Morgans

Glad you enjoyed your time in the UK - have thoroughly enjoyed reading about your experiences here. Durham is my home area originally and I am very proud of it so particularly enjoyed reading your write up. (Bill Bryson, the writer is a great fan of the city too and he has connections with the University & the Cathedral. )

Many thanks for your review - like your trip - it must have taken a while to complete.

Lots to do in Marseille- some beautiful things to buy too. Recommend trip over to the Chateau d'If. Go for it!

If anyone is interested in Roman artefacts, we recommend a visit to the Museum of London at the Barbican - they have some fascinating articles and displays there - much more up close and accessible than at the British Museum. Would also recommend the Guildhall Museum as above.

Noise from the engines or generally loud passenger noise ? - hard surfaces?

But remember it's not just cruise ship numbers- Athens and Greece get packed with weekenders from Europe and package holiday makers throughout most of the year - it tends to quieten down at the end of October.

Piraeus port is one of the biggest in Europe with cruise ships and ferries from all over Europe. Athens can get very difficult in the height of the summer but it should be quietening down slightly by October but will still be busy.

It depends where the cruise is - we have flown with Virgin and Etihad on P&O packages to San Francisco and from Sydney.

Were you meaning the Caribbean itineraries?

Thanks for these latest comments - just what we wanted to hear ! Many thanks.

Thanks to all who have replied- we appreciate it very much. We have read all comments and can't really see any big negatives. So Avalon it will be. Now to start looking at all the options - we fancy a cruise that includes Prague or Budapest as both cities would be new to us. When we do book - we will look for the relevant roll call and sign up!

Many thanks once again.........

We have just returned from our first river cruise. We sailed with Avalon, and although we have decided river cruising is not for us, we would not hesitate to recommend Avalon. I would certainly endorse what others have said, try a 7/8 day cruise first.

Thank you to all who have responded - we are very grateful and note that most of the posts are positive ones. We have noted that a few of you are saying to try a shorter one first and will think about that advice.

Lindy - what was it that made you decide that it wasn't for you ? Anything specific ? - hope you don't mind me asking.

Looking at Avalon - 13 days Danube or possibly 15 days. Did you like Avalon - any recommendations - thoughts or tips. Would you book again?

Many thanks.

Do it - it's a gorgeous little place.

Well done John & Gloria .....good decision. Keep in touch.

Marge & David

Hello John (and indeed Kathi) - happy memories indeed. Glad to see you are both still cruising. Remember the 'bouncing' across the Atlantic- how could we forget?

I am sure John that you will love either ship - as you know QE well , you would find QV similar although as you know she has been 'freshened 'up. We liked the Central pool area on the smaller ship but also love QM2 - she is bigger of course but still beautiful. I would have a good look at the appropriate cabins (and costs) and layouts and make your decision from what would suit you regarding these. Perhaps go for the biggest balcony for you and Gloria or the easiest flow from room to room - possibly QM 2 ?Whichever you choose - you will love it no doubt at all.

E mail if you have any specific questions.

We did around Australia & Japan this year on QE and loved it despite very rainy weather. We are planning to complete our round the world in 2020 (all being well.) because the itineries are no good for 2019.

Good luck in choosing.......

Villefranche is a tender port and the tender leaves you directly in town. Here is a link to some pictures. It is very lovely there.

 

https://markandkareneurope2012.shutterfly.com/pictures/564

Lovely photos - enjoyed looking at these!

Villefranche is a beautiful small town and there is no need to go into Nice or Monaco if you prefer not to. Villefranche offers a great deal and you can head up into the Old Town to explore the medieval alleys and small streets where you will find several restaurants and boutiques selling various goodies. We found some excellent jewellery shops, but we also enjoyed gentle walking seeing the sights and backstreets soaking up the atmosphere.

Along the waterfront to your right from the tender drop off, there are also a selection of bars and shops - the Hotel Welcome is quite famous. Keeping the water on your right, you will come to the beach after a few minutes stroll.

It's a lovely port for a quiet day just mooching around at your own pace. Villefranche is one of our favourite stops and I'm sure you'll enjoy it very much.

We will be staying in Paris for several days before a British Isles cruise next August. My 85 year old mother in law will be traveling with us. We would like a convenient location so that we wouldn't have to do a whole lot of walking. Plus, having a HOHO stop near our hotel would be perfect. Any suggestions?:)

Have a look at hotels in the 1st Arondissement- you can't get more central & walkable than this. Look at hotels near rue de Faubourg St Honore and the Rue Rivoli if you want to be near the Louvre and some nice restaurants. The Hotel Castiglione is pleasant and worth a Google.

