Can'tstopcruising

From any cruise terminal it's a 5 to 10 min taxi ride, £6 to £10.

A line of taxis waiting at all cruise terminals, anything from immediate to a 20 minute wait.

You definitely need to pre-purchase your coach ticket, frequency is poor and you won't want to hang around because coaches have booked-out. But be aware your ticket is only good for the time you've selected (leeway is given only for coaches departing from airports)

On current timetables the 08.20 is possible (ideally with early unassisted disembarkation) if you're in a hurry, the 09.30 is ideal, or the 10.30 if you're feeling lazy.

Be aware of the luggage terms on their website. Usually not strictly enforced if you are vaguely somewhere around the limits.

JB :)

Thank you for the wonderful information. I think we will book the 10:30. Why rush!

We did the same thing last time, from Dover. We will take a taxi from Victoria Coach to our hotel.

On the other hand, we hesitate to take the National Bus from Heathrow to Southampton. We will be exhausted when we arrive and it may be too much to get to the bus from the terminal. We are thinking of booking Smith whom I think you recommended.

The reason I mentioned the coaches was the OP was concerned about lifting the luggage up stairs and when we used the coach at Southampton, we got the taxi to the coach station, then it was an easy level walk pushing our cases across the waiting room. When the coach came in, we just walked through the door and the driver took our cases from us at that point. At Victoria there were no steps either and we were just a very short level walk to our taxi. My OH struggles with luggage too and honestly this was the easiest possible route.

We are thinking of doing the same thing.

How much was the taxi from the ship to the Southampton Bus terminal?

Was it easy to get a taxi?

Did you buy your bus tickets ahead of time on line?

Any other tips?

Thanks.

Would someone please clarify for me exactly which public spaces will no longer be available to the non-suite pax?

Thankx.

We did the other itinerary on Silhouette last October. We spent 5 days in Venice prior and 5 in Rome after.

First I want to say that I am a land person. My favourite trips are to spend a few weeks in one place and do day trips.

Having said that, our itinerary was really enjoyable. Why? The ports were lovely and except for Taormina, we got off the ship and we were right there.

In Ravenna, we toured the mosaics on our own. In Koper, we were taking the public bus to Piran, and a taxi van stopped and offered to take the people at the bus stop for a good rate, so that's what we did! In Kotor we walked around the old town on our own, then took a boat to the island with the church (I forget the name) and Perast. We found the boat right in town. No hassle.

We did do a Jewish Tour (very little Jewish left) in Dubrovnik and then walked the wall (very hot in October).In Malta, we did our first ever HOHO bus tour and went to lovely Medina and ate in a Restaurant overlooking the water.

I don't know if you are going to Naples. We chose the Archeological museum because we once spent 9 days in Sorrento and had seen much of the area before. We asked the ticket seller at the museum to recommend a good local pizza place and we went to one with only locals, a terrace with a view, and delicious pizza for 4 euros each!

Then from Catania we went to Taormina. I think we took the ship transfer.

So, now I hope I haven't confused you more!

Really it's a win, win situation!

Have fun deciding and please let us know!

Back in March I found a great rate for a veranda cabin on an August Silhouette Greek Isles cruise, but the rate increased dramatically before I could decide to book.

 

Well...after weeks of checking back fairly regularly, the rate came back down again! For the past three days I've put courtesy holds on a cabin. I looked at airfare (not too expensive, direct flights) and got excited thinking about spending a few nights pre-cruise in Venice (one of my favourite cities in the world), then spending another week or more in Italy to visit Naples and the Amalfi coast.

 

Last night I logged on to make the deposit, but the website was down for maintenance. So what did I do? I read lots of reviews here, looked at lots of photos, and added up all the likely charges we would incur for tours, drink packages, gratuities, specialty restaurants, etc. (based on our previous two Celebrity cruises). I also took a closer look at the ports, and realized two are tendered and one (Kotor) has not exactly ever been on my bucket list. Plus packing everything needed for a cruise but still keeping within the luggage allowances for short-haul flights in Italy would be too challenging and frustrating.

 

So I have come to the realization that I'm not as interested in the cruise as I am in visiting Venice and other parts of Italy; I think I was more excited about the return of the 'bargain' rate than the actual on-board experience.

 

I'll continue to mull it over today, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to give it a pass. Has anyone else gone through a similar process?!

August is very busy and crowded. Before you make your decision, check out some of the possible hotels and see if they are available!

For us the 3 tiered tray would be a waste.

I like to choose my yogurt and the best looking of the fruit, maybe a muffin and a piece of cheese.

My husband MAY have the lox.

Neither of us are interested in the meats.

If they eliminate the buffet, the most practical would be to bring us only what we want to eat. That would mean more service, but there are quite a few servers assigned and they probably could handle it. The venue is rarely crowded.

I hope they keep the Elite breakfast as is. We do not eat a large breakfast, but enjoy the selection and the peace and quiet of the Tuscany.

Did they offer specials?

On the Infinity last January, the chocolates were very scarce. Sometimes, we received them, sometimes not.

Also, there were no truffles at the Captain's welcome.

(Just as well, I don't need the calories!)

More disturbing, it was difficult to get face cloths! That is unacceptable.

They said they were having laundry issues. Is this the new luxury (or whatever they call it)?

Are their people that much better than Steiner's? Or is it 6 of one/ 1/2 dozen of the other?????

I hope they offer specials on board. Very pricey list.

