whatnot

We went to Budapest 5 years ago with Uniworld. At that time one of the included tours was to the Parliament Building. That is no longer listed as an option. The current choices for 2018 are : Panoramic Highlights and Opera, Highstreet Shopping, or "Do as the locals Do" Budapest Walking Tour. Anyone know what these tours include? We are a group of 6 and going in 2 days early. Will get a private guide( one we used before) for one day before we board but don't want to duplicate if possible. Thanks for your help!

So sorry about the double posts! There were issues that told me to try again later. I did but obviously the previous one also was posted,

Thanks so much sunset beach gal! I really like your advice. Always good coming from a fellow North Carolinian!

Will check out Blackberry Cabs.

Sorry about the double posts. I posted and then something came up and said there was a problem so I should try again later. So I went back in and edited my post and tried again. It went that time but obviously went before too! I tried to cancel one but it would not let me do that either.

We will be sailing on Silversea On Aug 1, 2018. We are interested in a private prearranged transfer from Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport to the pier at Tower Bridge in London where the Silver Wind will be docked.

I know you can take the tube but we are in our 70's and will have lots of luggage since SS still has Formal nights. I also know that cabs, etc are pricey in London.

Can anyone recommend a reputable company? Also has anyone had experience with using Uber for such transport?

We will be sailing on Silversea On Aug 1, 2018. We are interested in a private prearranged transfer from Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport to the pier at Tower Bridge in London where the Silver Wind will be docked.

I know you can take the tube but we are in our 70's and will have lots of luggage since SS still has Formal nights. I also know that cabs, etc are pricey in London.

Can anyone recommend a reputable company? Also has anyone had experience with using Uber for such transport?

We spent 3 days in Basel after our Uniworld Rhine Cruise. The free trams were great to get around the city. We also used them to get to the train station where we took the train to Lucerne for the day and return. Very easy to do and a fun day. We also rented a car for a day and drove through the countryside to Gruyers where we explored the cute village, visited the Gruyer Cheese factory and a chocolate factory. Lots to do if you do your research!

All of your posts have been very helpful! We are sailing on the Aug 1 - Aug 15 cruise from Tower Bridge returning to Tower Bridge, which sails all the way around the British Isles. Good to know when you can board and where. The location of boarding will make a difference in how I plan our on shore adventures in London. This is our first Silversea Cruise but have done many small ship cruises. Really looking forward to it!

Yes you were successful . It came through beautifully!

Thanks so much for posting the menus. Our first Silversea Cruise will be Aug 1 - 15 on the Wind sailing from Tower Bridge around the British Isles. It will be helpful in deciding which restaurants to book ahead.

Bon Voyage Vanderfalk! Hope you have a fabulous cruise. We plan to enjoy the Charleston Food and Wine Festival this weekend, but otherwise it would be fun to join you. But it was just too soon after our Vietnam and Cambodia Uniworld River Cruise!

Keep us posted on your SD adventure!

We were told on our recent Uniworld cruise, that Viking is using the boat that Uniworld previously used.

Yes they did change it from the online schedule for our cruise. It was advertised as being in Phnom Phen just like your cruise but changed after we got there.

Gardendog

We returned from Uniworld's Timeless Wonders of Vietnam and Cambodia on Jan 27. We did the trip in the opposite direction so that may be the reason for some differences in our adventure. I hope you don't mind that I add my comments on our trip to coincide with yours.

I totally agree with you that there were changes from the printed itinerary and I think some of your issues may have been because of traveling during TET.

There were 45 on our cruise. We were divided into 2 groups. Enjoyed the Intercontinental in West Lake, but our flight from Siem Reap to Hanoi was 5:30 pm, delayed until 7:30 and we finally got to the hotel at 11:00 pm. Why did they book us with such a late flight? I had planned to go to dinner in Hanoi that night but no way. The next night was the Farewell Dinner, so no going on your own. We did all the things you did on your full day in Hanoi including the Water Puppet Show. BUT, WE DID NOT HAVE TO PAY EXTRA! That is so strange! The next day was fly home or go to Ha Long Bay. We were flying out late so there were 6 of us who paid for the tour to the Ceramic Village. It was very interesting but no one else had the opportunity to do it. I thought Hanoi got cheated on the trip and would have liked another day there.

Interesting that they are going to do it as an add on in 2019. Maybe that way you can get to see more than we did.

Loved Seim Reap and the Sofitel was gorgeous. Our room was not strange, and had the biggest king size bed I have ever seen!

They told us that TET would be an issue because so much would closed. That is why we chose to go earlier.

