The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[Youandme]

This is the first Disney Cruise that our family is taking. I understand that veteran/past Disney Cruise participants get priority for selecting thier shore excursions. I think this is a great perk. I am however concerned that as this is our first time Disney cruise, there may not be any good excurions left by the time we are able to sign-up.

I would like feedback as to if I am worring much about nothing. Please share your first time cruise experience. Where you able to register for the shore excursions you desired to take? What was your experience like?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

This is the first Disney Cruise that our family is taking. I understand that veteran/past Disney Cruise participants get priority for selecting their shore excursions. I think this is a great perk. I am however concerned that as this is our first time Disney cruise, there may not be any good excursions left by the time we are able to sign-up.

I would like feedback as to if I am worrying much about nothing. Please share your first time cruise experience. Where you able to register for the shore excursions you desired to take? What was your experience like?

I think you will be generally ok, the DREAM one will go fast, you can put in a request. The others, St Pete's is the highlight, you have to have a shore trip or private tour to get a visa, so there will be a high percentage booking thoose.

But other ports will go slower high availability and even a lot of people will be doing it them selves, as all of the ports Bar St Petes and Berlin are very accessible DYI.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Rotations on these cruises are the standard 3, and will rotate normally ie.

• APLAPLAPLAPL
• LAPLAPLAPLAP
• PLAPLAPLAPLA

More detail on the 7/18/2010 thread,

 

[missy4414]

Some of the shore excursions for the Northern European cruises are truly amazing!!! I was wondering what all of you would suggest wearing to the Royal Ball? The description says "Dress code: This event, which is not a formal affair, does not stipulate a dress code; however, elegant yet comfortable evening attire is suggested, as well as flat, comfortable shoes."

So if I understand that right...then my husband doesn't need a tux and I wouldn't need an evening gown. But am I wrong? So suggestions would be very much appreciated.

- Missy

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

We are on the fence about Berlin, Germany. Two schools of thought:

1. By the time you spend 6 hrs on a train, there is not much time to do much in Berlin. And Berlin is really just a big city much like any other big, modern city.

or

2. It'd be a shame to be this close to a historically significant city such as Berlin and not go just because you didn't want to sit on a train for 6 hrs. There are other cities that are much closer that are more interesting.


So those are two point's of view we are struggling with. We've seen both on cruise critic and other web site forums. I keep drawing the comparison to Chivitevechia/Rome....the difference is, I knew the Colosseum, St Pauls and the Vatican where there. I'm not sure what "must see" things there are in Berlin.

~Mike

We are also really on the fence about what to do about Berlin. My husband and older daughter want to go, and my younger daughter and I don't really want to go. We've never split up before in port (apart from on Castaway Cay) but that may happen. I can't tell how interesting/charming it would be to stay in Warnemunde or otherwise visit Rostock (do I have these names right, or at least close to right?) instead.

My thoughts on Berlin :
This is our 2nd Baltic cruise.I doubt we'll be back. Plus we're not in our 30's . Berlin played a significant role in our history...our recent history ( compared with Rome). We will have our Grandson, 15, and I'd like to take the opportunity to expose him to this important time in our past.So , for me, it's not a question of do we go to Berlin, but which tour. Yes, it's a long train ride, but so was our bus into Florence from La Spezia ( 2 hrs ) in '07. I think we slept on the way back. But I'm so glad we saw David, the Duomo, the architecture, Ponte Vecchio, the gelato .Now if we had young children, I might think differently, but if you don't have young children why pay the enormous cruise fare for the Baltic and not see the key sights. Years from now when you reflect on your trip what will you remember ?

Try to get a copy of John Lawrence's Baltic Video. He was a CD for Princess for years, and made an outstanding video that includes Berlin !!

I really need to see the cost for the Berlin trips to make my mind up. While I don't want to miss an important city, I don't want to spend an outrageous amount of money on it.

I'm also curious about the closer excursions. They sound interesting too, and my kids are more interested in seeing German culture and not so pumped about the long train trip.

Based on other lines, I'd expect them to run about $350- $375 per person for the full day tours. Of course I am just paying for one person, so that won't affect me as much as it would a family. They'll probably be child prices but they won't be a lot less.

Eek! At that price it would be about $1875 for my family for 6 hours in Berlin.

