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

[nzdisneymom]

Taina and family - welcome to the thread. I added you to the first post where we're keeping a list of DISers who are scheduled to sail with us!


We were talking with someone at lunch the other day who asked if we would be looking into the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London. Anyone know anything about that?

 

[sinnika]

Welcome to our cruise thread! What did you enjoy visiting before in St Pete? Would love to hear more details.. We will stay 3 days prior in London, probably head home right after the cruise though.

Lots of new things at WDW over the past 3 years, so have a great time! We will be there next month..

I loved everything about St Petersburg. Of course, when I went it was Leningrad. We visited the Hermitage, known as the Winter palace (you could spend days there and not see everything!), Pushkin, which had the summer palace for Catherine the Great, Petroverts, known as the Great Palace of Peter the Great. We arrived there by hydrofoil, as it is situated on the south shore of the Gulf of Finland, about 30 km from St Petersburg. It had the most beautiful fountains and gardens. We also went to the Kirov Ballet Theatre to see Swan Lake. And we attended a summer circus. Our guide was able to get us tickets as we were a group of 8. We visited the Aurora (ship or sub - can't remember which it was), the monument to the 900 day seige of Leningrad (very moving), shopped at the beriozka (souvenier shops), and strolled the Nevsky Prospect (the main esplanade). There were multiple bridges throughout the city because of the rivers (Neva river) that ran through it. They called it the venice of the North. St Petersburg is definitely one area you want to read up on and narrow down your choices. There is just so much history and museum choices. You could not possibly do it all.

We'll also be in WDW next month - June 20-24, staying at the Swan and Dolphin. A quick trip after the cruise!

 

[sinnika]

Taina and family - welcome to the thread. I added you to the first post where we're keeping a list of DISers who are scheduled to sail with us!


We were talking with someone at lunch the other day who asked if we would be looking into the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London. Anyone know anything about that?

Thanks!

I'll have to ask my DS 11 about that. He seems to be fascinated with London, and he already asked if we were going to see the White Cliffs of Dover. I'm not sure what that is, but guess we'll plan on getting to Dover the day before we cruise to see them! That way, we'll be sure to be on the ship early too!

 

[Disney Rocks]

Just dropping by to say "Hello". All is fine at our house. We are so excited about this cruise. Take care.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Thanks!

I'll have to ask my DS 11 about that. He seems to be fascinated with London, and he already asked if we were going to see the White Cliffs of Dover. I'm not sure what that is, but guess we'll plan on getting to Dover the day before we cruise to see them! That way, we'll be sure to be on the ship early too!

oh, by way of introduction, I'm Cindy D. and will be traveling with DH (Gary), and my boys Nathan and Zachary. Nathan will have just turned 14 and Zachary will be 12 1/2 when we sail.

We're doing DCL transportation from London to the port, so I am curious about whether they will offer any pre- or post-cruise excursions for the Dover area. They had some in Barcelona when we did the Med. in summer 2007.

 

[DW2DH&DS]

Can't believe that it's almost time to go to Florida already! It's been three years since we were in WDW, far too long, far too long...

I'll pop back here when I get home, but that won't be for about three weeks. Wow, I am sooo looking forwards to this. Almost as much as the Baltic cruise!

See you in a bit

Shaun (and Jill)

have a great time...we are going this december!!!!

I am a Bostonian who has lived in Chicago almost 5 years now. Is it your first trip there? So much to see and do, history everywhere. Be sure to take in a Duck Tour, they leave from the Prudential Tower. Great scenic trip

it is not my first trip but my son's first. we leave for home tomorrow morning. we saw the aquarium, the science museum, the natural history museum at harvard, and walked the freedom trail form boston common to the old north church!!! it was a fun trip. we will probably return next month since stacey will continue to commute through the end of June!

 

[sharper_fin]

...going to see the White Cliffs of Dover. I'm not sure what that is...

White cliffs of Dover? They're cliffs. And they're at Dover. Guess what colour they are....



Hope this works...

Shaun (all ready for WDW)

 

[scottishwee35]

Hi Beth

Is that your husband sat front with you and Jack?

As I was far ahead ...

Deb was putting some photos on Panama Cruise as it is one year anniversary....

Scottishwee35

 

[sshaw10060]

I had volunteered 30 or 40 pages back to organize a private tour of St. Petersburg. I was just thinking the other day I need to get going on those plans. The first step is to figure out who would be interested in a private tour, so if you might be interested send me a PM. No obligation at this point I just need to know if we need room for 2 people or 20. If you want to learn more about the private tours head over to the Baltic boards on Cruise Critic. Everyone over there seems to prefer the private tour over ships excursions.

- Scott

 

[sharper_fin]

Hmmm, the Dover picture didn't work then.

OK, try to see the cliffs at this link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:White_cliffs_of_dover_09_2004.jpg

 

[OurDogCisco]

I had volunteered 30 or 40 pages back to organize a private tour of St. Petersburg. I was just thinking the other day I need to get going on those plans. The first step is to figure out who would be interested in a private tour, so if you might be interested send me a PM. No obligation at this point I just need to know if we need room for 2 people or 20. If you want to learn more about the private tours head over to the Baltic boards on Cruise Critic. Everyone over there seems to prefer the private tour over ships excursions.

- Scott

We might be interested just depends on where you plan on going? So, is your last name Shaw? Just curious.

Tina

 

[DW2DH&DS]

Hi Beth

Is that your husband sat front with you and Jack?

As I was far ahead ...

Deb was putting some photos on Panama Cruise as it is one year anniversary....

