In Retirement

That's a great itinerary! We did the western mediterranean portion last summer.

In Naples, you could do the city on your own, but we really enjoyed our tour (Flavors of Sorrento and Pompeii). There is A LOT to see in Naples, and if you want to see everything, you really need a tour.

Civitavecchia is an industrial port, and it's far from anything worth seeing. You could take a bus / train to rome, but it's a pain. We did the Orvieto tour which was great as it was relaxed and quiet.

We did Livorno on our own and took a taxi to Pisa. Don't try to negotiate with the taxis there as they will be very rude. We tried to negotiate down a very high quote that we got and we were yelled at by the rude driver. There is a shopping mall right at the port, so I don't think that you NEED a tour here.

Finally, you can DEFINITELY do Barcelona without a tour. We stayed here before our cruise and it's a great walking city with so much to see. I feel like getting a tour here would just limit what you get to see.

It seems that Cruise Critic at least now attracts folks who are familiar with social media and wish to improve their travel experience by learning from others who have either already had the experience in question or have become well-read about the experience (after all, not everyone enjoys reading a travel guide or guides before a vacation). The mistaken assumption is that you either sign on to a cruise-promoted excursion or do it on your own (DIY). In many locations, neither are the best. Since my retirement I will have enjoyed four 12-night European cruises by next July. In each I have determined that private tours (either renting a driver + van, recruiting others from Roll Call; purchase of individual seats from private tour company) represents a 40% to 60% savings over the cruise line. On the other hand, one needs to consider the time lost in a DIY visit -- you can be waylaid by unexpected crowds or transportation strikes. You can plan an itinerary that is not efficient. I remember reading about a (assumed) young couple that bragged that during their 10 hours at Naples they took the train to Positano and sat on the beach. During that same time, we contracted with a driver for a van (with three other couples) to drive the Amalfi coast with stops at Sorento, Positano, and Amalfi, lunch at Ravello, a drive through the mountains towards Naples and 2-3 hours at Pompeii with a university instructor. (At Pompeii we were a group of 16, our driver has a cousin (who doesn't) and the cost of the private guide was shared among 16, not 8. So you see a difference? Another example: yes, Pisa is close to Livorno and you can spend several hours visiting the cathedral, tower, and baptistry. OR, with an experienced guide you can leave a couple of hours at the end of the day for Pisa and first drive to Florence. Planning with the driver before your visit you can work out a reasonable list of what to see and do (and grab a piece of pizza and a drink on the way). This list is approved by the group (maybe at least one or two people read and offer options). I remember we drove to Florence on the highway and returned to Pisa over back roads that took us through fields of grape and olive orchards. Also quite an issue for Rome, Athens, and Istanbul. Luckily these locations have easily found options. A few locations (like Mykonos) may be just short walk-arounds. There are few locations where the cruise line offers the best option: you may want to do a glassbottom boat at Caribbean Island X and find that your cruise line has an exclusive contract with the owner of the only glassbottom boat! So far, I've found that Alaska can also be a hard planning opportunity. This summer we are doing first a river cruise (G-d help us, the river cruise company doesn't communicate) while we have used TripAdvisor and tourism agencies to plan a short trip to Belgium by train, and then we have 12 nights to Norway from Amsterdam (before the ship relocates to the Mediterranean!). Not finding small-group options in Norway, I've actually learned from our 2012 British Isles cruise and leased a coach (44-, 45-seat!) with English-speaking experienced driver for two ports, found an independent tourism website for three ports, and accepted an offer from a local businessman at another port and recruited 36 participants (2 vans) from our 50+ participants. We end the cruise at Norway's two cities, each with some understanding of the individual challenges involved for each.

With the above in mind, I have always started by reading about what others have done at each port and started from that base. My notion is once you have paid for airfare and cabin, saving say another $100/day/person by "taking a hike" or experiencing the traffic in Rome, is not a good use of time or effort.