Unfortunately, that is not going to happen. I have budgeted $6000 for all short trips and excursions for my family of 5 and I don't want to use up 1/3 of it for one trip.

I'll have to check out what the best alternative is.

Shore trips pricing is in ''final processing'' and should be out within two weeks.

The TRAIN to BERLIN is a TGV, thats a high speed modern express train, full of comforts, Air Con etc. Travel time is 2.75 hours each way.

Might even get some friendly friends coming around to keep kids amused...

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Based on other cruise lines prices the ones I am interested in are ball park:-

OSLO

Hadeland Glass Works, and Viking Ships $99pp ($400)
OR,
Oslo Highlights. $69pp ($280)

COPENHAGEN

Charming Copenhagen - Walk and Cruise, $89pp ($360)
OR,

City Highlights and Open Air History of Denmark. $120>$150pp ($480)

WARNEMUNDE

Berlin Private Vehicles with Premium Train Service (application in with DCL concierge).
Vehicle only from $799 (1>3 people) van(1>6) $849 > $1299 (+ Train ride $200pp. + guide.
Best of Berlin $319pp, old and new $319pp


ST PETE'S

Private tour: Anastasia Travel Company .

Maybe; A Night of Russian Ballet. $99pp ($400)

TALLIN

Tallinn by Tram, $99pp ($400)
OR,
Tallinn Highlights. $89pp ($380)

STOCKHOLM

Historical Stockholm and Sigtuna, $120pp ($480)
OR,
City Hall, Royal Palace and Old Town. $89pp ($380)

 

[RJAYL]

Shore trips pricing is in ''final processing'' and should be out within two weeks.

The TRAIN to BERLIN is a TGV, thats a high speed modern express train, full of comforts, Air Con etc. Travel time is 2.75 hours each way.

Might even get some friendly friends coming around to keep kids amused...

If I go to Berlin I might follow your lead Andrew & do the Sig trip!

 

[RJAYL]

Based on other lines, I'd expect them to run about $350- $375 per person for the full day tours. Of course I am just paying for one person, so that won't affect me as much as it would a family. There'll probably be child prices but they won't be a lot less.

How about you take my kids with you & ill go with Andrew?

You remember them from our lunch at Walts?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

If I go to Berlin I might follow your lead Andrew & do the Sig trip!

How about you take my kids with you & ill go with Andrew?

You remember them from our lunch at Walts?

Do I get the best bit of the deal...

 

[Rogillio]

Shore trips pricing is in ''final processing'' and should be out within two weeks.

The TRAIN to BERLIN is a TGV, thats a high speed modern express train, full of comforts, Air Con etc. Travel time is 2.75 hours each way.

Might even get some friendly friends coming around to keep kids amused...

That is great! But how come the DCL shore excursion says the train is NOT air conditioned?

Also, looks like a gamble on whether you get the train or a bus as most of the Berline excurisons sayd "train or bus".


~Mike

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

That is great! But how come the DCL shore excursion says the train is NOT air conditioned?

Also, looks like a gamble on whether you get the train or a bus as most of the Berlin excursions says "train or bus".


~Mike

I think they are covering themselves, seen pictures of them and they are TGV's ie they are the same type of train used on EUROSTAR, and the are modern and this is Germany. They demand that type of thing, but maybe Aircon in Northern Europe is not the same as Air con in Florida. So maybe thats why they say it.

Most are train yes read one as train or bus, presume they have limited seats on one train and if shore bookings to Berlin are low ''the bus'' one gets on the train, if overall bookings are high they get bumped onto the bus.

 

[TDC Nala]

How about you take my kids with you & ill go with Andrew?

You remember them from our lunch at Walts?

I remember your kids, Robert! I'd take them with me, especially the little girl who was really good at telling jokes.

 

[din]

I think they are covering themselves, seen pictures of them and they are TGV's ie they are the same type of train used on EUROSTAR, and the are modern and this is Germany. They demand that type of thing, but maybe Aircon in Northern Europe is not the same as Air con in Florida. So maybe thats why they say it.

Most are train yes read one as train or bus, presume they have limited seats on one train and if shore bookings to Berlin are low ''the bus'' one gets on the train, if overall bookings are high they get bumped onto the bus.

I could be wrong on this but in researching on another board, the high speed train is early in the morning and does not run on weekends (it could mean that it is an express train with limited stops). There is only one train in the morning while the rest of the train is regular train (or a train with more stops).

