sentosa25

"A word of warning that you should check your emails daily if you are expecting one from Stuart. Mine had an expiry date of today to claim the voucher"

Are you sure???????

Mine expires on 3rd February...........2026!! :eek:

Doesn't matter as I have just spent it :p :p

Yeaah, Happy Dance, :D :D :D

£10 Amazon Voucher has just popped into my inbox.

Perfect timing to add a few Kindle books to my collection before our next cruise!!!

Many Thanks to chemmo :)

Just got the email, clicked through and completed the survey,

but no mention of vouchers????

Guess what???

This evening I got another email survey, this one DID mention Amazon Vouchers, all completed, so I will be keeping an eye on my in box.

Anne

Just got the email, clicked through and completed the survey,

but no mention of vouchers????

Thanks for that.

Registered.

Happy New Year Trevor,

you have email.

Hi Trevor,

Don't know the times of the shuttle, sorry.

It is usually organised by the cruise line.

Local taxi's are cheap and plentiful.

Almost everyone speaks English so it isn't a problem.

If you just want a beach break, Langkawi is perfect, although we usually spend a bit of time in Kuala Lumpur first.

If you are flying from UK, you can not get a direct flight to Langkawi.

Have heard good reports about the Danna , but haven't actually stayed there.

We usually stay at Meritus Pelangi Beach and Spa, it is a large resort , we tend to go around November when it is not so busy.

We upgrade to Meritus Club on arrival(Usually email then hotel first) 100Ringgit (£15 75) per person per day gets you breakfast, all day tea, coffee, and snacks and evening cocktails and wine and more snacks in the Club Lounge. Just book Room only if you are going to do this.

The resort is right on the beach, has two beautiful pools and a lovely spa.

Ten minute walk takes you to the main drag where there are restaurants galore to eat every evening.

We also like Casa del Mar, but that is more for couples only, and we prefer the pools and beach at Meritus.

Lots of things to do in Langkawi if you want to, we just go to relax.

If you need any more information or help, let me have your email and I can reply directly to you.

Best wishes,

Anne

Hi rooney9,

we LOVE Langkawi, have just had our 9th holiday there!!

Found this information:

http://cruiseportwiki.com/Langkawi

If you want to drive it will be easy as they drive on the same side of the road as us :p

I think the easy option is to take the shuttle bus mentioned to Waterworld at Pantai Cenang,

You could have a wander around the shops (including a Duty Free Mall) and then a bit further along is a beautiful beach, but just be aware it is very hot!!!!

Lots of water sports and little places to eat.

If you want a panoramic view of Langkawi, you can take a taxi up to the Cable Car.

When you have done everything you want to, head back to Waterworld and take the shuttle back to the ship

This website has lots of suggestions as well:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Guide-g298283-k4469-Langkawi_Langkawi_District_Kedah.html

Hope this helps,

Anne

we were on the same cruise as 4774 papa, and did a great tour in Tokyo with Tours by locals.

https://www.toursbylocals.com/TBL/WebObjects/ToursByLocals.woa/1/wa/searchForToursInPlace?wosid=KduoE01hlCcDAeMhzanO7w

Found them excellent to work with, guide spoke excellent English, and we saw so much more than we would have done on our own.

We had a group of 8 and could have gone to 10.

I emailed the guide, and he replied very promptly and was very accommodating with our requests.

A lot tours in Tokyo are walking and using the underground system because of the traffic jams, takes much longer to go by car .

Anne

Can anyone recommend a good tour company for a day tour in Tokyo?

Hi Anita,

we were recently in Tokyo pre cruise and had a fabulous tour with Tours by Locals. We did this the day before our cruise

https://www.toursbylocals.com/TBL/WebObjects/ToursByLocals.woa/1/wa/searchForToursInPlace?wosid=KduoE01hlCcDAeMhzanO7w

Our guide was called Kenji and he was excellent.

Picked our group of 8 at our hotel and off we went.

