AlRajul

Can anyone advise, we are looking at booking Regal Princess for 23rd Sept. Are you still tied into ship excursions,  or can you do your own thing?

Hi SolentRichard,

Great blog, we are due to do the Majestic Mekong mid Sept with Pandaw. As you can imagine we are having second thoughts about going due to Covid -19. Our final balance is due shortly, so lots to think about!

On 9/2/2019 at 12:32 AM, kathynorth said:

This is a bit late, but thanks to everyone who contributed to our great Dec 2018 DIY sidetrip to Iguazu. We had a wonderful time at a much lower cost than we were quoted by online TA’s who advertise these trips, and way less than what the cruiseline was looking for. We stayed just 1 night and I calculated that our entire side trip was around $1,500 usd for 3 of us, including airfare, cabs transfers, and food. I thought I’d pay it forward by adding a bit of what we experienced on the DIY portions of our trip.

 

• I followed the directions from a previous poster on how to make a reservation with Aerolineas and called the BA call center 1-800 number I found on the internet. I was informed that there is an additional processing fee for making a voice reservation and the agent recommended I make the reservation online via the Argentine website. She even stayed on the phone as I made my reservation via the website so she could be of assistance if I needed any.

 

• The reservation process itself is a bit confusing because I first received an email indicating the reservation I had requested was accepted. I then needed to log back into the Aerolineas website to pay for my ticket to avoid paying the processing fee. I clicked the provided link and paid for my tickets ($158 USD pp round trip), then an email arrived with a copy of my boarding ticket.

 

• Flying in and out of the Iguazu airport was an experience in itself. It felt more like a bus station than an airport. We were fortunate in that we didn’t experience any delays.

 

• We saved so much $ on the airfare from what I expected to pay that we decided to splurge on a night at Melia so we could save time by being in the park. (We joined the Melia Rewards club and received a 20% discount) We thought the late evening and early morning access to the falls made it worth it given our short stay. We initially booked the cheapest Melia room ($335), but were offered an upgrade to a falls view for a nominal increase. This was hard for us to refuse as we stood at the check in counter mesmerized by the falls in the distance. We ended up paying $355 for a 3 person waterfall view room including breakfast. We quickly finished our check in, dropped off our bag, and were off to the trails.

 

• Right after we booked our room we received an email with an offer for airport pickup/drop off for $16 each way and after a bit of research we decided this would work well for us. When we arrived at the Iguazu airport we were greeted by a driver holding a card with our name, carrying a cooler with cold water and iced wash clothes. This was an unexpected treat as it was very hot out. On our way to Melia we needed to stop in at the park entrance area. The driver walked us through the park registration process and we were on our way to Melia. The drivers on both ends were courteous and on time. We were so tired with all our walking at the end of day 1 that we decided to eat at the Melia buffet restaurant. I can’t remember how much this cost, but we had a delicious meal for under $150 for 3 adults, including a couple bottles of wine. The Melia grounds were beautiful, the infinity pool was awesome, and breakfast was a feast.
•  
• Now the waterfalls, what an awesome sight. IMO there is no need for a guide for Iguazu. This is a very easy park to navigate. You pick up a park map when you pay your entry fee or can get a map at any of the hotels in town. The trails are clearly marked and color coded. The walkways are level for the most part, but there are some steps to climb and lots of walking, walking, walking. Each turn of the trail brings you to a different view. The thunderous sound of the water crashing was nothing I’d ever heard before. We spent the first afternoon/evening walking the upper trails and took the train to Devil’s throat. We originally thought we see as much as we could of the Argentina side, then use the hotel service to travel to the Brazil side in the early morning. However, we changed our mind when we saw how vast and beautiful the Argentine park was.

 

• Aventura Nautica boat ride: We used the excursion desk situated in the hotel to book an early morning boat ride under the waterfall. We were very glad we make this choice. On day 2 we were up early, had breakfast, and shot out the door when the park opened. When you stay at Melia you are already inside the park, so a quick walk down a path brings you to the walkways. We were taken on a brief wildlife tour (didn’t see much) on our way to the boat launch, then needed to navigate a very steep set of stairs to get to the dock. As an FYI, going down was way easier then getting back up those stairs. I can’t remember the cost of the boat trip (maybe $40-45pp?), but I remember thinking it was reasonable; after the boat trip I decided it was a bargain. If you go on the boat ride, be prepared to get absolutely soaked. You really do go right into the waterfall.

