The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[cindy18]

We're going to stay out late the first night in St. Pete also, do the canal, the whole white nights thing. You're right that the 2nd day is going to be a LONG day, and we've warned our DDs (14 and 12) that they are going to be really tired when we leave Russia, but we have no idea when and if we will ever return to Russia, and we want to maximize our experience there. We're worried about leaving things to the 2nd evening and having the ship departure in the back of our minds. Hope that helps.

 

[Scoobydoo76]

We're going to stay out late the first night in St. Pete also, do the canal, the whole white nights thing. You're right that the 2nd day is going to be a LONG day, and we've warned our DDs (14 and 12) that they are going to be really tired when we leave Russia, but we have no idea when and if we will ever return to Russia, and we want to maximize our experience there. We're worried about leaving things to the 2nd evening and having the ship departure in the back of our minds. Hope that helps.

We are also staying out late the first night in St Pete. We have a DD 15 and a DS 13. Our family has decided to take the plunge and experience all we can in St. Pete. I think we are off the ship from the time we arrive until midnight on the first day, and then we are looking at least a 12 hours of touring/eating/shopping on the second day. Like you, we have no idea if we will ever return to St. Pete. We really don't want to miss out on anything.

Aurorafan65 is almost as crazy as we are. She has joined our private2-day tour in St Pete. Her family will be running around like my family. I am just trying to get her to join the Fun Cruise on the first night! What the heck, you only live once!

 

[cindy18]

We are also staying out late the first night in St Pete. We have a DD 15 and a DS 13. Our family has decided to take the plunge and experience all we can in St. Pete. I think we are off the ship from the time we arrive until midnight on the first day, and then we are looking at least a 12 hours of touring/eating/shopping on the second day. Like you, we have no idea if we will ever return to St. Pete. We really don't want to miss out on anything.

Aurorafan65 is almost as crazy as we are. She has joined our private2-day tour in St Pete. Her family will be running around like my family. I am just trying to get her to join the Fun Cruise on the first night! What the heck, you only live once!

Sounds as though we are thinking very similarly. We hired a private tour guide too, and we're running from the minute we can get off the ship until pretty much when she pulls out. There will be time to rest, like during the car rides out of the city or the hydrofoil or what have you. But it feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity, one that should be experienced to the fullest extent possible! I wish we had a day at sea afterwards to relax before the next 2 ports (I'm thinking, for example, that we'll be wiped out after Berlin and be so grateful for the day at sea before St Pete), but we'll just have to try to take it all in. CAN'T WAIT!!!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Hey Andrew .. apologies for being off topic here, but without giving show plots away, what do you think about Matt Smith as the new Doctor Who? Next week we get to see Episode 1! Thanks

The new series is all *new* there is a new chief writer, who is very very good, Stephen Moffat, has written many of the most scariest episodes before, and is now taking the lead. He didn’t want to have a sequel, so, as well as a new Doctor, there is a new assistant, described as sassy, but an equal, and a new Tardis, inside and out and quite a few new monsters, and the odd pepperpot coming back.
First thing is to forget David Tenant, he was the best Doctor, and it’s difficult to match that, and it might affect your judgement. So watch it new, knowing the background to the series as a whole, Tardis, time travel etc, but forget DT.
The first show ratings plus timeshift was over 10 million people and the top programme of the weekend, and second overall in the whole week of its broadcast, plus repeats it will increase. Opposition channels have thrown a lot at it, including Harry Potter and failed.
I can’t give spoilers on the first two episodes, but to say they move very very fast, and do watch, as there are connections, Amy, and why she joins the Doctor now, look for cracks, look for references the silence is coming, and look for Wedding dresses.
Matt Smith is young, fast, a bit loopy, (mad) but back to the roots of DW, stick with it, it has a few iffy moments but overall by the end of episode one, Matt will be your doctor and you will forget DT.
The fallen Angels and vampires will be very good, sit down enjoy and don’t whatever you do blink as you will miss something.
Now i must try to mention *Baltic* or someone will say I am off topic, but ,with 13 episodes, people coming on any of the Baltic cruises should see it on BBC1 or BBC3, in London when they stay.

Pepperpots (Daleks) back on Episode 3 next Saturday.

 

[Madisonznana]

Okay...need some advice. At the moment I've booked the evening canal cruise for the first night in St.P, but I'm debating on changing it to the second night.

We're booked on the Peterof Parks and Fountains the first day (returning at 4:45) and the Hermitage and Catherine's Palace the second day which has a meeting time of 7:15!

We have 3 boys: 14,11,8.

