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

[Meum]

It's been a long time since I've been here. At that time this trip seemed like such a long ways off. Boy was I wrong!!! I'm so glad I came back. We have (had) reservations at the Best Western which seems to be closed now! I was originally wondering how people are planning to see St. Petersburg. I read that if you are not on an organized Disney tour you need a visa and it must be obtained from a travel agent in Russia. Is this true? We will be flying into Paris for a few days before the cruise and then staying in London for a few days after the cruise. There is so much to worry about now!! Any help would be greatly appreciated and I will be checking in here daily from now on!!!

Thanks
Marianne

 

[rotary2808]

It's been a long time since I've been here. At that time this trip seemed like such a long ways off. Boy was I wrong!!! I'm so glad I came back. We have (had) reservations at the Best Western which seems to be closed now! I was originally wondering how people are planning to see St. Petersburg. I read that if you are not on an organized Disney tour you need a visa and it must be obtained from a travel agent in Russia. Is this true? We will be flying into Paris for a few days before the cruise and then staying in London for a few days after the cruise. There is so much to worry about now!! Any help would be greatly appreciated and I will be checking in here daily from now on!!!

Thanks
Marianne

Some of the private tour groups in St. Petersburg take care of the visas for you as well. But outside the tours, Disney or private, in order to get off the ship you will have to have your own visa.

 

[kittb]

Me too!

We just paid this morning too! Had a last minute wobble as the exchange rate and having another baby has significantly increased the costs. Then I remembered the wise words from one of you guys a while back about vacations being family time that are worth more than anything, and a dear friend who lost her husband this time last year (in their 30s with two young children) and thought - go for it ... who knows what is round the corner.

So we're cruising!

Kit

 

[TammyAlphabet]

We just paid this morning too! Had a last minute wobble as the exchange rate and having another baby has significantly increased the costs. Then I remembered the wise words from one of you guys a while back about vacations being family time that are worth more than anything, and a dear friend who lost her husband this time last year (in their 30s with two young children) and thought - go for it ... who knows what is round the corner.

So we're cruising!

Kit

Absolutely!!!!

 

[kittb]

We are so lucky to have a Kent native on our cruise! Where do you live? We have been to Kent a few times, but mostly only to take the Chunnel or the Hovercraft. I am very excited to have a little time to explore the area.

We're in Whitstable, about 30 miles from Dover, its a little fishing town also worth a stroll around if you have time to spare. Its famous for its oysters! There are nice places to eat and clothes boutiques etc. Londoners often have holiday homes here as its so close to pop down to for the weekend.

Kit

 

[seaulater]

Doing the paid in full dance!

Me too! Cost me a whopping $95.00!

Actually, worked with DVC for over an hour today and converted my on-board booking (cash) to DVC points and got my deposit refunded AND got the discount on points since I had the onboard booking! Saved me some points I thought I would have to use.

Anyway, it was worth the effort! And I have money coming back cuz my deposit was on my AX when I did the onboard. So, now I have some of the money to pay for that excursion to see that ship..............you know, the DREAM one! Yippee!

 

[seaulater]

P. S. I think we can book shore excursions tonight at midnight eastern for Platinum members?

 

[Yensidfan]

That is great Linda. That excursion will be the best.

Me too! Cost me a whopping $95.00!

Actually, worked with DVC for over an hour today and converted my on-board booking (cash) to DVC points and got my deposit refunded AND got the discount on points since I had the onboard booking! Saved me some points I thought I would have to use.

Anyway, it was worth the effort! And I have money coming back cuz my deposit was on my AX when I did the onboard. So, now I have some of the money to pay for that excursion to see that ship..............you know, the DREAM one! Yippee!

 

[MJGirl]

P. S. I think we can book shore excursions tonight at midnight eastern for Platinum members?

Post times of excursions if you can!!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

So cool Linda!!!!! I hope you post pictures when you get back!

 

[wickesy]

After a slight credit card issue we paid our last bit off last night so we are paid in full as well.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

After a slight credit card issue we paid our last bit off last night so we are paid in full as well.

Dancing with you!!!

