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

[disneylove619]

True but its not all over yet.

The workers on France went on strike on two separate days last week, they can do it again and effect us again.

They strike, it builds up they stop, the back log is cleared they strike again.

I'm trying to explain a this to DH. How does this effect the trains from London into Dover?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I'm trying to explain a this to DH. How does this effect the trains from London into Dover?

OK

(1) Tube Strike

For cruisers on this weeks 12 night Baltic they have a serious issue, if it goes ahead they will have difficulty getting to the London main rail terminals for trains to dover. Taxis will be busy and marshalled and may need to be shared, all tubes will stop. Travel in town will be slow.

SouthEastern trains operators to Dover are not on strike ( yet) but Southern are from the 10th on an overtime ban and from 12th full and that affects trains up from Gatwick Airport.

(2) Channel Issues

You may find Dover is very busy, maybe gridlocked, now travel down by train should be OK but within Dover from the station to the port, taxis etc may have issues. Currently it is all OK. But it has been on off with French workers going on strike and blocking road and rail crossing, and we have a massive increase in illegal immigrants trying to make their way to the UK, this is causing extended checks.

The situation can change each day,

In summary if travelling by train down you are mostly unaffected at this time but you could experience issues in London if arriving at the end of this week, and may experience issues around our cruise day.

Just have a contingency and hope its all resolved.

The main effect is on the roads where the M20 may have delays again if there are further strikes either in France or London

 

[Deb T.]

Please remember to pack an extra day worth of clothing and pjs in you hand-carry.

Two years ago, a woman's luggage was lost and it didn't arrive until our 3rd port day.

It was so sad, because she did not think that she needed it.

I am packing a dress, too. Just in case.

BTW, those connecting from BA to AA, please confirm your flight connections.

I reminded DH to enter his info to register his passport and meal. Then, it informed him that his flight was cancelled. It took us two days to fix it.

Safe travels to everyone.

All great reminders! For our Mediterranean cruise, our luggage was lost for 7 days before it finally caught up with us. Also, United Airlines is horrible about notifying passengers about itinerary changes. It's always good to verify all reservations (air, hotel, transportation, etc.) at least a week before a big trip. The compulsiveness in me has be double-checking everything twice a month from the time I book until we leave.

 

[krisinparis]

Oh my Deb T! I can't imagine 7 nights with no luggage! is an understatement!!! I agree that United is awful about letting you know about itinerary changes. I now take screen shots of our seats as they have "moved" us several times. We've also had lost/delayed luggage so now we try to travel with carry-on bags. Everyone is going to see me in the same outfits......but at least I know I'm going to have clothes!!!

 

[abayaflowers]

I just found this when registering.

Disney Cruise Line Navigator App
Welcome to a brand-new way to cruise! Now you can receive valuable information directly on your mobile device during your cruise thanks to the official Disney Cruise Line app, the Disney Cruise Line Navigator. Download the app—available for free at the Apple App Store for iOS devices and Google Play™ for Android devices—before you arrive at the embarkation port and then, once onboard, connect to the ship's WiFi network—complimentary for app use only—and enjoy your vacation like never before!

With just a simple tap of your smart phone, effortlessly find up-to-date information about:

• Character Experiences
• Deck Parties
• Dining
• Entertainment
• Live shows
• Nightclubs and lounges
• Ports of call
• Spa services
• Shopping
• Youth clubs

You can also:

• See what's happening every minute of every day
• Save favorite activities to one convenient list
• Explore the ship from bow to stern, deck by deck

The Disney Cruise Line Navigator is your handy guide to the magic that awaits your entire family while on board so you never have to miss a thing!

 

[abayaflowers]

Here's the FAQs for the App

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/planning-center/my-cruise-plans/faqs/disney-cruise-navigator-app/

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I just found this when registering.

Disney Cruise Line Navigator App
Welcome to a brand-new way to cruise! Now you can receive valuable information directly on your mobile device during your cruise thanks to the official Disney Cruise Line app, the Disney Cruise Line Navigator. Download the app—available for free at the Apple App Store for iOS devices and Google Play™ for Android devices—before you arrive at the embarkation port and then, once onboard, connect to the ship's WiFi network—complimentary for app use only—and enjoy your vacation like never before!

With just a simple tap of your smart phone, effortlessly find up-to-date information about:

• Character Experiences
• Deck Parties
• Dining
• Entertainment
• Live shows
• Nightclubs and lounges
• Ports of call
• Spa services
• Shopping
• Youth clubs

You can also:

• See what's happening every minute of every day
• Save favorite activities to one convenient list
• Explore the ship from bow to stern, deck by deck

The Disney Cruise Line Navigator is your handy guide to the magic that awaits your entire family while on board so you never have to miss a thing!

Yes I have used this a lot it's most helpful for example dinner menus you can view in advance and no rush to decide when you go to dinner.

 

[Deb T.]