Scottishwee35

yep! that's us. stacey, jack in the yellow shirt (next to Brent...Gydell's DGS) and me looking away behind him.

 

[DisneyRN1]

Hi Beth,
Are you and Jack home? Hope you had a great time in Boston. Also......Happy belated Mother's Day!!!!!!!!!!!! Vicki

 

[DW2DH&DS]

Hi Beth,
Are you and Jack home? Hope you had a great time in Boston. Also......Happy belated Mother's Day!!!!!!!!!!!! Vicki

Hello my friend. we got back a couple of hours ago. i am now unpacked and doing laundry. Stacey ended up booking a one bedroom at the wilderness lodge this morning. we are waitlisted for the night of the 10th though. bought our MVMCP tickets as well. i'll call you later in the week. i have massive cleaning to do for Jack's communion this weekend. not looking forward to a house full of people. c'est la vie!!!

 

[sshaw10060]

My last name is Shaw. The 10060 in meaningless. When I first tried to sign up for AOL 15 years ago it was assigned to me and has stuck ever since.

Picked up two books at Barnes and Noble today. One on Baltic history and the other on Russian history. I'll provide a review after I manage to read the 1500 or so pages.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I loved everything about St Petersburg. Of course, when I went it was Leningrad. We visited the Hermitage, known as the Winter palace (you could spend days there and not see everything!), Pushkin, which had the summer palace for Catherine the Great, Petroverts, known as the Great Palace of Peter the Great. We arrived there by hydrofoil, as it is situated on the south shore of the Gulf of Finland, about 30 km from St Petersburg. It had the most beautiful fountains and gardens. We also went to the Kirov Ballet Theatre to see Swan Lake. And we attended a summer circus. Our guide was able to get us tickets as we were a group of 8. We visited the Aurora (ship or sub - can't remember which it was), the monument to the 900 day seige of Leningrad (very moving), shopped at the beriozka (souvenier shops), and strolled the Nevsky Prospect (the main esplanade). There were multiple bridges throughout the city because of the rivers (Neva river) that ran through it. They called it the venice of the North. St Petersburg is definitely one area you want to read up on and narrow down your choices. There is just so much history and museum choices. You could not possibly do it all.

We'll also be in WDW next month - June 20-24, staying at the Swan and Dolphin. A quick trip after the cruise!

Wow, sounds like you did see a lot when you were there! I think I will study up on Ste Pete's next, once I am done absorbing London, lol.

We arrive in WDW 6/20 at AKV till 6/24 and checking into the Swan that day. Leave for home on Sunday 6/28. It will be our last WDW trip, most likely, before our Baltic cruise...gotta save up, lol.

 

[sinnika]

Wow, sounds like you did see a lot when you were there! I think I will study up on Ste Pete's next, once I am done absorbing London, lol.

We arrive in WDW 6/20 at AKV till 6/24 and checking into the Swan that day. Leave for home on Sunday 6/28. It will be our last WDW trip, most likely, before our Baltic cruise...gotta save up, lol.

Yes, the first time I was with a group of perhaps 40 or 50 people. We arrived by train from Helsinki and all 4 days were arranged for us as part of the tour package. The second time, I went for 12 days with a group of nurses and we were learning about nursing in other cultures, so we also toured hospitals and clinics in the various cities we visited. We went to Leningrad, Moscow, and Yalta (we were supposed to go to Kiev but it was the summer 4 months after Chernobyl so thery re-routed us). We aso visited 2 other towns near Moscow. One was Vladimir, the other Suzdal. Very quiant - looked like a fairytale village with all the gingerbread houses, and old castles and churches.

My mother is from Finland and I have visited Helsinki several times. Again, its been awhile (1991 was the last time I was there). But if anyone has any questions about any sights there, I can hopefully answer some questions for you. I'm excited for my children to visit Finland since they are 1/4 Finn. Do we have any other Finns in our Dis group??

 

[OurDogCisco]

My last name is Shaw. The 10060 in meaningless. When I first tried to sign up for AOL 15 years ago it was assigned to me and has stuck ever since.

Picked up two books at Barnes and Noble today. One on Baltic history and the other on Russian history. I'll provide a review after I manage to read the 1500 or so pages.

Sounds great!..... I'm a Shaw too but by marriage.

 

[nzdisneymom]

My mother is from Finland and I have visited Helsinki several times. Again, its been awhile (1991 was the last time I was there). But if anyone has any questions about any sights there, I can hopefully answer some questions for you. I'm excited for my children to visit Finland since they are 1/4 Finn. Do we have any other Finns in our Dis group??

We chose the Helsinki itinerary because my grandmother was Finnish which makes me 1/4 Finn.


In other news, I was straightening some things in Zachary's room over the weekend and came across the activity books that DCL provided for the children on the Med. cruise in summer 2007. Each night, a different port's activity pages would be left for them to include in their book they were making. The boys enjoyed putting it together on the trip but never finished all the stuff inside -- so they have enjoyed reading through it and also doing some of the activities again. They were wondering if DCL will do something similar for the Baltic -- I sure hope so! It is a fabulous keepsake!

 

[DisneyRN1]

Hello my friend. we got back a couple of hours ago. i am now unpacked and doing laundry. Stacey ended up booking a one bedroom at the wilderness lodge this morning. we are waitlisted for the night of the 10th though. bought our MVMCP tickets as well. i'll call you later in the week. i have massive cleaning to do for Jack's communion this weekend. not looking forward to a house full of people. c'est la vie!!!

We are going to D.C. this weekend-will be home Sunday evening. If I don't talk to you before then..... on Sunday