The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew - We will be arriving into LHR at 10:45pm. Two women and an 8 year old so we don't want to take the bus or train to our hotel. We are staying at the Marriott Regents Park. They will pick us up for 90lbs. Would a cab be more, less or about the same? Thanks!

Not Andrew, but a fellow Brit. At that time of night I would say a black cab would be that. THere is also limited room in a cab as they do not have a boot (trunk). At that time of night all things considered I would use a private hire car (either via the hotel or booked independently)

Celestine

Fully agree, there is a risk re late night services, tube closes about midnight, if booking a cab look for a CABWISE authorised sign, and you can review TFL.GOV.UK and taxis.

 

[wickesy]

I am still struggling with what to do in Warnermunde. We're not going to do Berlin. It is just too much transit time with a 3 year old. We talked about just walking around town and visiting the beach, but I was wondering if anyone else had thoughts on what to do.

We've got a tour booked with Friends Of Dave Tours. He seems really nice from e-mails we have exchanged and is highly recommended on the Cruise Critic boards.

EDIT: Sorry missed the fact you have a 3 year old. His tours might be a bit too much for you as well.

 

[Ivory]

I am a little disappointed with the timing of some of the excursions. I was trying to book the ballet class for my daughter (who has been doing competitive ballet for 3 years) but its only offered on the 1st St. P day. If I book it for her (no matter what time) it conflicts with all of the other excursions. In other words if I book the ballet, I cant do anything else until day 2! If they had the ballet on day 2 it would work much better as you can do alot of different things and fit the ballet in easily. Anyway just wondering if Disney reads these things and maybe can plan it out a bit better, as I wont stay on the ship all day for a 1 hr class. Anyone else finding this conflict?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I am a little disappointed with the timing of some of the excursions. I was trying to book the ballet class for my daughter (who has been doing competitive ballet for 3 years) but its only offered on the 1st St. P day. If I book it for her (no matter what time) it conflicts with all of the other excursions. In other words if I book the ballet, I cant do anything else until day 2! If they had the ballet on day 2 it would work much better as you can do alot of different things and fit the ballet in easily. Anyway just wondering if Disney reads these things and maybe can plan it out a bit better, as I wont stay on the ship all day for a 1 hr class. Anyone else finding this conflict?

People have phoned DCL and have sorted this out.

 

[Ivory]

People have phoned DCL and have sorted this out.

Unfortunately it actually overlaps. Time for excursions start at 12:30, 12:45 and come back 4:30 5:00. All the ballets start at 1 till 5. No way to make it, even if you are actually on the ship at the end time of the excursion its still 1/2 out and u have to change clothes, before the class, but thanks for your thought.

 

[MrsScooby]

I am a little disappointed with the timing of some of the excursions. I was trying to book the ballet class for my daughter (who has been doing competitive ballet for 3 years) but its only offered on the 1st St. P day. If I book it for her (no matter what time) it conflicts with all of the other excursions. In other words if I book the ballet, I cant do anything else until day 2! If they had the ballet on day 2 it would work much better as you can do alot of different things and fit the ballet in easily. Anyway just wondering if Disney reads these things and maybe can plan it out a bit better, as I wont stay on the ship all day for a 1 hr class. Anyone else finding this conflict?

I would consider going with one of the private tour companies in St Petersburg

We are booked with Anastasia, but there are also good reviews for Red October, DenRus and S&B. They handle the visas and try to optimize the tour for your interests. If you combine with another family the cost is better than the DCL tours.
They might even have something better than the the DCL ballet class or at least provide tour activities scheduled around the DCL class

 

[Ivory]

I would consider going with one of the private tour companies in St Petersburg

We are booked with Anastasia, but there are also good reviews for Red October, DenRus and S&B. They handle the visas and try to optimize the tour for your interests. If you combine with another family the cost is better than the DCL tours.
They might even have something better than the the DCL ballet class or at least provide tour activities scheduled around the DCL class

Thank you, may go that route, I didn't realize that the tour companies get the visas for you as well, thanks for that!

