Anyone going on Baltic cruise, 23rd May from Newcastle?

[helenchickchick]

Hia

Just wondering if anyone going on this cruise?:)

Its our first cruise (age 30ish), looking forward to it, but little nervous:confused:

[Cymro1953]

Hia

Just wondering if anyone going on this cruise?:)

Its our first cruise (age 30ish), looking forward to it, but little nervous:confused:

Don't worry Helen, you'll be fine. It's jut like a floating hotel.
We were like you this time last year and by the time we'd settled it was time to get off and come home :(.
At least you'll have longer to have fun on board than we did.
Only 2 months to go now :eek::eek: and we're off to Eastern Med the week after.

[TKharis]

Hia

Just wondering if anyone going on this cruise?:)

Its our first cruise (age 30ish), looking forward to it, but little nervous:confused:

Snap, my husband and I are going on the Baltic cruise and its our first one, and we are 35ish! also a bit nervous. We're from Edinburgh, where are you?

cheers

[helenchickchick]

Hia

We are in West Cumbria - Workington.
We booked it last summer as we quite like city breaks and couldnt decide where to go. So thought would be good to do something different.

We are looking forward to it, but was not sure what to expect.

Got lots of info from forums, just need to decide what to take etc.
Helen.x

[TKharis]

Hia

We are in West Cumbria - Workington.
We booked it last summer as we quite like city breaks and couldnt decide where to go. So thought would be good to do something different.

We are looking forward to it, but was not sure what to expect.

Got lots of info from forums, just need to decide what to take etc.
Helen.x


I'm really looking forward to not having to fly:) and seeing loads of different places without packing and unpacking all the time. I've found the info about St Petersburg particularly useful here, as well as the hints and tips and info about things like bar prices. I was mostly nervous about being trapped on a boat and not being able to pick our own places for drinks and dinner but been reassured by what I've read here. Will keep checking back to see if anyone else admits to joining this voyage!

cheers
Charis

[helenchickchick]

Hia

Ive read lots on drinks packages but been told by TA none available - have you had anything offered? Told because going from Uk port.

Yes - looking forward to seeing different places too, god knows what I need to pack!x

[Cymro1953]

Hia

Ive read lots on drinks packages but been told by TA none available - have you had anything offered? Told because going from Uk port.

Yes - looking forward to seeing different places too, god knows what I need to pack!x

Hi Helen,
They don't offer the A.I. drinks on any cruises that go from UK and back. I don't know if you can buy one aboard. It's not necessarily all it's cracked up to be though. On the Escape last year we had A. I. in the price but when I added up the reciepts at the end (they gave you one with drinks price on even though were not paying) we'd have needed to drink twice as much to justify the cost between what we paid and what I could have got it for last minute without drinks. Then paid for our own as we went along.
Mind you then we wouldn't necessarily have got the cabin we wanted if waited for the reduction.

Not long now, just under 2 months till yours and just over for us.

Berwyn

[ladyjayneq]

Hi Helenchickchick & TKHaris

Hubby and I are going on this cruise in July, travelling down from Aberdeen. Would be pleased to hear your opinions, hints or any other info on your return.

This is our 2nd cruise and we're looking forward to seeing the Spirit again.

[helenchickchick]

Hia

yeah no bother - I will defo post when I get back.x

[kruzseeka]

If you have any specific questions about destinations/excursions, we've done this trip several times and will gladly answer them, if I can. :)

[helenchickchick]

If you have any specific questions about destinations/excursions, we've done this trip several times and will gladly answer them, if I can. :)

Oh thanks, Ive printed out the different excusions for each place and starting to look. Gonna try and do alot our selves, but will give you a shout with any questions.Thanks.x

[TKharis]

If you have any specific questions about destinations/excursions, we've done this trip several times and will gladly answer them, if I can. :)

Are the St Petersburg excursions good/value for money?

cheers

[kruzseeka]

Hello there, Tkharis

Have a look at the thread I've posted below which includes quite a big section on St P which I did in response to Helen's question. (Sorry, I do go on a bit!! :o ) You might find some of the descriptions of the trips of interest though.
http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=957658

