mljatsea

2 hours ago, gnome12 said:

I think @mljatsea was confusing Chicago's Magnificent Mile with Edinburgh's Royal Mile.

Guess I lived in Chicago too long!

27 minutes ago, Cotswold Eagle said:

It should be very doable, probably about an hour each way. I would take either the X99 bus, the train from Dalmeny or a shuttle into Edinburgh centre and jump on the tram out to the Ocean Terminal at Leith. Alternatively, a taxi, of course. 
 

Please note the port is South Queensferry, not Queensbury.

Thanks. Oops on the name! I don't know how to correct it in the topic title.

We are interested in visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia on June 20 from South Queensbury port when on HAL Rotterdam. Don't particularly care to go to Magnificent Mile this trip which tour companies include. Would appreciate advice on transportation and feasibility from that port. Thank you.

I’d go to Pinnacle just for that candied bacon!

1 hour ago, KKB said:

We sail the Beyond next week for the 2nd time.

Curious about the bar service--slow or impersonal? If slow, was it due to crowds?

Off b2b Med and TA. We like to sit at the bar and never space in the Martini Bar. Sat at a table on second level once and had mediocre drink and service. On the first cruise we went to World Class which made great drinks but the bartenders were indifferent despite extra tips. Then we discovered Craft Social and never went anywhere else. Cocktails just as good without the smoke and mirrors and fab bartenders.

Thanks so much for all the info and the menus. Can't wait!

We'll be able to book our speciality dining for the Rotterdam soon and looking for advice. Not much experience on HAL but have enjoyed Pinnacle Grill and Tamarind. I see that our cruise should have two times with Taste of De Librije, the Jonnie Boer restaurant, in the Pinnacle Grill. Do you recommend? Is there an upcharge in addition to the usual Pinnacle charge?

Thanks.

On 11/19/2023 at 4:19 PM, sciencewonk said:

There's a respiratory virus going around (at least Down Under) that's not COVID or influenza, but I was sick for 2 weeks and had a lingering cough for another month.  And yes, it was much worse than when I had COVID.  Fortunately, I'm all better in time for my Auckland to Sydney cruise in 6 days (but who's counting?). 

Recently returned from B2B on Celebrity and got that respiratory thing--not COVID--shortly into the TA. Turned into acute bronchitis that I'm still shaking three weeks later. Half the ship was coughing.

3 hours ago, WeMissSeaView said:

MESSAGE #7607

Thanks. Oct.10 deadline. Got it. Did it. 

I'd forgotten about the webinar. Is there still time to watch? If so, can someone send me the link. I've lost it.

Thanks,

On 8/20/2023 at 6:30 AM, Ellesor826 said:

What is the best method of transportation from Rotterdam cruise terminal to our hotel in the old center of Amsterdam?
would love to find a company that could offer a tour of Rotterdam prior to transporting us to our Amsterdam hotel. 
YOLO

Thanks 

 

We're on that Rotterdam cruise with you and looking for the same info. There will be four of us. Have taken that train before and no fun with luggage. Larry had to stand by the door with our bags the whole trip, then you have to get from hotel to train to port. Looking for door to door transport. We won't do the train. 

On 7/21/2023 at 10:45 AM, 1Virgo said:

we used OBC and bought an ipad.   You can use up the credit anywhere. 

I did that too quite a few years ago.

Mine used to be there and now it's not. I always forget I have it.

I see that the Premium wifi upgrade is on this sale for $6.99 a day. Is it worth it to upgrade? I'm thinking perhaps on our TA since so many sea days, but on the other hand how good is the wifi on a TA at all? Don't think I'll do it on the port intensive ten day prior. Experiences? Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the very helpful info OMEINV!

We've never done a B2B and are considering adding a prior cruise to our TA this fall. I know we will not be able to get the same cabin. I expect we will have to pack up all our belongings but do they have to be removed from the ship and checked in again like new passengers. Or do they have a holding place on the ship for them so they can just move them to your new stateroom when it's been cleaned? Any other tips?

Thank you.

