The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[cindy18]

You can wrok part of it from this:-

Night 1. Parrot Cay Let the Magic begin (Dover)

Night 2. Lumiere's Prince and Princess- Formal (Sea)

Night 3, Animator's Palate Rotational dining (Oslo)

Night 4 Parrot Cay Rotational dining (Copenhagen)

Night 5. Lumiere's Rotational dining (Berlin) will be late.

Night 6. Animator's Palate Villians- Semi Formal (Sea)

Night 7 Parrot Cay Are still listed as pending.(St Petes)

Night 8. Lumiere's Are still listed as pending. (St Petes)

Night 9. Animator's Palate Pirates (Tallinn)

Night 10. Parrot Cay Flavors of Scandinavia (Stockholm)

Night 11. Lumiere's Captains Gala- Semi Formal (Sea)

Night 12. Animator's Palate Till We Meet Again (Sea)
Breakfast Animator's Palate (Dover)

You can see where Villains is on, the other two Disney shows are on sea days, semi formal etc.

You can see Pirates deck party.

Wouldnt expect much Berlin night, as a lot of people will not be back to 7.50pm. Maybe Films.

So by your thinking, there will only be a handful of official Disney shows, apart from Let the Magic Begin and Til We Meet Again, and those will probably be on at sea days? I agree they will run films on Berlin night and maybe on the St Pete nights as well. Otherwise, variety acts?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

So by your thinking, there will only be a handful of official Disney shows, apart from Let the Magic Begin and Til We Meet Again, and those will probably be on at sea days? I agree they will run films on Berlin night and maybe on the St Pete nights as well. Otherwise, variety acts?

Yes they will imho pad it out with entertainment shows, they did this for Panama x2 and the Med in 2007,now the Med had one more show but that was canceled, so I think its entertainment.

Disney stage shows tend to be sea days and semi or formal nights. Not Pirates night on longer cruises.

Berlin really has to be a film, as the people not going to Berlin want to see something, but the people in Berlin do not want to miss out on a big show, so a film you can catch up.

Cant recall his name but in the Med we had a great French entertainer, he did a few shows, Hypnotist and juggling and comedy.

I think first St P night will be local entertainment, Russian band or something.

 

[cindy18]

OK, I hear you. Just trying to anticipate. If we spend all day during the port days running around the various cities (putting Berlin and St Pete aside), I'm wondering how wiped we'll be. We have 2nd seating so the shows would be early, and I'm anticipating that some days, we just may need to relax before dinner. But we've always loved the shows, so I don't want to miss them necessarily. Just thinking ahead. This is going to be a cruise with a lot to do!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

OK, I hear you. Just trying to anticipate. If we spend all day during the port days running around the various cities (putting Berlin and St Pete aside), I'm wondering how wiped we'll be. We have 2nd seating so the shows would be early, and I'm anticipating that some days, we just may need to relax before dinner. But we've always loved the shows, so I don't want to miss them necessarily. Just thinking ahead. This is going to be a cruise with a lot to do!

Yes, it is a completely different experience to Caribbean 7 night cruises, they are relaxed and the ship is also the destination with a few ports of call, and a beach often the main attraction.

Panama crossing cruises have similar entertainment but are relaxed due to a high number of sea days.

The Med 2007 was completely different, more of an endurance test, and the ship was a floating hotel a base in the evenings for your facilities and clothes only.

The shows were go, most adults can cope, some young kids couldn't.

But its amazing what you can do.

The sea days mean a lie in, and a recharge, I think the StP and then Tallinn and Stockholm in a row will be the worst. Berlin whilst long has a sea day after it.

 

[cindy18]

Completely agree. We're going to be exhausted. The good news is that after the marathon stretch of St Pete, Tallin and Stockholm, there are TWO sea days, back to back, meaning that we should arrive back in Dover rested, albeit very sad. I'm also glad for the first sea day right after we leave, so we have some time to settle in and enjoy the ship before 3 sight seeing ports in a row (and for those of us flying in quite early that morning, it gives us a chance to sleep off the jet lage). Wish it were sooner than several months away!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Completely agree. We're going to be exhausted. The good news is that after the marathon stretch of St Pete, Tallin and Stockholm, there are TWO sea days, back to back, meaning that we should arrive back in Dover rested, albeit very sad. I'm also glad for the first sea day right after we leave, so we have some time to settle in and enjoy the ship before 3 sight seeing ports in a row (and for those of us flying in quite early that morning, it gives us a chance to sleep off the jet lag). Wish it were sooner than several months away!

