The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[Andrew DEREK UK]

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.

To give you a guide, look at princess cruises, shore trips Europe that will show ball park price.

I think that currency rates, booking now up to 120 days, and local places of interest not releasing 2010 prices, such as Palaces in St Petes all cause an issue.

 

[slg]

I'm interested in one of the two debarkation day excursions in Dover, but there is conflicting info and no prices. The description says to fill out the form and send it in online to make a reservation, and then lower down on the page it states that you can't book this excursion on-line but only on the boat? Which is it?

What are the 3 hotels that Disney is staying at? Does anyone know? I'd like to figure out how close they are to the hotel I'm staying at.

This is a convenient and lovely way to end the cruise and get into London.

I wonder what the cost is.

Any ideas?

 

[Doingitagain]

I'm interested in one of the two debarkation day excursions in Dover, but there is conflicting info and no prices. The description says to fill out the form and send it in online to make a reservation, and then lower down on the page it states that you can't book this excursion on-line but only on the boat? Which is it?

What are the 3 hotels that Disney is staying at? Does anyone know? I'd like to figure out how close they are to the hotel I'm staying at.

This is a convenient and lovely way to end the cruise and get into London.

I wonder what the cost is.

Any ideas?

All their prestays are at http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/packages/walt-disney-world-resort-cruise/

LONDON HOTEL OPTIONS
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
Located on the south side of the River Thames near attractions including the London Eye, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, this 4-star hotel provides clean, modern accommodations and amenities.

Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel
This 5-star historic Marriot hotel offers graceful elegance in its stately guest rooms and amenities. Located in Mayfair, the hotel is steps from landmarks, museums, West End theaters and upscale department stores.

Renaissance Chancery Court
This 5-star Marriot hotel with a luxury day spa features some of the largest guest rooms in London and occupies a landmark building only a short walk from the West End and minutes from the River Thames.

 

[Arizona Rita]

Hi everyone!
Chris called again this morning to see when DVC/DLP would be taking ressies and we got them!!
We are now booked at the New York (thanks Andrew!) for our time in Paris!
I think they are booking into July.
So just a heads up that things are starting to happen!

 

[shoes99]

Hi everyone!
Chris called again this morning to see when DVC/DLP would be taking ressies and we got them!!
We are now booked at the New York (thanks Andrew!) for our time in Paris!
I think they are booking into July.
So just a heads up that things are starting to happen!

We loved Hotel New York. We are from the NJ/NY area and it was funny that we stayed in HNY. We flew from NJ to CDG, took the bus to DLP, then after 3 days we took the Eurostar back to London and the next day we cruised the British Isles on Princess. I loved DLP. The landscaping and architecture is fabulous.

 

[Arizona Rita]

We loved Hotel New York. We are from the NJ/NY area and it was funny that we stayed in HNY. We flew from NJ to CDG, took the bus to DLP, then after 3 days we took the Eurostar back to London and the next day we cruised the British Isles on Princess. I loved DLP. The landscaping and architecture is fabulous.

Thank you! We're hearing lots of good things about this hotel and the more we hear the more confident we made the right choice!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Hi everyone!
Chris called again this morning to see when DVC/DLP would be taking ressies and we got them!!
We are now booked at the New York (thanks Andrew!) for our time in Paris!
I think they are booking into July.
So just a heads up that things are starting to happen!

Well done,

IMO; Hotel New York is the best option, Disneyland hotel is not value for money, and HNY beats it on many levels from a nice pool, to its theme, gym arcade, fitness centre, restaurants.

Disneyland hotel has a good location for Disneyland park, but there are two parks and disney village and HNY, is in a super location for all of thoose.

 

[smilis]

Hi Everyone!
Just joining the Baltic Cruises thread. We are going on the July 18th sailing and looking forward to it very much. Guess I have a lot of reading of past posts to do to catch up. Our first Med cruise was July 2007 and was one of the best cruise experiences we've had.

