Diddn
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Posts posted by Diddn
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From 16 to 24 years of age Aida Cruises offers a reduced price (25 % for "Premium" bookings) for the cruise. That is the reason that there is only the alcohol free drink package included. This can be upgraded for those at least 18 years old. Costs are a bit more than 100 € per week. Ask your travel agent for doing it in advance, or upgrade it by visiting the front desk on board. The second option only works at the embarcation day, so you should prefer the first option.
Pending on local law it may possible that serving alcoholic drinks may be restricted during port times, for all or e. g. for those under the age of 21. More regarding that topic should be found in the informations you will get together with your booking confirmation or with your cruise ticket. For that, it could be a good thing to wait for the upgrade until you get all documents for the cruise to avoid paying for nothing or less than expected.
Diddn
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6 hours ago, robinsandiego said:
I have read that an English-Speaking person living in the US should phone AIDA in Germany, or contact a German travel agency that also works in English, to book a cruise.
Can someone please private message me with details of a travel agency they used that worked well in English, when booking an Aida cruise?
I also read that one should use a travel agency as they can get some included perks, whereas the cruise company will not include them (just like a travel agency in the US does).
My wife and I want to take a 14-night trip on AidaPerla from Barbados in late January, 2023. We do NOT speak German, but are up for the challenge of cruising on a primarily German-speaking cruise. It sounds like many English speakers have done it before and liked it. We love the itinerary it has, as it's going to all the islands we have not visited yet, and no other cruise line stops at all of these ports.
Thanks in advance.
Hi robinsandiego,
just looked into the booking system of Aida Cruises. Exept of the christmas and new years eve cruise, starting at La Romana in the Dominican Republic, all cruises of Aida Perla are only bookable together with air transport from various german airports. My experience says that Aida Cruises will open for cruise only bookings, if that happen at all, only shortly before the start of the cruise, but never before they have sold the last seat of the airplanes they usually have chartered in full for passenger's transport to the Caribbean.
Totally non-german-speaking passengers are very, very rare on board. (Sometimes there are some belgium or dutch people where at least one in the group has some knowledge about the german language.) Keep in mind that everything on board is usually held in german language only - announcements, entertainment, all information about living on board and regarding the ports. Just the bar menus and the menus in the specialty restaurants are bilingual in german/english. Crew is speaking english as well.
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Let's try a bit of math...
Maximum capacity is 166 guests, while usually (especially this year) mostly are 130 - 140 guests are on board. After about 15 cruises with Star Clippers, in my experience about 20 % are travelling in organised groups or with family members or friends. 110 guests are remaining.
Overall, about 30 % are native english speaking guests, interested on english narrated tours. Maybe a bit more on your cruise, and maybe some of other mother tongues could be interested. So, a maximum of 50 people are left.
Back-2-back-cruisers are not much (last cruise we had 2 on board, the only time we went B2B we were 3 in total). Then there are only 4 - 6 people left. That are 2 - 3 couples, and you are already one of them. And this is very optimistic counting. It is more likely that you will be the only native english speaking couple doing these two cruises B2B.
The stop in Athens inbetween is ideal for sightseeing in Athens to avoid an additional night at pre- or post-cruise-stays. I will bet none of all the B2B-cruisers is interested to spend this day out of Athens.
And guests who will board the ship at 4 p. m., if they are already in Athens and not flying in the same day, will surely not bring their luggage early in the morning to the port, just to leave Athens for that day. They rather want to have a relaxed breakfast at their hotel, strolling a bit around in Plaka or in the Acropolis area, having a light greek lunch, packing their suitcases and going to reach the boarding of the ship just in time. No chance to attract them. (By the way. We did so in June, and during our stroll through Plaka, we randomly met the only four B2B-cruisers from the cruise before and our cruise in a street café - we recognised them by their shirts and bags. Yes, the sloop shop has nice shirts... 😉 )
People whose cruise ends and leave the ship at that day are heading to the airport or to their booked hotel, at least to store their luggage there to have their hands free for sightseeing. (That may even be the reasons for you not to organise this specific excursion on the day of embarcation or debarcation.)
My bet: You will have a wonderful excursion on your own. Enjoy it. You are doing the same like most other guests: You will have a wonderful individual vacation with a great sailing adventure, together with some nice other people, who even look to realise their independent plans around the cruise.
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As I remember, the need of a covid19-related travel insurance was announced since the announcement of the restart.
In addition we have got a specific notice from our tour operator about two months in advance to our cruise which we had booked about two years ago. I arranged with them that we sent the proofs of existing insurance in advance and they confirmed that their coverage is sufficient. They even forwarded them to Star Clippers and there was no additional check of the travel insurance for us at the time of check-in.
