Mister White

Is there a sauna in the changing room area of the fitness center that can be used by non-suite guests?  I am really not a fan of the crowded for-pay facilities.

I see many mentioning Becco. Been once. but, on the same block is a restaurant I have been going to since the late 70's - Joe Allen.

It does not tick the Italian Box, but it is as Mom and Pop as you can get. I go around 5-6 time s a year. Intimate setting and has been there since about 1965. A great setting and they have a darling collection of Broadway posters for 1 night FLOPS decorating the walls. Place is great. Get reservations and go to a true tourist-free lovely veteran restaurant. Have a great trip!

I have used Carmel 4 times going from all 3 airports into the city. I do not remember if they still have a 'quick quote' sortt of thing on their website - when you can enter pick up and drop off locations and get a quote that way. Plus, the communicate bby phone (text) so that adds an extra level of comfort.

How can we all be so sure that these are the actual chairs? It is just a mock-up photo. The chairs are no more real than the people. I am waiting for the ship to launch or st see actual photos of the area.

I work in the hospitality industry and when you do renderings of this quality they tend to illustrate actual furnishings chosen for the project. So many suits, shareholders, marketing reps want to look and comment on every aspect of the rendering: furnishings, drapery, wall coverings, stone and wood flooring, etc., that you can't get away with 'making it up'. I have actually gotten work because another designer produced images like these here and the finished product did not look JUST like it. Oh, and BTW, those chars are from Kettal.

This might help:

Using the library doesn’t really have much to do with the physical books. It’s quiet. It’s a comfy place to sit and read the paper, do a puzzle, solve a Sudoku, whatever. And for many of us who like the feel of real books, not having a real library will be a huge downer.

I agree. The 'Crow's Nest' on HAL ships are packed day and night. there is more than a Library there - the success is due most to the forward views; coffee shop and a bar. But the library does take up alot of real estate up there.

I still do like seeing a book collection. Just makes me happy.

I'm organizing one for the 12/16 initial inaugural cruise, which will occur @1pm on the 2nd last sea day. That time of day should allow for the cabins to be serviced prior to viewing. We are starting on Deck 3 and working our way up with hosts and viewers traveling together. Wish we had all categories represented but alas! no. We do have some suite participants so hope to get a glimpse of the Retreat. Even though we have a few cabins in the same category, it will be interesting to check out the pros & cons of location since the Edge has many jut outs, and of course the Magic Carpet starboard which will affect views, etc. We will end up near the Sunset Bar if all goes well.

 

Hope you get great participation!

Do you have a Sunset Veranda represented? If not, I can be part of the crawl.

Based on construction photos it looks like it's going to be done on time (if not early?) The countdown in on! Anyone know how big the pied piper contingent is?

I have seen some of the construction photos on another thread. They have 5 more months. I do know that Celebrity canceled the November preview sailings - but the Dec. preview sailings are still on. I'm not booked thru Pied Piper. Is that a good group?

We are in an Aqua class cabin for this cruise. Can't wait. I have been looking at this ship for a couple of years now. Really excited.

I will be in La Coruna first week of Sept. Looking to do a DIY tour to Hercules Tower then bike down the Promenade to the main square. I see from google that there is a bike share station near both points - but the website is all in Spanish. Has anyone had an experience using a bike share in La Cornua? Or, a possible lead to an on-line resource for that sort of thing? Thanks!

Thanks for the info. It was a great help. BTW: I see you are on the Koningsdam this August. I sailed on her Feb. of this year. marvelous ship. If you have sailed HAL before - you will notice many changes on the Koningsdam - all for the good! Thanks again!

We will be staying pre-cruise in Amsterdam Sept. 1-4, 2017. In looking at google images - it appears that Rokin is still torn up from the Amstel up to Dam square. Is this still the case? Starting to map out what we are going to do for 3 days - and I don't know if I should still be avoiding this area. I am going to a couple of things on Nes - so I do know a way around. Thanks for any info.

Mister White

Also does anyone know of any that do include an escort from the airport? It would be good to draw a comparison and decide if the difference in price is worth the extra convenience.

Adam,

When I booked (with the company below) they did not offer a meet and great. I understand that it is about a 10 min. walk under covered walkway and carts are available. My ride for 2 people with 5 pieces of luggage was 110 euro.

https://www.motoscafivenezia.it/eng/

Hey everybody,

Does anyone know of a better way to talk to Janey at Rome in Limo rather than thru e-mail? Is there a (US) office phone number that I can call.

I have to make pre-payment for my tour in less than 7 days or I will lose that option and have to carry cash to pay for it (over 700 euro).