19 hours ago, helen haywood said:

You have my sympathy as well.  We sailed on Beyond (cabin 7161) in November, had this experience and will not sail her again.  Have sailed Edge several times without this issue.  My husband made some paper shims and inserted them into some of the wall and ceiling connections and they helped a little.  I sleep with Bose sleepbuds and the noise woke me up regardless.

Oh no, we're in 7175 for the fall TA and that sounds too close for comfort.

How long is the webinar? Kind of pressed for time right now.

We haven't sailed on X since 2015 and only sailed in AQ once it was created. That gave us Persian Gardens access. Back before AQ began,  you could buy a pass for the Persian Gardens on embarkation day. We are booked on the Beyond in Oct. 23 and AQ was sold out. Do they still offer the PG--or whatever it goes by now--purchase option on the  E class?

Thank you.

On 12/3/2022 at 9:51 AM, Treasure Hunter said:

As a retired librarian, the idea of making the library into inside cabins is a stab in my heart. Last time on the Reflection, I was able to exchange my paperbacks for some really good ones left by other passengers. I usually buy 20 books from ThriftBooks.com and leave them by the end of the cruise. I had a whole carry all full of books. The only cruise line that I have been on recently, that still has a great library is Oceania. 

The QM2 has a wonderful library with accredited librarian--at least was the case in 2018.

On 12/3/2022 at 10:14 AM, Harry_D said:

I’m also still waiting for a cruise ship with Pickleball courts!
 

HAL Koningsdam November 2021 did.

So I bit the bullet and got £145 with Britway Airport Transfer with many good verified reviews on TripAdvisor. Done, done, done!

Here's what Blackberry shows on their website and when I asked for a quote they said £178. I'm stymied why the huge increase in a month.

2 hours ago, John Bull said:

 

 

That's a new one on me, mlj.🤔

 

Airport transfers don't make a great deal of profit on a one-way fare, they rely on tying in with a fare in the opposite direction to avoid 50% empty mileage. That's why airport runs are generally cheaper than most other destinations.

Pre-book and the operator has a chance to tie your trip in with another booking - and for a Southampton operator your afternoon fare  from Heathrow would tie in with taking folk to Heathrow earlier in the day. But that's much less-likely if you ask on-the-day, and if a Southampton operator agrees to collect you but doesn't already have a car there you'll have a minimum 90-minute wait.

 

Pre pandemic and fuel price-hikes and 10% p.a. general inflation, prices between Heathrow and Southampton ranged upwards from about £70.

So a saving of £50 on current prices of around £120 to £140 suggests that an operator would revert to those old & now-uneconomic prices for a booking on arrival, which I very much doubt.

 

Asking for quotes by e-mail in advance is easy, and they'll all be looking for business.

But by negotiating on-the-day you put yourself at a disadvantage - you can't get best price without a tedious round of phone calls and return calls, and the chances of matching a return fare on-the-day are slim. 

 

Private-hire taxis aren't permitted to tout for business, if you can't fix a booking by phone the only taxis you could take from the airport are the classic black London cabs on the rank. Their long-distance fares aren't fixed but they know how to charge and if you're asking them they'll know they're your only option - expect any willing to take you to look for £200+

 

I won't suggest that you use the train - there's no direct train between Heathrow & Southampton, so the train options are both slow and expensive.

And if you were to use the bus you'd be well-advised to pre-book to avoid being stranded.

 

Your trip, your decision.

But I'd be interested to know where you heard that contacting the likes of Blackberry or West Quay on arrival would save you £50.

 

JB 🙂

 

 

 

2 hours ago, John Bull said:

But I'd be interested to know where you heard that contacting the likes of Blackberry or West Quay on arrival would save you £50.

 

JB 🙂

 

 

 

When I went to book online for Oct. 18 the fare was £178, but if I wanted a car in 34 minutes the fare was £124. That's what made me think I should wait until we arrive. Thoughts?

I found that booking ahead with Blackberry or West Quay was going to cost £50 more than contacting them on arrival. Since we will be arriving around 3 p.m. on a Tuesday I'm tempted to take my chances on availability. Please no one suggest train or bus--not an option for us.  Would appreciate thoughts John Bull.