The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[wickesy]

Which of the excursions have sold out ?

As of 3pm UK time on April 25th these excursions on the June 12th cruise are showing as no places available:

Copenhagen - Charming Copenhagen - Walk and cruise
Helsinki - Porvoo & countryside
Oslo - Hadeland Glassworks and Viking ships
St Petersburg - Catherine's Palace & Hermitage Museum
Stockholm - Ice Bar & Old Town
Stockholm - Panoramic Stockholm

So it looks like another one has sold out since last night.

 

[carolmb]

I ordered my photo Oyster cards for the kids yesterday. Now I have to wait and see if they approve the photo. One more thing checked off of my "to do list".

I am still trying to figure out what to do in Copenhagen. I am curious to as to what others who are DIY are doing in Copenhagen. I do not know if we should purchase the HOHO bus tickets to get an overview of the city then go to Trivoli (sp?) and then walk around if we still have time. I have also read that the canal tour should not missed. I am planning to get the Olso card for Olso and will probably do public transport in Helsinki. Stockholm became easier since our port time was reduced. Planning to take a taxi to the Vasa then ferry to the Gamla Stan area, walk up toward the Royal Palce and taxi back to the ship all before 12:30pm. Thanks for any advice.
Carol

 

[aurorafan65]

We are doing the same tour with a blue badge guide. They are picking us up at the port,doing Leed's, Canterbury and Dover and then they are taking us to our hotel so there are other options if you want to plan ahead.

Lisa - how did you book this?

 

[Madisonznana]

I was just looking through Cruise Critics and found this site for Tallinn, that has a map for walking yourself with info on the way.
http://www.brentjes.com/tallinnwalk.html
I think I just finished the Tallinn part of my trip!!

 

[jilljill]

I was just looking through Cruise Critics and found this site for Tallinn, that has a map for walking yourself with info on the way.
http://www.brentjes.com/tallinnwalk.html
I think I just finished the Tallinn part of my trip!!

This link is also listed in the first post of 'our' thread. It's a great walk and should take no more than 2 hours, including walking time from the ship.

 

[Madisonznana]

This link is also listed in the first post of 'our' thread. It's a great walk and should take no more than 2 hours, including walking time from the ship.

This isn't too bad Carolyn. I can probably do it in 3 or so!

 

[LisaTex]

Lisa - how did you book this?

I went through our hotel, but you can also book through the blue badge tourguide website.

 

[MrsScooby]

I ordered my photo Oyster cards for the kids yesterday. Now I have to wait and see if they approve the photo. One more thing checked off of my "to do list".

I am still trying to figure out what to do in Copenhagen. I am curious to as to what others who are DIY are doing in Copenhagen. I do not know if we should purchase the HOHO bus tickets to get an overview of the city then go to Trivoli (sp?) and then walk around if we still have time. I have also read that the canal tour should not missed. I am planning to get the Olso card for Olso and will probably do public transport in Helsinki. Stockholm became easier since our port time was reduced. Planning to take a taxi to the Vasa then ferry to the Gamla Stan area, walk up toward the Royal Palce and taxi back to the ship all before 12:30pm. Thanks for any advice.
Carol

Interested to know how that Stockholm tour goes when you get back

We booked a segway tour for Copenhagen for the morning and plan to see Rosenborg castle in the afternoon.

 

[grizbuzz]

Yesterday I checked prices for category 12 on the June 24 NE cruise and it came up with five thousand and something for a category 12 guarantee room. I contacted my travel agent and she was able to rebook me and I saved over three thousand dollars. Granted I don't know what room I will get and my travel agent said I might not find out until I check in at port. I also lost my Palo, spa and excursion reservations but was able to rebook those.

Just wanted to give a heads up in case anyone else is on a June cruise and wants to save some money.

 

[MrsScooby]

I ordered my photo Oyster cards for the kids yesterday. Now I have to wait and see if they approve the photo. One more thing checked off of my "to do list".

I am still trying to figure out what to do in Copenhagen. I am curious to as to what others who are DIY are doing in Copenhagen. I do not know if we should purchase the HOHO bus tickets to get an overview of the city then go to Trivoli (sp?) and then walk around if we still have time. I have also read that the canal tour should not missed. I am planning to get the Olso card for Olso and will probably do public transport in Helsinki. Stockholm became easier since our port time was reduced. Planning to take a taxi to the Vasa then ferry to the Gamla Stan area, walk up toward the Royal Palce and taxi back to the ship all before 12:30pm. Thanks for any advice.
Carol

Carol I was looking around trying to find info on Stockholm and came across the Vasa museum websites http://www.vasamuseet.se/en/Visit/

They do not open until 10 am, so you may want to try to fit in something else first before hitting the Vasa museum

 

[TDC Nala]

We decided that rebooking was not worth the risk of having to rebook the insurance and having it possibly not cover any ongoing volcanic eruption delays.

