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

[Caropooh]

Excited to be going on our first Disney cruise!
DD - 16
DS - 13
Not sure exactly how this works. My first time to join.

Interested in finding another family to share tour in STP. Should I just contact the tour company I want and ask them to try to match us OR should I post something on this forum?

Have spent hours reading all this info. It is so wonderful that people are willing to share their knowledge. Thank you for the time you devote to this. I would appreciate a bit of direction!

Thanks,
Beth Hearn
aka MoneyMomBeth

I think most people who are doing private tours in STP have already set them up. There may still be people lurking out there who haven't though! If I were you, I would contact the company you are intersted in using and set something up with them. You can always combine groups later if someone else is interested. We combined 3 families together who had contacted Anastasia on their own originally. We just confirmed our booking with them on Saturday.

 

[jilljill]

We are having our family meeting this weekend to finalize all of our 1st/2nd choices for the excursions and the final post cruise hotel in Iceland (flying through there on the way home and stopping for a few days) will be booked this week!

Next step is finalizing what we want to do in London and based on some of your posts over the past few pages get some things pre-booked. We already have our Tower of London Keys Ceremony tickets thanks to Celestine but we are going the day before the rest of you. I think we are for sure going to book that dinner/eye/boat ride thing that was posted above (thanks for that link). We are also planning a day out to Stonehenge/Bath and a day touring the area between Edenbridge where we are staying and Dover to see the castles. That will still leave us 2 or 3 days in London to see all the sights there - just need to find what can be pre-booked and what can't. (yay for tour books and websites)

Please don't take offense to this....I hate you. I want to go to Iceland so badly and haven't gotten there yet. I had thought about going there for a couple of days after the cruise but DH can't get the extra time off.
We were at the book store yesterday and I almost bought an Iceland guide book just to dream and plan a trip. DH just looked at me and said I know you want to go.
I'll get there one day in the next 5 years or so, that is my plan.
I want to hear all about it when you get back!


Ok, now back to Baltics cruise talk.

 

[jilljill]

I remember you saying you liked it
Not a fan of kidney so I'll be avoiding that one as well
I noticed they had fried fish and chips, did anyone have that?
Did not see a trifle on their menu-was that a special?
I think I made mistake with the package I picked-we are paying extra I think for 3 copies of their cookbook
So..on the upside..now I have gifts for my DMiL and my Mom



Sounds like a very strong lady
When they live that long... I imagine the party they are having with all the folks that went before them


Ok...I'm totally clueless when it comes to the terms used in the UK.
The "sterling" means pounds (GB?) right?
and "biz. at the forex" ...stopping at the atm?

I expect we will have our UK money set aside ahead of time so no problem



Just for the fun of it I'm thinking I'll try to get some currency from each country ahead of time
Will have mostly pounds and euros though

Yes, 'sterling' is pounds. I think 'biz at the forex' is exchanging foreign currency at an exchange office if needed. That's my translation at least.
Since you now know that sterling = pounds, wait until you hear someone say quid and you will be thrown for a loop. But quid is also pound.

No one had fish 'n chips at Porters. I can't remember what any of us had, except my friend, and that most of had trifle for dessert. I'll have to look over the menu and see if I can figure it out. But then I'm wondering if they offer a winter menu and a summer menu.
Speaking of fish 'n chips, I've never had them in London. We've had them when visiting friends in other parts of England and they've always been good. Just never thought to try them in London since there's always something else different to be found.



My great aunt will most definately be leading the party up there and she'll be taking them all to the casinos, with my parents first in line to go with her if they aren't already there, and holding bridge games.

 

[jilljill]

Excited to be going on our first Disney cruise!
DD - 16
DS - 13
Not sure exactly how this works. My first time to join.

Interested in finding another family to share tour in STP. Should I just contact the tour company I want and ask them to try to match us OR should I post something on this forum?

Have spent hours reading all this info. It is so wonderful that people are willing to share their knowledge. Thank you for the time you devote to this. I would appreciate a bit of direction!

