The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[NancyIL]

We were on the EBTA (April 10-24) and just returned home. After the cruise, we traveled around Spain and Italy for five weeks, and spent week six in London.

Welcome back, Woody! What a GREAT trip you must've had! How was your Navigator of the Seas cruise? How was the land portion of your trip? I hope you're planning to write a report of some sort.

 

[woody73]

The tube takes a lot longer than 15 minutes from Heathrow to London. It is a cheap option, but you can encounter stairs when transferring tube stations when the escalators don't work.

The tube does take longer. I would allow 45 minutes or so, depending on your destination. At terminal 4, the trains can be held for up to eight minutes.

One start of the Piccadilly Line is at Heathrow, so the trains leaving the airport are generally empty, making it easier to board with luggage. On the other hand, we found the trains going to the airport crowded when we boarded.

We encountered stairs (with no escalator or lift) at several tube stations. We often found stairs right before the platforms.

Woody

 

[woody73]

Welcome back, Woody! What a GREAT trip you must've had! How was your Navigator of the Seas cruise? How was the land portion of your trip? I hope you're planning to write a report of some sort.

Thanks, Nancy. The entire trip was fabulous -- the Disney Magic, Navigator of the Seas, and the land portion.

I'm not sure if I'll have time to write a trip report. I have to start working on planning for our Baltic and WBTA cruises.

Woody

 

[NancyIL]

Thanks, Nancy. The entire trip was fabulous -- the Disney Magic, Navigator of the Seas, and the land portion.

I'm not sure if I'll have time to write a trip report. I have to start working on planning for our Baltic and WBTA cruises.

Woody

I'm glad you had a fabulous trip. Enjoy your short time at home while you prepare for your next cruises!

 

[Rogillio]

Having a great time touring London! Yesterday we visited Big Ben, Parliment and Westminster Abby. Today we toured the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Saint Paul's. Learned a few things and thought I'd pass them on...

1. The pole/handrails in the subway cars are the painted the color of the line. This comes in really handy when you are looking at the tube map to see what line you need to be on.

2. The Oyster cards are awesome and huge time saver. You just brush the badge over the senor to get in and again when you leave. I'm not sure how we tell how much money we have left on the cards though. After our last trip tonight, we'll cash out the cards and get whatever is left on the cards back as well as the deposit.

3. Meals are a little high. We spend about $70 for dinner (for 4) last night and about that again for lunch today. Don't mind that for dinner but that's a but much for lunch.

4. The Tower of London was awesome! We spend about 3 hrs there.

5. The Tower Bridge Experience was cool....I think it was 7 lbs for the tour.

6. It is a heck of lot further than it looks from Tower Bridge to St Pauls. We could see the dome of St Paul's from the Tower Bridge and it looked close enough to walk. We did walk but probably should of rode the tube and saved our legs.

7. London Bridge is something to miss. It is a nondescript concrete bridge that looks like any other bridge. I guess the 'real' London Bridge left town years ago...they did not replace it with anything special.

8. We went to bed at about 8 pm and slept till 6 am and everyone is pretty much adjusted to London time.

We are resting a little right now and heading out shortly to see Oliver. Tomorrow we will pick up our rental car somewhere around here and head south to Leeds Castle then on to the Magic tomorrow afternoon.

Off to see Oliver.

~Mike

 

[abacab]

Hey folks. Is anyone using a car service to be picked up from the Dover cruise terminal after the cruise? Did you book in advance?

I need some recommendations; we need to get to Ashford train station after the cruise.

Thanks much!

 

[NancyIL]

Having a great time touring London! Yesterday we visited Big Ben, Parliment and Westminster Abby. Today we toured the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Saint Paul's. Learned a few things and thought I'd pass them on...

1. The pole/handrails in the subway cars are the painted the color of the line. This comes in really handy when you are looking at the tube map to see what line you need to be on.

2. The Oyster cards are awesome and huge time saver. You just brush the badge over the senor to get in and again when you leave. I'm not sure how we tell how much money we have left on the cards though. After our last trip tonight, we'll cash out the cards and get whatever is left on the cards back as well as the deposit.

3. Meals are a little high. We spend about $70 for dinner (for 4) last night and about that again for lunch today. Don't mind that for dinner but that's a but much for lunch.

4. The Tower of London was awesome! We spend about 3 hrs there.

5. The Tower Bridge Experience was cool....I think it was 7 lbs for the tour.

6. It is a heck of lot further than it looks from Tower Bridge to St Pauls. We could see the dome of St Paul's from the Tower Bridge and it looked close enough to walk. We did walk but probably should of rode the tube and saved our legs.

7. London Bridge is something to miss. It is a nondescript concrete bridge that looks like any other bridge. I guess the 'real' London Bridge left town years ago...they did not replace it with anything special.

8. We went to bed at about 8 pm and slept till 6 am and everyone is pretty much adjusted to London time.

We are resting a little right now and heading out shortly to see Oliver. Tomorrow we will pick up our rental car somewhere around here and head south to Leeds Castle then on to the Magic tomorrow afternoon.

Off to see Oliver.

~Mike

Glad you are enjoying your time in London, Mike. I hope Oliver is great!

