lighthousemom

Bummer. I just got off the phone with HAL, asking when the Caribbean goes on sale. Since the Koningsdam is committed to Europe until October of 2016 when she transits over to the Caribbean, they most likely won't have that itinerary available until they release our 2016-2017 Cruise Atlas, which will be this fall, most likely in September or October. :mad:

Anxiously awaiting the Koningsdam's schedule for Caribbean. :)

Following. I want to know when Koningsdam goes on sale for the Caribbean!

Hi Carol, we're on HOTSeas together.... How do you get info from Princess? I'm just obsessively checking their website!

I am really hoping for an all British Isles cruise - England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales. RCI has done them in the past - 10 or 12 nights, but not recently. If not offered, are there any suggestions for alternative lines? The only other I can find is Princess. We've only sailed with RCI, so I would prefer to stay with them, but really want an all UK cruise.

 

Thanks for any suggestions!

I'm on the Royal Princess this July to the British Isles. Really like their itinerary, but no Wales. Really enjoyed Royal Princess last year.

Ovation is officially up for booking on the Royal Caribbean website, but curiously, only the exact sailings listed above. No further dates! I called to ask, and they said that's as far as they've gotten right now. Interesting.

Info from two different sources:

5 nights Southampton - Cherbourg, France - LeHavre, France - Brussels, Belgium - Southampton departing 4/17/16

7 nights Southampton - Gijon, Spain - Balboa, Spain - St. Peter Port, Guernsey - LeHavre, France - Southampton departing 4/22/16

7 nights Southampton - Gijon, Spain - Vigo, Spain - Gibraltar, UK - Barcelona departing 5/3/16

16 nights Barcelona to Dubai, via the Suez Canal, departing 5/10/16

14 nights Dubai to Singapore, departing 5/26/16

3 night Malaysia cruise, departing 6/9/16 on a roundtrip sailing from Singapore

12 night Exotic Asia cruise, Singapore - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Hong Kong, China - Okinawa, Japan - Seoul, Korea - Beijing, Tianjin, China, departing 6/12/16

Wow, that's cheap! And here I thought I was getting a good deal! Whatever the cost is, I am going and I am thrilled about it!

I just booked the TA, and I was told that they are booking right now based on the Allure deck plans. OK, so if I book cabin number 12345 based on that, and when the ACTUAL floor plans come out it's not in the same place, then what? I was told they would switch the cabin, no problem. Official deck plans will be out 'within the next few weeks'.

http://www.cruiseshipdeckplan.com/harmony-of-the-seas/

Just booked the TA for me and my sister. They said they are using the Allure's deck plans now to select rooms, and the official deck plans will be out within a few weeks. Booked a D5 Superior Balcony for $2538 for one person in the room. Very excited about this!!

Is there somewhere to sign up to find out about the maiden voyage for both the Ovation and the Harmony?

Thanks!

I actually printed out the page that says free internet and I'm planning to bring it with me in hopes that they will have to honor what THEY put in writing! Cruising out on the Royal Princess this Saturday after being upgraded to a suite due to overbooking..... Can't wait!!

Although it does make some sense to do the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market together, I just wanted to point out that it is only about a 15-minute walk from Haghia Sophia to the Grand Bazaar, along Divan Yolu Caddesi (just follow the tram tracks).

 

You could take the tram also, but for the amount of time you'd probably spend waiting for the next tram to arrive, you could be there.

CruiseMom, do you live in Istanbul? I have lived in Turkey for 25 years and you seem to know so much about Istanbul!!

We are looking to do the moonlight cruise through: http://sehirhatlari.com.tr/en

 

However, I'm having a difficult time finding more information about it. Such as where does it meet and arrive? Are there specific times? Do we have to make reservations in advance, or can we just show up?

 

Has anyone ever done this cruise? Or does anyone have any advice?

 

Thank you!!!

Here is the time schedule:

http://sehirhatlari.com.tr/en/announcement/moonlit-night-cruises-are-starting-1319.html

I checked it out in Turkish, too (I live in Istanbul), and it doesn't say anything about needing reservations. Have fun!

The biggest time-takers at Haghia Sophia and at Topkapi are the lines to purchase tickets, so I'd definitely recommend either the museum pass or purchasing individual tickets for those sites. With them in hand, you won't waste much time as the entrance itself goes quickly.

 

I wasn't a big fan of the short ferry ride, especially given how much else there is to see in Istanbul; I feel I saw enough to get an idea by being on deck for the ship arrival and sailaway. If someone is going to be there for 3-4 days, then the ferry would make my list -- but not for one day.

 

Important -- check which days you are in port. Haghia Sophia is closed on Mondays and Topkapi Palace on Tuesdays. The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays (I believe but not 100% certain).

 

If you get an early start, you can probably fit it all in. Here's my suggestion for a route including the Grand Bazaar:

 

Tram to Gulhane stop (for Topkapi Palace entrance)

Topkapi Palace

Walk to Haghia Sophia entrance (not far)

Walk across the street and up about a 1/2 block to the Basilica Cistern (look for signs)

Walk to Blue Mosque

 

 

Here you have a choice. You can get back on the tram (the tram stop in front of the Blue Mosque is called Sultanahmet) and ride the tram two stops to Beyazit, which is very close to the Grand Bazaar. OR you can just walk along the tram tracks and do it on foot. Again, it's really not that far.

 

After the Grand Bazaar, get back on the tram (opposite direction) and ride it all the way back to your stop. Be sure to note which stop you board the tram at initially so you know which one is closest to your ship. (There are three that run along the water.)

 

 

If you should decide to visit the Spice Bazaar instead of the Grand Bazaar, I'd suggest a different routing more like JB's: Blue Mosque, Cistern, Haghia Sophia, Topkapi, Spice Bazaar & back across Galata Bridge either on foot or on the tram.

 

Re: Topkapi Palace -- it wasn't my favorite site in Istanbul, but unlike Nana 541, I thought the best part of it was the Harem, followed by the gem room and the kitchens.

I live in Istanbul, and I applaud you for your advice! The Spice Bazaar, while not quite as mesmerizing (or huge) as the Grand Bazaar, still offers quite a lot if all you're looking for is souvenirs and some traditional Turkish sweets. If you want jewelry, leather, or carpets you really need to go to the Grand Bazaar. If you want to do major Bazaar shopping, I would skip Topkapı Palace. Otherwise, you should be fine. And if you can get the museum card ahead of time to skip the line at Topkapı and Hagia Sophia, do it! We were there a couple weeks ago and the line was horrendous!!

They provide plastic bags to carry your shoes in.

Remember women visiting Mosques should not have bare shoulders or shorts....

 

 

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They will give you something to cover up your shoulders and to cover your head. Wear shoes that are easy to take off and put back on as you can't wear shoes in a mosque.