dirtgirl

I am on the Romantic Danube cruise next year on the AmaSerena. We have 3 nights pre in Prague, and are staying an extra night in Budapest at the end.

I am wondering what sites to add on in Prague and Budapest? We have included tours, but I want to make sure that with our limited time, we maximize the most important sites.

This is what AMA does in Budapest on our day there:

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

This morning, your sightseeing tour takes you to the historic Buda Castle, which offers a splendid view of the river and the twin cities of Buda and Pest. Your tour also features the Fisherman’s Bastion, the Royal Palace, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and Heroes’ Square. After dinner, the ship will sail a special “Illuminations Cruise” past the illuminated river front of Budapest.

In Prague, this is what is offered:

Day 3 PRAGUE

Your morning sightseeing tour takes you to Prague’s historic city center, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a panoramic tour of the city before visiting the 1,000-year-old Prague Castle. Afterwards, walk over Charles Bridge to the Old Town Square. This evening, an optional “Folklore Dinner Show” provides an opportunity to learn about Czech music, dance and traditions. (B)

Day 4 PRAGUE

Spend the day at your leisure or take an optional excursion to Terezin, the infamous **** WWII concentration camp that is now a memorial to those who perished. Or choose an optional excursion to Lobkowicz Palace. (B)

I know that we'll be going to Terezin on Day 4 - I don't know how long that tour takes, though, but I will find out by calling AMA. The afternoon on Day 3 will also be free.

What would you consider must sees that are not included in the above? This is my first river cruise, and I have never been to any of these places.

We are active, have no mobility issues, and love history.

Thanks for any and all advice! :)

I exercise on every type of vacation. One of my requirements when booking a hotel is that it have a gym. When we've rented a house I've needed a gym nearby that allowed weekly memberships. On cruise ships I hit the gym and often take classes like spin and then do weights.

 

Whatever I do besides my normal exercise routine helps offset the extra calories I eat/drink. I usually come home actually down a few lbs.

I am exactly the same. I refuse to even stay in a hotel that does not have a gym, and I often phone the hotel directly to see what is in the gym if they have one! :o

Always, always, always. I feel horrid if I don't! I like ellipticals, as treadmills jolt your entire body, and then I hit the weights. I am a graduate of P90X, P90X2, P90X3, Focus T25, Insanity, and Asylum. To not work out to me is to not live... I never take the elevator unless I have luggage, and then I dance the night away. On my last cruise last month, I went horseback riding, climbed Gros Piton, went cycling all over St. Maarten, and went snorkeling/swimming. I am in my 50s.

I don't watch what I eat/drink on a cruise, and I never gain weight. It can be done! ;)

I just got off the Summit. If you want a more adult atmosphere without kids running around - pick the Summit (of course, the time of year that you are going will have a bearing on this).

I find the food to be better on Celebrity, and I love Modern Luxury. Their smoking policy matches me as well - no smoking anywhere inside.

With the 123Go, you could also get either pre-paid gratuities, or $200 obc for that cruise (depending upon its sail date). You don't HAVE to get the beverage package.

To those that have done this, have you specifically transferred to a Travel Agent who has contract group space at reduced group fares?

 

Anyone can transfer to a travel agent the existing reservation, and have a TA add on additional perks, paid for and provided by the TA, but I'd be surprised to hear that the reservation transferred into the TA Special group program and held all other perks...and got a reduced fare than what was initially booked.

 

Many perks in the fine print indicate they are con combinable with group fares, and many group contracts have language that perks may not be combinable.

Absolutely, yes, you can get lower rates with a TA, get their obc, AND combine it with the booking onboard perks.

I sailed with X this past August. Word of advice - DO NOT fly in the day of the cruise. Leave at least 2 days before the cruise does. With the time difference, that will give you some leeway in case of flight delays.

Amsterdam is lovely. It would be better to spend more time in this wonderful city. ;)

The ship will sail right from Amsterdam. There is only one cruise port in Amsterdam.

The fact that you can never change cabin categories with this sale is something many won't realize. That falls under 'applies a fare change'. Also, don't think of changing occupancies - Royal told me if someone else was added in, they would not get the promotion if they tried to add someone once the promotion is over.

