The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[Rogillio]

I think we're leaning towards the folk show, even though I agree it will be more of a touristy thing. First, it sounds really fun. Second, the ballet is a whole lot more expensive than I was expecting, and I don't think we, as a family, love ballet enough for that expense. Fourth, both my DH and older DD really didn't seem too excited at all about the ballet, leaving just me and my younger DD, and we couldn't get worked up enough to fight for it. So there you are.

Good comments Cindy! I think that's about where we're at too.

 

[cindy18]

 

[MrsScooby]

Missy4414, I'll answer and then move it to the Baltics planning thread.

Layers will be the way to go. We did the Baltics mid-July in 2008 and it was mid-60's the entire cruise with rain our 2nd day in StP and a morning shower in Warnemunde.
Bring rain gear and comfortable shoes. But I've also seen other cruisers have said they needed heavy coats, scarves and gloves in June and July. You are going north so anything can happen with the weather.

Wow, I expected chilly, but not scarves and gloves cold.
Thanks for the question and info

Doesn't DCL usually hand out ponchos if it is raining? That's what happened for us on previous cruises. Not sure if I want to pack a rain slickers for everyone. The hardest part is when the shoes get wet

 

[MJGirl]

After my suggestion that post was merged with this thread by the Moderators.

Sorry Andrew .. Didn't realize it was merged. Didn't know about the other thread.

 

[jilljill]

Wow, I expected chilly, but not scarves and gloves cold.
Thanks for the question and info

Doesn't DCL usually hand out ponchos if it is raining? That's what happened for us on previous cruises. Not sure if I want to pack a rain slickers for everyone. The hardest part is when the shoes get wet

When I was researching our last cruise people had posted that other years it was down right cold in the Baltics in August so you never know. I guess it's like FL getting the snow/sleet a few weeks ago, anything can happen.
We brought water resistant windbreakers that we could layer a sweatshirt under if needed. We didn't need the sweatshirts during the day and only needed the jackets in the morning while in port and on the 2nd day in StP since it rained all day long.

I guess packing a couple of those $1 ponchos that you can find at a dollar store or WalMart would be helpful and not take up much room.

 

[jilljill]

Folkshow or Ballet? Just curious what y'all are doing in SPR in the evening? The Russion Ballet is "world famous" but I've never really had any interest in ballet. The folk show seems a little like a made-for-tourist show....but it also looks like it'd be fun. Thoughts?

~Mike

We're doing a 1 hour river cruise before returning to the ship from our half day of touring the first day we are there. Still working on each day's tour.

 

[Samanthasmom1]

I'm just curious. Is anyone planning to go on the shore excursion--the Royal Ball at St. Catherine's Palace? It seems very expensive but I wonder if it's worth it. We don't have children but it sounds so wonderful. But I'm curious if many people will decide it's worth the expense.

I soooo wanted to do this with our DD who is 6 but the prices are way too high! My heart says yes but my mind says NO WAY!

I am really disappointed.

 

[buck4568]

Ok, we are going!! June 24th!! Booked it on Monday and now stressing over the details. We did the Med in 2007 but had booked way in advance so with just 150 days or so it will be fun!!

Just wondering if it is worth the hassel to get four tourist visa's for Russia or just do one or two DCL excursions? Anyone doing both or just one or the other? Any lists of the excursions that will be available on the cruise?

 

[MJGirl]

Just wondering if it is worth the hassel to get four tourist visa's for Russia or just do one or two DCL excursions? Anyone doing both or just one or the other?

If you are doing a Disney excursion or a private excursion with a recognized tour company, you don't need a Visa. You do need a visa to get off the ship on your own.

 

[jilljill]

Ok, we are going!! June 24th!! Booked it on Monday and now stressing over the details. We did the Med in 2007 but had booked way in advance so with just 150 days or so it will be fun!!

Just wondering if it is worth the hassel to get four tourist visa's for Russia or just do one or two DCL excursions? Anyone doing both or just one or the other? Any lists of the excursions that will be available on the cruise?

If you look over the last few pages I posted why you shouldn't get your own visa in StP. You are docked in a commercial port and then it's about 2 miles to get to the entrance of the port and once at the entrance you will have to pass thru another guarded gate and then will need to locate your own transport that won't be waiting. In order to get your own visa you need to have a sponsor and the cost of your own visa is about the price of 1 excursion, so it's definately not worth the time and hassle of getting your own. You are much better off going with DCL's excursions or booking your own private excursion (either will include a 'blanket visa') with just your family or with other families from your meets thread. The various private tour companies have been addressed in the last pages of this thread as well.

All excursions for all ports are listed on DCL's website under each port or under the section called port adventures.

 

[buck4568]

If you look over the last few pages I posted why you shouldn't get your own visa in StP. You are docked in a commercial port and then it's about 2 miles to get to the entrance of the port and once at the entrance you will have to pass thru another guarded gate and then will need to locate your own transport that won't be waiting. In order to get your own visa you need to have a sponsor and the cost of your own visa is about the price of 1 excursion, so it's definately not worth the time and hassle of getting your own. You are much better off going with DCL's excursions or booking your own private excursion (either will include a 'blanket visa') with just your family or with other families from your meets thread. The various private tour companies have been addressed in the last pages of this thread as well.

