The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Yup. I'm a little stunned that internet access would be so poor even when the ship is in port. But then again, maybe people are too busy when the ship is in port to bother with those of us eagerly awaiting news. What happens if I buy the 500 minute internet package (which I had been planning to do) and then can't get online to use them?????

We have a few things coming into play here and will not know the balance of the issues until they are back.

The trip is port intensive, and internet is expensive, they might be too tiered to post, hence we might see something last two sea days, but reports so far indication internet is poor.

Now the Magics internet is poor, I know there are posts on the main forum saying its good, I do not think so.

I was under cove cafe so should have had good reception, I didn't, I complained the concierge offered a full refund. Lat day or so I was able to use it but it was slow.

I would see reports and then decide, we cant call the issues, as yet, other cruise ships go there, RCCL, and my relatives were able to post from the RCCL ship, photos, etc.

But if it doesnt work for a number of days complain, one or two they cover that in the internet use rules.

 

[cindy18]

Good points all, Andrew. I may speak to them before I buy the package, or (even though this is less cost-effective), buy a smaller package as a hedge and see how that goes. Really would like to be able to post here as the trip is going on because there are so many questions that people have and I know it makes the pre-travel stress easier to have those questions answered.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Hello from Helsinki!!!

Yes, the internet is very poor onboard and here in Helsinki there is internet in the port for pay. Not expensive compared to the ship. '

In Warnemunde, the train is a very short distance from the pier and totally walkable. In St. Pete, the debarkation process was a little slower than other ports due to immigration but not bad at all. Also, the Disney crew did not try to muscle you into ship excursions, and the immigration did not care whether you were on a ship excursion or a private one.- As long as you had a travel ticket from an operator liscensed, you were fine.

Disney had local entertainers on the ship for both evenings in St. Petes, I think, so that is an evening option.

One note, we had a private tour with Anatasia, the tour was great, the guide was very knowledgeable and spoke very good English, but the store she sent us to shop, the prices were double of what they should have been. This was very disappointing to me since they were so highly recommended. I did not tip our guide since I spent so much in the store, I am sure she got a sweet kickback.

Flame away, I will be back in the states in a couple of weeks. The cruise is great.

Tammyalphabet

 

[cindy18]

Hello from Helsinki!!!

Yes, the internet is very poor onboard and here in Helsinki there is internet in the port for pay. Not expensive compared to the ship. '

In Warnemunde, the train is a very short distance from the pier and totally walkable. In St. Pete, the debarkation process was a little slower than other ports due to immigration but not bad at all. Also, the Disney crew did not try to muscle you into ship excursions, and the immigration did not care whether you were on a ship excursion or a private one.- As long as you had a travel ticket from an operator liscensed, you were fine.

Disney had local entertainers on the ship for both evenings in St. Petes, I think, so that is an evening option.

One note, we had a private tour with Anatasia, the tour was great, the guide was very knowledgeable and spoke very good English, but the store she sent us to shop, the prices were double of what they should have been. This was very disappointing to me since they were so highly recommended. I did not tip our guide since I spent so much in the store, I am sure she got a sweet kickback.

Flame away, I will be back in the states in a couple of weeks. The cruise is great.

Tammyalphabet

Thank you for this post!!!!

Very helpful and appreciated. Bummer about internet access. And big bummer about the rip-off in the store in St. Petersburg. Will have to think carefully about that one. So glad you are having fun. Hope the weather is holding up for you.

 

[RJAYL]

I agree, Joanne! Warnemunde looks lovely but I've always wanted to see Berlin. I'd hate to go all that way and then wish we had. It's just DH & I so we don't mind the train ride. I can see people with little ones opting to stay closer to the ship. That would be a very long day for them.

If we didn't have 2 8 yo and one 11 yo with us, I would definitely being going into Berlin. I didn't think the girls would enjoy the long trip both ways to get there.

We debated for quite awhile before deciding to go into Berlin for the day. Our DDs are 14 and 12, so we think they can handle the day, and luckily we have a sea day to recover afterwards. I don't think we would have done it if they were a few years younger. But ultimately, Berlin just seems like too important a city not to experience, even if only for a few hours. I think we will all be exhausted that evening, but hopefully it will be worth it. And maybe we can some decent local beers over lunch while we're there!

We are sticking with Rostock...just being in Germany is good enough for me

What ever floats your Magic (Boat) !

