Magiemae41

Norwegian Dawn 09/05 to 09/15 - Starting in Southampton going to Portland, Cork, Dublin, Belfast, Kirkwall, Inverness, Edinburgh, Brussels and ending in Amsterdam. 

Someone broke this down for this particular itinerary, but I can't seem to locate the post.  

Thanks!

1 hour ago, gnome12 said:

What route are you looking at? I don't assume that British Isles cruises, Baltic cruises and Norwegian fjords cruises - all of which can have Southampton departures - would have been in the same post.

I apologize.   It is the cruise that leaves from Southampton and ends in Amsterdam.  The British Isles Cruise.  

Thanks!

Mae

I'm so sorry - I didn't realize multiple cruises left from there.  It is the British Isles cruise, start in Southampton and ends in Amsterdam. 

@John BullI recall seeing a post about the times from each port to the local cities or towns and different methods of transportation, the currency and other useful information for the cruise out of Southampton.

I can't seem to find this post, no matter how much I search 🙂

Was this one of your posts by any chance?  If so would you mind sharing again please?

Thanks for all your help. 

Mae

Hi, someone had previously listed all the times from each port, various transportation methods available and currency used.  I've searched and searched and can't seem to find it.  Does anyone recall this post?

2 hours ago, John Bull said:

 

No coach excursions to Stonehenge from Southampton, but very easy to DIY..

 

Take the train from Southampton Central station, 10 - 15 minute walk from Moxy.

Buy return tickets for the direct half-hourly train to Salisbury about £12.

Journey time about 35 minutes.

Avoid saturdays or sundays if you can

 

The Stonehenge Tour bus leaves from the station forecourt - small station, very easy to spot it. Catch a train that ties in with the Stonehenge Tour bus times

Because independent travellers have to pre-book a timed arrival slot at Stonehenge, buy your Stonehenge tickets on-line with your tour ticket, or from the driver - their tickets have no arrival time restrictions, you just walk straight in. NB If you pay the driver on-the-day you'll need cash due to contactless card limits.

 

Expect to spend about 60 to 90 minutes at Stonehenge.

 

On the return journey to Salisbury there's an option to visit Old Sarum on the edge of the city - a hill fort that was the original city. Needs about 45 minutes. Then go back to the same bus-stop. You don't have to wait for the next  Stonehenge Tour bus, your ticket is good for any Salisbury Reds bus - I think from that stop they all go to the city centre, but double-check with the driver. Old Sarum is uphill and rather exposed - not worthwhile unless you have the time, you're tolerably fit, and the weather's decent.

 

Salisbury  is a super little historic & laid-back city. Visit the magnificent cathedral - it has the tallest spire in the UK, one of the four original Magna Cartas, and the world's oldest clock. Entry by donation or combined Stonehenge/cathedral ticket. Cathedral not open for visiting on sundays.

 

Make you way back to the station, a 15 minute walk or bus or taxi hop, for a train back to Southampton.

 

https://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk

https://www.thestonehengetour.info/

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge

 

JB 🙂

 thank you so much again.  This is extremely helpful!

Mae

Thank you so much JB - Most of the hotels I heard mentioned were booked so I was hoping booking.com ratings were on point.   Do you happen to know if there are excursions or transportation we can take from Southampton to Stonehenge?

Mae

Hi all, so glad to see this post.  We just made reservations at Moxy for our trip in September.  Does anyone have experience with this hotel?

Mae

20 hours ago, John Bull said:

 

Interrnational Friends - the subject of this thread - offer their coach tour/transfers from  LHR to ships in  Southampton via Southampton. 🙂

 

But note that they pick up from Heathrow hotels, not airport terminals.

I've driven transfer coaches for cruise lines - coach pick-ups are strictly controlled at the terminals, they have to wait in the airport coach park until called forward. This works fine for ships' direct transfers because there's usually up to a dozen coaches for ship transfers and their departures from coach park to terminals throughout the morning are co-ordinated by the cruise lines' shore agents at the terrminals. And with plenty of coaches and such a flexible system, late flight arrivals aren't a problem.