Good luck,

DJ:)

I just returned last night, 4/27/14, from a cruise on the Gullveig. As soon as I get my river-legs back under me, I will posted details about my travels. We embarked Friday, 4/18/14 in Basel and cruised to Amsterdam. We disembarked on Friday, 4/25/14. We did the two-day pre-cruise stay in Luzern, Switzerland and the two-day, post-cruise stay in Amsterdam.

It was a wonderful trip!

More details to come!

Really looking forward to any and all observations! (Currently working on our visit to Bergen and Oslo (July 4 and 6). Considering that we leave at 10am from Stiphol the day after we leave that cruise, am considering an expensive night at the airport (walk out to United desk) and find a pleasant RT airport train destination (within an hour or so) for and afternoon walk and lunch/dinner.

DJ:)

Hi Cindy. I am looking forward to your pictures and trip report. We are planning on doing this itinerary next year, probably Amsterdam to Basel direction and possibly on the Gullveig. Will watch for your shutterfly photos...I am a shutterfly fan!

We made our 13 June reservation (more accurately, full payment) last August. I remember returning home the end of July from a family RT Seattle week and starting to plan for early the following June. After getting a grip of air options, I started to look at chaining a week on Viking with something either before or after. Found Switzerland both complicated and incredibly expensive (I like to spread the $$ over more days, not treatment better than "at home," so we ended up with a new ship (one requirement) that ended at Amsterdam (familiarity, with transportation and vacation options for extension). My warning to you, as the economy is yet better than a year ago (unless you want to run to Russia or Ukraine) is that my planning was seriously limited by the absence of available cabins in August 2013 for June 2014! I would suggest that May is not too early to do careful reasearch/planning. I found several cruises with a good timing and new ship with only the royal suites (and if you can afford them, why even consider this option?) or the cabins with the round port holes at water level (would not find an eye-to-eye with water fowl or a test of sound-traveling-through-water appealing). We actually ended up on this cruise where there was one veranda cabin open (near the back). Be aware of where your east/west lies, where the summer sun will be in the afternoon. Can't tell you if a balcony is "worth it" might know on 12 July -- but then you will have trouble locating one for 2015!

To be forewarned is a good thing,

DJ:)

Looking forward to hearing all about your trip on the Gullveig!

Apparently now, at least temporarily, here on a conflict-free taunt-free location, you might want to say when you are leaving for Europe. Will return 9 July, but probably won't be in any condition to do email for a couple more days. (Am considering doing a diary for this trip, first time ever.)

DJ:)

I'm onboaed Gullveig now....beautiful new ship( we're on 5th sailing) with sleek Scandinavian design. I am uploading my ship pics to shutterfly and will try to post a link when complete.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

This will be wonderful. Maybe even location of the first dock? We will be onboard 13 June (Basel).

You are the best,

DJ:)

If your cruise leaves at 4:30, then your Muster should be at 4:00...sometimes sooner. You can plan to meet in the Reflections lounge during or after sailaway. I have suggested to my group that we meet there for undesirable weather. If it is pretty outside, we are meeting on the back deck - Sunset Bar. However, if you have business to do, you would be better off meeting in the lounge where there is more room.

I see on the Sunrise Deck (#10) a very large lounge (Revelations), which is pretty typical of such ships and usually not occupied in the mornings?

I obviously first need to emphasize that everyone needs to register for the CC meeting and if, for example, this meeting is not called for that morning, that there is an alternative morning meeting there (allowing for any minor catch-ups during the afternoon?). All along, as we lucked out with cabin 6030, plan to do some relaxing as well!

Much thanks,

DJ:)

Hello:

People tend to prefer what they know and then there is the "us" and the "them." Obviously, if you are comparing cruise lines you have to have experienced the ones you are comparing and then make them equivalent as to region, ports, seasons, lengths, and types of cabins.

It often takes a substantial negative experience to draw such a comparison. We have never sailed on an "all suites" ship and really do not prefer such experience if one is drawn to them based on an evaluation of self-importance. For us, we deal with ports and schedule and then select. It means something that Carnival doesn't sail in Europe anymore and that it, as of two years ago, served dishes that looked good on the plate but were not palatable!

