Northern Sights & Mickey's MAGICal Delights - 1st Baltic cruise - June 12,2010

[Pinky166]

Hi gang,

I just dropped in to say that we finally received our polo shirts and magnet today so I thought I would share a few photos with you.

This is a large.

Close up of the logo

This is the magnet

The only sting in the tail was that we did get caught for VAT - £3.90 which isn't so bad - and for the Royal Mail 'handling charge' - £8 which is outrageous We only paid $9.50 to get it across the Atlantic.

I'm just catching up with this thread.

They look fab David. Shame about the Royal Mail costs.

 

[rotary2808]

The Disneyland Hotel looks amazing, it literally straddles the park entrance. We've walked around and had a really special meal at their California Grill - frighteningly this was nearly 10 years ago now, our honeymoon. I was tickled pink by the fact the dh's menu had the prices on and mine didn't - so I could just choose without feeling guilty!

The scale of the place is so different that there are other hotels which are also pretty close, easily walking distance to the parks - Hotel New York I think is the next closest and then the two we have stayed at Sequoia Lodge and Newport Bay. Both lovely

Had hoped we'd get back to DLP for our 10th anniversary but with dh changing jobs AGAIN (I know he is blessed to be in work so shouldn't grumble) we're unlikely to have the money or the time. Oh well. Still holding out that the exchange rate will improve enough in our favour for us to be on the cruise Can't help getting excited each time I think about it!

Kittb

I love how the DL Hotel is right at the entrance to DLP. You can't get any closer than that.

Good Afternoon Cruisers!

This working is keeping me from posting Scott and I have both been very busy with our jobs, at least mine is only temporary, so I should be "just retired" again in about 8 weeks - but those might be really long 8 weeks!

Peter - hope you get to go back to work soon - it sounds like you want to!

Emily - yes, let us know when you are done our planning for us

Weather has been really nice here, but supposed to snow on Monday - I knew that winter was not done with us yet!

We really liked Disney Land Hotel when we were there, it was great to eat breakfast overlooking the entrance, and to just walk down stairs and be at the entrance to the park!

Have a great day everyone!

Lynn, I'll be sure to give you an update too.

 

[baileysgm]

Hello! I live in Murfreesboro, which is right outside of Nashville. Good to see another Tennessean on the cruise.

Hi Tammy, and All of you who've responded with info about their hotel arrangements,
We're in the heart of Nashville and really excited about going. It's my son, daughter, granddaughter (10) and me (Disney Cruises guarantee they spend a little time with me) We were on the inaugural Med cruise and loved everything about it. I'm the only one who's been to England so we'd like to do a little sightseeing but our work schedules won't allow more than 2-3 days.

Those of you who have made your reservations direct, how did you communicate with the hotels...email or phone? Can we still get transfers--airport to hotel to ship and back if we book ourselves as long as we're at one of the Disney hotels? I booked the Grand Marina myself in Barcelona but the ride from the airport in cabs was not the easiest thing to accomplish. Fortunately we we were able to purchase transfers at the hotel and it was so much easier. I would really like to be able to do that again. Thanks for everyone's help, I hope you've had great weekends.

 

[gydell]

Hi Tammy, and All of you who've responded with info about their hotel arrangements,
We're in the heart of Nashville and really excited about going. It's my son, daughter, granddaughter (10) and me (Disney Cruises guarantee they spend a little time with me) We were on the inaugural Med cruise and loved everything about it. I'm the only one who's been to England so we'd like to do a little sightseeing but our work schedules won't allow more than 2-3 days.

Those of you who have made your reservations direct, how did you communicate with the hotels...email or phone? Can we still get transfers--airport to hotel to ship and back if we book ourselves as long as we're at one of the Disney hotels? I booked the Grand Marina myself in Barcelona but the ride from the airport in cabs was not the easiest thing to accomplish. Fortunately we we were able to purchase transfers at the hotel and it was so much easier. I would really like to be able to do that again. Thanks for everyone's help, I hope you've had great weekends.

I e-mailed them direct. I am thinking about taking the train from the hotel to Dover. My schedule doesn't work with DCL's so we're on our own! We may do DCL on the return trip once I see our other options. I know there is a few private car services and since we have 5 the price doesn't seem to bad.

 

[Addy'smom]

Hi Tammy, and All of you who've responded with info about their hotel arrangements,
We're in the heart of Nashville and really excited about going. It's my son, daughter, granddaughter (10) and me (Disney Cruises guarantee they spend a little time with me) We were on the inaugural Med cruise and loved everything about it. I'm the only one who's been to England so we'd like to do a little sightseeing but our work schedules won't allow more than 2-3 days.

Those of you who have made your reservations direct, how did you communicate with the hotels...email or phone? Can we still get transfers--airport to hotel to ship and back if we book ourselves as long as we're at one of the Disney hotels? I booked the Grand Marina myself in Barcelona but the ride from the airport in cabs was not the easiest thing to accomplish. Fortunately we we were able to purchase transfers at the hotel and it was so much easier. I would really like to be able to do that again. Thanks for everyone's help, I hope you've had great weekends.

