PG13

OK, so it's our first time at Aruba and this Eagle Beach near Paradise Villa sounds like something we'd like. We need chairs and shade and a place for food and drink is nice. I assume we can catch a taxi there? If I ask to go to Eagle Beach next to Chalet Suisse will they know where to take us and are they likely to come back at a specific time when asked. Chalet Suisse is quite the restaurant, just looked it up, yum! Are there umbrella available? I assume this is an independent vendor settting these up? Thanks, Pat

On Eagle Beach you can rent chairs directly across from Paradise Beach Villas . They are located virtually next to Chalet Suisse . There is a restroom there as well > You may have to pay ($1) to use . Beach Villas let you buy food and drink from their poolside snack bar/restaurant . There are a number of vendors on Eagle Beach since the government tightened regulations on Palm Beach .

Same here I was hoping for some suggestions.

Exactly, it was the logistics of motel stays, poorly handled by Viking in so many ways. Our cruise was not the only one with the issues I spoke of. It's in several reviews here on cruise critics. And, I was contacted by a cruiser who sailed the week prior to ours and they had the same issues. I kind of wished they had canceled the trip, I had insurance and I could have rescheduled it at a better time. A majority of the folks on our cruise were really unhappy by the end of our cruise because of so many poorly handled issue, all of which I won't go through. This wasn't meant to be a b---- session, again it was just information I was hoping might help or maybe confuse someone.

It is possible that the logistics of ship swaps sometimes make it more difficult for the staff to deal with luggage.[

These are a few things I wish someone would have mentioned before I choose to do a river cruise. I read many reviews and they were so very positive. I am NOT saying don't river cruise, I'm just giving folks things to think about, or maybe just confusing them. PLEASE don't fly in my face folks. I've cruised a lot, I know a cruise is in the eye of the beholder, again it's just things I didn't know. And, maybe if I had read these things I would have done the same anyway. Just an FYI.

1. If you are on the first floor of a river cruise boat it can be very noisy. Propeller noises from passing ships are passed through the hull, but not too bad. However, propellers turning off and on, the ships thrusters racket, as well as the planks bumping the lock walls, water gushing in and out of the locks is real loud and all night long for almost the whole trip. I was lucky and found earplugs in my luggage that allowed me to sleep. Now granted I am a light sleeper, but it bothered the husband too.

2. I didn't realize that it is not infrequent for high and low water to be a problem for river cruises with both possibly happening in one season. And, face it weather patterns are changing and not conducive to proper river levels. I was told by locals that low snow levels in the mountains in the spring in causing part of the issue.

3. I didn't think that I would care, but after 2 weeks I did have problems with dinner menu choices. The menu is heavy on the fish almost every night (2 out of 7 options). One offering was vegan (pretty tasteless, come on chiefs) really. Two servings were the same roasted chicken and rib eye steak very night. No pasta, almost no other chick preparations and almost no beef, now this is dinner I'm talking about. Now again I didn't think this would be an issue for us, I always thought people were being picky when they grumbled about food, but it was disappointing towards the end.

4. They can totally change the itinerary, change your mode of travel, alter where you stay, and change where and how you eat.

5. In attempting to keep you moving not floating, things keep getting in the way of your relaxing voyage such as -

no help with luggage

buses that don't show up on time, 1 hour or more late

locked bathroom on buses

6. And, yes I did find packing and unpacking to change ships annoying

We sailed 8/24/18 on the Skadi(loved the staff especially Marik). And, I knew we would probably have to change ships and I tried to bee positive, but this and other things that occurred just muddied up the trip.