We have our airfare, pre-cruise hotel (Park Plaza Westminster-booked on our own), Disney transfers to and fro. I still need to book 1 night post-cruise but plan on staying near Heathrow where we fly out of. Guess I better start taking a look at shore excursions, although I will definitely look at doing some independent or private ones.

Haven't been on the boards since 2007, so I need to refresh my familiarity of them

Okay, am I correct that shore excursions for the July 18th sailing are not open yet? We are Castaway Club members so it looks like 90 days prior is when we can access the "My Cruise Plans" portion of our reservation. Is there a way of seeing what any of the excursions are going to be yet?

 

[jilljill]

Hi Everyone!
Just joining the Baltic Cruises thread. We are going on the July 18th sailing and looking forward to it very much. Guess I have a lot of reading of past posts to do to catch up. Our first Med cruise was July 2007 and was one of the best cruise experiences we've had.

We have our airfare, pre-cruise hotel (Park Plaza Westminster-booked on our own), Disney transfers to and fro. I still need to book 1 night post-cruise but plan on staying near Heathrow where we fly out of. Guess I better start taking a look at shore excursions, although I will definitely look at doing some independent or private ones.

Haven't been on the boards since 2007, so I need to refresh my familiarity of them

Okay, am I correct that shore excursions for the July 18th sailing are not open yet? We are Castaway Club members so it looks like 90 days prior is when we can access the "My Cruise Plans" portion of our reservation. Is there a way of seeing what any of the excursions are going to be yet?

Welcome back. Come on over and join our thread for the 7/18 sailing: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2302985
We'll fill you in on some things that are happening for our sailing once you join the thread.

Excursions are not out at all for the Baltics cruises. When you can book your excursions is based on your level of Castaway Club membership - more info can be found in the FAQ sticky at the top of the page or on DCL's CC member site.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Hi Everyone!
Just joining the Baltic Cruises thread. We are going on the July 18th sailing and looking forward to it very much. Guess I have a lot of reading of past posts to do to catch up. Our first Med cruise was July 2007 and was one of the best cruise experiences we've had.

We have our airfare, pre-cruise hotel (Park Plaza Westminster-booked on our own), Disney transfers to and fro. I still need to book 1 night post-cruise but plan on staying near Heathrow where we fly out of. Guess I better start taking a look at shore excursions, although I will definitely look at doing some independent or private ones.

Haven't been on the boards since 2007, so I need to refresh my familiarity of them

Okay, am I correct that shore excursions for the July 18th sailing are not open yet? We are Castaway Club members so it looks like 90 days prior is when we can access the "My Cruise Plans" portion of our reservation. Is there a way of seeing what any of the excursions are going to be yet?

Hopfully by Wednesday we will see Baltic shore trips up on the DCL website, we have seen various 'slips' on the Website, with bit coming up or changes plus last Wednesday Dover and Libson on the pre Blatic English repo came up.

If you cant wait, look at Princess cruises, Shore trips Europe to give you an idea.

 

[ishmael]

You need to go:-

Dover port to Ashford international.

Either by taxi all the way, (not far); or Taxi to Dover priory then train Ashford International.

Then pre book EUROSTAR to DLP, is MARNE-LA-VALLEE -CHESY station.
A train a day is direct, it would be through Ashfors around 9.20am.

Or Eurostar to Lille Europe (they run regularly all day) then transfer to TGV to DLP.

Or Eurostar to Paris, then Paris Metro, think line 1 to MARNE-LA-VALLEE-CHESY (40 mins)

Eurostar goes via the Tunnel under the sea.

Andrew,

The two chunnel trains out of Ashford appear to be 10:28 and 5:27. The 10:28 appears to be direct to Marne-la-Vallée - Chessy, so it would be ideal. We're on the 6/12-6/24 cruise, and disembarkation is scheduled at 8am. Does that sound like enough time to you to get off through customs, over to the train station, and through whatever security happens at the station to make it? It sounds tighter than I would like, but possible.

Thanks.

