UB & AS

On 4/24/2019 at 7:25 PM, OzNaiNai said:

You are lucky to be able to take 15kg as carry-on. In Australia we are limited to 7kg carry-on. 

We sailed around OZ a few years ago with a stop in Adelaide which we quite enjoyed. It was 35 nights on Solstice starting in Auckland, round NZ to Sydney and on to Perth with the second leg from Perth round OZ and back to Sydney. Great holiday, also got to circumnavigate Willis Island as an alternative to the canceled sailing to Bali. I do not remember any real carry-on restrictions on the return flight from Sydney to LAX and then YVR. 

Cheers, Bill

12 hours ago, OzNaiNai said:

You are lucky to be able to take 15kg as carry-on. In Australia we are limited to 7kg carry-on. 

We each can have a 10 kg hand luggage and a small personal item with max 10 kg. It would take a large "man bag" to fit 10 kg into it. We live on an island and our flight to Vancouver is on a small turboprop plane where luggage is carefully weighed. It can be a bit bizarre to have to take a kg out of Sandy's roller bag and put it into mine so that each weighs less than 10 kg as the combined weight is going to be the same on the plane. But, rules are rules!

Happy trails, Bill

We are packed and ready for the flight to AMS and our first European river cruise. Experience from many cruises has taught us how to pack. We will travel with a carry-on bag each plus a small personal item. Less than 15 kg of luggage each..This makes travel very easy and no luggage fees, waits for luggage or lost luggage. 

Cheers, Bill and Sandy

Just a few weeks and we embark in Amsterdam for boat ride on the Rhine to Luxembourg, our first European river cruise. I have been packed for over a month! Not really excited, but ready. Going to do the trip with just two carry-on bags. We have learned what we really need to pack after a lot of ocean cruises.

Cheers, Bill

6 hours ago, USC Adventurer said:

I have to agree that Roger's Chocolates are one of the finest in North America shops for chocolate you must try their Victoria creams they're out of this world whenever I'm in Vancouver or Victoria I have to stop at Roger's Chocolates which doesn't help my waistline but it sure helps my need for chocolate

Rogers' does ship worldwide so you can enjoy your indulgence in California or anywhere else. We live about three hours north of Victoria but still use their shipping instead of driving. Rogers' chocolates are also available on B.C. Ferries on your way to Vancouver Island. Anything worth doing is probably worth overdoing! It's the premier box that I buy, not prestige (which does not exist).

Cheers, Bill

9 minutes ago, USC Adventurer said:

I have to agree that Roger's Chocolates are one of the finest in North America shops for chocolate you must try their Victoria creams they're out of this world whenever I'm in Vancouver or Victoria I have to stop at Roger's Chocolates which doesn't help my waistline but it sure helps my need for chocolate

The original Victoria shop itself is iconic and is a must visit.

Last year's Christmas shopping for my wife was very easy. I just called Rogers' and had them send her their prestige assortment. Made Sandra happy day after day!

Cheers, Bill

14 hours ago, santoliston said:

Will be visiting Vancouver Isle at end of June. Any places you recommend not to miss?

Thank You

Guess it is a question of how are you travelling and how long can you stay? Victoria is a favourite of tourists: whale watching, Butchart Gardens, Craigdarroch Castle, Tea at the Empress Hotel, wandering around Government Street, Chinatown, carriage ride, Rogers' Chocolates (perhaps the very best). If you are driving then going north on the Island and driving to Pacific Rim National Park on the Pacific with some wandering around Tofino. A must see is the stand of old growth timber on the way to the west coast. We are further north (middle of the island) and view the Inside Passage. We love "Our Island".  During the summer we will be driving to Canada's third ocean (Arctic Ocean at Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T.). This will be an adventure.

Looking forward to our first European river cruise. It will be the best of times. It will be the wurst of times.

