Gourmet Gal

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.

9 hours ago, RobInMN said:

Nice choice! We are booked for Enchanting Rhine on AmaSiena May 15, 2025. We are doing the 4 night pre-tour to Zurich and Lucerne package, and will spend a couple days in Amsterdam post on our own. 

 

For reference, I book all our ocean cruises directly. I do all the excursion research whether it's ship or independent. I am very, very hands on.

 

This is our 3rd Ama cruise. Ama seems to prefer that you book through a TA. If you google the TA we used, she appears to be highly recommended, and supposedly specialized in AmaWaterways. However, I really am not sure what all she really did for us. I had very little contact with her other than to book it and pay. That said, when it cam time to book the May 2025 cruise, I looked around for an alternative, but ended up just using her again.

 

On an Ocean cruise, at least with Royal Caribbean, if you book through a TA, you have to do everything other than on-board pre-purchases through the TA. With river cruises, or at least Ama, there really isn't anything extra to worry about booking. So even if I don't necessarily see where the TA has been advantageous for us, I don't feel like there has been any downside from having used one.

I think you can do better with a new TA.

2 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

On Whisper for 16 nights last month; we had 3 formal nights.  We tried to evade 2 at La Terrazza, but they changed the calendar when we got on board so we ended up eating in the MDR 2 out of 3.  I don't remember the menus looking any better on the formal nights, nor was the food any more 'wow.'  Lobster tail was offered often enough on the MDR menu that it wouldn't have made formal night stand out.

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.

2 minutes ago, JJK2008 said:

Unlike an ocean cruise you can board pretty early in the morning 10:00ish. With only 180 guests there are no "lines" to worry about. You just walk on and check in. Cabin should be available as soon as you board. Yes, lunch is served day 1 and yes you can come and go freely. Viking usually has a walking tour even on day 1 that you can participate in or go on your own. River cruising is way more relaxed and less structured than an ocean cruise. Enjoy your cruise. 

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.

12 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

On Whisper last month I was able to get San Pelligrino everywhere.  The dining room waiters come around with pitchers of ship-made sparkling water, but had no problem getting a bottle of SP at every meal.  Also our Butler, despite having 15 cabins, always seemed to be hovering and ready to help – and kept our room stocked with SP from the moment I asked for it.  Different ships, different officers, different policies?

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.

A Rhine and Moselle itinerary is actually very nice.  The Moselle is my favorite river, winding with steep hillsides like the Douro but much more interesting wineries and towns.

The Douro is pretty boring and unless you love port the wineries are nothing special. Lisbon and Porto are fantastic.  Visit them on your own as it’s an easy and scenic drive between the two or hire a driver.  The Rhine has interesting pre and post cruise possibilities.  

38 minutes ago, BlueCO102 said:

In researching hotels for a post-cruise stay in Rome this fall, I've noticed many of the booking websites allow for booking in various currencies. Is there any advantage to booking in EUR and letting my credit card convert to USD vs booking directly in USD?

 

The only potential difference I am seeing is difference in exchange rate. For informational purposes the card would use has no foreign transaction fees.

 

Thanks for sharing the wisdom of experience!

Better to book in local currency.  If you book in USD, you’ll pay a local bank conversion fee.  Always pay in local currency and let your credit card company do the conversion.

It’s not unusual for the bowtie icon to show up fairly close to the sail date but in time to pack.  Also, I believe the dress code on Nova and Ray includes formal-optional so not as strict as the rest of the fleet.  There are rumors that it will roll out to the rest but no word on timing.

8 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Not only is it adjoining, but it is the 2nd bedroom for the Master Suite next door – so you may get bumped if Daddy Warbucks wants it.  [I think.  I have 6088 booked on Ray, which is the same situation.]

The cruise consultant informed me that the master suite next door is already booked and they don’t need that adjacent cabin.  I’ve never heard of anyone being bumped from a cabin for that reason on SS…does that happen often?  Seems like SS gets paid for all the space either way.  Why would they do that?

We just booked 7080 on Nova.  We like that it’s between stateroom floors, is aft, not high and close to the launderette.  The only negative is that it adjoins to the suite next door.  Can anyone comment on the potential for noise in adjoining cabins vs non-adjoining?

16 hours ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

The Sistine Chapel is grouped with the Vatican tour, Saint Peter’s is not so we’ll have to do that on our own. I will look up the Scavi tour, as I have no idea what it is.  Thanks!

I recall we had a private guide in the Sistine Chapel and when we arrived in the packed chamber he took us directly to the AC vent in the floor near the center.  Hopefully your guide can do the same!

