edenrayne

We used SPB Tours on our Baltic cruise. If you look at their website under frequently asked questions, they have tipping recommendations for different ports.

 

 

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We are with another company,but imagine it is all the same. Thanks.

That kinda sums it up nicely

For any cruise line.

Though if your home currency & ship's currency are both the same, I guess that ship's exchange rate is about the same as your home bank's rate for selling euros plus the Danish / Swedish cafe / bar's rate for accepting euros.

(did you understand what I just said - cos I'm not sure that even I did

Well you confused me!! Love your Quote at the end. So true!

Sorry I don't remember exactly. I think they were every hour, maybe. We took the 8:30 I think. The surprise was the long line up to pick up our luggage at the airport. It is in a tent, and the line was outside, and it started to rain...

 

 

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YIKES! lots of things to think about.

thanks to everyone for your advice.

In the Baltic/Russia area, do you tip a % of cost of the tour or a flat "day" rate.

And what would be a good day rate for Guide and driver? Any info would be appreciated.

We got rubles on the ship, and used them at gift shops and for lunch. We could have used CC's. I needed Swedish Krona for a public restroom. I used Danish Krona for a hotdog stand. We got the Krona from ATM's each time, small amounts. Every other place and circumstance, credit cards worked just fine, including the street vendor selling crepes in Copenhagen.

 

The days of needed lots of cash in each currency are dwindling.

Can you get all currencies on board ship? Seems more easy if you only need a few "dollars".

It's suggested that you prebook these types of things before boarding, but it's certainly not impossible to do so once onboard.

 

 

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Is there a time frame before you can pre order? I do not see anything listed yet.

As noted, you can buy the transfer on board at guest services. It is not considered an excursion if it is just a ride to the airport. You can call the 800#and book the transfer now. It is added to your cruise reservation and is subject to the same cancellation rules as the cruise. There are several times but they assign you based on the time you say your flight is. Your luggage goes on a different "bus" than you. You pick the luggage up at the airport.

 

We ended up taking a taxi and lost the $30 pp we had paid months in advance. The taxi line is very long after the first group of early morning taxis make the trip to the airport. We were on the Star so it will be a longer wait with the Getaway and more than double the number of passengers.

this is our first time on a ship this large! (Getaway) so things will run a bit slower I presume.

I was on the Star and they offered different transfers depending on your flight time. Our flight was 12:30. We didn't take the earliest and got there in plenty of time.

 

 

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We have a 12:30 flight as well, Do you remember the times?

Many countries we have visited do have a service charge: UK does in many places, the Bahamas has had a service charge for years and when we were in Spain it was expected. I can think of other countries as well, almost all the Caribbean expect tips and so does Mexico. the only 2 that come to mind that do not have a service charge or tipping policy we have visited is Hong Kong and Canada.

It is customary to tip in Canada. Automatic service charges will only apply in events where there are larger numbers dining.

Yes you can buy airport transfers on board, and they will also offer post-cruise shore excursions that drop you off at the airport. We are doing this cruise in July and they show these excursions under Copenhagen (when you log into your account and look through the shore excursions offered). You would need to have a late afternoon or evening flight to do these, since you go sightseeing first and then end up at the airport.

Thanks rocklinmom,

But we have a midday flight. so hope the transfers are early.

On Celebrity, you also have to pay when you book the excursion, so it is not just NCL.

So it isn't just a European thing? Thanks guys.

Just tried to make a reservation for a tour and I had to pay for it right then. Every other ship it goes on your ship board account. What's with NCL?

I think they offer airport transfers for every cruise… Last summer on the Star the transfer to Copenhagen Airport cost $30 per person. You'll have plenty of chances to book this on board during the cruise.

Thanks so much hawkeyetlse, appreciate you prompt reply.

Wanted to get all the "ducks in a row" before the cruise starts.

Hate surprises. I know from every other cruise we have been on, that they do offer transfers, but could not find any info. on this port. Thanks again.

The first night or two of the cruise often offers a 20% discount at the Illusionarium The food was all very good, but you have no choice.

I understood that these extra entertainment items had to be ordered ahead of time (pre sail) or you would never get in to see any of them.

I was wondering if the Getaway offered transfers to the airport after the cruise. I had contacted NCL but got no reply, just thought that someone who has been on NCl cruise in the Baltic seen where it was offered.

We are going on this ship on May 25th Out of Copenhagen.

I was interested in doing a tour of Berlin that included the Concentration Camp, but the companies only do do this as a private tour. The cost comes down per person quite a bit when it get to 6 people on tour. Like $300 and a bit. Is any one interested please let me know. The difference in the tour to Berlin only, is you do 5 1/2 hours in Berlin and if including the Camp it is 3 1/2 in Berlin. and 2 at the Camp.

If you can handle your own bags, taking public transporation is an easy and inexpensive way to travel from the airport to the city and to the port. That's how we did it last year. The cost of public transport from the airport to the city is 36 DKK and the cost from the city to the port is 24 DKK. A taxi is approximately 10 times those amounts.

Is there plenty of room on the train/metro for two pieces of luggage each?

Where are they stored or are they with you?

Ship docks early there should be no problem

Actually I have been in the "Crew Quarters", don't know exactly how it happened, but got on an elevator and when it opened I was in the Crew's

quartres! Just got back on and pushed a button to go up. Figured the crew

were using that particular elevator to get something from there to the level I had got on and forgot to change something in the settings. Believe me,we as

passengers have much better decor then the staff.

Why should I be forced to eat in a specialty restaurant and pay more money? I paid for a cruise that states is higher quality than RCCL.[/quote Agree!!

Why should I be forced to eat in a specialty restaurant and pay more money? I paid for a cruise that states is higher quality than RCCL.[/quote Agree!!

I'm confused. If you did not book a guarantee, how were you 'automatically given' accessible cabins? You don't automatically get cabins, you choose them. Do you mean they came up on the list of available cabins? It is very odd that they would release them so far out. Not trying to be argumentative, but this is very strange. I suspect most people who require them tend to book quite a bit ahead of time to ensure they can get one, but six weeks out seems like much more than normal.

 

To answer the OP, I have not had this happen, but I know of people on my Roll Call that got assigned accessible cabins through a GTY booking. This happened the last couple of weeks. Other than the shower leaking onto the bathroom floor, they are great cabins to have (we have a relative who requires one; we have never personally gotten one as we don't require one and don't usually book GTY). I would definitely check a week before to grab one when they open them if they are still available.

The travel agent did not ask us if we wanted an assigned room or a guarantee. Only when she printed off the paperwork did we see it was for these 2 accessible rooms. So figured all the regular rooms were full.

Don't know how or why, but that was how it happened.

Maybe what they'll do is basically waitlist you for the accessible and if it's available give it to you and someone else your's but you might not know till the very last minute as I understand they are always the last allocated, for obvious reasons.

 

And as someone who spent 5 years in a wheelchair, I really appreciate your attitude.

We booked about 6 weeks ago and were automatically given 2 accessible cabins. Did not even go on a guarantee. Nor did we need an accessible.

I, like you, thought that these cabins were the "last" to go if they were not needed. Any way we sail on the 22 and so far the cabins #'s have not changed.

I doubt that the Hardrock web site shows a store that closed 6 months ago as open, so I would go with this one is currently open.

I've been told there is one at the International Pier, in the shopping plaza.

Concierge and above get body wash; inside, O.V., and veranda get bar soap. I think (not sure) that the suites still get Bulgari products, as opposed to the Gilchrist & Soames (in the white tubes).

Thanks everyone, I hate bars of soap!!! Will take my own body wash.

Thanks again. Happy sails................