E-mails have been slow to none. From past posts, this does not seem their typical MO. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

That sounds good' date=' we are embarking on the Eurodam on May 8, so that will be good for us too as we have boarding at 1pm - so can now checkout of our hotel and go straight to ship, drop luggage and continue to explore and lunch in Venice before boarding later in the afternoon.

Chris

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk[/quote']

 

I'm looking forward to doing the same thing. And, a bit off topic - I'm really looking forward to seeing the refurbished Eurodam. My last two HAL ships were the Neiw Amsterdam and the Westerdam.

 

Thanks everyone for the insight and information.

I will be staying in Venice for 3 days prior to my Eurodam 29 July cruise. Is it possible to go thru enbarkation around noon and then leave the ship after dropping our bags to enjoy another half day in Venice before leaving port in the afternoon? Would love to have one last lunch in Venice before sailing.

This is my first cruise leaving form Venice and I would love to get check in and then have as much time back in Venice before leaving port in the afternoon. I

Is this a common thing to do?

I paid all 3 of my RIL tours in full for August by sending them a check to their Miami bank. Got a discount and confirmation from Jany that we were fully prepaid. Now I don't have to worry about carrying tons of cash - only tips, guide fees and spending $.

Thanks for the info. I made a res. thru their web site and got a confirmation a couple of weeks ago. I'll go back and get the Miami contact and seal the deal with them. Maybe I'll get a discount too...

War Eagle!

Best decision we had was booking a private guide for our family of 4 for the Vatican. Worth every cent and then some.

Thank you all for the sound advise,. Will proceed with the tour guide for the Vatican museum. Thanks again.

You know the Vatican Tour with guide will be a group of 12-15? The Rome in Limo guide will just be with you?

 

Given the crowds, a guide just for the two of you will be great! Been there, enjoyed that!

If you engage the RIL Vatican guide does the cost include the admission to the Vatican Museums? It does not seem clear on my booking if I have to buy admission tickets even if I hire the RIL Vatican guide. Thanks.

Is it difficult to catch the light rail from Seatac airport baggage claim? I can not find anything really defining the length it is from baggage claim to the actual rail line.

The vids I see on you tube show going up escalators but we will have the luggage cart things. Also, alot of walking from terminal to the actual light rail. - but nothing seems clear on the airports web-site about length from terminal to lite rail and there doesn't seem to be a shuttle. Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm braving this later this season and am asking for some friends who have kids and a few folk up in years and he does not want to fray nerves before the trip starts and I can't give him some direct answers about this. Any suggestions?

The ship better not sail on Aug 6th. I fly to Seattle Thursday the 6th, late, catch a Mariners game on Friday the 7th and embark Saturday the 8th until Saturday the 15th. This isn't my first day at the rodeo. Will call the techy people tomorrow, thanks.

I hope you don't sail on the 6th either. I am part of the charter the week of August 1st and we will be in Ketchikan on the 6th.

Sorry to be pedantic, but is this a US standard, or worldwide? I've had to close my eyes on escalators in the London Underground and in Paris due to perceived steepness. I always figured it was a combination of me being a wuss about heights and depth perception issues with my glasses--and no, I'm not a senior citizen, just deeply in need of wearing glasses to see.

It is not a matter of it being a US standard or an International standard. It's a matter of the mechanics of an escalator that has created the default 30 degree vertical declination. Nobody makes a 'different' straight vertical run escalator. There is no point in that. Architects and designers know when designing a building that an escalators horizontal run will be calculated by using a 30 degree vertical conveyance. Facilities are designed years before an escalator vendor will be chosen and spaces in plan for escalators will be adhered too based on the accepted standard. Creating a steeper escalator would be a folly of wasted time and money due to cost of re-tooling standard components.

I haven't found the escalators at SeaTac to be any more steep or dangerous than anywhere else. Please, use common sense and watch your step, use the handrails, and leave the elevators for those who really need them.

There is never a difference in the steepness of escalators. The are universally at a 30degree angle for straight run escalators.

We will not be tendering as the Captain announced last night as we have special permission to dock. As I type we are pulling into the pier now. More info latter...just woke up,..

 

Ps....weather has been perfect!! Sun all day yesterday in Glacier Bay!!

So glad to hear your cruise is going well. I will be on the same iten in August. I wonder if dock vs. tender in Sitka is a choice or if now it will always dock. Shame - as I always liked tendering into Sitka - great views and the tenders dock right in town.

Thanks Paul, but no need. Just as a fluke we tried calling again after waiting another 45 minutes for a call back and got right to an agent. We were told it was not that the phones were busy, but that it was just that their phones were messed up.

 

We got booked....our 25th choice for what it's worth. :)

I signed up on board and had to take my 4th choice. The suites must sell out the second the cruise is offered up! Maybe one day I can luck out and get a suite on a RSVP HAL cruise.