The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[OurDogCisco]

Insurance just gives me a headache! I worry about getting the right kind, at the right time for the right price.

I guess I'm hooped over my cruise as I haven't purchased any insurance yet and usually do it when I pay the final deposit.

No one has ever explained about the pre-existing condition clause.

Sigh.

A good place to start is www.insuremytrip.com Basically, you put in your basic information and then, it gives you a chart of the different carriers out their and what their policies cover. You can see how much the luggage allowance or the pre-existing medical clause is, etc... It is all there but it does take time to read.

 

[slg]

Does this site work for Canadians too?

 

[OurDogCisco]

Does this site work for Canadians too?

That I don't know?? You would probably have to look on the site.

 

[slg]

I've always been so nervous book insurance on-line. Has anyone ever done it? Any issues with claims?

 

[NancyIL]

I've always been so nervous book insurance on-line. Has anyone ever done it? Any issues with claims?

I have booked trip insurance for all but one of my 17 cruises online - either through Insure My Trip (www.insuremytrip.com) or the Trip Insurance Store (www.tripinsurancestore.com). What determines whether a claim will be paid is the validity of your claim and the company you choose - not whether it is booked online. Twice my sister was supposed to cruise with me, and twice she had to cancel last minute for medical reasons involving her husband. Travelex paid her first claim, and we each had a different company for the second cruise. I had to make a claim with HTH Worldwide to get the single supplement I was charged reimbursed, and my sister filed a claim with Access America for her flights. All claims were promptly paid.

 

[DW2DH&DS]

I must say, I am very impressed by the Disney tie in, in London with the West End show, of the Lion King.

Very clever....

PS, Not like Animal Kingdom...

don't like the Animal Kingdom Lion King show. We have seen the Theater production here in LA many years ago. Our 8 year old isn't interested in sitting through a production of any kind...

I am interested in possibly the post cruise debarkation excursion. We have all travel to/from airport/hotel and to Dover...just not from Dover back to hotel.

We are renting a car on the 4th and driving out to spend the day in the countryside, keeping the car overnight at the Marriott (cost for that...), and then driving the car to Dover on the 5th and using it to see Dover and areas surrounding. We are geocachers so will get in some geocaching while in England!!!

The credit goes to DW2DH&DS for the head's-up. I also ordered it from Amazon, even though I have the 2003 and 2005 editions.

too kind...at least you provided a link. DH called and asked if I wanted him to run out and grab it...i said well yes of course. Then he called back to tell me of the new version. I was afraid to post link as I have been previously busted for a link that I was truly unaware wasn't allowed to post.


As for all of you wondering about sales on airlines...
We put in fare-watchers with websites for purchasing air. You put in your destinations and a price range you are willing to pay, and when a fare is released that fulfills your requirements, you get an an email notifying you!!! I have family on the east coast so we are always watching for fares to NY and Philadelphia and of course Orlando for "world" visits. Just a thought. We were fortunate to book Virgin with miles...225,000 for 3 premium economy seats...thought that was pretty outstanding deal ssing as though we used 180,000 to get to Hawaii and that was coach. Didn't do upper-class because of the 8 year old...he doesn't need to be in a pod all lonely by himself.

 

[MJGirl]

slg ... I have insurance through work that will cover everything, so I tend to not get medical, only cancellation. When I got a quote from PC, I only include the tangible costs that I would lose if I cancelled.

 

[mkmommy]

Does this site work for Canadians too?

There is an insuremytrip.ca for Canadians.

I have found PC Financial to be the least expensive, but I have never had to process a claim, so I am not sure on that end.

 

[slg]

I need advice about transfers from Gatwick or Heathrow to Dover. I don't mind booking a private car, but I am so uncomfortable booking something on-line out of thin air. Will my credit card number disappear into the ethernet and no one show up to pick us up?

Does anyone have any recommendations of companies that they have used or have heard of? We are a family of 5.

Alternately, I suppose we can take National Express which seems easy from Heathrow, but long and complicated from Gatwick.

Any advice would be appreciated. We are coming in a few days before the cruise and want to go directly to Dover.

Thanks!

 

[scrapycruiser]

We have used Eddie Manning twice.You pay nothing ahead of time.He'll ask how many people + how many bags so they'll know what size vehicle to bring.He meets you inside and helps with the bags. For 3 adults and 6 bags he charged 69 GB pounds. We went from Heathrow to Renaissance Chancery .

