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

[2littlestitches]

I was on one of the Disney Mediterranean cruises (which was the trip of a lifetime) and I'm getting SO excited about this Baltic cruise now that the excursions are booked. I must say, getting the excursions has seemed SO much easier than it was for the Med. It seems like there is more availability this time around. I actually can't believe how many excursions are still available for the Baltic! I think Disney must be learning to offer more excursions upfront. Also, when booking the Med, we had 3 staterooms and no ability to link them for excursion reservations. So, basically, we had 3 computers going at once, trying to get everyone on the same excursions. The "linking" feature made that process a lot easier (except when we had chosen different excursions, then it was a log out/log back in situation). So Disney has made some improvements since the Med, I must say. It's just that the website can be so quirky...if Disney could fix that all would be perfect!

Now that we've picked excursions, this trip is seeming more "real". I don't honestly know if anything can top our Disney cruise to the Med, but I'm getting really excited about this one!

 

[wintergreen]

I called this morning and was told that since the time (of the Ball) was changed and the travel time was variable, we couldn't book both excursions. However she did say to keep checking back on the website to see if there are any further changes, and to check with the excursion desk when we board since the earlier cruises (guinea pigs) may have worked this all out for us. I hope so! I've been online checking to see how much shopping is available on the excursions so we can pick up a few souvenirs just in case I can't go on the shopping trip.

Thanks for the info. Very helpful!

 

[din]

Hi Jeff,
How did you get two excursions in one day? I tried to do the shopping and Ball and it said one or the other - conflicting times. The times shown for the St. Pete Intro and Shopping were the same. I want to SHOP!!!

Hi; Just you a PM regarding St Petersburg private tour that includes shopping!

 

[CarolAnnC]

Looks like we have quite a few scheduled the same! I scheduled our Tuesday tour for St. Petersburg first and then got the monday evening canal boat - but felt like we had a big hole in Monday afternoon. DH said "well, maybe there is some shopping in the pier area" and then I reminded him we can't get off the ship without a visa unless we're on an excursion. He forgot it wasn't like everywhere else Because we want to be sure to have time particularly in St. Petersburg for some shopping (I really want to buy a small set of nesting dolls), the Shopping Experience looked like a good option for us! And we'll get back to the ship with a bit of time for dinner before going back out. I'm really looking forward to seeing the city a bit in the evening hours as well.

Great minds think alike! I am so looking forward to the shopping tour. With being able to roam on our own a bit, I think we will get a good flavor for Russian life as opposed to just visiting the tourist attractions.

Add me to the list looking for the nesting dolls too! LOL. Plus DD tells me that Russian shopping is supposed to be fabulous.

 

[aurorafan65]

A.
Did you have any luck with getting a reservation at the Ice Bar in Stockholm?
K.

No - the tour we're on gets back to the ship at 3:15 so I wasn't sure we'd be able to make it there in time. Maybe we'll have to do the Baltics again next year so I can go to a bar

 

[Fivepin]

No - the tour we're on gets back to the ship at 3:15 so I wasn't sure we'd be able to make it there in time. Maybe we'll have to do the Baltics again next year so I can go to a bar

Well, there's also an ice bar in Copenhagen. I am getting ready to cancel our reservation since I was able to reserve the one in Stockholm. Copenhagen you do not have to prepay.

 

[CarolAnnC]

There is also an Ice Bar in Las Vegas! It is in Mandalay Bay, but we did not have a chance to visit it. Not sure if it is quite the same though...

 

[APinCA]

Well, there's also an ice bar in Copenhagen. I am getting ready to cancel our reservation since I was able to reserve the one in Stockholm. Copenhagen you do not have to prepay.

Don't know if this has been posted. A map of the Stockholm port/city with the Ice Bar marked. Have fun!

http://maps.google.se/maps/ms?clien...1351,18.085384&spn=0.050347,0.099907&t=h&z=13

 

[UncleB]

Hi! Traveling with APinCA!

 

[UncleB]

Hi! We would like to participate in the FE exchange. Two adults in our cabin. New to boards so unable to PM. Thanks! Sister of APinCA.

 

[goingsouth]

Hi! We would like to participate in the FE exchange. Two adults in our cabin. New to boards so unable to PM. Thanks! Sister of APinCA.

Hi There-

Of course I will add you!...Can you let me know your cabin number?

Welcome to the boards, by the way!

Joanne

 

[goingsouth]

Fish Extender Update:

Here's our latest total

18 cabins

37 adults (over 18)
14 kids - 7boys and 7 girls

June 1 is the cut off date~~

If anyone else would like to join in on the gift exchanging fun, just let me know!

