Texas Twin Sis
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2018
Gothenburg, Sweden July 31, 2019
We woke to another day of overcast skies and threat of rain. Gothenburg was a new port of call for the Magic. The port was very industrial and the Magic made its berth right next to the Volvo Museum. In fact it was across the parking lot from the ship. Today we had no excursion, and had just planned to go into the city and try to find something to see. As in the other ports we needed to take ashore our key to the world card and a government ID or copy of or original of a passport for each person.
The free shuttle was right outside of security and ran every twenty minutes. The bus drove through an industrial park to get to the city. So do not plan to walk anywhere except to the Volvo Museum from the ship. It is too far with no sidewalks, only industrial thruways.
We were off the ship at all ashore time of 10am to see the sights and beat the rain. predicted later that afternoon. After a nearly 20 minute ride the shuttle let us off at in the city at Point of Interest #4 the Gustav Adolfs torg on the map we received getting on to the shuttle. It was a square with a large statue of King Gustav which made a good landmark. The hosts of the shuttle service were dressed in black and white with a red tie, and were easy to spot on the square. From research I did on the city before the trip I knew we wanted to find the Paddan canal boat dock for sightseeing. The Paddan canal boats were like those on the San Antonio river back home, an open air boat with bench seating. I had not ordered tickets on line as we could buy them where the boats docked. The host of the shuttle pointed us in the right direction so we took off. It was about a 3 block walk, across the square, dodging the electric trains and traffic crossing a canal bridge and heading down the Kungsportsplatsen, a busy city street, to our destination. Near point of interest #10, a large statue of a knight on a horse, was a visitor center and we ducked in to see if we missed it and were pointed to a sign across the street with a big green frog over it. There was the Padden canal boat office just to the right of an ornate canal bridge. We went to the window and asked for 3 senior tickets and they accepted our Visa credit card no problem. The hour or so tour was approximately $15.00 US dollars each for the senior ticket, which was the same as the student rate and a boat was just about ready to take off. There is a note: You must walk and step down into the boat, I didn't see any commendation for a wheelchair in the open air boat.
The tour guide gave the tour information in Swedish and English. The tour took us on the canal through a pretty city park and under many low bridges decked with flower baskets. Then turned and became the canal we had crossed by the shuttle bus drop off. Along the way buildings were described and history was given by the guide. We then left the canal and did a circular route in the harbor to points of interest, such as a tall mast ship and a building known as the lipstick. It was slightly choppy and chilly in the open harbor water. Our return route took us past the industrial loading dock area and back into the canal under an extremely low bridge. In this part of the canal we saw the fish market and fish church, hospital, business buildings and lots of historical architecture. At the end of the tour we disembarked at a dock on the other side of the ticket office and climbed steep stone steps back up to street level right next to the market hall Salualtem full of international delicacies and shops. As there was a threat of heavy rain we started walking back to the shuttle bus pick up location. While waiting for the bus in the square we noticed there were many different see the city options picking up customers for hop on hop off buses as well a a train tram that looked like the one we saw in Aselund Norway. Lots of ways to get around and see the city.
We got back on the shuttle bus just as the rain shower opened up. Back on the ship, after a late lunch our plans were to walk over to the Volvo Museum but we made the mistake and returned to the room. From our big hidden port hole we saw that it was really raining and we convinced ourselves we could lay down for a bit to wait for it to slack off. That bit turned into a nap and time got away from us, so no Volvo museum for us today. Once we woke up we used the time before supper to pack and get ready for debarkation the next day. All aboard was 5:45pm and we left the port on time.
Our last supper on ship was in Animator's Palette where our drawings come to life in the show. Here is a tip: give your table staff their tip envelopes at this meal. We always bring extra cash to add to the enclosed receipt tab if we feel we would like to. We always have. Breakfast the next morning can be hectic and not a good time for long goodbyes. For our room host it is the morning of debarkation.
The last show in the Walt Disney Theatre was Disney Dreams. It was as spectacular and moving as always. We rounded out the evening with the Till We Meet Again meet and greet in the Atrium and then hit the hay. Doing express walk off we did not put our bags out in the hall but would take them with us the next day.
Debarkation Day, August 1, 2019 Copenhagan, Denmark
We had Disney bus transportation to the airport the next morning so we planned to do the express walk off after breakfast since our flight left at 1pm and had to be at the airport by 10am. The drive to the air port was about 40 minutes if traffic was good so we would be getting off right after the all ashore time to catch the bus to make it there on time. We were asked to be out of our rooms by 8am and off the ship by 8:30am. A year out in our planning we had originally planned to stay a day and night in Copenhagen but my sister's school schedule changed and we had to get back to have her get ready to teach again. One more school year until her retirement and then all 3 of us would be free of the school calendar to plan trips. So off we had to go after breakfast. The pouring rain that morning made the decision to return on debarkation day better but not sweet.
