Marseydotes

I do not have a link, but the company is International Friends. I sent an e-mail message outlining our interests and the times we require. There was immediate feedback. This company is reputable according to my research and offers many tours from various places. They also will be our car service to get from London to the port.

remember, I have not yet gone on this cruise, so I cannot give a specific recommendation!

I just finished arranging a Cotswolds tour prior to drop off at Heathrow. A bit pricey but the van they have can take at least two more people. See if others on your roll call are interested.

Agree with other posters—SPB or Alla tours open St. Petersburg. You will have a chance to see much more than just one place or two each day. (By the way, the tour guides DEVOURED the tiny packets of M and M’s we gave them—Halloween size.)

Rome in Limo is super—asked for a “driving tour” for an hour or so on the drive from the airport to our hotel since my in-laws had never been there. The next day, pre-cruise, they returned us to many of the sights we had seen from the car and many more. 

Thanks for your info! Seems that I can choose the safer route and “save my feet’s” for castles!
 

Can anyone tell me just how “fit” one should be to walk to and from the stones? Balance issues and asthma make many walks difficult!

thanks....

Thank you, everyone, for your advice! I will check on these options. My problem seemed to be strange—have done many private tours with little problem. But, I have contacted four options with no response at all! A fifth responded once and never again. Perhaps we are hoping to go too far astray from their usual places.

We will be staying overnight either in Southampton or closer to Heathrow since our one-a-day direct flight home is a bit early for comfort.

i am hoping to find a Private tour through the Cotswolds and then a drop off at our hotel. It seems to be hard to do! Any suggestions?
 

Agree, London typically is fine without A/C. However, recently, weather has been less predictable. A month ago, they had highs of near 100. Personally, I am checking for A/C for next July!

Duck lite—can you explain why you would not take a ho-ho in Dublin? I have a walking tour planned out but I was hoping to choose the ho-ho in case of rain!

I hav been looking, too, and found several by diving into “tours from Glasgow,” etc. then searching through each looking for Outlander tours. There are tours from Inverness, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. Prices are high, especially for small groups.

Hi, CanEcosse and Ksolluday—I am a fellow cruiser on the Marina in July, 2020. Had a wonderful experience on Marina ten years ago and I am thrilled to return.

We were on the Regatta on a cruise that went around Cape Horn. The weather there is notoriously awful. Our experience was as smooth as the Med!

However, prior to reaching the southern tip of the continent, we hit 25 foot seas that caused us to miss a port and caused much sickness. Not me, though! Guess I am lucky. My DH and in-laws were not as lucky.

bottom line: you just can’t tell. Take a chance!

On duct tape: had a small roll in my “cruise pack” for our first few trips. Never used it, so it was out of the pack. OF COURSE, the next cruise had one of our suitcases break. Taxi driver had to find a store to buy DUCT TAPE😁!

On tea lights: we always use them in the bathroom. And, last cruise, we used one on the balcony while having a nightcap.

My one thing: a beach ball. I use it, partially inflated, on the balcony or in the room as a foot rest.

Portofitaly, I am curious! Viking Ocean gets so many great reviews, I have been tempted to try them, though thus far I have loved my O experiences. How, in your opinion, does O beat Viking?

I just read a “cruise Question” on these boards pertaining to “what do you hate about cruising?”

So many answers centered around smoky casinos, pushy sales and photographers, noisy kids and loud drunks.

My thought was: what cruise lines were these people on?

:D

Since it sounds like you find the long drive less than exciting, so, too, would be missing the ship because of some delay. Have you thought about going in to your port (or maybe just fairly close) EITHER way the day before. Get extra rest, a nice dinner, stay in a decent motel/hotel. Then, you get to the ship bright-eyed and ready to enjoy your cruise.

I personally would never fly the “day of” for several reasons. One, the exhaustion of the run to the airport then sit and wait, etc. But, also, on our first-ever cruise years ago, not knowing better, we flew from Detroit to San Francisco the morning of our cruise. Beautiful sunny day in July. What could go wrong? One of the flight attendants got a bloody nose which even a doctor could not stop. We emergency-landed in Denver. And, regulations said we had to refuel. It was only about an extra hour and a half, but my knuckles are STILL sore from my clenched fists.......:D:D:D:D

It has been years since our Alaska cruise, but I remember one of our guides gave me a jolt with his response to my question—“Wow, ALL of the wildflowers are blooming right now—why?”