Any information anyone can share, we want to take a taxi over to Orient Bay for the morning. Can we rent umbrellas? Is there anywhere to get a drink and some lunch? Are the roads in good enough shape to catch a cab? Safe? This is what we usually like to do. The pictures are great, feel bad for the island folks. We leave on Feb. 11 heading that way. Thank you, Pat

So Viking is offering free airfare with the 15 day Grand tour cruise, is this really a deal or like the 2 for 1 deal, not really a deal? And, what's with wanting the full fare 6 months ahead? I like to book my own air to control length of layovers, flight length etc. because husband has PD. Not sure I'll have much say in those things if I take the free are fare. Haven't asked if they will adjust the cruise fare if I don't want the free air. So what do you think folks? Thanks, Pat

Thank you to everyone! It wasn't clear based on visual tour how much seating there was. I'll look into Avalon. Again, thank you everyone.

We did Amsterdam to Budapest on Avalon and the ship was spacious with lots of beautiful comfortable seating available in a variety of places on the boat. It was a fabulous trip with wonderful memories. I can highly recommend Avalon.

 

 

PS with Avalon you don't have to make your final pmt until amount 90 days before sailing. Not sure if Viking is the same.

 

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We are considering our 1st river cruise in Sept. 2018, my concern is if the weather is cool and/or rainy is there enough inside seating. I believe we are going to go with Viking line, their Grand Tour from Amsterdam to Budapest. We are getting a standard room. So what do you think?

I ended up with Top Food and Wine tours, they had 5 stars and the Award of Excellence and they are doing small group tour for cruise ship passengers. Several I contacted from Tripadvisor(Premium included) didn't want to accommodate cruise passengers. So I'm excited about this.

 Pick-up from Cruise Ship Terminal

 All Transportation to and from Barossa Valley

 Inclusive informative narration from friendly driver/guide

 Regional Platter lunch including wine

 Four (4) cellar doors / attractions (May include: Schild Estate, Chateau Yaldara, St Hallet, Peter Lehmann, Grant Burge or Basedow ) Subject to availability on the day that.

They claim these are smaller boutique wineries, I really wouldn't know.

Thank you everyone.

Pat

Another one worth considering with. 125 excellent reviews.

Wendy

 

Check out Premium Wine Tours by Scott Ninnis on TripAdvisor

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attraction_Review-g255093-d3398761-Reviews-

Premium_Wine_Tours_by_Scott_Ninnis-Adelaide_Greater_Adelaide_South_Australia.html?m=19904

Did you go on a wine tasting tour and which port?

Pat, when we toured Australia and New Zealand last year I also found Trip Advisor to be an excellent source for identifying tours including several wine tours. We didn't do one in Adelaide so I can't give you a recommendation.

 

Keith

Not so much a spell check issue as a finger issue, plus I type things then read what I meant to say and not what is actually on the page sometimes. And, sometimes I ignore spell check as it doesn't always like proper names. SHouldn't have this time. :(

Groovy Grape got back with me and they do not have a tour to fit our cruise time frame. I am not a wine aficionado, but really enjoyed the different wine we tried in Greece and Italy, the tours were a fun experience and tasty, plus you got a tour of some nice scenery and learned about the area.

I'm not fussy where I go it's just that our port is Adelaide and I didn't want to take the cruise wine tour, I was hoping for a smaller tour group.

So, I have time yet I'll have to look some more. Thank you. Pat

Pat

 

Don't know if your spell check went haywire but its Adelaide :D

 

Looked at Groovy Grape - standard tour, you get a good glimpse of the Adelaide Hills, then onto the Barossa through the backroads. However two of the wineries mentioned are big commercial wineries. So if you are a wine aficionado the wine tastings will only be so-so but the wineries are set up for tourists.

 

I can't recommend a tour company as we live close to several Adelaide wine regions and just visit by car, never done a tour. However may I suggest that you look at a different region, McLaren Vale. The wineries there are more boutique, the right tour will pass you through Adelaide, you will see some good coastal scenery and you might even do one that includes a trip to Cleland Wildlife Park.

 

Nevertheless Groovy Grape have a good reputation on Trip Advisor. Keep in mind the time of year you are travelling as in the middle of our summer it can be very hot and dry and in our winter from April to October all the grape vines will be bare of leaves.

