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

[el_bandito]

Sail away was quite chillly. Joanne and her family were selected as the family of the day and got to be first on board. Heading now to Oslo, day at sea tomorrow. More on my blog....

on youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW75isKZIWA

 

[Hygiene99]

June 12 - Dover, England (Set Sail)
June 13 - At Sea
June 14 - Oslo, Norway
June 15 - Copenhagen, Denmark
June 16 - Warnemunde, Germany
June 17 - At Sea
June 18 - St. Petersburg, Russia
June 19 - St. Petersburg, Russia
June 20 - Helsinki, Finland
June 21 - Stockholm, Sweden
June 22 - At Sea
June 23 - At Sea
June 24 - Dover England (Fly Home)

 

[ibouncetoo]

Hope Linda pops in with a few words about yesterday's excursion!

.

 

[buck4568]

Peter, trust me, you'll get a full report. I'll be posting to Facebook the whole time so you can follow me there.

Room #8530.

What is the Facebook page that we can keep up with you on?

 

[brandysmommy]

Did anyone do the Tivoli Early Entrance excursion? If so, is it worth it?

 

[Hygiene99]

Hope Linda pops in with a few words about yesterday's excursion!

.

No words from Linda, and well i have contacted her, LOL via other sources....

 

[shoes99]

We were on the Star Princess and were 2 days ahead of you on the Baltics Cruise. How did Stitch get loose from your ship. He joined us in St. Petersburg for a drink of Vodka. We had a blast.
Michele & Milton - Star Princess- June 11th to June 21st, 2010

 

[rotary2808]

What is the Facebook page that we can keep up with you on?

Sorry I didn't see your post. There wouldn't have been much to follow anyway, the internet connection was horrible over there.

Did anyone do the Tivoli Early Entrance excursion? If so, is it worth it?

We did the All Inclusive Tivoli. I don't know that I'd do it again, but it was definitely a neat experience. We were able to see everything and do lunch well before the first bus pick up at 2 pm.

 

[brandysmommy]

We did the All Inclusive Tivoli. I don't know that I'd do it again, but it was definitely a neat experience. We were able to see everything and do lunch well before the first bus pick up at 2 pm.[/QUOTE]

Thank you so much! Can you tell me, how crowded was Tivoli once it was open to the general public? Were all the attractions/rides open at the early time or just select ones?
Thank you again!

 

[rotary2808]

We did the All Inclusive Tivoli. I don't know that I'd do it again, but it was definitely a neat experience. We were able to see everything and do lunch well before the first bus pick up at 2 pm.

Thank you so much! Can you tell me, how crowded was Tivoli once it was open to the general public? Were all the attractions/rides open at the early time or just select ones?
Thank you again![/QUOTE]

It wasn't that crowded since it was during the week. I imagine it would be a little more crowded if you were there on Saturday or Sunday. All the attractions opened to us at 10 am and the park opened to the general public at 11 am. Even after general opening we were able to walk onto everything.

I consider myself a thrill ride junkie and they had attractions I wouldn't go on or wouldn't go near again. I'll never go near one of those swings again. And they have a ride named Vertigo that spins around in all different directions. I seriously wouldn't stand under that thing for fear that someone might lose something while on it.

 

[Toocoolmom]

Anyone have any advice for DCL Russian Excursions. We are scheduled for: 1st day - Hermitage and then Ballet; 2nd day - Peterhof and the Evening Boat Canal Trip. Would love to schedule the Shopping Trip just for some fun stuff but, can't figure out how to work everything in.

Did they seat anyone early for night excursions? I hate to miss the Russian Dinner night.

Would love anyone's advice!!

 

[cquick]

Hello, everyone!

The Quick's are home! What a wonderful trip!

 

[MJGirl]

Anyone have any advice for DCL Russian Excursions. We are scheduled for: 1st day - Hermitage and then Ballet; 2nd day - Peterhof and the Evening Boat Canal Trip. Would love to schedule the Shopping Trip just for some fun stuff but, can't figure out how to work everything in.

