The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[Deb T.]

We are planning to order British currency soon and have a question... is tipping customary for taxi and limo drivers? And if so, how much do we give? TIA

 

[slg]

Does anyone watch the Tudors? I am obsessed with that historical era, and can't wait to get to Hampton Court and the Tower of London.

That show makes me weep so often. I feel very emotional when all those folks get their heads cut off. Since I know it really happened, it just gets me every time.

 

[slg]

Oyster card or Travelcard? We will do HOHO the first day, but we are in London 12 nights, so I'm not sure if we should do a 7 day travelcard and then an oyster card for the remaining days, or just do an oyster card.

Its so confusing because if you buy a travelcard, you can get some 2 for 1's at some attractions like Tower of London and the London Eye. But you have to buy the TC at a rail station and I'm not sure where the closest one to Parkwood is.

Also, we like to walk a lot and I had the idea that the Parkwood was within walking distance of quite a few things, so I don't know if we would get our money's worth out of the TC. ..but there's the darn 2 for 1 which muddy up everything.

I'm also confused about what kids pay for TC . For some reason, I just don't want to buy ahead which I know is probably what I should do for the kids. Sigh...too many questions.

Does anyone have any suggestions between the TC or the OC for our situation? Or a combo of both? We have 3 boys; 14,11,8 (turning 9 during our trip...we're taking him to Legoland on his birthday)

 

[cindy18]

Sounds like alot of pooped cruiser's between Berlin & STP !

Well, that's for sure, although I think the issue is really how tired we're all going to be as we pull out of St. Pete and have 2 days of touring ahead of us before a few days at sea. I hope DCL is planning a quiet evening for the night we leave St. Pete. At least with Berlin, we have a whole day at sea to recover from that long day, and we can sleep in on the first morning in St. Pete because the boat doesn't get in until around midday. Ah well, you only go around once!

For those who have done the Med cruise, were you generally exhausted after days spent exploring ports, and did you feel that you had a chance to recover?

 

[RJAYL]

Well, that's for sure, although I think the issue is really how tired we're all going to be as we pull out of St. Pete and have 2 days of touring ahead of us before a few days at sea. I hope DCL is planning a quiet evening for the night we leave St. Pete. At least with Berlin, we have a whole day at sea to recover from that long day, and we can sleep in on the first morning in St. Pete because the boat doesn't get in until around midday. Ah well, you only go around once!

For those who have done the Med cruise, were you generally exhausted after days spent exploring ports, and did you feel that you had a chance to recover?

No Unless you skip a port we were on a dreaded 10 day the 11 day had an extra sea day!

My perfect cruise would be port/ sea day/ port /sea day/ etc......

 

[MrsScooby]

Almost as crazy I keep going back & forth on the canal. I want someone else in my house to help make a decision

Oh boy Sounds like my house
I've made all the plans and decisions so far.
They say they appreciate it, but then I resent getting the critique later on

Sounds like alot of pooped cruiser's between Berlin & STP !

2 big touring ports
The last 2 sea days are for recovery

We are planning to order British currency soon and have a question... is tipping customary for taxi and limo drivers? And if so, how much do we give? TIA

I had read 10% tip for these but I would like confirmation from someone in the UK. I did also read to look for tips already added to the check in restaurants (especially larger parties).

Well, that's for sure, although I think the issue is really how tired we're all going to be as we pull out of St. Pete and have 2 days of touring ahead of us before a few days at sea. I hope DCL is planning a quiet evening for the night we leave St. Pete. At least with Berlin, we have a whole day at sea to recover from that long day, and we can sleep in on the first morning in St. Pete because the boat doesn't get in until around midday. Ah well, you only go around once!

Last 2 sea days are for sleeping plus early nights on the port days for the most part
I think also depends upon what kind of excursion you have planned.

No Unless you skip a port we were on a dreaded 10 day the 11 day had an extra sea day!

My perfect cruise would be port/ sea day/ port /sea day/ etc......

Tons of sea days on the PC repo made that a wonderful cruise.

Oyster card or Travelcard? We will do HOHO the first day, but we are in London 12 nights, so I'm not sure if we should do a 7 day travelcard and then an oyster card for the remaining days, or just do an oyster card.