You made a wise decision not to do the cooking class! It was by far the worst excursion, paid or included, that we ever took on any cruise line! It was outdoors in the Cambodian heat., although in a covered building. They had fans, but when you use alcohol burners, you have to turn the fans off because the burners don't work properly. The knives were dull and the teachers did not use proper hand washing when working with raw chicken. By time to eat the food we had cooked, we did not want to eat it! We complained to Uniworld and said that this was not a Uniworld worthy excursion. This was our 3rd Uniworld cruise, an even though we were in a 3rd world country, it was unacceptable!

I look forward to your future posts and I hope I am not intruding too much on your thread!

I will say, that we still found this trip to be an awesome adventure despite a few issues!

And ewizabeff, we used so much of your advice! Went to Cha Ca Trang Long for the Fish dish on our last day in Hanoi before going to the airport. Went to Marum for lunch in Siem Reap twice because we liked it so much. And we loved Hoa Tuc in Saigon so much that we went one day and the next day took our friends. Thanks so much!

Glad you are having fun! Also glad the seas have calmed down and hope they stay that way!

Keep reporting when you can. How are you spending your days when you can't get off the boat and I know you are not a sit at the pool person? Are there planned activities?

Why don't you get a credit card that has no exchange fees. I have two and I know there are others. I always use those cards when in other countries. Capital One is one of them. The other is a special card with my bank.

Spent a couple of days in Basel. Finding Fondue wasn't easy. Our hotel sent us to a place but it was a dinner only. And actually it wasn't that great!

Basel is not the most touristy town and it is also not that Swiss. It sits right in the confluence of France, Germany, and Switzerland. Therefore the food there is a fantastic mix of the 3 countries.

Have a great cruise and hope you find some good fondue!

Will be on the Wind in August. First time Silver Sea. What was the cost of the internet package?

Looking forward to your reports!

Just got my Vietnam Visas! Had photos made at AAA. Since we were members at a certain level, they were free. They also knew the proper size. I filled out the application form on line and then printed it out. Then Fed Exed the form and our pictures to our friends in Houston, Texas who we will be traveling with. They took their passports and applications and our applications and photos to the Vietnamese Consulate in Houston. They left them for a week and came back and picked them up. They got their visas stamped in their passports and we got loose leaf visas since we did not have to send our passports. We flew into Houston for a visit with them and got our visas with no issues.

We are traveling on Uniworld in January and needed multiple entry visas. The cost was $135 per person. If you have friends or relatives in a town where there is a Consulate or Embassy, they can get them for you.

Question

Were the flu like symptoms like a stomach virus or the real flu?

Have heard that the flu has been really bad in Australia this year so wondering if that was the issue since you had so many Aussies on board.

We have always stayed at the Hilton before our SD voyages. It is in a beautiful location and has a beautiful pool and a very nice beach. Not far from the airport and not far from the cruise ship port. Of course it is not quaint because it is a typical Hilton. We have always been satisfied with staying there.

Zimmy, I totally agree with you. I would want SD to do all the excursions and from what I read, to meet all the US Government criteria, they must offer approved excursions each day for US citizens that are educational and culturally related and perhaps even volunteering to help the locals. It sounded like these were mandatory excursions and were part of the cruise fare.

My question is what if you can't get a flight in or out the same day of embarkation or debarkation that will meet the time frame SD suggests. Which would mean you had to go in a day early or leave a day later. Vandrefalk has contacted SD about that but no response as yet. Maybe SD will have hotels available for these issues. We will see!

It does look interesting! Think there still may be a couple of issues to be worked out for US Citizens. Not clear if you can't get your flight to arrive by noon could you spend the night on your own? Same thing on return. Sounds like you must do everything with Sea Dream. Am I understanding this correctly?

You don't even need button downs! My DH likes Tommy Bahama type shirts on SD and an occasional Polo. For Captain's Welcome and the farewell an open collar shirt with a sport coat is often a nice touch. med is a little dressier than the Caribbean.

Sun dresses are great. Nice slack and fancy tops work too!

And yes anything that is cool and comfortable works for tours. If you are going to churches ladies might need to wear more conservative dress, like covering upper arms, etc.

You will have a fabulous time!

We stayed at the Holland House Beach Hotel a couple of years ago when sailing out of SXM. Actually it was very acceptable for a one night stay. The beach was beautiful out front but it was also right in the middle of town so it was very easy to walk to local restaurants for dinner. It was also VERY close to where SD was docked so it was a very short cab ride. Would stay there again!

I have a pair of crocs that I basically use to do yard work because they can be washed easily. So, how much walking is involved in most of the excursions in Vietnam and Cambodia? I have never tried Crocs for major walking. I do have some foot issues and usually wear shoes or sandals with good arch support to prevent foot, knee, and back issues. I love Abeo sandals but not sure they have any that easily wash and dry quickly. I will have to check with my local store.