I communicated with both hotels via e-mail.

I am using DCL for transportation. According to my TA, we can get airport to hotel, hotel to port, and port to airport transportation through DCL.

For those of you getting trip insurance, are you using what DCL offers?

I checked out from the library a Rick Steves DVD on Germany and Scandinavia. I am keeping my fingers crossed that one of the excursions in Norway is a scenic rail ride and fjord cruise. It was utterly breathtaking!!!

 

[rotary2808]

I communicated with both hotels via e-mail.

I am using DCL for transportation. According to my TA, we can get airport to hotel, hotel to port, and port to airport transportation through DCL.

For those of you getting trip insurance, are you using what DCL offers?

I checked out from the library a Rick Steves DVD on Germany and Scandinavia. I am keeping my fingers crossed that one of the excursions in Norway is a scenic rail ride and fjord cruise. It was utterly breathtaking!!!

We always get our insurance through our TA. It's usually cheaper.

 

[Skallywag]

Just signing on and off as we have decided to cancel the Baltic cruise as could not justify the high cost. We have researched and decided to go with the NCL also out of Dover on the 4th June 2010 (nearly same itinerary) but half the price for a penthouse suite with all gratuities.

Such a shame but in these days cannot justify the high cost even though we do not have the airfare this time.

Perhaps in the future we can go back with Disney - will wait and see.

Have a great time everyone.

Brenda

 

[gydell]

Just signing on and off as we have decided to cancel the Baltic cruise as could not justify the high cost. We have researched and decided to go with the NCL also out of Dover on the 4th June 2010 (nearly same itinerary) but half the price for a penthouse suite with all gratuities.

Such a shame but in these days cannot justify the high cost even though we do not have the airfare this time.

Perhaps in the future we can go back with Disney - will wait and see.

Have a great time everyone.

Brenda

I fully understand and if we didn't have a child traveling with us we would be on the boat with you. You'll have a great cuise anyway and if we pass you we pass you we'll wave!

 

[rotary2808]

Just signing on and off as we have decided to cancel the Baltic cruise as could not justify the high cost. We have researched and decided to go with the NCL also out of Dover on the 4th June 2010 (nearly same itinerary) but half the price for a penthouse suite with all gratuities.

Such a shame but in these days cannot justify the high cost even though we do not have the airfare this time.

Perhaps in the future we can go back with Disney - will wait and see.

Have a great time everyone.

Brenda

Sorry you had to cancel DCL, but I'm sure you'll have a great time on NCL instead.

 

[granmaz]

I'm just catching up with this thread.

They look fab David. Shame about the Royal Mail costs.

They do look great. Shame we aren't still on the cruise to have some made too.

As far as the Royal Mail handling charges go, my husband imports quite a lot of things for the business and has to pay dreadfull charges, however he is quick to point out when I mention posts like David's that it isn't just the delivery charge you are paying for, but also the work involved in doing all the paperwork they have to do for calculating the taxes etc. It does come as a bit of a shick though even if you are expecting to pay the VAT and duty, which of course we should do.

 

[jeanneg]

Hello! I live in Murfreesboro, which is right outside of Nashville. Good to see another Tennessean on the cruise.

Hi Tammy! We're on this cruise also.....I haven't been posting much lately because it is still SOOOOOO far away, but hope to be more vocal as it gets closer. I just wanted to let you know that my husband's mom has lived in Murfreesboro for about 35 years now. It's a great little town!

 

[jeanneg]

We're in the heart of Nashville and really excited about going. It's my son, daughter, granddaughter (10) and me (Disney Cruises guarantee they spend a little time with me) We were on the inaugural Med cruise and loved everything about it. I'm the only one who's been to England so we'd like to do a little sightseeing but our work schedules won't allow more than 2-3 days.

Hi there! We were on the inaugural med cruise also. Were you part of the DIS group back then? We have probably already met! Oh and by the way, we'll be in Nashville next month for the Country Music Marathon. There are a ton of DIS folk (WISH racing team) that are doing either the full or the half there. I hear it's an awesome event.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I fully understand and if we didn't have a child traveling with us we would be on the boat with you. You'll have a great cuise anyway and if we pass you we pass you we'll wave!

There are two considerations that are paramount to me choosing Disney and 2010. First, we cruised on Celebrity to Hawaii last December and Hawaii was great but the caliber of dining and entertainment and service was FAR below that of DCL. They rarely served chicken nuggets or macaroni and cheese. Two staples of a 11 years old diet. LOL.

I have recently started to suffer with arthritis. It is mild and is better with treatment but I can see that a few years down the road, this trip might become inaccessible for me because of the amount of walking and steps and my extra "padding". I am going to start a program of walking soon to get ready. I just have to get the arthritis under control first.

