The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[scrapycruiser]

Laurie,
What is the name of the Segway company in Tallin? I looked and couldn't find one. We are planning on DIY walking tour, so I'm not sure we'd even have time. Plus my DH really wants to try out the restaurant that specializes in all things GARLIC!. It comes highly recommended.

What is the garlic restaurant ? Sounds great !

 

[CarolAnnC]

Anyone running just now up against the chip and PIN credit cards? Was planning to just use CC and a preloaded travel debit to get cash in the ports. Now I understand that may not work in Scandinavia and most likely not in Britain because they require a card with an embedded chip. Too late to get a lot of the native currency for the ports, but they'll exchange on the ship. Do I need to look for pounds here in an amount that will cover me if I happen to get stuck in London? I understand they are reluctant to take US credit cards and I may not be able to use the ATMs at all.

Also considering that I may prefer not to do Stockholm on my own due to the money issue.

DH travels to London on business (just flew back last night) and he always hits the ATM's in the airport to get British pounds with his credit and debit cards. Not sure about the other countries though..

 

[NancyIL]

Anyone running just now up against the chip and PIN credit cards? Was planning to just use CC and a preloaded travel debit to get cash in the ports. Now I understand that may not work in Scandinavia and most likely not in Britain because they require a card with an embedded chip. Too late to get a lot of the native currency for the ports, but they'll exchange on the ship. Do I need to look for pounds here in an amount that will cover me if I happen to get stuck in London? I understand they are reluctant to take US credit cards and I may not be able to use the ATMs at all.

Also considering that I may prefer not to do Stockholm on my own due to the money issue.

I had no trouble getting cash from ATM machines in September in the UK, Germany, and Ireland using a regular ATM card (not debit card). To use your credit card in places that accept only chip and pin, you need to have a person type in the numbers of your credit card.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Anyone running just now up against the chip and PIN credit cards? Was planning to just use CC and a preloaded travel debit to get cash in the ports. Now I understand that may not work in Scandinavia and most likely not in Britain because they require a card with an embedded chip. Too late to get a lot of the native currency for the ports, but they'll exchange on the ship. Do I need to look for pounds here in an amount that will cover me if I happen to get stuck in London? I understand they are reluctant to take US credit cards and I may not be able to use the ATMs at all.

Also considering that I may prefer not to do Stockholm on my own due to the money issue.

OK,

This is my take on it, and firstly say do not worry.

Speaking of London, we are a major tourist attraction of the whole world. We have considerable visitors each year.

Many of these do not have Chip and Pin, and also a few of our Banks, *Coutts and Co*, for example do not have Chip and PIN. People who have a disability who cant use Chip and Pin also are provided for.

So,

ATMs will work, I am not aware of any issue,

Major shops have back up, if you do not have Chip and Pin and will revert to Signature.

The odd small shops might through lack of staff training have an issue.

I would expect all of Europe to be the same.

For the Baltic, I am going to rely on my Credit Card.

 

[nfowife]

I live in Italy (overseas military) and have a regular old American credit card. We have traveled all over- Germany, France, London, Belgium, Ireland...to name a few. We have NEVER had a problem using any atm machine to get money. So personally, I wouldn't worry at all!

 

[MrsScooby]

We're going to do Tallin on our own. From the research we've done, it actually seems to be the easiest and most relaxing of all the ports. We're going to basically do Rick Steves' walk, and we think we'll get a decent feel for the old city and be on our own pace. After the frenetic pace we're going to keep in St. Petersburg, it seemed like a good idea to do Tallin at a slow stroll.

Laurie,
What is the name of the Segway company in Tallin? I looked and couldn't find one. We are planning on DIY walking tour, so I'm not sure we'd even have time. Plus my DH really wants to try out the restaurant that specializes in all things GARLIC!. It comes highly recommended.

This was the segway company I was looking at. I did have a problem getting them to answer my emails-but that was several months ago-so maybe it is easier to contact them noiw
http://www.supersegway.com/index.php?page=estonia
We wound up booking a segway tour in Copenhagen instead.

I did read about that Garlic restaurant in Tallinn, and it does sound wonderful
Can't wait to hear how you liked it.

 

[MJGirl]

Can anyone tell me if your able to change currency on the ship? I have pounds and euros, but wondering about the swedish and danish currency. I will be bringing a credit card for purchases but will need some currency, wondering if thats available on the ship. If not are there ATM's at the ports? Thanks for any responses in advance!

Here are the rates on board ...