We did have one of those definitive negative experiences on the brand-new Magic that provided service out of Galveston its maiden year for New Year's day. I knew our aft balcony was right above an entertainment venue, but the ship was new, new, new and the other three adjacent cabins were booked. My experience with guest relations was that I was lied to multiple times -- they must be taught that this works (the benefit of large open balconies is that you can talk to your neighbors who are also on winter Caribbean vacations and very willing to share their identical problems and the same process that used lying). I am both a Carnival and a Royal Caribbean stockholder and in my retirement we sail at least annually. I have learned that even brand new ships are essentially metal boxes and are designed by idiots who place speakers into the ceiling which is the floor of four balcony cabins. Beware for all ships! My thought about the Celebrity kitchen is that it is a step above the Royal Caribbean kitchen and budget (RC offers priced entries in the regular dinning room) but I have found Princess and Holland America in general quite acceptable.

Remember, when it comes to food, where the ship obtains its supplies and the season of the year makes a difference? Last July I took our family on a RT Seattle Alaska Cruise on the Star Princess and the quality of produce was amazing -- sort of makes you want to live near that Washington State agricultural zone with wonderful berries etc. in the summer?

DJ:)

Hello,

Apparently all Constellation RT Amsterdam cruises begin with a day At Sea -- just because of the geography of the situation. Anyone not have a Meet & Greet on this first day at sea? Any description of where the meeting was held (I'll then check the deck plans.) Everyone will have emailed to them a master list with everybody's cabin number.

Our cruise leaves at 4:30 and first dinner is at 6:00 -- do they do the muster drill at 5pm?

My comment about Italy was that the standard for much of the Mediterranean is private van drivers, although I have used excellent services in Turkey and Greece of those who use a small or even a standard bus. Rather than a small group we find the service of a guide with a separate driver to be most excellent because you can negotiate the experiences for the day and then the guide can arrange close drop-off and then pickup on the other side. In this way you make excellent use of the hours involved.

My last Celebrity Cruise was Baltic and the use of private tour companies was the standard for Russia while other ports had the majority of DIY. Had read many, many warnings about Celebrity's giving "trouble" to these folks, and absolutely never saw it. Have observed for our upcoming cruise that many private websites provide the same experience for about half the price!

All comments from RT Amsterdam passengers are much appreciated,

DJ:)

Greetings,

This is a request for information. My logic is that the best way to predict future behavior is past behavior -- this is especially important when the information is in Miami and all phone calls go to a "call center" in Kansas. Apparently in the search of profits, corporations have no idea of how much they alienate their customers (I just keep remembers how wonderful the experience will be and how lucky we are to have chosen a Norway Fjords cruise to end our June vacation to northern Europe!)

The goal is to establish that the Cruise Critic get together is/has been on the first day at sea (for us we depart 26 June, so this will be 27 June). It seems that all itineraries offered this year June/July from Amsterdam start with a day at sea. Is your experience that the Cruise Critic meeting occurs this day. On our itinerary it is the only reasonable location for it (as well as the first dress evening).

My reason for asking is not that I can't tolerate ambiguity (we are starting with a Basel/Amsterdam river cruise where we will "go with the flow" for a week). But for this Celebrity experience we have gathered what looks like the entire Roll Call for several independent activities, at one port a private vendor has offered 37 seats and we have filled 36, and at two ports we -- not being able to find those small van driver/guides so prevalent in Italy, have leased 45-seat buses with drivers! (So, we are somewhat of a force to be dealt with, over 50 of us!) If I say, we meet at Cruise Critic on 27 June and be sure to be registered and there is no meeting on that day, I will be spending my time making phone calls and holding private meetings somewhere -- generally, not the idea of a cruise?

Your help is most appreciated,

DJ:)

Hello Folks!

Hope that anyone who stops by this forum takes the effort on their return to post their experiences, whether it is experiences on one of the long boars, standard tours, or the good, the bad, and the ugly experienced during your free time! Considering the lack of cruise reviews and inadequate structure, all efforts make a significant contribution to others, believe me!