The first two of that three, are quite light, ie less touring, I am not going to overdo ,Oslo, Copenhagen,

Jet lag try to set your watch to UK tome at the embarkation airport, eat/drink in airport to that time, then think UK time, try if you can yo get some sleep on plane, drink light water etc, not soda, and try not to eat on the plane. Stay up on arrival unless in very early and then for a few hours and up by noon. Stay in sunlight as long as possible to at least 9pm.

 

[cindy18]

I'll try to think of Oslo and Copenhagen as light. We're doing them on our own, so we need to be careful not to overdo it.

I'm used to taking either the day flight to London or the latest overnight flight which gets in late morning. Either makes jet lag much easier. There's a very small likelihood of sleep on the flight over, as we land at 1:30 am my time. Water and sunlight are great (but it's England, so the sunlight is iffy). After arrival, we are getting in a car and going straight to Dover, so unless we doze in the car, sleep is unlikely. I was vaguely hoping for a nap in the cabins before the drill and sail away party.

 

[LisaTex]

Andrew - (or anyone in the know) our hotel is across the street from Kensington Gardens etc. I have not seen it mentioned here as a place to visit?? We recently toured many of the "usual" London sites - so are looking for different and convenient site seeing before the cruise
thanks for all your advice - if you ever get to Texas......(guess won't be cruising out of here any time soon)

 

[aurorafan65]

You can wrok part of it from this:-

Night 1. Parrot Cay Let the Magic begin (Dover)

Night 2. Lumiere's Prince and Princess- Formal (Sea)

Night 3, Animator's Palate Rotational dining (Oslo)

Night 4 Parrot Cay Rotational dining (Copenhagen)

Night 5. Lumiere's Rotational dining (Berlin) will be late.

Night 6. Animator's Palate Villians- Semi Formal (Sea)

Night 7 Parrot Cay Are still listed as pending.(St Petes)

Night 8. Lumiere's Are still listed as pending. (St Petes)

Night 9. Animator's Palate Pirates (Tallinn)

Night 10. Parrot Cay Flavors of Scandinavia (Stockholm)

Night 11. Lumiere's Captains Gala- Semi Formal (Sea)

Night 12. Animator's Palate Till We Meet Again (Sea)
Breakfast Animator's Palate (Dover)

You can see where Villains is on, the other two Disney shows are on sea days, semi formal etc.

You can see Pirates deck party.

Wouldnt expect much Berlin night, as a lot of people will not be back to 7.50pm. Maybe Films.

thanks for this info!

do you know if the meals are going to be tailored for the ports we're in? I'm not expecting caviar in StP but maybe borsht as a soup?

 

[MJGirl]

Yes they will imho pad it out with entertainment shows, they did this for Panama x2 and the Med in 2007,now the Med had one more show but that was canceled, so I think its entertainment.

Disney stage shows tend to be sea days and semi or formal nights. Not Pirates night on longer cruises.

Berlin really has to be a film, as the people not going to Berlin want to see something, but the people in Berlin do not want to miss out on a big show, so a film you can catch up.

Cant recall his name but in the Med we had a great French entertainer, he did a few shows, Hypnotist and juggling and comedy.

I think first St P night will be local entertainment, Russian band or something.

Okay ... If I did the math right, then the day we arrive in St. P. will be the day Toy Story 3 comes out (June 12 cruise). Looks like a premear for us. We arrive in St. P. late, so a midnight showing wouldn't be too bad.

I think I heard somewhere that the Magic is fitted for 3D screen movies. Is that correct?

 

[woody73]

I think I heard somewhere that the Magic is fitted for 3D screen movies. Is that correct?

Yes. We saw 3D movies in the Buena Vista Theatre.