Even though I would love to see Berlin the prospect of close to 3 hours each way is too much for a day trip! I will save it for another trip with or without the whole family!

I think I look at these cruises a little differently than most, I like cruise touring because it gives me the ability to travel with the family! I could not do this type of touring without the support of a cruiselines facilities as a support base! It is nice to have built in childcare activities so I do not have to always take the children with us!

I also I look at these cruises as a taste, & that I will always be back if & when I desire.

Germany & Austria & alot of eastern europe are best done on land or a river cruise. I plan to do these later when either my crew is either easier to handle or I can leave them at home or school!

I am still debating about the shore excursion to Seville on the Barcelona Repo as it is a 2 hour drive, but I really want to see the Alcazar!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Good points all, Andrew. I may speak to them before I buy the package, or (even though this is less cost-effective), buy a smaller package as a hedge and see how that goes. Really would like to be able to post here as the trip is going on because there are so many questions that people have and I know it makes the pre-travel stress easier to have those questions answered.

Hello from Helsinki!!!

Yes, the internet is very poor onboard and here in Helsinki there is internet in the port for pay. Not expensive compared to the ship. '

In Warnemunde, the train is a very short distance from the pier and totally walkable. In St. Pete, the debarkation process was a little slower than other ports due to immigration but not bad at all. Also, the Disney crew did not try to muscle you into ship excursions, and the immigration did not care whether you were on a ship excursion or a private one.- As long as you had a travel ticket from an operator liscensed, you were fine.

Disney had local entertainers on the ship for both evenings in St. Petes, I think, so that is an evening option.

One note, we had a private tour with Anatasia, the tour was great, the guide was very knowledgeable and spoke very good English, but the store she sent us to shop, the prices were double of what they should have been. This was very disappointing to me since they were so highly recommended. I did not tip our guide since I spent so much in the store, I am sure she got a sweet kickback.

Flame away, I will be back in the states in a couple of weeks. The cruise is great.

Tammyalphabet

Tammy thank you so much for posting and giving confirmation on our speculations.

 

[RJAYL]

Hello from Helsinki!!!

Yes, the internet is very poor onboard and here in Helsinki there is internet in the port for pay. Not expensive compared to the ship. '

In Warnemunde, the train is a very short distance from the pier and totally walkable. In St. Pete, the debarkation process was a little slower than other ports due to immigration but not bad at all. Also, the Disney crew did not try to muscle you into ship excursions, and the immigration did not care whether you were on a ship excursion or a private one.- As long as you had a travel ticket from an operator liscensed, you were fine.

Disney had local entertainers on the ship for both evenings in St. Petes, I think, so that is an evening option.

One note, we had a private tour with Anatasia, the tour was great, the guide was very knowledgeable and spoke very good English, but the store she sent us to shop, the prices were double of what they should have been. This was very disappointing to me since they were so highly recommended. I did not tip our guide since I spent so much in the store, I am sure she got a sweet kickback.

Flame away, I will be back in the states in a couple of weeks. The cruise is great.

Tammyalphabet

Thanks for the post as we have booked with Anastasia, though our tour schedule is so busy I am not sure how much shopping we will do?

I was hoping for a good dumpling restaurant for lunch though!

Did they still have the shops by the ship, I heard they were reasonable!

Who was your tour guide?

 

[goingsouth]

We debated for quite awhile before deciding to go into Berlin for the day. Our DDs are 14 and 12, so we think they can handle the day, and luckily we have a sea day to recover afterwards. I don't think we would have done it if they were a few years younger. But ultimately, Berlin just seems like too important a city not to experience, even if only for a few hours. I think we will all be exhausted that evening, but hopefully it will be worth it. And maybe we can some decent local beers over lunch while we're there!

Our daughters our the same ages. They have been studying events in Germany in school. I think they can appreciate it too. I'm hoping we catch some sleep on the way back to the ship!


joanne

 

[MrsScooby]

Well, I guess the way I interpreted what she wrote was that if you're going into Berlin with Disney, you will more or less be off the boat (and on the train) by 7:15. I think the Disney tours that are more local have a later start time. So for those of us who are DIY, it sounds like there ought to be a nice window right after the Disney train people leave.

