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

[Caropooh]

Hi DIS Board Ballyhoo Cruisers-

I have been lurking for quite some time. We were supposed to go on the Mexico cruise in 2008 but the beginning of the recession changed all of that. I did not want to jinx us so I have been sitting on the sidelines since April 2009 with reservations to the Baltic. Now we are a group of nine celebrating my parents 50th anniversary.

Our travel group-

Cabin 2112
Don Jr. (me) 48
Anna 46
Deanna 14
Donnie 12

Cabin 2094
Louella (Grandma) ??
Don Sr. (Grandpa) 73

Cabin 2096
Curt 48
Sondra (my sister) 46
Charlie 2

We are looking forward to meeting everybody.

Welcome aboard!
Judging from your tag, I'm guessing you are a west coaster! WOO HOO!!!

 

[Caropooh]

Great idea. I will start working on that tomorrow!!!![/QUOTE]
exactly how much toilet paper are you thinking you'll need! If you START tomorrow, when are you planning on ending?

 

[Kouris_Family]

A friend was only able to book 2 of her 4 family members on the Catherine's Palace and Hermitage excursion and she is bummed. Is any one planning on canceling so I can get her to hover and try to grab the spots?

Marie

I have my kids with us on the catherines palace and hermitage and I am going to cancel the kids, let me know when your friend can book it and I will cancel then. PM me The date is July 25th
Kay

 

[Kouris_Family]

We still have not received cruise docs, I know they are on the way but will feel better when they are in my hands.
So, so excited. I have so many plans all organized and written, so helpful with all the pre-cruisers.
I think we should be able to attend the dis-meet
So much more to do before we leave.
Kay

 

[MrsScooby]

Is anyone doing the DCL tours in St. Petersburg? We have one booked for the first half day and then booked a private tour for the second full day. Some of the reviews from earlier cruise were not good for for the DCL tours. Considering canceling the DCL tour and doing both days with our private guide.

Many of us are doing private tours in St Pete (Anastasia), but some are booking that DCL Ball at Catherine's Palace. Unless there is something specific on the DCL excursions that you really want to do-the private tours seem the better way to go in St Pete

Paying Anastasia.

I have an alternative payment option for you guys that is not advertised and will normally get you a better exchange rate, and be far more secure, no carrying around cash, and no paying by credit card.

They accept, international payments by Bank transfer (Swift), now your bank may charge for these, but often the exchange rate has a tighter margin so should be cheaper overall, and safer. No carrying around large sums of cash, or trying to get good notes etc.

Details can be obtained from Anastasia.

Thanks Andrew

Bring Downey Wrinkle Release !! Trust me, you won't need an iron !!

Bed Bath and Beyond sell the travel size

Thanks Gina
Will check it out tomorrow as there is a Bed Bath and Beyond near our movie theater and I have to see the movie Eclipse tomorrow with my DD

Just finished putting all my paper work together and was looking at excursions. We are scheduled on the DCL Norwegian Adventure but, I remembered some posts about DIY. It would save our family around $160 to DIY. Anyone have any thoughts? Is this an easy DIY?

I've never been to Oslo but have read that it is easy to do from a cruise ship on your own. There will be a bunch of us picking up our Oslo cards and you can tag along to get your own

Is this the complete list of all who have FE's? I have FE gifts that "fell into my lap" while in Denver that I would like to give those on the list. I don't have an FE myself nor do I intend to get one at this late date. I just wanted to make sure I bring enough gifts along for everyone. I have never taken part in the FE exchange and I am wondering, are the gifts anonymous

The gifts can be anonymous or you can indicate they are from you
Either way is fine.

exactly how much toilet paper are you thinking you'll need! If you START tomorrow, when are you planning on ending?

 

[MrsScooby]

Hi DIS Board Ballyhoo Cruisers-

I have been lurking for quite some time. We were supposed to go on the Mexico cruise in 2008 but the beginning of the recession changed all of that. I did not want to jinx us so I have been sitting on the sidelines since April 2009 with reservations to the Baltic. Now we are a group of nine celebrating my parents 50th anniversary.

Our travel group-

Cabin 2112
Don Jr. (me) 48
Anna 46
Deanna 14
Donnie 12

Cabin 2094
Louella (Grandma) ??
Don Sr. (Grandpa) 73

Cabin 2096
Curt 48
Sondra (my sister) 46
Charlie 2

We are looking forward to meeting everybody.

Welcome Aboard
What a great trip for your family

 

[jilljill]

We still have not received cruise docs, I know they are on the way but will feel better when they are in my hands.
So, so excited. I have so many plans all organized and written, so helpful with all the pre-cruisers.
I think we should be able to attend the dis-meet
So much more to do before we leave.
Kay

As long as you have filled in the documents online and printed out the papers to be printed from their website you really don't 'need' the documents they send you. I know it makes it seem more real and you get your luggage tags, but it's really not needed. We didn't get documents for our Wonder cruise last week and I had printed the pages from the online forms and the porter gave us the luggage tags and all was fine.

18 more days!!!

 

[Madisonznana]

Great idea. I will start working on that tomorrow!!!!

exactly how much toilet paper are you thinking you'll need! If you START tomorrow, when are you planning on ending? [/QUOTE]
It does sound like I'll be bringing a lot.....

 

[CastawayClubCruisers]

Oslo is a very easy city to DIY !! We were there 2 yrs ago and will be doing it ourselves this cruise.

