zigdilcru

I usually get my flu shot (yes every year since I got the flu in 1987 and wouldn't wish it on anyone) in October but knowing I was going on an Adriatic and Med cruise in September and would be around people from other parts of the world and they sometimes have flu floating around in their countries well before it hits the US, I made sure to get the shot two weeks before our departure. Better safe than sorry. Get the shot and have a great cruise. Linda

what fun reading all these, I didn't know what to do for my name and thought of my little guys (and gals) I'd be leaving behind when we cruised, so came up with zigdillcru for Ziggie and Dillie who go into the kennel and have fun while we cruise.

Hi from Vancouver, BC.

 

In case you were not aware drink package is on sale right now buy one get second half price.

So that works out to $41/Day plus gratuity. 5 basic drinks or 3 1/2 premium per day and it pays for it's self.

 

Cheers! :beer-toast::champagne-toast::whiskey-glass::wine-glass:

 

Scott and Debbie

When is your sailing, because I just checked my cruise planner and no sales for our May 2018 date, bums me out because I am buying for 6 people so need a sale desperately.

thanks to everyone who replied to my questions, very much appreciated. Linda

can someone help me out here; I'm new to RCI first cruise coming up end of May 2018, I need to buy the deluxe package and internet for 6 people and every time I check my cruise planner it still comes up with the full price. I'm sweating this because I really don't want to spend over $3000.00 for those two items. Any one know if there is a certain time before your cruise they show specials? Also when you buy the internet is 18 % grats put on that also? Thanks for any help you can provide. Linda

you have plenty of time to get a copy of Rick Steves Northern European cruise ports, he covers all the ports and how to get the most out of them. check your local library or buy a copy, it's money well spent. in 2015 we did all ports by using this book all but St Petersburg which we used SPB. doing this same trip but shorter in 2018 and taking family along. it's a great cruise, enjoy

We were in Barcelona on 9/18 and 9/19 no problems whatsoever. They have had their referendum since then and the Spanish govt gave them to sometime this week to respond so there is that. If you are there soon my advice would be to try to avoid the squares where there might be activity. There are plenty of other areas that would be fine for sightseeing and no activity. Enjoy your trip

only been on 4 cruises but here goes: Seattle/Seattle, Amsterdam/Amsterdam, Vancouver/Vancouver, Venice/Barcelona and upcoming in May Copenhagen/Copenhagen. I need to get busy to catch up to you people.

Linda

it's almost here..... 21 days Constellation leaving Venice on Adriatic and Med oh yes I'm excited

just a note about Ostia, watch out for the pick pockets at the Pyramid metro station, if anyone bumps you grab them and make them give whatever they stole from you back. Only took a second and they got my cell phone and I didn't notice until we were long gone from there. other than that little bother Ostia was the highlight of our trip Linda

just a note...... it's three years since I used their website to get tickets for the Secret itineraries tour and I'm still getting e-mails from them on happenings in Italy.... you are forewarned

I am thinking about the HA Nieuw Amsterdam trip from Vancouver to Alaska in late September .

 

Food is quite important to me as I live in France :-) Also I will be travelling solo.

 

 

The Aranui is a cargo/cruise ship that does a two week round trip from Tahiti to the Marquesan Islands . The most fabulous thing I have ever done .

Did this same trip on the Nieuw Amsterdam this past May. The food in the main dining room was very good and the sights in Alaska can't be beat. The only thing you should be aware of traveling solo is you pay for two, as far as I know there are no single cabins. Don't miss Alaska, it's really spectacular as is Vancouver. Linda

Princess E-Z Air allows you to reserve air and pay for the air tickets at final payment.

 

Celebrity Choice Air requires air payment at time of booking.

 

Advantage Princess, especially for Transatlantic or Transpacific travel.

Just booked air today at Choice Air for next September, into Venice (one way) and out from Barcelona. Now we live near a dinky airport (knoxville, tn) so air is always expensive. Travel agent got us a smoking deal, into Venice for $496.35 and out of Barcelona for TA DA $243.71 Do I mind paying in advance for those prices, HARDLY. I am a happy camper.

Is May too early to go to Alaska?

Thank you!

just did the May 7th out of Vancouver this year. Yes it was a little cool the first day or so but boy did it warm up quick. Sweated our tushes off in Ketchikan, our only problem was tooo many kids and families from China, guess they have different school vacations then us and Canada. They seemed to overrun the ship. If the price is good for May, do it, it was certainly worth it for the cruise of your dreams.

Our 12/10 cruise on Reflection this year, we got a Concierge for $1249 includes go Best booked just on Monday, now it is $1659 for the same...glad I locked in!!

our adriatic/med cruise for Sept. 2017 is up $875 per person. We booked with go Best aqua 2 for $3719.68 , today the same is $4594.68. Never would have booked for that price. Feeling lucky we booked when we did.