5 hours ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

That sounds like something I’d enjoy!  Thanks!

 

I had forgotten about the Baths of Caracalla. We had watched a video about it and thought it looked like a cool place to see. I will watch both videos you linked. Thanks!

 

I emailed Marisa last night. Our tour includes the museums, and Saint Peters. She said she will email us in May with more details. Would that be too late to book the scavi tour?  I’m sure Marisa will tell us where we can locate a taxi. We’ll plan on using one, especially since we will need to bring our passports. 
 

 

You’ll have to go to the Scavi Office website.  There are no other resellers of tickets and you must purchase them yourself.  Marisa cannot do this for you and only official Scavi tour guides will conduct the tours. 

What has been excavated is a Roman street, multiple necropolises, the original church built upon the spot where Peter was crucified.  You will also see his tomb and a glimpse of what is believed to be his bones.  That is the Scavi tour.  It is extremely limited in the number of people allowed per day and well worth the trouble of booking.

1 minute ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

I didn’t realize that but I’m sure we’ll enjoy them wherever they take us. 
 

Any suggestions on things to see on our way back to our hotel day 2, following our tour?  We’re starting at the Colosseum. We plan to take a leisurely walk back, enjoying Rome, and lunch, along the way. 
 

Also, I understand the Vatican is far from where we’re staying. Should we plan to see Saint Peter’s Basilica while we are there?  Are they within walking distance?  Anything else we should do before heading back?  What’s the best mode of transportation there and back?

St. Peter’s is a must and if you have time you should consider the Scavi tour and the Sistine Chapel.  There is an ancient Roman street and necropolis under the Basilica as well as St Peter’s tomb.  The Scavi tour must be booked in advance directly through the Excavations Office in advance and one must be appropriately attired.  The Scavi tour is the most fascinating thing I’ve ever done in Rome and I’m neither Catholic nor religious. It would also be a shame to be in Rome for 5 days and not see The Pieta.

 Metro or taxi will work.

7 minutes ago, cpl100 said:

We desperately need some help please.  We have been in Rome twice and will be again in May.  We joined up with some friends who booked a cruise beginning May 17th.  I never dreamed it would be so difficult to find a place to stay two months out but apparently I should have.  Have read through to page six and the majority of the places either do not have availability, require a stay of more than two nights or the prices are over $500 per night for the most basic room.  We would like to be central and cannot carry luggage up a lot of stairs ourselves.  Can anyone offer suggestions please?  I am really struggling this time!

That’s odd.  I just did a search on Trip Advisor and there are numerous hotels in the Centro Storico area under $500.  The advantage of Trip Advisor is that you can read hundreds of reviews on any property rather than just random recommendations here.  You could also have your TA do the legwork and they may be able to offer you some perks.

Same here.  I just booked a March 2026 excursion!

I haven’t done this extension but have utilized Kensington for a multi week tour of the country.  They are fantastic, especially in Japan.  They will greet you at the airport, transfer you to hotel, guide you on private tours, take you to the train door for transfer to the next city.  If there is a train change someone will meet your train and escort you to the next train.  Luggage is shipped ahead to your next hotel and in the next city all the service is repeated.  All this, including hotels, trains for probably less than SS.  They will take you directly to the ship at the end.  All this is a private tour and you can decide exactly what you want included.  Highly recommend them.  Their guides are excellent.

Drinks and port talk before dinner followed usually by a piano player and dancing.  Possibly a special performance or presentation from a local group.

I’m not even kidding.  I always sleep with earplugs in any hotel and airplane.  And I sleep so much better with than without.  It’s not just street noise - the room itself has a/c, heating, plumbing, hallway noise that is disruptive.

Just booked an aft facing suite for a great Japan itinerary.  The SS rep said the aft suites have been extremely popular and book quickly.

On 2/24/2024 at 8:30 PM, saminina said:

IME, SS standards have been slipping since 2006.  I remember meeting a couple Brits in 2002 that told me standards had dropped so much that they will not return.   The new ships have breathed life into a line that we had lost interest in booking.  It's a fresh product, but hardly luxury. 

 

If I cared at all about food, SS and SB would not make the cut.   A potential problem with Seabourn is that you have two interior bars.  A band of transient players on deck 5 reading lyrics and notes from computer screen and hopefully someone that knows how to play the piano in the observation bar.  Normally passable, but when it is not it can be too painful to tolerate.

 

So many good crew have found their way to the new options that compete for this market segment.

It's time for passengers to think beyond.

Just wondering why reading music from a computer screen is a bad thing?