Oh I hope so
I guess I just hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Yup. I'm a little stunned that internet access would be so poor even when the ship is in port. But then again, maybe people are too busy when the ship is in port to bother with those of us eagerly awaiting news. What happens if I buy the 500 minute internet package (which I had been planning to do) and then can't get online to use them?????

I'm thinking that unless reports change that we are going for the smallest package

We have a few things coming into play here and will not know the balance of the issues until they are back.

The trip is port intensive, and internet is expensive, they might be too tiered to post, hence we might see something last two sea days, but reports so far indication internet is poor.

Now the Magics internet is poor, I know there are posts on the main forum saying its good, I do not think so.

I was under cove cafe so should have had good reception, I didn't, I complained the concierge offered a full refund. Lat day or so I was able to use it but it was slow.

I would see reports and then decide, we cant call the issues, as yet, other cruise ships go there, RCCL, and my relatives were able to post from the RCCL ship, photos, etc.

But if it doesnt work for a number of days complain, one or two they cover that in the internet use rules.

I remember times having a good internet connection on the PC Repo cruise we went on, but I was not on fequently and I did hear that others had issues as well.
Good to know that a refund is an option.

What ever floats your Magic (Boat) !

Even though I would love to see Berlin the prospect of close to 3 hours each way is too much for a day trip! I will save it for another trip with or without the whole family!

I think I look at these cruises a little differently than most, I like cruise touring because it gives me the ability to travel with the family! I could not do this type of touring without the support of a cruiselines facilities as a support base! It is nice to have built in childcare activities so I do not have to always take the children with us!

I also I look at these cruises as a taste, & that I will always be back if & when I desire.

Germany & Austria & alot of eastern europe are best done on land or a river cruise. I plan to do these later when either my crew is either easier to handle or I can leave them at home or school!

I am still debating about the shore excursion to Seville on the Barcelona Repo as it is a 2 hour drive, but I really want to see the Alcazar!

Yes, I think if I knew I would definitely have an option to go back to the Baltic that would change the way I looked at things for this trip.

But this is my first trip to Europe and with my DS starting college in a couple years and my DD right behind it is not likely we will be able to afford this type of trip in the near future.
I agree I prefer to do certain places as land vacations. Italy would have to be a land vacation as there is too much I want to see there. Hoping to go back to London and Germany as well for longer vacations.

 

[MrsScooby]

Hello from Helsinki!!!

Yes, the internet is very poor onboard and here in Helsinki there is internet in the port for pay. Not expensive compared to the ship. '

In Warnemunde, the train is a very short distance from the pier and totally walkable. In St. Pete, the debarkation process was a little slower than other ports due to immigration but not bad at all. Also, the Disney crew did not try to muscle you into ship excursions, and the immigration did not care whether you were on a ship excursion or a private one.- As long as you had a travel ticket from an operator liscensed, you were fine.

Disney had local entertainers on the ship for both evenings in St. Petes, I think, so that is an evening option.

One note, we had a private tour with Anatasia, the tour was great, the guide was very knowledgeable and spoke very good English, but the store she sent us to shop, the prices were double of what they should have been. This was very disappointing to me since they were so highly recommended. I did not tip our guide since I spent so much in the store, I am sure she got a sweet kickback.

Flame away, I will be back in the states in a couple of weeks. The cruise is great.

Tammyalphabet

Thanks so much for posting

No flames here

What store was this in St Pete?

There is an online store I found that looked reasonable for Russian souvenirs. It looked legit as the website had been around for a while.

http://www.kremlingifts.com/

I'm kind of using the website as a guide to prices
I mean unless you see a person making something how can you be sure you are not buying something made in China or some other country.
I almost spent alot of money on an Russian ornament in a store in NYC until I noticed the tag said "designed in Russia-handkrafted in China"

 

[MrsScooby]

Thanks for the post as we have booked with Anastasia, though our tour schedule is so busy I am not sure how much shopping we will do?

I was hoping for a good dumpling restaurant for lunch though!

Did they still have the shops by the ship, I heard they were reasonable!

Who was your tour guide?

Good questions

Maybe Tammy you can email Anastasia and let them know what you thought
Hopefully just that tour guide.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Oh I hope so
I guess I just hope for the best and prepare for the worst.



I'm thinking that unless reports change that we are going for the smallest package


I remember times having a good internet connection on the PC Repo cruise we went on, but I was not on frequently and I did hear that others had issues as well.
Good to know that a refund is an option.


