The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[MrsScooby]

I actually think we're going to go with the 7 day travelcards as all the 2 for 1 vouchers make it a great deal. There is even a discount for HOHO, although at the moment it expires before we're there. I'll keep checking to see what else comes up.

One day travelcards for kids are only 2 pounds and you don't need photo id, so we'll probably just get them one day and avoid the hassle.

I just don't want to book in advance. I'm still not sure what we are going to do.

I'm also holding off buying my tickets until I'm more sure of what we are doing

 

[WVMD]

Either
https://oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/entry.do

I'm figuring it would be nice to have it in advance though-one less thing to worry about

Much easier to use the US site:

http://www.visitbritainshop.com/usa/travel-transport/london-transport/product/visitor-oyster-card.html

Virgil

 

[goingsouth]

The problem with insurance and a volcano is the "act of God" clause. Some policies won't cover in such instances. Does yours?

 

[MrsScooby]

Much easier to use the US site:

http://www.visitbritainshop.com/usa/travel-transport/london-transport/product/visitor-oyster-card.html

Virgil

Thanks Virgil

The problem with insurance and a volcano is the "act of God" clause. Some policies won't cover in such instances. Does yours?

Yeah, that's something I was wondering too.
Time to go take a second look at the policy I bought

 

[kittb]

Its up to you really but £105 say £10 tip.

don't shout at me but base tipping on the service you get? I didn't really get tipping, just blindly did it. Then when we went to wdw it became clearer. People actually work for their tip and aim to please! Often here a cab driver won't help with bags or even leave his seat, or make friendly/ helpful chat .... not the same as our limo driver at wdw who had ice cold drinks ready for the weary traveller, totally dealt with our luggage and guided us out of the airport, gave hints on how to get the most from our trip etc. Shed a whole different light on things!
Kit

 

[carolmb]

We have never purchased travel insurance and from what I understand it will not help if the flight was booked with airline miles. So I don't see how it will help us. Our first week stay is on Marriott points and it will not help then either. Lets just pray that all is well when we go.....
so do I buy insurance at all? The cruise is on Disney points too....

You are in the same boat that we are so to speak, everything was done on points.
Carol

 

[Rogillio]

So what happens if we can't fly to London becasue of the volcanic ash? I heard on the news last night that the eruption could last months. Yikes.

~Mike

 

[sbell111]

ok scratch a French airport off...
Any other airports open that would work

There are plenty of international airports in Europe. All of which are no more than a day or two away by train or car.

While the plume cloud shutting down transport into some airports is frightening, it's not something that can't be worked around if necessary.

 

[wickesy]

don't shout at me but base tipping on the service you get? I didn't really get tipping, just blindly did it. Then when we went to wdw it became clearer. People actually work for their tip and aim to please! Often here a cab driver won't help with bags or even leave his seat, or make friendly/ helpful chat .... not the same as our limo driver at wdw who had ice cold drinks ready for the weary traveller, totally dealt with our luggage and guided us out of the airport, gave hints on how to get the most from our trip etc. Shed a whole different light on things!
Kit

I agree with you and often I will tip higher for good service. Having said that, I would have higher expectations from a limo service than I would from a London taxi driver. Cold drinks, help with luggage and being guided out of the airport come in the price for me and wouldn't attract a higher tip.

 

[MrsScooby]

don't shout at me but base tipping on the service you get? I didn't really get tipping, just blindly did it. Then when we went to wdw it became clearer. People actually work for their tip and aim to please! Often here a cab driver won't help with bags or even leave his seat, or make friendly/ helpful chat .... not the same as our limo driver at wdw who had ice cold drinks ready for the weary traveller, totally dealt with our luggage and guided us out of the airport, gave hints on how to get the most from our trip etc. Shed a whole different light on things!
Kit

I agree, no flames here.
I find out what is an expected baseline or starting point and adjust up or down depending upon the quality of service.

So what happens if we can't fly to London becasue of the volcanic ash? I heard on the news last night that the eruption could last months. Yikes.

~Mike

There are plenty of international airports in Europe. All of which are no more than a day or two away by train or car.

While the plume cloud shutting down transport into some airports is frightening, it's not something that can't be worked around if necessary.

I'm trying to focus on things I can control
I imagine being on top of things and aware that there could be a problem would be beneficial as those who act quickly to plan a different route will have the most likelyhood of success

It would be stressful and expensive to reroute to another airport, but definitely preferable than missing the cruise entirely.

 

[Rogillio]

I agree, no flames here.
I find out what is an expected baseline or starting point and adjust up or down depending upon the quality of service.






I'm trying to focus on things I can control
I imagine being on top of things and aware that there could be a problem would be beneficial as those who act quickly to plan a different route will have the most likelyhood of success

It would be stressful and expensive to reroute to another airport, but definitely preferable than missing the cruise entirely.

That's a good point. The fact that I even bothered to post that probably indicates that most of our planning is done....so now I'm looking for the 'what am I forgetting' and the 'what could go wrong?'.

~Mike

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

There are plenty of international airports in Europe. All of which are no more than a day or two away by train or car.

While the plume cloud shutting down transport into some airports is frightening, it's not something that can't be worked around if necessary.

