The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[cindy18]

Hi All:

We're on the June 24th Baltic. Currently planning to fly into Heathrow on American (3 of us on points, one using actual money) and go straight to Dover. Can't really take off more than two weeks at once, so this is pretty much a cruise vacation only for us. We're flying home from London the afternoon the ship gets back to Dover. Agree that it's hard to plan much of anything before Disney starts listing the available excursions, but we wanted to take this cruise because we've never been to any of these cities, so I think we'll be mostly exploring in every port. Also agree that it's too long to go into Berlin, so they may be our most restful port day. Apart from having to pay for the cruise scarily soon, we are incredibly excited for this cruise!

 

[mca]

We are on the July 18th baltic cruise. Have flights booked with Air Canada into Heathrow and flying out of Paris after a few days at DL Paris.

Nice to see this thread.

 

[MJGirl]

Hi Denise ... How are you doing? Too bad we are not on the same cruise Would have been nice to get together again! What are your plans for 2011?

 

[MJGirl]

Andrew ... What do you recommend for getting to Dover from Heathrow? I was thinking of taking the train from Heathrow via Victoria Cross station. Is this the best bet? Also, do you have to purchase tickets in advance, or is it better to wait until you get there?

Today was a milestone for me. I made my first overseas call today. I phoned the b&b to give my credit information to hold my room. My gosh that is a whole lot of numbers to press I can't wait to see how much that 2 minute call is going to cost me!

 

[Bride-to-be]

I just wanted to say thanks for the earlier help with the ground transfers and I wanted to share that for anyone flying into Gatwick needing a hotel just for the night, the marriott courtyard london gatwick (walking distance from the terminal) is only 42 GBP a night for a room with two double beds that holds 4 people.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew ... What do you recommend for getting to Dover from Heathrow? I was thinking of taking the train from Heathrow via Victoria Cross station. Is this the best bet? Also, do you have to purchase tickets in advance, or is it better to wait until you get there?

Today was a milestone for me. I made my first overseas call today. I phoned the b&b to give my credit information to hold my room. My gosh that is a whole lot of numbers to press I can't wait to see how much that 2 minute call is going to cost me!

There isn't a direct service from Heathrow to Victoria, the options are:-

Heathrow express > Paddington, then tube Bakerloo and Victoria, or Taxi from Paddington.

Or

Piccadilly line (Tube) to Barons court, walk across the same platform, onto District line and then to Victoria.

I prefer the second as you have to go on tube anyway.

National express coach does do Heathrow to Victoria.

No need to book any tickets in advance so up to you.

Also there are black cabs but luggage and numbers are limited, my guess is for a family you would need two.

 

[slg]

Andrew:

Did you mean there is no need to book in advance for the National express? We are probably going to take the national express right from the airport to dover. I didn't really want to book in advance because flights get delayed and I don't really know how long it'll take to make our way to the station.

Is there a station right at the airport? I thought that I could go from the airport to victoria and then a bus to dover.

I know it takes longer than the train, but I read that the train is a real pain with luggage and I don't mind sleeping on the bus! Or looking out the window.

 

[MJGirl]

There isn't a direct service from Heathrow to Victoria, the options are:-

Heathrow express > Paddington, then tube Bakerloo and Victoria, or Taxi from Paddington.

Or

Piccadilly line (Tube) to Barons court, walk across the same platform, onto District line and then to Victoria.

I prefer the second as you have to go on tube anyway.

National express coach does do Heathrow to Victoria.

No need to book any tickets in advance so up to you.

Also there are black cabs but luggage and numbers are limited, my guess is for a family you would need two.

Thanks ... There are just two of us. Would a black cab fit? If so, do you have any idea what it would cost for the trip to Victoria?

Regarding National Express. I thought you would have to switch buses when you arrived at one of the terminals? Is there a direct bus? Can you buy bus tickets at the station? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Rogillio]

So what to do Saturday in Dover? We plan to leave London Saturday morning and drive to Dover. Couple of questions:

1. What is there to see/do in and around Dover before we board the ship?

2. We'd like to check in, get our room, have lunch on the ship and then maybe get back off the ship to explore Dover some more. What time would we have to be back on board?

We will have a rental car and so can drive in and around the Dover area.

~Mike

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew:

Did you mean there is no need to book in advance for the National express? We are probably going to take the national express right from the airport to dover. I didn't really want to book in advance because flights get delayed and I don't really know how long it'll take to make our way to the station.

Is there a station right at the airport? I thought that I could go from the airport to victoria and then a bus to dover.