 

[gydell]

Not Andrew, but a fellow Brit. At that time of night I would say a black cab would be that. THere is also limited room in a cab as they do not have a boot (trunk). At that time of night all things considered I would use a private hire car (either via the hotel or booked independently)

Celestine

Fully agree, there is a risk re late night services, tube closes about midnight, if booking a cab look for a CABWISE authorised sign, and you can review TFL.GOV.UK and taxis.

Than you both! I will probably use the hotel transfer because of luggage.

 

[MrsScooby]

Thank you, may go that route, I didn't realize that the tour companies get the visas for you as well, thanks for that!

Doesn't hurt to contact them, take a look at their sample tours and see if they can accomodate you
Don't be scared off by the initial price they quote. It goes down considerably when the number in your group goes up to 11-12.

Good luck!

 

[Rogillio]

I've been struggling with the train vs. bus decision. Both were relatively inexpensive, but added a degree of irritation since we will be traveling with bags and baby. Renting a car for this part of the trip may be a good solution. It is nearly twice as expensive, however.

Our rental car with National is $86.54 with VAT and all. This is for one day.

Car Class: Intermediate Wagon 5-Door/Manual/Air

Coming back it is $125.00 but we're getting:

Premium - 4-Door/Automatic/Air - Mercedes C Class 2.0 Or Similar

My son and I are both 6'3" so we opted for larger cars.

So cost-wise for 4 peeps, I think the rental car is the cheap. It also allows the flexibility of stopping along the way to visit places off the beaten path.

~Mike

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Our rental car with National is $86.54 with VAT and all. This is for one day.

Car Class: Intermediate Wagon 5-Door/Manual/Air

Coming back it is $125.00 but we're getting:

Premium - 4-Door/Automatic/Air - Mercedes C Class 2.0 Or Similar

My son and I are both 6'3" so we opted for larger cars.

So cost-wise for 4 peeps, I think the rental car is the cheap. It also allows the flexibility of stopping along the way to visit places off the beaten path.

~Mike

Thats a good deal, the car hire palces are close in Dover and better located than bus and the train with luggage thats an issue, however you should be able to drop off first and then collect car and get luggage.

And you see the sights of Kent, great deal.

 

[sbell111]

Our rental car with National is $86.54 with VAT and all. This is for one day.

Car Class: Intermediate Wagon 5-Door/Manual/Air

Coming back it is $125.00 but we're getting:

Premium - 4-Door/Automatic/Air - Mercedes C Class 2.0 Or Similar

My son and I are both 6'3" so we opted for larger cars.

So cost-wise for 4 peeps, I think the rental car is the cheap. It also allows the flexibility of stopping along the way to visit places off the beaten path.

~Mike

Are you sure that those prices are in USD?

After I made my earlier post, I booked an intermediate wagon from National for the trip to Dover. My price was around 90 GBP.

 

[Rogillio]

Are you sure that those prices are in USD?

After I made my earlier post, I booked an intermediate wagon from National for the trip to Dover. My price was around 90 GBP.

Yes, but I get a small corporate discount thru my company. Also depends on the type of car and how long you rent it for and if you are getting insurance or not. Most people's car insurance they have on their private cars will cover them if they rent a car so that is something to check.

We're also renting a car in Germany with Avis (no discount with them) and that is costing us $101 for the day for: AUDI A3 SPORTBACK 4DR/5PSGR

 

[Rogillio]

Are you sure that those prices are in USD?

After I made my earlier post, I booked an intermediate wagon from National for the trip to Dover. My price was around 90 GBP.

Maybe your pick-up loction was different?

I just went to

https://www.nationalcar.com

And checked for a intermediate wagon from the city center of London (Victoria) and drop off same day at the port in Dover and the price was $90. Not 90 GBP, $90. And this was with no discount.

