The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[Fivepin]

I was looking at the DCL itinerary for the Baltic sailings and they show us arriving at St. Petersburg at 12:30pm! Has anyone confirmed that we would be there early morning to do these two day tours which start at 7:30am?

Update: I did call DCL and confirmed that we would not be in port early morning! So as of right now it looks like any two day tours with SPB or other company would have to be a one day tour. Most ships arrive early morning and with a day at sea prior to St. Petersburg I would have thought we could get in to port earlier than 12:30PM.

You can book a private tour and they will pick you up when dock. We leave later than the others so the 2nd of the tour can be longer. That is what we did. We couldn't do the value excursion the various companies offered because they leave early, but they all can cater around your time if you book a private one.

 

[carolmb]

I was looking at the DCL itinerary for the Baltic sailings and they show us arriving at St. Petersburg at 12:30pm! Has anyone confirmed that we would be there early morning to do these two day tours which start at 7:30am?

Update: I did call DCL and confirmed that we would not be in port early morning! So as of right now it looks like any two day tours with SPB or other company would have to be a one day tour. Most ships arrive early morning and with a day at sea prior to St. Petersburg I would have thought we could get in to port earlier than 12:30PM.

Hi-We are the June 12th cruise and are using SPB tours in St. Petersburg. We have a group of 12 people in our tour. The rate quoted to me for 10 people was $280pp with the kids getting a $40 discount. Here are the rates quoted for 4 pax: $375, 6 pax: $335, 8 pax: $300. The 1st day our tour goes from 12:30 to 7pm and the 2nd goes from 8:30 to 7pm. Happy planning. Carol

 

[Madisonznana]

I just booked with Anastasia today and our tour is scheduled to start around 1:00pm the first day. They do work around our docking time.

 

[OurDogCisco]

I was looking at the DCL itinerary for the Baltic sailings and they show us arriving at St. Petersburg at 12:30pm! Has anyone confirmed that we would be there early morning to do these two day tours which start at 7:30am?

Update: I did call DCL and confirmed that we would not be in port early morning! So as of right now it looks like any two day tours with SPB or other company would have to be a one day tour. Most ships arrive early morning and with a day at sea prior to St. Petersburg I would have thought we could get in to port earlier than 12:30PM.

You can tour 2 days. You just need to adjust your times. For the first day we are touring from 12:30 until about 7 pm. Then, the 2nd day we are touring from 9 am to 7 pm. So, you can definitely fit in 2 days worth of touring. They will definitely be FULL days but worth it in my opinion..

 

[OurDogCisco]

I'm on the June 24th cruise. We got a letter from DCL letting us know that we would be pulling into port in Dover at 10:30 instead of at 8, as previously indicated. Our flight home isn't until 4:45, so it's not a problem for us (and means debarkation morning won't be so miserably early) but I can see where it would be a problem for anyone that booked an earlier flight. I also wonder what it will mean to boarding for the July 6th cruise.

I wonder if that means we need to arrive later at the port. We sail out on the 6th. Right now I have our car service picking us up at 9 am. Maybe I should make it later. I wonder if they will take our luggage and then, we can explore Dover for the afternoon?

 

[cindy18]

I've been wondering that for your cruise myself. How can they board you guys if we don't get in until 10:30? But if they haven't contacted you, maybe they've figured out how to make things not so late?

 

[cindy18]

You can tour 2 days. You just need to adjust your times. For the first day we are touring from 12:30 until about 7 pm. Then, the 2nd day we are touring from 9 am to 7 pm. So, you can definitely fit in 2 days worth of touring. They will definitely be FULL days but worth it in my opinion..

Agree with that. We are booked with Masha in St. Pete and she's got us fully loaded from the minute we get off the ship until after dinner on the 2nd evening. She's fitting in everything we asked to see and do, plus a few extras. So don't let the late docking time on the first day deter you. And remember, we're there over white nights, so it's light very late and there's lots to do in the evenings as well.

 

[missy4414]

Has anyone heard if Disney has announced the days and times of their shore excursions in St. Petersburg?

 

[rolyjp]

I want to visit Canterbury and Leeds Castle and see a little bit of Dover as well. We will be in London on Thursday night and cruise departs on Sat. I was thinking about booking the DCL Canterbury and Leeds Castle tour but wonder if it is feasible and less inexpensive if I do it on my own. Anyone has any suggestion?

I am also looking for a group to join in on the tour in St. Pete on 06/18 & 06/19 (1st northern cruise). Reading on here makes me realize that the private tour is the way to go, but with only 2 adults, the DCL excursions may be the most feasible option at this point.

 

[kittb]

I want to visit Canterbury and Leeds Castle and see a little bit of Dover as well. We will be in London on Thursday night and cruise departs on Sat. I was thinking about booking the DCL Canterbury and Leeds Castle tour but wonder if it is feasible and less inexpensive if I do it on my own. Anyone has any suggestion?

I am also looking for a group to join in on the tour in St. Pete on 06/18 & 06/19 (1st northern cruise). Reading on here makes me realize that the private tour is the way to go, but with only 2 adults, the DCL excursions may be the most feasible option at this point.