(We start our month vacation with this week on the Rhine following a night's sleep at Hotel D -- not being picked up at the plane, decided an afternoon and a full night's sleep and buffet breakfast before finding the ship (hope for some contact upon arrival?). Good to hear of 1pm and 3pm walking tours -- certainly we will be together by then?

Our continuing vacation includes a 11am train via Antwerp to 2 nights in Ghent Belgium (Marriott) then 2 days in Bruges (Hotel De Goezeput) returning to Marriott Amsterdam (laundry & museum) before a 12-night Norway Cruise. Cruise Critic provided the opportunity to plan with similarly minded folks activities for 6 ports and then the two large city ports!)

Hope people will at least post here to tell us where to find their experiences.

Much thanks, DJ:)

DW and I stayed in the Cannes Suite (B751) on the Sapphire Princess. there are two issues:

1) The veranda is very broad but shallow to the point of being a safety hazard (4-5 feet of depth). There really isn't room for the two lounge chairs to fit and I nearly went over the rail in tripping over one in the middle of the night - it's a loooong way down from there!

2) There is a significant vibration and noise level if you are positioned close to the metal walls - presumably from the propulsion system.

The cabin itself was very nice otherwise

The Grand Suite on the aft-port appeared to suffer from the same veranda lack of depth.

Never been on the Sapphire, and understand it has an Asian influence not found in its peers. Have been on several aft balcony cabins and loved each and every one. Somebody's walking around a balcony "in the middle of the night" -- why is that? Certainly when I hear about falls, and we discuss this every time MDW and I stand at the rail of a balcony, our conclusion is that it is almost impossible unless you are thrown off or climb up on the rail.

Nothing like a balcony in May/August in the Mediterranean or in the winter in the Caribbean, but my preference is to sleep in the cabin bed versus a balcony lounge chair?

DJ:(

In Retirement: keep in mind that Celebrity Constellation has 2,034 passengers vs. Viking Gullveig @ 190. River cruising is very different from ocean cruising in many ways, and one big one is that Type-A personalities like you and me have to learn to relax and just let the cruise unfold. There will be an included tour at every port which will give you a good introduction, then free time to explore the town (and I mean town, not city).

 

The Black Forest excursions get poor reviews no matter what the cruise line -- although someone on a Christmas markets cruise said they enjoyed the bus trip through the snow-covered forest, summertime cruisers won't get that snow-scene perspective and the cuckoo clock shops and Costco-quality Black Forest cake don't have many admirers. On our AMA cruise we opted for the Colmar/Riquewihr tour rather than the Black Forest. Colmar is a good size town with beautiful old half-timbered buildings. It touts the fact that the sculptor Bartholdi was born there and has a museum with a model of his Statue de la Liberté. Hopefully the Viking option also includes Riquewihr, which is a one-street village that is very cute -- that street is lined with shops offering free wine tasting plus a couple that had fresh macaroons [real coconut macaroons, not those namby-pamby Parisian macarons].

 

If you find you like river cruising and are looking for Provence + Barcelona combo, AMA's Provence cruises have an optional extension to Barcelona that would fit the bill. [it's hard to get from Provence to Barcelona on your own because there is no direct train service.] PS - that Celebrity Norwegian fjords cruise is a great itinerary! I have it on my list for 2016 if they are still offering it.

Hello There! At least a surprise, perhaps even an honor to hear from supervisory staff?

Let me respond in back order:

(1) If you do plan the RT Amsterdam 12-night Norwegian Fjords (8 ports including Bergen and Oslo). Feel free to email me (balticports@yahoo.com). So far in preparation Cruise Critic has made a significant contribution to the planning process. (Over my years I have learned that preparation, not Type-A avoidance of disruptive anxiety, enhances the pleasure of a port visit and it has become quite clear to me that being open to new experiences and allowing for serendipity works for a multiple-day land visit of a city, not a 6 to 12-hour port visit! Because of the capacity of Cruise Critic I was able to read through the 2013 Roll Call for this annual cruise, was able to post and obtain observations from previous visitors to several ports and then begin to locate many "similarly minded" fellow passengers and research in depth all 8 ports and in the process find direct-purchase options, attract one private offer to "members" (now filled), identify "issues" to be aware of, and actually lease two coaches that have been filled! (And I promised myself after 2012's arrangement of a private bus shuttle between South Queensferry and Edinburgh not to do that again -- this time, I've really overdone it (I blame it on the lack of private drivers with vans in Norway who maintain websites.)