Bill and Sandy

7 hours ago, notamermaid said:

Hello Bill and Sandy,

 

FuelScience has already answered you in detail. Just to add my thoughts as you are happy to hire a cab and leave a bit of money with the driver, especially to ease walking. This is obviously a special day for you in Luxembourg, so I suggest getting the cab from Remich, perhaps via a short stop at Nennig Roman villa, to the cemetery and then having the driver drop you off in Luxembourg city centre (after a drive past the old buildings) near where you pick up the Avalon bus. Perhaps look into this pre-cruise via Luxembourg tourist sites to see if they offer something like that. Or the cruise director will assist you.

 

Have a great trip.

 

notamermaid

Thank you, notamermaid, for the advice. We will get a cab from the ship at Remich for the drive to Hamm and have the cab driver join us to take some photos and later drive us to Luxembourg City. The cost will be nothing of concern. My brother, General George Patton and over 5,000 other Americans paid the ultimate price to be at the American Military Cemetery.

Warmest regards,

Bill and Sandy

Thanks for the info. Given the price of cruising, cab fare does not concern me much. On our most recent ocean cruises we have hailed a cab at the cruise terminal and negotiated a price for the day. Cab goes where we want to go, waits for us, gives us lots of commentary and gets us back to the ship. In South America having an air conditioned cab at our disposal is remembered long after the cab fare has been long forgotten. We have been amazed at people who spend many thousands on air fare and a cruise ship suite and then want to nickle and dime their shore experiences.

Happy Trails, Bill

Thanks Fuel Science. Cruise ends in Remich so back to Luxembourg City the following morning for flight to Paris, Toronto and Vancouver. I suppose our options are to cab from Remich to the cemetery and back to the ship or go to Luxembourg City and cab to the cemetery. Looking for the most convenient option and perhaps see a bit of Luxembourg City as well. With recent knee replacement walking a mile to the cemetery is not a viable option.

Cheers, Bill

Sandy (my wife) has been following your posts since we booked Avalon Imagery II for a Rhine cruise. She loves your posts and reads them to me daily! 

We are sailing from Amsterdam to Luxembourg in May. A major reason for booking this cruise is to visit my oldest brother's grave in the American Military Cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg. We overnight in Remich and there is an excursion to Luxembourg City. Should it be easy to leave this excursion and visit the cemetery instead of the city tour? Any other advice for us?

Cheers,

Bill (and Sandy) 

We have enjoyed dining companions on most of our cruises but one cruise has a funny story. The first night it was just my husband and me at a 4 top. The second night we were joined by another couple. They had been at a table the previous night with 3 or 4 "hookers" from New York City! The "ladies" just wanted to talk about work! Our new table mate said she needed to get her husband away from that table! :D

Sandy

Probably has been mentioned, but we do not shake hands with anyone on the ship, bumping knuckles is close enough. Officers are generally reluctant to shake hands for good reason. We have been sick on cruises and it is not fun to be in self quarantine during a holiday or worse when traveling home while sick.

Bill

I own stock in RCL, and had nothing better to do, knowing that it is not combinable. Anyway, I decided to apply for my benefits for our upcoming cruse on the Equinox over Xmas and New Years. I thought, maybe the perks of the drink package might not be a PERK since we are actually paying for it, my logic was WRONG, it is a perk. But I can drop the drink package or the prepaid gratuities and get the shareholder benefits.

 

Oh, NO BIG DEAL, should have sold it when it was in the nineties LOL

 

It just dawned on me that I forgot to apply it to may last cruise, NO PERKS, I must be slipping LOL

I sold at $100 and feel great. Really got screwed around with the con-combine. The perk was nice back when I bought the stock for $30.

I always look for bed bugs but have never found any. We use our knuckles to press elevator buttons. We take sanitizer to the restaurant but use it after the menus are removed.

We still get sick!

Sandy

Twice I have had terrible water on a ship. Once it tasted musty and stale. The other time the water from the tap, the shower and the toilet was BROWN and disgusting! Someone must have opened the wrong valve and the water became contaminated.

