SClakeliving

Just now, SClakeliving said:

 

Why not just change the names for the rooms to reflect you and Mom sharing? Then you both buy the Silver Spirits. Once on board, you share room with your sister and Mom shares room with StepDad. Would that work?

1 hour ago, gabelle9 said:

Great! And yeah she is 18, I am 24, so I feel like we will be fine. My mom is having a similar experience with her own room with my stepdad. He doesn't drink, so she hasn't purchased the package online because he wouldn't use his. They might still say they both have to buy since they are both of drinking age, but at least I might be able to talk to someone on board and get away with it!

On 10/29/2023 at 1:09 PM, monkey@cruise said:

Tokyo Metro tickets cost from 180 to 330 yen depending on how far you travel. Toei fares are a little more expensive, ranging from 180 to 430 yen. A subway pass may be a money saving on travel.

What does a metro card cost? Is it unlimited travel then? 

On 10/26/2023 at 9:17 PM, Elzacruiser said:

BTW, mobile suica card only accept MasterCard, no Visa. 
 

Question: about how much should I load .... 3 days subway and some conveience store/vending machine? 

Question: can I get unused funds refunded?? how? just back to my CC on my iPhone ??

On 10/27/2023 at 7:54 AM, lorif said:

 

Mobile Suica card on my iPhone .....

can I get unused funds returned ? how?

I bought a GoCity Pass to use in Singapore. 3 activities. Sounds similar to Klook. I used GoCity in Dublin this summer and it was great. 

On 10/5/2023 at 3:45 PM, Milhouse said:

Base recommendation would be to go to a travel clinic.  My experience is that I find them more knowledgeable than my family doctor since they focus on travel vaccinations and will be more in the know about hot spots.  And I find they are pretty good in asking questions about where you're going (not just country but city versus rural areas) and explaining the risks for each area.

 

Advice from a rando like me on the Internet is to at least get your Hep A & B series particularly if you are going to eat at local eateries (which IMO is half the fun).  IMO tentanus should be kept up to date regardless.  Whereas some of the other shots like typhoid, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis likely can be skipped if you are keeping to cities/urban areas.  Again, you'll get better and more customized advice from a travel clinic and you need to assess your own risk tolerance.

Another rando here 😁 but I agree with Milhouse. we too are going on a cruise soon to India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and I am NOT getting the typhoid, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and cholera vaccines as we will be in cities for a brief time and not out in rural areas. We have Hep A & B already (got it for a trip to China a few yrs ago) and have the rest just as a general course of vaccines. I do however recommend you take and use a good insect repellent  with at least 30% DEET to prevent getting bit by mosquitos that transfer those diseases. Just my opinion.

Going to be in Tokyo in November for a few days (post cruise) before heading home to the States. Planning on going to Kyoto for a day too. Thinking best to a Welcome Suica card to use for transit in Tokyo and Kyoto and even some stores. I just read about a "Mobile Suica card" that is available through my Apple Wallet. It seems very convenient as it will be on my iPhone and I can add money to it with my Apple Pay. No need to get yen then use the yen to buy and/or load a  physical Suica Card. Just Wondering if it works well at transit gates and other places and if it is a good idea. I can get it and load it here before arriving in Japan. 

Thank you.

On 9/13/2023 at 9:11 PM, monkey@cruise said:

Can expedite the process (avoid wait in line with other tourists)
1. Use "Visit Japan Web" QR codes go through Custom and Immigration.
2. Purchase "welcome Suica cards" from vending machine (require passport scan)
3. Use "Welcome Suica card" as payment method on airport bus. 
4. Purchase metro passes from Shinjuku Station Metro Pass Office (require passport)
https://www.tokyometro.jp/lang_en/ticket/pass/counter/index.html

What is the difference between "Welcome Suica Card" and a metro pass? I thought the Suica card could be used as metro card? Also is Suica good for both Tokyo and Kyoto metro?

On 10/14/2023 at 8:47 AM, cruiseaholic78 said:

Welcome to CC.

A few things first where are you flying to, Narita or Haneda, if you can choose book definitely Haneda its much nearer Tokyo.

Where will your ship (which one and when) depart from Tokyo or 

Yokohama and where will you stay before boarding.

For airport to hotel in Tokyo we use the Limousine bus (its more of a coach) its convenient, luggage loaded underneath sit back and relax.

https://webservice.limousinebus.co.jp/web/en/

If you have already booked your cruise I suggest you join the roll call using the ‘find your roll call’ at the top of the CC. There you will hopefully find tips from your fellow cruisers.

For hotel to cruise ship this depends on all of the above and where you have decided to stay.

I suggest you do a bit more research first about the above and after making a few of the decisions maybe return here for some more tips.

Happy planning

Rosalyn

Do I have to book the airport limosine bus in advance or can I purchase a ticket when we arrive by plane?

