Gourmet Gal

Odd that the page listing all the fares does not have gratuities listed under any category. Is that new?

Yes, hope you’re correct and that I jumped the gun on my critique.

Alserrod thanks for so much useful and practical info. We’ll be in Barcelona just 2 nights in late May and we want to make the most of our time. We have a 4:00 PM departure from BCN flying business on UA to the US. How much time should we allow in the airport prior to the flight, including checking bags and VAT refund? Is there any sort of fast track security lane for business class? Is the VAT office or Kiosk easily accessed?

Wow, that’s worth protesting. What a sneaky move.

With more high-end options becoming available it seems SS no longer wants to compete in the ultra-luxury category. By offering a “bargain” no-frills product it seems to cheapen the entire brand. It was always part of the attraction of SS that everyone had a butler, all dining venues were available, it was all-inclusive. That is no longer true.

No disrespect to DrRon but you sure have a lot of faith in one person’s opinion. You know, food and dining preferences are so subjective and if most of the people are happy then that’s a helpful data point. A sample of only 2 (drron, kiwi_dave) is a little light on data. Bon appetit!

Surprising that SS would be less expensive but a good plan would be to book a private transfer and then just check the SS rate once onboard. Not sure why SS would be any easier except perhaps you could pay with OBC?

Doesn’t P2P already exclude air, transport and hotel? And what does otherwise be the same mean? The price is the same? Or just the cancellation terms?

You should be able to use the ship’s WiFi for calls onboard.

As you say, layers and make sure one is waterproof!

You could check with Kensington Tours or Jacada to see if they can assist with booking a local guide for a day. They both specialize in full service private guided journeys and they are outstanding but I’m not sure about just day tours. Otherwise, check in Ports of Call here on CC or by location on Tripadvisor.

Yes, rafting could be exhausting just to get to shore.

There’s a walking tour almost everyday on river cruises and terrain can be tricky, usually cobblestones. It’s really not ideal for anyone with mobility issues but I’ve seen some really hardy souls give it a supreme effort and they somehow manage. I will say though, that the Rhône cruises may have a bit less walking than say a Rhine or Danube cruise. A cruise with more of a culinary focus may be somewhat easier as there may be numerous indoor market tours and meals onshore.

We enjoyed Hungarikum Bisztro but I’m not sure how far that is from the Intercontinental. We stayed at the Four Seasons and it was an easy walk. We also enjoyed the bistro at FS, Kollázs Bisztro. If you have time and are really interested in Hungarian cuisine we took a fascinating culinary tour with a private guide. Let me know if you want details.

If there is something in a port or two that you really do not want to miss then perhaps it is better to book it yourself. I have a Japan cruise booked for 2026 and am planning to hire some guides I’ve used before and book food tours on my own in some ports. It’s also nice to have a little break from all the group touring. The included tours on my last SS cruise were such a mixed bag I was left rather unimpressed.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they go back to a shorter window for booking excursions for the very reason sited above.

Another thing to look out for! But along with not guaranteeing excursions does SS also not guarantee their prices? Is there a disclaimer somewhere to that effect? I think one of my upcoming Select excursions has increased in price but I do not have the original listing. Sneaky!

Well, going forward everyone should do screen shots of their confirmed included excursions to use if one has to plead their case.

I have no advice for you but this seems to be a prevalent issue with converting included tours to Select. At the very least it is confusing for passengers and falls under the category of poor customer service.

I think you can do better with a new TA.

I’ve never noticed any special dishes on formal nights. If SS doesn’t make it special I’ve always had a hard time with the “formal” attire expectation.

That’s interesting. True that embarkation isn’t very rigid and in general the vibe is more relaxed but otherwise I find most river cruises to be extremely structured. If you board early your state room might not be ready but lunch and drinks should be available.

Different policies or are the standards on Nova, the newest in the fleet, actually the direction the entire line in going in?

It never hurts to have your own TA. Ask for recommendations from your friends - we aren’t allowed to recommend them here on CC. Once you have one, it’s true that on a river cruise there’s only limited use for OBC but if laundry isn’t included then you could use it there. Perhaps for upgraded wines and gift shop purchases or spa, if there is one onboard. But a good TA, especially one affiliated with one of the big consortiums Signature or Virtuoso or American Express can offer hotel perks such as breakfast, upgrades, credits and my favorite - early check-in and late check-out. That comes in handy when traveling overseas. These perks do not cost you extra. A good TA has traveled extensively and can make hotel, tour, transfer recommendations and bookings along with assisting and booking air. After cultivating a longterm relationship with my TA, she has comped hotel nights, complimentary tours and lovely gifts.

I never noticed exhaust from other ships. Anyway, this will be a very relaxing cruise.