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

[Marla Hellwig]

seafood and shellfish - not that I am expecting live shrimp

 

[Cptjackandcrew]

BTW-just realized I should check...of the people participating in the FE exchange..do any in your cabins have allergies? Like if there are any nut or peanut allergies or anything else that could cause a problem?

No allergies with us either.

 

[mstinson14]

BTW-just realized I should check...of the people participating in the FE exchange..do any in your cabins have allergies? Like if there are any nut or peanut allergies or anything else that could cause a problem?

No allergies with us!!

 

[BluegrassBelles]

No allergies with us either

 

[KathyInCitrus]

BTW-just realized I should check...of the people participating in the FE exchange..do any in your cabins have allergies? Like if there are any nut or peanut allergies or anything else that could cause a problem?

As long as there's no green peppers or brussels sprouts we're good.

 

[Madisonznana]

As long as there's no green peppers or brussels sprouts we're good.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Firstly:-

Its THREE WEEKS now,

Thats 21 days!

Thanks for the reply, but wondered about the back on board time when we're in port. In the example I gave ( Oslo 8:30-4:30 ) is 4:30 when we have to be on the ship OR is that the time we're sailing ? Thanks

Reading all these wonderful posts and reports makes me think DCL really dropped the ball in the Port Adventures dept. Compared with other cruise lines we've sailed with, DCL did a poor job describing these tours. Most are expensive and I would like to know what I'm getting ! This our 8th Disney cruise and 30 total. But don't misunderstand me. We LOVE Disney, are DVC members,too. But there's always room for improvement !

I would assume that unless they are waiting for the late return of a Disney sponsored tour that they are sailing away at 4:30
We are aiming to be back on the ship about an hour before the allboard time in each port.

Julie (Bellelinus) was the one that convinced me to go with the non-DCL excursions on our PC repo cruise. She posted about a zipline tour in Puerto Vallarta that was much less expensive than what DCL wanted and they had a lower minimum age as well. Plus our best excursion on that trip was a pirate ship snorkel trip in Aruba that was also non-DCL. Just seems that you usually get more for less money when you do it yourself on the cruise excursions

Now before anyone flames me I do appreciate that you can also save yourself the aggravation of researching spots and the worry of missing the ship when you stick with ship excursions You just pay alot for that and for me not worth the extra money

I've enjoyed researching the ports Plus with the details from the previous cruises feel ready to take it all on

As this is DCL's first time to the Baltic, they would have had to rely on their advanced *scout* team researching the towns, tour operators, and sightseeing opportunities, and the bank of photos and details of the tours that are possible, profitable, and of interest to cruisers. These tours are 95% the same as other cruise lines to the Baltic, often even the exact same name and price. But of course the odd Disney twist such as the Royal Ball.

When they set up a new cruise, the advance scout team comes in talks to the local operators, the shops the people on guaranteed shopping lists and say, Hey we are Disney and we do things this way.

Negotiations then talk place, some people accept it some don't, contracts are agreed, Disney tends not to budge or compromise, but also is flexible with private shore operators, where as other cruise lines give them a hard time.

I started organizing my own private tours in the Med in 2007 , 5 of 7 ports, worked out better, cheaper, faster, and more to add in, than DCL could offer, we had a great time. In 2008 on Panama, I had 3 of 5 peoples with private tours again, I know I did far better than DCL. on cost, what we saw, and what we were able to fit in.

Its all about knowing the opportunities and operators, this time however, I did look into private options but in the end Russia is private, and Warnemunde is a DCL Private otherwise its all DCL standard trips.

When DCL come back to the Baltic, in the future, they will now have a Bank of their own phots and knowledge of the tours, so they will have greater detail, such as the Med in 2010 and for 2011, on the repeat ports.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

seafood and shellfish - not that I am expecting live shrimp

I am not on FE, but same as you, nothing that lives in the water, sea, rivers etc.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

For those still to come on BA.

Unite union offers to postpone BA strike ballot

Page last updated at 10:43 GMT, Sunday, 27 June 2010 11:43 UK


Unite says it is sensible to consider the new "interesting" BA offer Unite has offered to postpone its strike ballot of British Airways cabin crew in order to allow them time to consider its latest revised offer.

The union was due to begin balloting on Tuesday unless there was a breakthrough in the dispute, which has seen 22 days of strike action since March.

BA said in a statement that it welcomed Unite's move as "a genuine opportunity to end this dispute".

