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

[aurorafan65]

oooooooh---just wanted to say:

We cruise 4 months from today!!!!!!!!!

joanne

wahoo!

 

[frozenmickey]

It looks like the countdown is on!!

We just wanted to say that we have changed our cruise to the Panama Repo so unfortunately we won't be cruising with you but we hope everyone has a fabulous trip. We will certainly be keeping up on everyone's adventures...

 

[nzdisneymom]

We are getting so excited about this trip! Everything is falling into place - yay! The next "big" thing we are needing to plan is our time in London. For those of you who will be in London for a few days before we sail, what are you planning to do?

The boys have these things on their list: Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, and the Parliament Building. Gary wants to do a "Beatles walk", and we all want to do some sightseeing from a classic double-decker bus. And Gary and I want to get to the British Museum which GoogleMaps says is a 10 minute walk from the hotel.

We're staying at the Renaissance Chancery Court and don't plan to rent a car, so we will need to walk or use the tube or taxi for everything.

So help me with our plans by sharing yours!

 

[Stimpy]

DIS keeps logging me out the last few days.

I wish we had time to do a few days in London too but DH has to get back to work. A little disappointing but it gives us an excuse to plan another trip over there.

Joanne, I sent you a PM but just realized that I forgot to send our names. I'll try to send another if the DISboard gremlin will let me

 

[CarolAnnC]

We are getting so excited about this trip! Everything is falling into place - yay! The next "big" thing we are needing to plan is our time in London. For those of you who will be in London for a few days before we sail, what are you planning to do?

The boys have these things on their list: Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, and the Parliament Building. Gary wants to do a "Beatles walk", and we all want to do some sightseeing from a classic double-decker bus. And Gary and I want to get to the British Museum which GoogleMaps says is a 10 minute walk from the hotel.

We're staying at the Renaissance Chancery Court and don't plan to rent a car, so we will need to walk or use the tube or taxi for everything.

So help me with our plans by sharing yours!

We will be at the same hotel! We fly out Friday arriving Heathrow. We chose to leave Monday to spend a night in Folkestone, however. It started as Best Western in Dover, but that closed up so we are now a few miles away in Folkestone.

Anyway, John has been to London previously as he has a couple of offices in the area there. He loved the double decker sightseeing bus, so we are planning on taking that and making stops at any sights that we want to see more of. Coventry Gardens is not far from our hotel and that has restaurants and shopping I understand. Would like to see Harrod's as well.

 

[LisaTex]

The Chancery is very nice - big rooms - we stayed there on a our ABD trip prior to the Med cruise in 07. behind the hotel is a little park and a very historical area(i will remember the name and post) that's fun to stroll around maybe the day you get there. The tube is very close. Ash and Kaylee loved the science museum which was 2 stops away on the tube. London Eye we took a cab on our own. Westminster Abby was wonderful. If you can get a blue badge tour guide they will make it come to life!
We are getting in on the 3rd, staying in the Kensington area this time at The Milestone (rec by a friend) hanging out at Kensington Gardens and Palace until we crash and burn. STonehenge, Bath and Oxford the next day. British museum and Lion King the next and Leeds/Dover prior to getting on the ship (or maybe debark day). At least that's where it stands for now

 

[LisaTex]

Oh and I promised a "ghost tour" one night. Harrods is fun to walk through but A & K were ready to leave after about an hour

 

[Monstro]

We arrive on the 3rd and have no clue what we're doing. My oldest daughter's been to London may times and wants to show us around... So I'm letting her do the planning. It hasn't happened yet... .

 

[Monstro]

I've got special occasions happening on this cruise listed on the website. Here's what's listed so far. Any others?


DW2DH&DS -12th Anniversary Beth & Stacey July 11th
Goingsouth - Birthday Joanne July 15th
Monstro - Birthday Stephanie (23) July 15th
Goingsouth - Birthday Amanda July 16th
DJayFitz - 22nd Anniversary Susan & Dennis July 16th

A little somehting from fellow cruisers may just be that thing that tops off their day.

Let me know if any of you have anything to add.

Jeff

 

[Monstro]

oops- almost didn't see this one- Thanks for letting me know! I will add your names to the list.

joanne

Joanne, Do you want to add the list to the website?

http://pounds2rubles.wikidot.com/castaways

 

[babybear42]

Hi
My name is Jill and I'm Shaun's (Sharper_fin) other half. If anyone needs any information about London, please let me know amd I'll try to help you. We've been loads of times and I know the tube system very well, so can help with getting you around London. If anyone is wanting to go on the London Eye my advice would be to book now, as it does save you a lot of time waiting in line. The London Eye does close for maintainance so it's best to check before hand whether it will be open when you're there. The British Museum is great, as are the Natural History and Science Museums and best of all, they're free, or they were when we last went in. Be prepared to spend quite a lot of time in each one, as they're large and on many floors.
Jill

 

[CarolAnnC]

Hi
My name is Jill and I'm Shaun's (Sharper_fin) other half. If anyone needs any information about London, please let me know amd I'll try to help you. We've been loads of times and I know the tube system very well, so can help with getting you around London. If anyone is wanting to go on the London Eye my advice would be to book now, as it does save you a lot of time waiting in line. The London Eye does close for maintainance so it's best to check before hand whether it will be open when you're there. The British Museum is great, as are the Natural History and Science Museums and best of all, they're free, or they were when we last went in. Be prepared to spend quite a lot of time in each one, as they're large and on many floors.
Jill

Hi Jill, thank you for the offer! I will be searching through my London books now that we are into the countdown! Will check in with you if any questions. What kinds of things are in the British Museum? thanks..