 

[kaseyC]

Having a great time touring London! Yesterday we visited Big Ben, Parliment and Westminster Abby. Today we toured the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Saint Paul's. Learned a few things and thought I'd pass them on...

1. The pole/handrails in the subway cars are the painted the color of the line. This comes in really handy when you are looking at the tube map to see what line you need to be on.

2. The Oyster cards are awesome and huge time saver. You just brush the badge over the senor to get in and again when you leave. I'm not sure how we tell how much money we have left on the cards though. After our last trip tonight, we'll cash out the cards and get whatever is left on the cards back as well as the deposit.

3. Meals are a little high. We spend about $70 for dinner (for 4) last night and about that again for lunch today. Don't mind that for dinner but that's a but much for lunch.

4. The Tower of London was awesome! We spend about 3 hrs there.

5. The Tower Bridge Experience was cool....I think it was 7 lbs for the tour.

6. It is a heck of lot further than it looks from Tower Bridge to St Pauls. We could see the dome of St Paul's from the Tower Bridge and it looked close enough to walk. We did walk but probably should of rode the tube and saved our legs.

7. London Bridge is something to miss. It is a nondescript concrete bridge that looks like any other bridge. I guess the 'real' London Bridge left town years ago...they did not replace it with anything special.

8. We went to bed at about 8 pm and slept till 6 am and everyone is pretty much adjusted to London time.

We are resting a little right now and heading out shortly to see Oliver. Tomorrow we will pick up our rental car somewhere around here and head south to Leeds Castle then on to the Magic tomorrow afternoon.

Off to see Oliver.

~Mike

Sounds like you all are having a blast. Let us know how Oliver was, we have tickets to see it in London on June 22.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Magic making very good progress up the English Channel.

 

[cindy18]

Andrew, she looks pretty close. Is she due into Dover before tomorrow morning?

 

[scrapycruiser]

Thanks, Mike for the London reviews. We're going to see Oliver, 3rd row seats ! Also plan to see Tower of London and Tower Bridge Exp. Also, St Paul, esp interesting as we're Episcopalians. Plan to get one of those delicious cheese sandwiches at Borough Market. Samantha Brown turned us on to them on one of her trips to London. Cheap and Good !!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew, she looks pretty close. Is she due into Dover before tomorrow morning?

She is currently doing 19 knots, she will have to slow down for the busy channel but she must be in very early Saturday morning now.

My plans are to be down there about 8am, she will be there well before that...

 

[scrapycruiser]

Andrew....WOW !!!!!!!! Now that is exciting to see !! Are you still going to Dover tomorrow ? Anxious to see the pictures ! THANKS !!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks, Mike for the London reviews. We're going to see Oliver, 3rd row seats ! Also plan to see Tower of London and Tower Bridge Exp. Also, St Paul, esp interesting as we're Episcopalians. Plan to get one of those delicious cheese sandwiches at Borough Market. Samantha Brown turned us on to them on one of her trips to London. Cheap and Good !!

Good plans, Borough Market had some development this week, but its still OK to go don't let that put you off, the Cheese and pies are great, do walk to the Globe from there, then Tate, across Millenium bridge and to St Paul's.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew....WOW !!!!!!!! Now that is exciting to see !! Are you still going to Dover tomorrow ? Anxious to see the pictures ! THANKS !!

Yes, current plans are to be there for 8am she will be in well before that but to get some good sunlight for photos, we might stay to 5pm to see her go, not too sure.

Remember we are ahead of USA east Coast by 5 hours so 5pm departure is 12 noon!!! (EST) 9am West Coast.

We will park and also drive around Dover.

We will take photos and upload when we get an internet link

Magic ETA at Dover 03:45am

 

[aurorafan65]

Having a great time touring London! Yesterday we visited Big Ben, Parliment and Westminster Abby.

why do I hear Chevy Chase said 'hey look kids, Parliament, Big Ben.....



glad you're having fun

 

[mkmommy]

If we were to take the tube from Heathrow to Victoria Station about how many steps would we have to carry our luggage up.? I understand there are no elevators, and I remember some tube stations being a long way up to the street level.

 

[DW2DH&DS]

why do I hear Chevy Chase said 'hey look kids, Parliament, Big Ben.....



glad you're having fun

HOLIDAY ROOOOOOO OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OAD, HOLIDAY ROOOOO OH OH OH OH OH OAD!!!!! WOOHOO!!!! SORRY...had to do it!!

 

[Rogillio]

Sounds like you all are having a blast. Let us know how Oliver was, we have tickets to see it in London on June 22.

Oliver was absolutely wonderful! The whole family loved it. I highkly reccomend it!

We took a double decker bus to the theater. It was really fun. We used the Oyster card for the bus....the only differance in the tube and the bus is you don't scan the card when you get off the bus (the tube you scan before and after you ride).

After the show we got off the subway at Green Park and walked over the Buckingham Palace just to take a look.

Tomorrow we head south!

~Mike

 

[NancyIL]

If we were to take the tube from Heathrow to Victoria Station about how many steps would we have to carry our luggage up.? I understand there are no elevators, and I remember some tube stations being a long way up to the street level.

You have to transfer to the Circle, District, or Victoria line to go to Victoria. If the escalators aren't working, you could have 1 or 2 flights of steps. NOT fun with luggage!