I had emailed him lots of questions and he replied very promptly, and was very accommodating to any requests that we made.

I particularly wanted to enjoy a Tea Ceremony and he was able to incorporate that for us.

We went around the city using the underground system and walking.Saw so much more than we would have been able to see on our own.

We paid(using Paypal) a deposit and then the balance before we left home

Just an aside, we also had a tour booked with another guide for Kobe, sadly the guide's mother died the day before our tour and the tour was cancelled. We received a full refund from Tours by Locals very promptly.

Hope this helps,

Anne

Melissa Snow? I thought she left Celebrity. That would be nice if she were back with Celebrity again.

Sorry, dont know her surname.

She worked alongside Ranulca last few days of the cruise before taking over.

She told me she comes from Colombia had done three seasons with Celebrity in South America.

She seemed a very nice, chatty , confident and competent girl.

Millennium update (Oct 25 - Nov 8)

 

Master: Captain George Latrou

Chief Eng: Nikolaos Politsis

Staff Captain: Pierre Caruana

GRM: Touch Ung

HD: Daniel Simon

CD: Steve Gayda

F&B: David Wood

Ex Chef: Michael Fernandes

CC Host: Raluca

Little correction, Raluca actually left the ship in Hong Kong and flew home.

Melissa is the new CC Host.

We did this last year.

There are several different tour buses, we used the Red hop on bus.

The bus stops just outside the cruise terminal, walk out and turn left.

Piraeus is on the Green route, this will connect with the Red route at the terminus for The Acropolis.

http://www.citysightseeing.gr/red-and-green-route/

maps and timetables for both are on this link.

We just got our tickets on the day.

Sunscreen and a hat are a must if you like to sit upstairs.

We enjoyed it and thought it was an easy to see a lot of Athens.

Oliver,

I hope you don't mind, but I am posting a link to this great review on the roll call for our cruise doing this itinerary next year.

I think people will enjoy reading it.

Anne

Thanks for taking the time to do this review, photographs are amazing!!

We are doing this cruise at the end of February next year, and this has has given me a taste of South America.

Thank you

Guide to / FAQ to HKG's Taxis - (3 types of taxis in HK, red ones are what most of you will be riding in/hailing - to/from the airport or HKIA)

 

The official "bible" as published by the HK Tourism Board - with a list of taxi companies and their telephone numbers to call for one/pre-book one ahead (a 1 or 2 hour should be sufficient to get one, except in poor weather under typhoon warning signal flags.

 

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/ca/plan-your-trip/practicalities/transport/getting-around/taxi.jsp

 

Bookmark the guide as it has extensive & detailed info on to make the most out of your upcoming 24 to 36 hours calling upon HK as one of the port stopover. Enjoy !

mking8288,

thank you so much for taking the time to post this taxi information, very helpful.

Anne

Good morning mking8288,

thank ýou so much for taking the time to write such an extensive reply, much appreciated.

My main concern was that there would be no taxis at the pier at that time of the morning.I will take your advice and check it out the day before and note down a few taxi numbers just in case.

I think that will be the easiest and most hassle free way to go.

thank you again

Anne

OP,

 

Other questions, please feel free to ask if you don't come up with anything here already answered.

Hi mking8288,

wonder if you can help me with a query please.

We are on Millennium arriving into Hong Kong 7th November.

We have a flight leaving at 8 45am on 8th, so I think we would need to leave the ship at around 5 30am.

I presume we will be too early for airport buses etc and will need a private transfer.

Would you have any recommendations for reliable taxi transfers that I can pre -book?

Many Thanks

Anne

Flights in UK can be booked 11 months out.

Hi Curt,

you are correct in that we have much more stringent consumer law here in Uk, which is why it has taken Celebrity UK until this afternoon to release options for us here .

If we cancel, we are breaking the contract and do not get the deposit returned, but, in this case, Celebrity are breaking the contract, so the deposit is refundable.

Anne

Celebrity, I AM FURIOUS!!!!!