I checked my roll call after we booked our trip but somehow it sounded very cliquey (is that a word?) and I did not feel very welcomed, they all seemed to know each other from previous cruises. Our Celebrity cruise back in June was very welcoming and I enjoyed it very much, oh well maybe next time.

zig for ziggy, dil for dillie and cru for cruise, and they are the dogs who get left behind when we cruise. no worries they have a great kennel they stay in and they get peanut butter squirrels at bed time.

We have booked a tour with SPB Tours and they accept USD as payment. I understand that the bills must be clean, crisp and in good condition, but I have not been able to determine if we can pay using $100 bills. Some places will not take those due to the high counterfeit rate. Does anyone have any experience using $100 bills for tours in St. Petersburg?

 

Thanks!

Just did the tour with SPB in late June and paid with $100.00 bills fresh from the bank and had no problems. Cash is cash

Can you easily get to city centres from port in Helsinki, Tallin and Copenhagen independently?

My husband and I (both 65, hate to admit it) just did the Baltic cruise in June and we used the Rick Steves book, Please do so, it has great info. I had an ap on my iPhone called pacer which tells you how many steps and miles you have done for the day. In Tallinn we did 7.3 miles, that is walking from the ship, through the town and back. Wear good shoes because the cobblestones are killer but I managed. There is a great Medieval museum in the St Nicolas Church or next to it. Just amazing and only 3 euros admission.

Helsinki we took the shuttle because as Rick Steves said it's a pretty ugly industrial area to walk through and the shuttle seemed easier. Walk down the esplanade and head to the Kauppatori market square. Try the little fishes they fry up they are delicious and also the salmon soup was great. There are all kinds of stalls selling souvenirs, prices were good. Only did about 4 miles walking there.

Copenhagen we docked at Langeline so the walk was real easy, pick up a map it's a real help finding your way. Walk up to see the Nyhavn canal it's pretty neat, stop and get a drink and soak the area up. We had a reservation for Ida Davidsen Restaurant to try smorrebrods (you know the Danish sandwiches), not hard to find the place because we had the map. Great lunch, make a reservation on line it is worth it. In Copenhagen we walked according to my ap 9.7 miles. Not bad for two old codgers and I'm a couch potato and I smoke. So yes you can do it. Have a great time on your cruise, this is one you will really enjoy. Linda E

I booked an Alaska trip for May next year for two rooms on July 16th then saw the extras they were giving out and called my ta, she got back to me and said no problem they would give me the freebies but my price went up. Well if you call $200.00 for our room and $40.00 for my daughters room a lot, well when added altogether our freebies came to over $2300.00. I'm a happy camper and won't complain.

Please go read my post on trip advisor about SPB tours, we took the 2 day highlights with Amber room and it was wonderful. You will have no problems with the visa as SPB will get it for you and you will be on a small bus (ours had 12 people) which will be more comfortable than waiting for a gaggle of people from the ship tour. The price was very reasonable as compared to the ships. Don't hesitate this was the highlight of our trip on the Silhouette in June. Linda E

Hi All,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My mom & I took a last min notion to do NCL Star Baltic cruise and we choose it partly due to the St.Petersburg stop. We were a little by disappointed to learn you have to get a tour in order to leave the ship (visa isn't an option, we fly out in Friday week). However our hopes of avoiding expensive crowded tours (we are a pretty savvy / independent type of tourist) was crushed when it seemed we had to NCL cruises (even according to the helpline), but I did find likes of alla tours and others have more specific type tours with more time in sites and in less in cheesy souvineer shops just like we want but I rang NCL quoting the various blogs and official advice from the private operators that it is not required but they kinda slide away from the topic. I then contacted my local consulate and got an email from there that all of you were right that all you need is a registered company to pick up you up and drop you back and basically mind you as NCL would do. However I read NCL will scare people on board that they won't get though customs or won't get back on or delay non NCL tour clients leaving. After my consulate said your right I believe you all now (people who swore by going private) but afraid now of facing intimidation on part of NCL. I always seen something in SPB section of this site that tour op have been using fake profiles to boost their image which makes hard to know who's really good. I was actually glad to see some not so great reviews of Alla Tours (though very few). Anyway the non NCL tours suite us better as it seems people more interested in the travel and not been drag around or going with the flow would do it outside the cruise company & it's cheaper yet I feel like I'm taking a bit of a risk to book non NCL. Anyway so point of my long message: what risks may we face and what risks are just scare monglering? Like if we leave outside the NCL cruise will there be a risk we have trouble getting back on or anything like that?

Oh on a lighter note, in general what tour allows us to explore the real shopping type area like where the local Peters & Petras shop (like shopping time) but not the kinda shopping time that's akin to visiting the Blarny woollen mills here in Ireland. Thanks, sorry If this first post isn't too great.