gourmetnotgourmand

@BermudaBound2014 and others.

Thank you very much for all your information, updates, pictures, etc.

Where are my lobster tails?

Really enjoyed the cruise without being on it.

Regrettably I had to cancel due to my recent total knee replacement.

Recovery has been slow with a slew of Physio. Now finally able to walk some.

I loved all the comments.  Brightened many of my days.

Again, THANKS to all.

Ursula

Thank you so very much for your wonderful commentary and pictures.  I enjoyed every moment of your wonderful journey.

May I ask if you have a kettle in your cabin?   We are cruising on the Island Princess commencing 26 May.  It would be a treat.

Ursula

1 hour ago, We_like_to_cruise said:

Oh, sorry Ursula.  That is a little outside of my comfort zone.  You might want to post on our World Cruise Roll Call to see if you can get more info.

Thanks. Appreciate your responds.

Enjoy your cruise.

Ursula

23 hours ago, We_like_to_cruise said:

Moreton Island, Australia

 

Transferring from the ship to the tender is very challenging as the tender was banging up against the ship with every wave.  Guests hang on to each other during boarding and the staff are very careful to monitor each person’s entry.  The choppy ride takes about 20 minutes.  Guess we don’t need to pay for a banana boat ride onshore!

 

We disembark the tender and are now guests of the Tangalooma Island Resort.  There are numerous aquatic activities to purchase even if you did not have a pre-booked shore excursion.  Most are here are to simply go to the beach, although other options included snorkeling, Segway tours, 4wd vehicles, stand up paddle boarding, swimming in the pools and boat rides.  And, since the island is over 90% sand you can even go sand tobogganing on one of the giant sand dunes.

 

The resort is popular for residents of Brisbane, as it is only a bit over an hour away by ferry.  However, numerous announcements on the ship advised us we were forbidden to take the ferry to Brisbane.  (Moreton Island was not considered an official port).

 

The beach is large and clean and we scope out a mixed sun/shade spot for a few hours of sunbathing and swimming. 

 

Later we walk about half a mile down the beach to the “Tangalooma Wrecks”, a popular spot for snorkeling.  Over a dozen vessels were intentionally sunk in the waters about 50 years ago and they are now home to coral and numerous species of fish.  Although you can swim there directly from the beach, the current can be strong so a guided snorkeling excursion was recommended.

 

We return to the tender dock along an uphill trail in the sand for some views and pictures.  Along the way we pass some colorful plants and flowers.

 

The resort had a restaurant and bar but unlike Princess Cay (which this port was likened to) there was no included barbecue / lunch / drinks.

 

Our return tender ride was uneventful in the much calmer seas. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,

I want to thank you for your marvelous pictures and great commentary.  Been following you since the beginning of your WC.  
 

Sorry to be so forward but wonder if you kindly could try to contact D727.  Either the current occupant or their cabin attendant.  We are due to cruise on the Island Princess 33 nights in May.  Just curious if they like the cabin.

Thanks in advance.

Ursula

Does anyone know what kind of coffee pods to use.  
The machines differ for Balcony and Suites/Haven cabins.

We participated in 5 different tours In May while on a B2B on the Vision.  Each tours was as promised.  The guides were knowledgeable. Transportation in new vans with good seating and AC. 

We can recommend this company without hesitation.

Ursula

While on our recent Volendam Asia cruise, we ran out of blank pages two years too soon, so we renewed our US Passports by mailing the application and the old ones in on April 16, 2018 using Priority Mail. The new 52 page ones were returned to us May 2, 2018 or just over 2 weeks time. Our old passports just arrived today, May 5, 2018. So we are good to go for another 10 years. I wonder if we can fill a 52 page booklet with passport stamps?

 

 

 

Tim

Hi Tim & Angela,

Having met you I say you certainly will fill up your pages.

We are currently in Yokohama catching our 20 night cruise on NCL today. Spent four nights in Shanghai, three nights in mostly rainy Kyoto. I know you are ready for another adventure.

Meet ‘ya again.

Ursula & Doug

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Thank you! Very helpful!

 

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I agree with Ine.

Take the train from the airport. About 5 or 6 Euros each way. Takes less than 20 minutes into Amsterdam Centraal. The Taxi is way to costly.

As you leave the Centraal Station stop and look to the right, about 2 o'clock. In the near distance you will notice 2 different River cruise companies. (Flags are flying) One is Red, the other Green.

The Red one seems to have more departures, they do 2 different canal routes. Try not to do anything where you have to read and concentrate, you likely will be too tired to absorb and enjoy.