Its so confusing because if you buy a travelcard, you can get some 2 for 1's at some attractions like Tower of London and the London Eye. But you have to buy the TC at a rail station and I'm not sure where the closest one to Parkwood is.

Also, we like to walk a lot and I had the idea that the Parkwood was within walking distance of quite a few things, so I don't know if we would get our money's worth out of the TC. ..but there's the darn 2 for 1 which muddy up everything.

I'm also confused about what kids pay for TC . For some reason, I just don't want to buy ahead which I know is probably what I should do for the kids. Sigh...too many questions.

Does anyone have any suggestions between the TC or the OC for our situation? Or a combo of both? We have 3 boys; 14,11,8 (turning 9 during our trip...we're taking him to Legoland on his birthday)

We're only in London for a day and a half- so I think we are going with the Oyster card for the flexibility
A long visit like yours is obviously more complicated, but you'll get to see pretty much everything you really want.
We went to the Legoland in California years ago-it was great! My DS's first roller coaster ride was there. Amazing what they can build with legos.

I would email the Parkwood for their advice and the locations of things like the nearest rail station. They'll know what others staying there have found the most convenient and I found them very helpful when I emailed them with questions.

 

[Rogillio]

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!

Thanks a lot, you just cost me another $260 for the Canal tour. Like you, we are going for broke in SPR. It's is very unlikely we will ever be in Russia again so it just doesn't make sense to sit on the ship when we could be out touring.

We are doing a private 2-day tour buy they plan to take us back to the ship at 730 pm the first night. We figure we can have them get us back by 7 pm and take the canal tour. On the second night, after our tour we're doing the DCL Folkloric thing.

I probably need to check with the tour company and see if we can add the canal tour thru them.

~Mike

 

[ktkspider]

Thanks a lot, you just cost me another $260 for the Canal tour. Like you, we are going for broke in SPR. It's is very unlikely we will ever be in Russia again so it just doesn't make sense to sit on the ship when we could be out touring.

We are doing a private 2-day tour buy they plan to take us back to the ship at 730 pm the first night. We figure we can have them get us back by 7 pm and take the canal tour. On the second night, after our tour we're doing the DCL Folkloric thing.

I probably need to check with the tour company and see if we can add the canal tour thru them.

~Mike

We added the canal trip and a light dinner to our day one plans with our private tour with Anastasia and we will be back to the ship by 8:00 so it isn't so late but we still get to do the same stuff.. the cost wasn't too much more. (there are 7 in our group) good luck.

 

[cindy18]

We also have a private tour guide (Masha) and are doing the folk show and dinner with her and then a white nights canal tour that will go L-A-T-E. We've arranged for a slightly later start the 2nd day and we'll finish with another dinner with Masha. We've asked her to take us to places for dinner where she would eat with her friends and family, so that we can experience some other parts of St. Petersburg in the process. We figure that if we can do the folk show and a canal White Nights tour the first night, we'll be happy for a casual dinner after the 2nd day of sightseeing and then an exhausted return to the ship.

 

[Rogillio]

We added the canal trip and a light dinner to our day one plans with our private tour with Anastasia and we will be back to the ship by 8:00 so it isn't so late but we still get to do the same stuff.. the cost wasn't too much more. (there are 7 in our group) good luck.

The add-on with the private tour company was $50 pp for the boat tickets but then more for the transfer back to the ship at the end of the tour (since their driver can't wait) so it would be $90 pp. So $65 pp thru DCL is cheaper. We just need to remember to tell our private tour guide that we need to be back to the ship by 7 pm.

I'm wondering now if we have to process back onto the ship just to turn around and process back of the ship or can we just meet up with the DCL excursion on the dock?

~Mike

 

[sbell111]

For those who have done the Med cruise, were you generally exhausted after days spent exploring ports, and did you feel that you had a chance to recover?

I don't remember ever feeling exhausted. Dehydrated and sunburned - yes. Exhausted - no.

 

[DW2DH&DS]

What have you tried, National, Hertz, Europcar?

Hi Andrew,

DH called Hertz. Apparently, this situation happens often, and Hertz arranges someone to be there on Sunday for a car pick up. We have a confirmation number for the rental...we are just waiting for the final confirmation which takes 2-3 business days. We inquired yesterday. Thanks for replying! I really appreciate it.

