midwestchick

27 minutes ago, SuziQ1 said:

We canceled the cruise because they changed the itinerary and we didn’t like the ports they changed to.

 

13 hours ago, wjfan417 said:

We’re doing back to back Best of the Med September 26 and then Croatia Intensive on October 7.

We’ve done Croatia. It was beautiful, but Dubrovnik was so busy and somewhat of a disappointment.  The rest of that cruise we loved.  It was actually on a 10 day back to back in 2917.

11 hours ago, wjfan417 said:

I saw the transfer options and thought the prices are very reasonable. Chioggia to Mestre would be a good option for us as we will be headed to a train station when we disembark in October.

What cruise are you on in October?

7 hours ago, Lisaten said:

We're staying a Grande Italia in Chioggia for the May 6 Croatia intensive. I emailed the hotel about transportation (we're going a day early) and they wanted 125,00 for 2 people. I appreciate the info on Welcome Pickups. The water taxi from Chioggia that goes directly to St. Mark's Square is directly outside the door of the hotel, so we plan to take advantage of that on our own. The ship will be docked, as the crow flies, directly left of us and a few blocks over. However, there are several canals between us and no bridge nearby to get to it, so we will have to get a taxi to the ship.  A pretty short ride though.

 

Someone on the April 15 Journey cruise posted pictures if you want to check that roll call.

Actually the 125.00 is not a bad price. We paid about that several years ago for a water taxi from the airport to a Ve ice hotel. I don’t really like people movers and I can see they would be a pain

for people with luggage.  We want the simplest and most convenient transfer we can find. Thank you for the information.

On 4/15/2023 at 1:19 AM, fruitmachine said:

Yes, there looked to be plenty.  We've just finished 4 days in Mestre, which is on the mainland next to Venice.  We caught a short bus to here from the airport for EUR10 pp.  It's incredibly easy to get into Venice on the train if you pick a hotel near the station, so I'd recommend it unless you're determined to stay on one of the islands.

 

Today we've arranged a Chioggia-based van-sized taxi to collect us and two other couples.  It was a bit cheaper than the hotel said that a local taxi for two would cost.

We don’t wish to stay in Venice this time. We prefer to stay where the ship is docked. 

8 hours ago, fruitmachine said:

Venice is about 6km south of the airport in a straight line.  Chioggia roughly another 24 km further south.

Roughly about 20 miles. Are taxis readily available at the airport?  

10 hours ago, SandJCruiser said:

Fly into and out of Venice. Hotel Grande Italia.  Never been, so can't personally recommend it, but it gets decent Trip Advisor reviews.  

Thank you. I will check it out.

10 hours ago, wjfan417 said:

Hi Nancy,

 

Which sailing are you on in October? We were on the 2016 cruise with you and did some private shore excursions with you then. We’re on the Pursuit Croatia Intensive that leaves from Venice October 7. It’s the second leg of a back to back, so don’t have to worry about getting to the port!

 

Diana

Hi. We are on the Italy intensive on the Quest in October.  What excursion did we do with you? It’s been so long…which cruise was in 2016?

23 minutes ago, SandJCruiser said:

We cruise out of Chioggia in July.  We booked what appears to be a very nice hotel right on the water and (It appears) with walking distance of the pier.  It also is accessible by car, no water taxi required.  Booked a private transfer from the airport €133.

That’s roughly what we paid for a water taxi from the airport to a hotel in Venice the last time we were there.  Are you flying into Ve ice?  What is the name of your hotel? We sail in October and I’ve finally started researching this trip.

That definitely reminds me of Venice.  If people sail from there do they used Marco Polo airport or another one?

We are booked on an Italy extensive cruise in October. The ship sails out of Chioggia and not Venice, although we would fly into Venice. I’ll like information about transfers from Venice airport to that port. Are there hotels there and what do people do about transfers?  We’ve been to Venice several times before so if we would skip staying there for a day it would not be missed.

On 8/6/2022 at 4:52 PM, blag said:

Please be so kind as to explain why you say this. Is your comment based on recent experience? If so, please share!

I was only commenting on someone’s post as if we all we’re faint hearted! 😳 🙄 🙄 🙄.  That was the way I interpreted it.  To me it was an insulting comment to post  I thin all of us have traveled enough there is not a faint hearted one among the lot. 

On 8/8/2022 at 2:21 PM, Port Power said:

So am I!  I thought I had left plenty of time to arrive and navigate immigration before heading out again to Denmark, but now I wonder if 2 hours is anywhere near enough?  Hopefully by October these problems will have ameliorated.

UPDATE POST ABOUT FRIENDS FLYING TO ORD.  They did go to ORD and then were supposed to go on to Dulles but Chicago lost their luggage so they stayed overnight.  She said they may never see their luggage but it did leave AMS. 
Bad new is UA changed our seats after I paid for an upgrade due to a 10 minute time change. Now Incan argue with them at 0600 tomorrow morning. 😡😡😡

IMPORTANT…..LATEST UPDATE FROM SUNDAY FLIGHT TO U.S.

