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

[Fivepin]

I have 3 boys 6,8,10 but they aren't coming with us on this trip. I still feel they are a bit too young to appreciate all this yet. I know they wouldn't last the museums. They just aren't interested in cultural things right now. My cousin took them to the Chang Kai Shek Memorial in Taiwan-right across from her house and she said they didn't last. Even on the caribbean cruises, they are more interested with the ship and staying on the ship. The last cruise in November, they didn't want to get off in any of the ports. I thought I would try when they are older. I'm hoping they like Alaska.

I have the clothes laid out and ready to go. I started to pull out all the meds, and we are going to be the walking pharmacy. Our doctor also gave us a "care"package just in case. So, if anyone needs something, you could probably check with me and may have what you need. I would have a whole carry on full if we had the kids with all their nebulizer treatment meds and daily preventative(singulair,nasonex,eye drops, etc)

Better go and get the day started. We leave around 10am Friday. Our flight is at 1:40pm but our ride has to take us early. We're only about 30 mins from the airport.

 

[Rora]

how many copies of your passport did everyone make for Russia? colour, not colour? heard conflicting advice about this.

Does anyone have info on this??

I made copies of our passports in general but do we need anything specific for Russia?

We're all packed and we leave tomorrow! We're speding 4 days in London before the ship leaves and are very very excited.

To the poster who was curious about having older kids: you've already gotten a lot of reassuring posts but I'll add my two cents-- my parents took me on two Disney cruises when I was 16 and 19. I had a BLAST. There were plenty of teens my age. And, I made friends really easily. No worries!

 

[mom_rules]

Guests who purchase any available shore excursion or tours organized through Disney Cruise Line in St. Petersburg will not require a visa for Russia. Under such conditions, Guests will need to present (a) a valid passport, (b) a Disney Cruise Line tour ticket and (c) one photocopy of a passport page showing Guest photo and personal information to the Russian Immigration officer as they depart the ship. However, please note that without a visa, visitation is limited to the period of the excursion and you will not be permitted to leave the ship outside of the tour hours without a Russian Tourist Visa. Guests who wish to sightsee independently or sightsee outside of Disney Cruise Line's shore excursion hours MUST obtain an individual Russian Tourist Visa before leaving home. Russian Tourist Visas cannot be issued during the cruise. Guests who have not purchased a shipboard-organized shore excursion or tour and do not possess a valid Russian Tourist Visa will not be permitted ashore in St. Petersburg.

Guests with an Individual Tourist Visa must present (a) a valid passport, (b) Russian Tourist Visa, (c) one photocopy of passport page showing Guest photo and personal information, and (d) a confirmation letter or voucher from your Russian Tour Company sponsoring your Russian Tourist Visa to the Russian Immigration Officer as you depart the ship. Visas may be obtained at a Russian embassy or through a visa service prior to departing the U.S.

 

[caniac27]

Wow, can't believe we're leaving this afternoon - I'm all packed but to put in the hanging clothes - who am I kidding they're going to get wrinkled regardless, but it was far more relaxing to sit and drink wine with a friend last night hehehe I, too, feel like the packing was easy - 3 people, 3 suitcases, 3 small backpacks, 2 almost empty carry-on bags (room for shopping) I wasn't going to bring the 2nd carryon at all, since we still had room in the suitcases, but DH, knowing us, thought it would be a good idea to bring it - this from the man who has to lug them around! Isn't he sweet!

We are spending 4 nights in London, one in Dover, then Magic here we come!

So, safe journey to everyone, and see you onboard!

 

[Rora]

Guests who purchase any available shore excursion or tours organized through Disney Cruise Line in St. Petersburg will not require a visa for Russia. Under such conditions, Guests will need to present (a) a valid passport, (b) a Disney Cruise Line tour ticket and (c) one photocopy of a passport page showing Guest photo and personal information to the Russian Immigration officer as they depart the ship. However, please note that without a visa, visitation is limited to the period of the excursion and you will not be permitted to leave the ship outside of the tour hours without a Russian Tourist Visa. Guests who wish to sightsee independently or sightsee outside of Disney Cruise Line's shore excursion hours MUST obtain an individual Russian Tourist Visa before leaving home. Russian Tourist Visas cannot be issued during the cruise. Guests who have not purchased a shipboard-organized shore excursion or tour and do not possess a valid Russian Tourist Visa will not be permitted ashore in St. Petersburg.

Guests with an Individual Tourist Visa must present (a) a valid passport, (b) Russian Tourist Visa, (c) one photocopy of passport page showing Guest photo and personal information, and (d) a confirmation letter or voucher from your Russian Tour Company sponsoring your Russian Tourist Visa to the Russian Immigration Officer as you depart the ship. Visas may be obtained at a Russian embassy or through a visa service prior to departing the U.S.