Danish Krone - .1692
Swedish Krona - .1306
Norwegian Krone - .1576
Russian Ruble .03383
Euro - 1.3929
Pound - 1.5235

The seas are rough .. Lots of rocking and rolling

 

[MrsScooby]

Here are the rates on board ...

Danish Krone - .1692
Swedish Krona - .1306
Norwegian Krone - .1576
Russian Ruble .03383
Euro - 1.3929
Pound - 1.5235

The seas are rough .. Lots of rocking and rolling

Thanks MJ
Those rates look pretty good to me
Was there an extra fee for exchanging on top of these rates?

Definitely bringing the bonine

 

[CarolAnnC]

Here are the rates on board ...

Danish Krone - .1692
Swedish Krona - .1306
Norwegian Krone - .1576
Russian Ruble .03383
Euro - 1.3929
Pound - 1.5235

The seas are rough .. Lots of rocking and rolling

Thanks for posting this MJ! Yikes, is it rougher than the first night on the Carribbean cruises?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

North Sea, first day out of Dover, will normally be very active indeed, it has a lot of tidal movement and acts like a funnel at the English channel where there is only a small gap.

Currently we have a High pressure over the UK, that is circling clockwise around us and the eastern edge is over the North Sea bringing down cooler and colder winds.

I would say that bit will have a 80% chance of rougher seas than normally experienced.

A good time to be on top deck, in the open getting fresh air and viewing the horizon to mitigate effects.

 

[Celestine]

Is anyone doing a tour in Tallin ?
We were there 2 yrs ago and loved the old medieval town, and want to see some of that this time,too. But were thinking of a 1/2 day tour to see something different.

Any thoughts on Tallinn ?

We've booked a "welcome to tallinn" bike tour with www.citybike.ee

Celestine

 

[brandysmommy]

Is there anywhere that lists all the blogs that people are doing on the first baltic cruise/.

 

[TDC Nala]

OK I'm not going to worry about the cash, but may exchange some small amounts aboard ship.

MJ if you're out there, do you need actual cash to exchange onboard or can I do the transaction with a credit or debit card?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

OK I'm not going to worry about the cash, but may exchange some small amounts aboard ship.

MJ if you're out there, do you need actual cash to exchange onboard or can I do the transaction with a credit or debit card?

Not MJ

But I have exchanged cash on the Magic and it was an in/out transaction not sure if you can use your card, -don't think you can it was cash for cash or via your stateroom account.

THOMAS COOK in London is very good for exchanging currencies. They take all cards, but credit carshs normally are treated as *cash* transactions not shop purchases if yuor CC has different rules.

 

[TDC Nala]

OK if they will do it with stateroom charge that might work, but I'm going to avoid it unless I have to do it.

 

[MJGirl]

Don't know if there is a surcharge or not for exchanging money. I bought currency from home. They are only open for limited hours. They are not open on the last morning of the voyage. You can use the foreign currency as payment toward charges on your account. They do not accept foreign coins.

I am blogging the trip. See the link in my signature. I know that Virgil is blogging as well!

Seas have been rough the last few days and cold. My dd has been hit hard, so I ended up buying her a sea band. Hope it works.

 

[MrsScooby]

Don't know if there is a surcharge or not for exchanging money. I bought currency from home. They are only open for limited hours. They are not open on the last morning of the voyage. You can use the foreign currency as payment toward charges on your account. They do not accept foreign coins.

I am blogging the trip. See the link in my signature. I know that Virgil is blogging as well!

Seas have been rough the last few days and cold. My dd has been hit hard, so I ended up buying her a sea band. Hope it works.

Mj I found ginger pills/capsules really helped settle my stomach. I use bonine as a preventive. You might be able to find the ginger in port
Once she feels better-taking bonine or something similar should keep it away.

 

[mardonna]

ughh...not happy about rough seas.......i can pnly find 1 blog with updates....where is the link for 2nd?

 

[NancyIL]

Here are the rates on board ...

Danish Krone - .1692
Swedish Krona - .1306
Norwegian Krone - .1576
Russian Ruble .03383
Euro - 1.3929
Pound - 1.5235

The seas are rough .. Lots of rocking and rolling

The ship's rates for euros (especially) are NOT good at all. The exchange rate for the euro is currently at $1.23 (instead of $1.39), and for the pound it's $1.48 vs. $1.52 (not bad). If you only need a small amount of foreign currency, it is probably worth exchanging money onboard. For large purchases, use your credit card or get money from an ATM.

 

[tfc3rid]

The Magic has left Oslo and is heading for Copenhagen.

I have a sceen cap from the Port of Oslo webcam of the ship moored at dock but can't find a spot to attach a pic when I hit 'post reply'.