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

[4boons]

UK Cruisers,
I know I am among friends on the DIS, so I'll admit that I drink 2-3 cans of a soft drink (soda, pop) called Diet Dr Pepper every day. The soda stations on the Disney ships only have Coca-Cola products, so in the past I've brought packages of canned Diet Dr Pepper on board in my carry-on. The concierges at our pre-cruise hotels at Disney World and Los Angeles bought them for me at the local grocery store. I paid the cost, adding a nice tip for the concierge.

12+ days in the Baltic without caffeine will make me a cranky cruiser, so we've already been talking about how to feed my DDP habit. Have any of you in the UK seen Diet Dr Pepper in your local grocery/food stores there? If not the local grocery store, can I get it at Harrods? I know the food halls there are supposed to be legendary.

If I can't acquire a supply in London before we board, I may be desperate enough to ship it to the hotel or figure out a way to bring a few dozen cans along with me in my baggage. Thoughts?

Rather a unique cruise planning challenge, don't you think?
Laura

 

[gydell]

I LOVE diet Dr Pepper! But I can also do with diet Coke or tea. Is there a store in Dover that might have it?

 

[rotary2808]

Nothing to do with this cruise but I know that I can book Palo's 90 days out but at what time? I can't remember if it is 12am or 3am eastern time.

12 am eastern.

 

[gydell]

12 am eastern.

Thank you! We will be in Hawaii so that means 6pm. Yea!!! I don't have to stay up so late for once.

 

[cquick]

Everybody must be on vacation......not much going on here! or maybe working or doing laundry.......

 

[gydell]

I'm here! Waiting at the dentist. It's Brent's 8th b'day today. We had his party Friday night since they started school last Monday but we are going out to eat tonight.

 

[cquick]

happy birthday to brent!!!
​

 

[MV_Photon]

Do we really not get into St. Petersburg until 12:30? I have started looking at the logistics of what we can actually do in these places (and as usual starting to stress out!) and there are several companies which offer 2 day tours in St. Petersburg, but they look like they all start bright and early in the morning. (like 7:30am).

In my humble opinion, St. Petersburg is the real gem of the Baltic. DCL's abbreviated stay at that port was enough to induce us to explore other options.

FWIW, we have decided to switch to Azamara Cruise Line's (the "upscale" subsidiary of Celebrity) Baltic cruise, which includes:

• an overnight in Warnemunde
• makes that long trip to Berlin more viable​
• three (3) full days in St. Petersburg
• we could even take a one-day trip to Moscow​
• an overnight in Stockholm
• time to explore the out-islands​

And, although finances were not the deciding factor, a Sky Suite (with full suite amenities) + adjacent Inside Stateroom on Azamara will cost us >$5,000 less than our Verandah Stateroom + Inside Stateroom aboard DCL.

DCL has long been our favorite cruise line, but they need to remain competitive. We'll really miss Palo, though....

Bon voyage!

 

[Hygiene99]

In my humble opinion, St. Petersburg is the real gem of the Baltic. DCL's abbreviated stay at that port was enough to induce us to explore other options.

FWIW, we have decided to switch to Azamara Cruise Line's (the "upscale" subsidiary of Celebrity) Baltic cruise, which includes:

• an overnight in Warnemunde
• makes that long trip to Berlin more viable​
• three (3) full days in St. Petersburg
• we could even take a one-day trip to Moscow​
• an overnight in Stockholm
• time to explore the out-islands​

And, although finances were not the deciding factor, a Sky Suite (with full suite amenities) + adjacent Inside Stateroom on Azamara will cost us >$5,000 less than our Verandah Stateroom + Inside Stateroom aboard DCL.

DCL has long been our favorite cruise line, but they need to remain competitive. We'll really miss Paolo, though....

Bon voyage!

wow that sounds Great, We are having a hard time digesting all the numbers for this trip!!!!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

In my humble opinion, St. Petersburg is the real gem of the Baltic. DCL's abbreviated stay at that port was enough to induce us to explore other options.

FWIW, we have decided to switch to Azamara Cruise Line's (the "upscale" subsidiary of Celebrity) Baltic cruise, which includes:

• an overnight in Warnemunde
• makes that long trip to Berlin more viable​
• three (3) full days in St. Petersburg
• we could even take a one-day trip to Moscow​
• an overnight in Stockholm
• time to explore the out-islands​

And, although finances were not the deciding factor, a Sky Suite (with full suite amenities) + adjacent Inside Stateroom on Azamara will cost us >$5,000 less than our Verandah Stateroom + Inside Stateroom aboard DCL.

DCL has long been our favorite cruise line, but they need to remain competitive. We'll really miss Palo, though....

Bon voyage!