I was monitoring the price on a certain sailing. It went up exactly the amount of the obc.:rolleyes:

It doesn't make any difference whether you book with a TA or direct - if you can move and keep your perks, you can; if you can't, you can't. No Exciting Deals, Resident's, or Senior's Rates allowed. Each booking will be different. If they say no to one category that you want, ask what you could do to upgrade AND keep your Bev Package. There may be another category that could be offered to you. You may have to pay more, so you would have to balance that out. But just because one category doesn't work, it doesn't mean others won't.;)

Not sure if the "5%" statistic is correct, but it does seem that if you go to the gym to use a treadmill, there is always people using them dressed in street clothes, street shoes, and walking at a brisk "level 1." :)

Laughing out loud! I so know what you mean! The men have buttoned down shirts with long pants, and the woman have a large handbag, fully coiffed hair, and are completely made up. :p

Six cruises and I've never seen a DVD/Tv combo in any of the fitness centers. An option would be a portable DVD player. Most classes have a charge, but I have taken part in a few free yoga and ab classes. I haven't seen any boot camp style classes listed. I'm a gym rat so when I cruise I know I'm going to have to do some modifications. You will find some good equipment, just don't look for 100 lbs dumbbells or a squat rack. One thing I've noticed on my 6 cruises... There's always a few people who decide to work out for the first time in their entire lives while on vacation. Fun to watch the creative things they can do with dumbbells.

You are so right!! I remember one rather out of shape gent pull down the lat pull, fall hard on his back, and then pretend that that was exactly what he meant to do all along - and started doing chest presses while lying where he fell on the floor. Or there was that one woman - dressed for afternoon tea - that decided to just stop walking on the treadmill, and was flung off the back. :eek:

Seriously, the gym can be a dangerous place, and even more so if you don't know what the heck you're doing. Just because it is 'free' does not mean you should jump on a machine with no inkling of what you're supposed to do.

And if I do see children in there, I will complain, and have done so in the past.

Leave the DVD player at home. If you've been doing P90, all you need is the sheets and write down the routines without sheets. As for the workout itself, it might be more difficult logistically. I don't remember the dumbbells being close to open floor area. Besides, I don't think anyone in the gym wants to listen to Tony Horton's corny routine and what will you be able to see on portable DVD player anyway.

Agree. It is good to mix it up. I can Bring It, Dig Deeper, Focus, and Be In It To Win It without the DVDs. You know what to do. Mix it up.;) I do cardio/weights/core on my own. Walking is not enough - agreed - when you are into extreme workouts.

Thanks for sticking with those of us who have supported you. Also, give your friend a break, I am sure he feels awful. I can't believe how you stuck with us after some of the crap some of these idiots posted, it showed me how much character you have. You helped more people than you will ever know. God bless you and your family.

I couldn't agree with you more.

Thanks for the relating your experiences for all to see. It was definitely a wake up call for a lot of people. :) You handled things extremely well in trying circumstances. Kudos to you!!! :)

A reminder of the Community Guidelines:

 

The harassment of our members is not allowed.

 

Cruise Critic is committed to providing an online environment that is free from these types of harassing postings. Please, don't attack another poster or group of posters. Do not harass, threaten, embarrass, or do anything else to another member that is unwanted.

 

While the OP's style may not please all members, attacks and unnecessary criticisms are not productive.

 

To klfhngr, please continue posting about your experience when you get the opportunity!

Thank you. :)

Perhaps the people who lack the empathy haven't experienced what it is like when travel goes wrong. They don't have the right to judge as it often goes wrong through no fault.

 

I've had a few things go wrong over the years and it does get easier to cope with as experience grows. I've been round the world at least 6 times and so now I know what to expect and it doesn't stress me anymore - a passport and a credit card fixes most things :) But the first time something went wrong it was stressville city.

 

Thanks to the OP for trying to convey the experience (and in such an eloquent way) - many people will be the better for it.

 

:)

Thank you. :)

And I know I am stronger for having gone through it, as the OP is. Stress - oh yes.

Oh for the love of God, EVERYTHING doesn't have to be done in three (sorry TWO!) minutes. Let the man tell his story at his own pace and in his own words. Otherwise, why not move on and come back later and read it all in a few minutes. Wham Bam, you're done...

Thank you. My mind just boggles here. :confused: You get it.

And unless you were searching for flights that were available 36 hours ahead - you really have no idea what was available at that point in time. The OP does.

Keep in mind, it was late in the day, he couldn't get in touch with his family (if calls were dropping, they were dropping), he was by himself in a foreign country without being prepared for it, and it was scary. Have some empathy, people!!

He had NO passport, so could not fly until he had one. That limits flights tremendously.

