The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[cindy18]

Agree that these private tour companies know what they're doing, and that the chances of their missing our ship in Warnemunde are small. But of course there could be some massive traffic jam on the autobahn or a tire blow-out or some other traffic/vehicular incident, and then I think you're right that we need to get ourselves from Germany to St. Pete and hope that our private tour guide in St. Pete is there to deal with our red tape. I have absolutely no idea what Disney would do if the tour guide they hired to take passengers around Berlin wound up getting to the train station too late to catch the train.

 

[Fivepin]

On the Med our Sicily excursion got back to the boat an hour late, they were waiting for us and we literally pulled away from the pier as soon as we got on the ship. Some people on the excursion were really worried about being left behind. The tour guide kept reassuring them that the ship would wait for them. (I wasn't concerned -- in fact when everyone was yelling to skip our last stop because we were running late, I said that I was fine -- I knew they weren't going to leave us.) The traffic was terrible though and some folks did miss the ship -- not sure if they got back on and the next port or not??

Same thing happened to us on the Med cruise in 2007 when we did the Florence and Pisa excursion. We were the last bus back and had to tender back to the ship. They were waiting for us too. Others were lucky we were late. They had taken the train and had problems finding a taxi back. If it wasn't for our excursion they would have missed the ship.

 

[jilljill]

Last time we were in Warnemunde the cruiseline actually contracted out a train to use for everyone to go to Berlin. Everyone on a Carnival Berlin excursion or on just the train part booked thru them went on the same train. So many people signed up on the ship to go to Berlin they had to add extra cars to accomodate everyone - over 1500 people were on the train to Berlin. I'm sure that DCL will be doing the same and have a contracted out train just for them to go to/fro Berlin. This is how they would be able to get everyone back to the ship, but also why they say that if you miss the train you are responsible to get back to the ship on your own. But as I said before, if an entire bus is late they will most likely wait, but if you are being a stragler and miss your tour group or miss the train due to your own fault then you would be responsible for your own transport.

The only true way to get clarification would be for someone to call DCL and ask them to clarify what they are saying in the excursion description.

 

[slg]

Thanks Jilljill. That makes me feel much better.http://www.wdwinfo.com/images/smilies/smile.gif:goodvibes:goodvibes:goodvibes

I think this worrier will still with DCL excursions.

 

[cindy18]

Last time we were in Warnemunde the cruiseline actually contracted out a train to use for everyone to go to Berlin. Everyone on a Carnival Berlin excursion or on just the train part booked thru them went on the same train. So many people signed up on the ship to go to Berlin they had to add extra cars to accomodate everyone - over 1500 people were on the train to Berlin. I'm sure that DCL will be doing the same and have a contracted out train just for them to go to/fro Berlin. This is how they would be able to get everyone back to the ship, but also why they say that if you miss the train you are responsible to get back to the ship on your own. But as I said before, if an entire bus is late they will most likely wait, but if you are being a stragler and miss your tour group or miss the train due to your own fault then you would be responsible for your own transport.

The only true way to get clarification would be for someone to call DCL and ask them to clarify what they are saying in the excursion description.

This makes a lot of sense, given the number of people off the Magic who are likely to go to Berlin. It also explains why it's so much more money to take the Disney excursion to Berlin "on your own" (which is just a train ride) than it is to book the train yourself. And it's probably the only way to be 100% "safe."

 

[cindy18]

Just got this email from one of the St. Pete tour guides, about their Berlin tours:

There was one case last summer where we had 10 groups at a time, that one smaller bus was broken in Berlin during the city tour. During the time that the group was having lunch, we arranged for another bus. It was no problem. If it would have happened on the way to Warnemunde from Berlin, the bus company via which we took the busses guarantees that within 30 minutes another bus would come and pick up people, no matter what the location where the bus broke down. We plan to return to the ship for 7:00 pm.

She also said that their tour package only includes a round-trip from Warnemunde, so we can't take the Disney train in and use them. So if we want to have a tour like this in Berlin, we have to have faith in their transport or find a tour guide who will meet the train in Berlin. Doable, obviously, but will want someone with reliable recommendations!

