The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[cindy18]

Oh yes, hate shopping, done quickly, requests from kids, a laptop and a quality camera, easy.................

My credit card is in recovery......

I hear you on that one!!

 

[Arizona Rita]

subbing

 

[denise]

Hello all!!!
I posted this on our trip thread but since you are all going to Russia at one point here goes again....

I was reading my issue of Conde Nast Traveler and there is a several page article on Russia Etiquette. Very interesting to see what they consider rude...and that we don't here in the USA...
take a look.....http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/502072

 

[Madisonznana]

Hello all!!!
I posted this on our trip thread but since you are all going to Russia at one point here goes again....

I was reading my issue of Conde Nast Traveler and there is a several page article on Russia Etiquette. Very interesting to see what they consider rude...and that we don't here in the USA...
take a look.....http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/502072

Thanks for sharing this, it was quite interesting.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Well my calculations are that the Baltic cruise port adventurers should be out by the first week in January, based, on the release of the previous two, transatlantic and Med cruises shore trips.

So anytime now really.

Have been looking at Princess cruises Europe ones they cover all the Baltic ports and give a very good idea and bases on what DCL will offer,

Long trips for St Petes and Berlin look like they will hit the $400 pp mark the other ports should be in the region of $90>$100pp, still a big cost for a family.

 

[denise]

Well Andrew...I will hold you to your prediction as you are always right on. and I think I will need to save more money.

Your post reminded me....
I was thinking of writing you and asking you about car rentals. We will be at DLP Marriott a week before we go to Dover. My idea is to have a car the week we are there and then drive to Calais and drop it off there. Then take the ferry to Dover..We are staying 2 nights in Dover before the cruise. What do you think?
Can you suggest a car rental company that has fair prices?

Oh and Happy Boxing Day!!!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Well Andrew...I will hold you to your prediction as you are always right on. and I think I will need to save more money.

Your post reminded me....
I was thinking of writing you and asking you about car rentals. We will be at DLP Marriott a week before we go to Dover. My idea is to have a car the week we are there and then drive to Calais and drop it off there. Then take the ferry to Dover..We are staying 2 nights in Dover before the cruise. What do you think?
Can you suggest a car rental company that has fair prices?

Oh and Happy Boxing Day!!!!

Avis,National and Hertz, all have a drop off and pick up point near the port, National is the closest, lets hope for the Baltic shore trips within the week.

The ferry crossing should be good at that time of year, no problem

 

[Arizona Rita]

Apart from on the cruise meets thread, I have seen a lot discussed on the main forum about the Baltic, with four cruises, can we share ideas and plans?

OK Ladies and Gentleman, how is getting excited about cruising in the Baltic.
Anyone made any plans as yet, what are you looking forward to going?

Pre stay in London? Any plans, museums, Historic places, The Tower? Windsor? Theatre show? Shopping? River cruise or London eye?

Dover, staying there? White Cliffs? Castle?

Or Disneyland Paris?

Are you like me can’t wait for the shore excursions to come out or booked private tours?

Oslo, getting up early for the long trip up Oslofjord? Viking museum? Walking the capital?

Copenhagen, walking, or highlights of town?

Warnemunende, staying local or going to Berlin.

St Petersburg, Historical places, Ballet?? .

Tallinn (Or Helsinki) .Touring the city?

Stockholm, Tour under the bridges of the city?

What are you looking forward to the most? Have a budget?
DCL tour or DIY?

Sea days rest or watching?

Post cruise?

Taking local currency or credit cards, what do you want to buy?

Hello!
I want to see this thread stay alive and I love these questions and maybe by bumping this up a bit more Disers will answers these questions too!

Andrew, I have enjoyed reading your replies on the threads, very knowledgable and helpful but am disappointed that your not on the Baltic Ignaugral as I would have enjoyed meeting you!
Answers to questions:
Getting very excited now and family kept cracking up that I could tell them to the exact date when we are leaving (5 months 14 days, but who's counting!)
Arriving in London on the 9th June for prestay.
London Eye, Ghost Tour for Ds, TOL, St Pauls, hopefully a play.
Definitly getting Oyster card and meeting friend from Dis scrapping thread.
London Eye!
DLP and Paris after cruise!
WAITING, impatiently for DLP to open reservations, only booking for March for US! UGH! and also for DCL shore excursions, hope your prediction is right about January Andrew!
Wouldnt dare do Russia without Disney, dont think we would even consider private tours.
DS wants to do something "Vikingish" and I would love to do something "Trollish". Love folklore!
Havnt really looked closely into ports yet and what they have to offer.
Just want to go!
On the ship, planning a Secret Mickey exchange and am currently working on my Homemade FE gifties. (My friend in London has graciously said that I can mail them to her ahead of time, also gives me a reason to efinitely meet her!
Maybe we can arrange to meet too!)
For those not familiar with Jann Brett books, she writes wonderful folkloreish books for children set in the general Baltic area, lots of trolls, winter animals, just great books, and the pictures are incredibly detailed! In her Christmas themed books she always has a red wooded rocking horse which is supposedly a custom to have one on your tree there at Christmas.
(Some of her books, "The Hat", "The Mitten", "The Gingerbread Baby")
I want one of those from Norway. Simple and silly but thats what I want!
And if I find one that I like I will probably get several for Christmas pressies for next year.
Yesterday during the Disney Christmas Day Parade Special they did a segment on DCL and showed some of the Med and Baltics!
That got me excited!!