 

I don't have a problem with the ship being chartered, but why are UK clients not being afforded the same customer care as USA clients.

 

 

I contacted my TA on Saturday about this and he was told by Celebrity that it would be Monday before we could do anything.

 

After several phone calls from him to Celebrity this morning he has been told that the reservations team will not allow them to actually do anything until the options are confirmed and finalised their end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

WHY CELEBRITY, WHY??????

After I posted this, I emailed Michael Bayley and was most surprised to recieve a phone call from a lady called Shirley in his office.

We spoke at length about the fact that UK clients were unable to transfer bookings etc, she explained that UK legalities were different and this issue had to be addressed first. I also pointed out that this cruise had been taken off the website three weeks ago, and it was the lack of information that was so frustrating.

Shirley contacted the Uk office to keep an eye on the situation and I was delighted to recieve another call from her this afternoon to say that the options had been sorted and we were to get the same offer as USA clients, a transfer of booking at no extra charge, retaining offers and $300 OBC.

Shirley did acknowledge that the issue had not been handled in the best way and hopefully,they have learnt from this.

Dear Celebrity

 

Please can you clarify the following statement -

 

"Receive $300 onboard credit per standard stateroom, $500 onboard credit for suites when you re-book any Celebrity sailing"

 

Does the above apply only to bookings made before 22nd August or at anytime in the future.

 

ÀLSO DOES THIS APPLY TO UK BOOKINGS ?

 

Many thanks

"Receive $300 onboard credit per standard stateroom, $500 onboard credit for suites when you re-book ANY Celebrity sailing."

I would like to think that the $300 obc applies to everyone who was on one of the chartered cruises, but Celebrity UK are still finalising options, so we will have to wait and see.

Celebrity, I AM FURIOUS!!!!!

I don't have a problem with the ship being chartered, but why are UK clients not being afforded the same customer care as USA clients.

I contacted my TA on Saturday about this and he was told by Celebrity that it would be Monday before we could do anything.

After several phone calls from him to Celebrity this morning he has been told that the reservations team will not allow them to actually do anything until the options are confirmed and finalised their end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHY CELEBRITY, WHY??????

Can't believe some of the comments on here :rolleyes:

 

Just wondering how long it will take for my UK TA to contact me, we will be asking for our deposit back as nothing else is suitable :(

Hello weliketocruise,

I emailed my UK Ta last night and he replied to me this morning to say he knew nothing about this, but would contact X.

He emailed back to say that X had confirmed the charter and were "currently working out what options there are which will be out by Monday."

I did ask if I could put a hold on a cabin until this is sorted out but was told no.

The cruise I am considering is one of the options given by X yesterday, and I am surprised they did not pull it to accommodate those who wish to re book an alternative cruise.

It reflects badly on X when the client has to tell the TA what is going on !! I think he was rather surprised that this was announced on a forum before TA's were informed.

Hi Kevin,

we did this excursion in May.

Our guide was excellent, her name was Valentina.On the bus we were given a map of Pisa and Florence

We parked outside Pisa and Valentina walked with us and arranged a meeting place and time.

When we were en route to Florence, she passed out the GPS sets, one per couple, and gave instructions on how to use them.

You have to register them to your cabin number in case you have an accident with them and she did tell us how much the charge would be to replace them, but I can't remember exactly, think it was around 200 Euros.

Sadly ours did not work and she did not have any spare ones.

When we got off in Florence, several people said they did not want the responsibility of taking one, but, as they had all registered them to their cabins, we couldn't use them!!:mad:

Fortunately, we had a back up plan, we had already downloaded several of Rick Steve's Audio Tours for Florence so we were able to use those.

The bus dropped us off with Valentina and she walked with us to Santa Croche Square, and showed us exactly where we were to meet up again in the Square. We then explored on our own.

When we met up again , we had to walk to near Ponte Vecchio where the bus was parked.

We had lunch in Ristorante Finisterrae which is in Santa Croche Square and it was excellent and reasonably priced.

Enjoy Florence.

Anne