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

[MrsScooby]

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 Aboard

Wow, you are brave taking on a big cruise as your first one

Right off the bat I would suggest having your daughter (DD) try out the kid's club the first day to meet up and hopefully make some friends. Then spend the first sea day exploring and getting your bearings with the ship.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Darn
There goes my best idea

Good idea for FE,

Go to Marks and Spencer at Dover and get a load of Walnut Whips, great for everyone, (unless you have a Nut, Chocolate, or cream, gluten allergy).

OK,May not be a good idea, but I like em......

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Welcome Aboard

Wow, you are brave taking on a big cruise as your first one

Right off the bat I would suggest having your daughter (DD) try out the kid's club the first day to meet up and hopefully make some friends. Then spend the first sea day exploring and getting your bearings with the ship.

Been monitoring the kids thread and a lot of new posts and Kids meet is 2pm at Scoops on embarkation.

 

[Madisonznana]

Good idea for FE,

Go to Marks and Spencer at Dover and get a load of Walnut Whips, great for everyone, (unless you have a Nut, Chocolate, or cream, gluten allergy).

OK,May not be a good idea, but I like em......

Just a note, my FE are not edible and are allergy free

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Just a note, my FE are not edible and are allergy free

Do they have a warning on them for kids under 3?????

 

[MrsScooby]

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?

There is a bit of a range for formal night-some get really dressed up (tux and formal gowns) I would say most opt for dressier clothes (suit and nice dress) and then there are always some who prefer to dress very casual. Think of what you would like to have your picture taken in as it is a nice opportunity for a family photo.

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.
Dan

smart

Welcome fellow Bostonian & family!

Some nice Swiss milk chocolate for the Ballyhoo crew would make you a hit at all the parties that will be occuring at Andrew's Cabin!

WELCOME Dan & family!!!! You'll find tons of info on our first page. Make sure you check it out. There is nothing like the first cruise and you seemed to have picked a great one to do first!!! DH is renting a tux on board as we are flying in from NY and don't need the added weight of a suit (shhh..... don't tell DH that I talked him into a tux so I would have room for souveniers). Seriously, he's rented from them before and was very pleased. He really likes that they supply the dress shoes so that's also one less thing to carry.

The ship rental for tuxes is great-still have not ruled that out entirely for us. The cutoff for ordering is 2 weeks before the cruise though.

Good idea for FE,

Go to Marks and Spencer at Dover and get a load of Walnut Whips, great for everyone, (unless you have a Nut, Chocolate, or cream, gluten allergy).

OK,May not be a good idea, but I like em......

Sounds yummy
Can I get that in London? Stopping the Ballyhoo bus might not go over well

No allergies in my family....
oh, except for DS16 (my Andrew) is allergic to something in NY, we think it is probably some kind of mold that is present during the Fall as we have been to the ER for 3 Thanksgivings over the past 10 years.

So as long as no one puts NY fall mold in our FE we are good

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew's Sunday night questions/ survey:-

Who is dressing up pirate night?

Who is dressing up Villains night, and if so, as who?

Those on Private Tours, any plans on what you will tip, one person posted 15% Guide, and 5% driver, another a set fee $100 Guide and $50 Driver.

Who is taking currency for all ports, who is going on plasitc?

Anyone going for an upgrade at port???

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

There is a bit of a range for formal night-some get really dressed up (tux and formal gowns) I would say most opt for dressier clothes (suit and nice dress) and then there are always some who prefer to dress very casual. Think of what you would like to have your picture taken in as it is a nice opportunity for a family photo.


smart




The ship rental for tuxes is great-still have not ruled that out entirely for us. The cutoff for ordering is 2 weeks before the cruise though.




Sounds yummy
Can I get that in London? Stopping the Ballyhoo bus might not go over well

No allergies in my family....
oh, except for DS16 (my Andrew) is allergic to something in NY, we think it is probably some kind of mold that is present during the Fall as we have been to the ER for 3 Thanksgivings over the past 10 years.

So as long as no one puts NY fall mold in our FE we are good

Do you have them in USA, They are a cone of Chocolate, with marshmallow inside, topped with half a Walnut, and in Marks come in a pack of three or six, and really nice, for not nut allergy sufferers. Any Marks and Spencer have them 99p for 3 in a box, M&S are the best, -All over London. Often at the tills.

 

[Madisonznana]

Andrew's Sunday night questions/ survey:-

Who is dressing up pirate night?

Who is dressing up Villains night, and if so, as who?

Those on Private Tours, any plans on what you will tip, one person posted 15% Guide, and 5% driver, another a set fee $100 Guide and $50 Driver.

Who is taking currency for all ports, who is going on plasitc?

Anyone going for an upgrade at port???

