You Are Not The First To Pass This Way: 2nd Magic Baltic Cruise, 6/24/2010

[ktkspider]

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Discounted Tallinn Cards are available at Tallinn Tourist Information Centres (Kullassepa 4/Niguliste 2, Viru Shopping Centre Viru väljak 4) and at Vabaduse Square in Tallinn Card's tent. Purchased Tallinn Cards are valid until 31st of December 2010.
Tallinn Card is your all-in-one ticket to the very best the city has to offer. Accepted in nearly 100 locations, the card presents a simple, cost-effective way to explore Tallinn on your own, choosing the sights that interest you most.

Just remember the time difference.. but 30% is a good deal! Not sure if we are going to do this card or not but FYI if you are. http://www.tourism.tallinn.ee/

By the way.. thanks Cindy for the heads up on the olso book. I printed several individual pages that were quite helpful!

 

[MadHatterMom2]

Sorry to respond in the general forum. I emailed you yesterday and it bounced back and I can't PM you here because I don't have enough posts (?). Anyway, yes we are interested. This board won't even let me post my email address. Can you send me one more PM with your email?

Thanks!

 

[buck4568]

We booked the air, transfers and two extra days prior to the Baltic June 24th cruise and just got the flight details and I am sick to my stomach.

The return flight and 2.5 hour layover in Washington, DC is totally unexceptable. Arriving in Orlando at 12:15am on July 7th! If I had known this two months ago, which is when I tried to find out the details but they would not provide until 45 days prior to departure, I would have not used DCL for the flights.

By the time we clear customs in Orlando and get luggage it will be close to 2:00am! And we live almost four hours from Orlando. SO a hotel would be a waste of money.

We are trying to get at least the return flights changed and when they mentioned the "fee" to make the changes I almost went ballistic. But, managed to bit my tongue.

 

[grlzmom]

Welcome we have 2 DD's 9 and 6. They'll probably greet you by name when you reboard

Welcome aboard! I envy you all your amazing cruising!! Lots of kids in this group within all those age ranges (I have a DD14 and a DD12). It's going to be a lot of fun.

So glad there will be plenty of kids similar ages to mine on the cruise!

We booked the air, transfers and two extra days prior to the Baltic June 24th cruise and just got the flight details and I am sick to my stomach.

The return flight and 2.5 hour layover in Washington, DC is totally unexceptable. Arriving in Orlando at 12:15am on July 7th! If I had known this two months ago, which is when I tried to find out the details but they would not provide until 45 days prior to departure, I would have not used DCL for the flights.

By the time we clear customs in Orlando and get luggage it will be close to 2:00am! And we live almost four hours from Orlando. SO a hotel would be a waste of money.

We are trying to get at least the return flights changed and when they mentioned the "fee" to make the changes I almost went ballistic. But, managed to bit my tongue.

When we booked yesterday we considered getting the Disney air just because last week on the MED everyone who booked through DCL had such great flights returning to Orlando. Now, hearing your details, glad we didnt. We will just book it on our own and try to find direct into and out of MCO.

Hope they fix it for you!

 

[mehaul]

We booked the air, transfers and two extra days prior to the Baltic June 24th cruise and just got the flight details and I am sick to my stomach.

The return flight and 2.5 hour layover in Washington, DC is totally unexceptable. Arriving in Orlando at 12:15am on July 7th! If I had known this two months ago, which is when I tried to find out the details but they would not provide until 45 days prior to departure, I would have not used DCL for the flights.

By the time we clear customs in Orlando and get luggage it will be close to 2:00am! And we live almost four hours from Orlando. SO a hotel would be a waste of money.

We are trying to get at least the return flights changed and when they mentioned the "fee" to make the changes I almost went ballistic. But, managed to bit my tongue.

Sorry to hear about your flights.
Did they book you on United? They seem to have a majority of their Heathrow airport bound flights route through Dulles (IAD). The biggest problem is our cruise is scheduled to get back late to Dover due to tide conditions, so Disney had requested all flights to leave LHR after 4 PM.

 

[buck4568]

Sorry to hear about your flights.
Did they book you on United? They seem to have a majority of their Heathrow airport bound flights route through Dulles (IAD). The biggest problem is our cruise is scheduled to get back late to Dover due to tide conditions, so Disney had requested all flights to leave LHR after 4 PM.

They have us landing at Gatwick on Virgin Air and flying back out of Heathrow on United. Back in February when we booked we wanted to fly out of Miami but they said only Tampa or Orlando. But, they could not give any details just the price. I have DVC member services working on getting this resolved. Sometimes I wonder what the heck are they thinking when they do dumb things like this. They don't even consult you to see if you might want to stay over one night in London after the cruise and get an early flight home the next day!

Hey, here is a great way to end their vacation of a lifetime! We will give them the return home trip from hell so they remember their vacation!

 

[TDC Nala]

Such is the problem with letting someone else book your flights. I got to pick my own flight (I bet you're on my United flight to IAD from Heathrow but I live about 20 minutes from Dulles so that is my final destination - if I'm on the same plane don't give United too much hell in flight) but the downside is that if the volcano shuts me down I gotta count on United Airlines to try and fix things.

