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

[lzj21428]

I've heard that pedicures run about 80 here! Ugh.

We are flying from Zurich to Heathrow and then hiring a van to take us to Dover. Originally, I thought we would take the train but it ended up being too difficult to figure out and too long of a trip. We are flying British as we needed to coordinate with others and fly into Heathrow, but if you haven't bought your tickets yet you should check out easyjet. They had great prices on flights to Gatwick and the van we booked would pick up from there as well.

macassi, would you mind sharing who you booked your airport pick up with and cost? You can PM me if you'd rather. Trying to research and could use all the help I can get.

Nina

 

[macassi]

As I booked with a recommendation from the main Baltic thread, I am happy to share. I used Eddie Manning - www.limo.co.uk. You can get the rates on the website. We ended up booking the full size van as we are a party of 5 one way and 7 another way. It was 190 pounds each way, so not cheap, but it is also a 2-3 hour drive, so I didn't expect it to be cheap.

 

[ktkspider]

OK Just to vent some frustration!
We are going to be in Germany port for over 13 hours. We want to do 2 local excursions one that is from 8:45 - 12:30 and the other from 1:45 - 6:30. Disney won't allow you to book excursions with less than 2 hours btwn... So 13 hours and I can only book 1 excursion?! I think Disney is shooting themselves in the foot with this one! We will prob. just do the port on our own now which is over $1500 not in Disney's pocket...
ok I am over it ... Now back to planning for Germany.. Have 13 hours to fill... Thanks for listening..
90 day count down to one Fabulous trip!!!

 

[lzj21428]

As I booked with a recommendation from the main Baltic thread, I am happy to share. I used Eddie Manning - www.limo.co.uk. You can get the rates on the website. We ended up booking the full size van as we are a party of 5 one way and 7 another way. It was 190 pounds each way, so not cheap, but it is also a 2-3 hour drive, so I didn't expect it to be cheap.

Thank you. I'm going to go ck out their site. Appreciate the help.

 

[cindy18]

OK Just to vent some frustration!
We are going to be in Germany port for over 13 hours. We want to do 2 local excursions one that is from 8:45 - 12:30 and the other from 1:45 - 6:30. Disney won't allow you to book excursions with less than 2 hours btwn... So 13 hours and I can only book 1 excursion?! I think Disney is shooting themselves in the foot with this one! We will prob. just do the port on our own now which is over $1500 not in Disney's pocket...
ok I am over it ... Now back to planning for Germany.. Have 13 hours to fill... Thanks for listening..
90 day count down to one Fabulous trip!!!

I hear your frustration, but a few thoughts if you're really interested in the two local excursions DCL offers. First, did you call DCL rather than trying to book it online and ask them? Second, maybe you could book one of them on the cruise, after we board? It sounds silly that they wouldn't let you actually do both excursions. I can see why they want to build in cushion, but in the moment, it should really be workable. Just trying to brainstorm a workaround...

 

[ktkspider]

I hear your frustration, but a few thoughts if you're really interested in the two local excursions DCL offers. First, did you call DCL rather than trying to book it online and ask them? Second, maybe you could book one of them on the cruise, after we board? It sounds silly that they wouldn't let you actually do both excursions. I can see why they want to build in cushion, but in the moment, it should really be workable. Just trying to brainstorm a workaround...

Thanks for brainstorming for me. I called this morning thinking maybe it was just a computer glitch. They put me through to a excursions specialist. She really had no info for me except they require 2 hours btwn excursions.
I am not too worried about it. Just get frustrated when things don't make sense. We were thinking of doing the Molli Train on our own in the begining anyway. We can do it on our own cheaper. I guess we Will just have to spend our extra OBC on spa treatments... what a shame.. LOL!

 

[cindy18]

Ah, the OBC! I hear you on that one. I booked spa treatments I would never have considered because of our doing the ports on our own and having those on board credits (twice as many because we have 2 rooms). Gotta spend that Disney money somehow!!!!

 

[ch10dad]

soooo much to do and consider!

With regard to excursions in St Petersburg, we are looking seriously at booking with spb tours. Has anyone else booked with them?

Anyone used them in the past?