I want to go on a wine tour in Adelaine, I've searched this forum and fine it only a bit helpful. I'm hoping for something more specific. I've gone to TripAdvisor and read reviews and think I like "Groovy Grape Barossa". They have a seal of excellence, whatever that says about them. Usually there are lots of folks with opinions on these things. So, how about it? Anyone done this with this company?? I don't see any cruisers reviewing this company. The time frame is tight. I have e-mailed them. What company have you used? As usually I worry about getting to the ship on time, but sometimes the best is done independently. Who's done independant and how'd it work out.

Thank you for your help. Pat

Just to clarify, once we get off the ship we catch a shuttle(city run?)

to Octagon which is the city center?

From there we are to walk 3 blocks(easy to find?) to the rail station.

Is this the beautiful station they feature?

I purchase a round trip ticket, I know this seem silly question, but... I need to be clear. That ship won't wait. Some trip take a coach bus back. The round trip is then 4hrs? or is the 4hrs. one way?

Is this not the same train Royal Caribbean (etc.) will be hiring? Princess leaves from the dock. Royal C. doesn't show N.Z. excursions yet.

A certain c-----.com offers this trip $199. for wine, cheese and shuttle and includes a tour that extends the trip for 8 hour. Price isn't bad but I didn't think I want to be gone 8 hrs. This excursion leaves at 8:30 from ship to train station with half hour there, so this is the same train again right?

With regards to Dunedin Railways (formerly Taieri Gorge Trains), they usually have a chartered train booked by the cruise lines that collect passengers directly from the Port Chalmers wharf. This not be booked on their website.

 

However you can book the Taieri Gorge trip to Pukerangi - this departs from the Dunedin Railway Station and can be booked directly (I just checked availability for next January and is showing as seats available for every day). You would need to catch the shuttle from Port Chalmers to the Octagon and then walk three blocks east to the railway station.

Basically did this to move it back up so we can catch the rest of the review a

Thanks for the review.

Say, when are you going to Sydney? We have a cruise Feb, 25 and I'm considering staying in the Wyndham Vacation Resort. i was hoping maybe you'll be there before we are and I could find out what you thought of it, good location? Nice enough place?

Hi all

 

have already gotten some great tips on things to do in Sydney from all of you. Now I have a few more detailed questions about Sydney.

 

Is free wifi generally available around Sydney. We will be staying in the CBD (Wyndham Vacation Resorts,Corner of Wentworth Avenue and Goulburn Street) if that helps narrow down the area,

 

I know there will be plenty of places to buy wine, but can anyone give me an approximate cost of a decent Australian/NZ merlot or cab sav? I know tastes vary but so do costs and I am trying to decide how much Australian cash to bring (I'd rather use cash for some purchases).

 

Are there special metro cards (or equivalent) that we could buy to use trains/buses, maybe ferries, for the week we will be there? In the US, we can buy these that allow unlimited travel for a day or week or whatever.

 

I will google this, but can anyone provide a link to Sydney train schedules and stations, including a train schedule to go to the Blue Mountains?

 

Thanks for any help, advice and suggestions.

 

ML

Sooo, I wasn't imaging things, it was harder to get a bar attendant at your table. I think they sell more drinks when they stop by my table. I also make sure to tip extra and they are more likely to come over. One night I even got given a free drink because they thought they kept us waiting too long (just this last Feb.) nice! I think they have it wrong there.

On Radiance, you can do that anywhere! So special.

That happens a lot, sometimes a review is more about who wrote it then what really happened. But, it can also be about what you expectations were and who you run into on the cruise. Lots of time when I read a poor review cruise it seem like they are nit picking, and if you want a five star cruise you need to book and pay for the five star cruise (big bucks).

We had a fantastic time on Radiance. I posted a review. Then I read other reviews and thought we were on different ships.

Thank you to all who contributed to this thread. Lots of information. Avoiding LAX was suggested o another thread, but I didn't know why. And well, we start and end in Sydney so we'll just have to deal, but sounds like I should plan on 3 hrs to get through the airport and add to that for traffic around Sydney, plus does SYdney have the VAT tax refund type of thing?

