The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[cindy18]

I think it is one formal (2nd night) and 2 semi-formals, one of which is tied in to the Villians show. I think those semi-formals are on the nights of the 2nd and 3rd sea days. Plus there is Pirate Night, if you feel like bringing a costume for that. Otherwise, there is the welcome aboard dinner, 3 rotation dinners, 2 open nights because of St. Pete, a Scandinavian night and the 'Til We Meet Again night.

Does that help?

And yes, packing for this one is going to be pretty involved!!

 

[gydell]

The night of the Villian show we were told that you can dress like your favorite villian. 1 formal, 1 semi formal, and pirate night is what we have been told.

 

[wintergreen]

Is anyone doing the Catherine's Palace Ball ?

Wondering what people are wearing ?

We are going to the ball. My DH is going to rent a tux for the cruise, and plans to wear it for the ball. My girls and I will wear cocktail-type dresses (and flat shoes!). DH is not worried about overdressing, and we really want some good pictures from this event.

 

[ktkspider]

Thanks Scott,
I found the Eurostar web site and played with that. The direct one gets in so late. I also found a Rail Europe site which has a earlier train ride that changes at Lille to Ashford. Then we can take a taxi, I think, to Dover.
Wish there was someone I could just talk to....oh well more computer time I guess....

Make sure and look at Ebbsfleet as an option. It is a bit further up.. but not much and it gave us alot more options and it was cheaper. Also have read that SouthEastern has a deal with Eurostar that connections to final final destinations (ie..Dover) is free. Not sure how that works yet but we will look into it before buying our tickets from Ebbsfleet to Canterbury.

 

[sbell111]

I'm confused now...I thought there was one formal and two semi-formals. Where can we get official notification of this in order to plan my outfits.

12 nights is tough. 7 night cruises I've worn a different outfit every night, but there is no way I'm packing 12 different dresses!

I'm afraid I'm going to have to wear some outfits twice of thrice as we're trying to cut down on luggage.

I'm pretty overwhelmed though because we are going to be in London 12 days post cruise and I don't want to do laundry. Its different doing laundry on the boat as you are just around the corner, but I'm not wasting vacation time in one of the most expensive cities in the world sitting in a laundromat.

So, we'll have to wear not so clean clothes and wash some undies in our bathroom. Sigh.

Plus with a family of 5, the amount of shoes needed is overwhelming! A dress shoe, a casual shoe, a sandal and a sneaker are the minimum for the boys and a couple of dress shoes, sandals, flip flops, sneakers. Grand total a minimum of at least 22 pairs of shoes.

A couple thoughts:

• You can likely pare down the amount of shoes that you are packing. I'm thinking that sneaks can do double duty as casual shoes and that perhaps multiple pairs of dress shoes are not absolutely necessary.
• undies (and socks) don't take up much space or weight. Bring enough so that you don't have to ever hand wash them. Then bring a couple extras.

 

[MrsScooby]

A couple thoughts:

• You can likely pare down the amount of shoes that you are packing. I'm thinking that sneaks can do double duty as casual shoes and that perhaps multiple pairs of dress shoes are not absolutely necessary.
• undies (and socks) don't take up much space or weight. Bring enough so that you don't have to ever hand wash them. Then bring a couple extras.

I was thinking this as well

A neutral pair of dress shoes, flip flops instead of sandals and something suitable for alot of walking (casual walking shoe or sneakers) would meet the minimum

Also, keeping dresses to a minimum and opt for separates (top/skirt or top/slacks). If the bottoms are neutral you can match them with various tops (needing fewer skirts or slacks). Most people won't notice or care-in fact on a long cruise -most people will be doing laundry at least once and re-wearing things.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm trying to keep to four pairs of shoes for the whole cruise (1 dress, 1 casual, 1 walking and 1 pool). Not even certain that I will need pool shoes, but those are thin anyway.

When did this dress like a villain come up...not gonna do it. It's enough that I'm bringing a viking hat for Pirate night.

 

[Cousin Orville]

We are going to the ball. My DH is going to rent a tux for the cruise, and plans to wear it for the ball. My girls and I will wear cocktail-type dresses (and flat shoes!). DH is not worried about overdressing, and we really want some good pictures from this event.

We are doing Catherine's ball as well. I'm considering wearing a tux too. I would think the dress would be formal at least, but can't remember what the official word from DCL is.

 

[wintergreen]

We are doing Catherine's ball as well. I'm considering wearing a tux too. I would think the dress would be formal at least, but can't remember what the official word from DCL is.