 

[slg]

Thank you! This is exactly what I'm looking for...personal recommendations. I've bookmarked the site!

You don't have to pay in advance? That's the best! Do you have to give your credit card number to hold it?

 

[scrapycruiser]

Thank you! This is exactly what I'm looking for...personal recommendations. I've bookmarked the site!

You don't have to pay in advance? That's the best! Do you have to give your credit card number to hold it?

No you don't have to give them your CC #. You do need to give them your flight info.He picked us up last time in a Mercedes SUV. Very nice and very professional.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I need advice about transfers from Gatwick or Heathrow to Dover. I don't mind booking a private car, but I am so uncomfortable booking something on-line out of thin air. Will my credit card number disappear into the ethernet and no one show up to pick us up?

Does anyone have any recommendations of companies that they have used or have heard of? We are a family of 5.

Alternately, I suppose we can take National Express which seems easy from Heathrow, but long and complicated from Gatwick.

Any advice would be appreciated. We are coming in a few days before the cruise and want to go directly to Dover.

Thanks!

Private transfers is best, but not the cheapest, but with cruise luggage the easiest. NE I am not a great lover of, yes its *cheap* but the hub is London Victoria, and they do have stops on the way.

An example London to Dover is two and a half hours, double train or car.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Well... this is getting sad. Still no excursions yet. Just titles in Helsinki. I do like some of the titles though. So, I'm dying to find out if these can be booked on your own or do you have to go through Disney for the experience. I'm guessing all the walking tours you could do on your own but the I'm interested in learning about the top 2 and the food tasting one:

helsinki-highlights-and-arctic-sports
helsinki-highlights-santas-summerhouse
archipelago-speed-boat-adventure
city-of-helsinki
finnish-countryside-home-and-highlights
helsinki-from-land-and-sea
helsinki-highlights-and-food-tasting
helsinki-nordic-walking
helsinki-porvoo-and-countryside
helsinki-porvoo-and-steam-train
helsinki-walking-tour
panoramic-helsinki
porvoo-and-helsinki-highlights


Come on Disney.... I'm getting impatient!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Well... this is getting sad. Still no excursions yet. Just titles in Helsinki. I do like some of the titles though. So, I'm dying to find out if these can be booked on your own or do you have to go through Disney for the experience. I'm guessing all the walking tours you could do on your own but the I'm interested in learning about the top 2 and the food tasting one:

helsinki-highlights-and-arctic-sports
helsinki-highlights-santas-summerhouse
archipelago-speed-boat-adventure
city-of-helsinki
finnish-countryside-home-and-highlights
helsinki-from-land-and-sea
helsinki-highlights-and-food-tasting
helsinki-nordic-walking
helsinki-porvoo-and-countryside
helsinki-porvoo-and-steam-train
helsinki-walking-tour
panoramic-helsinki
porvoo-and-helsinki-highlights


Come on Disney.... I'm getting impatient!

I would like to do Santas house and the Steam train... but on the wrong cruise, going to Tallin...

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Helisinki error has been pulled..... no longer showing..

 

[DL1957]

We have used Eddie Manning twice.You pay nothing ahead of time.He'll ask how many people + how many bags so they'll know what size vehicle to bring.He meets you inside and helps with the bags. For 3 adults and 6 bags he charged 69 GB pounds. We went from Heathrow to Renaissance Chancery .

Scrapycruiser are you going on one of the Baltic Cruises? My DH and I are going ane we live in Williamsburg not far from you!

 

[flower91882]

Helisinki error has been pulled..... no longer showing..

You can finally click on the Lisbon and Dover excursions that they've had posted for a couple days. However, does anyone else find it extremely odd that Disney would post the excursions with descriptions but No prices? It would seem that they would wait and post everything all at once.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

You can finally click on the Lisbon and Dover excursions that they've had posted for a couple days. However, does anyone else find it extremely odd that Disney would post the excursions with descriptions but No prices? It would seem that they would wait and post everything all at once.

It might be to do with fluctuations on exchange rates, the Med has the Euro, but now there are other currencies involved as well.

Only explanation I have.

 

[flower91882]

It might be to do with fluctuations on exchange rates, the Med has the Euro, but now there are other currencies involved as well.

Only explanation I have.

I guess I can understand their concern with currency exchange rates, especially with the dollar fluctuating as it has been but........
I just think that most people are anticipating the release of the excursions so they can budget for their trip and it becomes a horrible tease when they give you half of the information.