My other two elements of next summer's vacation have had somewhat different results: I have familiarity with Amsterdam and rented an apartment on Prinsengracht in 2012 and am last afraid of trains, so we say goodbye to the Viking Gullveig and board the Thalys at 11:18 to Antwerp for visits to Ghent and Brugge and return to Amsterdam in time to do laundry, visit the Rijksmuseum and eat with one of my son's closest friends (family now lives near the museum). I have benefited from Trip Advisor (but had a horrible run-in with an "expert" who misread my posting and had a rage reaction -- it seems that once an "expert" responds, everyone else is quiet -- I think the Cruise Critic community is more accepting and supportive) and especially from a tourist information professional located in Brugge.

My comments about river cruises absolutely account for the 1/10th size and are a comment about the lack of any river cruise-specific structure that could easily be provided by Cruise Critic. Last fall I introduced a couple of threads that solicited comments which were fairly well-populated. If it wasn't for the Research Tool, you could find nothing! I'm interested in understanding why neither Cruise Critic nor the river cruise industry are not motivated. The popularity of river cruises in the last couple of years (seemingly oblivious to the effects of climate change) have resulted in substantial expansion. Apparently when you are doing so well, what priority does improvement and social networking play? I guess until there is some competition, no one is interested?

Obviously, the traditional Roll Call structure (unless Viking etc. buy into the value of their passengers talking to previous passengers and making plans with fellow passengers and they make Cruise Critic visible?) does not work! Isn't it pathetic when almost no Roll Call postings receive even one response? As a start, information about river cruises need to be grouped geographically, then by company, then by boat. At least people could then plan for open time with others who will visit the same ports for the same time periods? In addition, "River Cruise Ports" could be similarly organized at least geographically with a header to include port visit length and time of year (month) with an emphasis (a Cruise Critic strength) of what you did, and what are the options (the good, the bad, the ugly). I believe in this century that people will use this site if they know about it. Sure, I find out that you don't dress up for dinner (hurray!) but have no idea who onboard has a specific historical or cultural interest? I've had the opportunity to express my displeasure regarding a cuckoo-clock tour, when a morning's visit to Colmar and its museums should be offered. Another example is of an after-dinner pub crawl in Cologne when the afternoon is open and many museums etc. are available! (Reading about the liquor habits of a Christmas market customer who buys the anything/all the time option (beyond lunch and dinner) and reports on hangovers isn't too educational and I hope not that representative? Maybe river cruises with a fall wine theme or beer theme would make some sense? We were drawn to the dates of next vacation out of necessity and then naturally selected northern Europe and will wait tile 2015 for a Mediterranean experience.

It would be my pleasure to share with you my/our findings from Norway 2014 and would enjoy making any meaningful contribution to a river cruise restructure for Cruise Critic.

DJ:)

Have any of you cruised on Viking Gullveig? If so, please tell me about her.