Originally we thought the first night would be better for the canal as we are only off the boat for a short period of time, however, with the second day tour starting so early I'm wondering is we shouldn't just try to get to bed early. My dh says that its unlikely we'll get to bed any earlier if we don't go on the canal cruise, and that we might be super tired the second day after getting up so early and touring all day.

I just can't decide what's best If we go the first day, we can't get to bed early (but we have a hard time with that on cruises anyway), and if we go the second day we might be too tired to enjoy it.

So what do you experts think?

We are doing the canal trip the first night and are traveling with three girls, 8, 8 and 11.

 

[MJGirl]

The new series is all *new* there is a new chief writer, who is very very good, Stephen Moffat, has written many of the most scariest episodes before, and is now taking the lead. He didn’t want to have a sequel, so, as well as a new Doctor, there is a new assistant, described as sassy, but an equal, and a new Tardis, inside and out and quite a few new monsters, and the odd pepperpot coming back.
First thing is to forget David Tenant, he was the best Doctor, and it’s difficult to match that, and it might affect your judgement. So watch it new, knowing the background to the series as a whole, Tardis, time travel etc, but forget DT.
The first show ratings plus timeshift was over 10 million people and the top programme of the weekend, and second overall in the whole week of its broadcast, plus repeats it will increase. Opposition channels have thrown a lot at it, including Harry Potter and failed.
I can’t give spoilers on the first two episodes, but to say they move very very fast, and do watch, as there are connections, Amy, and why she joins the Doctor now, look for cracks, look for references the silence is coming, and look for Wedding dresses.
Matt Smith is young, fast, a bit loopy, (mad) but back to the roots of DW, stick with it, it has a few iffy moments but overall by the end of episode one, Matt will be your doctor and you will forget DT.
The fallen Angels and vampires will be very good, sit down enjoy and don’t whatever you do blink as you will miss something.
Now i must try to mention *Baltic* or someone will say I am off topic, but ,with 13 episodes, people coming on any of the Baltic cruises should see it on BBC1 or BBC3, in London when they stay.

Pepperpots (Daleks) back on Episode 3 next Saturday.

Thanks for the update ... I understand what you mean about DT. I loved Christopher E. but grew to love DT more. I was hoping to catch an episode while in Dover, but we set sail on Saturday. Think we could ask Disney to air it for us??

On topic ... got an email from DCL today advertising their pre-purchase gifts and formal wear rentals!

 

[cindy18]

Can I ask a really stupid question? Who or what is Doctor Who???? Is this something we should be looking for on this side of the pond?

 

[RJAYL]

Can I ask a really stupid question? Who or what is Doctor Who???? Is this something we should be looking for on this side of the pond?

Dr. Who is a Sci Fi show that started in the 70's or early 60's I believe that it was based on some books but that might be vica versa like Star Trek books came out after the show.

Anyway it was always produced in GB when I was a kid I used to watch it on channel 2 (WGBH) public brodcasting, the new incarnation's were on the SciFi channel for a short while.

Lately it can be watched on BBC America on Saturday evenings!

As it is a series if you get hooked on one you just tend to follow along!

I am sure once andrew see's the posting he will chime in and correct me on some facts or nuance's.

 

[cindy18]

Dr. Who is a Sci Fi show that started in the 70's or early 60's I believe that it was based on some books but that might be vica versa like Star Trek books came out after the show.

Anyway it was always produced in GB when I was a kid I used to watch it on channel 2 (WGBH) public brodcasting, the new incarnation's were on the SciFi channel for a short while.

Lately it can be watched on BBC America on Saturday evenings!

As it is a series if you get hooked on one you just tend to follow along!

I am sure once andrew see's the posting he will chime in and correct me on some facts or nuance's.

Thanks much for this! At least it gives me some context for the very interesting posts that have been going back and forth. I'll have to look it up. If you get hooked, are there ways to get your hands on old episodes to get up to speed?

 

[tvguy]

My daughter is addicted to Dr. Who on BBC America.
For Christmas we got her license plate frames for her Ford Taurus that say, "My other car is a TARDIS"
Dr. Who fans will understand that I am told.