But that doesn't work when there are just a couple of coaches, few passengers, four terminals, a tight schedule and of course no tour reps at the terminals. Also the operator can't delay a coach for a couple of passengers held up by a delayed flight or delays at arrival formalities. So altho you can take airport transport to an airport hotel, it's risky booking a tou/transfer unless youi have a  wide window for delays.

  https://www.internationalfriends.co.uk/london-heathrow-to-southampton-via-stonehenge.html

and note on the FAQ tab on that page arrangements for joining a tour/transfer from a same-day flight arrival.

You'd need an early flight arrival time (I guess about 7.30am latest), but you'd still be taking a risk.

Most pick-ups from Heathrow hotels are folk who arrived the previous day.

 

I don't know of any other organisations which offer anything similar, so you'd need a private transfer. A private airport-to-ship transfer would cost in the order of £90 to £100 for a car - going via a stop at Stonehenge would add about 30 miles and 2 hours - off the top of my head that's about an extra £50. And you'd have to buy Stonehenge admissions at about £20 - £25 pp. 

Suggested transfer operators in the sticky at the top of this forum, but oft-mentioned Smiths for Airports have ceased trading.

 

Can you build Stonehenge into your post-cruise?

 

JB 🙂

 

 

 

Thanks JB  - Unfortunately the cruise doesn't end in Southampton, we end in Amsterdam.  This does gives me suggestions though.  Our flights are through cruiseline so if they end up being later maybe we will stay near the airport or in London and go from there.   I was trying to figure out a way to combine transfer and tour on the same trip and save some $ 🙂 

Thank you so much for the information. 

I'm really appreciating all this good information.  I was wondering if anyone knows of a tour to Stonehenge that would leave from London Airport when we arrive and end up at Southampton?

Mae

On 9/17/2021 at 7:18 PM, Hlitner said:

I cannot imagine you would find any tour guides at Pompeii other then those licensed to take groups into the ruins.  But  I am a little confused by your post since you indicate your DW would not want to even go to Pompeii.  When you take the train to Naples you will be in Naples....not Pompeii.  You can simply walk out of the train station and start to enjoy Naples (at least for those that do enjoy Naples).  While you might be able to stumble on a guide at the train station we would never suggest hiring anyone at the train station (you have no clue what you are getting).  If you want a tour guide in Naples you might want to look into "Tours by Locals" or seek out some tour recommendations on Tripadvisor's dedicated Forum for Naples Italy (note that Tripadvisor is a sister company of CC).   If you do go to Pompeii you could easily take the Circumvesuviania Line train back to Naples and then spend some time in that city.

 

Naples can also be toured on one's own and you can get lots of help from a decent guide book such as the Rick Steves guide.  

Thank you so much.  This is definitely helpful to know we can see Pompeii and then take a train to Naples.  That gives me a good starting place. 

Thank you all so much for the detailed suggestions.  I think we would be quite comfortable taking the train on our own.  We plan on a day trip.  I've seen Pompeii but hubby has not so we definitely want to do that.  And my grandparents are originally from the Napes area so I'd love to be able to roam around for a little while. 

Do you think there will be tour guides near Pompeii offering to take you into Naples? 

We are so used to arranging things from the port that I wasn't sure how to go about it from the sites. 

Mae

Hi, we are staying a few days in Rome prior to our cruise.  Since we have visited Rome several times we would like to take the train down to Naples (this is not one of our cruise stops) and visit Pompeii and possibly Naples itself.  I have no idea on what is the best way to do this. 

Does anyone know of any tour companies that would pick us up from the train station?  Or possibly from Rome and travel down to Naples?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Mae and Kirk

On 4/18/2020 at 4:34 PM, joteacher said:

Hi All,

I'm so sad. I canceled my August cruise on the Breakaway today.😥 Final payment was due and I just couldn't take the chance that the cruise wouldn't sail; additionally I didn't want to wait to buy airline tickets if it did go...so I decided in our case, it was best to just cancel until this whole coronavirus is over. My PCC tried to talk me into making final payment because they would give me an additional 20-50% toward another cruise if NCL canceled the sailing, but I just couldn't do it, not with unknown airfare prices.

 

I guess I'll just look forward to our Hawaiian cruise in June of 2022 unless I see something inbetween!

 

I hope I did the right thing...but it's done...

