Northern Sights and Mickey's MAGICal Delights-1st Baltic Cruise-June 12,2010-Pt 2

[rotary2808]

I am planning on staying at one of the Disney hotels both precruise and postcruise in order to have the option of using Disney transfers from the airport to the hotel when I arrive and then from the ship to hotel when disembarking in London. I hope I have this option. I think a big white mickey hand on arrival in Barcelona will be comforting.

I'm going to check on the DCL hotel as well. We've already got the transfers booked, we would just have to add on the airport to the hotel leg.

We are looking at about $1070 cdn each for our aitfare....might be able to get it a bit cheaper...but when you're talking $30 each cheaper (right now)...it's not worth the hassle....

We just might fly in the day before...just to recover from the jetlag....

any other tips that might reduce the effects?

When you get into London try to stay awake as long as you can since you'll be arriving in the morning there. In '07 when we got to Barcelona and got on the ship one of the first things I did was sleep and I was messed up for the next couple of days. This year when we went to Italy we stayed up for as much of the day as we could and didn't have any trouble with jet lag.

 

[kittb]

Wow all these detailed plans! Theres not much we can do with regards to planning things on this side *** we live here Just got the thought of how to manage with a newish baby as well as an independent toddler

Those of you thinking of staying in Dover for a few days might want to consider Canterbury as an alternative. Its less than 30 minutes by car and theres the train too. Its far more scenic, more to do and generally a nicer place - just in land a bit!

Also the trains .... I can't remember the details at the moment but perhpas they are looking more expensive than before because they are in the process of launching a high speed service. As things currently stand a lot of the trains are very slow, so nearly 2 hours to do the trip from London down to the coast. This will be much less by next summer but I bet they will be charging for the priveledge. I'll ask dh later as he's keeping an eye on things.

 

[jeanneg]

I am both confused and overwhelmed by all this. At least when we did the Med cruise, Barcelona was just minutes from both the airport and dock. This is so much more complicated. I would like to take DCL shuttles.......do they go from both Gatwick and Heathrow? Suppose we fly into one of the 2 London airports the day before and spend a night at an airport hotel. Then we could catch the shuttle early the next morning and still have that extra cushion if we needed it. Does that sound like a good idea? If I remember correctly, there's an elevated trian that goes from the airport into the city and we could do that if we felt up to it the day we arrived.

Forgive me, but I have so much on my mind these days......planning another cruise, training for NYC marathon and planning my daughter's wedding next spring.....all good things, but my mind is muddled!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Seems like they are working on a high speed train from Dover to London. I think Gydell posted about it. I think the Disney transfers or a private transfer would be much easier with kids.

 

[Lynn G]

Good Morning Cruisers!

Jeanne - I know what you mean about taking trips one at a time - we have a cruise in Aug. and Peru in Sept. (not to mention the Disney races) before this cruise. We always do our own reservations - we always arrive at least 1 day before the ships departure (I am very paranoid of canceled and delayed flights - it has happened too many times), which gives us time to unwind after travel before boarding the ship. It is not that difficult to make your own reservations, it just takes a lot of research - and once the plane reservations are made, you need to keep on top of the changes to make sure they do not interfer with plans. (We have had them change our flights to one where the connecting flight was scheduled to take off before we arrived at the airport - more than once!) It does sound like it might be easier to take a private car from London to Dover rather than trains, if Disney transfers are not available. You can do it Jeanne!

Have a great day everyone!

 

[Hygiene99]

As we sat on the plane in the Empty seat to my right the one where Jeanneg was suppose to be!!!!!!!

And her Husband John >>>> I said HMMMM where are they!!!!

With just seconds to spare They came Running on to the plane in a drenched sweat!!!!!


LOL

After that everything was ok.....


that was for the MED cruise....

 

[jeanneg]

As we sat on the plane in the Empty seat to my right the one where Jeanneg was suppose to be!!!!!!!

And her Husband John >>>> I said HMMMM where are they!!!!

With just seconds to spare They came Running on to the plane in a drenched sweat!!!!!


LOL

After that everything was ok.....


that was for the MED cruise....

Yes, quite literally SECONDS to spare.....and then we pulled away from the gate and sat on the runway for about an hour! It's the story of my life....... Are you still on this one, Peter?

 

[Scott H]

Long day yesterday getting ready to open the Tiki Bar.

Lynn can fill ya in on here knee, looks like she may have to put off the DL 1/2, I think she can forward her registration fee, or something like that.

I was stupid yesterday and picked up the Tiki bar and moved it by myself, back is a pinch sore today...

Relaxing this morn and watching The Tour..

Later kids we got a little cleaning up to do.

 

[jeanneg]

Looks great, Scott! I'll have a margarita, please!

What happened to Lynn's knee?!?

 

[Hygiene99]

Yes, quite literally SECONDS to spare.....and then we pulled away from the gate and sat on the runway for about an hour! It's the story of my life....... Are you still on this one, Peter?

Yes

 

[gydell]

Lynn - What happened to your knee? Hope it isn't serious!

I can't believe how expensive the flights are to London! I am going to wait and hope they come down some.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Lynn - What happened to your knee? Hope it isn't serious!