Did they seat anyone early for night excursions? I hate to miss the Russian Dinner night.

Would love anyone's advice!!

I did Hermitage and Night cruise on day 1, then Suburbs of Pushkin and Ballet on day 2. They did move dinner on Day 1 to 5 pm, but I didn`t make dinner at all in Russia. On day 2, our tour was late and got in at 6:05. We had to meet for the ballet at 6:30. Dinner was 2 slices of pizza! It was all worth it, but I was exhausted after Russia then a full day in Finland. I think our tour was late because of the traffic due to street closures. There was a big 20 nation convention going on while we were there and streets were randomly closed. Hope other tours don`t have that problem!

 

[MJGirl]

Hello, everyone!

The Quick's are home! What a wonderful trip!

Welcome home. It was a pleasure meeting you! Can`t wait until we cruise together again! We made it home too, as well as all of our luggage!!

 

[Toocoolmom]

I did Hermitage and Night cruise on day 1, then Suburbs of Pushkin and Ballet on day 2. They did move dinner on Day 1 to 5 pm, but I didn`t make dinner at all in Russia. On day 2, our tour was late and got in at 6:05. We had to meet for the ballet at 6:30. Dinner was 2 slices of pizza! It was all worth it, but I was exhausted after Russia then a full day in Finland. I think our tour was late because of the traffic due to street closures. There was a big 20 nation convention going on while we were there and streets were randomly closed. Hope other tours don`t have that problem!

Thanks so much for the confirmation that I have made the right choices. We leave next week and I think I am trying to over plan. I am so glad that you had a wonderful time. Rest up!!

 

[el_bandito]

Thanks so much for the confirmation that I have made the right choices. We leave next week and I think I am trying to over plan. I am so glad that you had a wonderful time. Rest up!!

I'm most concerned about internet link. Not like i need it for me but i was planning to post for the cruise behind us. But maybe this is one time for Disney and done.

I've looked at this cruise since it was announced and we didn't sign up until about a month ago. hmmm... 2 months... 3???? anyway... very excited to enjoy the wonderful hospitality of the Magic in Northern Europe.

I hope the connection is better on our trip.

 

[cquick]

Welcome home. It was a pleasure meeting you! Can`t wait until we cruise together again! We made it home too, as well as all of our luggage!!

oh, YEAH! Speaking of luggage! Chuck (DH) says we are never going to travel with so much luggage again. Not sure where to cut back, but I guess just bring less....and wear them every day!

 

[Jendisney9]

Anyone have any advice for DCL Russian Excursions. We are scheduled for: 1st day - Hermitage and then Ballet; 2nd day - Peterhof and the Evening Boat Canal Trip. Would love to schedule the Shopping Trip just for some fun stuff but, can't figure out how to work everything in.

Did they seat anyone early for night excursions? I hate to miss the Russian Dinner night.

Would love anyone's advice!!

On one of our last days' at sea, DCL had a Russian bazaar with the matroyshka dolls, many of the laquered boxes and some ornaments and eggs (for a necklace). Prices for the boxes were like they were in the souvenir shop. We did a private tour in SPB. Went to approx. 3 shops. Prices are expensive, but I expected that. The canal trip hosted 3 people who sang some Russian folk songs. A woman was selling books. All of them wanted money. They took euro and dollars.

I too felt like I wanted to fit the shopping trip in. There is a VERY small and limited store in the port terminal. They had the necessities of dolls, scarves and boxes. Few tshirts and things. The shopping really seemed the same everywhere...and I felt a lot of pressure to buy something in case I didn't make it to another shop. I wish I would have known DCL was going to bring aboard the Russian stuff. Boxes run 100 to 300.

I spent 500 in one shop. I got a Santa (est. $150) and a box with Hermitage on it (2x7) about $300. A painted fruited bowl and big Russian faux fur hats ($15 a piece) if you want to gauge some of the prices. Later I bought a Santa for about $50.