All excursions for all ports are listed on DCL's website under each port or under the section called port adventures.

Excellant points, thank you! We will take that advice and skip the visa's. Reading through the early posts and so much to consider ! We did a week in France before our 07 Med cruise and that was nice but I think this time I just want to get on the ship asap and try to keep it simple? Right! Probably not!

 

[cindy18]

New question for the group: anyone know where we will be docking in the various ports, for cities with more than one pier? I got an email from one of the tour guides I'm working with in St. Petersburg saying that she believes the Magic will be docking at a new pier on Basil Island in St. Petersburg, which actually means we have to be back on the boat, or at least back on the island, before all the bridges over the canals go up for the night, otherwise we can't get back! I think the bridges go up at something like 1 am and come back down at 5 am. It's very cool to see them going up, which is why it's part of the white nights tour, but it matters where the boat is and where you are when the bridges go up!

Anyway, if anyone has info on where the boat will be docked in each port, that would be great.

 

[cindy18]

One more question for the group: Has anyone considered doing Berlin as a private tour, like St. Petersburg? Unexpectedly, one of the tour companies we're talking to for St. Petersburg offered up a tour in Berlin as well, with a discount if we book both tours with them. They pick you up in Warnemunde and drive you to Berlin, then give you your private tour guide and sights that you help choose, then drive you back. Incredibly, it's cheaper than even the cheapest Disney tour to Berlin that's offered. We had not been planning to go to Berlin but now are reconsidering. Any thoughts?

 

[MrsScooby]

One more question for the group: Has anyone considered doing Berlin as a private tour, like St. Petersburg? Unexpectedly, one of the tour companies we're talking to for St. Petersburg offered up a tour in Berlin as well, with a discount if we book both tours with them. They pick you up in Warnemunde and drive you to Berlin, then give you your private tour guide and sights that you help choose, then drive you back. Incredibly, it's cheaper than even the cheapest Disney tour to Berlin that's offered. We had not been planning to go to Berlin but now are reconsidering. Any thoughts?

Yup, also considering a private tour company for Berlin that picks you up at the port
Everyone is a bit worried about what to do if we don't make it back to the port on time though.
Does your company (SPB?) indicate how they will get you to St. Petersburg if by chance you miss the ship?
The only way I can think of this happening is if the bus breaks down on the return trip, but stranger things have happened

 

[scrapycruiser]

We have taken Denrus private tour in St Petersburg and will go with a private guide again in St P on this cruise. But we don't want to chance not getting back to the port from Berlin. There could be a mechanical break down or heavy traffic....anything could happen.Then we'd miss a day at sea and possible problems getting into Russia. So we will go with DCL to Berlin.

 

[cindy18]

I hadn't thought about the issue of what happens if there's a problem getting back. I wonder if there's a way to do the private tour in Berlin but take the same train back to Warnemunde as the Disney tours are taking???

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I hadn't thought about the issue of what happens if there's a problem getting back. I wonder if there's a way to do the private tour in Berlin but take the same train back to Warnemunde as the Disney tours are taking???

Isnt there a Berlin on yuor own option which does just that???

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...rsions/warnemunde-germany/berlin-on-your-own/

 

[slg]

I did notice that even the Berlin tours through DCL say that if you miss your train, you are responsible for paying to get back to the boat on your on money.

Does anyone think that means that if the tour is late to the train, we have to fork out another sum, or does it mean that they won't wait for us at the pick up points in Berlin.

i would like that clarified as I don't want to shell out more money if its not my fault that the train is missed!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I did notice that even the Berlin tours through DCL say that if you miss your train, you are responsible for paying to get back to the boat on your on money.

Does anyone think that means that if the tour is late to the train, we have to fork out another sum, or does it mean that they won't wait for us at the pick up points in Berlin.

i would like that clarified as I don't want to shell out more money if its not my fault that the train is missed!

I think its both, if you are on any trip and do not get back to any meeting point (pick up) on time they will go without you, so 30 mins for lunch isnt 35 mins for lunch, back on time and also back in good time for the train its a scheduled service and will go on time. But many cruises do this and the tour operators both private and working to DCL know the rules.

But have the Helicopter on standby..

 

[jilljill]

I did notice that even the Berlin tours through DCL say that if you miss your train, you are responsible for paying to get back to the boat on your on money.

Does anyone think that means that if the tour is late to the train, we have to fork out another sum, or does it mean that they won't wait for us at the pick up points in Berlin.

i would like that clarified as I don't want to shell out more money if its not my fault that the train is missed!

I take that to mean the train will not wait without you on it. Meaning if you get separated from your tour group and miss the train back you'll be paying your own way. If you stay with your tour group then there shouldn't be an issue with missing the train on your own.
I'd call DCL to get further clarification on this to be sure.