Value for money? Well, you haven't any option really if you want to get off at St P and see something. If you don't want to go on ship's trips, you have to have a visa - for costs see Russian Embassy site. But even with a visa, your problems don't end there as the port (industrial -VERY!), unlike most in Europe and the Caribbean for example, do not have taxis lined up waiting for tourists. I have no idea how you would go about getting transport independently - and it's a maze getting out of the port alone. Remember too that the road signs etc are very difficult for us to understand as the alphabet is quite different from ours so map reading may not be easy either.
You can book with a Russian tour company - lots of advice on the Northern European forum (Denrus, Alla etc.) but they look very expensive to me. They are used a lot by American tourists but I think excursion prices are often much more expensive on American ships than Thomson's so that's perhaps why they look to independent options. Of course you can determine where you want to go if you book your own.
We've always felt the Thomson ones aren't too bad value - especially given the specific problems relating to a DiY approach in St P. Most half-day trips are around £30-35 for anything between 3 - 5 hours but include your guide (essential to tell you all about the city) plus admission charges.
The full-day trips are around £70 but will include lunch - I'd rather do 2 x half-days and have lunch back on board and that way you get to see a wider range of attractions.
Now I've checked the brochure - I see that we must have done the half-day Catherine Palace - not the full day and felt we'd seen enough in that time.
We budget for about 3 or 4 x half day plus one evening trip for St P which would typically be about £150 -£175 (each). We feel having gone that far we don't want to miss seeing the sights. We economise by doing mainly DiY at the other ports.
Hope this helps! :)

[helenchickchick]

I think thats what we are going to do. 2/3 half day trips and an evening one. Just deciding which to do! There is so much.x

[djmutters]

Hello there, Tkharis

Have a look at the thread I've posted below which includes quite a big section on St P which I did in response to Helen's question. (Sorry, I do go on a bit!! :o ) You might find some of the descriptions of the trips of interest though.
http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=957658

Value for money? Well, you haven't any option really if you want to get off at St P and see something. If you don't want to go on ship's trips, you have to have a visa - for costs see Russian Embassy site. But even with a visa, your problems don't end there as the port (industrial -VERY!), unlike most in Europe and the Caribbean for example, do not have taxis lined up waiting for tourists. I have no idea how you would go about getting transport independently - and it's a maze getting out of the port alone. Remember too that the road signs etc are very difficult for us to understand as the alphabet is quite different from ours so map reading may not be easy either.
You can book with a Russian tour company - lots of advice on the Northern European forum (Denrus, Alla etc.) but they look very expensive to me. They are used a lot by American tourists but I think excursion prices are often much more expensive on American ships than Thomson's so that's perhaps why they look to independent options. Of course you can determine where you want to go if you book your own.
We've always felt the Thomson ones aren't too bad value - especially given the specific problems relating to a DiY approach in St P. Most half-day trips are around £30-35 for anything between 3 - 5 hours but include your guide (essential to tell you all about the city) plus admission charges.
The full-day trips are around £70 but will include lunch - I'd rather do 2 x half-days and have lunch back on board and that way you get to see a wider range of attractions.
Now I've checked the brochure - I see that we must have done the half-day Catherine Palace - not the full day and felt we'd seen enough in that time.
We budget for about 3 or 4 x half day plus one evening trip for St P which would typically be about £150 -£175 (each). We feel having gone that far we don't want to miss seeing the sights. We economise by doing mainly DiY at the other ports.
Hope this helps! :)

In reguards of St.Petersburgh we did this on our own last year and applied for Visas online(Very easy and straight forward) when we arrived at the port we advised the staff we had our own visas and they kindly arranged for a lift from the boat to the port entrance after we had shown our visas to the horrid Russian staff who look at you like you are evil and don't even talk to you.

When we was dropped off back at the port we just caught the port workers bus for free and had about a 5 minute walk to the boat,all very easy

After we got through the port we met our prearranged tour guide and driver and saw many of the lovely sites of St.Petersburg,it is worth doing on your own however If just do your research:)

[kruzseeka]

Hello djmutters,

I'm very interested to read of your experiences of organising your own trips in St P. It's an option I'd consider myself - I've just been put off before. It just seemed to be a bit too much of a hassle. Could I ask you how much your independent travel arrangements cost - visa + tour guide/taxi + admission charges, whatever? It would be nice to have a comparison of prices. The advantage of independent travel is that you can go to exactly which attractions you prefer - and if we were to go back to St P that would be worth considering as I think we've done all the ship's trips now.

