7/18/2010 Mickey's Baltic Ballyhoo!! Part 4

[DisneyPata]

Since I have not had the time to catch up on reading this THREAD from #1 want to thank jilljill for posting all the information for us newbies to this thread.
I will start reading tomorrow, my day off of work.
Joyce

 

[Marla Hellwig]

Morning all

been busy here but wanted to say hi/welcome aboard/belated happy birthday/happy anniversary and way to go !

 

[jilljill]

Can anybody fill me in on what Disney is offering for pre- or post-cruise packages, particulary in the Dover area?

I'm gathering info to see if it's better to do it on my own, or thru Disney. (Thank you Celestine! )

How about the airfare, US to London & return? [or not . . . ]

Thanks.

Can't help with what DCL is offering for packages specifically, but in remembering what I've read in our past threads it is definately much cheaper to book hotels and transfers on your own.
I already booked my hotel in London for 2 nights pre-cruise on my own, there's no way DCL can get me the type of room I have booked for the price. Even if the exchange rate is what it was last summer this room will be cheaper than what DCL is offering for a standard hotel room.

For us with the airfare I will always do that on my own so that I have control on when we travel and don't have to pay air deviation fees to get what I want. I know that I like the first flight out of PHL and the last one to leave LHR on British Air.

But then I'm comfortable doing this on my own since we've been to London many times and know which areas I like to stay in. Plus with the added help of getting a group bus to the port it will be even cheaper than what I can book on my own and definately cheaper than thru DCL.

 

[jilljill]

Since I have not had the time to catch up on reading this THREAD from #1 want to thank jilljill for posting all the information for us newbies to this thread.
I will start reading tomorrow, my day off of work.
Joyce

You are most welcome. Just remember this is the 4th thread we are on, you have LOTS of reading to do on your day off.

I still need to post more pics from our Baltics cruise last summer, but will have to do that when I head north next month. But the ones that are posted (and linked in the first post) give a good overview of the sites that will be seen at some of the ports.

 

[Celestine]

Since I have not had the time to catch up on reading this THREAD from #1 want to thank jilljill for posting all the information for us newbies to this thread.
I will start reading tomorrow, my day off of work.
Joyce

Welcome! The other thing you may wish to be aware of (& I don't think is yet on the front page) is a bus (or 2 or 3) from London to the cruise terminal on departure day. Cost is somewhere between £10 & £15/head. If you are interested, please let know.

Celestine

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Evening

I was looking at the car parking at the port of Dover yesterday, you book it by 'cruise line' so they put up a ship and a cruise and you just click on that, DCL isnt up yet its 2009 only, but clicking on a 12 night cruise to the Blatic coming up the cost of parking at the port was £86, (rate 1.50 to the $)

 

[MrsScooby]

Sounds like everything will be working out in the end for the best and in the cheapest way for everyone.
His trip sounds wonderful and will be a great experience for him. I went to Mexico City by myself when I was 10 and stayed with a family for 2 weeks and had a great experience, something you don't get when traveling as a tourist. I still remember most of the trip - especially the hamburgers at the country club, the best I have ever anywhere.

Sounds terrific, Laurie He will really come back as a more independent world traveler - there is just a different experience to be had going to a different country without the parental units

Thanks so much you guys I was feeling very anxious about my DS15 going to Italy without me-it is good to hear other's experiences

Actually, you get the short end of the stick exchanging no matter where it is... these days it almost always works out to your advantage simply to get local currency out of the local ATMs. Check with your bank, but unless they charge some crazy sum you will usually get the most up to date exchange rate and won't have to pay a commission. The only place on your itinerary that I would NOT do that is Russia... and they take US dollars or Euros for most anything you want to buy.

Thanks for the info

Are you on this cruise with us? I love the picture of the castle in your signature- where is it from?

Since I have not had the time to catch up on reading this THREAD from #1 want to thank jilljill for posting all the information for us newbies to this thread.
I will start reading tomorrow, my day off of work.
Joyce

So much to read. If you find anything new or different on the internet let us know.

Morning all

been busy here but wanted to say hi/welcome aboard/belated happy birthday/happy anniversary and way to go !

Hey

 

[MrsScooby]

Evening

I was looking at the car parking at the port of Dover yesterday, you book it by 'cruise line' so they put up a ship and a cruise and you just click on that, DCL isnt up yet its 2009 only, but clicking on a 12 night cruise to the Blatic coming up the cost of parking at the port was £86, (rate 1.50 to the $)

One thing I don't have to worry about-yeah


It will be interesting to see if more Brits come on the Dis boards because of this cruise

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

One thing I don't have to worry about-yeah


It will be interesting to see if more Brits come on the Dis boards because of this cruise

My guess as we get closer is that they may well post on the DIS UK Trip planning side, I seee a lot of dual posts there and here.