I know it takes longer than the train, but I read that the train is a real pain with luggage and I don't mind sleeping on the bus! Or looking out the window.

National express coach, you can reserve in advance, but there is a rolling service, I ment trains no need to reserve.

Trains have stations at:-
T5
T4 and
T1/2/3

All options at all terminals. All statins are under the terminal.

So what to do Saturday in Dover? We plan to leave London Saturday morning and drive to Dover. Couple of questions:

1. What is there to see/do in and around Dover before we board the ship?

2. We'd like to check in, get our room, have lunch on the ship and then maybe get back off the ship to explore Dover some more. What time would we have to be back on board?

We will have a rental car and so can drive in and around the Dover area.

~Mike

Dover town, Dover Castle, the White Cliffs, go to a pub,

I think port departure is like PC and all abord is 4pm, not like Barcelona.

 

[slg]

Andrew:

I'm still confused about the National Express. What is a rolling service? Does that mean I can just show up and book a ticket on the bus. Is there a bus service to Victoria that we change for Dover? I read that somewhere online but just wanted to clarify with a real person.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew:

I'm still confused about the National Express. What is a rolling service? Does that mean I can just show up and book a ticket on the bus. Is there a bus service to Victoria that we change for Dover? I read that somewhere online but just wanted to clarify with a real person.

Thanks for all your help.

A regular service, ongoing, ie from T5 there are at 90 min intervals about 6 coaches.

 

[mkmommy]

Andrew:

I'm still confused about the National Express. What is a rolling service? Does that mean I can just show up and book a ticket on the bus. Is there a bus service to Victoria that we change for Dover? I read that somewhere online but just wanted to clarify with a real person.

Thanks for all your help.

I have no actual experience, but from reading on Trip advisor the suggestion is if you are taking the Coach (especially the day of deparature) it is best to make reservations as there are limited seats and you can sometimes get discounted tickets, for the train it seems to be fine to buy your ticket when you arrive at the station.

 

[slg]

I just have no idea how long it'll take to get off the plane, collect our luggage, eat if we are hungry, find the bus station. The idea of committing to a time freaks me out. We are going to be going to Dover for 2 or 3 days before the cruise so its not a same day thing.

I haven't booked my flight yet, so I'll have a better idea of things when I actually book my flight!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Re booking you can book in advance but I have just looked now these are the coaches from T3 on Friday, I was able to 'Obtain reservations at peak times for tomorrow.

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[Andrew DEREK UK]

I just have no idea how long it'll take to get off the plane, collect our luggage, eat if we are hungry, find the bus station. The idea of committing to a time freaks me out. We are going to be going to Dover for 2 or 3 days before the cruise so its not a same day thing.

I haven't booked my flight yet, so I'll have a better idea of things when I actually book my flight!

That is the issue, transatlantic flights can vary in time, have delays, luggage isnt bad at Heathrow but radom I guess 40 mins, booking a coach can be dangerous private transfers may be better as you let them know you flight and they can check it.

 

[mkmommy]

I just have no idea how long it'll take to get off the plane, collect our luggage, eat if we are hungry, find the bus station. The idea of committing to a time freaks me out. We are going to be going to Dover for 2 or 3 days before the cruise so its not a same day thing.

I haven't booked my flight yet, so I'll have a better idea of things when I actually book my flight!

If you are going to Dover 2 or 3 days before the cruise then it is not such a big issue if you get to the coach station and the coach is full, waiting another hour will not make you miss the ship's departure.

Not sure I would want to be on a plane for 8-9 hours then get on a coach for about an hour to Victoria Station and then another 2 plus hours to Dover.

 

[slg]

The cost savings is really significant for a family of 5. Still deciding on it though.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

If you are going to Dover 2 or 3 days before the cruise then it is not such a big issue if you get to the coach station and the coach is full, waiting another hour will not make you miss the ship's departure.

Not sure I would want to be on a plane for 8-9 hours then get on a coach for about an hour to Victoria Station and then another 2 plus hours to Dover.

For London Victoria to Dover, I would suggest A train, rather than coach. SouthEastern services have at least an hourly service, and often half hourly, its fast out of London, the trains go to Dover Priory station thats a very short taxi ride to the Port.

The prices are reasonable, they can be prebooked or just turn up.

Trains also go from London Bridge.

 

[slg]

How is it with luggage for 5 people? I suspect we will have at least 5 pieces as we are going to be gone a total of one month?

Is it easy to catch from the airport?