Ditto, what everyone says. Anxious for your next entry. Excited to hear what you did in port. Also want to chase this back up to the top so it's easier to find. Pat

Thanks for a good review... I am looking forward to read more.

 

We just got back from the cruise following yours (Feb 24 - March 8th) with the same itinerary in reverse.

 

As for your husband and his undying love for the Horizon Court... I feel your pain.

 

We were with friends and they loved the buffet when my wife and I preferred the dining room.

 

While the food in the buffet wasn't bad.... I like to be waited on AND feel like i was at a restaurant and NOT having to pay the bill! :)

Thx I saw that one, I'll check it out. Quite a few of the others are more than I want to spend with everything else there is to spend money on, but don't want to be where you can't get around either. We'll have 3 day in Sydney, then we'll fly down to Perth and on to Fremantle.

OPT is....?

Here you go, it's called Holiday Inn Old Sydney

 

http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/gb/en/sydney/sydgs/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-hi-_-AUEN-_-sydgs

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g255060-d255392-Reviews-Holiday_Inn_Old_Sydney-Sydney_New_South_Wales.html

Thx I saw that one, I'll check it out. Quite a few of the others are more than I want to spend with everything else there is to spend money on, but don't want to be where you can't get around either. We'll have 3 day in Sydney, then we'll fly down to Perth and on to Fremantle.

Here you go, it's called Holiday Inn Old Sydney

 

http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/gb/en/sydney/sydgs/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-hi-_-AUEN-_-sydgs

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g255060-d255392-Reviews-Holiday_Inn_Old_Sydney-Sydney_New_South_Wales.html

Rendezvous Hotel Sydney Central is this the one you're talking about?

Thanks for all the great advise. I was seriously looking into staying at an apartment. Found two that we really liked. Received the lease and then was told that there was a $600 bond that wouldn't be received back for 5 days after we left. They both wanted full amount and a copy of my Passport with the money. That was not going to happen. I was able to get a room at the Rendezvous Hotel Sydney the Rocks for $300 less than the Pier One Sydney Harbour and we have added an extra night to our trip. We are now going to be there for 6 days before the cruise. This hotel had great reviews on Trip Advisor and it has a free laundry (which we are going to need) in the hotel.

 

In case anyone was wondering, I was told by American Airlines that we will be able to book the return flight on March 24th last night.

 

 

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I think I missed something joining AirBnB????

What?? Where?

When we got in on Radiance last year we decided to stay a couple of days in Sydney before flying home. I grew up there and have been back and forth over the years. We could not change the flights but was shocked at the prices for accommodation.

 

I ended up joining AirBnB and had a look there. Ended up in a great place. We had a very nicely furnished flat with Bedroom, Bathroom/Laundry, Lounge and Kitchen in a heritage listed house. They picked us up and dropped us to the airport. A great breakfast was included. All this for two nights at a cost less than one night in a small room.

The Holiday Inn is it in Darling Harbor couldn't find it as you name it. Strangely the dates I need next Feb. for our cruise at unavailable. I'm wondering if it's just too far out yet. Hmmm?

Depends on your budget and length of stay.

 

pier 1 (mentioned above is nice, but expensive).

 

Park Hyatt is even nicer but $$$$:eek:.

 

we like Holiday Inn the Rocks, the night before we sail, it's right opposite the OPT.

 

Some nice ones around at Darling Harbour.

 

Four Seasons is good too.

We went fishing twice in Ketchikan, both time it was fantastic, but we fished for Halibut, and the salmon were jumping everywhere. Our guide catch salmon and put pieces of it on our line for the halibut. Other folks were out and caught many different kinds of fish and had great luck, we were just outside of the port near the light house. It was in June, so if possible I suggest fishing from there.In 3 hour husband caught 6 fish, we were allowed to ship home only 2, but they were great. Just a suggestion.

Will be in Skagway June 6, 2016 husband would like to go salmon fishing any recommendations would be appreciated.