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

[buzzdad100]

we're using SPB - http://www.spb-tours.com/

she helped fill out the group so we have 11 people -> lower price

What I found was their detail for the tour was much more specific (if that's the right word) than some of the others

Thanks. I have been in touch with Viktoria at SPB, and am also looking at Shoretrips. I agree that SPB does look interesting

 

[CarolAnnC]

Glad to hear you're back safe and sound.

Thanks, again, for your first-hand report on the carry-on baggage restrictions out of Heathrow on the Baltic thread!

My pleasure! For those who may not have seen, John flew home today from London Heathrow on United (into Chicago O'Hare) and they do allow one personal item along with a carry on again. That is United - Virgin was reported to not allowing this still. So check with your airlines, but those of us flying United are very happy tonite, lol.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Still no docs here, but I am excited reading what the package contains! Hmmmm wonder if the upgrade fairy may be hard at work hence the delay in our doc package? Would be nice, but I am not counting on it, LOL!

 

[denise]

I am officially retired and out of work as of today!
Strange feeling because it was not planned but that's life.
Now I will have time to fine tune our plans....
Ordered a new computer too...this one has seen better days...

So I guess I should let Jeff know to add that I am celebrating retirement on this cruise to the web site!!!

So now the next chapter of my life begins.....

 

[APinCA]

I am officially retired and out of work as of today!
Strange feeling because it was not planned but that's life.
Now I will have time to fine tune our plans....
Ordered a new computer too...this one has seen better days...

So I guess I should let Jeff know to add that I am celebrating retirement on this cruise to the web site!!!

So now the next chapter of my life begins.....

I guess I've been on Facebook too much - I was looking for the "Like" button

Congratulations You've earned this new chapter! How many years were you there???

Looking forward to celebrating with you

 

[Morgey24]

Good morning Baltic Cruisers -- just wanted to say "hi"! I'm trying to book this trip and checking daily to see if a FL resident rate opens (which is highly unlikely says my TA) so that we can afford to go. Even been bugging those friends who would qualify for military but the trip is too long for them (and the flights too expensive).

Anyway, I wish you all a great trip! St. Petersberg sounds so fabulous. Crossing my fingers that we can find a way!

 

[dertoyou]

Good morning Baltic Cruisers -- just wanted to say "hi"! I'm trying to book this trip and checking daily to see if a FL resident rate opens (which is highly unlikely says my TA) so that we can afford to go. Even been bugging those friends who would qualify for military but the trip is too long for them (and the flights too expensive).

Anyway, I wish you all a great trip! St. Petersberg sounds so fabulous. Crossing my fingers that we can find a way!

Noticed in your signature that you cruise for mickey bars. I understand from present cruisers on the Majic, they are out of them. Hope this does not change your mind.

 

[Deb T.]

Noticed in your signature that you cruise for mickey bars. I understand from present cruisers on the Majic, they are out of them. Hope this does not change your mind.

Welcome to our thread Morgey24 and dertoyou!

Morgey24 - we hope it works out that you can join us!

dertoyou - are you sailing with us? If so, Welcome Aboard!

 

[kawigrl]

I understand from present cruisers on the Majic, they are out of them. Hope this does not change your mind.

This will devastate my daughter

 

[dertoyou]

Welcome to our thread Morgey24 and dertoyou!

Morgey24 - we hope it works out that you can join us!

dertoyou - are you sailing with us? If so, Welcome Aboard!

No, I am on the 18th sailing. Just seeing if others trips have any info, like no Mickey Bars from May cruisers. I was on the first med trip this year and they were not out yet, maybe they will get resupplied but I understand this may have happened last time they were in the Med.

 

[denise]

I guess I've been on Facebook too much - I was looking for the "Like" button

Congratulations You've earned this new chapter! How many years were you there???

Looking forward to celebrating with you

Kathy,

I was there 30 years, 4 months, 11 days...but I really wasn't counting..thought I would be there at least 2 more years....

NO thank you for your service..good luck in your future, from my idiot boss when I left...just an hour of paper work to go over, turn in my keys, my id card and give him all my passwords to the computer and programs so he could change them....Oh he did let me leave 15 minutes early....big whop! At least it could have been George Clooney and that would have been better.

So we will celebrate for sure on the cruise....
I had 2, yes 2, ouzos (and I really don't drink at all!) at our Greek Festival last night....one Jimmy bought me to celebrate and then someone else got me one....too much...had to give most of the second away...or I would be for sure...

Two more days of the festival for us....then Monday I will dig in and get the planning done!!!
denise

 

[DW2DH&DS]

WE LEAVE IN 30 DAYS!!!

 

[nzdisneymom]

So, for those of us who booked the first day, not on DVC, will we get our fuel surcharge back as an OBC too? Are there different rules for DVC than there are for anyone else.

I would be super happy about this because the fuel surcharge has seemed unfair to those who booked early.

Does anyone know? How might we find out?

We booked first day via our travel agent. It wasn't long afterwards that she called and got the fuel supplement removed... probably abuot the time I read on DIS that they weren't charging fuel supplement any more for our cruise. I would definitely call them if you still have it on and see what they say. Or if you have a TA, ask them to do that for you.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Noticed in your signature that you cruise for mickey bars. I understand from present cruisers on the Majic, they are out of them. Hope this does not change your mind.

That doesn't surprise me. They ran out when we did the Med, too, but they didn't run out of the Mickey rice krispy treats that they bring out for Castaway Club meetings - and I much prefer those to the Mickey Ice Cream bars. For anyone that doesn't want their rice krispy treats, pick them up anyway and leave them in our fish extender (LOL).

