Jeaannie55

Will be following along with great interest, looking to travel this itinerary in the next couple of years, to celebrate a significant birthday, although tentative enquiries have revealed the cherry blossom cruises are sold out in 2026! 

I’m having trouble again, after changing my password yesterday, this time it’s saying it’s us not you and to try again later

Thank you for posting this, have come to MSC  board for this very subject, I am Elite on Celebrity(very nearly +) but wanting to look at different lines, for itinerary  and price.  I did a 3 day on Virtuosa last year and had fun, but would want a bit more from a longer cruise and seems YC might fit the bill.

Hi all, my two (adult) daughters and myself are on The Ventura at Easter, from Southampton down to Portugal and then across to France. Thinking of booking a treat for us all and come across The Retreat package, has anyone on this wonderful board any experience of this?  
I realise the weather could be inclement at the beginning of April, so any indoor areas to relax? Are we able to get wine/cocktails there? Or healthy stuff only? 
would appreciate any help in helping me decide. TIA

I’m hoping someone from this lovely community can help.  My daughter gifted me a cruise for my Christmas present! 

Although I have cruised P&O before, not for quite a while and I wonder if anyone could help me decide about purchasing a drinks package?

we are onboard The Ventura at Easter and we are looking at the Premium drinks package, but I can’t seem to find if that includes specialty coffees or fresh juices for example, particularly at breakfast time? 
would appreciate any information, thank you.

Thoroughly enjoying your review, thank you.  I was lucky enough to spend 5 weeks in Auckland earlier this year, staying with relatives and they took us touring a LOT, so your photos are bringing back some wonderful memories.  I loved Napier!  Such a beautiful art deco town, the best advice I was given was look up! Such wonderful art deco architecture.  We had a tour round the town in a vintage car, run by the Napier Trust, which was fun, including a private visit to the cinema!  

How great that you are travelling again, I love reading your reviews, although normally I just lurk in the background.  I was on The Eclipse sailing from Auckland to Sydney in Jan/Feb this year and loved New Zealand.  Looking forward to hearing all about your travels.  Safe travels to both you and Iain 

I have been looking at Airbnb and there seem to be a few apartments in the Cambridge area, if you could advise me if that area is okay?  

10 hours ago, Nitemare said:

Come back and post info on places you are considering.  Some places claim "South End" but aren't in such great locations.

Thank you for this, I have checked out the reviews for the Residence Inn and they are mainly positive.  Ideally we wanted an apartment with 2 bedrooms as we are sister travelling together and will have shared a cabin for the previous 12 days! 
but this does seem like it could be a good compromise.

thank you also for the tips on places to see within walking distance, much appreciated, not heard of Arnold Arboretum with the research done so far, so will definitely have a look at that.

1 hour ago, Julma said:

I would stick to the Copley, Quincy Market, Seaport area.  I really enjoy the Seaport (so much so I live there).  It is very walkable and you're close to South Station.  There is a Residence Inn on Congress St.  I have never stayed there, but it looks nice.  Since you're going to be staying a long time, it would be nice to have a kitchen and there is a Trader Joe's and a CVS right there.  It is walkable to South Boston (check out Castle Island), North End, Chinatown, Financial District.  If you don't mind a longer walk, we walk to Fenway too.  Tons of restaurants, bakeries, and shopping. Foliage depends on summer weather, so there may or may not be any.  Arnold Arboretum is a wonderful day trip to take in some foliage.  

3 hours ago, Julma said:

Boston has strict rules regarding short term rentals, so you won't find many.  It's an easy city to get around by any means other than a car.  My answers for location would depend on month you're visiting and what you're most interested in seeing.  

5 hours ago, princeton123211 said:

If I were doing what you are looking to do I would be looking in Beacon Hill/West End, Back Bay, South Boston, and maybe the Financial District/Waterfront area. All of those would put you within walking distance of most things (South Boston would be a little bit more of a walk than the others). 

 

In the West End (which is adjacent to Beacon Hill and near North Station/Garden) is a complex called Longfellow Place. They might have short term rentals-- we recently put someone there for work for a few weeks and they had a good experience. The city is very walkable from it. 

Thank you both, will investigate more, based on the information you have kindly provided.

We are there the first week in October, (next year), interested in the History of Boston, freedom trail etc. hopefully fall colours as well.  

We are cruising out of Boston next year and we are looking to stay for a week or so to explore the City.  We would prefer an apartment, but most of these are out of the centre, so wondered if any of you lovely, helpful people could point us in the direction of good (or not so good) areas to look at?  TIA

Thank you both very much, looking forward to trying a new cruise line! 

New to MSC and going on a 3 night taster from Southampton, not in yacht club and looking to book Butchers Cut restaurant for one of the nights.

I have the app but the only options that appear are either 2 or more nights or BC chefs table which is too expensive.  The same options appear on the website as well.  Does anyone know how to go about booking just the one night please? 
Thank you

Thank you both for the info.  Much appreciated.

Hello all, hoping someone can point me in the right direction as to how we find out which theme night will be on the 3 night Virtuosa out of Southampton on 26th May, or will there just be a gala night, or both? I am travelling with my 2 daughters and we love to dress up for dinner, so want to pack the correct attire. TIA.

I’m not absolutely sure if there is a National Express booth in the arrivals hall, but if there is then of course the bus might be full from pre booked passengers.

I have always booked my tickets in advance.

sorry I couldn’t be of more help.

Used this service last week and Bob++ is exactly right, stops 11-15 right outside arrivals hall.  
one tip though is to realise that the final destination on the front of the coach may not necessarily be Southampton, it may be going on elsewhere, so make sure you ask if it stops in Southampton. 
hope this helps.

I’m in New Zealand at the moment, staying with relatives and was taken there yesterday from Auckland.  They are saying definitely leave from Tauranga, it’s about an hour away from there.

we booked tickets on line and were  driven there, it’s in middle earth, so difficult to get to if you don’t have a car! 😬😆

just as a side note, you get to the visitor centre, then everyone ne gets on a bus to take you to the movie set.  It’s amazing, such detail very cute and I would highly recommend doing it if you can.

hope this helps.

Thank you all very much for your helpful replies, much appreciated.

We are docking in Wellington in Jan ‘23 and would really like to ride on the cable car, see the Botanical Gardens and Zealandia.  We are in port from 8.00-18.00. Most excursions that I have seen, do one or two of these, but not all.  Do any of you lovely people think this is doable on our own? 

Don’t know if this helps, But I now travel with my sister, (both being widows) and the photographers on The Silhouette (pre covid) didn’t seem to know how to pose us, but we ended up laughing so much as we were facing each other, that we ended up with brilliant natural photos!  

Thank you for your review, along with the photos, been following along, seems lovely and you look as if you are having an amazing time.

My daughter and her husband are on this cruise and I am onboard The Eclipse in January when it sails from Auckland, NZ, finding your thread very interesting and look forward to hearing and seeing more of your adventures.

Thank you, a very sad time for a lot of us, end of an era indeed.  💔

Thank you, a lot of sad people in the U.K. at the moment 🇬🇧