Looks like drving is the option for me!!!

 

[jilljill]

Evening

I was looking at the car parking at the port of Dover yesterday, you book it by 'cruise line' so they put up a ship and a cruise and you just click on that, DCL isnt up yet its 2009 only, but clicking on a 12 night cruise to the Blatic coming up the cost of parking at the port was £86, (rate 1.50 to the $)

Andrew do you mean £86 or $86 to park at the port? I'm a little confused since you posted an exchange rate as a guideline.
I will need to let my friends know how much parking is should they decide to drive to the port from Bournemouth.

 

[jilljill]

Welcome! The other thing you may wish to be aware of (& I don't think is yet on the front page) is a bus (or 2 or 3) from London to the cruise terminal on departure day. Cost is somewhere between £10 & £15/head. If you are interested, please let know.

Celestine

I did not post this in the first post. Do you want me to post it there under your other gracious offer of sending out tourist info?

 

[MrsScooby]

My guess as we get closer is that they may well post on the DIS UK Trip planning side, I seee a lot of dual posts there and here.

Looks like drving is the option for me!!!

I'm so jealous. The closest I get to driving to DCL is when they have them in drydock in Norfolk Virginia.
We keep saying we're gonna try a cruise out of a closer port (like Baltimore, Maryland), but we're still crazy about DCL.

 

[DisneyPata]

I guess I am a slow reader, but I'm still trying to read & catch up on posts.
Does anyone know where I find the info on the group bus from London to the ship. I would be very interested. Of course, I still have not decided when we fly to London & how many days before - suggestion as to were to stay in London. Before the Med cruise we flew in 2days before the cruise. I guess I have finally decided to start making our plans for next year.
Joyce
ps: what does that red x mean before my name?

 

[DisneyPata]

I mean after my name.
Joyce

 

[jilljill]

I guess I am a slow reader, but I'm still trying to read & catch up on posts.
Does anyone know where I find the info on the group bus from London to the ship. I would be very interested. Of course, I still have not decided when we fly to London & how many days before - suggestion as to were to stay in London. Before the Med cruise we flew in 2days before the cruise. I guess I have finally decided to start making our plans for next year.
Joyce
ps: what does that red x mean before my name?

I mean after my name.
Joyce

The red X means that your signature pic is not showing up on the boards. That's the easy answer to your questions.


The group bus...Celestine's DH is organizing 1 or 2 buses to get us to the port the morning of the cruise. Haven't decided on how many pick up stops there will be and right now it's looking like the cost/person will be £10 or £15. She is also organizing a bus back to Heathrow, if there are enough people, post cruise. You can PM her with your info if you are interested in either or both ways.

We are staying at the Park Plaza London Victoria (or something like that, the link's in the 1st post). We stayed at this hotel last summer and really liked it and the location. I made my reservations last week for 2 nights pre-cruise. We are flying home right after the cruise.
I really like this location, close to the tube, the bus station, and venues we wanted to see. It was about a 15 minute walk to Buckingham Palace.
I also like to stay in the Marble Arch area or anywhere else along Oxford Street.
When looking at hotels I make sure I have a tube map (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/1106.aspx) by my side to look at the location of the hotel in relation to the tube station.

 

[Celestine]

I did not post this in the first post. Do you want me to post it there under your other gracious offer of sending out tourist info?

Might as well - I'll post it monthly as well for those that are just finding us & those that have not yet booked

Celestine

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew do you mean £86 or $86 to park at the port? I'm a little confused since you posted an exchange rate as a guideline.
I will need to let my friends know how much parking is should they decide to drive to the port from Bournemouth.

I'm so jealous. The closest I get to driving to DCL is when they have them in drydock in Norfolk Virginia.
We keep saying we're gonna try a cruise out of a closer port (like Baltimore, Maryland), but we're still crazy about DCL.

12 NIGHT parking 2009 is £86 pounds, the exchange rate was to help anyone in USA convert.

 

[Madisonznana]

Please advise how I get added to your group. We have signed up the the July 18th Baltic.
Thank you for your help.
Joyce

Welcome Joyce! My husband and I live in Murrieta a bit over an hour from you!

 

[Madisonznana]

Since I have not had the time to catch up on reading this THREAD from #1 want to thank jilljill for posting all the information for us newbies to this thread.
I will start reading tomorrow, my day off of work.
Joyce

You're going to start from 1?

 

[Madisonznana]

I'm so jealous of everyone's vacations. It has been so hot, hot, hot here. I can't wait til our cruise the end of August.
August is going to be fun. We got tickets to see Spamalot in August. We are going to call it my birthday present. We are going 5 days after. I love Monty Python!!! Now to just get past this heat wave we are having.