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RecoveryDude

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    Thessaloniki - Do you "need" to take a tour or can you just see the sights un-guided.

    in Greece Ports

    Posted

    10 hours ago, edinburgher said:

    afternoon shore excursion to visit the tomb of Philip II (Alexander the Great's father) in Vergina (about an hour or so outside of Thessaloniki).

     

    We did a morning shorex to the Vergina museum.  I think you can only access it with private transport and a taxi may not be practical as you will want to spend some time here..

     

    This museum totally surpassed our expectations in every way and I strongly recommend you  try to get there. The exhibits from the (intact and unlooted) tomb of Philip 11 are absolurely breathtakingly beautiful, especially the golden objects such as the acorn  crown/diadems. 

     

    We would have happily taken many many photos but photography is not allowed and the museum attendants were hyper vigilant.

     

    There shouild be much information found online, (Museum of the  Royal Tombs of Vergina.) and even if you think you have visited many museums and "seen it all", and "this will be just another museum"you will find after a visit here that you are now closer to "seeing it all"than you were before your visit.

     

    A personal opinion of course, but we rank it as high as the Tomb of Tutankhamun (apart from the golden mask).

    Just wondering if that excursion was organized by the cruise company or someone local once you got off the ship?

    Thessaloniki - Do you "need" to take a tour or can you just see the sights un-guided.

    in Greece Ports

    Posted

    On 2/21/2023 at 12:51 AM, cruisemom42 said:

     

    It's very easy to get around Thessaloniki on your own. I'm not sure if larger ships have to dock further out, but we were on a small ship and walked off almost in the middle of the city. We had planned a full morning of sightseeing -- got off the ship fairly soon after docking and took a taxi to the Archaeological Museum (full of wonderful things excavated from various sites and tombs around northern Greece). Then we walked from the museum to the Rotunda and the Arch of Galerius (remnants of the days when Thessaloniki was one of the four "capitals" of the Roman Empire. Finally we walked to the Roman Agora, then took a taxi back to the ship.

     

    We were back just in time to grab a quick lunch before an afternoon shore excursion to visit the tomb of Philip II (Alexander the Great's father) in Vergina (about an hour or so outside of Thessaloniki).  At the time, the ruins of Vergina (ancient Aigai) weren't open, but I think they are now. Aigai was the royal capital of Macedon. The excursion was well worth it.

     

    The statue of Alexander that you mention is modern; it was only put up in the 1970s....

     

     

     Was the excursion to Vergina organized by the cruise company?  

    Thessaloniki - Do you "need" to take a tour or can you just see the sights un-guided.

    in Greece Ports

    Posted

    Hello!  We are going on a Celebrity cruise stopping at this port, and we have never been here before.  They only have one excursion to choose from, and it's a "van tour" - We are not too interested in just "driving past" churches and buildings.  Is this the sort of port you can just get around easy and see things.  We definitely want to see the Statue of Alexander the Great.  Any help, tips or advice would be appreciated.

     

    Thanks!

     

    Recovery Dude

    Jet Ski Rental at Paradise Beach Club?

    in Cozumel

    Posted

    Hello everyone!

     

    I will be in COZ in a couple weeks and "normally" rent Jetskis from Mr. Sanchos, however I waited too long to book and now they are sold out.  I'm wondering if PARADISE BEACH CLUB rents Jet Skis?  We will NOT be staying all day there so we don't want to have to pay for an "all inclusive", we just want to come, Jet Ski and then leave.  Can anyone tell me if this is possible and can I reserve in advance?

     

    Thanks so much!!

    Jeff

    Anyone been to San Pedro/Ambergris Caye?

    in Belize

    Posted

    Cruising to Belize in January.  Trying to find something to do.  Interested in "San Pedro" (Which is the Isle that Madonna sings about in La Isla Bonita) - Wondering if anyone has taken the Ferry from Belize City to this island and if so what you did there for the day??

     

    Thanks!

    • Like 1

    Magic or Horizon

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    I’ve sailed on almost all of Carnival’s fleet, and I do not like the Vista class ships.  Would not sail again on that class if you paid me.  Horizon is very similar to Vista so here’s what I didn’t like:

     

    1. Due to the IMAX (who uses that anyway?) in the middle of the ship, there is no grand atrium in the lobby with the typical glass elevators - this makes it feel very small and closed in and crowded.

