Ine

Since Trollstigen is in a high elevation it might be there is too much snow to open the road. Maybe this camping near Trollstigen can help you, try to contact them. 

https://www.trollstigen.no/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2GwFv4r0reNDUDWr0biOEwc0nbNQcrBVIQcM1aiJHpK6xC9JU3tChOC7U_aem_AUTt4GDgWiTTfdfSx0zfAbm3uWtIyWpZBsRskNT6jjyLj-h57nSQE-w5_m4bp_kyA4p7TzOnrP5I-Snct04uLFbC

At the dock you will find various certified guides/drivers, talk to them. They all speak english

Donot expect any action in IJmuiden. Do yourself a favor and book a private driver before you get there.However you might be shocked by the price.  It is very likely your cruiseline will offer some excursions, possible transfer to Amsterdam. Both Volendam and Zaanse Schans can be done by public transport from Centraal Station Amsterdam, but not in combination. 

Mexican Rivera does not have real lobster places. Lobster is best is colder ocean areas.If you find any it will be imported from other areas.  There is a mexican version of lobster, but I often hear it is not as tasty and smaller.

In Puerto Vallarta you might try The Blue Shrimp, or Tuna Azul 

The Hague has a lot of history re the royal family. Maybe this free walk is interesting for you:

https://denhaag.com/en/pass/discounts/royal-tour-free-royal-audio-and-video-walking-tour

Also you can visit the mini Netherlands at Madurodam: https://www.madurodam.nl/en

Of course there are great museums like Mauritshuis (the girl with the pearl), Escher museum, Panorama Mesdag, Peace Palace and more.

Also check this website: https://denhaag.com/en/do?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5cOwBhCiARIsAJ5njuawL87gp3RDkvzUjELcCXb15JEmGEbC-KcZx1iziVLFor29NSNXDY4aAnPoEALw_wcB

In general you will need to make reservations through your airline. Donot expect to find wheelchairs to be available at most airports.

As far as I know you cannot book a tour with Vallarta Adventures when you are on a cruise ship. That is part of the agreement.  So if you book it, it is indeed your own risk that you may not return in time.  Also you probably need to get on and off board at the Marina or even at their office in Nuevo Nayarit, not at the cruise terminal. 

Zaandam, Volendam, Noordam, Zuiderdam, Westerdam, Oosterdam - the older HAL ships - are great for walking. The newer ships decks are more narrow, but yes you can still walk around.

The best view is  on the left (port) side. Right is mostly industrial. That is for sailing into Rotterdam. 

The Star is not on the list of Amsterdam port, but the Prima is. Check here: https://sea.cruiseportamsterdam.com/cruise-calendar/

But indeed the Star will dock in IJmuiden.

https://felisonterminal.com/cruise/

Please be aware there are NO direct trains from Rotterdam to Bruges. You have at least 1 or 2 transfers! Which also might mean you need to change platforms too. 

Maybe better look for buses like Flixbus.I copied their site, so you have an impression.

You luggage will be stored, your husband needs a few steps to get into and from the bus.

To get to the stop in Rotterdam it is an easy short cabride.

 https://www.flixbus.ca/?_sp=1248ef2d-cfbb-437f-b5a2-a59c5ecc7fdc.1710512126821&atb_pdid=fc1da07c-62cc-49ed-92a5-5f18e858b681&noRedirect=true&_spnuid=0fa23b53-c401-41dd-b360-55cd131e9a8d_1710512126729

20 hours ago, greatestvalue said:

We are off to Zaanse Schans during our upcoming cruise in May 2024. 

Any experience with purchasing tickets in advance or its one of the entrances, you can purchase day of?