Since you eat in the same restaurant for breakfast that you end the cruise in the night before we ordered our breakfast selection that night and told our staff we would be knocking at the door at the opening time. True to the great service we received throughout the cruise our hot breakfast was ready and waiting for us as we arrived. We ordered the Route 66 breakfast which included eggs, side meat, potatoes, pastry, juice and coffee/tea. It is the fastest breakfast on the menu.
After quick hugs and goodbyes to the table staff we grabbed our baggage and rolled it down the gangplank. Be prepared for quite a walk in the elements at this port. From the ship's gangplank to the building to go through customs and stamping of your passport that you arrived in Denmark by ship is about equal to two lengths of the ship. With your pass port you must also show how you are leaving the country. We received a second stamp denoting our mode of outbound travel from Denmark was by air.
The bus ride was the first of the day and was full. With the rain it took about 45 minutes to arrive at the airport and another 15 minutes to unload and retrieve luggage. After leaving the Disney transportation things started getting chaotic. We had gotten our boarding passes on the ship the day before, but had to reconfirm them at a kiosk with our passport. There was no assistance at these kiosks if you needed help
only the kindness of strangers. Then came the waiting game and watching the information board because different airlines shared the same check in desk and we were not allowed to check in until 3 hours prior to the flight. Keep track of the information board, it informed us as to which desk number would be assigned to our airline. then there is a rush to get into line.
Once we were three hours out from departure we stepped up to the “needs services” desk since we had wheelchair assist and then all the chaos disappeared. We were treated like royalty. We were escorted to a special holding area, complete with trees and close to food vendors. We then boarded an electric car where we were whisked away through passport security to our gate.
I don't know if it is because the trip was over that it seemed a longer trip over than back with a stop at JFK to go through customs and make our next connection. At JFK we had trouble with the walkway connecting to the plane to exit and had over a 30 minute delay. As we stood waiting we said goodbye to many we had seen on the ship that were also on our flight trying to get back for the start of the school year.
It would be tight to make the connection. Even with the wheelchair assist it took our party 90 minutes to navigate the process in JFK, who knows how long it took regular walking people. We arrived at our next gate just in time to make the connection. The last leg seemed the longest of the whole trip even though it was the shortest in real time. We were so tired, but still had many a Disney Magical memories.
Our overall thoughts about this trip were that it not only met but exceeded all expectations. Thanks you for following my trip report. I hope that some of our experiences will aid your travel planning on a future Disney overseas cruise. Only about 450 days until our next cruise on the Dream for Christmas out of Galveston. Or and mayb we'll sneak a trip into Disney World in before them, 'Till we meet again.
We woke to another day of overcast skies and threat of rain. Gothenburg was a new port of call for the Magic. The port was very industrial and the Magic made its berth right next to the Volvo Museum. In fact it was across the parking lot from the ship. Today we had no excursion, and had just planned to go into the city and try to find something to see. As in the other ports we needed to take ashore our key to the world card and a government ID or copy of or original of a passport for each person.
The free shuttle was right outside of security and ran every twenty minutes. The bus drove through an industrial park to get to the city. So do not plan to walk anywhere except to the Volvo Museum from the ship. It is too far with no sidewalks, only industrial thruways.
We were off the ship at all ashore time of 10am to see the sights and beat the rain. predicted later that afternoon. After a nearly 20 minute ride the shuttle let us off at in the city at Point of Interest #4 the Gustav Adolfs torg on the map we received getting on to the shuttle. It was a square with a large statue of King Gustav which made a good landmark. The hosts of the shuttle service were dressed in black and white with a red tie, and were easy to spot on the square. From research I did on the city before the trip I knew we wanted to find the Paddan canal boat dock for sightseeing. The Paddan canal boats were like those on the San Antonio river back home, an open air boat with bench seating. I had not ordered tickets on line as we could buy them where the boats docked. The host of the shuttle pointed us in the right direction so we took off. It was about a 3 block walk, across the square, dodging the electric trains and traffic crossing a canal bridge and heading down the Kungsportsplatsen, a busy city street, to our destination. Near point of interest #10, a large statue of a knight on a horse, was a visitor center and we ducked in to see if we missed it and were pointed to a sign across the street with a big green frog over it. There was the Padden canal boat office just to the right of an ornate canal bridge. We went to the window and asked for 3 senior tickets and they accepted our Visa credit card no problem. The hour or so tour was approximately $15.00 US dollars each for the senior ticket, which was the same as the student rate and a boat was just about ready to take off. There is a note: You must walk and step down into the boat, I didn't see any commendation for a wheelchair in the open air boat.
