The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[MickeyWatch]

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.

Will they actually let us on the ship in the morning? I thought the earliest was 1:00 p.m.

 

[MickeyWatch]

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.

I was able to book a spa treatment (massage and facial combo) for 4:00 p.m. the first day at sea. We are late seating for dinner so that will be OK with me. We are on the June 12 sailing so I booked early yesterday.

The early and day time slots for the sea days were booked for the spa services I wanted.

 

[scrapycruiser]

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?

Get on the ferry at City Hall going to Bygdoy Island. Get off at the 2nd stop. The Fram Museum is right there and across from that is the Kontiki Museum.
Then take # 30 bus to the Viking Museum. You'll get the # 30 at the Kon Tiki Museum. It's the end of the line , so it will only go in one direction. Ask the driver to let you off at the Viking Ship Museum, can't remember which stop. Afterwards reverse your path.

You can get the Oslo Card online, which we did. Someone said if you wait and purchase at the TI you get a discount. The TI is near the ship's dock. We prefered to get it online and have it in hand, so we could be on our way.
Didn't want to wait in a long line at the TI. Sometimes it's nice to pay for convienence.

 

[Celestine]

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!

You could take the ferry, but that is a bit further along the coast than the cruise terminal so you would need to take a taxi. I would also build in plenty of time to allow for weather, port traffic & potential industrial action (seems to happen at the drop of a hat).

Embarkation is usually anytime between noon and 1pm and I think the port is open from 10.30am.

Celestine

 

[scrapycruiser]

cindy18... and anyone else that might be interested :

the wonderful woolen shop in OSLO that sells sweaters, throws,etc is

ROROS-TWEED, I had learned about this 2 yrs ago on the boards when I was planning my first Baltic cruise.Loved the place ! The prices were reasonable.

 

[cindy18]

Get on the ferry at City Hall going to Bygdoy Island. Get off at the 2nd stop. The Fram Museum is right there and across from that is the Kontiki Museum.
Then take # 30 bus to the Viking Museum. You'll get the # 30 at the Kon Tiki Museum. It's the end of the line , so it will only go in one direction. Ask the driver to let you off at the Viking Ship Museum, can't remember which stop. Afterwards reverse your path.

You can get the Oslo Card online, which we did. Someone said if you wait and purchase at the TI you get a discount. The TI is near the ship's dock. We prefered to get it online and have it in hand, so we could be on our way.
Didn't want to wait in a long line at the TI. Sometimes it's nice to pay for convienence.

Hugely helpful. THANKS!!! One thing on the Oslo Card. I saw that you can get it online, but at least from reading the information, it sounds as though even if you purchase it online, you need to go to the TI near the dock to pick up the cards. Is that right?

 

[cindy18]

cindy18... and anyone else that might be interested :

the wonderful woolen shop in OSLO that sells sweaters, throws,etc is

ROROS-TWEED, I had learned about this 2 yrs ago on the boards when I was planning my first Baltic cruise.Loved the place ! The prices were reasonable.

This is definitely of interest! Where is the store? Do you remember (or is that something we can find onlien)?

 

[scrapycruiser]

Hugely helpful. THANKS!!! One thing on the Oslo Card. I saw that you can get it online, but at least from reading the information, it sounds as though even if you purchase it online, you need to go to the TI near the dock to pick up the cards. Is that right?

We did not have to go to the TI. We ordered it online and rcv'd in mail. When we got on the ferry to go to the island they stamped it, which activated it.Then it was good for 24 hrs. But that was 2 yrs ago, could have changed.

This is definitely of interest! Where is the store? Do you remember (or is that something we can find onlien)?

DH and I looked at the map and pretty sure it's on Rosencrantz Gate. Very near city hall.

 

[cindy18]

We did not have to go to the TI. We ordered it online and rcv'd in mail. When we got on the ferry to go to the island they stamped it, which activated it.Then it was good for 24 hrs. But that was 2 yrs ago, could have changed.



DH and I looked at the map and pretty sure it's on Rosencrantz Gate. Very near city hall.

MANY THANKS!!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Will they actually let us on the ship in the morning? I thought the earliest was 1:00 p.m.

Normal port opening time is 10am the ship embarks later, but if you want to seize a palo slot the best thing is to get there early and get a low boarding card.

 

[Rogillio]

Here's an FYI....

