July 22, 2015 * 12-night Northern European Cruise!

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Are people booking private tours on their own or joining with other families to keep the cost down? On the Med Cruise last summer ~ several families joined together for a private tour and it really helped the $$...?

I personally have my own families private tours in each port, however on the group yes a lot of people gave got together to organise joint private tours which makes it very cheap.

Anastasia in Russia have combined tours for families with children in the group and also for adults. They have had a prepay 50% off recently which makes there prices unbeatable by DCL, they are taking advantage of the fall in the Russain Ruble and passing that on, rather than DCL who set prices before the currency fell. A private tour gets you to see far far more, like combinations of DCL trips without going back to port. I am having evening visits to the Faberge museum and an evening rivers and canals tour combined with my first days sightseeing.

 

[Celestine]

One more update...

Celestine just pm'd me with new contact information for the private coach they are organizing from London to Dover. This info is conveniently listed in the first post on Page 1, too:

PRIVATE COACH FROM LONDON TO DOVER!
Celestine & DH (ReadingFC) are organizing a private coach from London to Dover for us for just £20 per person (roughly US$30pp), which is a fantastic deal! They've also graciously offered to provide drinks, nibbles, and candy! If you are interested, please send an email to Celestine at balticbuccaneers@mail.com to sign up. After Friday, May 8 (the final paid-in-full date), they will set a deadline for signing up and the maximum number of travellers they can accommodate.

So I assumed everyone has same PIF date of March 23 so that is when I will start confirming plans. If you have not emailed me yet, please do. There will come a point when we will not be able to accept more people, so if you want in, speed is of the essence!

 

[Deb T.]

So I assumed everyone has same PIF date of March 23 so that is when I will start confirming plans. If you have not emailed me yet, please do. There will come a point when we will not be able to accept more people, so if you want in, speed is of the essence!

Yikes! I'm sorry - you are absolutely correct - PIF date is March 23. Since I had just posted about excursion booking dates, that was on my mind. I've made corrections on Page 1 and in my post above.

 

[awaghorn]

I'm excited that the boards are picking back up! I didn't do the previous Baltic cruises, but someone did post on one of the DIS boards that the Tallinn marzipan excursion for their cruise booked up before silvers could book. They are on one of the early sailings and their booking windows have opened. They haven't mentioned anything about St. Petersburg, but I'll pop over there and ask.

Interesting, thanks for the info. We did look at the marzipan thing but given the short stay in Tallin I think we are just going to have a look around the old town.

What would be helpful is to know the timings of the tours for St Petes. For example I was looking at the evening hermitage option which looks good (certainly to avoid crowds!) and based on what the rest of the family wants to see we might also do the combined St Catherine's palace and Peterhof tour, but if that is only offered on day 1 I suspect the timing might be tight to swap over.

 

[krisinparis]

Are people booking private tours on their own or joining with other families to keep the cost down? On the Med Cruise last summer ~ several families joined together for a private tour and it really helped the $$...?

ctnurse has some tour options in post #868. There has also been another tour organized in Copenhagen, but I'm not sure if it is filled or not. We are also taking advantage of Anastasia's prices and just booked a private tour this past week. The total price for 2 days was less than many of the single excursions that Disney is offering.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Interesting, thanks for the info. We did look at the marzipan thing but given the short stay in Tallin I think we are just going to have a look around the old town.

What would be helpful is to know the timings of the tours for St Petes. For example I was looking at the evening hermitage option which looks good (certainly to avoid crowds!) and based on what the rest of the family wants to see we might also do the combined St Catherine's palace and Peterhof tour, but if that is only offered on day 1 I suspect the timing might be tight to swap over.

Bare in mind St Catherine's palace and Peterhof is a long coach trip out of the city, many private tours get around this and possible traffic issues by doing one direction by hydrofoil from the Peterhoff <> St Petes port. And more interesting for children.

 

[awaghorn]

Bare in mind St Catherine's palace and Peterhof is a long coach trip out of the city, many private tours get around this and possible traffic issues by doing one direction by hydrofoil from the Peterhoff <> St Petes port. And more interesting for children.

Thanks, the DCL excursion we were considering also does the return by hydrofoil. I am relaxed about non-DCL excursions but the other half would feel more comfortable on a DCL excursion so assuming timing and availability works then I think we will end up going on one of them.

 

[time for travel]

Anyone interested in getting the cost down and having me and DD (10) join them for private tour? ...or join us ...so we can book something before the 50% off??

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Thanks, the DCL excursion we were considering also does the return by hydrofoil. I am relaxed about non-DCL excursions but the other half would feel more comfortable on a DCL excursion so assuming timing and availability works then I think we will end up going on one of them.

