7/18/2010 Mickey's Baltic Ballyhoo!! Part 5

[MrsG]

3000th Post!

 

[RJAYL]

We'll do the cities on our own since they all seem to be pretty easy to do. I'm still scared about Oslo and Stockholm, they just seem intimidating with all the talk about ferries and such.
Now that vacation is approved, I need to grab a travel book and get looking at things.


Cruise x 2 is almost paid in full, will be on Thurs.
2 nights pre-cruise and 1 night post cruise booked
Flights will be booked on Wed.
Celestine has organized our transport to/from port
Will take Gatwick Express into the city upon arrival at Gatwick
Need to contact Anastasia again and finalize tour
Order more foreign currency
Keep bothering Robert


I think the above should be covered or just about cover what needs to be done this week.

I am going to stick with DCL tours except for STP & Wernamunde & maybe Tallin as for now I am planning on taking the whole tribe with me:!
I can always change my mind later or at least 48 hours before the tour!

Keep bothering Robert
Nope Not at ALL!

 

[jilljill]

3000th Post!

Way to go Maryann

 

[MrsScooby]

Ketchup

We are still going on the cruise, just doing a lot of reading & researching right now. I haven't had much to share, as so much of the information I have found has been posted here already.
We will be joining those of you taking the coach from London to Dover that Celestine is so kindly putting together.
We are also on the repositioning cruise immediately following the last Baltic cruise, and haven't taken much time to make plans for that cruise because I've been concentrating on all of the Baltic ports.
We've booked our private tour in St. P, but really need to sit down & discuss what everyone wants for all of the other ports. I'm all for getting Citycards for each port & use the HOHO bus, but I think the kids may want something a little different. Seeing as how our booking window opens in less than a week, there is no time like the present to iron out all the details!

I'm sure there will be a ton of posts next Saturday morning, reporting everyone's experiences with online bookings!

Bridget

Hi Bridget!
Can't imagine planning 2 big cruises like this
We'll be on that bus from London to Dover too

We're in and paid for.

I know I don't post much, but I do read the boards almost everyday. I'm just not a "chatty cathy", but love to read everyones posts. You guys are a scream...(now you can ask yourselves, "Hmmm, did she mean or I'll leave it to you to decide." )

Seriously though, I downloaded the 2010 Lonely Planet Guide for St. Pete and found out a couple of things I wanted to share with you all.
(1) DON'T drink the water in St. Pete. Tiny traces of Giardia lamblia, a parasite, has been found in the water in St. Pete.
(2) From May to Sept. mosquitoes are VERY prevalent. Insect repellent with 95% DEET is recommended (except for children of course)

I hadn't even thought about packing insect repellent. Can one buy insect repellent with DEET in Britain? I don't think they sell it in the US anymore.

Glad we didn't scare you off

Good to know about the water and the mosquitos
Since I'm planning on jeans and long sleeves for the most part I'm think a small bottle of insect repellent should be fine for us.

39. Disname: Samanthasmom1- Monica
DH: Scott
DD: (will be 6 when we cruise)- Samantha
Cat. 9 room # 2632 (I think) right now
We live in Albuquerque, New Mexico
We will be celebrating our DD's 7th birthday. She turns 7 on the last day (7/30).
We have been to Disney World many times in the past couple of years but have never been on a DCL cruise.

We are still in!

I am on here often reading what others are posting but I don't have much to say. I still feel a little shy.

We are still working on our flights too. I was hoping I would have seen some movement in the costs (downward!) but it hasn't happened yet.

For those of you that are not going to Berlin, are you planning on staying in the Rostock/Warnemunde area or venturing out a little farther? I just got some brochures from the tourist board of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the whole area looks beautiful! Especially Schwerin Castle. I wonder just how risky it really is to venture out on our own....Or, is there enough to see/enjoy in Rostock/Warnemunde that we would miss if we tried to see Schwerin Castle and Wismar instead? Decisions, Decisions...