We are staying in Singapore post-cruise at the Holiday Inn Express Clarke Quay from Nov 25-28. Can anyone suggest a couple of restaurants near by? What is best way to get to airport from the hotel? 

TIA

On 9/26/2023 at 8:08 PM, bennybear said:

Where are you embarking and disembarking?  If it’s Japan, best to check.  See the embassy info above.  Or you can hope customs will understand that you took the advice of a stranger on this forum🤷‍♀️

 

Also note custom agents come onboard when arriving from a foreign port, 

so…..

I seriously doubt that the customs agents come onboard and rifle through every single cabin to find prescription drugs that tourists have brought along. 

First time on Edge (sailing Nov 13) and wondering what exactly is the Magic Carpet. I see things about Magic Carpet Suites and other comments about having a drink while "on it". Is it a public area, when does it move, and what to do on it? Any tips about would be appreciated.

15 hours ago, Verrazano278 said:

My Delta Airlines Flight # 66 from Atlanta is scheduled to arrive in Rome Airport at 10:35 AM on Saturday Sept 30th.

What time do you think I should schedule my embarkation to the Celebrity Edge in Civitavecchia?

Been a while since I did this but the cruise port is anywhere from 1 hour to 2.5 hours away from Rome (depending on if you use a taxi/private car vs public transport bus /train). Plus factor in Passport control and customs when you arrive plus time to get to your preferred conveyance to port (car, taxi, train, etc). so maybe 2-3:00 pm embarkation? Hopefully others that have done this more recently can give you a better reckoning of time.

1 hour ago, EconDoc said:

As of now No Age Statement Glenfiddich and Glenlivet are within the Plus allowance but the 12-year versions are more. I strongly recommend Aberfeldy 12, which is well within the allowance and available at many, but not all, bars. 

Which Vodka's are in the Plus allowance? Titos, Grey Goose ?

I'll be there Feb 5 for a few hours waiting to board my flight back to USA at 9:15 pm. I want to charge my iPhone but will not have an Argentinian adapter.... do they have USB charging stations there? Recommend restaurants/bars to hang out in?

17 hours ago, wowzz said:

Princess Plus is now $60 pppd.

So if the old package @$50 was included in our cruise fare, are we subject to the new limits or old limits? 

6 hours ago, jeno said:

With the new pricing, I think the per drink limit price on the Plus package went up.  Has that happened yet? If so, has that made any changes in the wine menu? Are the brands of wine listed instead of just the generic “Chardonnay “? 

what is the new pricing?

On 12/6/2022 at 2:16 PM, Carnevale said:

Many thanks for all of the recommendations!  It was so helpful to have this input.  We were amazed at how many hotel options there are in Reykjavik in what we think is the main downtown area.  We ended up liking the options that the Center Hotels have (they have several properties in the main area).  We have booked the Center Hotel Laugavegur and are looking forward to spending our pre-cruise time there.

Thanks again!

We stayed at the Center Hotel Plaza. It was an excellent hotel and great location. We could walk to everything in downtown area easily.

Are people self-testing and reporting to the Captain? or is there required/mandatory testing going on on-board?  I wouldn't know if I had an allergy, Covid, a cold, or the flu if all I had was a little cough/sniffles/sore throat. For example, I've been coughing off and on for weeks now and I'm pretty sure it is due to seasonal allergy, not Covid. But I'm not going to test.

18 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

When I sailed on the Zaandam, the port change from Valparaiso to San Antonio was made because of labor problems at Valparaiso.  Dock worker issues with slowdowns, etc,  The problems must have been resolved.  

Hmmmm…Guess we just have to be flexible… port changes seem to happen a lot in Chile!! 

17 hours ago, Reina del Mar said:

 

Please check..thought Princess now sailing from San Antonio ??????

We got an email a couple of weeks ago from Princess saying They changed the port from San Antonio to Valparaiso for our cruise because of heavy cargo traffic at port that day. 

Thank you for all the info and tips! keep 'em coming! We sail on the Sapphire in January! I haven't sailed Princess since 2003! 

16 hours ago, Expat Cruise said:

  Again Princess Cruises is in business to make money. If the average person got more value than they paid for these packages Princess would not offer them. Maybe you should learn to read posts and understand them a little better. It is only muddy if one lacks the ability to think and understand how businesses operate.  

 

I would normally agree with you (( i.e. that Princess makes money/comes out ahead or wouldn't offer package...much like a Casino  where the "house always wins")) EXCEPT in this post-Covid world when the Cruise industry is trying to make a come-back, trying to get people back on their ships .... then they will offer a "lost leader" package to get your business over choosing another cruise line. So, in this case, I do think the the passengers come out ahead. As time goes on perhaps things will get more competitive and Princess will go back to offering packages that benefit them.

We are going in January with Princess. We are staying one night at the Hotel Cumbres Lastarria in the "old town" and very near all the historic sites. Then I reserved a private transfer to Valparaiso with VIATOR, and 8 other Roll Call people are joining us.