lois1112

I just returned (September 2019) from a Baltic cruise

I used SPB tours in all the ports, and was very happy with them

I received many "scary" e-mails from the cruise lines about the hazards of doing St. Peterburg on my own (or without the cruise line). 

there was no problem. Princess requested that you provide them a copy of your ticket for the tour, then they gave you a time to leave the ship. Customs was very easy. 

No problem at all either day. 

Our group size was about 20

I would highly recommend SPB

I'm just off the Sapphire Princess to the Baltic

had a great time

used SPB for all my tours and was very happy

any questions?

10 hours ago, mevs904 said:

What a wonderful cruise!  We were so pleased with every aspect of this excellent experience.  This was the first time that we used EZ Air and it worked perfectly for us.  We flew on SAS and contrary to our usual approach we took the risk of flying in the day of the cruise.  In this case everything went very smoothly for us.  We flew from Newark (so much better than JFK) and landed in Copenhagen at 7:00 am the next morning.  Since it was too early to board the ship Princess provided us with a complimentary tour of the city on a comfortable coach bus with a friendly, young guide.  We were able to see several sites including the Royal Palaces and the Little Mermaid statue.

     We boarded the ship at about 11:30 with no wait at the check-in desk (we were Ocean Ready).  Anyway, the entire cruise as well as our 3 night post-cruise stay in Copenhagen was well organized with excellent service.  One item of note:  we took 5 excursions and four of them were with Alla.  The Alla tours were exceptional and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.  Since we booked a 2 day St. Petersburg with them they gave us a discount on the other three tours that we booked with them as well as a discount since we were Cruise Critic members. Best excursions that we have ever taken.

     Sorry that this is getting long.  I may post an actual review in the review section later, but in the meanwhile I would be happy to answer any questions.  Posters on this board were so helpful before we cruised that we’d like to pay it forward if possible.

I am leaving for a Baltic cruise in 3 days.(on Sapphire)  I've booked my tours with SPB, and have heard good reviews. Any tips and things not to be missed?

How was the Weather?

I'd love to hear it all

on the Coral last year we had to go to the Purser desk to make our reservations

I will also be joining you on this cruise (can't wait)

I got the sip and sale promo- does anyone know if this includes specialty coffee?

I did the Fairbanks to Anchorage land package 2 years ago, at the first hotel Princess collected one piece of luggage (and we were left with one) so we really only had one piece to deal with. 

meals on land were not included.

the lodges are basic- overall we were happy with what we got. 

I don't remember about wi-fi

On 8/5/2019 at 3:13 PM, John Bull said:

By "Maritime Museum" do you mean "SeaCiry Museum"?

 

The Maritime Museum was in the medieval Wool House, a short walk from Dock Gates 4 & 5  (for Ocean Terminal and QE 11 Terminal).

But several tears ago a new SeaCity Museum, which majors on Titanic, was built adjacent the Civic Centre

https://seacitymuseum.co.uk

 and the old Maritime Museum closed.

The Wool House is now a pub. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wool_House/

SeaCity & the Civic Centre are at the top end of the city centre, a 10-minute taxi ride from QE 11 Terminal.

 

You'll be dropping your checked bags at the cruise terminal. Then you can register & board - but registration, security etc takes time and your cabin may not yet be available to drop your hand luggage. And for a 4pm sailing (are you sure? - that's earlier than usual) your back-on-board may be as early as 2.30.

Probably best to just drop your checked bags (from 11.30am or earlier), then head for SeaCity Museum.

There are luggage storage lockers at SeaCity for your hand-luggage.

https://seacitymuseum.co.uk/your-visit

Then return to the ship by last-registration time.

That should give you more than enough time on the museum (90 minutes to 2 hours is enough for most folk)

To get back to the cruise terminal, I think the nearest taxi rank is at the rail station, a 5 minute downhill walk. But your driver may know a closer one.

 

JB 

thank you so much, and yes I double checked ship sails at 4. I will just arrive at port early

 

I'm saliling out of Southampton for the first time this August. Ship birth is Queen Elizabeth II 38-39. I was thinking of boarding the ship , dropping my bags in my room and then going to the Maritime museum. boarding starts at 1230 (I'm Elite so I don't have to worry abut time) and sails at 4pm

will I have time to do this?

5 hours ago, Mare10 said:

After all the good advice I have had on these boards we are ready to book our cruise.  We will do the 15 day cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to LA. Wondering about cabin choice.  We will be looking for a balcony cabin and assume we should get covered or partially covered.  Does it matter which side of the ship we’re on..... port side or starboard?  Appreciate any advice!!!!!!!

did this cruise last year and LOVED it. I love the Coral (going on again in January 2020) It is a wonderful trip

We were in C233 which is starboard side. I liked it as we got to see the new locks as well. Note that the Coral has an open deck on the Caribe deck, front of ship  that you can go to and watch as well. (we did both..........front of ship and our balcony)

does anyone have recommendations for a tour operator?  I'll be traveling by myself (January 2020) and don't want to do hop/on off

when my mother passed away, she loved cruising, my sister and I arranged to have a wreath that we could toss in her memory.

Princess did a wonderful job, they provided a wreath (that was environmentally friendly and pre approved) and gave us the time we needed to say goodbye.