Yes, I think if I knew I would definitely have an option to go back to the Baltic that would change the way I looked at things for this trip.

But this is my first trip to Europe and with my DS starting college in a couple years and my DD right behind it is not likely we will be able to afford this type of trip in the near future.
I agree I prefer to do certain places as land vacations. Italy would have to be a land vacation as there is too much I want to see there. Hoping to go back to London and Germany as well for longer vacations.

INTERNET

2007 Med good bar last day at sea, that was poor.
2008 Panama Repo, good most days in early morning, then poor in afternoons and evenings, cant recall any outages.
2009 Very poor, out most days, couldn't connect, even going up to Cove Cafe or down to promenade lounge.

 

[MrsG]

We are probably just going to use the laptop to store pictures. That's basically all we could use it for in the Med.

 

[MrsScooby]

INTERNET

2007 Med good bar last day at sea, that was poor.
2008 Panama Repo, good most days in early morning, then poor in afternoons and evenings, cant recall any outages.
2009 Very poor, out most days, couldn't connect, even going up to Cove Cafe or down to promenade lounge.

Ok, so they are very variable-tending more toward bad.

So, hope for the best, prepare for the worst
Feel sorry for anyone that really needs the internet.

We are probably just going to use the laptop to store pictures. That's basically all we could use it for in the Med.

That's mostly what we are bringing our laptop for

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

We are probably just going to use the laptop to store pictures. That's basically all we could use it for in the Med.

Me to.

 

[TDC Nala]

I won't be buying an internet package due to how bad the internet was on the Med cruise in 2007 and the reports that it is also bad on the Baltic cruises. If I use Internet it will be per minute, not in a package. I'm planning to at least try to use it some.

I think I need to get a KGB tee shirt.

 

[Stimpy]

What ever floats your Magic (Boat) !

Even though I would love to see Berlin the prospect of close to 3 hours each way is too much for a day trip! I will save it for another trip with or without the whole family!

I think I look at these cruises a little differently than most, I like cruise touring because it gives me the ability to travel with the family! I could not do this type of touring without the support of a cruiselines facilities as a support base! It is nice to have built in childcare activities so I do not have to always take the children with us!

I also I look at these cruises as a taste, & that I will always be back if & when I desire.

Germany & Austria & alot of eastern europe are best done on land or a river cruise. I plan to do these later when either my crew is either easier to handle or I can leave them at home or school!

I am still debating about the shore excursion to Seville on the Barcelona Repo as it is a 2 hour drive, but I really want to see the Alcazar!

That was our feeling too. We plan on doing Germany again in the future so hitting Berlin was not a big deal for us. Plus with my 2 kids, I don't know who would feel more tortured on the long trip there...them or me

I'm looking forward to having the day free to just hang out in port and have a few Biers!

 

[woody73]

One note, we had a private tour with Anatasia, the tour was great, the guide was very knowledgeable and spoke very good English, but the store she sent us to shop, the prices were double of what they should have been. This was very disappointing to me since they were so highly recommended.

Tammy, thank you for posting.

On our recent cruise in Europe, we booked a tour through an independent tour company. Our guide was excellent. But at one point he was a bit careless and left on our table the e-mailed instructions he received from the tour company.

Right on top was a page on shopping. The tour company negotiates and selects the souvenir shops. The email had a list of souvenir shops and the commissions they would pay the tour company. The commissions started at 40% and went up from there.

Woody

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Tammy, thank you for posting.

On our recent cruise in Europe, we booked a tour through an independent tour company. Our guide was excellent. But at one point he was a bit careless and left on our table the e-mailed instructions he received from the tour company.

Right on top was a page on shopping. The tour company negotiates and selects the souvenir shops. The email had a list of souvenir shops and the commissions they would pay the tour company. The commissions started at 40% and went up from there.

Woody

 

[denise]

About Berlin....DD (20) is the one who wanted to go there! She wants to see what is left of the Berlin wall. This is the port she was most interested in...go figure!We are doing the Berlin on our own tour, should be interesting.

Really hope the internet gets better. I have never used it on a cruise but this time I think I will have to. I have to keep current on my Mom's bills. She just passed away this past Wednesday and bills are coming in I must pay. We are paying all ours ahead of leaving next week but I will not know what hers are until they come.....