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

[caseyk20]

Hi

I strongly suggest that anyone wanting to go the London Eye that they book now. I know it's over three months away from our cruise, but it does get very busy and to avoid disappointment and queing it's best to book in advance.

Have you thought about going to the museums? They are free to enter and are great for getting out of the English weather. Yes eventhough it might be July when you get over here, we still can get loads of rain. A boat trip down the Thames is also a good way to see some of the city. It stops a various places along the way, such as the Tower of London, and the O2 Arena, so if you were thinking of visiting either place, you can get there by boat. A couple of years ago, we went on the boat at night, and the buildings looked totally different in the dark.

Thank you so much!

 

[aurorafan65]

Makes perfect sense to me! My Beloved Jill (babybear) and I went on it a while ago and it's a very smooth, slow ride, more like an escalator than an elevator - there's certainly no 'turning over stomach' sentation like on a roller coaster, it's way too slow for that. Takes about thirty minutes to do a full revolution if I remember correctly, and there's a pre-show theatre before that. BUT it is VERY high. At the time of opening (2000) it was the tallest wheel in the world, although a couple of larger ones have opened in China and Singapore since. You look down on Parliament and the Big Ben clock tower from inside an enclosed perspex bubble-pod. There's a bench in the middle but the pod can hold up to 25 people, so it can feel a little cramped on busy days.

Hope that helps with your decision?

Shaun

thanks Shaun! It will help - I didn't realize the pods fit that many people

 

[el_bandito]

You could try the museums and Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral. The museums are free, but you have to pay to get in St Pauls and Westminster Abbey. There's also the National Potrait Gallery near Trafalgar Square.

Wales is a bit far out for a day trip from London, you'd need at least two days.

The abbey... the churches... and DW (who is looking on right now and noted the 'emoticons... on the right'....lol) yes...

Oh man.. so much to do in London

Recomendations on hotels?

 

[Scoobydoo76]

Just booked. Cat 4 (GTY, with wait list above)...

Said to DW... it's Europe... not sure the mouse is right

DW (and DM-I-L said.. do it)
So

We are booked. 2 decades working and never off this long

Just booked flights.. Call me insane (or pray for me) but we are in Baltimore and British Air only realistic option. hope the strike is worked out

we are
DD 'ageless and eternal'
DW 45
DD 15
DS 13

We know the Magic well. (meaning the ship)

VERY CURIOUS ABOUT THE EXCURSIONS!! Those of you who are platinum and above...(dang... this is 6 for us but that's a lot of cruises)

Thinking to use the 'personal car' option a lot. not into the crowds ... but curious what you experts have thought?

Also... we do London a few days ahead so currently no disney transfer to Dover... non disney transfer in Orlando is great... not sure in england... thoughts???

Hi everyone!

I am new to the board. We have had our trip booked for quite a while and I just discovered this site.

We are in cabin 6068

We are a family of 4.
Myself 44
Husband 44
Daughter 15
Son 13

We are looking for a family of 4 to join us on our private tour in St. Petersburg. We are trying to find a family with children close in age to ours.

Any interest?

 

[Scoobydoo76]

The abbey... the churches... and DW (who is looking on right now and noted the 'emoticons... on the right'....lol) yes...

Oh man.. so much to do in London

Recomendations on hotels?

There is a chain hotel called Novotel. I have stayed in many in Barcelona, Paris and across Germany. They are usually nice and clean. They are mostly oriented towards the business traveler. The best thing is that they can sleep a family of 4 in one room! We are staying at the Novotel London West (I hope it is nice!).

 

[Deb T.]

Hi everyone!

I am new to the board. We have had our trip booked for quite a while and I just discovered this site.

We are in cabin 6068

We are a family of 4.
Myself 44
Husband 44
Daughter 15
Son 13

We are looking for a family of 4 to join us on our private tour in St. Petersburg. We are trying to find a family with children close in age to ours.

Any interest?

Welcome to our cruise thread! So glad you found us!

 

[denise]

Welcome to the boards! We are a group of nice people here!!!

 

[LisaTex]

Hi Scooby Doo 76! still considering our St P options but just FYI - there are a bunch of 11-15 y/os on our cruise (from our thread at least)

good luck for those of you booking stuff tonight - was doing some switching around and it kept booting me off. DON'T GIVE UP - just refresh or re-sign in and it is usually good to go again. a hassle yes, but don't go by the message that says "error - having problems - call dcl or your TA in the morning" just re-sign in and it will work!!

anyone for tea?

 

[slg]

Hi everyone.

Just counting down the days until I can book my excursions...pretty excited. A super way to get the kids (and yourselves) excited and prepped for the ports is get some travel videos from the library! Rick Steves is great! We just watched two on London tonight, and even my eight year old is super excited to go to the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Gallery! It gives you great visual ideas about what to see, and is better and faster and more family fun than reading books or online research. I also got a great video for cruising the baltics! Hits the top ports and gives a history of each port.

I highly recommend this as a prep tool for families with kids. We also do this before we travel and it really really helps! It makes the trips seem less daunting and helps to decide what you really want to see. Plus you learn a lot about each place.

Kind of like watching the disneyland/wdw world travel dvd's with more culture

I have 3 boys: 14, 11 and 8. There ARE a lot of kids in this range on this cruise. How great is that? How many are going to the precruise dinner in Dover now? And where will we find a place to accommodate all of us in such a small place?

