July 6, 2010 - 7/6/2010 ~ Pounds to Rubles ~ Mickey invades the Baltic Sea

[DW2DH&DS]

Beth-

I love your itinerary. I don't think your son would vote for 12 and 13 year old girls as good company. I heard back from Denrus today and they gave me 3 options, none of which include Catherine's Palace..
I sent them back another email asking if there was any way they could add it.
We'll see. I'm hopeful!


Joanne

Got my DenRus back today which also did not include Catherine's Palace...deal breaker for me...DH really wants to see amber room!!! Will also see if they can add it in!!! am going to request Red October too...see what they come back with. At least the shore excursion prices are up...something to compare now!!!

 

[goingsouth]

Got my DenRus back today which also did not include Catherine's Palace...deal breaker for me...DH really wants to see amber room!!! Will also see if they can add it in!!! am going to request Red October too...see what they come back with. At least the shore excursion prices are up...something to compare now!!!

the prices are up?? I'm almost afraid to look!

Joanne

 

[denise]

in looking at the prices...perhaps I should have taken the 20 hours of overtime this weekend..... that I was offered....

Oh well....

I wish there was a better list to look at then the Disney web site.A spreadsheet would be nice...oh and hours too!

 

[drewmisha]

If Catherine Palace and Hermitage are open on separate days, and dcl has an excursion that offers both on the same day, I believe dcl got one of them to open on the day it is closed. Do you think that is the case?

It would be nice to know what days the excursions are offered so we can plan more effectively.

This looks like its going to take some major organization if we want to see these places? I'm guessing the "Ball" will be Monday night?

 

[goingsouth]

If Catherine Palace and Hermitage are open on separate days, and dcl has an excursion that offers both on the same day, I believe dcl got one of them to open on the day it is closed. Do you think that is the case?

It would be nice to know what days the excursions are offered so we can plan more effectively.

I saw that too and I'm hopeful that's the case. It could be that it's only for the other 3 cruises which don't have the Monday/Tuesday problem.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I saw that too and I'm hopeful that's the case. It could be that it's only for the other 3 cruises which don't have the Monday/Tuesday problem.

On our 2007 Med Cruise we were signed up for an excursion that included (among other things) an afternoon of shopping in Portofino Italy. That was fine till we realized we were there on a Sunday and all the stores would be closed. I switched it on board ship after the Shopping Talk where the speaker mentioned this. So, Disney may not be taking into consideration the days these two sites are closed for us.

We had also been signed up for an adult excursion on wine tasting in Tuscany, and they cancelled that for lack of interest just a day and a half before. We had to rush and choose something else from what was left, but ended up being very happy with the Cinque Terre tour.

 

[OurDogCisco]

On our 2007 Med Cruise we were signed up for an excursion that included (among other things) an afternoon of shopping in Portofino Italy. That was fine till we realized we were there on a Sunday and all the stores would be closed. I switched it on board ship after the Shopping Talk where the speaker mentioned this. So, Disney may not be taking into consideration the days these two sites are closed for us.

We had also been signed up for an adult excursion on wine tasting in Tuscany, and they cancelled that for lack of interest just a day and a half before. We had to rush and choose something else from what was left, but ended up being very happy with the Cinque Terre tour.

But on the flip side, for our 2007 Med cruise we did the Sistene Chapel tour plus stops at other places but it was basically an all day affair and then, at the end of the day we got to walk through the musuem and be in the chapel with only DCL excursions. Our guide said that this never happens. She said normally, the Sistene Chapel would be PACKED and no pictures allowed. We got to do both. So, maybe they did get special opening. We are still probably going to do a private tour as you see more in the day.

 

[Stimpy]

Afraid to look at the excursion prices....our kids really don't need a college education, do they???

 

[OurDogCisco]

Afraid to look at the excursion prices....our kids really don't need a college education, do they???

Actually... I didn't think they were that bad. It look like you could find affordable stuff to do in each port. However, most of the stuff in St Petersburg & Berlin were pricey but the other ports didn't seem too bad.

