pdw26

Thanks, I hadn't realised the bulkhead bed configurations, so for me it is a no go. I'll rebook one at the front of the ship.

Peter

We have just been on a cruise on P&Os oriana, and we were allocated a balcony cabin towards the rear of the ship. They may as well have put a bed in the engine room it was so noisy. I guess it was the age and things rattling about. I had booked a rear facing balcony in Explorer 2 for a cruise next year thinking the views would be good. But this recent experience has me wondering. Should I explore getting a cabin nearer the front of the ship or is explorer 2 quite quiet.

Thank you

Try going to your Roll call and see if someone is interested.

Thanks, yes I am on the role call. DW and I have different ideas about holidays. I like everything planned in advance, DW likes a more relaxed approach. Can't blame her, after all this is the Caribbean if you can't be laid back in the Caribbean . . .

So we have agreed a couple of things we really want to do and have booked tours, but she is looking for a 'walk along the pier and go with the flow' experience where we haven't book tours (or can easily catch a water taxi). When I read the message to which I replied (sorry didn't mean to hijack OP thread), I thought this sounded just what DW was looking for.

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A British group from the P&O ship Azura was looking for 2 more people to go to Valley Church beach so we decided to join them. I knew I did not want to do Jolly Beach. A very fun ride and conversation with the Brits. We all decided on a return meet time of 3 pm with the same taxi driver. We did not pay until we got back to the port. $32 round trip for two.

I'm on Azura in a couple of weeks, could you tell me how this works please? Do you just walk along the pier and is there someone there organising groups and waiting until they are complete or is it done some other way?

Also are there any tour kiosks outside the pier, if we were thinking of doing a tour as well as getting a taxi to a beach? And if so are these any good? We are there overnight so would like to do different things each day.

Thank you

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I realise demographic and entertainment are important but there are other things that were a pleasant surprise to us when cruising on new Amsterdam in AK: Ronnie Scott's jazz club, the fact that the IT demos were useful and not just a sales pitch, excellent staff, staff service at the buffet, excellent speciality restaurants, to name but a few. Also glacier bay was unbelievable, if that is on your itinerary a big plus - actually 3 or 4 glaciers feed into the bay so it's not as if you are doing one glacier - and you get commentary from a ranger and don't miss the post bay ranger presentation in the theatre (prob get those on other lines but well worth going to). One slight downside on our cruise was that there was a big dentist convention on board, that meant certain venues were closed to non dentists and they tended to stick together so it was a bit 'us and them' - but I think AK is favourite for this type convention so you can get this on any line at any time, I guess a plus side was by definition they were under retirement age so it lowered the demographic. I would really like to cruise HAL again, but from the UK their itineraries don't really work or are too expensive (same thing really).

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In some of the French islands, such as Guadeloupe, you will be better off with Euros. USD are not as widely accepted.

Euros also in St Martin and Martinique, so worth checking out the currencies of all the islands you visit.

If you are not from the US remember you will be 'charged' twice. once when you buy US$ and then when they convert to local currency ( though I seem to remember Barbados has a fixed exchange rate to the dollar). By charged I mean the difference in the rate of exchange you actually get from the published exchange rate.

If you go for us$, and it is convenient, remember to take small denomination notes as the change you get will be in local currency.

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Azura 1 Dec, now have itinerary, ON in Antigua and new port Guadeloupe instead of Tortola and ST Maarten. Mixed emotions, very pleased with the changes, but so sad for the people of St M and Tort. I guess best way forward is to estimate what I would have spent in those ports and donate it to the disaster fund.

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Thank you Helen, found it.

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I read St Maarten port plans to reopen on 12 Nov. Of course Cruise ships will need to know there is more than a berth to call there - eg tour operators, transport etc.

Ps - I'm on Azura on 1 Dec, where do I find 'roll call'? I usually use the forums app on my iPad and it doesn't seem to be on there. It's a long time since I have accessed cruise critic through the web pages.

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Am looking at a Caribbean cruise for next year. Cruising across and flying back. I thought I read somewhere that the flights are included and can be booked 6 weeks before travelling. Can someone let me know how the system works please? Thanks

Go into cruise personaliser, then getting there, then flights. You can then book specific seats. There is a fee if you want to book specific seats, eg a window seat, two seats together, about £25 per seat, per flight. If you don't want to pay the fee P&O will allocate you random seats from those remaining unbooked.

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Just interested how do you book premium? We booked for Dec but didn't see this. Too late now, but for next time. We booked early saver, perhaps premium is only an option with select fare.

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You check your hold luggage in at the airport and the next you see it is in your cabin. Disembarkation similar, put your hold luggage outside your cabin the night before you fly and next you see it is on the carousel at your home airport. This means you need to think a little more carefully about what you pack in your carry on luggage. The cases won't arrive for at least a couple of hours after you are on the ship. Getting your clothes right is not always easy, leaving London at 16C in the rain and arriving at Valletta at 32C in the sun may require some forethought. And you need to think about that last night especially remember the restrictions on what you can take through security (eg liquids).