When you get off the ship there will be a TI, tourist info. Buy your city cards. Seems like they are around $30 each. They will take cc. If you want to see the Viking Museum or the Fram or Kon Tiki or Norweigan Folk Museum the ferry is very close by that takes you to the island with all the museums. Just ask someone to point you in the right direction.

You can use your city card for the ferry, the museums, the tram that will take you to the Vigeland Park, there's also, within walking distance, The Nobel Peace Museum and Akersus Castle, the Resistance Museum ( in the castle ).

The ship is so close to everything that we went back to the ship to eat lunch. Then went back in town to shop. Bought a pretty wool lap throw..very Norweigan !

Sorry my directions are a little vague. But trust me, everything is very close and easy to get to. If you purchase the Oslo Card you won't need any other money unless you purchase lunch or drinks.

Have a wonderful time ! Oslo is one of my favorite cities !!

Do you know what the transportation costs would be without the Oslo Card? Are we in port long enough to make the card worthwhile, with most of the museums 60 NOK to get into and the card costing 230 NOK?

Thank you.

Welcome to the 50th Anniversary group, and congrats on 50 years!

 

[CastawayClubCruisers]

exactly how much toilet paper are you thinking you'll need! If you START tomorrow, when are you planning on ending?

It does sound like I'll be bringing a lot.....[/QUOTE]

I think I am missing something...where is the need for travel size toilet paper?

 

[Cptjackandcrew]

It does sound like I'll be bringing a lot.....

I think I am missing something...where is the need for travel size toilet paper?[/QUOTE]

Sometimes when we travel out of the U.S. toilet paper (and soap) isn't always available when walking around. Or if available, not as soft or durable. One time we were limited on the number of squares and even had to pay in advance for them...so that is why we tend to bring a bit along.

 

[MrsScooby]

Do you know what the transportation costs would be without the Oslo Card? Are we in port long enough to make the card worthwhile, with most of the museums 60 NOK to get into and the card costing 230 NOK?

With so many of the museums so close together it is very easy to get your money's worth from the Oslo card. Not the same with the other ports I heard though

With us, after the ferry, The Viking museum, the Kon Tiki museum, the Fram, Akershus Fortress and the Resistance museum...we are definitely saving money. Plus with Oslo our first port we are not likely to be as tired as the other ports.
But if you think you might not do more than one or two museums or other activity included with the card then maybe not for you
It all depends on what you want to do.

 

[MrsScooby]

Sometimes when we travel out of the U.S. toilet paper (and soap) isn't always available when walking around. Or if available, not as soft or durable. One time we were limited on the number of squares and even had to pay in advance for them...so that is why we tend to bring a bit along.

That was in the Med, no?

I think I heard that others have not had this problem in the Baltic. You might have to come up with some change to use the bathrooms
But from what I heard that is the only concern
A private tour guide (like in Berlin or St Petersburg) will most likely be prepared with some change for you if needed.

I think Barb said the bathroom in McDonald's in Tallinn was free
Or you could use it if you bought something

 

[RJAYL]

Good Morning All

Busy bunch last night! My back went out yesterday whilst climbing down a ladder from a roof!

 

[MrsScooby]

Good Morning All

Busy bunch last night! My back went out yesterday whilst climbing down a ladder from a roof!

Good morning Robert.

Ouch
Hope your back feels better soon
Try to rest it if you can

 

[Marla Hellwig]

Morning

welcome aboard donioc and family

ouch Robert

Cooled down here yesterday and last night it was around 51 - makes for great sleeping weather

have a good one

 

[Marla Hellwig]

DCL - online check in done

flights all done - just need to confirm when we are supposed to (24/48 hrs)

London hotel - pre cruise - just need to confirm closer to time

Disneyland Paris - post cruise - done

Paris Hotel - post cruise - done

Working on itinerary for mom, uncle and idoit brother - almost done

got extra copies of passport info for mom and uncle - for just in case

lots done so far this morning

off to call plumber about getting new garbage disposal

off to blast the kid out of bed - and put her to work

 

[MrsG]

I think I am missing something...where is the need for travel size toilet paper?

Sometimes when we travel out of the U.S. toilet paper (and soap) isn't always available when walking around. Or if available, not as soft or durable. One time we were limited on the number of squares and even had to pay in advance for them...so that is why we tend to bring a bit along.

Our Med thread was obsessed with toilet paper and we had a lot of fun joking about TP. Many of us rolled our own as we were concerned with being without at some of the more remote stops. The funniest thing is that every stop in Europe had TP, the only time I needed it and used it was in JFK airport in New York!!!!

 

[MrsG]

FE Update:

Many of you remember Harole Ann. She was booked on our cruise and had to cancel because of the death of her beloved husband Garry. She was going to travel anyway with her grandson but decided not to. Harole Ann shipped her FE gifts to me so you will be finding something in there from her. I won't tell you what it is except that it has our logo and is white. She just wants everyone to know that she is thinking of us and hopes we have a great time.

Thank YOU Harole Ann!

 

[scrapycruiser]

FE Update:

Many of you remember Harole Ann. She was booked on our cruise and had to cancel because of the death of her beloved husband Garry. She was going to travel anyway with her grandson but decided not to. Harole Ann shipped her FE gifts to me so you will be finding something in there from her. I won't tell you what it is except that it has our logo and is white. She just wants everyone to know that she is thinking of us and hopes we have a great time.

Thank YOU Harole Ann!

What a sweet and thoughtful person ! God bless her !