Ursula

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Thank you for the information. We plan on just getting out and walk around a little if we can disembark without a visa.

 

 

 

Thanks for posting the question, gourmetnotgourmand!

You are more than welcome.

Have visited St. Petersburg with a small group where visa was included. Also Sochi on the Black sea with HAL tour.

Both places you could not get off without either a prior made tour arrangement or a individual visa for independent sightseeing.

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We were in Petropavlovsk last year. We were able to wade through the contradictory advice/information to realize that a visa is NOT required if you stay within the city. So we didn't pay for a visa and were able to disembark, albeit not until after noon time and after several "views" of our passport. We are a lovely walk through the town. It was a Sunday and sunny, and it seemed that all of Petropavlovsk was in the main square to view the ship. It apparently was one of the six "nice" days the place gets. We were on Celebrity.

Thank you for your valuable, up-to-date insight.

Many of us on the upcoming NCL cruise early May will appreciate your info.

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Has anyone recently been there. We know you either need a Visa if you want to visit independently or join a ship sponsored tour where the visa is included. There is much talk about the Russian authorities letting cruiser go off without a visa. We are US citizen. Any information with first hand experience.

Thanks in advance.

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Supposedly I "won" a Pedicure. The Salon called and we agreed on an appointed time. When the bill was presented I inquired why it was so much. Answer, the Pedi won was a basic package.

So I added a very generous tip. Later on realizing they already added a substantial tip. Now I no longer sign up to win anything. To this date my free Pedi is still over double what I pay now about 10 years later.

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Here is our story:

 

13 day transatlantic, booked OX/GTY (oceanview). We are Platinum status, so will receive two free dinners, some wine, champagne, 30 mins free internet, etc. No service charge for them. The GTY means we qualify for no free at sea or other perks.

Total: $1,355 for two people in an oceanview GTY for 13 nights.

 

But wait! NCL came out with a new promotion a few days later with some seemingly nice perks with their distinctive voyage perks: what if we wanted those extra four dinners (free at sea), free drinks, and these new ones? $50 credit towards NCL excursions, more free wifi, free air credit, free hotel credit, and free phone call package.

 

The least expensive room that would qualify us for that perk would have been an obstructed cabin at $859 and the service charge would have added $496 to our bill making the total $2,512.

 

That would mean that our sailing with some more free perks would cost us an additional $1,157!!!

 

The distinctive voyage special they are running now would also have included a $200 pp. airline benefit and a $100 hotel benefit. I called and the airfare was about $450 pp. for a $229 flight (the average one I found on my own) and they could give me no flight details nor could they book a hotel 5 months out. So, there goes the value of that benefit to zero.

 

So, for $1,157 I saved, I can buy an occasional drink, if I choose, or book a dinner at another restaurant and come out way ahead. Of course, if I was a substantial drinker, I might look at these perks differently, but I rarely drink.

 

The moral of the story: do the math- the free perks are not all that free sometimes. BTW- I was assigned a cabin within two days of booking last week and it is in the highest oceanview category (twice the cost of our original GTY). So, I'd say it is a win-win for me. I'll spend my savings on souvenirs and tours in Europe.

I fully agree with the above statement. Be aware and see what your needs are. Personally I like to go for the good deal rather than free since there is no such thing. With over 50 past cruises and 8 more booked I have learned to take everything in stride. I do pack ear plugs, just in case. Don't drink much so that bill is negligible. To this point I have always received my GTY cabin ahead of departure. Once I thought it was an awful location and it turns out one of the best ever. Just so thrilled to be on a cruise going somewhere, meeting other people, basking in my contentment. And most of the time it will be attitude that determines the enjoyment.

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booked a 15 nt RCI refundable Sydney to Singapore for March 2019 for only 939 pp getting 75 OBC. Planning to make this an affordable round the world trip. Holding a 24 night MSC cruise from Durban to Venice. Air so far LAX to Sydney. Singapore to Cape town. There several night and then an affordable Safari out of Durban. Maybe Air Venice back to USA. I'm a frugal shopper so looking around. Still way too early to book air but looking what things cost.

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no offer here. would be so tempted...

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We had just dropped our daughter off at airport and wife went in to help her so I went and parked and checked my email. There it was. I had to read it 3 times before I could believe it. Email arrived at 10:48 Mountain time. Wife came out about 5 minutes later, I showed her and we didn’t even leave the parking lot and called our TA.

