The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[kittb]

I just booked the Barcelona to Dover cruise on Saturday, and am leaving in a few days for the May 26th Med cruise, so have little time to plan. I have a few questions about getting from Dover to London. Are advance tickets needed for the train or can I purchase them that morning? Does anyone know if the white cliffs of Dover can be seen from the port where the ship is going to dock? DS really wants to see them, but we would also like to get to London to see the queen's birthday celabration on June 12th. I booked a 3 night stay at a hotel near Paddington Station. Planning to take a cab from Victoria station there.
Thanks in advance!

You can buy train tickets on the day or sometimes get them cheaper if you do it in advance.

You can see the white cliffs from where the cruise ships dock - Dover is a huge port, the cross channel ferries and comercial ships use the eastern dock and the cruise ships on the west. Here is a slightly wonky picture taken from the cliff tops looking towards the cruise terminal in the distance .....

Kit

 

[mardonna]

I am very perplexed on weather for our Baltic trip.....when I read guide books it shows avg temps in high 60's-low 70's which is very cool to me......but I have watched some Rick Steves shows...everyone in tanks and shorts......I was thinking for sightseeing we would be wearing pants and shirts.....help...our cruise is June 24th departure. help

 

[sbell111]

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

It might be also a good idea to arrange a private car instead of a taxi. We are using a service immediately after the cruise that will cost us £50 for an estate car (station wagon) from the port to Ashford.

 

[rotary2808]

I am very perplexed on weather for our Baltic trip.....when I read guide books it shows avg temps in high 60's-low 70's which is very cool to me......but I have watched some Rick Steves shows...everyone in tanks and shorts......I was thinking for sightseeing we would be wearing pants and shirts.....help...our cruise is June 24th departure. help

I know on one of Samantha Brown's specials (can't remember which Baltic city) she was there in June/July and was still wearing a jacket.

I've been checking the weather on my iPod and the temps for the various cities range from the high 50's to the 70's.

 

[jilljill]

I just booked the Barcelona to Dover cruise on Saturday, and am leaving in a few days for the May 26th Med cruise, so have little time to plan. I have a few questions about getting from Dover to London. Are advance tickets needed for the train or can I purchase them that morning? Does anyone know if the white cliffs of Dover can be seen from the port where the ship is going to dock? DS really wants to see them, but we would also like to get to London to see the queen's birthday celabration on June 12th. I booked a 3 night stay at a hotel near Paddington Station. Planning to take a cab from Victoria station there.
Thanks in advance!

Here's a picture of the White Cliffs and Dover Castle taken from our ship while docked at the Dover Port terminal on our last Baltics cruise in 2008:

 

[jilljill]

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!

This could be the reason for the flat, comfortable shoe suggestion by DCL - we had to wear shoe coverings while touring Catherine's Palace, not sure if you would have to wear them for a private event in the evening:

 

[sbell111]

If you have everyone who visits wear swiffer shoes you could probably really cut down on sweeping.

 

[Madisonznana]

Here's a picture of the White Cliffs and Dover Castle taken from our ship while docked at the Dover Port terminal on our last Baltics cruise in 2008:

I can't wait to see it myself!!

 

[Madisonznana]

If you have everyone who visits wear swiffer shoes you could probably really cut down on sweeping.

 

[Caropooh]

This could be the reason for the flat, comfortable shoe suggestion by DCL - we had to wear shoe coverings while touring Catherine's Palace, not sure if you would have to wear them for a private event in the evening:

How very stylish!

If you have everyone who visits wear swiffer shoes you could probably really cut down on sweeping.

So very true!

I can't wait to see it myself!!

Me either! It's still hardly sinking in that we'll be there in 2 months!

 

[Feebs]

Re the weather - I`m going to pack as if we are vacationing in the UK (where we live)
If we get a heatwave - high 70`s - mid 80`s that is nice but quite unusual. A summers day is usually a bit of cloud with blue sky with a possible shower. Temps about - 65 - 70.
Its possible we may have a band of rain which could last a few days or all summer.
So basically clothes wise - you need a bit of everything and a rain coat.

 

[sbell111]

Me either! It's still hardly sinking in that we'll be there in 2 months!

Never say 'sinking' on a cruise board.

 

[abacab]

It might be also a good idea to arrange a private car instead of a taxi. We are using a service immediately after the cruise that will cost us £50 for an estate car (station wagon) from the port to Ashford.

Which company did you book with, if I may ask?

 

[ArthurAmish]

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.

I've been on a Disney Cruise before. I don't remember exactly what the charge for them to do your laundry (drycleaning) is - but I didn't think it was any more outrageous that a typical hotel. My suggestion to my wife is - hey, if we spend $100 or so on that service, as opposed to her "freaking-out" on what we need to pack, when are we going to do laundry, etc., then that would be $100 well spent. I assume that that sort of service is still available.

 

[sbell111]

Which company did you book with, if I may ask?

ACX Transfers

 

[mardonna]

A friend of mine just got back from London and she said there are lots of great apps for travel.......I searched on itunes and there are over 600....have no time to search through all of these....but we are traveling in London, and then the baltic cruise....so Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Berlin, Tallin, St. pete, .....let me know if you know of some good ones.....

 

[Caropooh]

Never say 'sinking' on a cruise board.

good point!
So I guess you probably wouldn't want to watch Titanic or the Poseidon Adventure onboard either?

 

[jjsmith]

A friend of mine just got back from London and she said there are lots of great apps for travel.......I searched on itunes and there are over 600....have no time to search through all of these....but we are traveling in London, and then the baltic cruise....so Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Berlin, Tallin, St. pete, .....let me know if you know of some good ones.....

A few weeks ago Lonely Planet had several free iPhone apps for the Baltic ports.

 

[Doingitagain]

I've been on a Disney Cruise before. I don't remember exactly what the charge for them to do your laundry (drycleaning) is - but I didn't think it was any more outrageous that a typical hotel. My suggestion to my wife is - hey, if we spend $100 or so on that service, as opposed to her "freaking-out" on what we need to pack, when are we going to do laundry, etc., then that would be $100 well spent. I assume that that sort of service is still available.

Yes, we use this service. We have our formal dresses dry cleaned or pressed with we arrive. We bring enough underclothes for the entire time, but try not to overpack shorts and pants and send them out for cleaning if we get desperate. In the past I used to bring too many pants and would go home with some not being worn; now that I have a fall back of getting them cleaned, I don't bring as many. I have more room for shoes

 

[auntsue1]

If you have everyone who visits wear swiffer shoes you could probably really cut down on sweeping.

Too funny!