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Old Port is only to be used by tenderboats. If the ship is alongside at new port, a "water bus" (boat transfer) will be offered by locals, running at least every 30 min. in both directions. In addition, taxis are available near the pier at new port.
Relax, calm down, act spontaneous and enjoy your vacation on board and at Mykonos town.
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-Had a telephone conversation about that matter just yesterday with the tour operator where we booked, as we are travelling in June. Medical insurance is needed, which includes Covid-19 risks.
Now I have asked the insurance company of my existing medical insurance for a confirmation letter (which especially confirm the included coverage of Covid-19 risks) and will send it in advance to the tour operator to verify that this is satifying the needs of Star Clippers.
If that would not be enough, I will arrange a new (additional) medical travel insurance with the inclusion of Covid-19 risks which is actually at about 30 - 35 € per person in total (german insurance market, a bit higher for people older than 65). Sorry, I have no clue about costs in the US.
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Relax. Ports on Star Clipper's itinterarys are usually small. So there is plenty of time to visit the ports and even the surroundings. Most on your cruises are small islands. So it doesn't matter, if the ship arrives half an hour earlier or later.
Arrival times are always pending on pilot's availbility. They often using simple fishing boats, and fishermen are not always on time. Also take some some time into counting for tendering, if the ship will be at anchor. There is still enough time for everything.
If hiring a professional local guide in advance on your own, they usually have their focus on the actual arrival and departure times. (If not, I would suggest to choose another guide!)
Once again: Relax and enjoy. Only the times for muster drill (and the check-out time, of course) are fixed and mandatory. All other (where, when and what) is depending on weather, waves, wind, local authority's decisions and your own preferences. I am sure that you will have a great time on board as well as on shore.
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The ship leaves Asia in spring 2022 and spend the summer in the Mediterranian Sea. Lst announced cruise will end in Lisbon in late October 2022. It would be very likely that the ship will even sail across the Atlantic Ocean and will stay in the Caribbean during winter. Otherwise it would not make much sense to go to Lisbon at the end of summer season.
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Tradewind Voyages is a sister company to the shipyard. Their parent company holds between 25 and 50 percent of Tradewind Voyages according to moneyhouse. No other owners listed there.
Just another try to put some pressure against the cruise company, as long as the netherland court which handles the arbitration between shipyard and cruise company has stopped any sale of the ship while arbitration is ongoing.
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9 hours ago, faerievert said:
we did book a gratuity-included fare (worth $70 each). I'll be sure we check that with the office on board about that.
Just check your travel voucher - the prepaid/included gratuities should be stated therein. If not, contact your travel agent before you go onboard. Purser's office has usually no insight in your booking details.
Gratuities will not be charged automatically to your account. If you have no prepaid gratuities, you will get an information sheet, envelopes for cash, and the option to charge it to your cabin account instead of cash.
In addition, about two days before the end of the cruise you will get an 'invoice for information', stating all expenses until then. If there are any queries you are able to handle with that before check-out day. After 13 cruises, the invoice was always correct, and prepaid/included gratuities are always stated in the travel voucher and handled correctly onboard, when this applied to us.
Simply enjoy your cruise. :-)
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1. There is a large tent to check-in at the harbour, located behind the parking lot of the cruise harbour. Even there is luggage pick-up after the cruise.
2. Beside of the included tips we always tip the bar staff separately with a little cash at the end of the cruise for every of the bar tenders. They do a grest job. USD or Euro - it doesn't matter.
3. In former years we stayed at the Sonesta, which is blown away by the last hurricane. They still have two other Sonesta Hotels, but they are located near the airport.
4. verything was written to shore excurions by Purley King.
5. Even shop sales and massages are to be charged to your onboard account. You do not need a lot of cash, only for some personal tips and for on shore expenses.
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21 hours ago, Denarius said:
communication from Star Clippers is notable by its absence.
We have been last week on Royal Clipper. Cruise was cancelled the morning after embarcation. Same for the Star Flyer, I think.
Keep in mind that you have booked with a wonderful small cruise company. Their manpower is limited, and their primary tasks are getting their passengers back to their home countries. We got any help we needed on board, including the guarantee to stay until the next day onboard unless alternative arrangements could be made. And that was time enough for everyone.
Then they have to arrange anchor places or itineraries even for 'empty' ships. E. g., Royal Clipper left Barbados on monday evening, heading to a port named (as to AIS) "eastbound" - which means, that there was no next port available at this time. They need to go to Lisbon for drydock, but the slot is in three weeks and nobody knows if the drydock company will be able to work at this time (aas everywhere in the world).