Thank you!

 

[Fivepin]

Does anyone have info on this??

I made copies of our passports in general but do we need anything specific for Russia?

We're all packed and we leave tomorrow! We're speding 4 days in London before the ship leaves and are very very excited.

To the poster who was curious about having older kids: you've already gotten a lot of reassuring posts but I'll add my two cents-- my parents took me on two Disney cruises when I was 16 and 19. I had a BLAST. There were plenty of teens my age. And, I made friends really easily. No worries!

Rory-

just noticed you're from Florida. What part? We live in the St. Pete area. We leave Friday. See you there

 

[sharper_fin]

Those of you who are starting to come over, have fantastic and safe journeys - we'll see you on board.

Does anyone know what kind of temperatures we're going to get? Jill's nagging me to get some packing done.

 

[Hellyer4]

guests who purchase any available shore excursion or tours organized through disney cruise line in st. Petersburg will not require a visa for russia. Under such conditions, guests will need to present (a) a valid passport, (b) a disney cruise line tour ticket and (c) one photocopy of a passport page showing guest photo and personal information to the russian immigration officer as they depart the ship. However, please note that without a visa, visitation is limited to the period of the excursion and you will not be permitted to leave the ship outside of the tour hours without a russian tourist visa. Guests who wish to sightsee independently or sightsee outside of disney cruise line's shore excursion hours must obtain an individual russian tourist visa before leaving home. Russian tourist visas cannot be issued during the cruise. Guests who have not purchased a shipboard-organized shore excursion or tour and do not possess a valid russian tourist visa will not be permitted ashore in st. Petersburg.

Guests with an individual tourist visa must present (a) a valid passport, (b) russian tourist visa, (c) one photocopy of passport page showing guest photo and personal information, and (d) a confirmation letter or voucher from your russian tour company sponsoring your russian tourist visa to the russian immigration officer as you depart the ship. Visas may be obtained at a russian embassy or through a visa service prior to departing the u.s.

thank you for this information - very clear now!

 

[sshaw10060]

Safe travels everyone. We leave tomorrow morning. Finished packing last night and it looks like we need a small 4th bag for toiletries. The 50# limit is doing us in. Those toiletries are heavy. I am in love with packing cubes and the Eagle Creek clothes folders. I use them whenever I travel. It only tool 30 minutes to get my bag packed. See all of you soon.

 

[Deb T.]

Safe travels for all of you who are beginning to leave now. Enjoy your extra time in London and Dover and wherever else your travels take you these next few days. We're looking forward to meeting everyone at our DIS meet a week from today, 2-3pm, at the "Secret Verandah" on Deck 7 aft (thanks, again, LisaTex, for setting this up!).

 

[aurorafan65]

Well our DD's are age 27 and 24, but remember I gave birth when I was 12!! hehehehehe.

...

hey that's my line & mine are only 12 & 14

bandito I don't see where you need to equate DCL excursions only for little kids. If you look through the lists there are things for all ages from Santa to all kinds of museums & castles.

 

[mom_rules]

Those of you who are starting to come over, have fantastic and safe journeys - we'll see you on board.

Does anyone know what kind of temperatures we're going to get? Jill's nagging me to get some packing done.

Checked the weather -average is 20C-Now if you believe in long range forecasts (19C=66F/23C=73F)
July 6 Dover 19C afternoon sun
July 8 Oslo 18C
July 9 Copenhagen 19C mostly sunny
Jul 10 Warnemunde Av daily 18C
Jul 12/13 St Petersburg Av daily 22C
Jul14 Helsinki Av daily 22C
Jul 15 Stockholm Av daily 23C

 

[Scoobydoo76]

first...we love disney

second... we love DCL more

but.. third...

are we the only family on this cruise with older kids (13 and 15) that are eager to experience the culture? Being in Europe? Different countries?

I'm happy Disney has the Santa tour, and don't get me wrong. When our kids were younger the shows were the best part of the trip. But do all the DIS'er's have young kids?

Please, please, please... i love DIS. best site to learn and you're all so helpful. But are there older kids out there

You are not the only one with teenagers. My children are exactly your children's ages. We have a daughter 15 and a son 13. They both love to experience the people, food and culture of different countries. That is why we are doing all the ports on our own. We hired a guide for St. Petersburg.

 

[sharper_fin]

Checked the weather -average is 20C-Now if you believe in long range forecasts (19C=66F/23C=73F)

Thanks for that. About the same temperature as normal British summer then. But with less rain!

