AliWood

The email we got could have been more definitive in the absolute need to ensure you sorted out any visa before boarding. Or they could have reminded passengers that they would be denied shore leave if they hadn’t got them. Of course this was a repo cruise and some people boarded in Vancouver so Bali seemed like a lifetime away! As it does now already!

We have just returned from Solstice, Sydney to Singapore with overnight in Bali. Celebrity had sent emails before departure reminding people that they needed to ensure they had the correct visas for both Australia and Indonesia, I spent some 5 hours about 2 weeks before departure trying to get the Indonesia immigration website to accept our passports, photos and payment. Eventually I succeeded and thank god I did. On arrival at Sydney those without visas for Bali were asked to sign a form to say that they would get the visa while en route. This proved very difficult with the feeble Wi-Fi on board, and long queues formed at Guest Relations to try to get them to help. They were unwilling apparently, but huge numbers needed this visa and so they set up a help centre, people queued for 4 hours to try to get this resolved. They produced a step by step guide to doing it online, but as I said the internet connection is not great and was swamped by the sheer numbers trying to get online. Eventually Celebrity contacted head office and they boarded Indonesian immigration staff at Darwin to manually issue the visas to those who hadn’t got them. All passports were collected before Darwin and not returned until after Bali. Everywhere on the ship you could hear conversations about the visa situation. Very irritating and Celebrity could have done much more, much earlier, to remind passengers of the need to get the visa yourself. Visa on arrival did not seem to be an option! Just a cautionary tale really.

On Celebrity Solstice now. We call at Bali in 5 days time, staying overnight. Anyone know if there are taxis available at the cruise terminal? We just want to go to a beach and not a tour of the island as we have that booked for day 2. there have been big issues with the visa for Indonesia- hundreds of people have not been able to get their visas so now the Indonesian authorities are coming on board in Darwin to sort it out

As a Londoner born and bred I can offer a couple of tips. The No. 11 bus goes from St Paul’s Cathedral, along the Strand, Whitehall, past Westminster and on to Chelsea. Cheaper than the HOHO bus if you have your Oyster or are ok with contactless. The No 15 is also a good route. On the river the Thames Clippers are a great way to see London, they call at many stops up and down and they are now run by Uber so you can buy the tickets if you have the Uber app I hope you enjoy the greatest city in the World!

I would get a taxi from the port to the Castle entrance for your timed visit and then walk down the Royal Mile, finishing at Holyroodhouse which is well worth a visit. Everywhere in Edinburgh involves up or down hill - Princes Street Gardens for example are down from the Royal Mile in a gorge. Edinburgh is built on the site of an extinct volcano so there are hills all round, such as Arthur’s Seat. The Royal Yacht Britannia moored at Leith (the port of Edinburgh) is also supposed to be a good thing to visit!

Glad you have had a great trip - it seems as if the dining room issues are still going on. We had similar issues with wine - changes of wine type - not being offered top ups - slow service. The route from Memphis definitely looks the better option - because of the strong current we had two changes of itinerary. We didn’t stop at St Francisville - no explanation given, Pointe Coupee on the other bank has nothing. At Vicksburg we only had a morning instead of the whole day, so it was either the battlefield tour or the HoHo but not both. This was to make up time. Then of course we broke down anyway Also on the southbound route you stop at Baton Rouge - we just sailed past in the evening without stopping. You seemed to stop much nearer Nottoway - we were 20 minutes drive! I hope they manage to sort out the staffing issues for future cruises. The UK agent we booked through has just issued us with some compensation for the breakdown and dining room problems!

Use the screen by the pursers office to print the tickets for the HOHO buses to make sure you get a time to suit. We found it breezy on the river and the air con on board quite fierce - bring cardigans or fleece/jacket The dress code in the dining room was very casual - despite what AQ say. There was even - horror - one man in shorts at dinner in the evening! If you can, use the bikes to cycle on the levee - Nottoway and Pointe Coupee , also Greenville, but not sure if you stop at them! Sorry - that was 4!