The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[MJGirl]

50 minutes to booking window for us silvers on the June 12 cruise!

 

[gydell]

50 minutes to booking window for us silvers on the June 12 cruise!

With no Palo's left!

 

[MJGirl]

Excursions booked. Got all my first choices except for the Hadeland Glass Works, it was sold out. Palo's brunch and High Tea was not available, but dinner still was.

 

[Arizona Rita]

We got our first choices too! Still trying for Palo and spa.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Good luck to all booking, and do note that you can still obtain Palo Brunch and Tea slots on embarkation at Dover, if you are unlucky now. Just get to the port early -10am.

 

[Fivepin]

With Eddie Manning do you have to pay in advance? Do you have to give them your credit card number?

He told me you can give driver cash or pay in advance with credit card with no additional fees.

Riverside London cars you can pay via PayPal.

Have you decided yet? I checked with Eddie Manning yesterday after seeing the post as well.

 

[scrapycruiser]

We booked Eddie Manning for our Jul 18 Baltic cruise and no pymt or deposit required until services rendered. Can pay driver in GBP or Visa or MC w/ 4%.

 

[wickesy]

Its going to be nice, driving down Sunday morning for my cruise, that day, and driving back Friday and being home in just a bit over an hour.

That's what I'm looking forward to as well. It's going to be nice to have a holiday where we don't have to worry about jet lag and baggage allowances - if it fits in the car we can take it/get it home (more or less)!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

That's what I'm looking forward to as well. It's going to be nice to have a holiday where we don't have to worry about jet lag and baggage allowances - if it fits in the car we can take it/get it home (more or less)!

Yes love it, no flights on that one, and no cost, no jet lag, just the M20 or M2, havent decided as yet, Can get what I want on the cruise I the ports and not think, Will that smash on the plane???

 

[aurorafan65]

We got our first choices too! Still trying for Palo and spa.

I am so glad to hear this - with the way all the platinums were talking I was afraid we wouldn't be able to get anything! Don't care about Palos for dinner would like to try tea though

 

[cindy18]

We got our first choices too! Still trying for Palo and spa.

Can I ask if you were able to book spa treatments? That's what I'm focusing on for the second Baltic when the booking window opens on the 26th.

 

[Arizona Rita]

DH said that the only times available for our cruise were late at night, 9pm, or early 830. We were able to get a couples massage on the second day.
Hoping for more later, especially for him.
Hopefully you will have better luck!
Also, we did get a Palo's dinner ressie, but still hoping for brunch as well.

 

[cindy18]

DH said that the only times available for our cruise were late at night, 9pm, or early 830. We were able to get a couples massage on the second day.
Hoping for more later, especially for him.
Hopefully you will have better luck!
Also, we did get a Palo's dinner ressie, but still hoping for brunch as well.

Early would work for me, since I'm a morning person. Late at night would be tough. Hopefully there will be availability. I'd be surprised if slots weren't available on the first day as well. Thanks for letting me know!

 

[Madisonznana]

Do you suppose the HOHO buses are NOT included in the city passes? For example, the Oslo card. I know it includes local transportation, buses, trains and ferries, but I can not find any place where it mentions the HOHO. In that case, I wonder if it would be cheaper to just pay for the museums and such separately.
Does anyone have any DIY plans for Oslo yet? Care to share?

 

[Traveling Tinkerbell]

I do not think the OsloPass includes the HOHO ( but I think it does in Stockholm). We are going to buy the OsloPass. Our plans are tram to Vigeland Park, bus to Folk Museum and Viking ship museum, ferry back to City Hall and walk to the castle! I hope this helps.

 

[Madisonznana]

I do not think the OsloPass includes the HOHO ( but I think it does in Stockholm). We are going to buy the OsloPass. Our plans are tram to Vigeland Park, bus to Folk Museum and Viking ship museum, ferry back to City Hall and walk to the castle! I hope this helps.

In other words skip the HOHO in Oslo! Sounds close to what we were planing on seeing. Thanks!

 

[grizbuzz]

Through the port of Dover website you can book car parking at the terminal and it has a set fee for the Magic Baltic cruises. I have already booked mine there and its as safe as any port.

http://www.doverport.co.uk/?page=CarParking

http://sales.doverport.co.uk/acatalog/Dover_Port_Disney_Cruise_Line_47.html

For my cruise its £110.

I am driving down from London and leaving my car there for 12 nights and trust it myself.

It looks like there are other parking options about 10 minutes from the Dover port with free shuttles. Any reason why you chose more expensive parking? Just so you wouldn't have to shuttle?

Also, my DH wanted to know if it makes any sense to leave the car in France and take the ferry over without car. Doesn't to me, but thought I'd ask.

And apologies for the next question, which I'm sure has been answered many times...what time is embarkation on first day of cruise? Thinking of taking the ferry in from France on same day as cruise departs. That would work, no?

Thanks for the help!

 

[scrapycruiser]

Do you suppose the HOHO buses are NOT included in the city passes? For example, the Oslo card. I know it includes local transportation, buses, trains and ferries, but I can not find any place where it mentions the HOHO. In that case, I wonder if it would be cheaper to just pay for the museums and such separately.
Does anyone have any DIY plans for Oslo yet? Care to share?

W ehave been to Oslo, and it's so easy ! Just a short walk from the ship are the ferries that take you over to the Kon Tiki, Fram, Viking, and Folk Museums.The ferry is included in the Oslo Card as well as all the museums.Upon returning to the ship you could have lunch, then walk into town and see City Hall and shop. Don't forget the woolen shop ( sorry can't remember the name ) where you can buy sweaters, throws, etc. I bought a beautiful sm. throw. Unfortunately, I shrunk it in the wash, so need to go back and buy another ! Besides my Russian egg necklace, the throw was my favorite souvenir !!

 

[kittb]

Yes love it, no flights on that one, and no cost, no jet lag, just the M20 or M2, havent decided as yet, Can get what I want on the cruise I the ports and not think, Will that smash on the plane???

I was looking forward to this too til you pointed out the cost of parking! May try to persuade someone to take us to save some pennies. But still beats flights etc
Kit

 

[cindy18]

W ehave been to Oslo, and it's so easy ! Just a short walk from the ship are the ferries that take you over to the Kon Tiki, Fram, Viking, and Folk Museums.The ferry is included in the Oslo Card as well as all the museums.Upon returning to the ship you could have lunch, then walk into town and see City Hall and shop. Don't forget the woolen shop ( sorry can't remember the name ) where you can buy sweaters, throws, etc. I bought a beautiful sm. throw. Unfortunately, I shrunk it in the wash, so need to go back and buy another ! Besides my Russian egg necklace, the throw was my favorite souvenir !!

This sounds like a great itineray for the day. Is it easy to walk among the museums once you get off the ferry? It looked like the ferry made different stops depending on where you wanted to go. Or do you get back on the ferry to move around?