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

[TDC Nala]

almost lost the thread - I really didn't want to have to start it again...

 

[bevgray]

Just checking in as our bunch is so quiet. I'm still plodding along paying for the cruise. I wish they'd get some word out on the shore excursions since that would make the whole thing a bit more "real" and add some zest to the "dream planning". I did hear a whisper about a prince and princess ball at Catherine the Great's palace in St. Petersburg.

Hi to everyone and I hope the autumn is lovely wherever you are. Our Indiana trees are starting to get that golden patina. It's been an odd summer so no idea if we'll have much "color" in the fall foliage this year.

 

[bevgray]

Gracious. I just plugged in our cruise for fun and most cabins have jumped about $1000 since yesterday. Does that mean our quiet little ship is getting more popular?

 

[TDC Nala]

I found the thread!

 

[bevgray]

Hey Nala.

Funny, the prices dropped back to what they were on Monday. Must have been an odd glitch on the DCL web site.

 

[newgeneb]

My DW and i just booked this cruise My name is Gene and hers is Cheryl - We just left WDW after a wonderful cruise to Tortola Hope to check in and get to know everyone its a long time until June 24th but it will be here before we know it

 

[bridgemanva]

We were scheduled to do WB & EB Transatlantic but discofer our son (20 years old) could join us on this trip as his summer jobs don't require him in June. Are there any other young adults aboard?

Also I'm exploring a private tours for excursions has anyone looked at any smaller group tours to share with another family?

I haven't read through the whole thread will do so to catch up.

 

[bevgray]

Hi, welcome aboard! Our group is very quiet and we've not done a lot of planning discussions yet. I expect things will get livelier as we get closer to the final payment date and Disney releases shore excursions. They just put a sticky for London on the main cruise page so, hopefully, the Baltic will follow soon to help with strategies and planning.

I know some of the other sailings have looked into private tours. The consensus on those voyages seems to be that private tours are great for St. Petersburg.

 

[cindy18]

Hi to the newcomers to this thread! You know, June of 2010 is going to be here before we know it!

Anyone have a feeling about people moving off the Baltic cruises in light of the 2011 cruise destinations? I would have thought not but my TA suggested that she had seen a lot of people doing just that. We figure, why not live it up, and so we're doing both!

 

[dcladdict-ohio]

Hi Everyone ... I have taken lots of cruises but have never subscribed to a meet thread before so here goes!

Our family of three me, DH and DD(17) will be joiningg you on the 6-24-10 12-night northern europe cruise. We are planning to 'wrap around' several days in England. I was born and raised in Sheffield, England and all my family still lives there so we we will be visiting them and touring London. We are currently saving furiously

I am just getting started on my planning ... how is everyone else coming along?

 

[TDC Nala]

I thought I saw this thread pop up. This is the most laid back cruise thread on the DISboards. Just waiting for the shore excursions. Don't know if anyone will forsake the Baltic for the 2011 cruises but I'm doing both.

Still can't find a decent priced flight to London.

 

[mehaul]

Hi to the newcomers to this thread! You know, June of 2010 is going to be here before we know it!

Anyone have a feeling about people moving off the Baltic cruises in light of the 2011 cruise destinations? I would have thought not but my TA suggested that she had seen a lot of people doing just that. We figure, why not live it up, and so we're doing both!

Our flights and hotel are all booked. The 2011 itineraries are so different from the Baltic cruise. I can't imagine passing up on Europe to go to Alaska.

 

[ktkspider]

I have been reading all of the Baltic threads for months now. We are so excited about this trip. We will be flying into Paris on the 18th. After spending a couple of days in Paris, we will take the EuroStar/train to Canterbury for a couple of nights... after the Cruise we are spending 4 nights in London. Traveling... my husband (46), Me (44), our daughter (12), My Mom and Dad and her sister and husband. Anyone else traveling with a 12 year old girl? This sure is a quiet thread compared to the others.. but the others have done some major research already, which has made it super easy for me...

 

[cindy18]

Hi! One of our DDs will be 12 on this cruise (the other will be 14). And my DH will also be 46 (I'll be a little older than you at 44). Welcome! I envy you the trip to Paris on the front end. That sounds like a great idea. We can only do the 12 nights plus travel so we're not adding on anything else, but I wish we could!

 

[pops711]

I am sorry to tell you all that my DW and I had to back out of this cruise because of under-employment. Hope you all have a GREAT time

 

[bevgray]

So sorry to hear that you've had to cancel. Hope things get better very soon for you.

 

[JetsMets]

Haven't read the entire 11 pages yet, but wanted to get my basic information on here.

Now booked for this cruise which sounds like the trip of a lifetime. My family has done 2 Disney Cruises in the past; they were both 7 day cruises in the Mediterranean (one Eastern in 2001, one Western in 2006).

Currently booked with 2 rooms next to each other on Deck 6, looking to make them adjoining if possible, but if that upgrade doesn't happen it will be just fine.

Travelling with my wife, in-laws and my two daughters who will be 10 and 8 at the time of the cruise. We are from New Jersey (central).

I'm sure these things have been covered if I read enough but when do they announce excursions and when can you book things like the kids club and Palo.

Look forward to talking to you all again as this gets closer.

 

[bevgray]

Hi there and a big welcome to our cruise.

Scuttlebutt indicates that excursions may be announced in the near future (Oct/Nov). It may be a bit later but, since Gold and Platinum Castaway Club members and Concierge can book earlier, Disney shouldn't delay too much longer in announcing.

Booking times for excusions, Palo, Kid's Clubs etc. will be sometime after the final payment date (23 February) - as a Silver Castaway Club member, you will be able to book at 90 days prior to sailing (around 26 March although I figured I'd start trying around 23 or 24 March). There was an article that hinted at a "Princess Ball" at Catherine the Great's Palace in St. Petersburg but no details yet.

We are a very quiet group so far although I suspect we'll get a bit livelier as the cruise draws closer. We haven't really discussed FEs or other DIS activities yet so nothing has been finalized. Hopefully, once final payment is made, we can get a proper roll call and decide what fun extras we want to do.

We do have a lovely logo that TDCNala created (see post #120, page 8).

 

[JetsMets]

Bevgray, thank you for that information - excellent stuff.

I don't recall being a Gold, Silver or Platinum member (or anything of the sort), but I have done a couple other cruises. I suppose the easiest way to find out would be calling Disney?

Once again thanks so much, appreciate the help.

 

[bevgray]

You can check your Castaway Club status when you log in to view your reservation on the Disney Cruise Line website. Since you indicated that you had sailed twice before, I figured you were Silver.

The Castaway Club tier system is brand new (prior, we were all lumped together). There is a sticky at the top of the main forum page with all the information of how the new Club is set up.

There is also an excellent sticky on London that may help you with your pre/post cruise planning. It is also located at the top of the main cruise forum.

Don't hesitate to ask questions. As we get closer, I know we'll all have many concerns about this tremendous adventure! We're all here to help one another have the most magical cruise ever!

Oh, and good luck with your Jets in tonight's game.