 

[ktkspider]

OK We leave in 5 weeks!

Here is the list of participants.

Any changes?
There are some names I haven't seen in a while.. are you still here?

I will post a list just before I leave with any added rooms as they are found out. I will make cards to pass out on the ship that we can make any last minute changes. Should we meet just after the sailaway party on deck 9? 10? or before the safety drill? (although reading the Med reports their sail away was at 10:00 at night...) I am afraid to plan it on the first day at sea since we have no idea on scheduled activities/jet lag/ ect.... Any ideas? I could always just post on our door and people can come by to make their changes.... not as much fun as a meet but It would work...


6634-ktkspider Kellie, Tom, Katie-12
6632- JoAnn, Doyle
6630- SallyAnn, Bob
6543- Grizzbuzz Jen, John , boy-5, boy-7
6072/6074 - cindy 18 Cindy, Matt, girl -12, girl -14
? macassi - Marci, John, CJ -12, Brendan - 9, Abbie-6
? macassi - Hugh, Rose
6050- mehaul Michael, Lisa, Emma-9, Mia-6
? newgeneb - Cheryl (other participants?)
8040 - jarudinski Julie, Chris, Samantha -11, Allison-6, Jim-adult
5024 - ldconley lorie, Mike, Breanna-14
2114 - ch10dad Ray, DW, DD-14, dd-10
? MadHatterMom2 - Julie, James, Anneliese -11, Alex-7
7028/7030 -3bebe Emily, Dan, Caroline - 14,Daniel - 13, Emma -11

 

[grlzmom]

Wondering if anyone else with kids has booked with SPB Tours for St. Petersburg?

We booked with them but just curious what itinerary others with kids might have chosen or if anyone made any alterations and picked something different than recommended



Most of the Disney cruises we've been on have a quick meet around 3pm embarkation day (just a few minutes sometimes) in Promenade lounge to go over changes to room assignments, put names with faces, etc. I have been to meets on deck 9 or 10 around sailaway time before and it usually doesn't work out, too noisy for talking but great to hang as a group for the sailaway.

 

[cindy18]

It is hard to pick the perfect time to schedule a group meeting, but it probably is better to go for before safety drill rather than after sail away party (and I guess we should confirm the timing of the sail away party in any event). Last time our meet was before the safety drill, and we had about 20 minutes together. The problem is that for people with early seating, there may time for much after the party besides getting ready for dinner, you know?

On private tours in St. Pete, we're not using SPB Tours, and our kids are older (14 and 12). We've warned them already that they're going to be tired. We added the main synagogue and, time permitting, one-two other sights of Jewish interest, and we skipped anything like a party on a boat because we didn't think that was great for them. We're doing the folk show but not the ballet, and we are going to be out as late as we can to experience white nights. Otherwise, the only thing we specifically asked for was to eat at places that our guide would eat with her friends and to make sure she factored in sufficient time during midday for a meal so that the kids' moods didn't plummet from lack of food.

Does that help?

 

[TDC Nala]

The deal with booking a private tour is that if you are joining with others, you lose some of your autonomy. If you have small kids and you want a tour with small kids in mind, and you are not booking a private tour with SPB for just your family (if you do that, they will work with you to arrange the tour however you would like it arranged, just ask), you could ask Viktoria at SPB to pair you up only with other families who have young kids, or when you do your own requests for groups to join you you can ask that they be families with small kids.

I'm with a group that I don't think had any kids under 10, at any rate I don't think they had any really little kids. That way I don't have to think that my own preferred touring schedule will be altered to cater to someone else's very young kids. However, if I had been in a group with a bunch of little kids, I would have to realize that I'm going with the flow of the majority. You have to realize that when you agree to share a tour with other parties.

I wanted to do the night party on the boat but the rest of the group wants the boat ride in the early evening and because of timing I can't do both, I would have had to drop out of the group tour to do the nighttime one - so they have compromised and are letting me do a vodka shot on the boat in early evening instead of at night. SpB will definitely work with you, but if you are sharing tours with others, you will need to compromise with them sometimes.

 

[grlzmom]

On private tours in St. Pete, we're not using SPB Tours, and our kids are older (14 and 12). We've warned them already that they're going to be tired. We added the main synagogue and, time permitting, one-two other sights of Jewish interest, and we skipped anything like a party on a boat because we didn't think that was great for them. We're doing the folk show but not the ballet, and we are going to be out as late as we can to experience white nights. Otherwise, the only thing we specifically asked for was to eat at places that our guide would eat with her friends and to make sure she factored in sufficient time during midday for a meal so that the kids' moods didn't plummet from lack of food.

Does that help?

The deal with booking a private tour is that if you are joining with others, you lose some of your autonomy. If you have small kids and you want a tour with small kids in mind, and you are not booking a private tour with SPB for just your family (if you do that, they will work with you to arrange the tour however you would like it arranged, just ask), you could ask Viktoria at SPB to pair you up only with other families who have young kids, or when you do your own requests for groups to join you you can ask that they be families with small kids.