I can't believe how expensive the flights are to London! I am going to wait and hope they come down some.

The flights are EXPENSIVE. I booked the British airways rt from ATL to LHR and ever since then the prices have fluctuated wildly. I really wanted premium economy, for the extra room, and there are only five rows of those on the 777. I hope they don't go down too much before my flight or I will be sick. LOL. However, I think that regular coach will come down alot between now and June.

 

[rotary2808]

The flights are EXPENSIVE. I booked the British airways rt from ATL to LHR and ever since then the prices have fluctuated wildly. I really wanted premium economy, for the extra room, and there are only five rows of those on the 777. I hope they don't go down too much before my flight or I will be sick. LOL. However, I think that regular coach will come down alot between now and June.

Tammy, from what I've seen with BA in the past from watching their flights for our TA cruise in '07. It seems like their prices don't change that much once they set them. So you should be okay.

 

[Lynn G]

Good Evening Cruisers!

Ref: the knee - I have had knee problems for years - at least 30! Lately, what I have been doing to keep pain under control has not been working - so just got an MRI - the initial diagnosis of tendonitis and runners knee was a little off - I have a bone spur digging into my meniscus, which may or may not have torn it - so - I am set for knee surgery on August 20th - that gives me only 2 weeks until DL half, unlikely that I will be recovered enough to do it. It will be arthroscopic surgery, but that is still pushing it a bit. But, hopefully, that will put me in good shape for next years WDW 1/2 marathon.

Have a great day all!

 

[gydell]

Good Evening Cruisers!

Ref: the knee - I have had knee problems for years - at least 30! Lately, what I have been doing to keep pain under control has not been working - so just got an MRI - the initial diagnosis of tendonitis and runners knee was a little off - I have a bone spur digging into my meniscus, which may or may not have torn it - so - I am set for knee surgery on August 20th - that gives me only 2 weeks until DL half, unlikely that I will be recovered enough to do it. It will be orthoscopic surgery, but that is still pushing it a bit. But, hopefully, that will put me in good shape for next years WDW 1/2 marathon.

Have a great day all!

Hope you recover quickly!!!

 

[rotary2808]

Good Evening Cruisers!

Ref: the knee - I have had knee problems for years - at least 30! Lately, what I have been doing to keep pain under control has not been working - so just got an MRI - the initial diagnosis of tendonitis and runners knee was a little off - I have a bone spur digging into my meniscus, which may or may not have torn it - so - I am set for knee surgery on August 20th - that gives me only 2 weeks until DL half, unlikely that I will be recovered enough to do it. It will be arthroscopic surgery, but that is still pushing it a bit. But, hopefully, that will put me in good shape for next years WDW 1/2 marathon.

Have a great day all!

Lynn, hope the surgery goes well and you recover quickly.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Tammy, from what I've seen with BA in the past from watching their flights for our TA cruise in '07. It seems like their prices don't change that much once they set them. So you should be okay.

Good, too much of a discount would make me cry. LOL.

Lynn, I hope your knee is better soon. I currently have an effusion of synovial fluid in my knee and it has been this way for 6 weeks! I am tired or hobbling around. Good luck with the surgery!

 

[Scott H]

Morning All,

Went for a bike ride this morning. I took the Pokka Dot and Green Jersey and Lynn got the Yellow. I thought I had a puncture and she slipped ahead.

French Toast for Breakfast and Bahamian Rice and Peas with chicken for dinner

 

[Lynn G]

Good Morning Cruisers!

Thanks for the well wishes for my knee - I think recovery will be short.

Have a great day all!

 

[4boons]

Haven't been on the thread in a long time. We booked on Day 1 without really taking a hard look at the price. Since then, DH & I have repeatedly concluded that we can't afford it, but I just can't let go. DD will be 16 and loves history. I know that if we don't do it next summer, we won't do it.

DH has been away this weekend, so I've been number-crunching cruise package, estimated transatlantic air, shore excursions (no idea of Disney prices, but St P and Berlin are hundred of dollars each on other lines, so that's a clue) and all the incidentals on board. Gave up all hopes for a pre-or post-stay in London or Paris ... just go, spend arrival day in London, cruise and fly home.

Remember those books called "Europe on $10 a Day"? How about one day in London for $1000? Choke. Airport hotel (cheaper than in town) so we can use our airport/port transfers next morning, express train to/from the city, meals, an open-air bus tour to see the major sites and tickets to the Tower of London. Forget theatre tickets .. we'd be too jet-lagged to enjoy a show anyway. I'm guessing on meals (anyone eaten at the Hard Rock Cafe in London lately?), but the other figures are accurate and allow for exchange rate. I guess I shouldn't be so surprised, the cruise runs more than $1000 a day too when I add it all up.

We have done two Panama Canal transits and six in the Caribbean with Disney. We love the Disney Cruise Line, but I can't believe how much more expensive this is .. not to mention what the air may cost. I wonder if they realize how many people they've already lost given the cost and how many more they may yet lose. We have two Wonder cruises booked for next summer as a fallback, but they don't compare to the Baltic. I know I should have transferred the ressie to a placeholder for the new ships, but hate to admit that it's just not feasible. Sigh.