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The flights can be booked 14 weeks before your cruise, I think the same date you have to pay off the balance. You can book specific seats, there is usually a small charge for this.

When we got to Malta we left our carry on luggage in the cabin and went back off the ship to explore Valletta. If you don't do this you miss out on your embarkation port. However we had been on Oceana before, so didn't need to explore the ship - if it is your first cruise exploring the ship might be a better option. Good thing about Valletta is you walk 200m along the front, then up a lift ( €2) and you are in the city centre.

Bring loose clothing the sea air will expand your waistline, at least I think it is the sea air that does this.

Above all relax and enjoy yourselves.

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Hi, we are going to the Caribbean in Dec on Azura. Looking at the shore excursions we thought we might like to go zip wiring. There are options in Antigua, St Kitts and St Lucia. Has anyone done any of these and could recommend one above another? Not been to Antigua before so would probably like to do more of an island explore thing here. Been to St K and St L before, so either of these would be good. Or would you say there are so many other great things to do why do you want to go zip wiring?

Thanks

P and O have stopped going to Turkey and are now going to Sarade Albania. We are booked on this cruise in May. Does anyone have any experience of this port any any ideas for exclusions, walks, sights etc. Many thanks.

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We are looking at the Adonia Caribbean itinerary for Nov/Dec that cruises up the Amazon to Santarem (missed out by a couple of days booking it a couple of years ago). DW has an allergy to mosquito bites, but mosquitos have an uncanny attraction to her. Not usually a problem at sea or on small islands, but wondered if anyone been on this cruise in the Amazon rain forest and could confirm absence or presence of mosquitos and their ferocity. I guess with publicity for zica virus this has brought question to front of mind.

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We are joining for a second half of a B2B so the passengers on the B2B will be ashore. But you are right it is worth checking. We did it last year in Genoa, same ship (Oceana) same company (P&O), I wouldn't bother asking P&O if the dock was 2 miles from the town through an industrial area, but if it is a ten min stroll then might be worth investigating.

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We are on a cruise sailing from Valetta in May. The plane touches down at 11.30am, I guess followed by the usual baggage reclaim, passport control, bus to terminal, wait to check in etc. My question is will there be enough time to get back off the ship and walk around the town before sailing/ muster drill and is that fairly easy or is it a long way from the port to the town? It seems a pity just to see Malta from the bus, then hide away on the ship.

 

I would look at port times and other ships in port for each itinerary.

 

Add: less important but still worth factoring. Look at the perk inclusions when comparing costs. For example if the beverage package is important to you.

Very helpful points thank you. I will look at the port times and other ships.

Good point also about the drinks package. DH is teatotal so if good sodas and mock tails are not included then the NCL package does not look too good.

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Both go to Rhodes, Mykanos and Santorini, and it is the Greek Isles we are interested in.

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Oops Corfu, not Rhodes.

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I don't have the ports to hand but from memory, Celebrity start in Rome (Civitaveccia ) and NCL start in Venice. Both go to Rhodes, Mykanos and Santorini, and it is the Greek Isles we are interested in.

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I am looking to book a Mediterranian cruise next May and have found two good deals. Both have similar itineraries. One is on Norwegian Star and the other on Celebrity Reflection. Does anyone have experience of these ships that couold help me decide? DH and I went on the inaugural sailing of Norwegian Escape but we didn't really get on with the party atmosphere on board and the size of the ship. We are in our early 60s and will not be using water parks or climbing walls! We have sailed with (and enjoyed) P&O, Cunard and HAL and tend to enjoy the smaller ship experience, but always keen to try something different.

I am looking to book a mediterranian cruise next May and have found two good deals. One is on Norwegian Star and the other is on Celebrity Reflection. Does anyone have experience of either of these ships that might help me decide? DH and I went on the inaugural sailing of the Norwegian Escape but we didn't really get on with the party atmosphere on board and the size of the ship. We are in our early 60s and will not be using water parks or climbing walls! We have sailed with (and enjoyed) P&O, Cunard and HAL and tend to enjoy the smaller ship experience, but always keen to try something different.

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I checked Weather.com for weather but they said Alaska temps can range from an average 50-65 F, thirty degrees either way. Can anyone tell me of their temperature experiences in mid- to late August? I have a Colombia vest and raincoat, will bring a scarf and hat and gloves as well for walking on ship outside.

 

if you are going to glacier bay it will be a lot colder than the ports. You will need a thick fleece/ jacket, hat and gloves in GB as you will want to stand on deck to get max effect.

Our ship could not dock in Victoria BC tonight.

I realise this thread is about compensation, but what is the position of not calling in at a Canadian port? - I thought this was mandatory. Perhaps it is enough to that it was on the itinerary you don't actually have to go there.