The girls are dressing up for pirate night. None of us for villains.
Still thinking about the tips. the set fee sounds good.
we have a small amount of local currency, plastic will be used.
Why, will you be chipping in?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

The girls are dressing up for pirate night. None of us for villains.
Still thinking about the tips. the set fee sounds good.
we have a small amount of local currency, plastic will be used.
Why, will you be chipping in?

Hey, I have a wife, two kids and a Cat 3 to support! Cant chip in,

Pirate night, kids, yes.
Villains, not sure.
Tips debating. I was thinking 10%.
I am on plastic.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

PS

Have Anastasia Tickets now!!!!!

 

[Madisonznana]

Hey, I have a wife, two kids and a Cat 3 to support! Cant chip in,

Pirate night, kids, yes.
Villains, not sure.
Tips debating. I was thinking 10%.
I am on plastic.

Thought I would give it a try

10% each for the guide and the driver?

 

[RJAYL]

PS

Have Anastasia Tickets now!!!!!

Thats one of us!

 

[Madisonznana]

PS

Have Anastasia Tickets now!!!!!

Did she email them or did you get them by regular mail?

 

[Cousin Orville]

Andrew's Sunday night questions/ survey:-

Who is dressing up pirate night?

Who is dressing up Villains night, and if so, as who?

Those on Private Tours, any plans on what you will tip, one person posted 15% Guide, and 5% driver, another a set fee $100 Guide and $50 Driver.

Who is taking currency for all ports, who is going on plasitc?

Anyone going for an upgrade at port???

Gavin (5) will be turning into his "Pirate's League" alter ego - Leon Whalebones - for the pirate night. I, on the other hand, will be dressing up like Jimmy Buffett (hopefully that's close enough).

We'll skip the Villain's dress up.

(We're heading to Catherine's Ball and will dress in our best - tuxes)

I have no idea what's appropriate for private tours and will go by recommendations here.

I will rely heavily on plastic, but will likely get some local currency just in case. That's on my list of things to figure out this week.

No upgrade for us. I'm pretty happy with our Cat 8? - the one with the big porthole. Normally, I'm not a paranoid parent, but as a new cruiser with young kids, the balcony worries me a bit. That, and I need to start up my 2011 med cruise fund.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thought I would give it a try

10% each for the guide and the driver?

Driver 5%

Thats one of us!

Did she email them or did you get them by regular mail?

Email in about an hour or so ago.

 

[ladyvet]

Here they are:

1) Are we planning a DISmeet for this group? I'd like to meet this crowd!

2) Do you think guides in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, etc will accept euros? I'm stressing a bit about keeping up with 7 different kinds of money

Beth

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Gavin (5) will be turning into his "Pirate's League" alter ego - Leon Whalebones - for the pirate night. I, on the other hand, will be dressing up like Jimmy Buffet (hopefully that's close enough).

We'll skip the Villain's dress up.

(We're heading to Catherine's Ball and will dress in our best - tuxes)

I have no idea what's appropriate for private tours and will go by recommendations here.

I will rely heavily on plastic, but will likely get some local currency just in case. That's on my list of things to figure out this week.

No upgrade for us. I'm pretty happy with our Cat 8? - the one with the big porthole. Normally, I'm not a paranoid parent, but as a new cruiser with young kids, the balcony worries me a bit. That, and I need to start up my 2011 med cruise fund.

Re Verandah, know what you mean, now this is true, but people on the main forum do sometimes say they think it isnt.

When my son was 4, (2002) we went on a DCL cruise with a Cat 4, as soon as i got there, as my Mrs was concerned about it, I locked the door and asked my son could he get to the verandah, to prove he couldn't.

Without a seconds thought, he rolled up the circular sofa chair to the door, opened both locks and was out, people say they are child proof but he did it, now if you take the small sofa out its not possible.

We haven't had any problems, in fact I showed my son the sea, and he kept well away from it, as its a long way down.

 

[poohmomof5]

Andrew's Sunday night questions/ survey:-

Who is dressing up pirate night?

Who is dressing up Villains night, and if so, as who?

Those on Private Tours, any plans on what you will tip, one person posted 15% Guide, and 5% driver, another a set fee $100 Guide and $50 Driver.

Who is taking currency for all ports, who is going on plasitc?

Anyone going for an upgrade at port???

Pirate night, yes, but nothing like the PC cruise in 2008! Just some shirts/pants/tattoos and jewelry and hooks.

Villans, no, not enough packing space. I would want to be ursula!

We aren't doing any private tours

No upgrade as we have connecting verandah rooms, so the only option would be the Roy or Walt!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Here they are:

1) Are we planning a DISmeet for this group? I'd like to meet this crowd!

2) Do you think guides in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, etc will accept euros? I'm stressing a bit about keeping up with 7 different kinds of money

Beth

I am sure anyone around those areas will take Euros, notes, clean and in good condition.