It looks quite possible to get to Leeds Castle by train/ bus from London:

http://leeds-castle.com/goto.php?ref=y&sess=u0|p334|n0|c0|s0|g1|d0&

It's how you get from there to Canterbury I'd be less sure of, looks like you'd have to change at Ashford. Then you could get the train from Canterbury to Dover. You could hire a car and then wouldn't be tied down with time tables etc? I would imagine that would work out a lot less expensive for you. To be honest Dover itself doesn't warrent walking round unless you have time to kill. The Castle is excellent though. And you could easily spend a day in Canterbury with the Cathedral, Abbey ruins, museums, shops etc.

Can't help with St Petersburg though. I'm hoping for a miracle so that we can afford to take a Disney tour just for ease with two small children.

Kit

 

[cindy18]

I want to visit Canterbury and Leeds Castle and see a little bit of Dover as well. We will be in London on Thursday night and cruise departs on Sat. I was thinking about booking the DCL Canterbury and Leeds Castle tour but wonder if it is feasible and less inexpensive if I do it on my own. Anyone has any suggestion?

I am also looking for a group to join in on the tour in St. Pete on 06/18 & 06/19 (1st northern cruise). Reading on here makes me realize that the private tour is the way to go, but with only 2 adults, the DCL excursions may be the most feasible option at this point.

Have you posted on your meet thread about people who might be willing to share your private tour? I have seen those posts on our meet thread. I think if you add another couple or just one family, the price for the private tour becomes more reasonable than the Disney tours.

 

[MJGirl]

Hi all ...got my cruise info package today and it states that it is illegal to take Rubles in or out of Russia? Has anyone else heard about this, or talked to their bank about it? Thanks.

 

[jilljill]

Hi all ...got my cruise info package today and it states that it is illegal to take Rubles in or out of Russia? Has anyone else heard about this, or talked to their bank about it? Thanks.

This has been discussed on this thread before. Apparently this is true, we heard it 2 years ago, but there are a couple of banks in the US that sell rubles.

 

[Fivepin]

This has been discussed on this thread before. Apparently this is true, we heard it 2 years ago, but there are a couple of banks in the US that sell rubles.

I didn't know it was illegal. Bank of America sells them. I was planning on ordering all my currency thru them online. Thanks for this info.

 

[Rogillio]

Dover castle vs Leeds castle? If you could only do one, which one is cooler? How long to visit each to do them justice?

We are gonna try to do both but still working on our schedule/plan. One option would be to do Leeds at 10:00 Saturday and then drive on down to the port and do Dover at about 1 pm. But I'm not sure but that two castles in one day is too much? So maybe do Leeds on embarkation day and Dover on disembarkation day? Gonna try to swim by Canterbury cathedral too. I think our flight back home doesn't leave till like 6 pm so we have a few hrs that day.

 

[sbell111]

This has been discussed on this thread before. Apparently this is true, we heard it 2 years ago, but there are a couple of banks in the US that sell rubles.

It is no longer illegal to export Rubles.

link

 

[denise]

just a FYI, I know it has been said before but.....

I had to call CITI bank today and I asked them what their rate was for charging on the card out of the US. Well they just raised it to 5% I was told. She did also tell me that right before we go to let them know so they can watch for fraud on the card.

I also have a card from Captial One card and it has no charge for the same thing....

Make sure you know what "your" bank charges will be when you charge on the trip.....

 

[epcotrulz]

just a FYI, I know it has been said before but.....

I had to call CITI bank today and I asked them what their rate was for charging on the card out of the US. Well they just raised it to 5% I was told. She did also tell me that right before we go to let them know so they can watch for fraud on the card.

I also have a card from Captial One card and it has no charge for the same thing....

Make sure you know what "your" bank charges will be when you charge on the trip.....

We have an AMEX, Chase and Capital One -- will be checking right before we go . . . you would think since we all collectively own a big chunk of Citi they would cut you a break

 

[Peek-a-boo]

Dover castle vs Leeds castle? If you could only do one, which one is cooler? How long to visit each to do them justice?

.

Leeds Castle is incredible. Surrounded by water and if you like the Tudor era, it is just dripping with history. You will not be disappointed.

 

[kittb]

Leeds Castle is incredible. Surrounded by water and if you like the Tudor era, it is just dripping with history. You will not be disappointed.

They are very different beasts. As you say the grounds at Leeds Castle are lovely. It was lived in relatively recently so some rooms are as they were then, more like a stately home than a castle as such. There is a maze, a small aivery, sometimes displays with hunting birds, places to eat, relax and walk. Dover Castle, is very different. There is more to "do". They revamped the Keep a few months ago with stunning tapestries etc to give more of a feel of Henry IIs time. It is more historical (Roman lighthouse, medieval keep, Tudor tunnels, WWII exhibition etc) and although the site might be less polished than Leeds its a big site with more to explore. Of course there are also the war time tunnels and amazing views of the channel etc.

You could probably do either in half a day but equally you could spend a whole day and not be bored

Kit