 

[grizbuzz]

We decided that rebooking was not worth the risk of having to rebook the insurance and having it possibly not cover any ongoing volcanic eruption delays.

I used Travelex for insurance. I think it covers volcanic eruption (though I'm not certain).

 

[chats9195]

June - August the Vasa Museum opens at 8:30am.

 

[MrsScooby]

June - August the Vasa Museum opens at 8:30am.

Oh, that's wonderful
I was getting upset that all the museums didn't seem to open until 10 am

Where did you find this?
I'm looking in the wrong places.
Are other museums open early too?

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Yesterday I checked prices for category 12 on the June 24 NE cruise and it came up with five thousand and something for a category 12 guarantee room. I contacted my travel agent and she was able to rebook me and I saved over three thousand dollars. Granted I don't know what room I will get and my travel agent said I might not find out until I check in at port. I also lost my Palo, spa and excursion reservations but was able to rebook those.

Just wanted to give a heads up in case anyone else is on a June cruise and wants to save some money.

I went from an 11 to a 12 and paid a 1200 cancellation penalty and still saved 2400 dollars. I think it was a great deal.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes, all the insurance will cover the volcanic eruption, and it covered this one before it happened. But that volcano is still erupting. If the wind shifts in June and starts blowing ash over Britain again, is that a new occurrence, or is it not covered becuase it is the same eruption that began on April 14, and isn't covered on policies purchased after April 15? The volcano, they say, could be erupting for years.

Not sure if a new ash cloud or a new airport shutdown would be a triggering event, or if they are going to go by the date of the initial eruption should the volcano continue erupting and producing more ash clouds. Guess I could call up the insurance and ask but we thought we'd just keep our reservation instead. We have Disney's insurance, so we'd have to cancel it and book a new policy for the rebooked reservation.

 

[denise]

posted this on my cruise thread but thought I would let everyone know!!!


Some info for those flying on American Airlines:

If you booked your flights before Sept 14, 2009, you get to check 2, yes TWO, bags for free....

Also one carry on and one personal item.....
Yahoo, that's me!!!

(this is for travel from the USA to Europe and for Europe to the USA. NO travel within Europe)

 

[ArthurAmish]

Does anyone have any information on the menus for the Baltic Cruise? I was wondering if the food will be the same as the caribbean cruises, or will it be themed according to which port you are in? Or maybe this is going to be a big surprise by DCL?

 

[MickeyWatch]

On the 2007 Med cruise the meals were themed according to the port. Of course there were always "American style" choices each night too. I have some of my menu's at home. I will take a look at them and report back.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Yes, all the insurance will cover the volcanic eruption, and it covered this one before it happened. But that volcano is still erupting. If the wind shifts in June and starts blowing ash over Britain again, is that a new occurrence, or is it not covered because it is the same eruption that began on April 14, and isn't covered on policies purchased after April 15? The volcano, they say, could be erupting for years.

Not sure if a new ash cloud or a new airport shutdown would be a triggering event, or if they are going to go by the date of the initial eruption should the volcano continue erupting and producing more ash clouds. Guess I could call up the insurance and ask but we thought we'd just keep our reservation instead. We have Disney's insurance, so we'd have to cancel it and book a new policy for the rebooked reservation.

What we have found in the UK is that, some *basic* polices do not have good cover, in fact rather limited, some quality brand insurance had good cover and has paid out and the reputable insurance companies have honoured every obligation.

However many insurance companies are saying that any insurance purchased 'after' the volcanic cloud occurred, will not not cover any return of the cloud over us.

With so many different responses and outcomes the only advice is to check and recheck with your insurance provider and ensure you have good cover.

As you say the volcano and the bigger one next to it can erupt again or give the wrong kind of ash. However airlines and the government here have reset new international standards and hopefully there will not be total lock down again, moreover, there hopefully will be paths through it or hubs where planes can fly to.

The disruption was bad my sister and family were caught up in it for an extra six days without money so get covered!





Nice to see that the Volcano is ''on topic'' again.