The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[aurorafan65]

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!!

 

[CarolAnnC]

DH is currently in London and took the tube (I think) from Heathrow direct to Paddington which was only a 15 minute ride. He plans on doing the return trip tomorrow to the airport.

He highly recommends this transportation. That being said, we are using a car service for the cruise.

DH arrived home a while ago and informed me he took the "Heathrow Express" and it was great - only 14 minutes to get from Heathrow to Paddington. He says if you buy the round trip, you save 4 Pounds. But if you pay for your ticket on board the train, it is 4 Pounds additional.

 

[CarolAnnC]

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.




~Mike

John says you can go to the reloading kiosks that look like ATM's to check your card balance. But, the machines won't accept any credit card that does not have chip and pin. So he had to go to the window to put more money on his Oyster Card.

 

[Crissup]

Having a great time touring London! Yesterday we visited Big Ben

Did you have to go into the clock tower to see Big Ben?

3. Meals are a little high.

Yes, food is expensive in the UK and portions are small. An appetizer is typically sized for one person, not something you share.

7. London Bridge is something to miss. It is a nondescript concrete bridge that looks like any other bridge.

Agreed, last year we were out meandering around More London Place after dinner and wandered onto the bridge. I actually ended up sitting at the beginning of the bridge reading email while the others wandered out to the center and came back. Just not a big deal.

The Tower Bridge is cool, but it was closed because the elevator had fallen earlier in the day when I was there and broke several people's ankles when it crashed to the botton. So, I just kind of wander to the center of it while I made some phone calls. Then I had to quickly head back to meet colleagues at a pub across from More London Place, so didn't tour too much.

 

[2bundles]

Live from Dover! I watched the Magic come in around 5.30am. Beautiful day, although clouding over now. Can't wait to get on.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Live from Dover! I watched the Magic come in around 5.30am. Beautiful day, although clouding over now. Can't wait to get on.

Cross refer my thread LIVE FROM DOVER there are 25 photos up.

Everyone going on please wave

Have a good one, we are watching...

 

[cindy18]

Wish I was there! For everyone going on, we are waving on this side of the Atlantic too!!!!

 

[lzj21428]

Wish I was there! For everyone going on, we are waving on this side of the Atlantic too!!!!

Ditto!

 

[Celestine]

Did you have to go into the clock tower to see Big Ben?

Big Ben itself is actually the bell that makes the noise, so yes you would need to be inside to see it Sorry if I appear to be stating the obvious but is a common misconception that Big Ben is the whole structure when in fact that is actually called St STephens clack tower

Celestine

 

[scrapycruiser]

Andrew.....how exciting !!!! Loved seeing the photos...THANKS !

Can't wait til it's our turn !!!!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew.....how exciting !!!! Loved seeing the photos...THANKS !

Can't wait til it's our turn !!!!!

Yes cant wait for our turn after todays *dry run*, we were laughing that going down the Motorway with trees each side, it felt like the Beeline Expressway, and going to Port Canaveral, we have a tunnel before port not a series of bridges but then the same sight the Magic.

 

[aurorafan65]

Big Ben itself is actually the bell that makes the noise, so yes you would need to be inside to see it Sorry if I appear to be stating the obvious but is a common misconception that Big Ben is the whole structure when in fact that is actually called St STephens clack tower

Celestine

I didn't know this - I assumed the tower was big ben - you learn something new every day

 

[Ivory]

Can anyone tell me if your able to change currency on the ship? I have pounds and euros, but wondering about the swedish and danish currency. I will be bringing a credit card for purchases but will need some currency, wondering if thats available on the ship. If not are there ATM's at the ports? Thanks for any responses in advance!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Can anyone tell me if your able to change currency on the ship? I have pounds and euros, but wondering about the swedish and danish currency. I will be bringing a credit card for purchases but will need some currency, wondering if thats available on the ship. If not are there ATM's at the ports? Thanks for any responses in advance!

Yes they do it, but its a company rate, and this corporate rate isnt good, so dont do it on ship.

I will be taking and using my credit card in the ports, (not debit card as they add fees,) and Euros and Dollars.

 

[scrapycruiser]

Is anyone doing a tour in Tallin ?
We were there 2 yrs ago and loved the old medieval town, and want to see some of that this time,too. But were thinking of a 1/2 day tour to see something different.

Any thoughts on Tallinn ?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Is anyone doing a tour in Tallin ?
We were there 2 yrs ago and loved the old medieval town, and want to see some of that this time,too. But were thinking of a 1/2 day tour to see something different.

Any thoughts on Tallinn ?

Leaving it to DCL, with the six hour Tallinn Highlights, concert, meal, and toy.

Be my first time but from reading books the port to old town is very doable either walk or short taxi, DIY is an option, I have booked tours in each port, all with DCL bar St Petes, just as someone else organises and I do not have to think to much about it.

 

[el_bandito]

The Queen has put the flags up for my American friends.


You will see all the cars flying the English flags, just for you........

those flags may not be flying if we win!!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

those flags may not be flying if we win!!!

A famous person once said.....


Football is a game of two halves.


We just like to make it interesting.........

The flags will be flying, 'when' we win!!!

Problem is we have it here on ITV and we tend to loose and they tend to miss the goals there, we win if its on the BBC.

 

[el_bandito]

We will differ, HE without stops still takes a while to get to Paddington, then getting to get a taxi and a longer journey in London traffic, its longer and far more aggro, I am still talking Mayfair here with a direct Tube service to Hyde park corner, for places such as Paddington area HE is indeed quicker.

Anyway lets leave it there.....

You're so helpful. ty ty ty

I'm going to pull together our plans and send you specific questions. Thanks for helping these yankees...

My biggest problem is British Air. Sigh... During the strike the BWI to London flight never flew. I offered to change my flight from Newark to London (as BA clearly got those up and running) but they wanted to charge me a change fee. GRRRRRR.... I was offering to travel 2 1/2 hours to a different airport and be able to still fly so they didn't have to reimburse me. Soooo uncooperative. I was shocked.

As it is my early July flight looks like it will fly (we may get trapped in London however.. which is actually cool cause i can work remotely and wife would love the extra time). But i've booked back up refundable flights just in case. Does the BA union not understand there is a recession on?

 

[el_bandito]

A famous person once said.....


Football is a game of two halves.


We just like to make it interesting.........

The flags will be flying, 'when' we win!!!

Problem is we have it here on ITV and we tend to loose and they tend to miss the goals there, we win if its on the BBC.

i'm going to have to turn this on. sounds very exciting!