cosytoes

Southampton Cruise Parking | Portside (portsidemeetandgreet.co.uk)

very easy to drop off and pick up

we stayed at a hotel outside Southampton then used Portside meet and greet, couldn't fault them. Parked across the road from the ship, car in the same place when we returned. Handed over the keys and we were away, saved time as no getting taxi back to a hotel to pick up the car.  

Southampton Cruise Parking | Portside (portsidemeetandgreet.co.uk)

On 3/22/2024 at 9:44 AM, Cable3232 said:

You don't need your passport to get on or off the ship while in port (only your cruise card) 

A supplementary question for UK cruisers, as we are no longer in the EU and the EU counts the number of days you are outside the UK, at what point do you get your passport stamped on exit and re entrance to UK?

Just wondered as haven't done Southampton to EU since before Brexit.  

In general terms, foreign-flagged cruise ships are required to visit at least one non-U.S. port so that they cannot benefit from sailing exclusively within U.S. waters while simultaneously skirting U.S. tax and labor laws. 

Why Do Cruise Ships Have to Call on Foreign Ports? | Cruise.Blog

You can buy an Bluetooth adapter (transmitter) which plugs into a USB and headphone socket on the TV 

You can no longer email, you need to download the stock perks app on your phone, submit proof of ownership, screenshot shares in your name, then once approved (takes about a week) you click redeem benefit and submit your cruise ref number and details. takes another week then OBC issued 

Our port stop last year with Princess, the shuttle dropped everyone at Tynemouth station, you could then take the train/metro into newcastle. 

On 3/10/2024 at 4:16 AM, liberty176 said:

Is this the fastest way from South Queensbury into town?  We're a family of four, so tickets for this will add up quickly and other forms of transport may not be much more for us.

We took the train from Dalmeny to Edinburgh, station was about 10 minutes walk from the pier, then about 20 minutes by train.

I can recommend Ertunga

He was excellent picked us up at ship and took us straight to Ephesus. Having been twice I would say skip Mary's house as rebuilt ruin on site supposedly lived in by Mary and go to Ephesus and pay extra to go into terrace houses, they are amazing.

He will organise tickets for you and he is an approved guide. We made a group of 8 people from our cruise and he hired a mini bus but I am sure he would take you in a taxi.

If you decide to go on an organised trip ship or online, you will find they take you to a carpet or leather factory or both which just eats into your time.

 Turkey Private Tours by Ertunga Ecir - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) (tripadvisor.com)

We visited in November and booked a tour through wabar tours  Land Tours In Oman | Luxury Holidays | Oman|wabar Tours | مسقط , small minibus with driver and very professional guide and spoke excellent English. Met us at the port gates. Very good.  

We are from the UK and wouldn't give a tip with ocean now or drinks. while its nice, it's not expected in UK or Europe. 

Ocean now, order a drink or snacks anywhere round the ship and they find you and bring it to you, though probably quicker to go to the bar! I don't think all food is free, it's the delivery part that would cost you extra without the plus or premier pack.

Unlimited casual meals - how much food can you eat!! Most ships have casual dining places like Italian (Alfredos), it used to be free but now has a cover charge but waived for premiere. However last year on Island Princess there is no casual dining place so no benefit, but some folks have reported one of the speciality restaurants being used some lunch times as a casual dining place.   

I booked last week direct with Princess added premier, yet when the confirmation arrived only showed plus, rang back and they amended. Wonder how many folks don't even check that part of the confirmation.  

We used Airalo esim and had great coverage everywhere, you just need to check your phone is compatible. Lots of videos on youtube telling you how to install.

As far as I know, Marella don't stop in Hong Kong in 2024.

Singapore dock is Singapore Cruise Centre 

We have been Xmas with Marella to Caribbean 2019 and Marella Asia Dec 2023. Both great cruises but so different, if you want to chill out and potter around on your own then go for the Caribbean, if you want to see some fabulous parts of the world, different sights and cultures then go for Asia. 

I was worried about being ill in Asia but all went well, and there are plenty of sea days to chill and the cruise is not so many ports as Caribbean.      

Marella have two ships in Caribbean from Barbados both very similar itineraries. It looks like the cruise from Jamaica stop running March 2024. Shame as some great places. 

We did Marella Oman to Singapore Dec 2023, we had a great time. we like to book private tours rather than the ship and can recommend;

Sri Lanka, booked a private tour with Sri Lanka Tours - Sri Lanka Tailor-made Holidays | Blue Lanka Tours, they were very professional and had a bespoke tour.

Did Indian visa ourselves   India Visa Online (indianvisaonline.gov.in) top tip get a photo done at photo shop and ask them to size it for an Indian visa. Apply now if you haven't done already.

We booked a private tour for Mumbai and Goa with Introduction to Namaste City Tour, Mumbai so we didn't have to run the gauntlet of the many taxi drivers at the port gate. Be prepared to waiting round the steps before they even call you to get off, the bureaucracy and paperwork checking is beyond belief. 

Oman we booked with Land Tours In Oman | Luxury Holidays | Oman|wabar Tours | مسقط, we could have taken a walk into town but saw so much even stopped for a local tea drink. If you visit the mosque you need to be covered from shoulders to the ground.

Hope that helps.

You wanted to report back on our cruise with two days in Sri Lanka December 2023, thanks to the recommendations on your page we booked with Blue Lanka tours and I have to say they were amazing. Nothing was too much trouble they answered my emails promptly and put together a bespoke tour for our group including an overnight stop in Kandy, we had a fabulous guide and driver plus at a great price. Sri Lanka Tours - Sri Lanka Tailor-made Holidays | Blue Lanka Tours

We visited Roatan in 2019 and had a great tour of Roatan with Cleeve. 

Definitely a character and probably the best tour on our cruise  Cleve's Tours & Adventures - Home (cleves-tours.com)

Cleves' Tours and Adventures - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) (tripadvisor.com)

We have been recommend a company called Kuala Lumpur private tour Mr Ahmad Fauzi Zakaria. you can reach him on wats app +6013 420 7902  Our cruise had the same itinerary in 2019 and many people have recommended him for KL 

We arrive penang in December 2023 and like to do private tours but can’t see any reviews can anyone recommend a company thanks 

As far a I can see from UK  India e tourist visa options are 30 day visa can only apply within 30 days or travel or one year visa apply within 120 days of travel. We arrive Dec so thinking of doing the 1 year so we can do now then another job done 

There are seven of us with two days in Sri lanka,  Colombo, in December 2023 can anyone recommend a private guide or tour? Thanks 

On 6/26/2023 at 4:24 PM, Mrs f. said:

We were on an Oceania ship just before  Covid,  that docked in PORT KELANG for the day. 

I had hired a private guide for 6 people. Posted on my rollcall and immediately filled the slots. Guide me us at the port. If I remember correctly only authorized ship vehcould enter the gates.   Not a problem.   Got off ship and walked along path to a big building....drivers were waiting there. There were people who found drivers to take them wherever....

 

The ride to KL took about an hour. We went to the Batu Caves first, which was the one thing I wanted to see. It was amazing. Spent about an hour there. Then drove to a bunch of sites. Our driver knew the best places for photo ops. We ate lunch at a typical local restaurant.  Fantastic.  Cost us about $6 a person US.   Nobody got sick.

 

Do a search for a private driver.

Hi mrs f are you able to share the drivers contact details? 

We are on the earlier cruise so two days in Sri Lanka so will be getting a tourist visa as far as I can see transit doesn’t cover us. It only appears to cover those by air but there looks like the option of visa on arrival so at least if they won’t accept your transit that is available