Sandy

The sea band bracelets really do work!!! Pick up a pair (you need to wear one on each wrist) at a pharmacy for only about $10.

Sandy

We have had two China cruises in the last couple of years. You will not regret going! The Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City and all of the other sights were amazing. In Beijing we stayed at the Regent Hotel and it was probably the best hotel we have ever stayed in. The Chinese people were more than friendly.

We had a longer Yangtze River cruise and there were some issues. Smog! By the time we got to (probably) where your river cruise begins, the air had cleared and the last few days were good. Food on the river cruise ship was boring but you will only have that for four days. Don't worry and enjoy the trip.

China's coastal cities are very modern and beautiful. You will get to see "the other China" along the river.

Sandy

Sorry to hear that, Bill and Sandy :(

.

Don't be sorry. We enjoyed China earlier this year and want to see more. When a deal is too good to pass up we do not pass it up. We cruised French Polynesia once last year and Hawaii twice so we are only missing the NZ ports. We shall return to the Southern Cross. Have a great cruise.

Bill

Sorry to tell you guys that we we have cancelled this cruise. A Travelzoo deal came up for a 12 day Yangtze River cruise on a new ship, Century Legand, (400 pax). Included is return air from Vancouver, transfers, all excursions, all meals, wine and beer with meals, grats, etc for only CND$ 1,500/pp. When a deal is too good to be true, jump on it! I spent the afternoon typing China visa applications. :eek: We are also booking a 12 night Black Sea cruise in October on Constellation, Istanbul/return and will be on Solstice Honolulu/Vancouver April 2015.

We will miss you guys as you are likely to be the life of the party on Solstice.

Quoting Popeye (1933), "I yam what I yam and that's what I yam". :p:cool: Have a great cruise.

Cheers, Bill

Hey All, we are so looking forward to this trip! Allan, Paul, Jim and I are sharing an apartment in the sky for 4 days in Sydney. Fun Fun Fun!

Couple of questions:

 

1. Seems to me that Celebrity will host a cruise critic get together. Does someone need to arrange this?
   
2. There is also usually a party for Captains Club members. If I remember we find out about this when we board?
   
3. We were thinking about having a pot luck at our apartment for "friends of dorothy" and supporters on the cruise but it looks like there is a limit of 2 guests. Wondering if we can have a picnic somewhere? Suggestions?
   

1. Sign up for the Cruise Connections Party at the top of this page and you will get your invitations while aboard. Ship's personnel will take care of the details.

2. You will be invited to Captain's Club events via an invitation. Club events will depend upon your level in Captain's Club.

3. ????

Cheers, Bill

Better to be on a ship with a drink on the rocks than to be in the drink with the ship on the rocks. :p

Had a nice ride today on our Pacific Island, down the ocean side of Vancouver Island to Parksville where my bike dealer was having an antique and collector's bike show. Some really interesting stuff including a 1931 4 cylinder Indian (the owner rode it to the show), a steam powered MC, lots of old bikes with sidecars and lots of drool from me. Downside was the $300 bill to have my bike serviced. :( Our next cruise is Sydney, Australia to Hawaii b2b with Hawaii to Vancouver, B.C. We have rented a Heritage Softtail Classic when in Honolulu previously. Rental rates are quite reasonable.

Cheers, Bill

Enjoyed reading through this thread and am just a bit envious. We have rented H-Ds in the Caribbean and Hawaii but it would be nice to ride my own bike. No opportunity for us that I know of on the West Coast, except that almost all my riding is on Islands: Vancouver Island, Quadra, Cortez, and Texada. Our Islands are easy to get to by ferries and the rate for bikes is half of the rate that it is for cars. There are some great rides in this part of the world!

Ride safe and ride often. :D Cheers, Bill

Enjoyed the photos! :) Have booked Sydney/Honolulu/Vancouver on Solstice for April 2014.