Our trip only had 1600 passengers, so there were many empty dining tables at the first seating....It sounded like the same on the 2nd seating; they said groups could come in and they would try and accommodate. They wouldn't be able to do that if the boat were fuller. Rumor that the 2nd cruise was going to pick up an additional 300 people.

Losing the hour just about every other day was very tiring. It was a blast, but a hard trip.

Our meals in Russia were whatever we could grab before our evening excursion. Everyone was tight for time.

I have learned to sleep with one of those black eye masks...omg that saved me! The white nights really messed with my internal clock. When you shut the curtains, it's like it is when you're just waking up. There were about 4 nights were I never saw night, just the daylight. Even my 17 yr old used one to make it dark enough!

 

[Scott H]

Hey kids were are almost home, in Denver and will drive home soon,

I wanted to thank you ball for making this a wonderful cruise, we will see ya guys later we got races to run and other cruises to plan.....

 

[rotary2808]

oh, YEAH! Speaking of luggage! Chuck (DH) says we are never going to travel with so much luggage again. Not sure where to cut back, but I guess just bring less....and wear them every day!

We almost needed more!!!! Our bags were pretty close to the limit both coming and going, but we made it. I thought I had managed not to overpack this time and I still managed to have too much stuff. Oh well, lesson learned for next time.

On one of our last days' at sea, DCL had a Russian bazaar with the matroyshka dolls, many of the laquered boxes and some ornaments and eggs (for a necklace). Prices for the boxes were like they were in the souvenir shop. We did a private tour in SPB. Went to approx. 3 shops. Prices are expensive, but I expected that. The canal trip hosted 3 people who sang some Russian folk songs. A woman was selling books. All of them wanted money. They took euro and dollars.

I too felt like I wanted to fit the shopping trip in. There is a VERY small and limited store in the port terminal. They had the necessities of dolls, scarves and boxes. Few tshirts and things. The shopping really seemed the same everywhere...and I felt a lot of pressure to buy something in case I didn't make it to another shop. I wish I would have known DCL was going to bring aboard the Russian stuff. Boxes run 100 to 300.

I spent 500 in one shop. I got a Santa (est. $150) and a box with Hermitage on it (2x7) about $300. A painted fruited bowl and big Russian faux fur hats ($15 a piece) if you want to gauge some of the prices. Later I bought a Santa for about $50.

Our trip only had 1600 passengers, so there were many empty dining tables at the first seating....It sounded like the same on the 2nd seating; they said groups could come in and they would try and accommodate. They wouldn't be able to do that if the boat were fuller. Rumor that the 2nd cruise was going to pick up an additional 300 people.

Losing the hour just about every other day was very tiring. It was a blast, but a hard trip.

Our meals in Russia were whatever we could grab before our evening excursion. Everyone was tight for time.

I have learned to sleep with one of those black eye masks...omg that saved me! The white nights really messed with my internal clock. When you shut the curtains, it's like it is when you're just waking up. There were about 4 nights were I never saw night, just the daylight. Even my 17 yr old used one to make it dark enough!

I definitely didn't need anymore shopping in Russia. Our first excursion had two shopping stops, which I thought was one too many. We picked up everything we wanted at the first and just stood around for 25 minutes doing nothing at the second dying to get back to the ship because we were starving. And the second day had its fair share of shopping stops as well.

I agree that the Russian items on the ship were a bit overpriced, but one good deal was the German steins. My DH was looking for one and priced them out on the ship and in Berlin and they were actually cheaper on the ship. He ended up having to get it on the ship anyway b/c in Berlin we only got one shopping stop and their credit card machine was down and we didn't have enough Euros on hand for our items. That was a major disappointment.

The White Nights through off my internal clock as well. It's hard to go to sleep when it's light outside. You just want to keep going even though you can't.

Hey kids were are almost home, in Denver and will drive home soon,

I wanted to thank you ball for making this a wonderful cruise, we will see ya guys later we got races to run and other cruises to plan.....

Have a safe trip home Scott & Lynn!!! Maybe we'll see you at WDW sometime, if not hopefully in AK next year.