mpbmark

We did this cruise in 2019.  Participated in both the pre-cruise and post-cruise programs. Time pre-cruise in Bilboa was wonderful, especially the trip to the Guggenheim Museum.  Post cruise thru the valley was right up there with the cruise itself.  Absolutely wonderful scenery and the accommodations were excellent, especially the chateau.  Very unique rooms.  We had transportation to the local city from the chateau as well and visited a couple of wineries as well.  While the cruise is costly (pretty typical for river cruising but you'll be hard pressed to take out your wallet while on board and most of the pre and post costs are included.  You won't regret taking this cruise. 

I agree totally.

We first met John on CruiseCritic in 2010 and sailed with him to Alaska that same year. We had several subsequent cruises together and he was great friend. He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Betty and his two daughters as a proceed forward without John's companionship. 😥

Thanks for reviving the thread and making me smile remembering John. I only sailed with him once, last February to Mardi Gras but I was very impressed by his kindness and generosity, not to mention his artistic skills. He'll be missed!

We had the pleasure of sailing with John on several occasions. You captured his essence perfectly.

Very much so

Well, it seems to me that you have to decide between a "land house" and a cruise suite. 😧 Tough choice. 🤑

We've only had a suite once and it was delightful but our darned mortgage company wants us to pay them EVERY month so we can't afford them regularly :D

Doesn't a suite cost more then your mortgage payment?

A man after my own heart. Hope he has a wonderful suite up there and the premium drink package

While John was never a "suite" guy, he would definitely be all in for the premium package 😂 🍷

So sad for her, the family and friends. Life is way too short. I hope they had an amazing cruise on Equinox.

I've been on about 1/2 dozen cruises with John and believe me, he always enjoyed them. 🍷

Just wanted to post a photo of the pin John made for us when we sailed on our very first TA

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

His pins were truly amazing. A tremendous talent. Unfortunately, the pin collection page from his signature seems to have disappeared. 😥

If you are in touch with Betty, please pass on our best wishes from here in the UK. We will be boarding Celebrity Reflection out of Civitavecchia soon and remember taking a photo of her as she set sail a few years ago when I knew John and Betty were on board.

If that was in 2013, then we were on the cruise with them after all of us spent 4 wonderful days in Positano. That was an Eastern Med cruise followed by one of John's favorite cruises, a TA.

She is doing as well as can be expected given the circumstances. :(

The whole thing was incredibly quick and all the more shocking as John seemed perfectly fine when we left the ship in Ft. Lauderdale. Then within a few weeks he was gone.:loudcry:

Betty is being helped through this trying time by her 2 children as well as their many friends.

Thanks for asking.

Here is a link to a page where you can post comments on John's passing.

http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/herald/john-steele-condolences/184654733?&eid=sp_gbupdate

I ordered 2 pandons for the Mardi Gras cruise and totally forgot about it.

He took the efforts to find out my stateroom number and left that by the front door.

What a nice gentlemen he was.

My condolences to the family.

I assume you meant 2 pins (don't you just love auto correct 😡 )

That was John. He always said he wouldn't track people down and yet he did it all the time.

One bump in case someone missed this.

Mark, so sorry to hear about John's passing. Please pass on to Betty our sincerest condolences. We thoroughly enjoyed the time we spend with them on Reflection B2B in 2013. May God Bless. He was a true Patriot.

Yes, he was. His grasp and understanding of some our

problems and his thoughts on solutions was astounding.

Very sad news.:(

 

Here is a link to his recent pins.

https://clippermiami.ecwid.com/

Thank you. I was looking for all of his pins but the web page in his old link isn't responding. And sadly, he won't be on any of the cruises whose pins are displayed in your link.

It is indeed sad when someone as good and nice as John is taken from us prematurely.

I'm trying to post a link to his pin page but the site seems to be down. Those of us who were lucky enough to have some of his pins have a least a touch of his brilliance and talent. If the site goes on line again, I'll post it here for all to see.

Wow! Thanks for letting us know. Just shows how precious and short life is. We need to enjoy every second we are given.

True that. My wife has finally decided to retire at the end if the year.

As some of you who follow Facebook may already know, John Steele passed away yesterday. You may remember Clippermiami as the individual with a Santa Claus like face and beard who designed some of the most exquisite pins for cruising any of us have ever seen. John, a close friend, came down with a staph infection shortly after our Celebrity Equinox cruise to Mardi Gras. I am truly glad we had one last cruise together before his passing.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Betty, and their two daughters. May John enjoy his next voyage as much as he has all of his prior cruises.