 

We had quite a hold time getting our TA so I surfed Princess’s site for rooms while wife surfed for flights. We almost always book interior cabins and our favorite is Deck 14, rear. That is where I first looked and there were 8 cabins to choose from. I clicked on balconies back there and there were approximately 12-15 I would say. We decided for $400 more we would do a balcony. (Actually only $350 more when we used our future cruise credits and the extra $50 you get for booking Balconies over interior)

 

By the time the TA answered and got ahold of Princess, the balcony cabins in the eligible categories were sold down to guarantee. We got a BE guarantee. Hope it is at the rear.

 

Cheapest flights my wife could see were $1358 from Boise to LHR one way only. So we had the TA check Princess EZ air and about fell out of the car when they quoted $500.98 each round trip from Boise. Heck, no flights are cheap out of Boise. We jumped all over that, first time using Princess air reservations.

 

We bought Princess transfers from LHR to Southampton. Total price for 15 day cruise in a balcony, port fees/taxes, transfers, airfare $2206 from Boise. Cheapest cruise we have ever been on. With $525 OBC, we can pay the gratuities and have money left over.

I just counted rooms. There are 115 interior cabins to choose from, 29 Ocean view, 90 balcony rooms you can book left, 48 minis left and 3 full suites.

Thrilled for you. We have cruised with you before.

Enjoy.

Ursula

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The Globe by R.Doug Wicker.

Can be found on Amazon Kindle e-Books and Barnes&Nobles Nook.

$ .99 only.

The book was well received

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Ursula, will catch you up on the arranged tours for next year, cabin, and all else! email you tomorrow!

 

 

 

Carol

Carol, take a break. No hurry on my end. Relax and catch up on your life.

Ursula

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Just coming off the 30 day cruise - I was the organizer for the CC meets and greets and organized quite a few independent excursions with the group ......

 

We have sailed the Volendam a few years ago (Australia and New Zealand) - and while I see cutbacks and changes in service, I cannot say it was a bad cruise. We had issues with our cabin (another story) but HAL dealt with the problem to our satisfaction. In fact, as our children and grandchildren are sailing within 10 days on their scond HAL cruise (Bermuda again, which we sailed with them and where we introduced them to HAL), HAL even offered a complimentary specialty reataurant meal for the family of 5 - I found that to be a very nice gesture.

 

As this was a lengthy cruise for us, and I had done so much prep, organizing and CC work - hubby and I decided to chill and eat at the Lido most evenings. It gave us more free time and ease to catch the movie, show, or strings playing. We usually do anytime dining.

 

Despite cutbacks and changes - we still enjoyed our cruise. Sorry the OP had a different experience.

 

PS - I WILL get back on track with the group/charter/drydock schedule, I have been very lax since the new year ....

Carol

Welcome back, Carol. Sound like you enjoyed your cruise.

I want to hear more about your cabin but we'll use our private e-mails.

Catch you on our other cruise critic blogs.

Ursula

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We always tip extra on about the 2nd day. What does it do for us? Well, after 37 Cruises we still have not ever had breakfast, tea or anything in our cabin. But the cabin steward sure makes up our room quickly. We barely walk out and they are right on the job. To us that alone is worth the extra money. Nice to come back to a freshly made "home". In addition the steward never lingers around our door on embarkation day.

Rebooked too. So excited.

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We have at last had an Email from Costa yesterday explaining that this cruise had been cancelled and a new cruise lasting three extra nights and slightly different ports of call had replaced it. We were offered the choice of switching to the new cruise at the same cost as the cancelled cruise or having our deposit refunded.

 

 

 

We have chosen to switch to the new cruise. Hopefully no more issues with this cruise.

Fortunate for you Costa honored the same price for the longer cruise. I imagine we'll have an uphill battle on that one since they refunded the deposit with not any word from anyone. Not even to the travel agent.

As mentioned before, we expect to rebook this cruise. Now it leaves just enough time for you to visit the Pyramids. My main interest is still Petra. Although I would not want to miss any of the ports.

Ursula

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Used cruise.com to access cruise itinerary. Costa still haven't update their website. Already booked the new itinerary.

I just checked the Italian website. Nothing.

It is past 1 AM my time. Going to sleep. So excited, will check your site in the AM.

Thanks,

Ursula

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Hi, yes I wonder too. Keep on checking. I would be so delighted to apply my deposit again..

Ursula

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Costa agent here in the USA has no information at this point why the cruise has been canceled. I show a refund of my deposit my credit card.

MSC cruises with a similar itinerary also is no longer available. And Princess also canceled a cruise gong there September 2015.

Costa will supposedly let everyone know about the new itinerary once they know.