Woody

 

[MJGirl]

Yes. We saw 3D movies in the Buena Vista Theatre.

Woody

Thanks!!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew - (or anyone in the know) our hotel is across the street from Kensington Gardens etc. I have not seen it mentioned here as a place to visit?? We recently toured many of the "usual" London sites - so are looking for different and convenient site seeing before the cruise
thanks for all your advice - if you ever get to Texas......(guess won't be cruising out of here any time soon)

Kensignton is a very nice area to stay in to the West of central London, is served by quite a few Tube stations, High St Kensington on District and Circle, is the closest, but you have South Kensington, Knightsbridge, and Earls court around.

It has a nice high street with plenty of shops and restaurants. Cloest sightseeing will be the South London museums, all free for basic entry, Harrods for shopping. Royal Albert hall is close. You are at the South End of Hyde park, which is a beautiful large park. Tubes to central London are frequent, you might have to change, High St Ken, you would got to Notting hill gate and swap to the Central line,for Oxford street and regent street, or you can go on Circle, to Victoria, Westminster, embankment, Tower.

Buses might be more direct and a nice trip into London for Piccadilly circus, Buckingham Palace etc.

Its a good location, nice area, the only downside is it takes 10/15 minutes into central Town, but its ok. Nothnig is perfect as London is spread out.

If coming in from Heatrow you have options; Piccadilly to Earls court, then Distrtict line (Edgware Road Service only), or Heathrow Express to Paddington, and Circle / District to High St Ken.

thanks for this info!

do you know if the meals are going to be tailored for the ports we're in? I'm not expecting caviar in StP but maybe borsht as a soup?

Well the dinner schedule is posted above, but I bet Topsiders for lunch will reflect the local dish, and area, and Palo might in the evening, so Caviar in Palo is possible, Menus for dinner are fixed in advance and so are not often changed.

But on a 12 night cruise DCL will reload food at various ports, all are docked not tendered, so any port they can source food if they want.

Okay ... If I did the math right, then the day we arrive in St. P. will be the day Toy Story 3 comes out (June 12 cruise). Looks like a premier for us. We arrive in St. P. late, so a midnight showing wouldn't be too bad.

I think I heard somewhere that the Magic is fitted for 3D screen movies. Is that correct?

I have been on the ship in the Med and they flew out a film premier and it was shown at 12 midnight the day of release. So in fact a few hours earlier than USA.

3D is available in WDT and BV venues.

 

[woody73]

3D is available in WDT and BV venues.

Good to know 3D is available in both.

Woody

 

[MJGirl]

Does anyone know the price for photos onboard? I'm wondering if it is cheaper to pre-purchase the photo packages?

 

[Madisonznana]

Does anyone know the price for photos onboard? I'm wondering if it is cheaper to pre-purchase the photo packages?

I honestly don't remember the prices but they were expensive. But they also take fantastic pictures so I bought a ton!

 

[jilljill]

Does anyone know the price for photos onboard? I'm wondering if it is cheaper to pre-purchase the photo packages?

The prices onboard are the same as prepurchasing the photo package. Individual prices are $9.95 for the 6x8 and $19.95 for the 8x10.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Does anyone know the price for photos onboard? I'm wondering if it is cheaper to pre-purchase the photo packages?

Same but do they add something like a $1 admin fee????

 

[slg]

What time of day does the shore excursion bookings open up? I'm on PST. I thought it was 8 am EST, but I read that its midnight? Does that mean 9 pm (the night before) PST?

Anyone know?

I also noticed that the price of some of the excursions has changed! Sights and Sounds of Berlin went down $20 and City Highlights and Open Air History went up from $109 to $145.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

What time of day does the shore excursion bookings open up? I'm on PST. I thought it was 8 am EST, but I read that its midnight? Does that mean 9 pm (the night before) PST?

Anyone know?

I also noticed that the price of some of the excursions has changed! Sights and Sounds of Berlin went down $20 and City Highlights and Open Air History went up from $109 to $145.

00:00 (Midnight) Eastern USA time, do not go into your reservation before this time, as it will lock you out for at least 20 minutes.

Go by the clock on yuor PC for internet time.(The minutes)