This is the word from the DCL website:

Dress code: This event, which is not a formal affair, does not stipulate a dress code; however, elegant yet comfortable evening attire is suggested, as well as flat, comfortable shoes. Guests should bring raingear in case of inclement weather.

I guess my DH is interpreting as elegant yet comfortable to be a tux!

 

[cindy18]

I'm trying to keep to four pairs of shoes for the whole cruise (1 dress, 1 casual, 1 walking and 1 pool). Not even certain that I will need pool shoes, but those are thin anyway.

When did this dress like a villain come up...not gonna do it. It's enough that I'm bringing a viking hat for Pirate night.

There's this rumor (I think) that there is going to be a Villians party in the Atrium after the Villians show, so the dressing up like your favorite villian probably comes from that. I'm not sure I can handle that, or a pirate costume, although I suspect family negotiations will start soon as DH is VERY into costume parties. I'm not even sure I have a favorite Disney villian....

 

[Marla Hellwig]

For my daughter and I we are looking at 3 pairs of shoes each as of now - sneakers (wear on plane and for tours), crocs for ship/decks, and flat sandles for dinner

 

[cindy18]

I think 3 pairs of shoes is admirable, but I can't do it. Need one pair of pumps for the fancier dresses and then one pair of shoes (I guess flats) for the more casual dinner look. Plus the good walking shoes and the flip-flops.

 

[smilis]

I was thinking this as well

A neutral pair of dress shoes, flip flops instead of sandals and something suitable for alot of walking (casual walking shoe or sneakers) would meet the minimum

Also, keeping dresses to a minimum and opt for separates (top/skirt or top/slacks). If the bottoms are neutral you can match them with various tops (needing fewer skirts or slacks). Most people won't notice or care-in fact on a long cruise -most people will be doing laundry at least once and re-wearing things.

Shoes definitely do take up the most room and are always a challenge. Haven't really decided which ones I'm bringing yet, will kind of depend on wardrobe colors.

I'm a big fan of the no-wrinkle travel knits. Even if you do have to wash them you can hang them to dry in the bathroom and wa-lah they're ready to go in no time. As Rick Steves says: "if you can't wear an item of clothing at least 3 times, than don't take it!" Boy he's tough. Then when you think of having to pack an umbrella, and lightweight jacket, whew

 

[wintergreen]

Just wondering what DIYers were planning for Helsinki. I can't decide between getting the Helsinki Card, which includes public transport, or doing a HOHO bus/boat combo. I do want to get out to Suomellina, and would like to visit the Design Museum. Would love to know what others are planning!

 

[sbell111]

Just wondering what DIYers were planning for Helsinki. I can't decide between getting the Helsinki Card, which includes public transport, or doing a HOHO bus/boat combo. I do want to get out to Suomellina, and would like to visit the Design Museum. Would love to know what others are planning!

Our tentative plan is to use the HOHO.

 

[Traveling Tinkerbell]

Helsinki - We will probably take bus #16 to the Market Square and walk around as much as we want. We are not planning to go to Suomellina. If we had little kids we would go see Santa's house!!!

 

[APinCA]

We are going to the ball. My DH is going to rent a tux for the cruise, and plans to wear it for the ball. My girls and I will wear cocktail-type dresses (and flat shoes!). DH is not worried about overdressing, and we really want some good pictures from this event.

Yea! Another DH in a tux. Mine is renting as well and will be happy to get his money's worth by wearing it another night. Still deciding what DD and I will wear.

 

[KYDIZFAN]

I usually rent the tux (white jacket=summer/black jacket=winter) mostly so I don't have to pack a suit. Most of the time I bring my own tie and/or shirt to spiff it up.

 

[Rogillio]

Just wondering what DIYers were planning for Helsinki. I can't decide between getting the Helsinki Card, which includes public transport, or doing a HOHO bus/boat combo. I do want to get out to Suomellina, and would like to visit the Design Museum. Would love to know what others are planning!

We're doing this walking tour (DIY):

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/helsinki/0053010008.html#ixzz0bKJbHDNE

~Mike

 

[kittb]

Thanks Scott,
I found the Eurostar web site and played with that. The direct one gets in so late. I also found a Rail Europe site which has a earlier train ride that changes at Lille to Ashford. Then we can take a taxi, I think, to Dover.
Wish there was someone I could just talk to....oh well more computer time I guess....

Some of the trains will also stop at Ebbsfleet I think? That would be reasonably straightforward if you were getting a taxi transfer .... might give you some more options it would be so much easier to talk to a member of staff to sort it out though wouldn't it!
Kit