 

[OurDogCisco]

A St. Petersburg question... I'm not sure I get the difference between the Hydrofoil and the canal trip. A private guide said that the Hydrofoil is used to avoid two hours of traffic between Downtown and Peterhof. Where the canal trip is just a scenic journey through downtown? So, I still don't get it. Would you do both or just take one? Is the Hydrofoil not scenic? I don't get it. Thanks, Tina

 

[poohmomof5]

A St. Petersburg question... I'm not sure I get the difference between the Hydrofoil and the canal trip. A private guide said that the Hydrofoil is used to avoid two hours of traffic between Downtown and Peterhof. Where the canal trip is just a scenic journey through downtown? So, I still don't get it. Would you do both or just take one? Is the Hydrofoil not scenic? I don't get it. Thanks, Tina

I was just wondering the same thing.

There are the Hydrofoils mentioned on the Peterhof and Pushkin tour, the Nighttime Canal tour and another tour that mentions a River boat ride. What do they all mean?

 

[cindy18]

I think the main difference is speed and destination. I've taken a hydrofoil once, up the Danube from Budapest to Vienna. It's very cool and a neat way to travel, but it's fast. It's like taking a fast train between two cities. You don't really see the countryside go by because you're going too fast. The canal tour is a slow ride around St. Pete that let's you see the city from the water.

 

[OurDogCisco]

I think the main difference is speed and destination. I've taken a hydrofoil once, up the Danube from Budapest to Vienna. It's very cool and a neat way to travel, but it's fast. It's like taking a fast train between two cities. You don't really see the countryside go by because you're going too fast. The canal tour is a slow ride around St. Pete that let's you see the city from the water.

Okay. .. I get it... the Hydrofoil is more like a train. I'm thinking it was a boat. UGH.... I'm so DENSE. Thanks..

 

[cindy18]

Well, no, it is a boat, but once that travels very quickly along the water to take you from place to place. So its purpose is transportation, rather than sightseeing. Make sense?

 

[OurDogCisco]

Okay... now I feel better. I was thinking Disney wasn't giving us enough time in St. Peterburg so, I went and looked at the other cruiselines. Most dock at 7 am and depart the next day at 6 pm. So, that is 35 hours. Disney is docking at 12:30 pm and departing at 11 pm. So, that is 34 1/2 hours. So, really we aren't getting less time. Most museums are open until 8 pm. I guess, the only major difference is the time of day.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Well, no, it is a boat, but once that travels very quickly along the water to take you from place to place. So its purpose is transportation, rather than sightseeing. Make sense?

Okay.. I get it. I don't know why I'm confused with this.

 

[jilljill]

The hydrofoil takes you on a quick trip on the Finnish Sea from Peterhoff back to StP. The river cruise takes you down the River Neve and along the canals within StP.
The hydrofoil is used as an alternative method of transport and the river cruise is used for sightseeing.

Depending on what day you are in StP the traffic can be horrible which is why a tour operator would recommend the hydrofoil as a means of getting back to the city. Your private vehicle would leave Peterhof while you are touring the grounds to meet you where the hydrofoil docks and you and the guide take the hydrofoil back to the city.

The actual drive time to Pushkin is about an hour, but can take longer depending on traffic. The last time we were in StP it was on a weekend and there was no traffic, the July 18th sailing will also be in StP on a weekend so we shouldn't have traffic issues again. I think this is the only sailing that is there on the weekend so the other 3 cruises will have the normal weekday traffic issues to deal with.

Hope this helps clear up the hydrofoil and riverboat cruise confussion.

 

[OurDogCisco]

The hydrofoil takes you on a quick trip on the Finnish Sea from Peterhoff back to StP. The river cruise takes you down the River Neve and along the canals within StP.
The hydrofoil is used as an alternative method of transport and the river cruise is used for sightseeing.