Beth

 

[wickesy]

I had read 10% tip for these but I would like confirmation from someone in the UK. I did also read to look for tips already added to the check in restaurants (especially larger parties).

Yes, 10% would be about right for taxi drivers. I normally round it up to the nearest £ or 50p. Black taxis are all metered so you can see the cost of your journey as you go.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Hi Andrew,

DH called Hertz. Apparently, this situation happens often, and Hertz arranges someone to be there on Sunday for a car pick up. We have a confirmation number for the rental...we are just waiting for the final confirmation which takes 2-3 business days. We inquired yesterday. Thanks for replying! I really appreciate it.

Beth

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

You might have read or seen all UK airspace is closed today and will be to at least 7am BST, maybe continuing.

No planes, no airports.

Now lucky it isn't when the Baltic cruises are close but another advert for:-

GOOD TRAVEL INSURANCE.

 

[carolmb]

Thanks a lot, you just cost me another $260 for the Canal tour. Like you, we are going for broke in SPR. It's is very unlikely we will ever be in Russia again so it just doesn't make sense to sit on the ship when we could be out touring.

We are doing a private 2-day tour buy they plan to take us back to the ship at 730 pm the first night. We figure we can have them get us back by 7 pm and take the canal tour. On the second night, after our tour we're doing the DCL Folkloric thing.

I probably need to check with the tour company and see if we can add the canal tour thru them.

~Mike

We are doing a canal tour through our tour company.

Carol

 

[carolmb]

You might have read or seen all UK airspace is closed today and will be to at least 7am BST, maybe continuing.

No planes, no airports.

Now lucky it isn't when the Baltic cruises are close but another advert for:-

GOOD TRAVEL INSURANCE.

Hopefully all cleared up for our June 7th travel day to London. I wonder how travel insurance works when you use airline miles and hotel points for travel?
Carol

 

[Scoobydoo76]

Thanks a lot, you just cost me another $260 for the Canal tour. Like you, we are going for broke in SPR. It's is very unlikely we will ever be in Russia again so it just doesn't make sense to sit on the ship when we could be out touring.

We are doing a private 2-day tour buy they plan to take us back to the ship at 730 pm the first night. We figure we can have them get us back by 7 pm and take the canal tour. On the second night, after our tour we're doing the DCL Folkloric thing.

I probably need to check with the tour company and see if we can add the canal tour thru them.

~Mike

Sorry to cost you more money Mike. Maybe I can save you some money. We are using SPB Tours as our private tour group, who are you using? For the “Fun Tour” which is the canal boat ride (with vodka or juice, and chocolate treat), shopping (1 hr), and a short land tour it will be $50 pp for a group of 10. The price drops per person as the number in the tour goes up. If we have 16 people the price drops to $35pp.

We are not returning to the ship after our private day tour. Returning just seemed like a waste of valuable time. We have included a dinner (at our own expense) in the day tour. After the dinner, those not doing the evening tour will be returned to the ship. Our family will be directed to area where we will meet up with the rest of our “Fun Tour” group.

So long story short, you can join our tour and save some money. Let me know if you are interested and I can get you a contact name at SPB.

 

[carolmb]

Oyster card or Travelcard? Does anyone have any suggestions between the TC or the OC for our situation? Or a combo of both? We have 3 boys; 14,11,8 (turning 9 during our trip...we're taking him to Legoland on his birthday)

We are getting the Oyster cards per Andrew's recommendation. We will be in London 3.5 days pre-cruise and 3.5 days post cruise. I ordered the kids ages 9 and 11 the photo Oyster cards. It was very easy to do online and you pick them up when you get to London. I think you may have more flexibilty with the Oyster cards especially since you have to use the travelcards on consective days. Hope this helps.
Carol

 

[MrsScooby]

Yes, 10% would be about right for taxi drivers. I normally round it up to the nearest £ or 50p. Black taxis are all metered so you can see the cost of your journey as you go.

Thanks

You might have read or seen all UK airspace is closed today and will be to at least 7am BST, maybe continuing.

No planes, no airports.

Now lucky it isn't when the Baltic cruises are close but another advert for:-

GOOD TRAVEL INSURANCE.

Good point. Can't imagine doing this trip without travel insurance.
Also glad we are flying in 2 days early.