Hmmm, maybe your day is busier too and so the price is higher? Mine is on a Saturday...the 12th of June.

 

[TDC Nala]

Not that conflict, but I wanted to take the shopping tour in St. Petersburg. However, I'd then have to give up either the Hermitage or Pushkin or Peterhof as you can't do the shopping tour in the evening.

I am ending up booking an evening tour with a private company that includes an hour of shopping on Nevsky Prospekt. My day tours are Disney excursions. (The company is apparently perfectly fine with me only doing an evening tour with them; and yes, they do cover your visa if they are licensed by the Russian government)

 

[2bundles]

For anyone on the June 12 trip that didn't read the other thread:

Stockholm Viking Walking Tour - "From Ice Age to Ikea"

One last plug for this guys. We now have enough people to do an 8.30am tour. It is #2 rated thing to do in Stockholm, and takes you through Gamla Stan.
http://gallivantproductions.com/

If you want to join, please email Ellissa Nagle [lis@gallivantproductions.com]. It works about $15pp, but is $99 through DCL!!

Our plan is to do the tour at 8.30am then over to the Vasa, then back to the ship.

Hoping more people will join. Should be great for both adults and kids.

 

[Scoobydoo76]

Not that conflict, but I wanted to take the shopping tour in St. Petersburg. However, I'd then have to give up either the Hermitage or Pushkin or Peterhof as you can't do the shopping tour in the evening.

I am ending up booking an evening tour with a private company that includes an hour of shopping on Nevsky Prospekt. My day tours are Disney excursions. (The company is apparently perfectly fine with me only doing an evening tour with them; and yes, they do cover your visa if they are licensed by the Russian government)

What tour company are you using for the evening tour that includes Nevsky Prospekt shopping? We are doing an evening tour that is similar on July 12 with SPB Tours.

 

[sbell111]

Maybe your pick-up loction was different?

I just went to

https://www.nationalcar.com

And checked for a intermediate wagon from the city center of London (Victoria) and drop off same day at the port in Dover and the price was $90. Not 90 GBP, $90. And this was with no discount.

Hmmm, maybe your day is busier too and so the price is higher? Mine is on a Saturday...the 12th of June.

We actually are renting the same vehicle from the same location on the same day.

This morning, I went onto National's website without logging into my Emerald Club account and made a reservation (same day, car, location). It gave me the lower price that you are seeing $91.11. However, comparing the details of that reservation with the one that I made yesterday turned up something interesting.

The drop charge (£25.53), premium location surcharge (£6.75), and vehicle license fee (£1.30) weren't shown which also resulted in a lower VAT. The base rental rate had increased from £45.00 to £50.88.

I cancelled the reservation that I had made through the emerald club. I might still get charged those other fees since the small print states "Estimated charges are confirmed based on the information you have provided; only taxes, fees, and surcharges are subject to change", but maybe not. I'm basically betting a bit less than £7 that I don't get charged the missing fees/surcharges.

Thanks for you help.

 

[Rogillio]

We actually are renting the same vehicle from the same location on the same day.

This morning, I went onto National's website without logging into my Emerald Club account and made a reservation (same day, car, location). It gave me the lower price that you are seeing $91.11. However, comparing the details of that reservation with the one that I made yesterday turned up something interesting.

The drop charge (£25.53), premium location surcharge (£6.75), and vehicle license fee (£1.30) weren't shown which also resulted in a lower VAT. The base rental rate had increased from £45.00 to £50.88.

I cancelled the reservation that I had made through the emerald club. I might still get charged those other fees since the small print states "Estimated charges are confirmed based on the information you have provided; only taxes, fees, and surcharges are subject to change", but maybe not. I'm basically betting a bit less than £7 that I don't get charged the missing fees/surcharges.

Thanks for you help.

Nice catch! Good job!

~Mike

 

[sbell111]

Now I just have to train my left hand to shift.