~Joanne

I so feel your pain also.  Our final payment is 5/7 and I think we are going to cancel also.  I was so excited to book into a family suite with just the two of us... so much room :) Ireland, Scotland, Wales.   But... that is just too much money to take a chance on losing or them holding for so long.  Bad enough my air is booked already.  Again we will get a credit but no cash back 😞

Mae

Always destination.  We usually do very minimal sea days, and we have always liked all the ships, so no worries.  That being said however, I would think twice about doing a balcony room on the Epic again.  I really disliked the bathroom set up.  Of course if that was the only ship going to someplace we wanted to see, I'd live with it. 😊

Mae

On 1/27/2020 at 6:10 PM, GettotheSun said:

 

I actually didn't even know about the bidding process until after I booked and final payment - then I got the email asking me if I wanted to upgrade.  And to be honest, I was very confused when I received the offer as the entire Haven (all suites) was booked at that time based on what I saw online.  We have the H6 (aft penthouse) and the offers were for the 2 bedroom villa (H4 - wouldn't consider over the H6), and then the Owners Suite (H3) and Deluxe Owners Suite (H2).  I just couldn't justify the additional cost for either Owners Suite, so didn't bid.

 

I'm so excited about this cruise and the Haven, I cannot tell you!   My family isn't quite as excited as me - I think there's some trepidation with the unknown, haha

I think the bid process is automatic and doesn't always make sense if the room is smaller or doesn't seem like an upgrade.

My husband says it is worth the money just seeing how excited I was that we don't have to wait and try to bid.  We are on the Star, so no actual Haven area, but all the perks of the Haven, and we are in a family suite.  So I'm good with that.  You really get spoiled not having to wait in lines or get to the shows early.  Your spots are always reserved.  And breakfast in the Haven restaurant is awesome. 

Last cruise we were waiting in extremely long lines to get tenders back to the ship.  (not NCL's fault, we just all showed up at once I guess). Every time I saw someone go to the side for Haven  guests and not have to wait in the line I reminded myself it would be worth the extra $$ next time 😊

Congratulations.  We won three bids in a row into the Haven, bidding poor each time.  Then last cruise we didn't win and I hated it, having been spoiled.  😊  So of course next cruise I HAD to just book directly into the Haven. 

Mae

Thanks ScottBee!  I'll look  into that.

Thanks Happythoughts

I guess I'm interested in all options.  I see that NCL offers a transfer from the ship to the airport for $65/per person, but no options prior to the cruise.  

Wondering if there is a train from the airport and then we taxi to hotel, or if we must take a private car or bus from the airport?

Mae

Hi All, 

I've been trying to read all the responses, but have just confused myself.  😊

We will be flying into Heathrow Airport a day before our cruise and need to get from the Airport to Southhampton (Hotel to be decided next) and then at the end of the Cruise, Norwegian Star 09/16/20 we will need to get from the Cruise Terminal to the airport for a 2:30 pm flight.  

Can anyone help me with the best way to do this please?  There will only be 2 of us. 

Thanks so much!

Mae

Has anyone stayed at the Petit Palace in Barcelona? Is it convenient to sites, airport, cruise terminal?  Thanks for any input.

Mae

Mine is 08/18/2018 the cruise no longer populates, only the 08/09 with everything but insides sold out and 08/27 with only the solos showing sold out, every other category has inventory on the 08/27 date

So anyone who placed upgrade bids on the 08/18 your chances are just about zero percent, only hope is cancellation and I'm sure there won't be many of those

My sailing for 7/13 was showing sold out except inside for weeks. We still bid on havens. Heard 6/1 that we got the upgrade to haven spa room with a low bid so you never know.

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I got the email saying we are upgraded from an aft penthouse suite to an H3 on the Pearl to Alaska for July 8th! I'm so excited! Having a Haven room is on my bucket list and now I'll be able to check that off. Our bid was on the line between poor and fair for those of you who track that sort of thing. Thank you to everyone who has posted on this thread and given me hope!

Yay!!! Congrats.

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We bid on all Havens from a balcony for our Baltic Cruise 7/13 - I assumed a no go since it was showing sold out for weeks. Found out last week that we got the upgrade to Haven Spa for a low bid. So good luck - you never know.

Thanks so much Frederik123456 and Danish Viking... this helps us a lot!

Mae