By the way, whats a budget? If its something that we want to do, we will make it happen. Through the grace of God, we are able to provide this for our kids and ourselves, and Thank Him every day for it.
(Andrew, read about the concierge tipping (thread) as well and agree with you on many points!.

Ok, I'll get off my soap box now! Thanks for listening to my ramblings!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Hello!
I want to see this thread stay alive and I love these questions and maybe by bumping this up a bit more Disers will answers these questions too!

Andrew, I have enjoyed reading your replies on the threads, very knowledgeable and helpful but am disappointed that your not on the Baltic Inaugural as I would have enjoyed meeting you!
Answers to questions:
Getting very excited now and family kept cracking up that I could tell them to the exact date when we are leaving (5 months 14 days, but who's counting!)
Arriving in London on the 9th June for prestay.
London Eye, Ghost Tour for Ds, TOL, St Paul's, hopefully a play.
Definitely getting Oyster card and meeting friend from Dis scrapping thread.
London Eye!
DLP and Paris after cruise!
WAITING, impatiently for DLP to open reservations, only booking for March for US! UGH! and also for DCL shore excursions, hope your prediction is right about January Andrew!
Wouldn't dare do Russia without Disney, don't think we would even consider private tours.
DS wants to do something "Vikingish" and I would love to do something "Trollish". Love folklore!
Haven't really looked closely into ports yet and what they have to offer.
Just want to go!
On the ship, planning a Secret Mickey exchange and am currently working on my Homemade FE gifts. (My friend in London has graciously said that I can mail them to her ahead of time, also gives me a reason to definitely meet her!
Maybe we can arrange to meet too!)
For those not familiar with Jann Brett books, she writes wonderful folkloreish books for children set in the general Baltic area, lots of trolls, winter animals, just great books, and the pictures are incredibly detailed! In her Christmas themed books she always has a red wooded rocking horse which is supposedly a custom to have one on your tree there at Christmas.
(Some of her books, "The Hat", "The Mitten", "The Gingerbread Baby")
I want one of those from Norway. Simple and silly but thats what I want!
And if I find one that I like I will probably get several for Christmas pressies for next year.
Yesterday during the Disney Christmas Day Parade Special they did a segment on DCL and showed some of the Med and Baltics!
That got me excited!!

By the way, whats a budget? If its something that we want to do, we will make it happen. Through the grace of God, we are able to provide this for our kids and ourselves, and Thank Him every day for it.
(Andrew, read about the concierge tipping (thread) as well and agree with you on many points!.

Ok, I'll get off my soap box now! Thanks for listening to my ramblings!

THANK YOU Great replies; seem to have it organised, yes budget! Going to be a hard one on this cruise, I can see St Petes being $1.5k by itself, but a further $2k on other shore trips, but have to do it,

for London, London Eye, Ghost Tour, TOL, St Paul's, and a play sound like a good plan, pre book the play for a good one, they do book up fast, London eye can also be booked in advance with various options.

I am lucky to have concierge on my Baltic cruise and plan to use them a lot.

I might give you a wave off on the first Baltic cruise, my plan is to go to Dover, just an hour form me and take some photos that day.

My plans:-

• Oslo Highlights tour and Viking museum, possible Olympic stadium run.
• Copenhagen, will be one with the city, maybe bus or boat or both. (Not bridge to Sweden) possible castles tour, or brewery.
• Germany is the issue, Berlin or not, a full three hours each way, think if its by chartered train yes.
• St Petes; Private tours.
• Tallinn, city highlights tour
• Sweden City highlights by boat or coach.

 

[Arizona Rita]

Denise~ great article, will pass it along to Dh

Andrew~ agree with you for that one poster, see WICKED!

Do you know what will be playing the time we are there? Disappointed that Poppins will be gone and not sure about the follow up to Phantom. Have you heard anything about that one?
Not sure about Berlin. On the Med we had to take the bus into Florence and although I dont think it was 3 hours, it was certainly long enough!
If you wave us off, have a sign or something with your name so we can shout out to you!

 

[Arizona Rita]

BTW, we have cat 4 room 8052. Hoping for pixie dust but might check at port.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Denise~ great article, will pass it along to Dh

Andrew~ agree with you for that one poster, see WICKED!