I have contacted my TA. AMA offers transfers for 2016 at $30US each way per person and can be added to the booking closer to the time.

 

They mentioned a taxi was 15-40 Euro for Paris airport to hotel and a taxi from Batelona to airport was 20-35 Euro.

That's great. Well worth it to have someone meet you in Prague. We didn't have a choice in Barcelona but the taxi wasn't too bad as I recall.

Have a wonderful trip and enjoy the fabulous wines. 🍷 👍 😋

I've waded thru all 176 posts on this worthless discussion as Celebrity isn't going to change it's position based on this thread. Furthermore, I really don't care what others wear, as it has absolutely no bearing on my life.

That being said, I'm curious if anyone has any actual insight as to the dress code for people invited to dine with the captain. This used to be a feature on formal nights so what, if anything, is being done now that "formal night" clothing has been abandoned?

JMHO, but all suggestions notwithstanding, I stil believe the best course of action is to check with the TA who set up the cruise and see what options are available. The simplist and most direct is the best course as the price difference (considering the overall cost of the cruise) is a drop in the bucket.

I know with the pre cruise hotel package, transportation is included by train from Paris to Lyon and post cruise transportation is included from Arkes to Barcelona hotel by coach.

 

I am talking about transfer/transportation from Paris airport to the hotel and Barcelona hotel to airport? I know if you book an ocean cruise pre or post hotel package the transfers are included.

 

I am on a group river cruise that has chartered the whole ship. The group has not organized transportation from Paris airport to hotel or Barcelona hotel to airport.

 

This is a great place to ask questions from people that have taken the cruise.

That may change the answer. Whole ship charters will only include whatever the charter company agrees to pay for. So the answers you get from regular AMA cruisers may not apply to you.

Just a guess but if you purchase a pre cruise, the transportation is included as I stated above. We did not purchase a post cruise and getting to the airport in Barcelona was on us.

I agree however that a group package can be modified by the group so they would be the best source for your questions.

Thank you for the helpful information.

 

I will be doing the 3 day pre cruise and 3 day post cruise stays.

 

I will ask my TA about the costs for the price of the transfers

 

Did you share the transfer with others arriving/leaving at the same time?

 

Did the others on the ship mention how they got from the airport to the hotel - taxi, train?

With the pre and post-cruise, you should have transfers, but confirm this your TA.

For pickup, there was a small van and they met us at the airport. We were taken to the hotel with about a dozen others. Some people arrived on their own without the transfers and others arrived during the pre-cruise time. By the time we went to the port, we had a bus full and maybe there was a second bus--can't recall. Same routine at the end of the cruise. Not sure which way you're going but transportation Arles to Barcelona by bus (or Lyon to Paris by train) is included.

Great informative review.

 

I will be doing this river cruise on AmaCello June 2017. I have been on many ocean cruises and this will be my first river cruise.

 

You took their transfer from airport to hotel. Did you book your air with AMA? I plan to book my own air. Can you remember the cost of the transfer?

 

How did you get from your hotel to airport?

 

What kind of entertainment was there in the evening?

Wow, the only thing more bizarre then you finding this old thread is the fact that I'm still subscribed. :eek:

First, we did not use AMA for air. We booked our own using points. We paid for the transfer, but can't recall the price. I'm sure AMA will give you a quote if you ask them or your travel agent.

As I recall, the transfer from airport to hotel came as part of the pre-cruise option we selected. AMA will provide transfers for the pre-cruise to the hotel and then to the ship. If you opt not to take the pre-cruise, then transfers can be obtained thru AMA but I believe only on the actual day of the cruise and not before.

The whole cruise was very informal and the entertainment matched the mood. It was nowhere near the multiple offers available on an ocean cruise. The main lounge hosts all evening activities and they usually consist of a local group brought on board from the port of the day. There wasn't something every night but if available, a singer, a small band or dance group were among the options. We usually lingered over dinner talking with new and/or old friends and then retired for the night. The cruise is pretty intensive with tours every day and a good night's sleep helped to prepare us for the next outing.

Just Great; what a nice pic, Love it!!!

 

Please send me an email to; luissmarques@yahoo.com.br and I will get back to you...

 

Stay Safe & Best Regards,

 

Luis

Email coming. :)