The tour guide gave the tour information in Swedish and English. The tour took us on the canal through a pretty city park and under many low bridges decked with flower baskets. Then turned and became the canal we had crossed by the shuttle bus drop off. Along the way buildings were described and history was given by the guide. We then left the canal and did a circular route in the harbor to points of interest, such as a tall mast ship and a building known as the lipstick. It was slightly choppy and chilly in the open harbor water. Our return route took us past the industrial loading dock area and back into the canal under an extremely low bridge. In this part of the canal we saw the fish market and fish church, hospital, business buildings and lots of historical architecture. At the end of the tour we disembarked at a dock on the other side of the ticket office and climbed steep stone steps back up to street level right next to the market hall Salualtem full of international delicacies and shops. As there was a threat of heavy rain we started walking back to the shuttle bus pick up location. While waiting for the bus in the square we noticed there were many different see the city options picking up customers for hop on hop off buses as well a a train tram that looked like the one we saw in Aselund Norway. Lots of ways to get around and see the city.
We got back on the shuttle bus just as the rain shower opened up. Back on the ship, after a late lunch our plans were to walk over to the Volvo Museum but we made the mistake and returned to the room. From our big hidden port hole we saw that it was really raining and we convinced ourselves we could lay down for a bit to wait for it to slack off. That bit turned into a nap and time got away from us, so no Volvo museum for us today. Once we woke up we used the time before supper to pack and get ready for debarkation the next day. All aboard was 5:45pm and we left the port on time.
Our last supper on ship was in Animator's Palette where our drawings come to life in the show. Here is a tip: give your table staff their tip envelopes at this meal. We always bring extra cash to add to the enclosed receipt tab if we feel we would like to. We always have. Breakfast the next morning can be hectic and not a good time for long goodbyes. For our room host it is the morning of debarkation.
The last show in the Walt Disney Theatre was Disney Dreams. It was as spectacular and moving as always. We rounded out the evening with the Till We Meet Again meet and greet in the Atrium and then hit the hay. Doing express walk off we did not put our bags out in the hall but would take them with us the next day.
Debarkation Day, August 1, 2019 Copenhagan, Denmark
We had Disney bus transportation to the airport the next morning so we planned to do the express walk off after breakfast since our flight left at 1pm and had to be at the airport by 10am. The drive to the air port was about 40 minutes if traffic was good so we would be getting off right after the all ashore time to catch the bus to make it there on time. We were asked to be out of our rooms by 8am and off the ship by 8:30am. A year out in our planning we had originally planned to stay a day and night in Copenhagen but my sister's school schedule changed and we had to get back to have her get ready to teach again. One more school year until her retirement and then all 3 of us would be free of the school calendar to plan trips. So off we had to go after breakfast. The pouring rain that morning made the decision to return on debarkation day better but not sweet.
Since you eat in the same restaurant for breakfast that you end the cruise in the night before we ordered our breakfast selection that night and told our staff we would be knocking at the door at the opening time. True to the great service we received throughout the cruise our hot breakfast was ready and waiting for us as we arrived. We ordered the Route 66 breakfast which included eggs, side meat, potatoes, pastry, juice and coffee/tea. It is the fastest breakfast on the menu.
After quick hugs and goodbyes to the table staff we grabbed our baggage and rolled it down the gangplank. Be prepared for quite a walk in the elements at this port. From the ship's gangplank to the building to go through customs and stamping of your passport that you arrived in Denmark by ship is about equal to two lengths of the ship. With your pass port you must also show how you are leaving the country. We received a second stamp denoting our mode of outbound travel from Denmark was by air.
The bus ride was the first of the day and was full. With the rain it took about 45 minutes to arrive at the airport and another 15 minutes to unload and retrieve luggage. After leaving the Disney transportation things started getting chaotic. We had gotten our boarding passes on the ship the day before, but had to reconfirm them at a kiosk with our passport. There was no assistance at these kiosks if you needed help
only the kindness of strangers. Then came the waiting game and watching the information board because different airlines shared the same check in desk and we were not allowed to check in until 3 hours prior to the flight. Keep track of the information board, it informed us as to which desk number would be assigned to our airline. then there is a rush to get into line.
Once we were three hours out from departure we stepped up to the “needs services” desk since we had wheelchair assist and then all the chaos disappeared. We were treated like royalty. We were escorted to a special holding area, complete with trees and close to food vendors. We then boarded an electric car where we were whisked away through passport security to our gate.
I don't know if it is because the trip was over that it seemed a longer trip over than back with a stop at JFK to go through customs and make our next connection. At JFK we had trouble with the walkway connecting to the plane to exit and had over a 30 minute delay. As we stood waiting we said goodbye to many we had seen on the ship that were also on our flight trying to get back for the start of the school year.
It would be tight to make the connection. Even with the wheelchair assist it took our party 90 minutes to navigate the process in JFK, who knows how long it took regular walking people. We arrived at our next gate just in time to make the connection. The last leg seemed the longest of the whole trip even though it was the shortest in real time. We were so tired, but still had many a Disney Magical memories.
Our overall thoughts about this trip were that it not only met but exceeded all expectations. Thanks you for following my trip report. I hope that some of our experiences will aid your travel planning on a future Disney overseas cruise. Only about 450 days until our next cruise on the Dream for Christmas out of Galveston. Or and mayb we'll sneak a trip into Disney World in before them, 'Till we meet again.
