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

[RJAYL]

Good Morning All

 

[alanapapa]

Good Morning All

Good Morning Robert, and all other Ballyhooers.

 

[poohmomof5]

Morning everyone!!!

I just got an email from the Oberammergau package center that they have availability for the Passion Play the day we want to go!

I am really excited, it will be the first official thing we book on the trip besides the cruise!!!

Also, this morning, the flights I have been watching are $200 cheaper per person! Whew, I was really having a hard time pay $8600 just to get us all to Europe! Now it is a practically free $7400!!

 

[jilljill]

Morning everyone!!!

I just got an email from the Oberammergau package center that they have availability for the Passion Play the day we want to go!

I am really excited, it will be the first official thing we book on the trip besides the cruise!!!

Also, this morning, the flights I have been watching are $200 cheaper per person! Whew, I was really having a hard time pay $8600 just to get us all to Europe! Now it is a practically free $7400!!

Which airline did you find cheaper today?

Can you translate about the email you rec'd. I want to be excited for what you just booked as well, but have no clue what it is you booked or where it is.

 

[poohmomof5]

Which airline did you find cheaper today?

Can you translate about the email you rec'd. I want to be excited for what you just booked as well, but have no clue what it is you booked or where it is.

Sorry, I was so excited.

Every 10 years, the city of Oberammergau, Germany puts on the "Passion Play". Here is the history of the play:

Gripped by war and poverty in 1633, the Plague come to the city of Oberammergau, in Bavaria, southern Germany. The village prayed for an end to the disease with no deaths in their village. They vowed to put on a 'passion play' every ten years if they were saved.

That was back in 1633. They survived, and performed the first Oberammergau Passion Play in 1634. Ever since, their descendants have carried out that pledge.

For the past four centuries the tradition has continued, every ten years. Only villagers have been allowed to take part. And that is what will happen yet again in 2010, from 15th May until 3rd October.

They devote a year of their lives to re-enacting the life, death and resurrection of Christ.

All performers are laymen and pursue their usual careers as wood carvers, house wives and so forth...

In real life for instance Jesus is a psychologist and Mary Magdalene works as a flight attendant.

Like everyone else in the village, 'Jesus' and 'Mary' are ordinary people. By taking on these roles, they are fulfilling the promise to God made by their ancestors, celebrating their faith and sharing it with the world...

...as Oberammergauers have for some 375 years.

Anyway, it is very difficult to get tickets (they went on sale in early 2008), and with our touring plans, there is only 1 day that we could get there. Friday, July 9th. They happen to have as many tickets left as we need! I am thrilled! It will be a very unique experience. The tickets include a bed in the village that evening, first section of the play from 2:30-5pm. 3 course dinner with beverages at your boarding house from 5-8pm, then the 2nd part of the play from 8-10:30pm. Then breakfast the following morning.

The cast is made up of over 2000 people! The theatre only seats about 4500!

I am emailing our confirmation as we speak. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

 

[MrsScooby]

Does anyone else have room left in their private tour or interested in getting a small group together? It will be myself and DH- we haven't decided about our DD yet.

Our DD is very social and usually makes friends easily but what if she doesn't want to stay on the ship while in StP? I know she would not enjoy looking at the different museums, buildings, etc. and would have much more fun with other children doing kid activities but...Oh, maybe I am just feeling a little guilty.
For those of you that have gone on a cruise before with young children what have your experiences been like regarding this?

We are looking to add some more people to our St Petersburg tour
Right now it is a group of 8 (my family of 4 and alanapapa and caropooh). We have the standard tour for Anastasia that includes the Hermitage.

Looked up your info on the first page and your DD will turn 7 on the cruise. Hard to tell with that age group
Even my DS16 and DD12 get cranky sometimes if I drag them around too much
But I would feel guilty leaving mine on board while I toured Russia too.
Maybe just the first day like Barb suggested is the best compromise

 

[jilljill]

I've heard about that play now that you've described it. If I remember right pretty much everyone in town is involved in the play and it takes 1 year to prepare for it.
Good for you getting tix.

 

[MrsScooby]

Sorry, I was so excited.

Every 10 years, the city of Oberammergau, Germany puts on the "Passion Play". Here is the history of the play:

Gripped by war and poverty in 1633, the Plague come to the city of Oberammergau, in Bavaria, southern Germany. The village prayed for an end to the disease with no deaths in their village. They vowed to put on a 'passion play' every ten years if they were saved.

That was back in 1633. They survived, and performed the first Oberammergau Passion Play in 1634. Ever since, their descendants have carried out that pledge.

For the past four centuries the tradition has continued, every ten years. Only villagers have been allowed to take part. And that is what will happen yet again in 2010, from 15th May until 3rd October.

They devote a year of their lives to re-enacting the life, death and resurrection of Christ.

All performers are laymen and pursue their usual careers as wood carvers, house wives and so forth...

In real life for instance Jesus is a psychologist and Mary Magdalene works as a flight attendant.

Like everyone else in the village, 'Jesus' and 'Mary' are ordinary people. By taking on these roles, they are fulfilling the promise to God made by their ancestors, celebrating their faith and sharing it with the world...

...as Oberammergauers have for some 375 years.

Anyway, it is very difficult to get tickets (they went on sale in early 2008), and with our touring plans, there is only 1 day that we could get there. Friday, July 9th. They happen to have as many tickets left as we need! I am thrilled! It will be a very unique experience. The tickets include a bed in the village that evening, first section of the play from 2:30-5pm. 3 course dinner with beverages at your boarding house from 5-8pm, then the 2nd part of the play from 8-10:30pm. Then breakfast the following morning.