Monica

Hey Monica!!
We're planning on Berlin, but the castles sound great. Got some tourist brochures in the mail and Germany has some beautiful castles
We're just gonna have to go back to see them on another trip.

cat 6 6584
late dining

Need to sit down with what we looked last month for excursions

I know we are going with DCL for St. P, Kara wants to try a beer in Germany

she is looking foward to be able to use adult pool, Palo (if we get lucky), the adult entertainment

My DS16 can't wait to try Palo
He is not interested in the beer at all though
Now that I think of it...I hated beer at his age too.
I would just walk around at parties holding a beer bottle so I would fit in (drinking age was 18 in NY when I became legal)

We are PAID IN FULL!!! (at least we are once the payment goes through!) The only port we know what we are doing is St Petersburg. Finishing up final arrangements on that. Oh, and Copenhagen, hopefully! Otherwise, not real sure. The do it yourself with the hop on, hop off busses sounds good, Andrew and I just need to talk and decide. We've decided against Berlin and will stick around the port. Decided it's just too long of a day and expensive.

Yay on the PIF
I'm gonna try to DIY the ports as well

Happy St. Patricks Day to all our Irish Disser's

I'm part Irish
Gotta find something other than beer to drink
Irish coffee

 

[jilljill]

I am going to stick with DCL tours except for STP & Wernamunde & maybe Tallin as for now I am planning on taking the whole tribe with me:!
I can always change my mind later or at least 48 hours before the tour!

Keep bothering Robert
Nope Not at ALL!

Don't forget to take your own advise and look over the first post regarding Tallinn. There's a great walking tour link that I've posted there, but I'll repost it here just so you don't have to go looking for it: http://www.brentjes.com/tallinnwalk.html
Had to bother you about this.

I'm glad I just looked over that website - in #12 is a picture of the little art gallery where I bought a small watercolor of the Old Town scape. YOu can see the artist easel thru the archway.

 

[Madisonznana]

I think it's one per stateroom. As nice as that would be, we'd need a steamer trunk just for the FE's!!!!!!!

Thanks, last cruise we had a ton of stuff and I really didn't want to go through that again!

 

[Madisonznana]

Who is doing cities (besides Berlin and St Petersburg) on their own? If so, are you doing the hop on-hop off busses or what? I feel I really need to get planning! (or Andrew does!)

For sure we are doing Oslo on our own and we are getting the Oslo card not the HOHO. I have to get back to my book and start working on Copenhagen, Stockholm and Tallinn to see if I am going to do the HOHO in those cities.

 

[Madisonznana]

3000th Post!

 

[MrsScooby]

Happy Mothers Day to Celestine and Susan!

Happy Birthday and Mothers Day to Andrew Derek's Mum!

From me too

Yes thought Fathers day was the same......

Lets see if my socks can last still then, (before there all replaced).

Oooh, socks
I love getting new socks
Mine get ragged quick as I take shoes off at the door.

Thankyou - mine has been frantic as it is also DH's birthday today so cooked traditional Sunday lunch for 11 of us. Have finally cleared up & packed them off so we can now get ready for another working week.

We are PIF & I'm jealous of those who can book before April 19 which is our day as silver CC members.

Celestine

Happy belated Birthday to your DH

I'm also jealous of the people booking early

We just paid in full, I have been reading all of the wonderful ideas on this board and have passed on all the information to the family.

We are Cat 5 GTY with late dinning.
We are planing Shore Excursions w/Disney in Berlin and St Petersburg all others we are doing walking tours.

We will arrive the day before-hotel and ground transportation booked.
Post Cruise: Dover to France by ferry. Two days in Normandy-Three days in Paris-Train back to London two days in London then home to relax.

Disname: Gtcarr1

Me: Greg (Sports and Entertainment)
DW: Lisa (4th Grade Teacher)
DD: Britany (Student/Lacrosse/Soccer) 18 yrs.
DS: Eric (Student/Lacrosse/Football) 13 yrs.