Whithout confirmed ports they cannot publish new or changed itineraries, or even confirm their ongoing cruises. But I am sure, they work on it. Until then, they have some more to do: replacement crew wasn't there on time due to flight restrictions, and crew, which had just ended the contract, stayed onboard due to the lack of available flights and/or immigration restrictions, often even for transiting passengers. Last but no least, wherever they actually go, they need to be catered there, even for the crew.
Give them some time. After... I just realise that the cancelled cruise was my 13th cruise with Star Clippers... I know, that they sometimes communicate on a short time notice and with only a few words, but this was always reliable in the past. 🙂
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My interpretation of sunscape's post is, that - if you want to stay on shore the whole day - you will miss the sailing betrween the two places they go at that day. You must inform the cruise director or captain that you are a no-show when leaving the first place of anchor.
Eventually there are restrictions by local immigration law if you want to 'extend' the stay. That will be checked by the purser before getting a 'permission to leave' by the captain or cruise director.
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Suggested tips (for cabin attendant and restaurant waiters) are 8 € per person per day. Bar prices are very affordable (i. e. soft drinks about 2.50 €, tap beer about 3 €, several house wines starting at about 16 €/bottle. And good to know: Service charge is already included in drink prices. As service is always between very good and excellent, feel free to give some extra tip. 😉
As the ship (or the tenders/zodiacs) usually go directly to the 'hot spots' (whenever possible; depends on destinations), you may do a lot on your own in most cases.
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Regular coffee at breakfast is included as well as tea to all restaurant opening times (tea bags as well as some different kind of teas to create your own mixture).
During lunch and dinner instant coffee powder will be provided for free in the restaurants only.
Other coffees like cappucchino etc. will be served at every bar during the specific bar opening hours and will be charged.
Btw: Aida actually changes from Pepsi to Coca Cola products. Most ships have changed already, the remaining ships will get the change during the next four or five weeks. Prices increase with the change from 2.20 EUR to 2.50 EUR (1/4 liter). Fountain sodas during lunch and dinner are still for free in the buffet restaurants (as well as house wine - red/white - and tap beer).
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If you have booked through a travel agent, they are able to arrange name changes (correction of names) for free (but not passenger changes) as long as there are no tickets already produced.
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Just want to add that service charge is already included in the prices. No mandatory ad-ons at all.
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@cathaana:
I am sure there are several english speaking people working for Aida Cruises - they even run a website in english language. As Aida Cruises is a bit different - not only in language - it should be better imho to contact an independent travel agent especially for non-german-speakers to get the right explanations of the differences of their cruise concept and the booking process under german law.
As all other competitors, the cruise line's own staff will always sell their own product only. To get a better information, an independent, cruise specialized travel agency would be the best choice.
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Would be difficult to find an agency in the US. Why don't use a german agency? German agents are able to handle international bookings for Aida Cruises as well.
But be aware that german law will be valid. The main terms are:
- Pricing of the cruise is in Euro. Pay only directly to the cruise company - easy by credit card or paypal. Bank transfer will even work.
- Prices include all port charges and taxes, if applicable. Price tags must show the "end price" - even on board no additional charges will apply to prices stated in the price lists.
- No surcharges, e. g. for the agency, apply.
- Travel insurance is NOT included. Should be arranged local, if needed/wanted.
- Initial payment at time of the booking is 20 to 30 % of total price (regarding to the tariff you choose). Final payment has to be done 30 days prior sailing.
- Rebooking / changes are not free of charge (some exemptions by using the premium tariff).
- Cancellations are even not for free. Cost will start with the amount of the initial payment and will rise by shorter time distance to the sailing date and varies by the tariff chosen.
- Payments are secured by law. As every tour operator, even Aida Cruises has insurance against insolvency.
If you still want to book be aware that you will likely the only non-german speaking couple on board. Emergency announcements will be held as well in english language, but all other communication (announcements, daily programme, entertainment, signposts, bar and restaurant menus, ...) is held in german language only. There is no 'international host' or whatever. Most excursions will be conducted in german language either. As crew is from all over the world like on other ships, most of the crew members are fluent in english. Other passengers do not expect to communicate to other passengers in other languages as german - and many germans still do not speak english at all or do not speak english well for several reasons. With other words: Expect to be completely on your own. That can be interesting (we are just back from a cruise on a ship dedicated to the spanish market where we were the only two germans on board and it was funny even without being able to speak spanish), but it also can be boring.