 

My only regret is that we weren’t able to add an extra night, which would have given us the chance to visit the Brazilian side. However, the Argentina side with boat ride worked well for us.  

 

Please feel free to ask questions or to post your own DIY tips for Iguazu!

Thank you so much for posting, I'm just starting to research this trip so really useful info.

Can anyone tell me where the shuttle drops off. We are on Dec 12th sailing, have booked shuttle as we've done the most visited tours before, want to plan other must sees? 

Can anyone tell me how this works? How do I find out which cruises this applies too. I'm in the UK, the cruises all appear with Fly/Cruise prices, can't find any without an extra charge for the flight. 

Any help appreciated.

Can anyone tell me how this works? How do I find out which cruises this applies too. I'm in the UK, the cruises all appear with Fly/Cruise prices, can't find any without an extra charge for the flight. 

Any help appreciated.

Thanks Brian, that's useful to know, I've received the following reply to my email from Costa. 

There seems to be disruption on bus 382 to Felison Cruise Terminal, has anyone found an alternative route? I've emailed Costa to see if they might be putting on a shuttle from Central Amsterdam, they have several excursions coming from port into Amsterdam, so they might possibly organise something if enough people contact them? Alternatively, if all else fails, anyone else staying at the Hotel Tropen, and be prepared to share a taxi?

We are on Costa Mediterrenea on 24th July. As of 1st July, there seem to be problems with bus route 382 which we had hoped to use for the transfer. Anyone made this trip over the last few days and how did you do it? 

Any suggestions would be appreciated, I've contacted Costa to see if they might put on a shuttle whilst this disruption lasts

Thanks

Jan

Thanks everyone for replying, we've only done cruises with predominantly US citizens or Brits. It's going to feel like we are really abroad! 

Thanks everyone for replying, we've only done cruises with predominantly US citizens or Brits. It's going to feel like we are really abroad! 

We are on the Costa Mediterranea on 24th July, first trip with Costa, what are the predominant nationalities likely to be on board. This trip is Amsterdam, Scotland, Iceland, Germany?

Can anyone give advice re what type of visa is required for Celebrity Constellation

4th March 2019 voyage?  We will be entering multi times the UAE, I'm waiting for

reply for UK AUE Embassy but in the mean time would be interested in what everyone

else has done in the past, or are intending to do.  There seems to be two trains of thought

1,Free On Arrival Visa which is for 30 days, but I've also read that you can't reenter within 30 days!

so that doesn't seem correct for the cruise, or 2, MultiEntry Tourist Visa which is AED 650 (around £150)

Hope someone can put me straight on this?

Jan

We have just got our Visa, we needed a full Tourist visa as we were doing a land tour prior to our cruise. A couple of things which caught people out in the queue ahead of us are photo sizes, you do need 2" x 2" head and shoulder shots, the UK booths are the wrong size. Our local photo shop, was able to use their software to process the photo we supplied on a USB stick, so it matched the requirements, it only cost us £1 for printing. VFGlobal, who handle visa application for the consulate were really helpful, if your photo is not the correct size/standard they will take a photo and print out for you for £10.00. Another thing to be aware of, if you are supplying your own Special Delivery envelope, it must be a plastic one, they refused to take a padded envelope put did sell the couple a suitable one. Our passports were returned within 7 days. 

We have just got our Visa, we needed a full Tourist visa as we were doing a land tour prior to our cruise. A couple of things which caught people out in the queue ahead of us are photo sizes, you do need 2" x 2" head and shoulder shots, the UK booths are the wrong size. Our local photo shop, was able to use their software to process the photo we supplied on a USB stick, so it matched the requirements, it only cost us £1 for printing. VFGlobal, who handle visa application for the consulate were really helpful, if your photo is not the correct size/standard they will take a photo and print out for you for £10.00. Another thing to be aware of, if you are supplying your own Special Delivery envelope, it must be a plastic one, they refused to take a padded envelope put did sell the couple a suitable one. Our passports were returned within 7 days. 