 

[djpate]

The new series is all *new* there is a new chief writer, who is very very good, Stephen Moffat, has written many of the most scariest episodes before, and is now taking the lead. He didn’t want to have a sequel, so, as well as a new Doctor, there is a new assistant, described as sassy, but an equal, and a new Tardis, inside and out and quite a few new monsters, and the odd pepperpot coming back.
First thing is to forget David Tenant, he was the best Doctor, and it’s difficult to match that, and it might affect your judgement. So watch it new, knowing the background to the series as a whole, Tardis, time travel etc, but forget DT.
The first show ratings plus timeshift was over 10 million people and the top programme of the weekend, and second overall in the whole week of its broadcast, plus repeats it will increase. Opposition channels have thrown a lot at it, including Harry Potter and failed.
I can’t give spoilers on the first two episodes, but to say they move very very fast, and do watch, as there are connections, Amy, and why she joins the Doctor now, look for cracks, look for references the silence is coming, and look for Wedding dresses.
Matt Smith is young, fast, a bit loopy, (mad) but back to the roots of DW, stick with it, it has a few iffy moments but overall by the end of episode one, Matt will be your doctor and you will forget DT.
The fallen Angels and vampires will be very good, sit down enjoy and don’t whatever you do blink as you will miss something.
Now i must try to mention *Baltic* or someone will say I am off topic, but ,with 13 episodes, people coming on any of the Baltic cruises should see it on BBC1 or BBC3, in London when they stay.

Pepperpots (Daleks) back on Episode 3 next Saturday.

Thanks for the info on DW, but it is hard to look past DT he was definitely the best. They've been playing reruns here leading up to the new one. I am disappointed they changed "The Doctor" but with what you wrote I will watch with an open mind(at first I wasn't going to). Thanks for the London info we will be there 3 days prior to baltic cruise and 1 day after. what time does it come on? I was going to try to look for DW souveniers while I was there any suggestions on where to get them? Thanks I'm a huge DW fan!!

 

[MrsScooby]

Hey for my Parkwood buddies (Slg and Ktksspider)!!!

Are you planning on getting an Oyster card for using the tube around London? There is a tube station close to the Parkwood so I figured that would be the most convenient...or would this be necessary if you are considering a HOHO bus

 

[djpate]

My daughter is addicted to Dr. Who on BBC America.
For Christmas we got her license plate frames for her Ford Taurus that say, "My other car is a TARDIS"
Dr. Who fans will understand that I am told.

very cool!! wish I had a Tardis sometimes!

 

[djpate]

Thanks much for this! At least it gives me some context for the very interesting posts that have been going back and forth. I'll have to look it up. If you get hooked, are there ways to get your hands on old episodes to get up to speed?

Almost any tv show you want is on DVD now and I think I do remember seeing previews around last December for Dr. Who dvds.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks for the update ... I understand what you mean about DT. I loved Christopher E. but grew to love DT more. I was hoping to catch an episode while in Dover, but we set sail on Saturday. Think we could ask Disney to air it for us??

On topic ... got an email from DCL today advertising their pre-purchase gifts and formal wear rentals!

Can I ask a really stupid question? Who or what is Doctor Who???? Is this something we should be looking for on this side of the pond?

Dr. Who is a Sci Fi show that started in the 70's or early 60's I believe that it was based on some books but that might be vica versa like Star Trek books came out after the show.

Anyway it was always produced in GB when I was a kid I used to watch it on channel 2 (WGBH) public brodcasting, the new incarnation's were on the SciFi channel for a short while.

Lately it can be watched on BBC America on Saturday evenings!

As it is a series if you get hooked on one you just tend to follow along!

I am sure once andrew see's the posting he will chime in and correct me on some facts or nuance's.

Thanks much for this! At least it gives me some context for the very interesting posts that have been going back and forth. I'll have to look it up. If you get hooked, are there ways to get your hands on old episodes to get up to speed?

My daughter is addicted to Dr. Who on BBC America.
For Christmas we got her license plate frames for her Ford Taurus that say, "My other car is a TARDIS"
Dr. Who fans will understand that I am told.

Thanks for the info on DW, but it is hard to look past DT he was definitely the best. They've been playing reruns here leading up to the new one. I am disappointed they changed "The Doctor" but with what you wrote I will watch with an open mind(at first I wasn't going to). Thanks for the London info we will be there 3 days prior to baltic cruise and 1 day after. what time does it come on? I was going to try to look for DW souveniers while I was there any suggestions on where to get them? Thanks I'm a huge DW fan!!

very cool!! wish I had a Tardis sometimes!

OK,

Firstly on topic, I am not sure if the Magic will show it, it should be able to, as when its in port, it can pick up local TV, BBC1 is free to air, and therefore anyone with a TV ariel in the UK can get it. BBC3 runs repeats is digitail and not sure if the Magic can pick it up.