With the date fast approaching, we also need to think about packing

someone needs to create a "smile" with the figure bouncing on the top of a suitcase.

Ray

 

[cindy18]

soooo much to do and consider!

With regard to excursions in St Petersburg, we are looking seriously at booking with spb tours. Has anyone else booked with them?

Anyone used them in the past?

With the date fast approaching, we also need to think about packing

someone needs to create a "smile" with the figure bouncing on the top of a suitcase.

Ray

There's been a lot of discussion on this thread and the general Baltic thread (and probably the other Baltic meet threads) about private tour guides in St Pete. Also, Cruise Critic has some excellent discussion threads about the various companies and the experiences of various people with those companies. The overall consensus appears to be that pretty much all of the tour companies do an excellent job and everyone who goes on a private tour is convinced that his/her tour guide is the best. SPB Tours has gotten great reviews, and we seriously considered them, although we ultimately decided to go with Masha, because we thought she was just a little bit more personalized and individualized. I suspect you will have a great tour with them.

 

[ch10dad]

Ah, the OBC! ...

... Gotta spend that Disney money somehow!!!!

Hmmmm, we've never had trouble spending OBC, and then some...

Ray

 

[TDC Nala]

With regard to excursions in St Petersburg, we are looking seriously at booking with spb tours. Has anyone else booked with them?

I'm booking their evening "fun" tour the first night. Viktoria seems a good person to work with. She's been returning questions by e-mail within a day or two. She says no one else on the Magic has signed up for that tour so she will put me on one with the passengers from Jewel of the Seas (which is in port the same time as we are), which is awesome.

My day tours are ship's tours, seeing as the private guided tours are too much to book for just one person. But I think it's great that it appears she is willing to do what she can to get me on that evening tour. Right now I'm waiting for info on how many passengers from the Jewel sign up (or if anyone from the Magic does) so I will know what the cost will be.

 

[ktkspider]

Just got the stuff to start putting together our FE gifts.

I am really excited and hope they turn out!

Time is quickly approaching. It will be here before we know it. The only big thing I have left - for the planning stage is the transportation from Port to London Hotel. (and then there is the packing, FE stuff, did I say packing?? which I am sure will include some shopping)

Anyone else in for the FE? Any ideas on when we should close it. I know it seems that usually it is pretty close to cruise time but wondering with the packing and traveling considerations if we should close it earlier? Any ideas?

I wonder if there will be a lot of takers for the Kids sail free offer for our cruise?

 

[ch10dad]

I wonder if there will be a lot of takers for the Kids sail free offer for our cruise?

HUH? What's the deal about "kids sail free?"

I'm pretty sure we paid for ours...

Ray

 

[ktkspider]

HUH? What's the deal about "kids sail free?"

I'm pretty sure we paid for ours...

Ray

Disney is now offering Kids sail free with 2 paying adults in the same cabin for cats 11-8, for our cruise and the one just before ours for US and Canada only.

 

[grizbuzz]

My TA called me re. the kids sail free offer. We'd save $300 and lose Palo, spa and excursion reservations. I knew they'd do this. On the bright side, maybe DCL will be giving out some upgrades

I think we should leave FE open for a little longer in case we have newcomers with the offer.

 

[cindy18]

I'm not surprised they did the kids sail free offer on our cruise and the earlier one. So many kids are still in school then. I'm a little surprised they waited this long. I had thought our ship was pretty full, and the 1st Baltic too. Oh well, hard to second guess Disney...

 

[ktkspider]

I think we should leave FE open for a little longer in case we have newcomers with the offer.

I am thinking leaving it open until May 1st... any thoughts?

right now we have 12 cabins with 15 kids ages 5-14. (mostly girls .. only 5 boys)

Anyone else interested... Let me know I will add you to the list!

 

[ch10dad]

Is anyone arranging for a private tour of the castles???

Ray

 

[ktkspider]

Bumping up..

Anyone booking excursions Sunday night/ Monday morning?

I have to try and get a couple of excursions for my aunt and her husband.

 

[lzj21428]

Well, I'm done. All that is left for me to do is pack our bags.

Flights are booked, transportation is booked, and hotel is booked!!

Got all the excursions I wanted and a Palo brunch.

This just makes it all the more real. I can't wait!!