Joanne

 

[APinCA]

A bunch of Palo slots opened up since Tue night. But it is for groups of 1-2 or 5-6 only. Three won't work.

 

[zencrew]

Silverline said that they will not charge us for the wait-time at the airport either. They will monitor the flights and arrive at the appropriate time. Their fee was 105 from Gatwick to Dover, and that was all inclusive of taxes, etc (tip is not included and is optional).

They don't ask for a credit card number up front, and we pay when we arrive at Dover.

They were recommended by someone on the baltic thread and also by someone on cruise critic.

I heard that Eddie Manning was very good also, but I guess the difference between 105 and 195 was significant enough for me. Plus no 4% extra for credit card as I'm paying up front.

Silverline is based out of Kent Country (which is where Dover is) so I expect that is why they are cheaper.

They told me that I could get a better price out of London to Gatwick as they are far out. Perhaps I'll use Eddie Manning on that leg...

I'm surprised that I haven't found a single person who is interested in the Leeds excursion on debarkation. I wonder why DCL makes us book it on the boat. I would think they would get a better idea of the numbers if the allowed us to prebook.

How did you contact Silverline? I am trying to go from the County Hall area in London to Dover at the end of July - sent an email but have not heard anything back from them.

 

[Disney Rocks]

A bit peeved that the St. Petersburg tours are set such that too many day and evening tours "overlap" (even thought they don't, really). We want to do the Ball on the first evening, but there is no half-day afternoon trip that will work with that. Also wanted to do night of Russian ballet the second day after Peterhof and Hermitage. No go on that one either. Now I'm wondering if we can get a private tour company to do a very short walking tour for us on the day we arrive, although maybe that really won't work if the pier is far from the city. Anyone else in the same boat?

We experienced the same. It really depends on which excursions you want but I found all of our choices didn't work.

 

[el_bandito]

hi bandito - we're from Philly, so not far away from Baltimore, we have 12 & 14yo boys sailing with us - there are a bunch of familes with teens (boys & girls) on this trip.

As a side note loved Hoover dam & also toured the nuclear test site in NV (they do the tour once a month & I was lucky enough to be there)

Anyway - we get to London on July 2 we have planned
- day at the British museum
- tour of Bath & Stonehenge
- Big Ben, Parliment (think Chevy Chase)

dh's family is Welsh - we'd love to go to Wales but are skipping it since we don't think there's time.

Also planning on seeing the WWII tunnels in dover along with the castles

something wrong with my set up. not getting notices on replies

thanks for the info. Yes, wales will have to wait. though i'm thinking insane quick trip to paris is possible.... trying to get it all in. that's why my wife likes the days at sea.

enjoy this beautiful weekend.

 

[nzdisneymom]

I was talking with my boss this week and just happened to mention that when we take our trip (which she has already authorized the leave for) that I will be out of the office for three weeks. I wasn't quite sure if it was horror or panic that crossed her face when she realized what she'd done (LOL).

UncleB - welcome to the thread! I added you to the first page's list of who's traveling. I'm Cindy D., traveling with DH (Gary) and two boys (Nathan and Zachary, ages 14 and 12 1/2 at the time we sail).

Joanne - thanks for the Fish Extender update.

I read somewhere that the self-laundry on the Magic no longer requires coins - that it's all done by key-card. True? I'm taking those Purex laundry sheets - detergent, softener in one. We used those last summer and found them to work well - much better than hauling laundry detergent across the pond

 

[Deb T.]

How did you contact Silverline? I am trying to go from the County Hall area in London to Dover at the end of July - sent an email but have not heard anything back from them.

We're also using Silverline. Sometimes it took him a few days to get back to me.

 

[Deb T.]

I read somewhere that the self-laundry on the Magic no longer requires coins - that it's all done by key-card. True? I'm taking those Purex laundry sheets - detergent, softener in one. We used those last summer and found them to work well - much better than hauling laundry detergent across the pond

There's a laundry thread on the main cruise board that I just posted a question to, but maybe someone on here can answer it for me... Evidently, DCL has changed over to HE washing machines, of which I have no experience with. Can I still use regular Tide (in any form) in an HE machine? My skin is very sensitive so I am very reluctant to try another detergent brand, especially in the middle of a 12-day cruise.

 

[Deb T.]

something wrong with my set up. not getting notices on replies

You might try re-subscribing:
Click on Thread Tools
Click on Subscribe to this thread
Under "Notification Type", click on "Instant Notification by Email"

If that doesn't work, double check which email account you registered on the DIS Boards with - maybe it's sending your updates to a different account?

Good luck!!!