Chris

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew,

The two chunnel trains out of Ashford appear to be 10:28 and 5:27. The 10:28 appears to be direct to Marne-la-Vallée - Chessy, so it would be ideal. We're on the 6/12-6/24 cruise, and disembarkation is scheduled at 8am. Does that sound like enough time to you to get off through customs, over to the train station, and through whatever security happens at the station to make it? It sounds tighter than I would like, but possible.

Thanks.

Chris

Its 'tight' yes, *if* off at 8am luggage and immigration say 8.30am, you can get to Ashford by taxi in an hour, but Eurostar will want min of 30 mins check in. So I say, cant risk it.

There are many indirect trains get Eurostar to Lille Europe swap to TGV there for Marne'la-vallee-Chessy.

Yes its now 9.53am in London and 10.28am in Ashford for the direct train.

 

[ishmael]

Its 'tight' yes, *if* off at 8am luggage and immigration say 8.30am, you can get to Ashford by taxi in an hour, but Eurostar will want min of 30 mins check in. So I say, cant risk it.

There are many indirect trains get Eurostar to Lille Europe swap to TGV there for Marne'la-vallee-Chessy.

Yes its now 9.53am in London and 10.28am in Ashford for the direct train.

I think I'm starting to understand the different trains involved. After 10:28, it looks like we either have to wait until 17:27 for Ashford, or continue on to Ebbsfleet. Given that, can you tell me if the following make sense as a possible route:

Dovery Priory to Ebbsfleet on National Rail
Ebbsfleet to Lille on Eurostar (13:15-15:24)
Lille to Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy on TGV (16:06-17:10)

I really appreciate all your help untangling this.

Chris

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I think I'm starting to understand the different trains involved. After 10:28, it looks like we either have to wait until 17:27 for Ashford, or continue on to Ebbsfleet. Given that, can you tell me if the following make sense as a possible route:

Dovery Priory to Ebbsfleet on National Rail
Ebbsfleet to Lille on Eurostar (13:15-15:24)
Lille to Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy on TGV (16:06-17:10)

I really appreciate all your help untangling this.

Chris

Its a shame you have to go back and forth but yes.

 

[RJAYL]

I really appreciate all your help untangling this.

Chris

All's I know, is if Captain Ahab is piloting the Magic with Ishmael aboard we are in for some real trouble!

 

[flower91882]

To give you a guide, look at princess cruises, shore trips Europe that will show ball park price.

Yep, been looking at those for months.

 

[scrapycruiser]

Spoke with DCL today to ask where the heck are our shore excursions or Port Adventures or whatever ???????

Was told "they are already to go, just waiting on the prices...should be a week or two"

waiting on the prices ???? that hasn't stopped them from posting the Dover excursions !!

sorry folks, but I'm ready to see something. I have put off booking private tours to see what Disney is doing, but I don't want to wait too late to book something. When we did the Med '07 I had everything booked by the end of Dec.

 

[2bundles]

I agree. Our final payment is due in Feb. Surely they can't expect that with no excursion info up?

 

[flower91882]

Spoke with DCL today to ask where the heck are our shore excursions or Port Adventures or whatever ???????

Was told "they are already to go, just waiting on the prices...should be a week or two"

waiting on the prices ???? that hasn't stopped them from posting the Dover excursions !!

sorry folks, but I'm ready to see something. I have put off booking private tours to see what Disney is doing, but I don't want to wait too late to book something. When we did the Med '07 I had everything booked by the end of Dec.

I agree. I've been talking with some people about private tours but I'm dragging my feet when it comes to booking because I'd like to see what Disney is doing. I'm particularly talking about the 'Disneyesque' type things that I can't use other cruise lines for as a basis.

As I look at the tours posted recently, the Lisbon Audio Tour intrigues me. I think this is a great idea for an excursion. You get to go on your own (which is what I want to do in most ports) but you also get some 'guiding' and background on the sites you're going to. I hope they do something like this at some of our ports.

 

[Doingitagain]

Port Excursions are coming up. They have interesting new search options (at least for me).