This is still a very special memory for us

On 5/29/2019 at 9:24 PM, kitkat343 said:

We traveled with a 3 year old and always felt completely safe and comfortable with our private tour.  We were on a private tour for just our family and skipped the very long lines outside all the museums that were just for group tours to prevent bottlenecks from forming inside.  Maybe he would also feel more comfortable on a private tour for just your family?  That way he can control the itinerary and go back as early as he needs to feel safe.  It’s more expensive than a group private tour, but I’m not sure if it’s more expensive than a princess tour. 

 

The only downside to a private tour tour is that russian rules grant cruise lines the right to give their tours priority disembarkation (you can check here or on princess forum to see if they’re really doing that).  And customs lines can be long in St. Petersburg.    But you will lose a ton of time with a larger princess group.  And you can start later on day 1 and earlier on day 2 with a private tour to avoid lines.  

I'm going on a cruise in August and have already received word from Princess that private excursions would get off the ship about an hour after docking (the time was 930 , but I can't remember the time we pull into port)

On 5/28/2019 at 4:40 PM, GlennaRoseGoes said:

I used SPB Tours in 2013, so when I booked another Baltic cruise that departs next month, of course I booked them again (why change companies when this one met all my needs?). Booked this tour back in February, so many months ago....then YESTERDAY I received an email from SPB stating that if I posted in CC about my booking and referred another member (who of course would have to use my name when booking), I get $20 off. 

 

So that may explain the sudden increase in posts, but I do agree it’s weird to have so many one hit wonders. FYI, I did not post because I don’t need to save $20 on a trip that is literally thousands of dollars. Even if I needed the $20, I am not pleading with strangers for it!

I booked (and have made payment) SPB after reading good reviews here on cruise critic. I leave in August , anyone use them lately. I'm getting nervous and leary now 

13 hours ago, vakamalua said:

 

 

We're probably on the same cruise (Coral Princess).  I'm just starting to explore going to Easter Island after the cruise.

 

Here are two tour companies I found so far; we'd prefer to have one company book hotel, transfers & tours:

 

https://www.fullchiletour.com/easter-island/

 

https://www.adventure-life.com/chile/easter-island

 

 

thank you.............my travel agent found a package for me at explora that is $$$$ so I'm looking for something cheaper. I would love to do some of chile as well (1-2 days)

are you on the roll call?

23 hours ago, voljeep said:

as long as it would take me to look out the door into the hall to see if anyone was coming ...

I agree, I also sit with a book and stay with my laundry

on the Coral last year they used canned Gosslings

Anyone else have advise?

I have cruisedd to Alaska twice in September         once it was sunny and I never wore a jacket (it was 75 in Ketichian) and the next time it was cold and we had snow!

don't plan your trip around the weather. 

I'm at the age now where I'm not comfortable driving in a foreign country (and I'm not that old...........oldish)   

So I'm looking for a tour or tour company/ guide

I'm 100% up for eating local, its one of the reason I travel

2 hours ago, OzCanuck said:

You don't really need a tour company.

 

I've been there twice - just booked my own flights and organized a place to stay beforehand. 

 

End of January is very high season so expect to pay a lot for flights and accommodation.

any tips on a hotel? Tours?

47 minutes ago, craftygrandma said:

What cruise are you on?  We are also considering doing Easter Island after our Jan 31, 2020 cruise.  I have been looking at hotwire for quotes.  

I am on the Jan. 21st cruise that leaves Buenos Aires and arrives in Santiago (I believe we arrive on 2/6)

I am doing a cruise of the antarctic that ends in Santiago, Chile. I would love to go to Easter Island while in that part of the world

Does anyone know of tour companies that do Santiago and Easter Island

thank you  

1 hour ago, Clampram said:

We've just been through a very stressful time with a broken pipe and lots of water damage in our home. We are both looking forward to a relaxing cruise next week on the Royal. I would love to get a massage but I don't want to spend the $$$ to get sold products for an hour. How can I accomplish my goal of a relaxing massage on vacation?

I'm thinking to say something ahead of time but maybe that's a bad idea???

I always start by telling them no trying to sell me products after the massage, and they don't. 

On 3/20/2019 at 1:31 PM, dustyroad said:

Try Chillkoot Tours in Skagway.  They are a very good tour Co. that will give you everything you want.  The dog sled ride will not be on snow but dirt. And the gold panning will not be in a lake but a trough,, but it is fun for the kids.  I suggest the train ride up the Mt. and the small van ride on the way back down to Skagway.  It includes lunch and stopping at places to take pictures and see the sights.  I have done it and it is a great tour and they are very reliable.  Set on the left side of train going up the Mt and on the right side of the van coming back down.  They book early so call right away if you decide on them.  

Have a great time in Alaska.  

I agree with this poster....Have done Chillkoot tours twice and have not been disappointed

the train ride is wonderful, and would also do the train ride up (although on one trip it was too overcast to see much) The lunch is the same exact place as the cruise ships. The highlight for me was playing with the husky puppies (we went in September last trip) 

I agree that Juneau is best for whale watching. I've seen killer whale and lots of humpbacks on all of my trips