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

[jilljill]

Ok, I'm thoroughly impressed on your packing and makes me realize I need to redefine what I think is "light" packing! I'm sure I could whittle more out of my packing list if I try!

The longest cruise I've been on before this one was only 7 nights, and never one that had an over night stop anywhere....I'm realizing more and more what I have to learn about this trip with being a DCL newbie!

We did several loads of laundry on the ship, more than we planned on so we came home with mostly clean clothes. Whatever casual clothes we wore to dinner we wore the next day for touring. We had great weather so it wasn't hot or cold, except it was in the 80's for Amsterdam. I had 3 pair of shoes, DH had 2 pairs and DD had either 3 or 4 pairs. I only wear sandals in the summer and DD had 2 pair of flip flops in that count. I didn't care that our table mates saw us in the same shirts 2 or 3 times, we weren't overpacking. I went to Chico's and bought a couple of pieces of their Traveler's line to wear for the dressier nights and they don't take up much room at all.
We also use the travel pack bags, the kind you roll the air out of, and they help us greatly.
We don't take shampoo, use what is provided. I do take shower gel since that's the only thing we all use. DD's hair dryer and flat iron stay at home, I don't use either. We take travel sizes of deodorant and toothpaste and if there's any left we just toss the containers so we don't have to lug them home.

After traveling to Europe with 2 bags a piece several times (just DH & I), we've learned we don't need as much any more. Then there's always my motto: if I forget it I can buy it when I get there.

It's taken me 21 years of traveling with DH to get this pared down to this. Before we were married, luggage restrictions were in my mind and when I traveled with my parents we took lots of stuff. Every trip it seems like we take less and less with us and we manage.

 

[bellelinus]

Julie you can use this for the first post.

For the first post:

Hometown Postcard Exchange
Bring enough postcards from your hometown to pass out and share with other Ballyhoo'ers.

jilljill
Madisonznana
Andrew DEREK UK
RJAYL (?)
MI-MINI

Got it, Barb -- thanks!

 

[Marla Hellwig]

Postcards here

I am thinking might buy our shampoo and such once we get to London, did find a bargain on that new 3 in 1 laundry sheets couple of weeks ago and put that away in my travel box

 

[jilljill]

Postcards here

I am thinking might buy our shampoo and such once we get to London, did find a bargain on that new 3 in 1 laundry sheets couple of weeks ago and put that away in my travel box

Don't you like the shampoo on the ship?
I used to take my friends shampoo and toothpaste from here because it's so much cheaper here. If you get the little sample sizes they don't take up much room, plus you can get them free over the internet.


Julie, please add marla Hellwig to the postcard list. thanks

 

[jilljill]

Well my TA did it for us this morning, I'll blame her. We are booked on the Dream for Easter, 4/24/2011. We are in a cat. 8D, deck 5 forward near the teen club.

 

[RJAYL]

Well my TA did it for us this morning, I'll blame her. We are booked on the Dream for Easter, 4/24/2011. We are in a cat. 8D, deck 5 forward near the teen club.

Congratulations!

Easter is late in 2011!

 

[jilljill]

Congratulations!

Easter is late in 2011!

Yes it is. But who knows if we'll be able to keep the ressie. Not sure if they will give the kids off for the week that late in the month, so we shall see.

 

[RJAYL]

Yes it is. But who knows if we'll be able to keep the ressie. Not sure if they will give the kids off for the week that late in the month, so we shall see.

We will have just finished our NCL Epic cruise on the 23rd that year!

I am holding out for 2012 & which ever ship (Dream or Fantasy) is then doing the 7 day! :

 

[jilljill]

We will have just finished our NCL Epic cruise on the 23rd that year!

I am holding out for 2012 & which ever ship (Dream or Fantasy) is then doing the 7 day! :

Where will the Epic leave from? I haven't heard much about that ship.

We'll probably do a 7 day on whichever ship that year as well, DH just doesn't know that yet.
He didn't know I put in a request with the TA for this one until he got home from the dentist. The dentist and he were talking about the new ship and after he told me their conversation I told him I had prices for 2 cabins and told him which 1 I was going to book. He just shook his head and said he figured as much.

 

[RJAYL]

Where will the Epic leave from? I haven't heard much about that ship.

We'll probably do a 7 day on whichever ship that year as well, DH just doesn't know that yet.
He didn't know I put in a request with the TA for this one until he got home from the dentist. The dentist and he were talking about the new ship and after he told me their conversation I told him I had prices for 2 cabins and told him which 1 I was going to book. He just shook his head and said he figured as much.

Epic will be NCL's new Super Ship comes out next summer! Leaves from Miami!

My DW refuses to consider a cruise of less than 7 days!

If i could of piggy backed it with a WDW trip I might have pulled it off however it does not seem to jive with my schedule for 2011!

I will see which cruise I will take during the summer of 2011 as well, most likely not DCL!

 

[bellelinus]

Julie, please add marla Hellwig to the postcard list. thanks

Did it!