[kruzseeka]

P.S. You are so right about those immigration officials!!!! Talk about a welcome! Anyone would think they didn't want you to visit their city.

[kruzseeka]

If anyone is thinking of a DiY approach to St P as opposed to ship's trips or Russian tour companies then you may be interested in this thread. There is an interesting post too from HeinBloed (follow the link) which refers to the new cruise terminal which may, or may not be in use yet.

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=933988

It seems that it is possible to get into the city on your own without booking through Russian tour operators like Alla etc., but it's not without its difficulties.

[MissPrim]

We too are going to the Baltic from Newcastle on 23 May. We went on Fire and Ice last year (spectacular) and everyone was raving about this cruise. We are from Aberdeen and not at all Prim (Ref my name) That's our cat. The Thomson ships are well run and very friendly. See you there.

[helenchickchick]

Im getting excited now. Think about 6 weeks to go. trying to diet as know I will eat loads! Not going well just had a penguin choc biscuit with my coffee!!! Im only on day 1!! LOL.x

[Cymro1953]

Im getting excited now. Think about 6 weeks to go. trying to diet as know I will eat loads! Not going well just had a penguin choc biscuit with my coffee!!! Im only on day 1!! LOL.x

Hi Helen,
Too late to diet now, it's too close to cruise time:D.
Have another Penguin and a coffee.
Have a lovely time and send a full report when you get back so I can see if I can tempt DW for next year for our 30th wedding anniversary. :eek:
I don't know where all the time has gone

Berwyn

[helenchickchick]

yeah its just wishful thinking - Ive had a few easter eggs now too!!! oh well!.xx

[ladyjayneq]

Hi,

Nice to see another cuiser from Aberdeen here.

[Cymro1953]

yeah its just wishful thinking - Ive had a few easter eggs now too!!! oh well!.xx

Have you finished them yet Helen? :D
Iwas thinking you don't want to diet now you need to keep in practice for the 24hour buffet :eek::D. Elastic waists is the trick.
I was reading your and Sharon's posts about the excursions on your other thread they look really nice.
My wife's very nervous about them and we always end up doing the ship's (or tour company's if stayng in a hotel) just for her peace of mind even though it costs a bit more.

I wish we hadn't panicked now when our cruise for this month was cancelled and taken our time to sort another with a British cruise line instead of Royal caribbean.

Berwyn

[helenchickchick]

One easter egg left but its my boyfriends, so i shouldnt really eat it! ha.

I worry little doing the trips ourselves but OH is very laid back - 'so thinks no need to bother about it!!!

What was wrong with Royal Caribbean? you prefer Thomsons?
Helen.

[helenchickchick]

What was wrong with Royal Caribbean? you prefer Thomsons?
Helen.

Soz that might be a stupid question are they the equilivent of each other? x:confused:

[Cymro1953]

One easter egg left but its my boyfriends, so i shouldnt really eat it! ha.

I worry little doing the trips ourselves but OH is very laid back - 'so thinks no need to bother about it!!!

What was wrong with Royal Caribbean? you prefer Thomsons?
Helen.

Hi Helen,
I typed it all out and when I hit submit I lost the whole answer, so here goes again.

If DW was in choccie mood she'd have eaten it :D

We shouldn't have been going with RCCL in the first place.
We had booked with Island cruises on the island Star for a 2 week cruise and we should have been at sea now.
Anyway Island Cruises was half owned by RCCL and the other half by Thomsons/First Choice. Last year after we'd booked RCCL sold their share to thomsons and as part of the deal they got the Island Star and passed it on to a Spanish cruise line they own.
So our ship and cruise was gone :mad:
We found out in October and in the stress and hassle of sorting out the refund and trying to re-organise our holidays with work the RCCL cruise was the nearest itinerary we could get to match. DW really wanted to go to Ephesus but didn't want to stay in Turkey.
So we ended up paying £500 more for an inferior cabin and a 2 day shorter cruise. :(

Looking back we should have taken a refund and then looked around for something else.

When Dw found there were 3 more or less compulsory formal nights on board she nearly had a fit. Last year they said you can dress up if you want to, but otherwise informal.
These Americans make a big thing about Tuxedos and Dresses for the formal nights. They seem to want to dressup too on non formal nights. Sod that!!
You should see the stress in the RCCL boards on the subject.
I know we can go to the Buffet restaurant instead but we seem to be in the minority there.
Then also last week I found the buffet restaurant is not 24 hour like you've got on Spirit and we had last cruise. That's a big thing for me as I work nights and am often up about 4.30 5 am and I don't want to disturb DW.
Last time i was up there early in the buffet watching the sunrise, just a few of us, it was lovely and peaceful beautiful.