Do you know what will be playing the time we are there? Disappointed that Poppins will be gone and not sure about the follow up to Phantom. Have you heard anything about that one?
Not sure about Berlin. On the Med we had to take the bus into Florence and although I don't think it was 3 hours, it was certainly long enough!
If you wave us off, have a sign or something with your name so we can shout out to you!

My DD saw Wicked with the girl guides and thought it was very good, looking at the official website only a few shows have advance tickets out to June 2010, Love never dies, dirty dancing, Chicago, All my sons, Woman in black, war horse, and 39 steps, are available now.

Best to keep looking online as they release a block at a time.

Berlin will be a long day, the question is, if DCL offer Moscow from STP, would people do it? Florence for me as a private tour it was just under two hours there, and then an hour back to Pisa.

Read about the follow up Phantom, but do not know much about it, Andrew L-W, is running a TV search soon for a Dorothy for Wizard of Oz, so he has that project on as well.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

BTW, we have cat 4 room 8052. Hoping for pixie dust but might check at port.

Nice room had a few just up from that, 8064 etc, quick walk to Topsiders each mornnig to bring breakie back for the crew, (my crew).

 

[caseyk20]

I thought of something else. How were the Disney transfers? Does it give you a warm cozy feeling to have a Disney person meet you at the airport? Is that even what they do. Thanks!

yes it does we love it when we see the disney cruise line people waving at us with there mickey gloves

 

[Sailingpartyof10]

We will have a party of 10 (5 adults and 5 children ranging in age from 4 to 12) and are trying to figure out the best option for getting to Dover from London on the sail date (July 18). I'm not sure where we will be staying yet. I need to work on that, too, AND the flights! I have really done nothing but book the cruise! Well, I have put a watch on a few flights but haven't figured out yet when the best time to purchase is.

 

[caseyk20]

we are on the waiting list for disney transportation right now the hottel's that disney booked with people are all full they should get more hottels then

 

[denise]

Hello!

London Eye, Ghost Tour for Ds, TOL, St Pauls, hopefully a play.

For those not familiar with Jann Brett books, she writes wonderful folkloreish books for children set in the general Baltic area, lots of trolls, winter animals, just great books, and the pictures are incredibly detailed! In her Christmas themed books she always has a red wooded rocking horse which is supposedly a custom to have one on your tree there at Christmas.
(Some of her books, "The Hat", "The Mitten", "The Gingerbread Baby")
I want one of those from Norway. Simple and silly but thats what I want!
And if I find one that I like I will probably get several for Christmas pressies for next year.
Yesterday during the Disney Christmas Day Parade Special they did a segment on DCL and showed some of the Med and Baltics!
That got me excited!!

Hi...love your plans and need to know about the Ghost tour for my DD. She is "really" into this. She did a night ghost tour in Hawaii this year and got so excited about London. Can you post the info about it?

I know those books!! They are beautiful books and I hope you get all you want!!

Saw the parade yesterday and we all got excited when they talked about the cruise...My DDBF (boyfriend) was here and he looked at us all like we were odd.... Well I guess we are somewhat weird....
If he wants to stay around he will have to become a Disney freak too!!!

Getting more excited every day!

 

[OurDogCisco]

I'm curious about special theme nights that they are going to have on the Baltic Cruise. Is there going to be a pirate night or something similar? I'd like to get ready to buy the clothes for it. How many formal nights and semi-formal & casual nights? I'm ready to hear the details NOW!!! I'm getting impatient so, I hope they release these details soon. I also want to read about the tours as well.

Tina

 

[jilljill]

We will have a party of 10 (5 adults and 5 children ranging in age from 4 to 12) and are trying to figure out the best option for getting to Dover from London on the sail date (July 18). I'm not sure where we will be staying yet. I need to work on that, too, AND the flights! I have really done nothing but book the cruise! Well, I have put a watch on a few flights but haven't figured out yet when the best time to purchase is.

Come on over and join our thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2302985
Don't be afraid that we are on our 5th thread, we've been chatting since before bookings opened for this cruise.
We also have options for transport and ideas for hotels.

Some on the thread have bought plane tickets and others haven't, we are in the latter.

 

[Arizona Rita]

Tammy~ When we arrived in Barcelona for Med cruise, after we got off that long flight, we took the escelator down to ground transportation and as we were decending we saw a lovely young lady holding an official DCL sign with "ZAGAR" on it and it was just relief! We will probably always use their transfers.

Denise~ how old is your DD? Are you going to be in London when we are?
I have a friend on the Creative Community board and she has been helping us.
She just sent me info on a "Black Bus" Ghost Tour, where you ride through London on an old style bus.
DH is watching Dr Who Christmas episode (he's so thrilled, it was on in England only yesterday!) so I will have him post link tomorrow for you.

Andrew~A L-W is doing a talent search? We had one like that for Grease summer 2008 and he was a guest judge on it.
DH thinks now that instead of a play that he wants to go to Stonehenge and Cardiff. Any info on that? I have not been to Stonehenge and wouldnt mind going.