Thanks,
Beth Hearn
aka MoneyMomBeth

Beth I'm glad you found us. As I said before, just jump on in here and start chatting.

There's a lot of kids in the same age range as your's. Not sure how many if any have even posted on the kids thread.

 

[Cptjackandcrew]

Hi. We are working on St. Petersburg too. I have found several private tour operators, as we were looking to travel as a family or just a small group. Our thoughts are Catharine's Palace, Hermitage, Peterhof, shopping, etc...Does anyone have any recommendations?
Thank you,
Janice, DH, DD(15) and DD(12)

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Hi. We are working on St. Petersburg too. I have found several private tour operators, as we were looking to travel as a family or just a small group. Our thoughts are Catharine's Palace, Hermitage, Peterhof, shopping, etc...Does anyone have any recommendations?
Thank you,
Janice, DH, DD(15) and DD(12)

Welcome many people are using

http://www.anastasiaworld.com/

 

[Cptjackandcrew]

Thank you so much. I'll check it right now. Janice

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thank you so much. I'll check it right now. Janice

Janice, whilst i have yet to go with them they have been prompt and supportive and the prices look very reasonable, they do appear to know their subject.

Another one is:-

http://www.shoretrips.com/common/search3.asp?rcode=BAL&lcode=LED

 

[Madisonznana]

Excited to be going on our first Disney cruise!
DD - 16
DS - 13
Not sure exactly how this works. My first time to join.

Interested in finding another family to share tour in STP. Should I just contact the tour company I want and ask them to try to match us OR should I post something on this forum?

Have spent hours reading all this info. It is so wonderful that people are willing to share their knowledge. Thank you for the time you devote to this. I would appreciate a bit of direction!

Thanks,
Beth Hearn
aka MoneyMomBeth

Welcome Beth and family~

 

[Celestine]

Porters - can recommend - I've eaten there & had the fish pie which was good. Fish & chips are usually good with a few famous chains, e.g. Harry Ramsdens and plenty of local one offs. THrough many years of trial & error, have found Greek run fish & chip bars are often good!!!

Sterling = GBP = quids = readies = nicker
bob (old term for a shilling)
pony = £25
monkey = £500
grand = £1000
Lady godiva = £5

Have just bought our friends staying with us post cruise an American - English dictionary to help!!!!

Forex = foreign exchange - usually a bureau de change booth or shop or bank (if you are prepared to pay high transaction fees).

I'm sure there are more & more to come!!!

Celestine

 

[Madisonznana]

Hi. We are working on St. Petersburg too. I have found several private tour operators, as we were looking to travel as a family or just a small group. Our thoughts are Catharine's Palace, Hermitage, Peterhof, shopping, etc...Does anyone have any recommendations?
Thank you,
Janice, DH, DD(15) and DD(12)

We are using Anastasia, and are doing pretty much what you are looking for. Just write to them and they will suggest a tour and then you can take it like they suggest or make any changes you want.
Oh, and welcome!!

 

[Celestine]

As things currently stand (sadly having lost a few at the final hurdle) the cost/head is £14-43 for each leg of the journey. If there are any late comers, the price will be amended accordingly. This does not include a tip, so we have a choice & am happy to go with the majority vote on this:

1) Pay £14-50/head (I'm sorry but I don't think can cope with carrying all the 7p changes) and it is your responsibility to tip

2) Pay £16/head which would include the tip.

You don't need to publicly vote if you don't want to, but you can PM me

Celestine

 

[Caropooh]

As things currently stand (sadly having lost a few at the final hurdle) the cost/head is £14-43 for each leg of the journey. If there are any late comers, the price will be amended accordingly. This does not include a tip, so we have a choice & am happy to go with the majority vote on this:

1) Pay £14-50/head (I'm sorry but I don't think can cope with carrying all the 7p changes) and it is your responsibility to tip

2) Pay £16/head which would include the tip.

You don't need to publicly vote if you don't want to, but you can PM me

Celestine

For those Americans, it would be $21.82 plus tip or 24.07 tip included!
I'm fine with tip included, one less thing to worry about!

