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

[smilis]

Just received this in an email from Travel Guard in case anybody is interested in how TG insurance is handling the Volcanic Ash problems as they relate to stranded travelers. I know our insurance thru DVC is with Travel Guard.

"Volcanic Ash Disrupts Air Travel Across Europe:

Travel Guard North America helps U.S. travelers navigate
ash-related flight delays and cancellations

Stevens Point, WI - April 16, 2010 - National Air Traffic Services (NATS) says volcanic ash emitting from the volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland has caused a significant number of flight cancellations and travel delays across Europe. More than one-quarter of all air space in the area is closed. Travel Guard North America has travel insurance plans that provide coverage through this unforeseen event, if the plan was purchased before Tuesday, April 13, 2010.

Travel Guard North America's core plans (Platinum, Gold, Silver, My Travel Guard, Basic and other select plans) include coverage for trip cancellation, interruption and delay in the event of a natural disaster or inclement weather. All coverages are subject to policy terms, conditions and limitations.

Travel Guard North America offers all its customers affected by ash-related delays emergency travel assistance services including flight rebooking, hotel booking, cash wire transfers, passport replacement, translation services, message relay, emergency travel arrangements and more.

Travel Guard's Assistance service centers are handling an unusually high volume of calls from U.S. travelers trying to get to Europe, as well as those stranded in Europe. Assistance service representatives have access to the most current information regarding airport closures and airline flight schedules and are prepared to help customers with alternative travel solutions."

After hearing about the continued airport closures across Europe, I am inclined to see about adding coverage for our flights which we used frequent flyer points for, as well as our London hotels which we purchased using hotel points as well. I know it is possible to cover those type of items. Let's just hope the volcano stops spewing and things calm down before it's our time to travel.

Sandy

 

[smilis]

Hey everybody

I think I'm hitting many of the same hightlights that others here are aiming for.

Vasa museum and Royal armory in Stockholm, Rosenborg Castle and a segway tour in Copenhagen, walking tour in Tallinn, Viking Museum, Kon Tiki Museum and Norwegian Resistance museum in Oslo.
Probably get the Oslo card and try to fit in as much as possible there.
Berlin- I've found a private company that will pick us up at the port. Still have to decide on the itinerary there. And Anastasia private tour for St Petersburg.

I'm still researching everything. Love getting info -especially from people who have been there, but also from others who have found little known websites that might have a different take on things-or might have a question that I haven't thought to ask.

For those of you who are using the tour services of Anastasia, are you planning on paying in Rubles or USD? Something that I need to consider when purchasing our foreign currency.

Sandy

 

[Madisonznana]

For those of you who are using the tour services of Anastasia, are you planning on paying in Rubles or USD? Something that I need to consider when purchasing our foreign currency.

Sandy

I am planning on paying in USD, newest bills I can find!

 

[jilljill]

For those of you who are using the tour services of Anastasia, are you planning on paying in Rubles or USD? Something that I need to consider when purchasing our foreign currency.

Sandy

I am planning on paying in USD, newest bills I can find!

We are using crisp US$ bills, just as we did the first time we used her services in 2008. Rubles are not easy to find in the US and she is perfectly fine being paid in US$. In her paperwork she states the bills must be new/crisp. When I went to my bank to get $100 bills that were new/crisp the teller told me she had heard the same thing from several other customers that needed bills for travel in Russia.
You can also pay her by credit card, I believe she adds 3% to the tour cost for this option. On our last tour with her one of the families used this option and I checked with them after we were home if they had any problems with their credit card and they didn't. I had organized the tour for our small group and wanted to make sure no problems came about after the cruise.

 

[Celestine]

I'm here! Went to the scrap store again yesterday and finished 14 FE gifts. We are keeping the number down right? Cuz, that would mean I am done!
I am so not liking this volcano. Bob was watching the news this morning and they were talking about the last time this happened in the 1800's. It ended up ruining the crops in Europe. I really hope it ends soon.
I get to book this weekend. But I get to book at 9pm being on the west coast! I am probably only booking, or trying to book the Molli steam train in Warnemunde. And a dinner in Palo!