His response—“well, this is July. It is summer. It has snowed here in every other month!”

:D:D:D

Sailed once on HAL and enjoyed it. Oceania is my personal preference for food, ambiance, lack of “nickel and dimeing” but, with kids and the cost difference—go with HAL!:)

i thought I had read a while back how to find out if there are any large groups sailing on a cruise you are looking at. Anyone know how to check this?

Many, many opinions, yes. But I think he bottom line is that one needs to consider those specifics that are most important to yourself, and choose using those parameters.

Size of ship--important to us; we like both the O and R ships.

Itinerary--important to us, though the sea is the biggest lure.

Tranquility--important to us--quiet, peaceful chance to relax.

Price--important to us, though we would rather sail less often if the ambiance is there

Additionals--hate art auctions, photographers, paying for a bottle of water; prefer arranging my own excursions, love bringing a bottle of wine to enjoy in my cabin, having my preferred soda in my cabin, and good food

So, my parameters say "Oceania! I have sailed, happily, on other lines. But O "fits" us best! Find what fits YOU and sail happily.

In two different service jobs, I hav been the victim of abusive behavior. Both times, I was grateful for the support of kind people--in one case my co-workers, in the other case, a customer.

Personally, like a few others on this board, I cannot stand by and allow severe verbal abuse (ethnic or racial epithets, foul language) and I have stood up to it on a couple of occasions. I do see the point of those who say it is not my business but I would be ashamed of my own cowardice if I ignored that sort of thing.

Great idea to start videoing!

Thanks for the update, Doublebzz! I have to agree with you, but wonder if you could enumerate your specific reasons for preferring Oceania to the mass market lines.

For me, it is the size of the ships, small things like beds and linens, lack of photographers and art sales, the ability to bring onboard a couple bottles of our favorite beverages, and the FOOD!

Check out the sights of the different areas, pick one, and go! You did exactly what we did--chose Alaska first, then kept on going, and going......

I think that first one stands out mostly because it was first--and Alaska! But every other one was spectacular in its own way. We keep returning to the Med for the beauty, culture, and history.

Enjoyed the Baltic cruise for the great natural beauty and St. Petersburg. Panama was interesting. South America offered glaciers and Cape Horn.

Bottom line for me--what could be bad about being on a ship on an ocean?

Be aware that the ship will not be "stopping" in Rome or Florence. They are FAR from the closest port. You will have to arrange transportation at least, if you want to actually get to these places!

My favorite in Rome is a private tour, either with others from your ship or on your own. It IS expensive, but gets you there, and takes you exactly where you wish to go. Check Trip Advisor.

My favorite in Florence is the ship "Florence on your own" tour which is simply a bus ride to a central location in the city. Then, you explore on your own and meet to return. This is a normal ship excursion.

It would be a shame to get all the way to the Med and not see these marvelous places!

Ah.....memories! Our first cruise was also to Alaska! The previous posters have provided good info for you to consider.

Our cruise was in an inside cabin in an OLD Princess ship. We were on a very limited budget, so saved on the cabin and splurged on the helicopter to the top of the glacier, the whale watching boat, and the train thru White Pass. In other towns, we just walked, shopped, and soaked up the atmosphere.

This was by far the best cruise we ever took--probably because it was the first and because of Alaska!

The monies you spend on board and ashore are up to you. Main things to remember are port fees and taxes (not always included in a price quote), daily tips, and those things which are not included in your fare (soft drinks, coffees, bottled water, special restaurants--not usually included).

Choose a good travel agent, and if you do not find a good one now, ask others once aboard!

Our first time in London, we researched the specific things we wanted to see and do. But to get an overview, we hired a private tour guide for a half day to show us the most important sights by car. Later, we chose to revisit the places we found most interesting (Westminster, British Museum, etc.) he dropped us off at a traditional pub for bangers and mash and we took the tube back to our hotel. All easy. Price of the private tour was, we thought, worth it because he focused on our interests.