 

[Deb T.]

Hi
My name is Jill and I'm Shaun's (Sharper_fin) other half. If anyone needs any information about London, please let me know amd I'll try to help you. We've been loads of times and I know the tube system very well, so can help with getting you around London. If anyone is wanting to go on the London Eye my advice would be to book now, as it does save you a lot of time waiting in line. The London Eye does close for maintainance so it's best to check before hand whether it will be open when you're there. The British Museum is great, as are the Natural History and Science Museums and best of all, they're free, or they were when we last went in. Be prepared to spend quite a lot of time in each one, as they're large and on many floors.
Jill

Hi Jill! We would welcome breakfast, lunch, and dinner restaurant suggestions within walking distance of the London Marriott County Hall Hotel. Are there any locally owned dining locations nearby that would give us a true taste of London? (pun intended!)

 

[wintergreen]

I've got special occasions happening on this cruise listed on the website. Here's what's listed so far. Any others?


DW2DH&DS -12th Anniversary Beth & Stacey July 11th
Goingsouth - Birthday Joanne July 15th
Monstro - Birthday Stephanie (23) July 15th
Goingsouth - Birthday Amanda July 16th
DJayFitz - 22nd Anniversary Susan & Dennis July 16th

A little somehting from fellow cruisers may just be that thing that tops off their day.

Let me know if any of you have anything to add.

Jeff

My birthday is on July 12. I always try to plan our summer trips so that my birthday falls somewhere in the middle. Much better than being in the office!

 

[wintergreen]

For those of you staying at the Chancery Court, you are VERY close to the British Museum, about a 5-10 minute walk. I highly recommend it, and best of all, as with many of the public museums in London, it is FREE! Also, the food halls at Harrod's are my kids' favorite place to go when we are in London. We will pick up some cheese, prosciutto and bread to take back to the hotel for lunch or an afternoon snack.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

For those of you staying at the Chancery Court, you are VERY close to the British Museum, about a 5-10 minute walk. I highly recommend it, and best of all, as with many of the public museums in London, it is FREE! Also, the food halls at Harrod's are my kids' favorite place to go when we are in London. We will pick up some cheese, prosciutto and bread to take back to the hotel for lunch or an afternoon snack.

Pardon jumping in on your thread, if you are at the Chancery Court, may I suggest lunch/dinner at M OLD DUTCH which is at Holborn. Its just a few mins walk from the station and a bit longer from your hotel.

These are very large and thin Dutch type pancakes, not thinker USA ones and you can nearly have anything in them, you can have a Chill Con carne or ham, or Chicken but even Chocolate!!! Kids will love it, it isn't expensive, an idea share a main course and share a dessert one.

Also there are many nice places near and around Convent garden thats five mins walk from Holborn.

 

[Deb T.]

Pardon jumping in on your thread, if you are at the Chancery Court, may I suggest lunch/dinner at M OLD DUTCH which is at Holborn. Its just a few mins walk from the station and a bit longer from your hotel.

These are very large and thin Dutch type pancakes, not thinker USA ones and you can nearly have anything in them, you can have a Chill Con carne or ham, or Chicken but even Chocolate!!! Kids will love it, it isn't expensive, an idea share a main course and share a dessert one.

Also there are many nice places near and around Convent garden thats five mins walk from Holborn.

How about dining suggestions for those of us staying by The London Eye?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

How about dining suggestions for those of us staying by The London Eye?

I was trying to think of ones I know in that Area, all I can recall is The McDonalds at London Aquarium which is next door.

Waterloo station has a few places inside and just outside, but they are generally for snacks and commuters, you are best going up to, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Convent garden, there are lots of nice places around.

Planet Hollywood is at Piccadilly circus. Hard Rock at Hyde park corner.

Pizza Express is nice, China Town, and Dim Sung is nice, top part of Leicester square.

I will try and have a look around, I work in London, every weekday in different places.

 

[Deb T.]

I was trying to think of ones I know in that Area, all I can recall is The McDonalds at London Aquarium which is next door.

Waterloo station has a few places inside and just outside, but they are generally for snacks and commuters, you are best going up to, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Convent garden, there are lots of nice places around.

Planet Hollywood is at Piccadilly circus. Hard Rock at Hyde park corner.

Pizza Express is nice, China Town, and Dim Sung is nice, top part of Leicester square.

I will try and have a look around, I work in London, every weekday in different places.

Thanks, Andrew. I'll look forward to what you find after looking around the area. We'd really prefer to eat somewhere that's not found in the U.S. (Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock, and most definitely not McDonalds). We spent nine days last October/November eating nothing but Chinese food, three meals a day, in Shanghai and Beijing, so we'd rather not go to China Town. How about a true "fish and chips" kind of place? Or a locally owned restaurant?

 

[denise]

For those that don't know yet my friends Janet and Kenny will not be on the cruise after all. So if they are on any list please remove them. Thanks. They may still go to Paris for just the week prior and meet us but that is also up in the air.

thanks----denise