Feel free to pm me if you want more information.
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Not totally sure, but I remember 2 holes (without the third one).
A limited number of adaptors can be rented out at the purser's desk (as long as supplies last). Deposit of 10 € will be refunded at the time of bringing back the adaptor.
In most cabins an adaptor (for 2 round pin EU-plugs) was already plugged in in one of the outlets underneath the desk/sideboard. But that rather seem to be remainings from former guests than standard part of cabin equipment.
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@ john watson
We stayed in the neighboring cabin 310 once and the layout of the cabin in the video fits to 310 next door (which has a unique layout, means that the bathroom of 310 is 'behind' the desk of 308) as well as the short view of the corridor at the end. I am not in doubt that the video shows cabin 308.
You may compare with the deckplan, but be aware, that the small rectangular space between 308 und 310 partly belongs to 310 - it is part of the bathroom of 310 which cabin door opens at the opposite side to a small office space next to the dining room (not visible in the deckplan).
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At your time to board we are still in the air. Hope that we arrive between 6 and 7 p. m. at the pier. First flight leg to Amsterdam starts at 6 a.m. local time, that means midnight in Panama. A long trip for us, so the first evening should be short for us. Just look for my girlfriend's shoes to find us.
Have a save trip to Panama City - see you onboard.
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Hi 2bamboo,
we (Susanne and Dietmar) are joining you at this beautiful itinerary. Last time for us on Star Clippers was last year in summer, and after they cancelled a cruise in spring this year we can't await to get back on the Star Flyer again now.
As we have a flight from Europe arriving in the late afternoon we hope to be onboard ready for dinner.
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331and 328 are our favorite cabins. Both are very similar in size to the neighboring cat. 2 cabins. They are built where the corridor has a small corner - that is all the difference. Bed is placed underneath the porthole. That means, that only one side of the bed can be entered from the side.
We even stayed in 310 and 311 with access from the dining room. Both of them have a slightly larger bathroom than other cabins, resulting in more shower space. While the access to 310 is through a little office (separated from the dining room, not visible on the deck plan), 311 is accessable from the dining room directly. I would book 310 again, but 311 is far more noisier. The first table of the dining room is directly behind the wall.
No experience with the cat. 3 cabins at the aft.
For our next trip (starting in 86 days - yeah!) all cat. 3 cabins on the upper deck were already booked at the time of our booking, so we decided to move one more deck lower instead of spending more for a cat. 2 cabin. But, naturally, it is much more comfortable to stay on the upper cabin deck.
On all Star Clippers ships the gangway will be outside of the ship's hull. The difference between Royal Clipper and the other two ships is, that Royal Clipper has a tender platform installed on each side of the ship which can be 'folded' out. The two smaller ladies have a smaller platform, every time installed onto the outside gangway directly. While it is (re)movable, you will not find it on a deck plan.
I hope my english was good enough to answer your questions and to explain the differences regarding the cabins and tender platforms.
First time Aida cruise with the Aidacosma.
in AIDA Cruises
Posted
Hi,
Aida IS different to Royal Caribbean and MSC.
During opening times at the buffet restaurants, white and red wine as well as still water will be served by carafes, brought to the table. Soft drinks, sparkling water and beer you will get at a service station - self service. This is free of charge for everyone, regardless of a drink package.
You may enter a buffet restaurant only for a drink, but only during opening times - refer to the daily programme for specific opening times..
I'm not sure which drink package you mean. Looking after the price you stated, it should be the alcohol-free package. You get drinks at all bars, and "some" drinks in "some" serviced restaurants. Drinks which are included, are marked in the bar menues. Others have to be paid by showing your card. Be aware that each of the serviced restaurants has a different drink menue, i. e. fountain water is included in the package, but in some serviced restaurants they offer only bottled water, which is not included in the package.
The is no 15 % (or whatelse) surcharge on any bill. All prices are final without anything added thereon.
Breakfast ist usually buffet style. It MAY be offered a breakfast with table service at the steakhouse and/or the French Kiss Restaurant - but that is to be paid, and seats are limited. If you want to choose that, I suggest to buy it in advance to get sure to get a place there.
Wellness: Entrance to Fitness and some courses are free of charge. Sauna is to be charged and should be reservated (and paid) before by booking given time frames to use. Sauna is nude and mixed, pools are swimwear required.
All reservations can be made via MyAida or by your travel agent as well as you struggle with the language. All reservations must be paid at the time of the reservation. If you wish to cancel, you should do that until four days before the cruise starts and the payment will reimbursed.
Best regards
Diddn