The cast is made up of over 2000 people! The theatre only seats about 4500!

I am emailing our confirmation as we speak. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

This sounds amazing Nicole

 

[scrapycruiser]

My son & wife are doing a private tour in St Petersburg ( not thru DCL ). Can their son stay in Oceaneers Club if this is a non-Disney tour ??

 

[jilljill]

My son & wife are doing a private tour in St Petersburg ( not thru DCL ). Can their son stay in Oceaneers Club if this is a non-Disney tour ??

Yup. They will need to let the staff know they are going off the ship and the approx. return time.

 

[scrapycruiser]

Thanks ! They didn't think the 5year old would like The Hermitage

 

[RJAYL]

Good Morning All
T.G.I.F.​

 

[poohmomof5]

I've heard about that play now that you've described it. If I remember right pretty much everyone in town is involved in the play and it takes 1 year to prepare for it.
Good for you getting tix.

This sounds amazing Nicole

Thanks guys, I am really excited.

Oh, and Jill you asked about which airline, it was Swiss that had the better prices. But we are flying into Munich in early July and out of Barcelona as we are doing the B2B with the repo on July 30th, so I don't know if the prices will help anyone else. I am really nervous to book the airfare as I will be so mad if the prices drop after I book. Even $100 savings on each ticket is $700 for us!

UGH, the pressure!

TGIF everyone, my day already started out yucky as I logged into my work laptop (where I keep my entire life) and got the "blue screen of death". The tech guy said there was nothing he could do, sending me new laptop. So, a whole weekend where I will have to sit in the den to talk to you guys AND, no email updates. SUPER YUCK!

 

[jilljill]

Thanks ! They didn't think the 5year old would like The Hermitage

Not to mention the fact they would be looking at people instead of the art since it's very crowded in most of the rooms. For someplace like that I want to take my time and look at what appeals to me, but for the most part it was interesting to us.

 

[Caropooh]

We are looking to add some more people to our St Petersburg tour
Right now it is a group of 8 (my family of 4 and alanapapa and caropooh). We have the standard tour for Anastasia that includes the Hermitage.

Looked up your info on the first page and your DD will turn 7 on the cruise. Hard to tell with that age group
Even my DS16 and DD12 get cranky sometimes if I drag them around too much
But I would feel guilty leaving mine on board while I toured Russia too.
Maybe just the first day like Barb suggested is the best compromise

I will say that on the Panama Canal cruise, our favorite port was Cartagena! The history there was just amazing! We did the Historical Tour of Cartagena (or whatever it was called!) and really enjoyed it. The only part Kathryn(who was 9) at the time didn't like was seeing the relics (AKA bones!)!
I do agree though that for younger kids, 2 days of tours could be not very exciting.

 

[scrapycruiser]

After 6 Disney cruises ( 24 on other lines ) I still can't seem to find someone on the DCL phone that can answer my questions ! I have alot of patience....BUT...
Supposedly, DCL is a high end cruise line, rated above HAL,Princess,RCI and Celebrity according to surveys in Conde Nast and Travel & Leisure. So it annoys me that I can't get times of Port Adventures so that I can plan my vacation.
The person I spoke with thought I was taliking about Formal Night when I asked a question about the Catherines Palace Royal Ball !!
Am I dialing the right #1-800-951-3532 ?
Why isn't there a shore excursion specialist to talk with ? They have them onboard !
Not to sound snooty, but I swear I know more than they do. Thank heavens for you guys !!!!!

 

[RJAYL]

I will say that on the Panama Canal cruise, our favorite port was Cartagena! The history there was just amazing! We did the Historical Tour of Cartagena (or whatever it was called!) and really enjoyed it. The only part Kathryn(who was 9) at the time didn't like was seeing the relics (AKA bones!)!
I do agree though that for younger kids, 2 days of tours could be not very exciting.

I think we did that in Cartegena or maybe not, all's i remember is the last stop for the tour was the Emerald center where we went shopping & made everyone on the bus wait as we were blowing some seriouse dough!

 

[jilljill]

After 6 Disney cruises ( 24 on other lines ) I still can't seem to find someone on the DCL phone that can answer my questions ! I have alot of patience....BUT...
Supposedly, DCL is a high end cruise line, rated above HAL,Princess,RCI and Celebrity according to surveys in Conde Nast and Travel & Leisure. So it annoys me that I can't get times of Port Adventures so that I can plan my vacation.
The person I spoke with thought I was taliking about Formal Night when I asked a question about the Catherines Palace Royal Ball !!
Am I dialing the right #1-800-951-3532 ?
Why isn't there a shore excursion specialist to talk with ? They have them onboard !
Not to sound snooty, but I swear I know more than they do. Thank heavens for you guys !!!!!

I would say call back and get another DCL rep. They have a bunch of new hires and according to my TA they don't know much.
Someone posted on the Baltics planning thread that they were given tenative times for their sailing. So it wouldn't hurt to call and either speak to someone who knows what's going on or to ask to speak to a supervisor.

They really do need shoreside excursion reps like other cruiselines do, especially for these special cruises.

 

[jilljill]

I think we did that in Cartegena or maybe not, all's i remember is the last stop for the tour was the Emerald center where we went shopping & made everyone on the bus wait as we were blowing some seriouse dough!

Maybe we shouldn't all go shopping together...it could get very expensive for all of us.