First timer on DCL-what about North Europe cruise

[MeMawNM]

My husband have cruised before but never on DCL. We have booked the Northern Europe cruise for June 2017. What can you tell me about this cruise?

 

[dclpluto]

My husband have cruised before but never on DCL. We have booked the Northern Europe cruise for June 2017. What can you tell me about this cruise?

It's very expensive

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Fantastic cruise,

Look at this will explain all.

Everything you need to know, http://torussiawithmickeybars.blogspot.co.uk/ now yes it may have an alternative port schedule but we did many private tours, that's my strong advice, book private tours and at a minimum, St Petersburg with Anastsia travel there it have the very best time there. There is a trip report here as well. See below.

 

[tink1970]

There are some really good trip reports in the DCL trip report tab, Disney Fantasy's being one (thanks!). I would read them to get a feel for ports, activities, meals in the MDR, etc.

We were actually going on this but had to change to accommodate DH's work schedule. Prior to that, I read all of the trip reports I could and did research on the ports. So much fun to prepare. Enjoy!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

There are some really good trip reports in the DCL trip report tab, Disney Fantasy's being one (thanks!). I would read them to get a feel for ports, activities, meals in the MDR, etc.

We were actually going on this but had to change to accommodate DH's work schedule. Prior to that, I read all of the trip reports I could and did research on the ports. So much fun to prepare. Enjoy!

Thank you.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

It's an awesome itinerary indeed and it would be an amazing first cruise! Welcome, btw

Heather

 

[tink1970]

Disney Fantasy-thank you! It was so thorough!

MeMawNM-welcome! The other 2 reports I found helpful were written by hygenist999 (awesome photos!) and californiagirl09. Both did back to back with other itineraries but still helpful. I spend hours reading them and researching. So much fun!

Welcome to the boards.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Disney Fantasy-thank you! It was so thorough!

MeMawNM-welcome! The other 2 reports I found helpful were written by hygenist999 (awesome photos!) and californiagirl09. Both did back to back with other itineraries but still helpful. I spend hours reading them and researching. So much fun!

Welcome to the boards.

I read Hygienist 999 was very good nice photos.

 

[flybone89]

We booked this cruise too I believe! Is it the one that departs 11-Jun-2017? We tried to actually do this itinerary in 2015 but had to change to another itinerary due to schedule conflicts. But we did some initial planning if you have questions - feel free to DM me or ask in the meet site when it gets setup. All the reports people have shared so far are indeed great but another great source is Rick Steves website, books and podcasts. He has a great book on Northern European ports as well as some great video podcasts.

This will be our 6th Disney Cruise but the first to Europe. My wife and I will be celebrating our 25th anniversary with our 3 kids in tow and everything I have read and heard confirms its a fantastic itinerary. I travel to Europe a lot for work but this will be the first family vacation to Europe. So it will be interesting as Copenhagen is not the easiest or cheapest European airport for us to get to. But we plan to get there early and spend time in Copenhagen before and after we cruise.

Anyway, look forward to sharing more on the cruise meet site - seems like a long time away but it comes fast!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I do not get anything out of this but, please do check out, http://anastasia.travel/, you will have the perfect time in STB.

I used them on two X two day tours in STB, from the Magic, you see more, do more, thry are like a concierge service, you do not need Russain visas, but thry will get you tickets that allow you through immigration at STB. You have to either,

1/ book with DCL to get off at STB.
2/ book with an authorised Russian tour agent like http://anastasia.travel/.
3/ or get a visa to get off.

In 2010 and 2015 many of my friends took my advice, thry all thought the tours were excellent and tailor made. For a family it's often cheaper than DCL and you can add evening touring without going back to the ship. You can add places extra that DCL doesn't go to, see my trip report.
We went through immigration in minutes each way, every day no issues and was personally met by CEO Anastasia to ensure 100% satisfaction with guide, car and driver, and met her en route and at the end as well. They provided parks even umbrellas we eat at local Russia places, went on thier trains and hydrofoils.

I recall a poster who went on a DCL tour say, " I spent EVEVEN hours looking at the inside of the bus", you can get your own private car/ van and everyone gas a window seat, the vehicle was modern and can go down smaller roads in James and had local STB decals that are safer than coaches stuck to main roads with signs saying Disney Cruise Line.

If you email them, Katherine there often emails back within hours and will tailor make your trip for you.

I am passionate about it as STB is a wonderful city, your going to it, ensure you have a fantastic time there.

 

[MeMawNM]

Thanks to all who replied! I am looking forward to this trip and y'all are making me even more excited!

 

[kiford]

We did it last year and it was fantastic. I don't know if it's the exact same itinerary as ours was or not. We stayed a few day days in London prior to the cruise.

 

[jrabbit]

It was DCL cruise #15 (i think) for us.

We had a great trip. Loved every port.

The Warnamunde / Berlin day was very long. And on a bus, and "everything" was on the other side of the bus. Really will need to go back because it didn't seem like even a taste of Berlin. The stop at the wall - amazing, Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate = pretty cool. The "banned book" library - great memorial.

Our days in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn we all amazing.

Copenhagen, "all" tours stop at the Little Mermaid (big whoop really, but we bought a little statue of her anyway from a local vendor). We visited a couple of the palaces - pretty awesome. Didn't go to Tivoli Gardens, but walked back to the ship from that area. Discovered lots of nice areas to visit / see. Who know that "The David" was also here? we didn't!!

Stockholm: we visited the old town and toured the royal palace and had a boat tour of some of the islands. I wish that I knew beforehand that the Vasa was actually pretty close. I would have figured out how to get there and back on my own after the tour was over with. And the ABBA museum as well (I'm in the appropriate age group to appreciate this)

St. Petersburg. Don't know if you have one or two days, if only one, tough choices to be made: Hermitage or Peterhoff? that is the question. I think the nod goes to our tour that visited Catherine's Palace and Peterhoff. The gold fountains on the grounds are unbelievable. The Hermitage is spectacular as well - you really can't go wrong here.

Absolutely loved Tallinn - we did a walking tour of the towers and walls in old town = way cool. Since we were there only 1/2 day there were many excursions that we could not do that looked pretty amazing as well.

And yes, we did all DCL tours this time. For us it worked out OK. I will agree with Disney Fantasy that doing private tours is probably the way to go, but having a minimum of 4 people really helps with the cost. DW and I have a hard time meeting people online that might have similar tastes as ours, so that's why we stuck with DCL.