My DH is gonna be so jealous of your trip to Normandy. Another destination for our next visit.

Good Morning

from sunshine here no dull day here

look like raining soon...

Scottishwee35

Hey Scottishwee
We've got tons of rain here too

Hi...we are new to this thread. Getting very excited for our cruise!
Can anyone boil down the tips for newcomers? I have been tying to search them out, but with 177 pages to go through the task is daunting.

Thanks,
Peekaboo

Yes, also excited here
Like Robert and Barb have said most of the best info is on the first page. Mostly socializing on the other 176 pages

One of the DIS people on another Baltic cruise has a great website for all the ports. Not sure if we have that link on the first page-I'll go look

EXCUSE ME MR BOSS!!! Mr Jilljill needs ALL the time off he requested! Give it to him NOW!!!!!!!!

Oooh, I know who to go to when my boss gives me a hard time now
My DH complains I'm too wimpy
Well he doesn't use that term exactly-but not sure if I can use the one he uses.

We're still in. We waited a while on airfare, then just decided to go ahead and buy the airfare after combining FF miles and somewhat reduced rates. (The whole FF miles system is really worthless.)

I'm trying to get the kids to start posting in the kids thread.

Our PIF is next week. The only tour we've arranged so far is with Anastasia in STP. We thought a while about going into Berlin but have decided to just stay in the Warnemünde area.

----------------------------------------------------
35. Disname: jjsmith
Me: Rob
Wife: Toni
DD 12(on cruise)-Addie (dance, theatre, texting)
DS 10(on cruise)-Sam (video games, sports)
This will be our 2nd Disney cruise
Cat 6 stateroom GTY
We live just south of Cincinnati in N. Ky

Hey Rob and family!
I'm trying to get my kids to post on the thread too, but they're pretty shy

GO GATORS!!!

When I went, I got all my things changed to FL my first year and got In State tuition by my second year. The technicality of it is that if YOU'RE going to be paying YOU need to have FL residency. If she's deemed to be 'independent' then she can get in-state after that first year.


We're also PAID IN FULL!

Done:
Cruise: booked and paid
Flights: booked and paid
Hotel (1 night before & 2 nights after): booked and paid
St. Pete tour: booked
Claridges Tea in London: booked
Transportation to the port: booked and paid

Still Need:
Transportation to/from the airport
Oyster cards
Olso cards
A dinner reservation in London
Palo reservations
Excursion reservations (only 1: Berlin on your Own)

I would love to try a real tea in London but we have so little time I can't fit it in
Also looking for a good place in London for dinner on a Saturday night. I think we are doing Porters for our first night.

All is now well. DH's vacation is approved. The idiot manager only put 1 week in the computer and then threw away his vacation request paper - good thing I told him to make a copy. The co-manager approved his weeks and will get change into the computer.

Glad that worked out
I used to have trouble getting off from work at my old job, but now I work for the government-no problem

Who is doing cities (besides Berlin and St Petersburg) on their own? If so, are you doing the hop on-hop off busses or what? I feel I really need to get planning! (or Andrew does!)

I get nervous too when I read about the plans others are making
Not sure if I'm doing the HoHO buses or not yet.

 

[jilljill]

For sure we are doing Oslo on our own and we are getting the Oslo card not the HOHO. I have to get back to my book and start working on Copenhagen, Stockholm and Tallinn to see if I am going to do the HOHO in those cities.

Which book are you using....Rick Steves?

 

[MrsScooby]

3000th Post!

Congrats

Don't forget to take your own advise and look over the first post regarding Tallinn. There's a great walking tour link that I've posted there, but I'll repost it here just so you don't have to go looking for it: http://www.brentjes.com/tallinnwalk.html
Had to bother you about this.

I'm glad I just looked over that website - in #12 is a picture of the little art gallery where I bought a small watercolor of the Old Town scape. YOu can see the artist easel thru the archway.