 

[WeLoveABD]

We're flying into Heathrow, arriving around noon on June 9--and have reserved rooms on our own in one of the hotels Disney is using (Renaissance Chancery in London, fairly close to the British Museum--nice place, we stayed there on the Knights and Lights Adventures by Disney trip). Disney will take us to Dover and the ship, but we are on our own from the airport to the hotel since we didn't book the hotel through Disney (at a much higher rate). Any recommendations on the best way from the airport to the hotel? I don't want to run around in the tube with our bags and backpacks; there is a shuttlebus (Heathrow Express I believe) which is cheaper than a taxi--but not sure how far from the hotel we get dropped. Ideas/suggestions sought--thanks!

 

[Mom2PrincessesLinSy]

Add us to the Paid Crew for the Baltic! Still feel a bit of buyers remorse at the total, but we know this is the trip of a lifetime for the family, and what we have saved for since our 5 year anniversary (this is the celebration of our 10th!)

I've asked before but didn't get a reponse about the FE exchange. Do we have a list yet?

4 months and counting. After all the snow we have had here in Baltimore this last week (close to 4 foot!!) I am so ready for a vacation!!

See you all soon!!

 

[cquick]

We're in Whitstable, about 30 miles from Dover, its a little fishing town also worth a stroll around if you have time to spare. Its famous for its oysters! There are nice places to eat and clothes boutiques etc. Londoners often have holiday homes here as its so close to pop down to for the weekend.

Kit

Oh,that's cool!

 

[cquick]

We're flying into Heathrow, arriving around noon on June 9--and have reserved rooms on our own in one of the hotels Disney is using (Renaissance Chancery in London, fairly close to the British Museum--nice place, we stayed there on the Knights and Lights Adventures by Disney trip). Disney will take us to Dover and the ship, but we are on our own from the airport to the hotel since we didn't book the hotel through Disney (at a much higher rate). Any recommendations on the best way from the airport to the hotel? I don't want to run around in the tube with our bags and backpacks; there is a shuttlebus (Heathrow Express I believe) which is cheaper than a taxi--but not sure how far from the hotel we get dropped. Ideas/suggestions sought--thanks!

My recommendation is a taxi....just go to the taxi stand and get in the queue! Well worth being dropped off directly at your hotel!

 

[Tahitian Traveler]

Hip Hip Hooray !!!!! I just joined the Soul Train dance line too. Our second stateroom was paid in full yesterday. I will be booking excursions today.

 

[cadcor]

Me too! Cost me a whopping $95.00!

Actually, worked with DVC for over an hour today and converted my on-board booking (cash) to DVC points and got my deposit refunded AND got the discount on points since I had the onboard booking! Saved me some points I thought I would have to use.

Anyway, it was worth the effort! And I have money coming back cuz my deposit was on my AX when I did the onboard. So, now I have some of the money to pay for that excursion to see that ship..............you know, the DREAM one! Yippee!

Linda - Are you really booking the $2,900 Dream shipyard tour? Anyone else booking this tour?

 

[carolmb]

Hip Hip Hooray !!!!! I just joined the Soul Train dance line too. Our second stateroom was paid in full yesterday. I will be booking excursions today.

Hi Tahitian Traveler,
My sister lives in your neck of the woods. She lives in Carmel-By-The-Sea. Her house is for sale though. She is looking to move to the Bay Area hopefully with a job. Good luck with the booking of the excursions.

 

[DisneySpirit]

I booked our excursions last night and got all my first choices too!
Also booked Palos both brunch and dinner.
Here is our itinerary for those of you who might be interested in excursion times.
Hope you all get what you wanted too!

OSLO
Hadeland Glass Works and Viking Ships (OS01 GLASS) 8:45AM-4:00PM

COPENHAGEN
City Highlights and Open Air History of Denmark (CP13 HISTORY) 9:15AM-4:30PM

WARNEMUNDE
Molli Steam Train (WA07 MOLLITRAIN) 8:45AM-1:30PM

ST. PETERSBERG
DAY 1
Walking Tour of St. Petersberg (SP02 WALK) 12:30PM-4:30PM
DAY 1
Evening Canal Boat Tour (SP17 CANBOAT) 7:00PM-9:45PM
DAY 2
Catherine's Palace and Hermitage Museum (SP22 CATHERM) 7:30AM-4:45PM

HELSINKI
Porvoo and Helsinki Highlights (HE02 PORHIGH) 9:45AM-5:00PM

STOCKHOLM
Historical Stockholm and Sigtuna (SH05 HISTOCK) 8:45AM-3:00PM