I have been in similar situation (not from missing a ship, but by the airline tossing us out - for a week at Christmas). I sat on the floor of Heathrow crying, as for hours no one helped, and I was injured and in agony. We were all on our own. No hotel. No luggage. Thank heavens there was our insurance company booking us rooms. Out you go into freezing temps. Buh bye. Stop. Think. You are not this person. You do not know how he was feeling. Only he does. He knows what flights were available.

It is easy to be an armchair quarterback when it is not you.

Britty1. I so agree with you. But good fictional writing!

 

 

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This is NOT fiction!! :mad: I lived this with him last week. Are you going to call me a liar, too?

He has a life beyond Cruise Critic. So many of you are going after him as he hasn't written this all in one fell swoop. It is a LONG story. He has a family, job, LIFE, and he is probably in bed now as he is a morning person. He is trying to tell his story to help others. Quite frankly, I don't blame him if he doesn't finish.

I doubt if any travel insurance policy would cover this even if OP had it since missing the ship was due to his own action. It's just like travel insurance won't pay if you miss your flight because you didn't allow enough time to get to the airport and got delayed in a traffic jam or your car broke down.

Travel insurance would not cover missing the ship in this case - you are right.

My insurance covers me for the following:

"You miss a connection because of the delay of your connecting private passenger vehicle, when the delay is caused by the mechanical failure of your connecting private passenger vehicle, a traffic accident, an emergency police-directed road closure, weather conditions, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions. Your connecting private passenger vehicle must have been scheduled to arrive at your point of boarding in time to comply with the travel supplier's check-in procedure."

In reading that, it appears that I would be covered for missing the ship if the above applied.

No, the OP is not trying to get a following, and you are not being punked. I know him, and he is at work. ;)

And there he is!!! :)

I'm cruising next month, and I'm connecting in Dallas. I am not going to curl up in a ball and stop living my life, not even if there is a zombie apocalypse. :p I am going to have a blast! :D

Thanks all!

 

No passport, it expired and I used license and bc.Even if i had one, it wouldnt help this time, due to the flight times. It sort ofworked out, the Weds flight.

 

Word of advise: Atlantis is HUGE, leave early to get back on ship! i was litereally one or two minutes to late! i couldve jumped in the ocean and touched the ship, no exaggeration! i was begging captain johnny as i looked at the bridge, but to no avail. I dont blame him, he actually waited a while for me! Lesson learned!

 

I was trying to sleep in the room, but its not in a good part of town. Scary place, lol., I finally got hold of kids via text. Guess its somber on the ship, our group of 15. I told my kids to pretend i'm at the pool and have fun! Wife crying, ugh...! my 22 year old amost got off the ship, i'm so glad he didnt! hes in charge now, at least for a day or two, lol.

 

alrighty all, good night! and thank you for keeping me company!

Oh man. You know I'm here for you. :( Glad your son didn't get off the ship! Chat tomorrow!

I thought I was going to die on the Brilliance Dec/10, but I'm still here. I don't think of it as my worst cruise, because it wasn't. It was the most memorable, I'll give it that.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1343849

It's hard to even quantify my worst cruise. First World problems, really, when you think about it. Think of people in this world dying, starving, in dictatorships, etc - your worst cruise would be their heaven. ;)

I know many won't care about this - but the Intercontinental makes you pay to use the gym - I am a fitness fanatic, so I won't stay there no matter what. :p;) I like the Hyatt, and basically stay there every time I'm in Miami.

Ugh...can't do that, I have too many perks attached to it.

That is correct - it would have to be cancelled and rebooked. And hello from North Van!

Get the Visa. Do not even attempt to board without a Visa for China, if they are saying that you need one. Even if you don't get off the ship - you need one!

Did you purchase the Reflection cruise you are sailing on in 7 weeks through a TA? If so, unless you tell Celebrity when you book on board, they will automatically transfer the new booking to that TA. That's what they have done with us recently.

 

Booking on board, you will only have to pay a deposit of $100 pp which is refundable if the cruise is cancelled before final payment date. All cruises booked on board are offered the 123 go package. You will receive whatever OBC Celebrity is offering and also whatever the TA you use is offering as long as it did not come from Celebrity. Hope this helps.

 

if you belong to Captains Club you will also receive a one category upgrade within the category. eg. pay for a 1B, get a 1A.

Ding ding ding for your answer! :)

And yes, if a travel agency has group space available in your category, you may get a much lower rate, which is combinable with group obc AND your booking onboard perks (obc in relation to the category booked, as well as 123Go perks).

It is MUCH better to book a set ship and sail date with Celebrity. If you know it - book it. You won't get the higher obc or 123Go perks with an Open Booking.