 

[blackbird890]

Introducing myself on this thread as well. We are a family of five on the July 6th sailing of the Baltic. Traveling will be myself, Tina, my DH, DS9, DS7, and DD2 from Saskatoon, Canada. Will be an interesting adventure with a two (almost three) year old. Looking forward to chatting more, gleaning some travel advice, and to hopefully meeting some of you in person, come July.

Tina

 

[slg]

Hail fellow Canuck!

We are also a family of 5 from Canada! Victoria is our home but my dh has family in Saskatchewan! We have 3 boys 14, 8.5 (today) and 11. Look forward to meeting you. We are also July 6.

We are leaving on July 2 and are going to be in Dover 3 nights before and london 12 nights after.

We are on deck 8!

 

[goingsouth]

Welcome Tina!

What an incredible vacation this is going to be! Glad to have you join the group!


Joanne

 

[DW2DH&DS]

I am gonna throw this out there...

Should we maybe have a dinner/meet on the 5th for all of us spending the night in Dover? There was one for the '08 WBPC, and I thought it was fun to meet people the night before. Just a thought!!!

 

[denise]

I am gonna throw this out there...

Should we maybe have a dinner/meet on the 5th for all of us spending the night in Dover? There was one for the '08 WBPC, and I thought it was fun to meet people the night before. Just a thought!!!

Count us 3 in! We did this in Barcelona for our Med cruise. There 30-40 of us. The place sucked, but we had a great time!
We also did a little meet on the ship....

 

[goingsouth]

Count us 3 in! We did this in Barcelona for our Med cruise. There 30-40 of us. The place sucked, but we had a great time!
We also did a little meet on the ship....

That's so funny..We met at a terrible pre-cruise restaurant in Barcelona too!
It was great to meet before boarding...count us in too!
By the way..is someone still arranging FE for this group? Or lanyards? Just wondering...


Joanne

 

[DW2DH&DS]

Count us 3 in! We did this in Barcelona for our Med cruise. There 30-40 of us. The place sucked, but we had a great time!
We also did a little meet on the ship....

That's so funny..We met at a terrible pre-cruise restaurant in Barcelona too!
It was great to meet before boarding...count us in too!
By the way..is someone still arranging FE for this group? Or lanyards? Just wondering...


Joanne

OK...I am officially going to set up a meet dinner in Dover for July 5th. Anyone who is staying in Dover and would like to attend, please PM me. Please include the number of adults and children.

 

[awesomeme]

Hello,
Hi I'm Emily and I am the daughter of iowazipcode. I set up a teen/kid thread so that we can all meet before the cruise. The board is here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=35146799#post35146799

In 2007 my family and I went on a European Disney cruise and before it I meet many great people my age to hang out with during the cruise on the disboards. I hope that many of your kids will be interested in participating in this thread.

Emily

 

[wintergreen]

Hello,
Hi I'm Emily and I am the daughter of iowazipcode. I set up a teen/kid thread so that we can all meet before the cruise. The board is here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=35146799#post35146799

In 2007 my family and I went on a European Disney cruise and before it I meet many great people my age to hang out with during the cruise on the disboards. I hope that many of your kids will be interested in participating in this thread.

Emily

Thanks, Emily. I have girls who will be 15 and 13 on the cruise. I'll point them in your direction. What a great idea!

 

[Fivepin]

Beth-

I love your itinerary. I don't think your son would vote for 12 and 13 year old girls as good company. I heard back from Denrus today and they gave me 3 options, none of which include Catherine's Palace..
I sent them back another email asking if there was any way they could add it.
We'll see. I'm hopeful!


Joanne

Hi Joanne-

We are thinking about going with DenRus b/c so far Disney doesn't have a tour set up like theirs, unless I missed it. I read a couple of diser's trip report on them as well. Let us know which way you go. I haven't booked yet, but am leaning towards them. Anyone else have other companies they are researching for St. Petersburg?

 

[Stimpy]

Welcome Tina!