 

[drleblanc]

Dear Ballyhoo Group

Wife, Daughter (10.9999) are going on the Baltic Cruise as our first ever cruise. Really looking forward to it all and are open to any advice you all have. We are from the US originally (Boston Area last), but live in Geneva, Switzerland now. Driving to Dover on Saturday before and then going to enjoy the next 13+ days. Can't wait for the trip.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Dear Ballyhoo Group

Wife, Daughter (10.9999) are going on the Baltic Cruise as our first ever cruise. Really looking forward to it all and are open to any advice you all have. We are from the US originally (Boston Area last), but live in Geneva, Switzerland now. Driving to Dover on Saturday before and then going to enjoy the next 13+ days. Can't wait for the trip.

Welcome to this cruise....

​

 

[drleblanc]

Welcome to this cruise....

​

Thank you, looking forward to it....

Dan

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thank you, looking forward to it....

Dan

Geneva, Switzerland must be very nice place to live.

 

[drleblanc]

Any advice on formal dinners is grateful. How formal is formal? Any old suit is good, or should I bring a dark / black suit. Which night(s) are the formal dinners?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Any advice on formal dinners is grateful. How formal is formal? Any old suit is good, or should I bring a dark / black suit. Which night(s) are the formal dinners?

Up to you, any of that, I have had a Tux on a few cruises, and one one of those swapped back to a Business suit as too few were in them, I am taking a Business suite this time for formal, semi, and Palo Dinner.

Ladies do go to town and really dress up nice, but its a bit hit/miss with men and considering a high percentage coming trans atlantic, with luggage restrictions, either they hire, or go casual.

I think many will go without.

I found the MED in 2007 very casual, and was *told* to take my jacket off at Palo Dinner.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Reports say one Baltic cruise, -current one has 1,800>2,000 people on it, and one European cruise has only 800 people booked on it, -bet thats an end of season Med one. Heavy discounts.

 

[drleblanc]

Up to you, any of that, I have had a Tux on a few cruises, and one one of those swapped back to a Business suit as too few were in them, I am taking a Business suite this time for formal, semi, and Palo Dinner.

Ladies do go to town and really dress up nice, but its a bit hit/miss with men and considering a high percentage coming trans atlantic, with luggage restrictions, either they hire, or go casual.

I think many will go without.

I found the MED in 2007 very casual, and was *told* to take my jacket off at Palo Dinner.

Excellent, thanks, as I a driving, I can bring more, but do not want to bring too much. A nice business suit will do then. I will make sure my wife shows me up anyway.

Geneva is a nice place to live, a bit expensive, but was used to Boston, so not too far off!!

Dan

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Excellent, thanks, as I a driving, I can bring more, but do not want to bring too much. A nice business suit will do then. I will make sure my wife shows me up anyway.

Geneva is a nice place to live, a bit expensive, but was used to Boston, so not too far off!!

Dan

I have always felt more relaxted in a Suit, you see many men where the Tux for dinner and they are back out off it in the show, the suit means you double up use with Palo Dinner, as a Tux is over dressed there.

 

[ladyvet]

Andrew,
The Borough Market looks wonderful! I think we are staying in a great location to get to lots of places easily. The Market has a wine shop, so maybe we can get a few bottles for the cruise there while enjoying the rest of the market.

Welcome to drleblanc!

Beth

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew,
The Borough Market looks wonderful! I think we are staying in a great location to get to lots of places easily. The Market has a wine shop, so maybe we can get a few bottles for the cruise there while enjoying the rest of the market.

Welcome to drleblanc!

Beth

Market is small and compact under the rail bridges but I would describe as 'Old English', the Cheese on sale is fantastic, and there were some shops, say at the start of Park Street end that look as if they are out of Dickens.

There is a wine shop there, so an option but if it doesnt enthuse you there is Marks and Spencer at the station.

Across the Bridge is the Tower of London, and you have boat stops for the Thames to Westminster, there is a bus RV1, single deck that runs all along the SouthBank to Waterloo.

Tube is Northern and Jubilee, the later goes to Green Park for Buckingham Place, and Bond St, for shopping in Oxford Street.

Network rail can get you to Charring Cross for Trafalgar sq, and also Leicester Sq from there, short walk.

Other direction netwrok rail goes to Dover priory, either via Faversham or Ashford, care trains split into two halves at those stations and one goes to Ramsgate. You can also go direct to Gatwick.

Oddbins is opposite the rail entrance for Wine.