We were on the Infinity in South America. A pricey vacation. And we missed 2 ports, so visited only 4 ports in 14 days (not counting departing and arriving). We all said we could have gone on a cheap transatlantic cruise.

I would not want to repeat the experience. We already paid over $3000 for our air and they would keep $600 if we cancel.

This cruise is the most expensive one we have ever booked ( and we have cruised A LOT) and would not be a happy cruiser if we had to cancel.

Never a good sign - the State Department has issued a travel warning for Russia.

 

I am conflicted at this point. If Celebrity does NOT change the itinerary, I feel like I don't want to support Putin and the Russian thugs because of the coup they are pulling off; it looks like when Crimea falls, they will be well on their way to being able to reassemble the USSR with impunity. But much as I'd like to cancel my shore excursions and not give them any money, it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see St. Petersburg.

 

I gotta think on this one.:(

Your tour money is going to the tour company, not to the government.

The spa experience has always been my favourite part of a cruise!

If you have never had a mani/pedi, that would be nice and enjoyable. Just give yourself lots of time to dry those nails! I find their polish dries slowly. (although now that it is Canyon Ranch, I guess they use a different make)

For you I would suggest a massage. It's a real treat. I have never tried a facial on a cruise, but I enjoy them here, so I imagine I would also on a cruise.

For your grandmother, I would suggest reflexology. It is gentle and done on feet only. And you know that having your feet massaged is wonderful. It's supposedly good for many body organs, but I can't relate to that!

Except for the stone massage, I would keep away from all the heat treatments they offer. I have tried a few, but only once many years ago.

Now that Canyon Ranch has taken over, it should be a special experience. Steiner had specials throughout the cruise. I don't know what CR will do.

Whatever you decide, I hope you enjoy.

I had emailed celebrity to suggest that if for any reason StP has to be cancelled that they consider Oslo as an alternative. I just got a phone call from them this morning thanking me for the suggestion. Of course they are monitoring the situation and it is too soon for a decision, but just the fact they called and responded to my email was great! They said they are weighing all the options at this point, which is what I expected to hear, and that Oslo was in the mix.

 

Good on Celebrity!

Would you please share the e-mail address? Thanks

So...if the TA gives you OBC will that show up on your reservation when you look at it on Celebrity's website? Or do we have to wait until we sail and "hope" it shows up?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I have a new print-out that shows the OBC

I finally reached someone at Celebrity (Annie) and she said everything is in order and I don't have to worry.

Hi! I don't usually do this. But I did it this time. I just received a confirmation from the TA with a new booking number. The TA claimed "they do this all the time". Is that true? There is no mention of my OBC. The answer was It takes a few days. Also, the new booking mentions that the $200 paid as a deposit is insufficient. I am now waiting (they said 72 minutes!) to speak to Celebrity myself. And woe be the person who says I have to go through the agent.

Do they still have the Thalasotherapy pool on the Infinity? Thanks

Can anyone give us an update on the spa? Are the same services offered? Who is giving them? Thanks

You can not play bridge without anyone supervising?!

 

Never heard of a Bridge Director. I bet that they can use the staff for better things than to babysit cardplayers.

No, no, no , no. You've got it all wrong. The bridge director used to give bridge lessons in the am. In the afternoon, he directed duplicate bridge. He is equipped with boards, cards, and everything needed. He scores the game and if warranted, points are earned by the winners who are members of ACBL.

This was well attended and a big plus for those who were interested. We miss it and wish Celebrity would reconsider and offer this enjoyable activity again.

By the way, this was not a regular staff member taken away from some other activity. This was a trained person, hired for the job.

They still hire arts & crafts people. I don't know why they can't hire bridge directors.

About 10 years ago I had an incident on an American Airlines flight out of Dallas. Readers Digest version is I got into a verbal altercation with an unruly and drunk passenger behind me that was kicking my seat. The flight attendant lied to the pilot about the situation and he had police waiting for me at the gate in Tampa. Turns out it was the flight attendants brother. When the other passengers left the plane and saw I was being questioned by the police, almost everyone came to my defense. The flight attendant even told the pilot I threatened her! Crazy! Within minutes I was free to go. I then went to the head gate agent and requested her name. That's when it got weird. They would not give me her name, only an incident number and the gate agents name. When I got home, I called the AA corporate office, told them what happened and all I wanted was a hand written apology from the flight attendant. A couple days later AA called me and explained what they had found out through their inverstagation. They apologized to me, but said they could not force her to write an apology because she was a union employee and they had no control over her! Within a week, American Airlines mailed me two roundtrip, first class tickets to anywhere they flew. I wrote a letter explaining I was not trying to shake them down for anything and put the letter and the tickets in an envelope and mailed them back. Never heard another word from them.

Two first class tickets....to anywhere! Wow! I don't think I would have sent them back!!!!

One of our all time Top Five cruises was on the "seen better days" Zenith out of JAX.

 

It's not so much the ship ... but the crew and passenger base that make the difference. :)

 

We had a fantastic time and will always be in our Top 5! :D

 

LuLu

~~~~

I remember that one! When I booked it, my husband said "That old tub!" It turned out to be fantastic. We met the nicest pax ever and the crew loved the ship.

But, our very best cruise was the Constellation to The British Isles and the Fjords. What a cruise!

Those of you who have walked amongst the penguins, how did you protect your shoes? Where did you buy covers? Thanks