I'm with a group that I don't think had any kids under 10, at any rate I don't think they had any really little kids. That way I don't have to think that my own preferred touring schedule will be altered to cater to someone else's very young kids. However, if I had been in a group with a bunch of little kids, I would have to realize that I'm going with the flow of the majority. You have to realize that when you agree to share a tour with other parties.

I wanted to do the night party on the boat but the rest of the group wants the boat ride in the early evening and because of timing I can't do both, I would have had to drop out of the group tour to do the nighttime one - so they have compromised and are letting me do a vodka shot on the boat in early evening instead of at night. SpB will definitely work with you, but if you are sharing tours with others, you will need to compromise with them sometimes.

Thanks to both of you for all the help and insight.

Our SPB tour is private. Figured best way to do it so to allow the most flexibility. Would be cheaper to share but probably most enjoyable to bite the bullet pay the cost and do it with just our family.

Kids moods do seem to deteriorate if they don't eat frequently so will make sure something good is included for them in the way of food stops

We are debating folk show vs. ballet but also dh and I would have loved to gone back out alone to do the night boat excursion.

Boy it is exciting to plan this stuff and will be here so quickly!

 

[MadHatterMom2]

It seems like a good idea to do a quick meet before the safety drill. Even if it's only for a few minutes. We are one of the families on the FE list that does not have a stateroom number. Our TA said we may not get it until we check in. Also, this way we could have all the kids meet and maybe plan activities for the following day.

 

[TDC Nala]

dh and I would have loved to gone back out alone to do the night boat excursion.

Apparently I was the only person on the Disney Magic who wanted to do this. They were willing to set me up with a group from the Jewel of the Seas, which is in port the same time we are. I have had to change it because the rest of my group wanted a boat tour in the evening. It wouldn't finish until 7:30 and you have to be at the ship by 7 to go on the night tour. So it was either drop the group daytime tour or drop the nighttime tour, because they couldn't get me back to the ship on time.

 

[ktkspider]

It seems like a good idea to do a quick meet before the safety drill. Even if it's only for a few minutes. We are one of the families on the FE list that does not have a stateroom number. Our TA said we may not get it until we check in. Also, this way we could have all the kids meet and maybe plan activities for the following day.

ok.. It sounds like a meet before the safety drill would be the best.. so let's say 3:00 in the promenade. If anyone is unable to make it and needs a room update, I will keep a couple of extra copies on the outside of our room... 6634. Sound good to everyone?

 

[grlzmom]

It seems like a good idea to do a quick meet before the safety drill. Even if it's only for a few minutes. We are one of the families on the FE list that does not have a stateroom number. Our TA said we may not get it until we check in. Also, this way we could have all the kids meet and maybe plan activities for the following day.

We didn't book in time to do the FE but still want to come to cruise meet because definately want the kids to meet some other DIS kids, familiar faces for cruising

Apparently I was the only person on the Disney Magic who wanted to do this. They were willing to set me up with a group from the Jewel of the Seas, which is in port the same time we are. I have had to change it because the rest of my group wanted a boat tour in the evening. It wouldn't finish until 7:30 and you have to be at the ship by 7 to go on the night tour. So it was either drop the group daytime tour or drop the nighttime tour, because they couldn't get me back to the ship on time.

So hard to get it all done in such a short time, but I am really interested in doing a night tour. SPB sent an email yesterday about some night tour which includes shopping and canal boat ride which they said they opened for guests on our Magic sailing so perhaps more people are interested now?

For us getting my group back to the ship by 7 is not hard, because the kids they will be exhausted and want down time before a long day the next day

But it's nice for you that you are getting a longer day time tour.

 

[MadHatterMom2]

Time/place for MiniMeet and FE sounds great. Never been on the ship, but I'm sure promenade is easy to find. See you then!

On another note, has anyone calculated gratuities for this cruise? Haven't cruised in years, but how much and to whom? Lastly, since Room Service is "free", what is a decent tip?

Thx!

 

[cindy18]

Time/place for MiniMeet and FE sounds great. Never been on the ship, but I'm sure promenade is easy to find. See you then!

On another note, has anyone calculated gratuities for this cruise? Haven't cruised in years, but how much and to whom? Lastly, since Room Service is "free", what is a decent tip?

Thx!

Actually, I have been on the ship, and I'm not sure what you mean by the promenade either. Clarification, please!

We tip a few dollars for room service. I haven't thought about the gratuities at all, frankly. I figured that DCL will definitely give us some guidance on that while we're cruising, and then we can take it from there.

 

[ktkspider]

Actually, I have been on the ship, and I'm not sure what you mean by the promenade either. Clarification, please!

We tip a few dollars for room service. I haven't thought about the gratuities at all, frankly. I figured that DCL will definitely give us some guidance on that while we're cruising, and then we can take it from there.

I guess I should have said Promenade Lounge... Deck 3... right by the internet cafe. :O) you pass it on the way to Parrot Cay...

 

[cindy18]

AH! Promenade Lounge!! I know where that is! No problem.