VMax1700

Is that cast in stone? 😁 I would much rather hit Pompeii early in the day. Cooller and less crowded. At the start of May we stayed in Sorrento for a week. It was very crowded. We did go over to Positano and Ravello and it was even more crowded, almost uncomfortably crowded and it was only the first week of May! FWIW

If you had Club Orange you would not need to wait to get on your soap box as you would have a priority line at the soap boxes! 😉 🤣

Fred Olsen sails from Newcastle and Rosyth.https://www.fredolsencruises.com/

My understanding is that is incorrect. Sailing days count + equivalence bonus for booking a suite + (in my experience) and equivalence for having HIA. If not on HIA, then it is one day for €300 onboard spend. CO is classed as part of the cruise fare.

If you are a Carnival Corp & PLC stockholder it will make a difference to your Stockholder OBC. It is $250 for 14 days and longer. 31 days would only get 1 x €250 whereas a 17day would get €250 and a 14 day would garner another €250.

I tend to overthink it! If it is early in the European cruise season then I have no problem in giving Euros. (It is my currency and I have it in my wallet anyway). However if it is getting late in the season I will delve into my stash of USD and give those instead of Euro. Both currencies receive equal levels of thanks from the crew!

Something else in the Cobh area is a trip over to Spike Island. Departs from the centre of Cobh. https://www.spikeislandcork.ie/

More information here than on the Holland America thread, so I would be inclined to take a taxi from Rotterdam port to the Rotterdam Centraal station and train to Amsterdam Centraal station. If you can manage your one checked bag and one carry on to/from the ship then there is not reason to not use the train. If you take the transfer to AMS it will probably be about €45 and a taxi from AMS to central Amsterdam will probably cost you about €70, so to me it is a 'no brainer' to go to Rotterdam Centraal and train.

There is also a Ho-Ho bus https://www.corkcitytours.com/tours/hop-on-hop-off-tickets/ but Cork is very walkable.

I would not use a bike in Amsterdam - too many freekin tourists about. And those tram lines! 🙄

Everybody deserves at least one meltdown during a cruise.😉 Rumour has it that a meltdown will soon be part of HIA! 😁

What exactly are you trying to accomplish and for how many people? It may be more efficient and cost effective to book a car service directly from Rotterdam cruise terminal.

The official taxi stand is at Arrivals only. However if you book a car service or private car, then it will meet you at the departure level.

Captain (Retired) Albert has updated the 'Current Captains and their Schedules' element of his website.

We had a great conversation with some cruisers who were in Cork yesterday on another Regal Princess cruise. They were in Cork City having taken the train from Cobh. We met them in the English Market as they were sampling some Irish hot dog with Irish sausages and we were puchasing some real food 🤣 Even though it was raining at the time they said that they found the train and city easy to navigate.

Thank you sir. I enjoy good photos nearly as much as I enjoy good music, conversation and wine! 😉

I wish I could take the compliment, but in reality I just downloaded it! 😉 https://www.discogs.com/artist/3053503-Dedrick-Davis

I would leave those behind but then I am male 😉🤣 Enjoy your cruise!

One of the best trumpet players I have seen (heard?) with BBKing bands is Dedrick Davis. I have seen him with at least 5 different bands on different ships. Top notch.

Any relatives still living there that could be encouraged to meet you and drive you? Otherwise by bus. Carrick is only 40 minutes from Waterford https://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=406&form-view-timetables-from=&form-view-timetables-to=&form-view-timetables-route=55&form-view-timetables-submit=1

@Milhouse Thanks for the updates and confirmations. That will be very helpful for other cruisers arriving into Katakolo during the season. Hope you enjoyed your day.

There is one thing about Ireland and that is that we have weather all year round! Good weather is a different story. 😁 The May date is a little early and the October sailing is just that bit late, but I would tend towards the May date as the days will be brighter and longer. After the end of September the evenings nd mornings start to get darker. I would go for May.

Also, the $25 contribution is a 'minimum' and you are free to increase as you wish. As it is charged to your onboard account it may* be a good way to spend unused OBC. * can non-refundable OBC be used? Anyone have a definitive answer?

It was for Cancer research but last year was directed towards Ukraine.

I read that it is only a short walk to the City Centre and slightly longer to the old town, but I have read mention of a shuttle bus from the pier. Did you see one?