Based on today, you have 3 "spare" as we currently stand at 12 including you

Celestine

 

[Celestine]

UK airspace is still closed & unlikely to reopen until 1am tomorrow at the earliest. SIL is stuck in Crete. She should have flown home from Cyprus after a week on Ocean Village cruise on Thursday, but has somehow ended up in Crete & the hotel is threatening to throw them all out Not sure when she'll be back. Even more worrying is that the last time this volcano erupted it did so for 2 years!!!! Admittedly that was 18something or other so there were no flights affected Travel insurance is definitely a must

Celestine

 

[RJAYL]

Good Morning All
Pool & then MK again today PS for dinner at the Plaza Inn!

Got pretty crowded yesterday lots off people checking in for the weekend!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Good Morning All
Pool & then MK again today PS for dinner at the Plaza Inn!

Got pretty crowded yesterday lots off people checking in for the weekend!

Enjoy,


Lots of Brits stuck there and cant get home after their Easter two week break...

So many kids will miss school on Monday.....

My Sister is stuck in Spain and cannot fly now.....

All land based routes booked up.

 

[Cptjackandcrew]

Based on today, you have 3 "spare" as we currently stand at 12 including you

Celestine

Hello,
I just wanted to let everyone know that although our name is not listed, we are part of the FE and look forward to swapping "surprises".

 

[jilljill]

UK airspace is still closed & unlikely to reopen until 1am tomorrow at the earliest. SIL is stuck in Crete. She should have flown home from Cyprus after a week on Ocean Village cruise on Thursday, but has somehow ended up in Crete & the hotel is threatening to throw them all out Not sure when she'll be back. Even more worrying is that the last time this volcano erupted it did so for 2 years!!!! Admittedly that was 18something or other so there were no flights affected Travel insurance is definitely a must

Celestine

Good luck to your SIL for getting home safely and quickly and hopefully she won't be thrown out of her hotel. That's horrible that a hotel would threaten to do that to people who are stuck in an uncontrolable situation.


I saw that Andrew posted on the Baltics planning thread that your airspace is now closed until later in the day on Sunday.

 

[jilljill]

Good Morning All
Pool & then MK again today PS for dinner at the Plaza Inn!

Got pretty crowded yesterday lots off people checking in for the weekend!

Have fun. Love the Plaza but haven't had dinner there, only lunch.

 

[Celestine]

Took the girls to London yesterday to see Grease. London in the sunshine is a great place (yes, I know i'm biased). It was very busy, especially as it was Friday. Show was enjoyable - Teen Angel was played by Robin Cousins (yes, I do mean the male figure skater from way back) Danny & Sandy were played by a guy from one of the UK's original manufactured bands (Hearsay) & a the 3rd placed girl from the reality show "How do you solve a problem like Maria". They are still doing BOGOF on top price tickets, but currently only through end of June, but will post if that is extended.

SIL thoroughly fed up - he 15 year old daughter is kicking off making her life unbearable. Still no real idea when she'll be home. She's supposed to jet off to Saratoga Springs to celebrate her 50th on May Bank Holiday (May 3) if off course she's got back from Crete & there are TA flights!

Celestine

 

[MrsG]

Best of luck to your SIL, Celestine. It just shows us that Mother Nature is still in control.

Here's hoping that everyone gets where ever they are going soon and safely!

 

[MrsScooby]

For those of you who are using the tour services of Anastasia, are you planning on paying in Rubles or USD? Something that I need to consider when purchasing our foreign currency.

Sandy

I am planning on paying in USD, newest bills I can find!

We are using crisp US$ bills, just as we did the first time we used her services in 2008. Rubles are not easy to find in the US and she is perfectly fine being paid in US$. In her paperwork she states the bills must be new/crisp. When I went to my bank to get $100 bills that were new/crisp the teller told me she had heard the same thing from several other customers that needed bills for travel in Russia.
You can also pay her by credit card, I believe she adds 3% to the tour cost for this option. On our last tour with her one of the families used this option and I checked with them after we were home if they had any problems with their credit card and they didn't. I had organized the tour for our small group and wanted to make sure no problems came about after the cruise.