Depending on what day you are in StP the traffic can be horrible which is why a tour operator would recommend the hydrofoil as a means of getting back to the city. Your private vehicle would leave Peterhof while you are touring the grounds to meet you where the hydrofoil docks and you and the guide take the hydrofoil back to the city.

The actual drive time to Pushkin is about an hour, but can take longer depending on traffic. The last time we were in StP it was on a weekend and there was no traffic, the July 18th sailing will also be in StP on a weekend so we shouldn't have traffic issues again. I think this is the only sailing that is there on the weekend so the other 3 cruises will have the normal weekday traffic issues to deal with.

Hope this helps clear up the hydrofoil and riverboat cruise confussion.

Yes... it does. Thanks... We'll be there on Mon-Tues so, I imagine there will be traffic. Also, there will be over crowding at Catherine's Palace and Hermitage since both are closed one of the 2 days. I wish I picked a later cruise but too late now.

 

[TDC Nala]

The 6/24 is in St. Petersburg on Wednesday and Thursday.

 

[OurDogCisco]

I'm really trying to narrow down my private tour in St. Petersburg. Wow... it is enough to make your head spin.

Anyways... I did find out Denrus requires full payment 30 to 15 days prior. While Red October requires about 8% deposit with final payment due the end of the 2nd day. I did not read this on either site. I found this on cruise critic. Anyways... just thought I give out this info as food for thought. Makes decisions harder.

 

[Madisonznana]

The hydrofoil takes you on a quick trip on the Finnish Sea from Peterhoff back to StP. The river cruise takes you down the River Neve and along the canals within StP.
The hydrofoil is used as an alternative method of transport and the river cruise is used for sightseeing.

Depending on what day you are in StP the traffic can be horrible which is why a tour operator would recommend the hydrofoil as a means of getting back to the city. Your private vehicle would leave Peterhof while you are touring the grounds to meet you where the hydrofoil docks and you and the guide take the hydrofoil back to the city.

The actual drive time to Pushkin is about an hour, but can take longer depending on traffic. The last time we were in StP it was on a weekend and there was no traffic, the July 18th sailing will also be in StP on a weekend so we shouldn't have traffic issues again. I think this is the only sailing that is there on the weekend so the other 3 cruises will have the normal weekday traffic issues to deal with.

Hope this helps clear up the hydrofoil and riverboat cruise confussion.

 

[jilljill]

I'm really trying to narrow down my private tour in St. Petersburg. Wow... it is enough to make your head spin.

Anyways... I did find out Denrus requires full payment 30 to 15 days prior. While Red October requires about 8% deposit with final payment due the end of the 2nd day. I did not read this on either site. I found this on cruise critic. Anyways... just thought I give out this info as food for thought. Makes decisions harder.

We are using Anastasia and she does not require a deposit or full pay't, you pay on the start of day 2 of your tour. We used her the first time we were there and were very please with the service we rec'd.


Since I'm looking over an itinerary that I just rec'd I'll copy and post what she has listed for pay't methods:

PAYMENT
Deposit is NOT required.

Our tour rates are fixed in Rubles. One month before Your actual arrival we will fix the rates in currency that is convenient for You (US Dollars, Euro). All currencies (Euro, USD, Rubles) are accepted for payment. According to the Russian banking regulation old or damaged banknotes are not accepted. This is the reason why we won’t be able to accept them either. New banknotes are highly appreciated. Thank You for understanding.

All the payments can be made during the last touring day by cash or credit card (if You pay with a credit card 3% is added for banking services).

 

[Traveling Tinkerbell]

I keep hearing that people who have taken a Baltic cruise before say that we can walk off the ship and do our own thing on four of our ports. I want to do that, also. I can see how close the Magic will dock in Oslo and Copenhagen. However, in Stockholm, the Magic will dock in Frihamnen and that is 3 miles away. I don't know the name of the port in Helsinki but it looks like it is a couple of miles away, too. How did you get into town on your own? Which ports did you buy a pass/card or do the HOHO? Any advice?

Thanks!