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

[Fivepin]

I just found this on the DCL website:

Due to tidal issues, debarkation in Dover on July 6th (for the June 24th voyage) will not begin until 10:30am. It is recommended that your flight departure time should be no earlier than 4:00pm.

It sounds like we'll get to sleep in a bit the morning of the 6th. No point in rushing to the port.

I saw that too. We don't have to rush thru breakfast. I hope people planned accordingly for their flights.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Wow - I hope those folks on the previous cruise are able to easily adjust their flight times. Yet another reason for us to just go with DCL Of course we're doing the pre and post stay in London since we wanted to be in London a bit - so we split it up. If we have a later debarkation time, then it will be nice to not be so rushed in the morning for getting off the ship. We always just go up to Topsiders for breakfast once we learned we could do that instead of having to go to the dining room. We always get first seating for dinner which means first seating (super early) for breakfast on the last morning.

 

[missy4414]

I just found this on the DCL website:

Due to tidal issues, debarkation in Dover on July 6th (for the June 24th voyage) will not begin until 10:30am. It is recommended that your flight departure time should be no earlier than 4:00pm.

It sounds like we'll get to sleep in a bit the morning of the 6th. No point in rushing to the port.

Just curious...would you please post all of us to where exactly you read that. We just moved to the July 18th cruise and want to check out similar details.

 

[sshaw10060]

Just curious...would you please post all of us to where exactly you read that. We just moved to the July 18th cruise and want to check out similar details.

It was on the page where they list the itineraries for the cruises. Here's the link: http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/europe/itineraries/12-night-northern-european-capitals-cruise/

 

[Disney Rocks]

Hello again!! Well today was the day we had to decide or lose our reservation - so......... we are on board for good!!
Not sure who to PM our info to, but we are:
Me -
Grandma
Ashton (13)
Kaylee (11)
we are in #8016, late dining, yes to FE! (this FE will be so much easier than the last time when we all did something EVERY DAY of the cruise)
time for excursions!!

We have a 13 year old DD (Cherilyn) and a 11 year old DD (Catryna). Maybe they will meet your kids. Actually Cherilyn's birthday is the day we board for this cruise so she will turn 14. We are on the same deck as you, just down the hall.

 

[Disney Rocks]

Wow - I hope those folks on the previous cruise are able to easily adjust their flight times. Yet another reason for us to just go with DCL Of course we're doing the pre and post stay in London since we wanted to be in London a bit - so we split it up. If we have a later debarkation time, then it will be nice to not be so rushed in the morning for getting off the ship. We always just go up to Topsiders for breakfast once we learned we could do that instead of having to go to the dining room. We always get first seating for dinner which means first seating (super early) for breakfast on the last morning.

We called this week just to ensure DCL would book our flights to arrive early in the day on July 5 and had previously booked our hotel rooms with DCL so that we could have the day in London. However, we were told it would cost us $50 each (there are 5 of us) to make changes to the flights. To our knowledge, the flights are not even booked yet and it isn't even a change because when we booked our hotel rooms we said it was so that we could spend the day in London. We were not impressed and hope for better service when we call again next week.

 

[Disney Rocks]

We're also on the July 6th cruise. We don't have a Stateroom number, but we are a Cat 4. I'm traveling with DH, DS age 13, DD age 13 and DD's friend age 13. Prior to the cruise and after the cruise we are traveling with Thistle. We're also dining with Thistle. I met Thistle on another forum prior to the Transatlantic, August 2007.

Welcome Aboard. We also have a 13 year old DD.

 

[nzdisneymom]

We called this week just to ensure DCL would book our flights to arrive early in the day on July 5 and had previously booked our hotel rooms with DCL so that we could have the day in London. However, we were told it would cost us $50 each (there are 5 of us) to make changes to the flights. To our knowledge, the flights are not even booked yet and it isn't even a change because when we booked our hotel rooms we said it was so that we could spend the day in London. We were not impressed and hope for better service when we call again next week.

Sandra - I think that DCL books blocks of seats on various flights so if you aren't going on one of their blocked flights, that might be why they would charge a fee to book you on another. We just have our TA handling it all for us - and we had good success with DCL for the Med and expect the same this time. Of course we're flying from Atlanta and they have nonstop overnight flights from ATL to London (same as they did to Barcelona) so we might have had a different experience flying from somewhere else. We do know that a lot of folks had trouble with their luggage, etc., on both DCL booked and on their own booked flights. We were fortunate and got all our bags and everything was fine. Our flight was late arriving in Barcelona by about 3 hours because we were late leaving from ATL, but it was nice to not have to sweat a connection.

 

[LisaTex]

We have a 13 year old DD (Cherilyn) and a 11 year old DD (Catryna). Maybe they will meet your kids. Actually Cherilyn's birthday is the day we board for this cruise so she will turn 14. We are on the same deck as you, just down the hall.