Any information would be appreciated. LuLu

~~~

Greetings!

Our 2014 June/July vacation consists of three segments: Basel to Amsterdam on the Viking Gullveig (just launched!) a short visit to Belgium via rail (Ghent and Brugges via Antwerp on Thalys (have tickets and hotel reservations for 4 nights) and return to Amsterdam (laundry!) visit to renovated Rijksmuseum and nearby friends, and 12-night Norwegian fjord cruise on Celebrity Constellation (RT Amsterdam).

Compare my preparation of river cruise to ocean cruise experience (using both Cruise Critic and Trip Advisor): For our 8 Norway ports, have detailed plans for 6 ports, including 3 purchased from websites, 1 offered privately and filled by contacts, 2 organized by myself including coach leases -- the other two ports are large cities where we now understand where, when we dock and options and competition from other ships. Amazing amount of information!

We anticipate that our river cruise will be top-notch, but have some concern regarding the process and whether our interests will match our peers or even Viking's expectations. Have tried to better understand and maybe influence, but the great success and expansion of Viking sailings and CC disinterest in even providing an easier structure for use, indicates perhaps with less competition and high demand, there is no interest of applying any effort! For example, so far have emailed one other person who will be on Gullveig in May (we are on 13 June from Basel). Have not been able to read any experiences about afternoon free time at ports and am concerned that Black Forest "tour" has not been well-received when Colmar tour could easily be a replacement (watched Rick Steve's new program on Alsace that highlights Colmar). My thought is that peers will tend to be our age group and with college/professional backgrounds, yet options include bar-hopping? At any rate, this is a high-volume and relatively brief experience. If we like it, may repeat -- if it is problematic, will will continue to develop vacations that couple cruises with other land experiences instead (our second interest would be a southern France, maybe coupled with a Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona: research Marseilles/Barcelona travel?).

If you are considering the Gullveig in 2015 or will travel on it after 9 July (when we return) send me a note when we return home and I can answer questions (balticports@yahoo.com). If you are on 13 June Basel/Amsterdam, hooray!

DJ:)

Does room placement really make that much of a difference? Now I'm curious.

~Natasha

It is always useful to spend some time looking at deck plans for your ship before you sail. See where things are, have some idea of how to get from your cabin to breakfast, to a show, to the deck where you can walk around the ship, etc. You will also see how the category of cabin you select is distributed and what seems to determine the price differences. This is sort of not different from selecting a hotel in a new city, trying to make a reasonable choice?

As part of looking at a cabin, you should look at the deck above and the deck below it. The greatest security comes from selecting a cabin with similar above and below. I was over-trusting because we were going on a 6-month-old ship where an aft balcony (very large) was available on a New Years cruise from our drive-to port. I ignored the fact (that I knew) that an entertainment venue was located just below four of these cabins. What I had not taken into account, was that the sound system was mounted to the ceiling of this room (that is, my floor) and that no effective insulation had been applied (anyway, a ship has a metal frame and carries sound very well. The problem was if we wanted to even be in our cabin before 2am, every night the music and the pounding of percussion was truly horrible. I would say, lesson learned -- but you can learn this lesson from personal experience, if you want to?

All sorts of other consideration reflect if a person is a very light sleeper, has difficulty with walking, gets easily motion sick, etc. I would suggest that you try to avoid situations that anybody would find problematic. Selection, otherwise can be a matter of individual preference. If you don't have the experience, sometimes a Roll Call organizes a "cabin crawl" that lets you see what many classes/locations of cabins are like. In general, we are spoiled. We always try to have a balcony and its use always is the provision of a large window that makes the room seem larger. People also consider the route of the ship to decide which side they wish to be on. I have found that a balcony facing directly rear or on a corner can provide a wonderful view at certain ports when the ship leaves.

Good luck,

DJ:)

My note disappeared, hopefully I'm not duplicating this!

(1) I have a vague memory that the museum closing on Monday universal for Europe excludes Amsterdam, and maybe even all of the Netherlands (please check). I know next June we have a canal boat experience to Dam planned for our Monday in Bruges (so Belgium is a participant).

(2) We did our Baltic from Amsterdam (not UK or Copenhagen) and you can see what a UK itinerary adds/subtracts. Unfortunately, our day in Copenhagen was a Monday. Except for the wonderful shopping (if you are at that stage) because Copenhagen has become so successful as a departure and/or arrival location, sometimes it appears that it is hard to see Copenhagen for all of the ship passengers. On a Monday I would abandon any DIY and take a tour outside of the city! My impression is that Amsterdam has been quite successful in balancing the activities of a large, active metropolis with the activities of a center for tourism.