[quote name=Boatmans Lady;54005388

I know that these things are trifling in the grand scheme of what has happened' date=' but if we are still likely to be going to any of the Islands affected, we would like to take some things like children's reading books, crayons, pencils, chalk, etc to give to a local school,[/quote]

Regarding the school supplies - is this because of the current situation? Generally the schools are pretty well funded and do not need these articles. Whether the devastation will have affected such things, I'm not sure. There's an awful lot of restructuring to be done unfortunately.

I am afraid that Irma might have inflicted quite a few changes on this beautiful Island.

Yes indeed, it's looks horrendous. Not sure when the OP is travelling but there will certainly be some effect on itineries/schedules for those travelling in the not too distant future and probably longer. Cruises & itineries can be changed - in comparison to the troubles the locals will be faced with I'm sure that should be the least of our worries.

If it's a beach you want then just take the water taxi from more or less next to where the ship docks, over to the nearby beach in the town. All facilities there and very enjoyable and easy. Water taxi back to the ship.

No problem at all - you will be fine. Hope you enjoy it.

Wish the new hotel had been open this summer. Stayed last week at the Ibis Southampton. It was very basic. we did not stay at the Ibis budget. Bed was good. It was clean. Room was tiny. Bathroom was tight. It had a tube of hanging soap which was used for shampoo and washing. It was gross. My cruise cabin is really big compared to the hotel room. I would welcome a more upscale hotel. With all the pre and post cruise traffic, a new hotel would be good.

Ibis are very basic European budget chain - if you want anything more then you won't find it here. (Some of the ones in London are a bit better.). For anyone looking for Southampton, the Pig in the Wall hotel is worth a look or a Google. Very pleasant indeed.

We can recommend 2 restaurants nearby - Locanda Locatelli in Seymour Street (behind Selfridges) - a bit pricey but not too bad regarding cost. Excellent Italian food and worth it for a treat. OR - Corrigans Mayfair in Upper Grovesnor Street - the best lobster bisque ever!! A little pricey but if you're sensible, the bill isn't too eye watering. Both chefs ( Giorgio Locatelli and Richard Corrigan) are highly regarded here.

There is also Le Gavroche nearby which is superb but very, very expensive. Worth it for a really special occasion.

Or she can take a taxi straight to the airport - not far and very easy. Nice airport, not too big. As London Towner says a taxi would take about 20 mins. No need to worry about safety.

Yeah....OK,.,,,,you win this round. Must admit that we are in NYC every few weeks (our DD and grandson live in NYC) but we spend nearly all our time in an upscale neighborhood of lower Manhattan. I cannot even remember the last time we saw Times Square! On the other hand, on our last few trips to Paris I don't think we ever saw the Arc de Triomphe. But since you did use the word "beggers" we have seen plenty in both cities...although many more in NYC since the election of their current Mayor. But besides both those areas being "central" they are where a majority of tourists go..on their first visit (until they know better).

 

One final laugh. We had recent visitors from the UK (we met them on a cruise nearly 25 years ago) who spent a few days at our home. They then had to drive to Brooklyn to catch the Queen Mary 2..home. My friend (who is well traveled) drove from Central PA to Brooklyn (via lower Manhattan) but never spent any time in Manhattan. When I told him he could take the subway from Brooklyn to Times Square...he just laughed and said he had no desire to see Times Square. But I did not tell his wife about the naked Cowboy....or I bet they would have taken the subway :).

 

Hank

Good post Hank - made us chuckle!!!

I've read a lot of posts on river cruising: dress code, water levels, excursions, etc. But no one asks about fellow passengers. Remember, you're going to be spending hours every day (unless you're sick in bed for several days which I did and don't recommend) with these people. Pax on river cruises are self-selective. They're not there for the casino, the glitzy entertainment, or the wet t-shirt contests. They're there for the scenery, the exposure to a different culture, the slow pace of the trip. So they're just like you. With a rare exception, these are people you'd be friends with back home. They're interesting and informed with a variety of life experiences. It's like traveling with good friends, and you'll be sorry to say good-bye to them at the end. There's a reason there are rarely tables for two. These are people you'll want to get to know and time is fleeting. Enjoy.

 

Sent from my SM-T350 using Forums mobile app

Lovely post and very well expressed.