Like I said I could be wrong in regards to the type of trains running.

 

[RJAYL]

I remember your kids, Robert! I'd take them with me, especially the little girl who was really good at telling jokes.

Karisa, I think she turned 6 on that cruise!

She is now doing video's on U-Tube!

 

[OurDogCisco]

My head is spinning... with all these choices. So far the only thing I've decided on is the Tivoli Gardens in Denmark. Originally, we were going to do it on our own but since Disney's tour is offering early entry we are going to sign up for the Disney one. Too many choices... I hope I can make a decision soon! How is everyone else doing? I'm going to e-mail Anatasia for private tour today to see the prices. But it is hard to compare since Disney doesn't have their prices out. I do know I want to go to the market to buy the Russian Nesting dolls, see Hermitage, Catherine's Palace, the Majestic Spilled Blood Catherdal. We are very excited about this port since I'm half Russian. And, I started researching my dh's family and he is definitely Swedish and English. So, this cruise will be fun in that way.

 

[scrapycruiser]

My head is spinning... with all these choices. So far the only thing I've decided on is the Tivoli Gardens in Denmark. Originally, we were going to do it on our own but since Disney's tour is offering early entry we are going to sign up for the Disney one. Too many choices... I hope I can make a decision soon! How is everyone else doing? I'm going to e-mail Anatasia for private tour today to see the prices. But it is hard to compare since Disney doesn't have their prices out. I do know I want to go to the market to buy the Russian Nesting dolls, see Hermitage, Catherine's Palace, the Majestic Spilled Blood Catherdal. We are very excited about this port since I'm half Russian. And, I started researching my dh's family and he is definitely Swedish and English. So, this cruise will be fun in that way.

Just so you'll know, when we were in St P 2008 there was a shop next to the ship that sold lots of nesting dolls, amber jewelry, tiny Febr (sp?) eggs for necklaces ( very popular ) and hand painted boxes...also very popular.I bought 3, one has an old fashion sleigh. It's beautiful ! We were on the Jewel of the Seas and they also had the same for sale at comp prices.

Thanks for letting me know about the early entry to Tivoli. I missed that and we're wanting to take my Grandson there. My DH reminded me that the shuttle drops you off very close to Tivoli.

I'm waiting for prices,too !!!

 

[Madisonznana]

Just so you'll know, when we were in St P 2008 there was a shop next to the ship that sold lots of nesting dolls, amber jewelry, tiny Febr (sp?) eggs for necklaces ( very popular ) and hand painted boxes...also very popular.I bought 3, one has an old fashion sleigh. It's beautiful ! We were on the Jewel of the Seas and they also had the same for sale at comp prices.

Thanks for letting me know about the early entry to Tivoli. I missed that and we're wanting to take my Grandson there. My DH reminded me that the shuttle drops you off very close to Tivoli.

I'm waiting for prices,too !!!

Someone on cruise critic said you have to be careful with the nesting dolls. She bought some at a small shop and noticed after she got home hers were made in China.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Someone on cruise critic said you have to be careful with the nesting dolls. She bought some at a small shop and noticed after she got home hers were made in China.

Awe that is sad. We actually have a Russian Store here in Sacramento and they sell the dolls. But I wanted some from Russia. I bet you have to go into town to get the real ones.

I'm wondering how you pay your private tour guide in Rubes? Do you purchase them in Russia? I don't want to use an ATM there. I'm a little leary about using a private guide in respect to the paying part. Can I pay in Euros?

 

[woody73]

when we were in St P 2008 there was a shop next to the ship that sold lots of nesting dolls, amber jewelry, tiny Febr (sp?) eggs for necklaces ( very popular ) and hand painted boxes...

We were on the Jewel of the Seas

Were you on the Jewel of the Seas for a Scandinavia & Russia cruise? How did you like the Jewel?

We have been on several cruise lines, including RCI, and am considering the Jewel. Thanks.

Woody

 

[slg]

I had pretty much decided we wouldn't do berlin but when I mentioned it to my kids, my 14 year old said that it is a definite must for him.

We might split up our family on this one. I have to wait on the pricing. The budget is finite, so if we overspend somewhere, it means spending less somewhere else.

I'm thinking we might just do Copenhagen on our own and do the HOHO. It looks like it stops right outside the terminal.

Anyone know more about this? Or interested?