So if it wasn't for the ports I'd happily have cancelled but it's too late now.
I'm looking forward much more to our cruise with Thomsons in Dec.

So that's the story.

Berwyn

Tomson's did offer us discount on another cruise but it had to be taken within 1 month of the departure date of the original cruise (before 15th May) and tey had nothing suitable going then.

[helenchickchick]

Oh dear sounds like a nightmare!

Im sure you will enjoy when you get there though.

Helen

ps I ate 1/2 the egg!!

[Cymro1953]

Oh dear sounds like a nightmare!

Im sure you will enjoy when you get there though.

Helen

ps I ate 1/2 the egg!!

Yes we probably will once we get into the swing of things.
You did well leaving 1/2 the egg. DW would have cleared the lot :D.

Just been to thomson's and First Choice to see if they got the new cruise brochures in ready for Thursday. No luck though

Berwyn

[djmutters]

Hello djmutters,

I'm very interested to read of your experiences of organising your own trips in St P. It's an option I'd consider myself - I've just been put off before. It just seemed to be a bit too much of a hassle. Could I ask you how much your independent travel arrangements cost - visa + tour guide/taxi + admission charges, whatever? It would be nice to have a comparison of prices. The advantage of independent travel is that you can go to exactly which attractions you prefer - and if we were to go back to St P that would be worth considering as I think we've done all the ship's trips now.

Hello :)

Sorry for the long delay in replying I don't normally use this part of the website although we did travel with Thomson last year of course.

Getting back to your question..............

In Respect of Russian Visas we used a Company called Real Russia and they start from around £115.00 each I was quite nervoues applying for a Visa online and the fear of getting ripped off but I found R-R fab they have there own forums and telephone support here in the UK and in Russia.

We had planned that once we had gone through immigration officials we would just hail a cab and go straight to the city however we was very lucky that we bumped into the Ships agent outside the pier (Russian agent LOL sorry) and she said she could give us a guide and provide a driver and a nice car (Merc) to show us around Total cost worked out about £150.00 all in.

It was a long day and we was both shattered at the end of it but was worth every penny.

She showed us all the main sites and provided us with plenty of good information.

So in total with Visas tourguide/driver lunch and a tip the whole day probally cost us £400.00 some people might suggest that's a lot but it had always been my dream to see Russia and I don't think you can put a price on dreams:)

We did a ship tour the following day and was not happy with it :mad: being crammed into a coach like cattle then being shown round one of the sites with 1000's of other passengers.

Whatever you decide to do I hope you will have a lovely time and like us I hope you fall in love with Russia.

Take care

Nigel & Rob

[smiffy]

We are going on Thomson baltic on 23rd May 2009 also, looking forward to it. We were thinking of doing the tour of St pETERSBURG with a company called Red October. Does anyone know if it is worth the money. We are hoping more people will do this trip which would reduce the costs as it is expensive if only 2 people doing it. Looking forward to cruise, 1st time on a Thomson ship, having been Celebrity and Royal Carribean before.

[djmutters]

We are going on Thomson baltic on 23rd May 2009 also, looking forward to it. We were thinking of doing the tour of St pETERSBURG with a company called Red October. Does anyone know if it is worth the money. We are hoping more people will do this trip which would reduce the costs as it is expensive if only 2 people doing it. Looking forward to cruise, 1st time on a Thomson ship, having been Celebrity and Royal Carribean before.

Hi when we was looking at a lot of diffrent options I heard of this company alot and 99% of them was very good reviews.

[kruzseeka]

Thanks for the detailed reply regarding the tour company and costs, djmutters - I appreciate your feed-back. It's a bit more expensive than I'd anticipated although I didn't expect it would be a cheaper option. We did two days' worth of excursions for less than the private single day cost you.

However, it's certainly worth considering - the main benefit being able to cater to your particular requirements and you can get to visit exactly where you want to go - and as you say, not in a crowd of other people.

Thanks again for taking the time to explain how you went about arranging your independent travel. It has helped me (and I guess other travellers) to weigh up the pros and cons.