That's good as the Peterhoff is a long way out.

Anyone interested in getting the cost down and having me and DD (10) join them for private tour? ...or join us ...so we can book something before the 50% off??

Hopefully someone will join you up, there have been a lot of families do the same so far and it's a good way to reduce the costs even more.

 

[tink too]

We've also booked with Anastasia Travel in St Petersburg (based on recommendations here) and must say they have been very helpful. They adjusted their proposed itinerary to add something we found online while doing some research, and although the days will be very full and busy, we will definitely get to see more by booking independently.

I've also been looking at Estonian Experience in Tallinn, but haven't decided on anything there yet and would be interested in joining up with others, too.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We've also booked with Anastasia Travel in St Petersburg (based on recommendations here) and must say they have been very helpful. They adjusted their proposed itinerary to add something we found online while doing some research, and although the days will be very full and busy, we will definitely get to see more by booking independently.

I've also been looking at Estonian Experience in Tallinn, but haven't decided on anything there yet and would be interested in joining up with others, too.

Good choices, my Russia two days are packed, first day is 9.30am to 8.45pm, with Faberge museum and a private rivers and canals tour. Second day 8.30am to 5.30pm. I booked Estonian Experience in Tallinn last summer for a 3.5 hour car and walk of the town and parks. I know many who used both in 2010 and were very very pleased. Both have been most helpful.

 

[awaghorn]

Does anastasia just do private tours (I know some of the other options will find groups for you from the same ship)?

 

[krisinparis]

No, they also do group tours. I think everyone booked private because the 50% made it cheaper than a group tour!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Does anastasia just do private tours (I know some of the other options will find groups for you from the same ship)?

No, they also do group tours. I think everyone booked private because the 50% made it cheaper than a group tour!

They have various vehicle sizes some of the group are getting together others going on their own family. They will accommodate you, but care the offer for 50% May expire soon.

 

[fassiofive]

Can't wait! I need to post more so I can private message! We're traveling for our 10th anniversary along with our three kids - Bella (8), Charlotte (6) and Tommy (21 months). We're spending a couple days in Iceland, a few days in London, and a week or so in Paris after. Can't wait!

 

[fassiofive]

This will be our third cruise, our first in Europe.

 

[fassiofive]

Grrr . . still trying to figure out how to private message so we an get on the FE list!

 

[fassiofive]

For those of you spending a few days in London before the cruise, how are you getting to Dover? (please forgive me if that's been asked already! My computer is so slow and I'm having trouble wading through everything!) We won't have a car seat for my toddler so I'm not quite sure what to do. Thanks!

 

[Deb T.]

Can't wait! I need to post more so I can private message! We're traveling for our 10th anniversary along with our three kids - Bella (8), Charlotte (6) and Tommy (21 months). We're spending a couple days in Iceland, a few days in London, and a week or so in Paris after. Can't wait!

Wow! Sounds like a fantastic anniversary celebration! What a great itinerary!

Grrr . . still trying to figure out how to private message so we an get on the FE list!

I sent you a private message so that all you will need to do is reply to the "conversation" Just click on your "Inbox" at the top right side of this page.

For those of you spending a few days in London before the cruise, how are you getting to Dover? (please forgive me if that's been asked already! My computer is so slow and I'm having trouble wading through everything!) We won't have a car seat for my toddler so I'm not quite sure what to do. Thanks!

There are quite a few choices. I've cut and pasted information below from Page 1 of this thread about transportation that is being set up by fellow cruisers. Another option is by Tube or bus. Quite a few of our cruise mates live in the area and will be driving their own cars to the port. Some are also setting up their own private limo service.

PRIVATE COACH FROM LONDON TO DOVER!
Celestine & DH (ReadingFC) are organizing a private coach from London to Dover for us for just £20 per person (roughly US$30pp), which is a fantastic deal! They've also graciously offered to provide drinks, nibbles, and candy! If you are interested, please send an email to Celestine at balticbuccaneers@mail.com to sign up. After March 23, 2015 (the final paid-in-full date), they will set a deadline for signing up and the maximum number of travellers they can accommodate.

 

[krisinparis]

For those of you spending a few days in London before the cruise, how are you getting to Dover? (please forgive me if that's been asked already! My computer is so slow and I'm having trouble wading through everything!) We won't have a car seat for my toddler so I'm not quite sure what to do. Thanks!

We're taking the bus that Paul and Celestine are organizing. Your trip sounds fantastic! I would love to go to Iceland; however, the allure of direct flights is to great for me to pass up LOL! Our daughter Lulu is 7, so hopefully she'll meet up with your daughters in the kid's club. Her older brother is moving up to Edge, so she's anxious to make some friends!