DH is not comfortable carrying that much cash so we may just go with the credit card...that is until the bills pile up and he decides we need to save every penny-hopefully in time to get the new bills from the bank

UK airspace is still closed & unlikely to reopen until 1am tomorrow at the earliest. SIL is stuck in Crete. She should have flown home from Cyprus after a week on Ocean Village cruise on Thursday, but has somehow ended up in Crete & the hotel is threatening to throw them all out:scared1: Not sure when she'll be back. Even more worrying is that the last time this volcano erupted it did so for 2 years!!!! Admittedly that was 18something or other so there were no flights affected Travel insurance is definitely a must
Celestine

Wow, hope your SIL is ok and they have a safe place to wait
Just checked on our policy and we are covered as far as the money is concerned-it is the emotional investment that is not so easily fixed

Enjoy,


Lots of Brits stuck there and cant get home after their Easter two week break...

So many kids will miss school on Monday.....

My Sister is stuck in Spain and cannot fly now.....

All land based routes booked up.

Hope your Sis is ok too

Hello,
I just wanted to let everyone know that although our name is not listed, we are part of the FE and look forward to swapping "surprises".

Hey if you sent a private message to Celestine then you are included
Are you booking excursions and Palo at 90 days?

Took the girls to London yesterday to see Grease. London in the sunshine is a great place (yes, I know i'm biased). It was very busy, especially as it was Friday. Show was enjoyable - Teen Angel was played by Robin Cousins (yes, I do mean the male figure skater from way back) Danny & Sandy were played by a guy from one of the UK's original manufactured bands (Hearsay) & a the 3rd placed girl from the reality show "How do you solve a problem like Maria". They are still doing BOGOF on top price tickets, but currently only through end of June, but will post if that is extended.

SIL thoroughly fed up - he 15 year old daughter is kicking off making her life unbearable. Still no real idea when she'll be home. She's supposed to jet off to Saratoga Springs to celebrate her 50th on May Bank Holiday (May 3) if off course she's got back from Crete & there are TA flights!

Celestine

Love Grease too
Having issues with my 16 year old too
I guess that is part of the reason for the "stinky teen" label

 

[KathyInCitrus]

Any pictures

Yep, here they are:

 

[KathyInCitrus]

Anyone considering alternative means of travel from US to Dover in July?

http://www.examiner.com/x-28320-World-News-Examiner~y2010m4d17-LATEST-PHOTOS-OF-VOLCANO--VIDEO-Iceland-volcano-continues-to-erupt-More-travel-chaos-to-come

This aerial images shows the crater spewing ash and plumes of grit at the summit of the volcano in southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull glacier SaturdayApril 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Arna)

 

[MrsScooby]

Yep, here they are:

LOVE THEM
Thanks for posting
Gotta get there to see that myself someday.

 

[MrsScooby]

Anyone considering alternative means of travel from US to Dover in July?

http://www.examiner.com/x-28320-World-News-Examiner~y2010m4d17-LATEST-PHOTOS-OF-VOLCANO--VIDEO-Iceland-volcano-continues-to-erupt-More-travel-chaos-to-come

This aerial images shows the crater spewing ash and plumes of grit at the summit of the volcano in southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull glacier SaturdayApril 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Arna)

Actually yeah...it's the way I deal with anxiety-I plan.
Great photos

 

[MrsScooby]

If you already have plans for the port in Germany please ignore this...




We are currently booked with a private tour company Berlin Walks for a private tour. Of course the price goes down if we can find another family to share the tour with. Currently we are a family of 4, myself, DH, DS16 and DD13.

http://www.berlinwalks.de/private_cruise.html

They have a good reputation on Trip Advisor:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g187323-d735931-Reviews-Original_Berlin_Walks-Berlin.html

They also assured me they are quite used to getting cruise passengers back to their ships in plenty of time as well.


We do plan to stop for a short lunch during the day and to take a medium pace-trying to get in as much as we can without rushing things too much.
If this is the kind of tour you want too-Please send me a private message if you are interested.

 

[MrsScooby]

So where is Phil the Mets fan from NJ

My DH is in a very good mood that the Mets won their game tonight against the Cardinals.

20 innings!!!