There are about 16 11-15 year olds it looks like (at least from the website list and here) would love for them to be able to meet some other kids to hang out with - I am their aunt (just another kid to them) -so I don't usually get a break - they have not been into the kids clubs much, but they do like Ocean quest on the Magic. Just want time for one stone massage........

Cindy, I have you down for brunch.

 

[LisaTex]

We called this week just to ensure DCL would book our flights to arrive early in the day on July 5 and had previously booked our hotel rooms with DCL so that we could have the day in London. However, we were told it would cost us $50 each (there are 5 of us) to make changes to the flights. To our knowledge, the flights are not even booked yet and it isn't even a change because when we booked our hotel rooms we said it was so that we could spend the day in London. We were not impressed and hope for better service when we call again next week.

My TA told me she knows in the first minute or 2 whether she should just nicely hang up and call back for a different CM.

 

[nzdisneymom]

My guys (who will be just turned 14 and 12 3/4) love Ocean Quest - we can hardly get them out of there. Our younger one is the more social one and is already interested in making some friends on board. I love that we have a sea day to begin and then another one between Germany and Russia and then the two at the end... that will make the port-heavy days a bit more "bearable" for them with the promise of free time on the ship coming up.

Nathan is finishing 8th grade and Zachary is finishing 6th grade.

We just went through the DCL excursions and picked out our first and second choices for each port. Then I added up the most expensive one for each port to get an idea of how much it's gonna cost. Ay yi yi! What I do like is that they do have some affordable ones, and we do have quite a bit of on-board credit that will help - or at least cover gratuities plus.

 

[DisneyRedHeadPirate]

Thanks for the warm welcome! DD and her friend are looking forward to making new friends on the cruise. DS is a little shy, but would love having someone to play video games with!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Thanks for the warm welcome! DD and her friend are looking forward to making new friends on the cruise. DS is a little shy, but would love having someone to play video games with!

Well I have just the boys for him My guys love video games and they tend to remind me that "it's our vacation, too" when I say anything about how they could play games at home. I am actually glad they have somewhere to go and do those sorts of things onboard because it's good for saying "we'll do these excursions and once we're back on board, you're free to go do your stuff." They enjoy the excursions but sometimes are a bit worn out. I do like that we have a sea day between Germany and Russia and then have two days to just play at sea between Stockholm and back to London.

 

[DisneyRedHeadPirate]

Cindy, sounds like they will be perfect matches! DS will be 14 in October. He'd be upset if he knew I said this, but he's a little immature. He could play video games every waking hour!

 

[slg]

I have 3 boys who love video games too! 14,11,8. My oldest is a history buff and its because of him that we have decided to go to Berlin. He says its one of the most important modern cities in the world!

It'll be nice if they make friends with others and have someone to hang with during the excursions. Another advantage of going on the DCL excursions.

We went on an ABD last summer, and the very best thing about it was the wonderful friendships that all the boys made with everyone on the trip. It truly was a trip of a lifetime!

 

[marlaymike]

Hello!!

Does someone knows if there is something to do in Russia at the port or walking distance? We don't have the VISA, but would like to know if we really need it...

 

[CarolAnnC]

Hello!!

Does someone knows if there is something to do in Russia at the port or walking distance? We don't have the VISA, but would like to know if we really need it...

From what I understand, you will not be allowed to disembark the ship and roam freely yourselves. You must be escorted with a tour guide, and have the appropriate visa. Plus, I understand the Port of St. Pete is a number of miles before getting out to the city. But that is a moot point since you won't be allowed off unescorted.

 

[LisaTex]

Maybe since the first full day is a sea day we can have some kind of "kids meet" - I haven't seen anything about a meet on the 1st day - maybe i missed it. We will be in London for a few days before, so won't make it to the Dover Dinner.

 

[sshaw10060]

Hello!!

Does someone knows if there is something to do in Russia at the port or walking distance? We don't have the VISA, but would like to know if we really need it...

In order to leave the ship you will need to be on a DCL tour or a private tour unless you get a tourist visa which costs about $400. The private tours seem much better to me. There is a lot of discussion on private tours over on Cruise Critic.

 

[Disney Rocks]

Sandra - I think that DCL books blocks of seats on various flights so if you aren't going on one of their blocked flights, that might be why they would charge a fee to book you on another. We just have our TA handling it all for us - and we had good success with DCL for the Med and expect the same this time. Of course we're flying from Atlanta and they have nonstop overnight flights from ATL to London (same as they did to Barcelona) so we might have had a different experience flying from somewhere else. We do know that a lot of folks had trouble with their luggage, etc., on both DCL booked and on their own booked flights. We were fortunate and got all our bags and everything was fine. Our flight was late arriving in Barcelona by about 3 hours because we were late leaving from ATL, but it was nice to not have to sweat a connection.

We had our TA book our flights for the med cruise in 2007 and had no problems at all. All of our luggage arrived safe and sound. That is always a relief when we see all of our luggage.

We only had flights booked through DCL for our last cruise but it was just my DH and I. Sure hope that we sit together with five of us for our Europe cruise.