    2. No nightclub which means that the theater “converts” to a nightclub, which means all the theater seating is REMOVABLE- this means there are no tables to set drinks during the shows which means people SPILL drinks during shows by accidentally kicking them over.  Also not as much seating as a typical carnival theater and it also sucks as a nightclub cause it’s too “open” and the music echos.

    3. Lido deck is crowded ALL THE TIME.  Bad layout - not enough chairs 

    4. Whole ship feels “cramped” and passenger flow doesn’t make sense.

     

    ive sailed on almost all of the Carnival ships and the Vista is BY FAR the worst I’ve been on.  My favorites are the Magic and the Pride.  I will also say that I’ve sailed on Royals Harmony of the Sea last year, which has 6,000 passengers and I never felt “crowded” at all and couldn’t believe that many ppl were on board .... but we were at capacity.  So it’s NOT the number of passengers on the Vista .... it’s the poor design of the ship.

    • Like 1

    Taxi to “mountain top” vs a “tour”

    in St. Thomas/St. John

    Posted

    Hi - I’m wondering if there will be taxis when we get off the ship willing to take us to mountain top ... then just drop us off downtown for some shopping?  I really don’t want to get stuck taking a several hour “tour” - they can get boring.  But I’d like to see mountain top and do shopping - is this possible and also any idea the cost?  Haven’t been to St Thomas in over 10 years ....

     

    thanks!!!

    Grand Turk ATV Rental - Who does that now?

    in Grand Turk

    Posted

    Hello!  Will be in Grand Turk in Feb 2019 (like 74 days!) and want to rent ATV's - Just wondering, with all the hurricanes last year ... what company still rents ATV's?  A couple years ago I rented from Omar, but there's some bad reviews online that said he went out of business?  Not sure if anyone has rented from Omar/GrandTurkAdventures recently?  What about Max KART?  Any "new" place I don't know of that rents ATV's (NOT golf carts).  Any recent experience renting them is appreciated.  I don't want to go on a "tour" --- I want to explore on my own.

     

    Thanks!

    Does the “Refreshment” package include energy drinks?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    I have the middle “refreshment” package (ie, not just the soda package, but also NOT the one that includes alcohol)

     

    Can I use that to get mocktails containing an energy drink? Or can I just get an energy drink over ice???

     

    Thanks .... just trying to figure out if I need to smuggle Rockstar on board. If It matters I leave from FLL on Harmony of the Seas 9/15

     

    Thanks!!!

     

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Stay in Orlando or Port Canaveral??

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    When I cruise ... I always fly in TWO nights before embarkation... extend the vacation a little - In that case, I ALWAYS stay in Coco Beach ... makes the vacation seem longer, and if it’s Pool Weather .... stay at the Radisson ... the pool with water fall (Google it) is amazing!! Typically AFTER the cruise we stay AT LEAST one night before flying home, in that case we stay in Orlando .... and fly home the day after we get off the ship ... I’ve found that for me, flying home the same day I disembark is WAYYYYYYYYY too depressing - which means my “7 day” cruise turns into a 12 day vacation. Really doesn’t cost that much more, maybe another $500 or so but makes the vacation seem much longer - It’s worth it for me. Also we always Rent from Alamo/Enterprise - they are the ONLY rental car company that has an office AT the port. They also are usually cheaper and they don’t put a huge “authorization” on your credit card ... and of course they have a shuttle to where the ship is.

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Pre-Cruise Photo Package 20 on USB

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Hi - I’m considering buying a photo package. Just making sure I’ll get my moneys worth. Do they take multiple photos at the ports? (For example on CCL when at a port and you stand in front of the sign with the name of the port on the “ship wheel” - there are actually TWO photogs taking pics so one is you LOOKING at the camera and in color and the other is B/W and you are not looking at the camera - does RCCL do that? Also are the photogs “everywhere” on board capturing pics? Just don’t want to spend $200 on 20 pics of the cruise and not get 20 taken lol -

    Also, how does this work as far as SELECTING which prints i want included on the USB??

    Can I view all the photos they take on my phone (with watermark) BEFORE buying them?

    How much are digital pics onboard? This works out to $9.95 per digital print....

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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