then. I still don't know if I'd want to do the eye on the day I arrived. Can you rearrange your days and maybe do it another day?

Considering the normal high should be the upper 70's right now, yes I'm complaining.



I think you would be fine booking your Eye tix for that day. Just book later in the afternoon in case you would have to take a redeye instead of the day flight. (At least I think I remember you saying you have a day flight.)
I'd be more concerned about my hotel ressie being cancelled if I didn't show up to check in than pre-booking the Eye.

Wondering how my DH and I will keep in touch while on this trip. So used to having the cell phones for texting and calling whenever we lose track of each other in a store. We do have walkie talkies (if I can find where we put them) and thought maybe they would be an option, but not sure if they would work in other countries

Can you buy a temporary cell phone with a few minutes in Europe ? Don't need to call anyone in the US, but like the security of having a phone available for emergency purposes. How spoiled right? Doesn't seem that long ago that we never carried cell phones and relied on public phone booths.

We have a morning flight so as to avoid the Red Eye!

We were planning the London Eye for our 2nd day, also planning a river cruise for that day as we can pick it up at the Eye.

Planning on booking a Flexi ticket so we can use it at any time Debating wether to buy the Flexi Fast Pass ticket (sounds like WDW) or just the regular Flexi? It seems the (skip the que) ticket would remove alot of worry about large lines, however it adds cost & eliminates our ability to book a package with the Wax Museum.

 

[Celestine]

We have a morning flight so as to avoid the Red Eye!

We were planning the London Eye for our 2nd day, also planning a river cruise for that day as we can pick it up at the Eye.

Planning on booking a Flexi ticket so we can use it at any time Debating wether to buy the Flexi Fast Pass ticket (sounds like WDW) or just the regular Flexi? It seems the (skip the que) ticket would remove alot of worry about large lines, however it adds cost & eliminates our ability to book a package with the Wax Museum.

Are you early risers? If so, you could skip fast pass and get there for roughly when it opens, but no later than 10am and you shouldn't have too much of a wait. If you plan on a flight any later than that, or have a tight window, you will either have to wait or pay up!

Celestine

 

[RJAYL]

Are you early risers? If so, you could skip fast pass and get there for roughly when it opens, but no later than 10am and you shouldn't have too much of a wait. If you plan on a flight any later than that, or have a tight window, you will either have to wait or pay up!

Celestine

Yes but with the time change getting up at 7AM in London is equal to 2AM in the US!

 

[jilljill]

Last time we waited about 25-30 minutes for the Eye. I didn't buy the Fast Track tickets, just the normal timed ones. I think we had a time of 5:15 or 5:30 and got in line around 4:45. We then walked to Porter's for our dinner time of 6:30.

 

[Caropooh]

Thanks for the link ! I'm like a sponge, it's getting close and I can't get enough ! They were lucky to have had so much time in Stockholm !

Wasn't the Magic heading out to Dover today ??
Can't wait to get reports from those early Baltic cruisers !

For those doing the HOHO bus in Stockholm, are you getting your tkts before you go ?

Is anyone doing the HOHO Boat ? Can't decide which to do, and it's too expensive to do both for the short amount of time we'll be there .

Also, does anyone know if there are many teens on our Jul 18th cruise ? My Grandson is 15 1/2

We have a 16yo daughter!

Speaking of a 16yo girl...we took DD to get her license this afternoon . She drive us to Home Depot and then to dinner in Fri. afternoon traffic - we were totally nuts letting her do that. She made out fine, although she needs to use the brake more than she does and definately needs to turn her head when looking left and right.

Alana starts driving school the day after she gets out of school (June 17) and goes Monday -Thursday from 8:00AM-10:00AM. He last day is July 14, the day we leave for London.

Just got home a bit ago from having a birthday dinner with Caro, Andrew, Alana and Kathryn! We had a fun time at Dave and Buster's!

Was so happy that you could make it! We had fun!