What the position is, is that with UK, and Northern French airports all closed, amongst others, all TRAINS, Eurostar, ferries, etc are all fully booked for four days, ie to Monday, so if you did have this occur near cruise flying date, going anywhere else, wouldn't work.

We have no flights (bar Scotland and NI) to Saturday.

don't shout at me but base tipping on the service you get? I didn't really get tipping, just blindly did it. Then when we went to wdw it became clearer. People actually work for their tip and aim to please! Often here a cab driver won't help with bags or even leave his seat, or make friendly/ helpful chat .... not the same as our limo driver at wdw who had ice cold drinks ready for the weary traveller, totally dealt with our luggage and guided us out of the airport, gave hints on how to get the most from our trip etc. Shed a whole different light on things!
Kit

I didn't shout!!! Just replied to someone else's question.

 

[sbell111]

What the position is, is that with UK, and Northern French airports all closed, amongst others, all TRAINS, Eurostar, ferries, etc are all fully booked for four days, ie to Monday, so if you did have this occur near cruise flying date, going anywhere else, wouldn't work.

I realize that in Europe, you guys kinda default to train travel. It's not like that in the US. If we can't fly somewhere, we jump in a car and drive.

Any city in Western Europe is within driving distance to the port. I seriously doubt that every rental car in Europe is going to be unavailable because of the ash cloud.

To test this theory, I just popped over to the National Car Rental website and verified that I could, indeed, rent a car in Rome, Madrid, Frankfort, or Zurich tomorrow afternoon. (Those are the only cities that I checked, as well as the only rental company.) I also just verified that I can still reserve space for a vehicle on the eurotunnel shuttle for the day after tomorrow and the next day.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I realize that in Europe, you guys kinda default to train travel. It's not like that in the US. If we can't fly somewhere, we jump in a car and drive.

Any city in Western Europe is within driving distance to the port. I seriously doubt that every rental car in Europe is going to be unavailable because of the ash cloud.

To test this theory, I just popped over to the National Car Rental website and verified that I could, indeed, rent a car in Rome, Madrid, Frankfort, or Zurich tomorrow afternoon. (Those are the only cities that I checked, as well as the only rental company.)

I think we are talking at cross purposes, ..

What the point is, that if you are trying to get to Dover,(England) you cant, trains in Europe are actually good, but there is only the one channel tunnel, and that is fully booked to Monday. Ferries as I posted are full. There are queues everywhere.

15,000 flights canceled, thoose people from those flights, all have the same ideas and will try anyway they can.

Yes you can drive, I didn't say anything at all about cars or car hire, but once you get to the English channel there is the barrier the Sea. We are seeing it on our TV all the time today.

Also planes are in the wrong places so it has a knock on effect.

 

[sbell111]

I think we are talking at cross purposes, ..

What the point is, that if you are trying to get to Dover,(England) you cant, trains in Europe are actually good, but there is only the one channel tunnel, and that is fully booked to Monday. Ferries as I posted are full. There are queues everywhere.

15,000 flights canceled, thoose people from those flights, all have the same ideas and will try anyway they can.

Yes you can drive, I didn't say anything at all about cars or car hire, but once you get to the English channel there is the barrier the Sea. We are seeing it on our TV all the time today.

Also planes are in the wrong places so it has a knock on effect.

I guess that you miss my update where I stated the following:

"I also just verified that I can still reserve space for a vehicle on the eurotunnel shuttle for the day after tomorrow and the next day."

Therefore, the English channel is not such an impenetrable barrier.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I guess that you miss my update where I stated the following:

"I also just verified that I can still reserve space for a vehicle on the eurotunnel shuttle for the day after tomorrow and the next day."

Therefore, the English channel is not such an impenetrable barrier.

OK

But our news is reporting its full.

There website has crashed under the pressure, if you try to book:-

Not possible to book at this time [U0667]



If you are experiencing any difficulties with the online booking module, please call our Contact Centre.

If there are spaces, its going to have a long long wait and traffic jams to the port.

 

[sbell111]

OK

But our news is reporting its full.

If there are spaces, its going to have a long long wait and traffic jams to the port.

We're discussing worst case scenarios to get us to our cruises due to a multi-country transportation shutdown and you are advising that there may be heavy traffic.

Okie dokie.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

We're discussing worst case scenarios to get us to our cruises due to a multi-country transportation shutdown and you are advising that there may be heavy traffic.

Okie dokie.

No, not just heavy traffic please read my posts, anyway don't think you are taking this anywhere... Best to drop this.

 

[sbell111]

No, not just heavy traffic please read my posts, anyway don't think you are taking this anywhere... Best to drop this.

I think that's a very good idea. Frankly, I'm not sure why you have taken such a hard stance on people being prepared to have to possibly make alternative arrangements. While it's true that these changes would be inconvenient and expensive, a few days of hassle to be able to keep a great vacation on track certainly beats cancelling the entire thing.

 

[sbell111]

OK

But our news is reporting its full.

There website has crashed under the pressure, if you try to book:- ...

You made the bolded change after my previous reply. Prior to mentioning the crossing, I went onto their website and took a booking all the way to the point where I would have to pay. I just went back into their website and did it again. There were no problems either time. Granted, I didn't enter my credit card number as I will not be Calais in the next few days.