Also note this topic is always popular, I psted a lot of photos on the Dis last week, the Magic leaving on Saturday, port Cams Ocean sea conditions, one photo of Doctor Who got more views than any other.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a mysterious, humanoid alien known as the Doctor, he is a *time lord* the last of his race, (as we know it currently) who travels through time and space in his spacecraft, the TARDIS (an acronym for Time And Relative Dimensions In Space), which normally appears from the exterior to be a blue 1950s British police box. With his companions, he explores time and space, faces a variety of foes and rights wrongs.
The programme is listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world, and as the "most successful" science fiction series of all time, in terms of its overall broadcast ratings, DVD and book sales, iTunes traffic and "illegal downloads."It has been recognised for its imaginative stories, creative low-budget special effects during its original run, and pioneering use of electronic music (originally produced by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop). The show is a significant part of British popular culture;in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, it has become a cult television favourite and has influenced generations of British television professionals, many of whom grew up watching the series. It has received recognition from critics and the public as one of the finest British television programmes, including the BAFTA Award for Best Drama Series in 2006, and five consecutive wins at the National Television Awards since 2005, in the Drama category.
The programme originally ran from 1963 to 1989. After an unsuccessful attempt to revive regular production with a backdoor pilot in the form of a 1996 television film, the programme was successfully relaunched in 2005,with a far bigger budget. produced in-house by BBC Wales in Cardiff. The first was produced by the BBC and series two and three of the new series had some development money contributed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), which was credited as a co-producer. Doctor Who also spawned spin-offs in multiple media, including the current television programmes Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, the standalone K-9 and a single 1981 pilot episode of K-9 and Company.
The Doctor has been played by eleven actors. The transition from one actor to another is written into the plot of the show as regeneration, whereby the character of the Doctor takes on a new body and, to some extent, new personality. Although each portrayal is different, and on occasion the various incarnations have even encountered one another, they are all meant to be aspects of the same character. The Doctor is currently portrayed by Matt Smith, who took up the role after David Tennant's final appearance in an episode broadcast on 1 January 2010. A fifth series of the relaunched programme began on 3 April 2010, in which the Eleventh Doctor is accompanied by Amy Pond, portrayed by Karen Gillan.

This will run for 13 weeks on BBC1, DW has one many BAFTA's (UK TV Oscars), and most of our A list actors and comics want to guest on it.

Series Five of Doctor Who, begins 3rd April, at 6:20pm on BBC One, in the UK.
Series Five of Doctor Who, begins 17th April, at 9/8c on BBC America, in the USA.
Series Five of Doctor Who, begins 17th April, at 9:00pm on Space, in Canada.
Series Five of Doctor Who, begins 18th April, at 7:30pm on ABC, in Australia.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/changingwho/10302.shtml?page=19



Now back on topic.

I am going to the Baltic in just over 90 days!!!!!

 

[Caropooh]

Hey for my Parkwood buddies (Slg and Ktksspider)!!!

Are you planning on getting an Oyster card for using the tube around London? There is a tube station close to the Parkwood so I figured that would be the most convenient...or would this be necessary if you are considering a HOHO bus

I'm not a Parkwood buddy, but we were wondering the same thing. We did buy a ticket for the HOHO bus, so we decided that we would wait until we got to London and decide then if we really need the Oyster Card or not.

 

[MrsScooby]

I'm not a Parkwood buddy, but we were wondering the same thing. We did buy a ticket for the HOHO bus, so we decided that we would wait until we got to London and decide then if we really need the Oyster Card or not.

I saw your posts asking about the Oyster card and that was what made me look into it as an option

Hard to tell at this point if I need both or not. I'd like to get as much done ahead of time as I can to make the actual trip as fun as possible

 

[RJAYL]

I'm not a Parkwood buddy, but we were wondering the same thing. We did buy a ticket for the HOHO bus, so we decided that we would wait until we got to London and decide then if we really need the Oyster Card or not.

Caro do you have the link for HoHo bus tickets?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I'm not a Parkwood buddy, but we were wondering the same thing. We did buy a ticket for the HOHO bus, so we decided that we would wait until we got to London and decide then if we really need the Oyster Card or not.

I saw your posts asking about the Oyster card and that was what made me look into it as an option

Hard to tell at this point if I need both or not. I'd like to get as much done ahead of time as I can to make the actual trip as fun as possible

I would suggest for any stay of 2/3 or more days you buy an Oyster car, it covers, Tube, Bus, Network rail, some boats, you can get anywhere with it, and our normal buses are just as good as HOHO, bar a commentary, and most things are self explanatory.

 

[RJAYL]

I would suggest for any stay of 2/3 or more days you buy an Oyster car, it covers, Tube, Bus, Network rail, some boats, you can get anywhere with it, and our normal buses are just as good as HOHO, bar a commentary, and most things are self explanatory.

But we need a commentary unless we are traveling with you!