On 1/8/2019 at 12:17 AM, hwbolingbroke said:

Many thanks for that.

Marella Cruises use and recommend CBIT to do the various visas, so I went onto their website and downloaded the pack for this particular cruise, on the actual date, with it’s four stops in India.

That pack includes e-Visa application and not Regular Muti Entry visas.

I rang CIBT and they said that the e-Visa was perfectly fine - it was actually Marella themselves that had uploaded the pack to their website - and everyone is going to be given e-Visas (£84.15 consular fee) CIBTcharge £79.20 per head to do the work. And thats just India. Add on Oman (Consular fee £10.74) CIBT £52.80 and Sri Lanka (Consular fee zero)  CIBT £26.40

 

I then looked at loads of reviews from people who have just come back from India cruises in the last few months. e-visas are fine and nobody’s had any problems going ashore with them at Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore or Kochin.

One ship had 200 people with e-visa and 1800 with regular. They were all treated the same and the queues at the ports are not a problem now, apparently. It seems that the four stops are treated as one entry because the ship doesn’t leave Indian waters. I think this is why the lady at the High Commission thought that we needed regular multiple entry visas. I now don’t believe we do.

I have also copied the declaration from the Indian Government, stating that e-Visas will no longer require biometric processing at the four ports that can now process them. This means they can be processed on the ship.

Now if there is a problem with using an e-Visa, Marella won’t let passengers board at the start of the cruise. So, since they instructed CIBT to process e-Visas and not regular Visas for this trip, I guess they are confident with that, and we’re going to go along with it.

I have now logged a help email with the agency we booked with, asking them just to confirm, but either way, we will go for e-Visa. It’s £40 a head cheaper and no visit to London (our nearest  Indian Consulate - £30 return train journey each) 

We will not be using an agency because it is not complicated - especially since I have their wonderful pack with all the guidance of the various questions.

Doing it ourselves will save £316.80p.

When I spoke to the lady at the Indian High Commission in London, she said she was shocked by what these agencies charge when there is so much help available from the people who they outsourced the Visa work to and the website is so easy to use. (Indiaavisaonline.go.in)

If I can do a power of attorney online, and my tax return, I should be able to handle a visa application. (he said, confidently 🙂)

 

Well now, I hope you have a great cruise, the next thing is currencies!

Kind regards

Try this link:-

https://www.marellaexcursionspassenger.tui.co.uk

We were able to book online.

16 hours ago, can-cruise said:

Hi Southendweather

Thanks for your reply. Brits are fine with us. We originally hailed from that part of the world.

We were on Discovery 2 last year in December and really enjoyed our cruise. As for the

weather, we have just had our first snow for the year, so this looks good to us.

I was afraid that the Ship tours might be booked up but we will check them out as soon as

we board. If it is not possible to book with them we will do something independently.

 

Travel safe and enjoy your cruise.

 

 

 

 

 

On 11/24/2018 at 10:06 AM, Hookedoncruising! said:

Hi AlRajul,

We got ours on 18th of October.Why not message them instead of phoning?I have contacted them this way a few times and they have always answered promptly.Go to your booking and there should be a Contact Us you can click onto.

Good luck.

Thanks I'll try that first.

I'm on Dec 11th sailing, still not received anything, anyone else on this cruise received there's? Don't want to run up a phone bill unnecessarily if everyone in the same position.

I'm on Dec 11th sailing, still not received anything, anyone else on this cruise received there's? Don't want to run up a phone bill unnecessarily if everyone in the same position.

Hi Liz,

How did it go we are going to Santa Marta in Dec so would value your experience?

Hi Liz,

How did it go we are going to Santa Marta in Dec so would value your experience?

No not received anything, but an email apologizing for delay. 

Does anyone know what to do if your travel insurance doesn’t cover this incident? Just spoke with Gold Visa and they said no coverage. Sitting at about $4000 extra in charges for missing flights, hotel stay, 2 separate flights to get home since our airline only flew out of Venice on weekends and we missed all possible flights. Any help/next steps would be greatly appreciated!!

you could try a small claims against the "jumper" in the UK courts, doesn't cost much.