Would love to get a watercolor too

Sweaters, Russian nesting dolls, watercolor-my souvenirs list is growing. Gonna start putting some money aside jsut for souvenirs.

 

[jilljill]

Celestine or Andrew -

I have booked the Jurys Inn Heathrow and was wondering if either of you have heard anything good or bad about this hotel? Jurys Inn Heathrow Hotel, East Perimeter Rd Heathrow TW6 2SR England
It was 48 GBP VAT included for the night we get kicked off the ship. I thought that was a great rate and since it's near Hatton Cross tube station we will be able to go into London or even take a trip out to Windsor if we want that afternoon/evening.
thanks

 

[jilljill]

Congrats


Would love to get a watercolor too

Sweaters, Russian nesting dolls, watercolor-my souvenirs list is growing. Gonna start putting some money aside jsut for souvenirs.

The watercolors were cheap, I think the one in Tallinn was $20 or $30 and it's about 5x7 or 6x8 and we also got one in StP and it was $5 or so and is about the size of a regular size envelope, maybe just a tad bit smaller.
I'm also wanting to get another piece of art glass in Tallinn, I need to take something to put it in to get it home.

I need to quit telling you what I bought last time since your list keeps growing.

 

[MrsScooby]

The watercolors were cheap, I think the one in Tallinn was $20 or $30 and it's about 5x7 or 6x8 and we also got one in StP and it was $5 or so and is about the size of a regular size envelope, maybe just a tad bit smaller.
I'm also wanting to get another piece of art glass in Tallinn, I need to take something to put it in to get it home.

I need to quit telling you what I bought last time since your list keeps growing.

I know
I think we have similar tastes
Loved the pics of Tallinn from that website you posted

And found another thing for my list...(sigh)...Amber!
Not sure if I should just buy some loose amber and hope I get it set someday or get an amber necklace.

 

[Madisonznana]

Which book are you using....Rick Steves?

Yep!

 

[MrsScooby]

Good website for newbies and old timers and I didn't see it on the first page.

http://www.magicalbalticcruise.com/index.html

 

[jilljill]

Thanks Karen


Laurie, they have amber things along the sweater wall. I bought a piece about the size of a nickle on a black cord for $5 there. Also, bought DD a hedgehog covered in amber chips for about $7. I wasn't looking for very good amber jewelry, just something that appealed to me and to my surprise it was a cheap piece . I ended up getting an amber bracelet at a shop across from the Segway place and it's interesting squares of different colored amber on stretchy cords, it was about $30.
We also picked up amber necklaces and earrings to bring back for gifts and they ran in the $5-$7 range, we got them in StP.

 

[MrsScooby]

Laurie, they have amber things along the sweater wall. I bought a piece about the size of a nickle on a black cord for $5 there. Also, bought DD a hedgehog covered in amber chips for about $7. I wasn't looking for very good amber jewelry, just something that appealed to me and to my surprise it was a cheap piece . I ended up getting an amber bracelet at a shop across from the Segway place and it's interesting squares of different colored amber on stretchy cords, it was about $30.
We also picked up amber necklaces and earrings to bring back for gifts and they ran in the $5-$7 range, we got them in StP.

Thanks
I like the way amber looks in general so I would be fine with an inexpensive piece.
Need to get gifts for my DMiL and Mom.
I think my DMiL would like something in amber, but my Mom has very sensitive skin so I usually avoid buying jewelry for her.
Anything from any of the churches would probably be good for my Mom.

 

[jilljill]

Laurie they have nice linen pieces in Tallinn. I really went wild in the ship across from the Segway store. I picked up a lot of gifts for us and others in there. They also carried the nesting dolls, some were even Disney themed. Since I bought so much, the shopkeeper gave me a 10% discount and then on top of that she took off the VAT so I didn't have to worry about filing paperwork at Heathrow before we flew out. So all in all I think I did very well in her shop.

 

[RJAYL]

Good Morning All
The rain has stopped lets hope the Sun comes out as well!