 

[babybear42]

The abbey... the churches... and DW (who is looking on right now and noted the 'emoticons... on the right'....lol) yes...

Oh man.. so much to do in London

Recomendations on hotels?

Hi
When we visit London we always stay in the Millennium Hotel London Knightsbridge. It's just round the corner from Harrods, the most famous shop in London and also about a fifteen minute walk from the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum. The Royal Albert Hall is about twenty minutes away. Another great reason to stay here is that if you're flying into Heathrow, then you can jump onto the tube train and get off just round the corner. No need to change trains, just get off at Knightsbridge and exit through the one marked Sloane Street. The hotel is five minutes away.

 

[djpate]

I'm looking for anyone interested in doing the Harry Potter London Walk on July 18th, cause my BFF isn't interested in Harry Potter and I think it would be cool to see where everything took place.

 

[denise]

didn't someone post awhile back that there was a tour of Stonehenge that takes you within the circle of stones?
Since I have yet to find a ghost tour that is not on weekends we are thinking of this tour now.
I have been on the tour that is outside the roped off area but I heard there was one that goes inside.

 

[slg]

I am planning on going to the London Eye but have no idea when! We are going to be in London for 12 days after the cruise and I am not booking a thing ahead of time. I realize that some shows may be sold out, and that I'll have to wait for the LE, but after hyper planning everything for the cruise, I just want some flexibility and spontanaity(sp?) for the second part of the trip.

 

[aurorafan65]

Hi everyone!

I am new to the board. We have had our trip booked for quite a while and I just discovered this site.

We are in cabin 6068

We are a family of 4.
Myself 44
Husband 44
Daughter 15
Son 13

We are looking for a family of 4 to join us on our private tour in St. Petersburg. We are trying to find a family with children close in age to ours.

Any interest?

Hey Kim - is that you?

It's Andrea aka hansolosmom

 

[el_bandito]

Yes, i think you're smart to find parties to book the private excursions. Looking at them they make some sense.

In Russia we are praying (tonight's the night) to get several things. If not i've done off Disney (OMG sacrilidege) before... but would need Visa in Russia. That can be arranged.

Hope everyone gets their desires.

We are looking at (and interest in thoughts)

OSLO -- Hadeland Glass works.... (if booked i'll arrange on my own)
Copenhagen -- less sure here ... Royal copenhagen we think
Berlin -- Cultural Splendor of Berlin (but bet platinums have booked it out), if so, might do train/car
Russia -- spilled blood is supposed to be terrific and city highligts. hoping to do ballet one night and folklore next
Helsinki - porvo and helsinki highlights -- not sure here either
Stockholm -- best of drottinghall

thoughts?

 

[el_bandito]

Just wanted to say great job on the website! I hadn't noticed that part about being able to use studio sea as a meet. that could be fun?? o/w i may just have to invite all you guys' kids over to our place

And you UK guys - thanks for all the great info. Are you for hire when we get there??

OH MAN.. this site is cool. This is our 6th and we are happy to meet the Magic in England. We love both the girls but there is something special about the Magic (i think it's the longer trips but ask us in 2011 after we do Alaska on the Wonder).

Great site

 

[sshaw10060]

Yes, i think you're smart to find parties to book the private excursions. Looking at them they make some sense.

In Russia we are praying (tonight's the night) to get several things. If not i've done off Disney (OMG sacrilidege) before... but would need Visa in Russia. That can be arranged.

Hope everyone gets their desires.

We are looking at (and interest in thoughts)

OSLO -- Hadeland Glass works.... (if booked i'll arrange on my own)
Copenhagen -- less sure here ... Royal copenhagen we think
Berlin -- Cultural Splendor of Berlin (but bet platinums have booked it out), if so, might do train/car
Russia -- spilled blood is supposed to be terrific and city highligts. hoping to do ballet one night and folklore next
Helsinki - porvo and helsinki highlights -- not sure here either
Stockholm -- best of drottinghall

thoughts?

For St P. you don't actually need a visa if you book a tour with any of the major operators. Several of us are using Denrus. There are extensive discussions on this topic over on cruise critic. In my mind the this is definitely the way to go in St. P. Every other city we are doing on our own.

 

[Scoobydoo76]

Hey Kim - is that you?

It's Andrea aka hansolosmom

Yes Andrea it's Kim. Since I do not have my ears yet I sent you an e-mail.

 

[el_bandito]

For St P. you don't actually need a visa if you book a tour with any of the major operators. Several of us are using Denrus. There are extensive discussions on this topic over on cruise critic. In my mind the this is definitely the way to go in St. P. Every other city we are doing on our own.

Will have to learn more. Goal tonight is first picks. then review more details. Does your 'Denrus' have a web site?

We definitely want ballet one night and folk the other.

 

[el_bandito]

For St P. you don't actually need a visa if you book a tour with any of the major operators. Several of us are using Denrus. There are extensive discussions on this topic over on cruise critic. In my mind the this is definitely the way to go in St. P. Every other city we are doing on our own.

not sure this is posting correctly...
but thanks

just checked out site and it's so great. so much more information than the mouse is providing. we've done off cruise before and, if you check reputation and such, it's great (sorry mickey.... we love you be not the masses)....

thanks again.