Oh, and I've just heard - Dad can come home tonight. Thanks everyone who's been thinking about us, it's appreciated. We can sail with a lot happier minds now.

 

[el_bandito]

Does anyone have info on this??

I made copies of our passports in general but do we need anything specific for Russia?

We're all packed and we leave tomorrow! We're speding 4 days in London before the ship leaves and are very very excited.

To the poster who was curious about having older kids: you've already gotten a lot of reassuring posts but I'll add my two cents-- my parents took me on two Disney cruises when I was 16 and 19. I had a BLAST. There were plenty of teens my age. And, I made friends really easily. No worries!

=========

My understanding is yes, you need copy (color) for Russia. You take that and your key to the world card on shore. Everywhere else it's just the key to the world card.

 

[Deb T.]

Thanks for that. About the same temperature as normal British summer then. But with less rain!

Oh, and I've just heard - Dad can come home tonight. Thanks everyone who's been thinking about us, it's appreciated. We can sail with a lot happier minds now.

Well, one comes out of the hospital, and one goes in...

So glad to hear that your Dad can go home tonight. I know it's a big relief for everyone.

DH's Dad is planning to take DH's Mom to the hospital this morning. It does not look good. She's been very ill for over five years due to emphysema. For several months, she's eaten barely enough to keep going. However, for the last two weeks she's refused to eat and just in the last couple of days refuses to drink anything. She is very strong willed and has an amazing capacity for pain, but she is now severely dehydrated. She is deathly afraid of hospitals - to the point that she refused to be transported to a hospital for two full days after falling and breaking her hip last January! So, we aren't completely convinced that DH's Dad will actually be able to get her to the hospital today, and if he does, we're afraid she will probably refuse treatment. We could use a prayer or two that she will allow IV hydration today. We feel that if she can get rehydrated, she may perk back up. Her heart is strong, it's just this eating and drinking issue that is causing her decline right now. Unfortunately, they live half-way across the U.S. from us, so we can't easily get there to support DH's Dad through all of this. Fortunately, though, we flew there two weekends ago just to visit with them. As you can imagine, so many thoughts are running through my head right now. Thanks for letting me share.

 

[el_bandito]

You are not the only one with teenagers. My children are exactly your children's ages. We have a daughter 15 and a son 13. They both love to experience the people, food and culture of different countries. That is why we are doing all the ports on our own. We hired a guide for St. Petersburg.

=====

My Son (13) is very excited. Daughter (15) is too but trying not to show it. We all split up all the ports and everyone had to do a write up on the country and the places we are visisting. Son did a power point and taught my wife how to do the same. Daughter resisted.... told her we could leave her home... (teenagers...). I haven't even started mine yet.

Thanks for all the responses.

 

[babybear42]

Well, one comes out of the hospital, and one goes in...

So glad to hear that your Dad can go home tonight. I know it's a big relief for everyone.

DH's Dad is planning to take DH's Mom to the hospital this morning. It does not look good. She's been very ill for over five years due to emphysema. For several months, she's eaten barely enough to keep going. However, for the last two weeks she's refused to eat and just in the last couple of days refuses to drink anything. She is very strong willed and has an amazing capacity for pain, but she is now severely dehydrated. She is deathly afraid of hospitals - to the point that she refused to be transported to a hospital for two full days after falling and breaking her hip last January! So, we aren't completely convinced that DH's Dad will actually be able to get her to the hospital today, and if he does, we're afraid she will probably refuse treatment. We could use a prayer or two that she will allow IV hydration today. We feel that if she can get rehydrated, she may perk back up. Her heart is strong, it's just this eating and drinking issue that is causing her decline right now. Unfortunately, they live half-way across the U.S. from us, so we can't easily get there to support DH's Dad through all of this. Fortunately, though, we flew there two weekends ago just to visit with them. As you can imagine, so many thoughts are running through my head right now. Thanks for letting me share.

I hope you get a happy outcome just like us.

 

[Stimpy]

Deb, sending good wishes for your MIL.

I got talked into going into the school today for another PTA thing. Totally threw off my whole day! Didn't get anything done that I wanted to for the trip. And I can't find our FE! I thought I knew exactly where it was but now it's gone.

 

[Monstro]

Safe travels for all of you who are beginning to leave now. Enjoy your extra time in London and Dover and wherever else your travels take you these next few days. We're looking forward to meeting everyone at our DIS meet a week from today, 2-3pm, at the "Secret Verandah" on Deck 7 aft (thanks, again, LisaTex, for setting this up!).

Deb,

Best wishes for everything you have going on there. I'm concerned about our Dis-meet. I don;t think we can start boarding until 2:00 because the cruise before us does not arrive in port until 10:00ish. I'm I wrong on that info?

Jeff