Congrat on booking the Dream

 

[Celestine]

OK, DH has got prices as follows for London Heathrow - London:

Car £50
Minibus type thing (DH says luxury people carrier!) £80

If anyone is interested please PM & I'll pass you the info. you require (E-mail address, name of person to send request to & ref to quote).

Celestine

 

[jilljill]

Epic will be NCL's new Super Ship comes out next summer! Leaves from Miami!

My DW refuses to consider a cruise of less than 7 days!

If i could of piggy backed it with a WDW trip I might have pulled it off however it does not seem to jive with my schedule for 2011!

I will see which cruise I will take during the summer of 2011 as well, most likely not DCL!

Your wife is pickier than me. But then with her having to do all that packing for so many kids I can see why she'd want to make her life easier for vacations.

Thanks for the Epic crib notes.

 

[jilljill]

Did it!

Congrat on booking the Dream

Thanks and thanks...
I just hope we can keep the Dream booking.
I have noticed that the prices for 2011 for the Dream are cheaper than for the Wonder's summer 2010 sailings, and that is even for people who did early booking for 2010.

 

[Madisonznana]

Stick with winery postcards since Madison lives there. But it would be so much better if you brought the wineries with you.

Sure, that won't weigh too much!!!
They are only 15 minutes away from us, so they would be good.

 

[jilljill]

Sure, that won't weigh too much!!!
They are only 15 minutes away from us, so they would be good.

Good, that means you will bring the winery with you...not the wine but the entire winery, they can worry about shipping the wine over.

 

[Caropooh]

OK, I need a recap of what's been happening here! I see there are things I need to sign up for, but don't know what! Fill me in!

 

[jilljill]

OK, I need a recap of what's been happening here! I see there are things I need to sign up for, but don't know what! Fill me in!

The only thing that's been started is an FE list by Celestine and I started the postcard exchange list - both are listed in the first post of the thread. Oh yeah, Celestine also posted, this morning, private car transfer prices from the airport to London hotels.

Other than that we were discussing the last of cabins on the Dream that hold 6 or more people. The most any of them hold is 5.

I booked the Dream for 4/24/2011. That's an Easter Sunday sailing.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Hi All,

If you have booked the DREAM Congrats, its funny, on Thursday wasn't interested, in correspondence with Robert on Friday, I thought why not? went for a concierge room, and an October cruise.

Then overnight thought about it, decided about the concierge rooms, the queue for the Auqaduck, etc, and decided to cancel my TA instruction.

I do not like short cruises, and CC been there Nassau, don't want to go there, so I would book for Dinners only and a queue for the Auqaduck.

Not saying 'never' but when I have to add a minimum of $6k for flights its not too worth it unless I added it onto a WDW holiday.

Shampoo etc.

Great places to get it in London, Boots and Superdrug are two, but any supermarket, Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys. With a weak pound quite good value.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Is is official? Are we having a viking party??

OK I have a very long message from DCL, that basically tells me nothing, at all, there will, be 1 formal night 1 semi formal, at least one dress up (pirate) night.

Shore trips, we are told to ''look every day'' at the DCL website, maybe no DVD, they didn't know about it in 07.

Full context.

Thank you for choosing another Disney Cruise Line vacation!

I am happy to assist you with information regarding shore excursions for
the 12-Night Northern European Cruise.

At this time, we are busy working on the magical shore excursion
experiences that will be offered on your cruise. Please continue to
check our website for the most up-to date information.

Once we have finalized the shore excursions, you will be able to view
these by going online at www.disneycruise.com and hover over Cruises &
Destinations, select Shore Excursions, and then select location.

I am not familiar with the DVD you referenced from the Mediterranean
cruise in 2007. Thus, I am not sure if one will be available for this
cruise.

Dining attire varies by venue or theme night on your cruise. In general,
most meals are "Cruise Casual" -- no shorts, swimwear or tank tops;
jeans, khakis and capris are permitted. Most cruises also have special
theme nights.

At this time, we do not have the complete schedule for the special theme
nights that will be offered on your cruise. Please feel free to check
back with us closer to time for you to sail for updated information.

On the 12-Night Northern Europe Cruise you will be able to enjoy 1
'formal night' and 1'semi-formal night'. For the 'formal night' - formal
wear for men: tuxedo or suit; for women: gown or dress. On the
"semi-formal night" - semi-formal wear for men: suit/jacket; for women:
dress or pantsuit.

Dress for dinner at Palo on all cruises:
Men: dress shirt or jacket
Women: dress or pantsuit

I hope this information has been helpful. If you require further
assistance in planning your visit, please feel free to contact us or
your travel agent

We look forward to sailing with you again!

Have a Magical Day!

Did it -- thanks again for everything, Celestine!



Added!



Are you in charge of this, Barb? If so, tell me what information you want posted and I will do it . . . I'm just not sure what the postcard exchange is at this point in order to add it!