The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[slg]

Gydell:

Did you just book via email? They didn't require a credit card?

S.

 

[jilljill]

I was so looking forward to this, but the price is way overboard for 4 hours and not even any food. MY dh couldn't speak for a few minutes when I told him the price!

When was the last time you made him speechless?

This tour is just way out of line in price if you ask me. I was thinking it would have been half the price and still thought that would have been expensive. Catherine's Palace is nice, but not that nice.

mardonna, I have pics of the Romanov's portraits so that is included in the 'normal' tour. Not sure why that was specifically mentioned for this tour.

I'm wondering if they make you wear the shoe coverings for the 'Royal Ball' part of the excursion since you have to wear them for the 'normal' tour in the daytime.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

We're going on the first Baltic cruise, leaving Dover on June 12th. I've seen the temp chart from the Magical Baltic folks: http://www.wideopenwest.com/~epcotkilterfan/MagicalBaltic/2010%20Baltic%20Cruise%20Temperatures.pdf.

But I'm trying to wrap my head around what that means we should pack to wear depending on the varying weather. It sounds like this may not be shorts weather. But I'm also trying to gauge if we should bring: windbreakers, rain jackets, fleece jackets, warmer jackets with mittens or ALL of those.

So if anyone has been on a Baltic cruise in mid-to-late June before, please let me know if my assumptions are correct.

Might be best to ask this on the Baltic trip planning thread.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2183183

 

[jilljill]

Missy4414, I'll answer and then move it to the Baltics planning thread.

Layers will be the way to go. We did the Baltics mid-July in 2008 and it was mid-60's the entire cruise with rain our 2nd day in StP and a morning shower in Warnemunde.
Bring rain gear and comfortable shoes. But I've also seen other cruisers have said they needed heavy coats, scarves and gloves in June and July. You are going north so anything can happen with the weather.

 

[gydell]

Gydell:

Did you just book via email? They didn't require a credit card?

S.

I booked email with no credit card.

 

[slg]

Thank you Gydell. I'm just waiting back for a response.

Woodrow was quite a bit more expensive, but their emails were prompt and very pleasant. They have a lot of referrals on cruise critic so I may use them for the london to gatwick leg.

 

[gydell]

Thank you Gydell. I'm just waiting back for a response.

Woodrow was quite a bit more expensive, but their emails were prompt and very pleasant. They have a lot of referrals on cruise critic so I may use them for the london to gatwick leg.

Check with your hotel. Ours is picking us up at Heathrow - for a fee.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm really tired of that Pirate deck party. For these cruises they should have a Vikings in the Baltic party. I think I may get a Viking hat and wear it in protest.

 

[MJGirl]

Might be best to ask this on the Baltic trip planning thread.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2183183

This is the Baltic trip planning thread Andrew

 

[scrapycruiser]

Trying to get some info for my son whose going on the Baltic w/ us.
Out of Anastasia, Masha, and SPB (?), which would offer the best tour in St Petersburg for family w/ small children ?

Does anyone have their email addresses ?

 

[slg]

I'm disappointed that they aren't doing vikings in the baltic instead of pirates in the caribbean. However, I supposed that would require dcl to also do pirates in the med or something different for the TA and repo cruises.

Ah well, you think they could work something special for those 4 baltic cruises!Not just same old, same old. And without the warm caribbean evenings and fireworks, the whole idea of the pirate night rather bores me. I think we might give it a miss this time.

 

[goingsouth]

Is it true there will be no fireworks for the Baltic cruises?
Has anyone heard about this?




Joanne

 

[slg]

I read on one of these boards that there aren't any fireworks on the baltic and alaska cruises.

Speculation is because the nights are so short that it doesn't get dark until midnight.

 

[cindy18]

Trying to get some info for my son whose going on the Baltic w/ us.
Out of Anastasia, Masha, and SPB (?), which would offer the best tour in St Petersburg for family w/ small children ?

Does anyone have their email addresses ?

Not sure about the small children part because my DDs will be 14 and 12. But I think they all customize for the right age group and also for what you think your kids will like. Email address for SPB Tours is mail@spb-tours.com and for Masha is mashavankova@hotmail.ru.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

This is the Baltic trip planning thread Andrew

After my suggestion that post was merged with this thread by the Moderators.

 

[scrapycruiser]

I'm just curious. Is anyone planning to go on the shore excursion--the Royal Ball at St. Catherine's Palace? It seems very expensive but I wonder if it's worth it. We don't have children but it sounds so wonderful. But I'm curious if many people will decide it's worth the expense.

Missy.. we'll be on the Jul 18 Baltic cruise but won't be going to the Ball.

However, our son and dau-in-law and their 5 y son would very much like to go. But since this is their 1st Disney cruise, they're afraid it will sell out before they're allowed to book it. They realize how expensive it is, but how often, they say, can you go to a ball at Catherine's palace ? They're planning to wear tux & gown.

 

[poohmomof5]

Missy.. we'll be on the Jul 18 Baltic cruise but won't be going to the Ball.

However, our son and dau-in-law and their 5 y son would very much like to go. But since this is their 1st Disney cruise, they're afraid it will sell out before they're allowed to book it. They realize how expensive it is, but how often, they say, can you go to a ball at Catherine's palace ? They're planning to wear tux & gown.

I am also on that cruise, and I chatted with my 3 teens (including 2 boys), and they thought the idea of doing this was actully quite cool and a once in a lifetime opportunity. I kind of agree. I budgeted for our shore excursions and now I will have to see where I can cut, because this is a very unique opportunity.

 

[ktkspider]

I'm really tired of that Pirate deck party. For these cruises they should have a Vikings in the Baltic party. I think I may get a Viking hat and wear it in protest.

We were thinking the same thing! There should be plenty of oportunity to pick up something "viking themed" for the party that we don't actually have to pack and bring.. hopefully that doesn't cause a pirate/viking uprising on the ship... LOL

 

[Rogillio]

Folkshow or Ballet? Just curious what y'all are doing in SPR in the evening? The Russion Ballet is "world famous" but I've never really had any interest in ballet. The folk show seems a little like a made-for-tourist show....but it also looks like it'd be fun. Thoughts?

~Mike

 

[cindy18]

I think we're leaning towards the folk show, even though I agree it will be more of a touristy thing. First, it sounds really fun. Second, the ballet is a whole lot more expensive than I was expecting, and I don't think we, as a family, love ballet enough for that expense. Third, both my DH and older DD really didn't seem too excited at all about the ballet, leaving just me and my younger DD, and we couldn't get worked up enough to fight for it. So there you are.