They had some weird "pirate" ice cream on a stick ... we skipped it after the boys each tried one. We also noticed that the hot dogs were not "American" versions that we are accustomed to and the cheese and tomato sauce for the pizza was different. For two boys ages 9 and 11 at the time, that was most of their menu.

 

[nzdisneymom]

I am officially retired and out of work as of today!
Strange feeling because it was not planned but that's life.
Now I will have time to fine tune our plans....
Ordered a new computer too...this one has seen better days...

So I guess I should let Jeff know to add that I am celebrating retirement on this cruise to the web site!!!

So now the next chapter of my life begins.....

Denise - I know this was a bittersweet time for you - but it sounds like you're making the best of it. Five weeks and we'll be in London!

 

[Deb T.]

For anyone that doesn't want their rice krispy treats, pick them up anyway and leave them in our fish extender (LOL).

hmmmmmm... definitely look for a few extra rice krispy treats in your FE from Miss Deb for my two favorite youngest cruising friends!

 

[nzdisneymom]

This will teach me to wait til the week's end to read the board... too many posts in a row from me and I was too lazy to combine my posts

We got our documents in the mail today. When I pulled them out of the mailbox, I kissed them and then danced (literally) up the driveway. Gary was in the garage wondering what I was doing so I showed him and told him that it is tradition and good luck to dance (literally) when you get your DCL documents. So he danced a little dance, too.

Loved getting them. One thing inside it said was for us to put our DCL tags on our luggage before we fly - but then of course we're picking up our bags ourselves at the airport in London and getting them to where we meet our transfers person outside baggage / customs at Gatwick. So I'm thinking we don't really need to put them on until we're at the hotel and ready for DCL to pick up our luggage to transfer to the port.

Busy week ahead - thank goodness we have Monday off. Kids are finishing school this week and of course Gary has to go to Orlando for work overnight midweek (on short days where the boys have to be picked up at different times and none coordinate with my work day - guess I'll tell the boss I need to telecommute for the afternoon). Nathan has his 8th grade promotion ceremony on Friday.

I'm ordering currency this week coming up and hoping we get decent exchange rate - don't want to wait too long and not get it in time to go. I got our laundry sheets (with the detergent and fabric softener in them) and also a box of hand sanitizer wipes so we'll have them for the plane and easy clean-up while in London and on excursions. Oh, I wonder if I have my travel t.p. still.... I haven't been reading the other threads about travel conditions in the various ports - we only needed it once on the Med cruise and that was in Pisa.

Got a few more of the F.E. gifts to make and then I'm ready to package and label them, so I'm looking fwd to getting the final list this week coming up. I already put our F.E. in the packing box along with the binoculars and sunscreen

We didn't need seasick meds in the Med but I'm going to get some for this cruise just in case. Anyone have any idea about the sea conditions? The Med when we sailed was like being on a lake (compared to the Atlantic / Caribbean), but I don't know about the North / Baltic sea.

 

[slg]

We booked first day via our travel agent. It wasn't long afterwards that she called and got the fuel supplement removed... probably abuot the time I read on DIS that they weren't charging fuel supplement any more for our cruise. I would definitely call them if you still have it on and see what they say. Or if you have a TA, ask them to do that for you.

Oh I emailed DU as SOON as I heard about the fuel supplement not being charged anymore and this was the reply I received:

"I do understand your frustration! L

I went ahead and checked your reservation to see if we could remove the fuel charge and unfortunately your sailing has increased in price. If we re-shopped it to exclude the fuel charge, your price would still increase by almost $100.00 since the reservation has to be re-shopped at today’s rate. For most we are able to do this since their price has not increased since the reservation was originally booked.

Because of this, you do need to wait until DCL decides if they will charge the fuel supplement for your sailing and if they don’t, you will receive an onboard credit of $300.00."


I have occasionally complained about this when I see other threads talking about it, but no luck so far

I was wondering though if DVC got their fuel surcharged removed if that was a good omen and the rest of us will too.

I find this so unfair! Just because my particular category went up in price, I couldn't reshop and remove the fs but someone else could. I can't believe DCL doesn't see how unfair this is.

I know they sent around an OBC of $100 per person to use on board, but those who have no fs also received that bonus, so one doesn't cancel out the other.

This is very frustrating.

Grrr.

 

[nzdisneymom]

hmmmmmm... definitely look for a few extra rice krispy treats in your FE from Miss Deb for my two favorite youngest cruising friends!

Aw, you're so sweet. We always enjoy these ... but not the kind with the chocolate on them - just the plain ones - which they usually have plenty of because lots of other people like them with the chocolate

Personally I am looking fwd to the creme brulee cheesecake from Parrot Cay on restaurant-specific nights... what's great is that means I have three times I can get it (gotta love the server who will run fetch it for me when I'm in Lumiere's or A.P.). mmmmm....

 

[nzdisneymom]

Oh I emailed DU as SOON as I heard about the fuel supplement not being charged anymore and this was the reply I received:

"I do understand your frustration! L

I went ahead and checked your reservation to see if we could remove the fuel charge and unfortunately your sailing has increased in price. If we re-shopped it to exclude the fuel charge, your price would still increase by almost $100.00 since the reservation has to be re-shopped at today’s rate. For most we are able to do this since their price has not increased since the reservation was originally booked.

Because of this, you do need to wait until DCL decides if they will charge the fuel supplement for your sailing and if they don’t, you will receive an onboard credit of $300.00."

Oh that does bite. Well maybe they can confirm that the fuel supplement will be showing up for sure as OBC for you... although personally I would rather have not had to shell it out to start with. The whole fuel supplement thing was always a bit weird to me, especially with the prices DCL charges already.