Here's the FAQs for the App

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/planning-center/my-cruise-plans/faqs/disney-cruise-navigator-app/

Thanks for posting this! DH and I both just downloaded it onto our cell phones. According to what I've read, it's best to download it before you get to the port. Sounds like a neat tool... my only hope is that it doesn't drain the cell battery too quickly each day like "My Disney Experience" does at Disney World.

Can't wait for this cruise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Deb T.]

BTW, those connecting from BA to AA, please confirm your flight connections.

I reminded DH to enter his info to register his passport and meal. Then, it informed him that his flight was cancelled. It took us two days to fix it.

Safe travels to everyone.

This also reminded me to go back into our online cruise documents and update our flight info there since it has changed three times since we booked our flights!

 

[Deb T.]

For those who will be in London pre/post cruise, you can now book a free visit to the "Sky Garden": http://skygarden.london/sky-garden. Reservations are currently available for pre-cruise dates. I'm not sure when the booking window will open for visits on August 3 and later.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Update..

Tube strike still on from Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday. All " underground" lines still stop, overhead will run bar, Great Western out of Paddington for the same times. This may hit Hesthrow bad.

Southern on Strike overtime ban from weekend and engineers on strike all next

 

[disneylove619]

Update..

Tube strike still on from Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday. All " underground" lines still stop, overhead will run bar, Great Western out of Paddington for the same times. This may hit Hesthrow bad.

Southern on Strike overtime ban from weekend and engineers on strike all next

Ok, this is starting to freak me out! Our hotel is just outside of London and is walking distance to a train station, but being from the States I am very unfamiliar with how all the public transportation systems work. So if we can walk to a train station then we should have minimal issues? Thanks in advance!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Ok, this is starting to freak me out! Our hotel is just outside of London and is walking distance to a train station, but being from the States I am very unfamiliar with how all the public transportation systems work. So if we can walk to a train station then we should have minimal issues? Thanks in advance!

So we have these issues this week but they could be repeated next.

Thousands of commuters come in by The Tube every day. So they have to come in a different way.

So with the tube out, buses and overground trains will be packed and under pressure.

Yes you can walk to any mainline station and get the mainline rail but there will most likely be queues. taxis maybe marshalled and may seek sharing journeys or have long waits.

Currently the Tube is out Tomorrow afternoon till Friday morning. Talks have broken down

TFL says;-

If the strike goes ahead, there will be no Tube service from late afternoon on Wednesday 8 July and no Tube service at all on Thursday 9 July.

Customers are advised to complete their Tube journeys by 18:00 on Wednesday 8 July, and travel earlier if possible. Tube services are expected to be exceptionally busy between 16:00 and 18:00 and will begin to stop running after this time.

Extra bus and river services will run to help Londoners get around and roadworks will be suspended wherever possible but all public transport and roads will be much busier than usual. Allow more time for your journey.

London Overground, DLR, TfL Rail and trams will all operate a normal service but all public transport and roads will be much busier than usual. Allow more time for your journey.

Marshals will help manage demand at taxi ranks at central London National Rail stations.

Customers who are able to change their travel time are strongly advised to travel outside peak hours on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday.

Travel ambassadors and volunteers will be handing out maps at transport hubs in central London and helping Londoners find alternative ways to get around.

 

[Celestine]

Ok, this is starting to freak me out! Our hotel is just outside of London and is walking distance to a train station, but being from the States I am very unfamiliar with how all the public transportation systems work. So if we can walk to a train station then we should have minimal issues? Thanks in advance!

The unions must give 7 days notice of a strike date so you will have plenty of time to make alternative arrangements. Which hotel are you staying at? Either myself or Disney Fantasy will be better able to advise you then on alternatives. Do NOT panic. Many people who work in London (me included) will be working from home on Thursday

 

[disneylove619]

The unions must give 7 days notice of a strike date so you will have plenty of time to make alternative arrangements. Which hotel are you staying at? Either myself or Disney Fantasy will be better able to advise you then on alternatives. Do NOT panic. Many people who work in London (me included) will be working from home on Thursday

We are staying out in Ealing (using points). Our hotel is walking distance to train station. Any help is much appreciated.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We are staying out in Ealing (using points). Our hotel is walking distance to train station. Any help is much appreciated.

We will keep you posted, when are you coming in?

 

[disneylove619]

We will keep you posted, when are you coming in?

We arrive in morning on July 20. Many Thanks!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We arrive in morning on July 20. Many Thanks!

Ok so you should be OK.

 

[Celestine]

We are staying out in Ealing (using points). Our hotel is walking distance to train station. Any help is much appreciated.

Ealing has both tube & mainline. Admittedly it is first great western who are on strike for 48 hours from 1830 tonight, but I think you'll be fine. There are also many buses that head towards central London. You may have to change, but would see all sorts of interesting(?) sights along the way!

 

[drlaurafsu]

Mother Nature is apparently trying to prepare me for our trip...high today was 62f. Ugh!