Zaanse schans still has no entrance fee. There is a plan however to soon start with an entrance fee. You only pay for the windmills you want to see inside and the museum. You can freely walk around, taste cheese, see how klompen (clogs) are and were being made, visit an old grocery store, bakery and more. Please be aware it is not a real museum, people are living in the old houses, so give them their privacy. More on the website: https://www.dezaanseschans.nl/en/

19 hours ago, SelectSys said:

@EllieinNJ - While I am not a true PV expert, I have been in the city enough times to wonder what the value of taking a HOHO bus in PV might be?  Looking at the map @Ine posted, it is just as simple to take the local bus or a taxi to get where you want to go.

 

Maybe some of our true PV experts will chime in and venture an opinion with respect to the PV HOHO bus.

Although we have taken Hoho buses in various ports, ont in Vallarta. For the simple fact that we have a car here. I have often enough seen this bus, but I think the price is rather high. It goes over the nice road to the south with great views over the bay. However it is the only road going south, so it will drive the same stretch going and returning.

It has 2 interesting stops, Playa Palmares and Mismaloya in case you want to have a drink or food. Our personal choice would be Playa Palmares, nice view, you can eat in the restaurant or on the beach and never crowded. Mismaloya has a nice view too but can be rather crowded. 

But if you can find an Uber, a personal driver (many offer their services in port) or cab (maybe with fellow passengers) I would prefer that. Remember to always make your price before entering. 

PS Hank. I now notice I wrote NO Hank, but hopefully you understand I intended to write Not Hank, to tell the poster that I answered and not you. 

One of the stops is at Puerto Magico which is the cruise terminal. I think the stop itself is at exit/entrance of the building next to dock nr. 1. If you dock on 2 or even 3 you need to walk to that building.

https://vallartourbus.mx/mapa/

14 hours ago, Mike45LC said:

Hank, is the C y C webcam operational?  I think the feed went down many months ago and has not returned.  My PV Mirror link also no longer works (but it finally does re-direct to a new publication).  

NO Henk, but I can answer your questions. The C&C webcam indeed is no more unfortunately.

The same for the PV Mirror, I have to inform that the owner Mrs. Anna Reisman died a few months ago. There is indeed online daily short notice on facebook by one of the persons that wrote in the mirror. 

Since it takes almost 1 hour to get to the port of Civitavecchia apart from the train donot expect a low price.  Uber however works in Italy, also a good  option of course.

I agree the seafood at Boca de Tomates is great, very fresh and on a special location. However donot expect any luxury, due to the isolated location e.g. there is no electricity. 

Another option more in town could be Tuna Azul, or The blue shrimp, Joe Jacks Fish Shack, to name a few.

On 1/31/2024 at 3:50 PM, maggieq said:

Thank you all.   Didn’t realize Uber worked in Amsterdam. 

Uber works in Amsterdam. However they cannot pick you up in front of the terminal at Schiphol airport. Check your phone for the exact location, probably near the Sheraton Hotel. 

Holiday Inn in Puerto Vallarta is NOT on a beach. 

Westin, Marriott are a short cab drive from the cruise terminal.

Playa los Muertes is in old town Vallarta, about 20 minutes by cab. 

Probably the only place you will still find some tulips is Keukenhof. It is open till May 12.  As others mention it is too late in the season to see fields. https://keukenhof.nl/en/

You can  take a cab from the official  cab stand. Donot go with a driver that offers service inside the terminal, most of the times they will cheat you.

This website gives a lot of good information about Porto. https://www.whatsinport.com/Leixoes.htm

14 hours ago, Mike45LC said:

Ine, I thought that the walk to the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe from the Plaza de Armas is uphill, and then the stairs up to the church are a bit steep.  Not too steep for a normal-abled person, but perhaps too much for someone with walking issues.  Maybe I'm thinking of another church or another port?

 

It is a beautiful church, in any event!

Yes the street goes a bit uphill, but I think it is not a big problem. Hoeveer indeed to enter the church you unfortunately need to take the stairs up. If I remember well the church Iglesia de Santa Cruz at Aquacate in old town has no stairs to enter. Not that famous but also a nice church. 

There is no cathedral in PV, but a famous church, It is a nice flat area for walking,