Last week I went to:

http://www.stromma.se/en/STOCKHOLM/Combolist/?tag=hop-on+hop-off

and ordered 4 HOHO combo tickets. It came to $146.02 and I paid for it with a Visa debit/credit card. The next day I was in Sam's and when I went to check out, my debit card was denied! Yikes! Of course, Sams does not take a regular Visa, only a debit card. I asked if they had an ATM and they did. I went to the ATM and had no problem at all getting out cash. I paid for my groceries and then called my bank with a WTH?!

They told me to hold while they transferred my call to the "fraud" department and I immediatly knew what happened. When they got back on the line they said there was a charge from a foreign company in Sweden and so they put a freeze on the card. I said their freeze must not cover ATMs and she said that was correct...because with an ATM that means you physically have the card. I told her that was a legitimate charge and she released the hold. I thanked them for doing this as I think it's a good security measure.

Anyway, just remember to call your bank before you travel over seas to tell them you will be out of the country and not to freeze you account when they see a $200 charge at the Oslo Sweater Company or the St Petersburg Gift Shop.


~Mike

 

[Traveling Tinkerbell]

Rogillio -- I have a question.

Will the HOHO combo tickets you purchased be delivered to your home or do you have to pick them up in Stockholm?

 

[MrsScooby]

Here's an FYI....

Last week I went to:

http://www.stromma.se/en/STOCKHOLM/Combolist/?tag=hop-on+hop-off

and ordered 4 HOHO combo tickets. It came to $146.02 and I paid for it with a Visa debit/credit card. The next day I was in Sam's and when I went to check out, my debit card was denied! Yikes! Of course, Sams does not take a regular Visa, only a debit card. I asked if they had an ATM and they did. I went to the ATM and had no problem at all getting out cash. I paid for my groceries and then called my bank with a WTH?!

They told me to hold while they transferred my call to the "fraud" department and I immediatly knew what happened. When they got back on the line they said there was a charge from a foreign company in Sweden and so they put a freeze on the card. I said their freeze must not cover ATMs and she said that was correct...because with an ATM that means you physically have the card. I told her that was a legitimate charge and she released the hold. I thanked them for doing this as I think it's a good security measure.

Anyway, just remember to call your bank before you travel over seas to tell them you will be out of the country and not to freeze you account when they see a $200 charge at the Oslo Sweater Company or the St Petersburg Gift Shop.


~Mike

Thanks for the heads-up Mike
I hope it comes as some consolation that your story will probably save the rest of us the same scare

 

[denise]

We are going to take the HOHO at most ports, except St.P and Germany.
My family wants to see the Hard Rock Cafes In Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen. NO we will not eat there...
Has anyone used the HOHO to do this? Also want to do the ice bar in Stockholm via the HOHO.
Any thoughts?

 

[slg]

Is there a list somewhere of all the excursion times?

 

[Fivepin]

We are going to take the HOHO at most ports, except St.P and Germany.
My family wants to see the Hard Rock Cafes In Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen. NO we will not eat there...
Has anyone used the HOHO to do this? Also want to do the ice bar in Stockholm via the HOHO.
Any thoughts?

Hi Denise-

Guess we're not the only ones going to the HRC. My DH and I have been collecting city tees for quite awhile. I'm not sure about the HOHO. That is what we are leaning towards. We want to do the ice bar as well, still waiting for our time frame to open up to make reservations. I was able to make one in Copenhagen just in case I can't get stockholm. I can cancel that 48 hrs prior and didn't have to pay up front.
Are you going to try to hit HRC in Berlin? As of right now, we're not going into Berlin.

 

[Fivepin]

Is there a list somewhere of all the excursion times?

This link is on here somewhere, but here's a website someone has compiled. I found it accurate for what I was looking at for our cruise.


http://www.magicalbalticcruise.com/e...ting-info.html

Hope that helps. I found it helpful.

 

[slg]

Fivepin:

I can't access that link...it comes back with site not published. Can you cut and paste for me?

 

[MJGirl]

Is there a list somewhere of all the excursion times?

Which ones are you looking for ... I can try to help you out

 

[MJGirl]

Fivepin:

I can't access that link...it comes back with site not published. Can you cut and paste for me?

Try this one

http://www.magicalbalticcruise.com/excursion-starting-info.html