CanuckinSMA

It says that ALL gratuities are included.  Would like feedback to anyone who has traveled with Scenic.  Did you still feel compelled to tip tour guides, bus drivers on city tours? And your "butler"?  

Just wondered if the people who are serving you actually get the gratuities over and above their salaries.  

We are booking this for a Danube River cruise next year.  Anyone who has been on this boat, can you tell me if there is a big difference between the Sapphire and Diamond Decks?  I know there is one room mid ship on the Sapphire Deck but am trying to find out if I should be looking for something on the higher deck - the Diamond Deck??  Thanks.

We are ready to book our Danube River cruise for next September.  We have option of starting September 10 or September 24 from Prague to Budapest.  Is there an advantage of either one?  Obviously it will be colder the latter date but wonder if the river level will be more dependable?  Would love some input on this.  Thanks.

It looks like you can load up to 10 currencies on to the card.  I have  travel companions who is nervous about using their credit card on the Baltic cruise. Looks like the prepaid Visa might be a great option.  No fees and you can use it in any of the countries you have loaded and it will automatically convert to that country's currency.  Anyone used it?  Any downsides?  Thanks.

Comparing tours - most of the private ones have max. 16 people.  Any idea what the max people is for ship excursion? Thx. 

Six of us going on a Baltic Cruise in August.  Two of us (me!) want to book our tour with a private company as we feel we'll have smaller numbers and more personalized service. Four of our group insist they will never use a credit card in Russia "(if they can hack the U.S. election, they can hack my credit card!!)" and want to go on the ship excursions...ok so my question is ... is there any way of booking a tour without paying with credit card?  And please don't tell me that it won't happen.  They won't believe it.  Thanks!

I will do that. Thank you.  But could you tell me approximately how many people we could expect to be on a St. Petersburg shore excursion with Celebrity?  

Six of us going on a Baltic Cruise in August.  Two of us (me!) want to book our tour with a private company as we feel we'll have smaller numbers and more personalized service. Four of our group insist they will never use a credit card in Russia "(if they can hack the U.S. election, they can hack my credit card!!)" and want to go on the ship excursions...ok so my question is ... is there any way of booking a tour without paying with credit card?  And please don't tell me that it won't happen.  They won't believe it.  Thanks!

I've done one cruise to Alaska with Holland and that's all my cruising experience. Next year family will be in England for a year. We want to visit them and this likely will be our last trip overseas. After our visit, I would like to do a UK cruise. I think we'll visit Ireland with my family so a cruise in England, Scotland and Wales would be great. Then I got thinking about a river cruise. Would that be way too much to do the two cruises so close together? I assume most UK cruises start from Southampton. But wondering if anyone has used an itinerary of cruising UK and then doing a Budapest/Prague River cruise?? Would we be better to do the river cruise first and then fly/train to Oxford? Has anyone recommendations of cruiselines that are best for these itineraries. I know I'm being somewhat vague but I'm just starting my through process and will get more specific as I get more info. Thanks!!!

Does the Explore 4 "card" work on the beer machine??

Thank you Alberta Quilter...feeling much better!! :)

I average 1 Bonine per day on a cruise. On the whale watching boat in Icy Strait Point, I took 2 on the boat, making 3 for the day. On the Kenai Fjords tour in Seward I took 2.5 on the boat. I was eating ginger chews like candy (it is candy). I think seabands might have been a good addition. Those small boats are rocky! If you are prone to seasickness and you don't use anything, you'll be miserable and also be using a sick bag.

I am getting a little freaked out here. I am a little prone to seasickness. They delayed our excursion from 1:30pm to 4:30pm (it's a Holland America Whale Watching/ Wildlife Excursion). First does anyone know how long we'll be on the whale watching boat? And because they changed the times, is that sufficient cause to cancel? I'm just really getting concerned that it's a late in the day trip and now hearing about the rockiness of the boats...shudder, shudder!!!!!

Have you tried the Icy Straits whale watching tour? The times might be better for you. We have been on both tours. You will see plenty of whales on either tour. We are on this cruise, too.

Is this out of Juneau..I'm trying to find it on the excursion list??

Unfortunately it looks like that trip is waitlisted.

Call to see if there are still retreat cabanas available. Best money spent on a cruise hands down!

What is a retreat cabana? Where are they located? Do you rent them and how much are they? Never heard of this - info please!

Our whale watching tour from Juneau on Aug. 28 has been changed from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. It is approximately 4 hours, getting us back to the ship after 8:30. We'll have to change etc. and wonder if this gives us enough time to do everything and have dinner? Also will it be rougher later in the day? I've never cruised before and my biggest issue is fear of motion sickness!! It's the Whale and Wildlife tour and wonder if there is any alternative whale watching trips you would recommend earlier in the day? Or maybe this is all a good thing as the whales come out later in the day!?!! Thanks.

Don't need clothes washed but may need some stuff pressed after being in suitcase. How long does it take them to do this, who do I give clothes to, and how much do they charge?? Thanks.

I've had a look at a few menus..it refers to Alaskan salmon. How would you know what other fish is "local" ie. is the halibut local. We are fish eaters and would like to have local fresh fish so would like to know how to tell? Is all the fish frozen or is there some fresh? Thanks!

Are they provided on the Nieuw Amsterdam Verandah cabins? Going to Alaska and will bring them if they're not provided. Thanks.

Perfect, I found it there. Thank you!

I booked an excursion through Holland America about 2 months ago. I have the receipt in an e-mail. I've just gone on to their website and can find my booking but I don't see any place where I see the excursion I booked. Should It be there? I'm on an Alaskan cruise, leaving Aug. 26. Thanks.

Definitely a newbie here. I didn't know there were phones in the room!!!! :o

I found out my Cell Phone plan does not cover texting on board a ship. How do you contact your friends who are on the ship with you? Or do you have to knock on their door?! (newbie question likely!!).

I;m a first timer as well...just to clarify...I thought you had to go to the bar to get your drink to bring back to your table in the dining room? Do you mean that you just give your card to the waitperson and they bring your drink(s) to the table?? Thanks.

Going on Alaskan cruise on Explore 4. I see where a Bloody Mary is $8.25 on Roger Jett's site. I assume that means that it isn't covered in the Explore 4 package. So if we order it or any drink over $8, does it get charged to our room? Also can someone tell me what the usual procedure is for cleaning your room and who actually does it? Is it like a hotel, where you leave a tip on your pillow or is this part of your general daily tip you pay? Do people tip the housekeepers extra? Do you put the card on your door like a hotel - Do Not Disturb or Please Clean? Thanks!