 

[caven553]

Please don't take offense to this....I hate you. I want to go to Iceland so badly and haven't gotten there yet. I had thought about going there for a couple of days after the cruise but DH can't get the extra time off.
We were at the book store yesterday and I almost bought an Iceland guide book just to dream and plan a trip. DH just looked at me and said I know you want to go.
I'll get there one day in the next 5 years or so, that is my plan.
I want to hear all about it when you get back!


Ok, now back to Baltics cruise talk.

You are more than welcome to hate me

The best flight prices we could get were on Iceland Air and since it is a government owned carrier they do this funny thing where if you stay 2-4 nights in Iceland on your way back from Europe to the US then it is still considered a "connecting" flight for pricing purposes AND it was actually cheaper than just continuing on the same day. Talk about a nice way to encourage people to stop and spend a little money on your island

Due to how the flight prices worked out we actually ended up with almost an extra week after the cruise - 2 more days in Barcelona than we were planning and the 3 days in Iceland. I think by adding those 5 days it saved us 700 per plane ticket? which covered the hotel costs. (My wife is booked it all so she knows the actual numbers)

 

[Caropooh]

Excited to be going on our first Disney cruise!
DD - 16
DS - 13
Not sure exactly how this works. My first time to join.

Interested in finding another family to share tour in STP. Should I just contact the tour company I want and ask them to try to match us OR should I post something on this forum?

Have spent hours reading all this info. It is so wonderful that people are willing to share their knowledge. Thank you for the time you devote to this. I would appreciate a bit of direction!

Thanks,
Beth Hearn
aka MoneyMomBeth

Hi. We are working on St. Petersburg too. I have found several private tour operators, as we were looking to travel as a family or just a small group. Our thoughts are Catharine's Palace, Hermitage, Peterhof, shopping, etc...Does anyone have any recommendations?
Thank you,
Janice, DH, DD(15) and DD(12)

OK, you 2 families need to hook up with each other!
Welcome to both of you!

 

[caven553]

OK, you 2 families need to hook up with each other!
Welcome to both of you!

That poor DS 13 with all those teenage girls. What are you trying to do to him!

 

[RJAYL]

As things currently stand (sadly having lost a few at the final hurdle) the cost/head is £14-43 for each leg of the journey. If there are any late comers, the price will be amended accordingly. This does not include a tip, so we have a choice & am happy to go with the majority vote on this:

1) Pay £14-50/head (I'm sorry but I don't think can cope with carrying all the 7p changes) and it is your responsibility to tip

2) Pay £16/head which would include the tip.

You don't need to publicly vote if you don't want to, but you can PM me

Celestine

You still have my 6 and I vote for 16 Sterling/head though I think I should get a volume discount!

 

[Samanthasmom1]

As things currently stand (sadly having lost a few at the final hurdle) the cost/head is £14-43 for each leg of the journey. If there are any late comers, the price will be amended accordingly. This does not include a tip, so we have a choice & am happy to go with the majority vote on this:

1) Pay £14-50/head (I'm sorry but I don't think can cope with carrying all the 7p changes) and it is your responsibility to tip

2) Pay £16/head which would include the tip.
You don't need to publicly vote if you don't want to, but you can PM me

Celestine

The three of us are still "in". I think option # 2 would be easier...

Thanks again Celestine!

Monica

 

[jilljill]

As things currently stand (sadly having lost a few at the final hurdle) the cost/head is £14-43 for each leg of the journey. If there are any late comers, the price will be amended accordingly. This does not include a tip, so we have a choice & am happy to go with the majority vote on this:

1) Pay £14-50/head (I'm sorry but I don't think can cope with carrying all the 7p changes) and it is your responsibility to tip

2) Pay £16/head which would include the tip.

You don't need to publicly vote if you don't want to, but you can PM me

Celestine

I vote for the gbp16/head to make life easier.

 

[jilljill]

You still have my 6 and I vote for 16 Sterling/head though I think I should get a volume discount!

I see someone to share a seat with my DD if we are on the same bus. She can start earning her before we even board the ship.