Like Gydell, I could probably go with NCL if I didn't have a younger child with me. But overall, DCL is the best choice even with the cost consideration.

Hi Tammy! We're on this cruise also.....I haven't been posting much lately because it is still SOOOOOO far away, but hope to be more vocal as it gets closer. I just wanted to let you know that my husband's mom has lived in Murfreesboro for about 35 years now. It's a great little town!

Well! You will have to let me know the next time you are in town so we can have a "Dismeet" at a restaurant or something. I have done this several times before. Lots of fun.

 

[Addy'smom]

So I will not be getting my confirmation with Chancery Court until July. The person that I have been e-mailing just realized that we are coming in 2010 (even though I put it in each e-mail I sent). Oh well, if this one falls through I still have my reservation at Park Plaza.

 

[gydell]

So I will not be getting my confirmation with Chancery Court until July. The person that I have been e-mailing just realized that we are coming in 2010 (even though I put it in each e-mail I sent). Oh well, if this one falls through I still have my reservation at Park Plaza.

I am holding 2 ressies until I decide for sure. We are staying 5 nights in London and 2 in Dover so I am looking at a place that is less expensive but clean so I have more money for excursions. The Days Inn Hyde Park has given me a rate of $156 a night for a triple room including b'fast and all taxes and fees. That's less than 1/2 of what Park Plaza is charging. It doesn't have the frills of the other but it seems to be clean . I know someone that stayed there and loved it. I have a while before I have to decide.

 

[LITTLEKID58]

GM

Presently 56 going up to 78 here in Sunny Central Florida

Happy Birthday and Anniversary to all who are celebrating.

to everyone who is going to need it today

Have a great Tuesday

 

[CustardTart]

Just signing on and off as we have decided to cancel the Baltic cruise as could not justify the high cost. We have researched and decided to go with the NCL also out of Dover on the 4th June 2010 (nearly same itinerary) but half the price for a penthouse suite with all gratuities.

Such a shame but in these days cannot justify the high cost even though we do not have the airfare this time.

Perhaps in the future we can go back with Disney - will wait and see.

Have a great time everyone.

Brenda

Sorry you won't be with us, Brenda but I know how crazy the cost of this cruise is looking right now! We are in two minds ourselves... That's sounds an interesting deal with NCL - I will definitely have to check that out...

ETA: OMG those NCL prices are amazing!!! I'm very tempted by one of the suites which work out at less than half price for this cruise... As we are a couple sailing without kids, I think we might have to give this a go...

 

[kittb]

That's funny .... we popped into a high street travel agent yesterday to see if they could beat the price we had for DLP in September. Out of curiousity I asked if htey could quote for the Disney Baltci Cruise - much to my surprise they had actually heard of it this time! Last time I asked they had no idea what I was talking about lol

Anyway I asked if they had any other child friendly cruises from Dover and they sent me away with the NCL brochure. The prices look amazing, it does make it hard to justify the huge cost of the Disney cruise. Do you think Disney will drop the price at some point if people keep cancelling? Or would this only happen at the last minute to try to fill up spaces?

Not going to cancel at the moment but still finding it hard to imagine that we will actually make it the way things are :-(

Kittb

 

[gydell]

That's funny .... we popped into a high street travel agent yesterday to see if they could beat the price we had for DLP in September. Out of curiousity I asked if htey could quote for the Disney Baltci Cruise - much to my surprise they had actually heard of it this time! Last time I asked they had no idea what I was talking about lol

Anyway I asked if they had any other child friendly cruises from Dover and they sent me away with the NCL brochure. The prices look amazing, it does make it hard to justify the huge cost of the Disney cruise. Do you think Disney will drop the price at some point if people keep cancelling? Or would this only happen at the last minute to try to fill up spaces?

Not going to cancel at the moment but still finding it hard to imagine that we will actually make it the way things are :-(

Kittb

Monica is going with NCL this May. I'll make sure and talk to her about it when I see her in May.

 

[CustardTart]

Anyway I asked if they had any other child friendly cruises from Dover and they sent me away with the NCL brochure. The prices look amazing, it does make it hard to justify the huge cost of the Disney cruise. Do you think Disney will drop the price at some point if people keep cancelling? Or would this only happen at the last minute to try to fill up spaces?

Not going to cancel at the moment but still finding it hard to imagine that we will actually make it the way things are

I spoke to DH about the cruise options/prices last night and much to my surprise he was very keen to switch to a suite on the NCL June 2010 sailing. We also checked out RCCL sailing from Harwich and their prices came in cheaper too... So I think that we will be cancelling - £4000+ is just too much money to ignore and I doubt DCL will drop their prices by that much...

Monica is going with NCL this May. I'll make sure and talk to her about it when I see her in May.

Good idea! I must ask her what she knows about the cruise line when I see her a week on Saturday...