That sounds great. My only problem, the kids clubs on Celebrity. I did a Celebrity Cruise at Christmas last year, and I was very disappointed with the kids activities and their space on board was pitiful. Azamara is even more adult oriented with no dedicated kids space, at least I think that is the case. If you are adults only, or children are not into the kids programs, that would be a great alternative. Have a fantastic cruise!

 

[cquick]

FWIW, we have decided to switch to Azamara Cruise Line's (the "upscale" subsidiary of Celebrity) Baltic cruise, which includes:

Bon voyage!

gonna miss you, and I agree, with so many cruise lines going to the Baltic, Disney will have to stay competitive.

 

[WVMD]

And, although finances were not the deciding factor, a Sky Suite (with full suite amenities) + adjacent Inside Stateroom on Azamara will cost us >$5,000 less than our Verandah Stateroom + Inside Stateroom aboard DCL.

DCL has long been our favorite cruise line, but they need to remain competitive. We'll really miss Palo, though....

Bon voyage!

Interestingly, I looked at a comparable cabin to our Cat. 3 and on the 2 dates in June the cost for the 3 of us was almost $5000 more. Even then the size of the cabin is slightly smaller than the Cat. 3. I do like Azamara's itinerary.

Virgil

 

[cquick]

Interestingly, I looked at a comparable cabin to our Cat. 3 and on the 2 dates in June the cost for the 3 of us was almost $5000 more. Even then the size of the cabin is slightly smaller than the Cat. 3. I do like Azamara's itinerary.

Virgil

I think I am very excited about this particular cruise because it's a first for Disney! I would love to spend MORE time in Germany, and Stockholm. But that would be another time. I would also like to do a rivercruise through Europe....down the Danube or the Rhine or the Loire....but I am going to have to win the lottery soon!

 

[rotary2808]

I think I am very excited about this particular cruise because it's a first for Disney! I would love to spend MORE time in Germany, and Stockholm. But that would be another time. I would also like to do a rivercruise through Europe....down the Danube or the Rhine or the Loire....but I am going to have to win the lottery soon!

I agree. I'm definitely looking forward to this cruise!!!! I also wish we were spending more time in Germany. I wish they would overnight in Germany instead of Russia, but that's just me. I definitely have plans to go back to Germany one day.

 

[cquick]

I agree. I'm definitely looking forward to this cruise!!!! I also wish we were spending more time in Germany. I wish they would overnight in Germany instead of Russia, but that's just me. I definitely have plans to go back to Germany one day.

When I go to Germany, it's going to be a whole vacation on it's own! So many places I absolutley NEED to see! Also,my husband's family immigrated from near Frankfort, so we wouldneed to go there.

 

[WVMD]

I think I am very excited about this particular cruise because it's a first for Disney! I would love to spend MORE time in Germany, and Stockholm. But that would be another time. I would also like to do a rivercruise through Europe....down the Danube or the Rhine or the Loire....but I am going to have to win the lottery soon!

I agree - that's one of the reasons we wanted to do this cruise. It's Disney, it's their first time, and it's Disney! When we were in St. Lucia in 2004 for the first time it was so much fun being the first Disney ship there. My wife was aboard the first time in Cartegna and Aruba and those were fun too. I want to get a taste of these countries. We plan on going back to Italy for a week ro two as a result of the Med cruise in 2007. This may be the last cruise for awhile - other than my daughter's wedding cruise in July 2010 - too many other things to do....

Virgil

 

[kittb]

UK Cruisers,
Have any of you in the UK seen Diet Dr Pepper in your local grocery/food stores there? If not the local grocery store, can I get it at Harrods? I know the food halls there are supposed to be legendary.

Rather a unique cruise planning challenge, don't you think?
Laura

I don't think you'll have any problem getting hold of it in the UK. I have just checked online with Tesco who have a store in Dover and they stock Dr Pepper so you should be fine

hope that helps
Kittb

 

[cquick]

I don't think you'll have any problem getting hold of it in the UK. I have just checked online with Tesco who have a store in Dover and they stock Dr Pepper so you should be fine

hope that helps
Kittb

Now that's what the DISBOARDS are for! Helping each other! yay

 

[4boons]

I don't think you'll have any problem getting hold of it in the UK. I have just checked online with Tesco who have a store in Dover and they stock Dr Pepper so you should be fine

hope that helps
Kittb

This should help me more than you realize.
I've traveled with Laura when she couldn't get her Diet Dr. Pepper and it's not a pretty sight.
Thanks
Bill

 

[sunshine state kim]

Looks like the little mermaid statue will be in China when we get there!
"1 April 2010 - Copenhagen sends The Little Mermaid on a journey to Shanghai for the World EXPO 2010. She will be gone for eight months."