We had friends from our cruise fly home yesterday morning (granted it was a Sunday flight) and she emailed me. She said the airport was very busy and they had an early morning flight Sunday to the U.S.  She said she needed all of the 4 hours at AMS. I then replied and asked her about luggage arrival. I have not heard back yet to see if all their luggage made it home. I will keep you posted. 
Our taxi driver from the cruise port will be at our hotel at 0630 on Wednesday to take us to the airport. We have an 1100 flight. 

Also, Amsterdam is a littered mess from their parade on Saturday and the people who participated stayed on longer as noted by our driver. The canals are a mess with debris and plastic bottles floating. They haven’t had their parade for 2 years but I don’t think this was a way to show any appreciation to the city

hosting the event.  What a shame for first time visitors to Amsterdam. We were totally appalled at the filthy litter all over the streets in the city center and here in Dam square.  

Our waitress at breakfast here at the hotel said she saw young people standing by trash containers but purposely dropping beer bottles to the ground in stead of putting them in containers. She watched from the restaurant. She said she witnessed total disrespectfulness.  What a shame. 😡😛😫 😒 🤦🏻‍♀️   🤷‍♀️
The city is working tirelessly to clean up the mess.

As someone said and I quote. “It’s not for the faint hearted! ”. 😉 😄

8 hours ago, wjfan417 said:

We really didn’t have any contact with staff. We just headed to the baggage claim/departure hall as soon as we were off the plane. The only person we had any interaction with was when we had to show our passports. 

Thank you. That’s usually the way it is or should be. We will continue our plans to arrive as earlier posts recommended.  Some of these situations are not new to us.  Life in the travel world is what it is.  You either deal with it or stay home. We are quite accustomed to very long travel days to and from the U.S. 

1 hour ago, wjfan417 said:

We got through the airport today with all luggage making it-took less than an hour from landing to leaving airport.. Very easy to take the train from the airport to the city and transfer to the tram to get to our hotel.

 

Diana

That is truly wonderful

news. Does it feel as if there are enough staff now 

1 hour ago, excitedofharpenden said:

We are getting the Eurostar home. Very simple for me as I can get the train all the way home. Fingers crossed it's simpler. I won't miss flying, but it ain't cheap. 

 

Phil 

Lucky you. I hate these long flights to the US.

18 minutes ago, excitedofharpenden said:

We are here until tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

 

Phil 

We definitely will. We’ve enjoyed it so far and many pax are really nice, kind and friendly.  
If you fly home from Amsterdam let us know how the airport is.

3 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Hi Nancy. You need to buy the Airtags yourself, probably the Apple Store in Amsterdam is your best bet. I have three. They have come in very useful!

 

Phil 

We are staying at the Swissotel.  Maybe they can direct me there. How long are you in Amsterdam? I’ve been trying to get Anne Frank tickets but it only shows me September. 
If you are there next week would love to connect and buy you a drink. We’re finally doing our Norway cruse…the weather is much different than your last trip. 

2 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

I’m in Amsterdam right now. We flew in on Monday. Schipol was a zoo to arrive at. Immigration was very bad and as UK voted to leave the EU that didn’t help either. Allow plenty of time. It took us 45 minutes to fly in and an hour and a half to get out of the airport.. 
 

I totally 👍 uktog's suggestion. If you have an iPhone and can use Airtag then do. It helped us as they sent us to the wrong belt. Chaos from start to finish. Loving Amsterdam though. Go and have a stroopwaffel at this place. They are the best!

 

Phil 

2 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

I’m in Amsterdam right now. We flew in on Monday. Schipol was a zoo to arrive at. Immigration was very bad and as UK voted to leave the EU that didn’t help either. Allow plenty of time. It took us 45 minutes to fly in and an hour and a half to get out of the airport.. 
 

I totally 👍 uktog's suggestion. If you have an iPhone and can use Airtag then do. It helped us as they sent us to the wrong belt. Chaos from start to finish. Loving Amsterdam though. Go and have a stroopwaffel at this place. They are the best!

 

Phil 

Nice to see you here Phil. Where is that located?  We have a United direct flight. I hope that makes a difference. I’ll look for the air tags. Where are they located in the airport?

We'll be flying home on the 10th and I understand how bad things are at the Amsterdam airport. Supposedly we have to be there 4  hours before our flight. Have things gotten any better or are they still struggling with a lack of staff?

11 hours ago, Ine said:

Banks Mansion indeed, and also Waldorf-Astoria, Hotel de l'Europe, Ambassade Hotel. The Dylan, Estherea, Pulitzer are a few of the various hotels on a canal.  Amsterdam is very compact, you are never far away from the main attractions. 

Thank you. I will check them out. Is breakfast included with any of them?

On 4/13/2022 at 4:32 AM, VMax1700 said:

There are no Dublin hotels, that I am aware of, that will do Cruise transfers.  There are a few hotels within the greater airport area that provide transfers to/from the airport, but apart from that you are on your own.  Taxi etc is the option.

Thank you. I’m now looking for a pre-cruise hotel 

We are spending one night in Dublin pre-cruise. We would like an area close to the cruise ports and also with some nice bars and restaurants. Recommendations please.