(3) Our experience in Warnemunde was made quite extraordinary by the discover of Sieben Segel Tours. Even on a Sunday (stores closed) we experienced Schwerin, Wismar, and Rostock with a wonderful guide (Petra Lass) who made herself available by email for planning of the itinerary. No doubt that a one-day run to Berlin makes little sense. (People with a commitment to Berlin should consider open jaws air travel, like USA to Berlin, train to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to USA and do some research to determine length of stay in Berlin). Another great option for an Amsterdam cruise is a visit to Paris, either before or after using the Thalys high-speed train line!

DJ:)

Hope the Constellation with its recent renovation continues to be a wonderful ship.

Yes, we looked at all those factors, thanks Our route does include Glacier Bay, that was a must. Although the land excursions would be nice, we went with just a 7 day roundtrip because of vacation allowances at her job. We live near Seattle, so visits to Victoria and Vancouver are not that big an issue :-) No kids, just us taking our first cruise for our 30th… Mostly just wondering if this particular location (Dolphin deck, D424) has much noise from the nearby elevators. Also not a big deal if the balcony's open or not, we are always prepared for wet weather living here :-)

Jim

Good to hear of your circumstances and your thoughts. Have never had much of an issue of elevator noises, nor of adults as the noise only of congregating folks is on the public floors. An obvious benefit is being near the elevator, last December we intentionally selected the second largest balcony on the least expensive category, also fully aft on the corner and the views leaving port and evenings (Caribbean) could not be missed! Understand about being used to weather, and maybe attracted to having a couch (very irritating element about Princess, with whom I have sailed multiple European cruises, just for the itinerary). Our favorite balcony is on the Caribe deck: it is larger and half covered. Your selected balcony is good for sunbathing, I think that Dolphin balconies are 100% exposed to both the elements and to everyone above you looking down as well. It is hard to make such a decision as this is your first cruise as well, so you don't have any experience in what your past behavior is like onboard. In part, with your concern about motion sickness, is to first have an open discussion. Sometimes there can be a period of movement awareness that just goes away and the medication (pill or patch) as either steady state or at least taken preventively causes its own set of often difficult side effects. I was given medication before the July trip because I had just experienced a major episode of inner ear disorder -- and I never took this medication (just had it with me for all the others who were on their first cruise). In general, its a good first cruise for you and you are well aware then of the weather. Our week was warm and dry (good for Dolphin balcony?). Would think issues with wife might include whether privacy is an issue for her. Also, would be an issue as to whether you want to eat at the same table each night or be seated with whomever when you arrive (anytime). Tables for two are very limited and I'm sure if you request, you will only be told that your preference has been recorded. Best of luck,

DJ:)

Hi all, very first post is a question from a first-timer :confused: We're booked on the Golden Princess to Alaska in June, and since it's our first real vacation in years we went for the balcony mini-suite. Wife has really bad seasickness, so we ended up getting D424 in the middle area. The deck plans show its fairly close to the elevators, just wondering if anyone knows what the noise level might be like? Yes, we will be prepared for her with appropriate meds :-) Jim

Hello,

Took my immediate family of 10 on the Star Princess RT Seattle 20 July. Because we were absolutely catering to grandchildren and I wanted our family to share some port activities and dinner every night, choice of cabins, a reserved table for 10 and shared whale watching (Juneau) and train ride (Skagway) worked well with warm weather, Glacier Bay still almost presentable, and boy were there families and children everywhere! I can also note that Princess does a great job with child experiences as they take on excellent college students for the summer (even our 5 year-old was always asking to return to kids club!). As to balconies, I'd suggest that you read up (search option, Princess forum, "balconies") as to what size and overhang/privacy comes with each type of cabin at each type of location. We very much like a balcony with at least half an overhang. If your large balcony is fully exposed (some mini-suites are, for sure) it means if it is raining or you want some shelter from whatever weather, you will find the balcony not welcoming. Also these balconies have no privacy!

Consider all the issues with selecting a cruise to Alaska (all cruises do not visit the same ports and the "same" port visit may be for different lengths and at different times. If you have the time, not only is Glacier Bay something to be experienced at least once in your lifetime, but some of the cruises with a land extension (like into Denali) can be wonderful and not associated with sea sickness! Another consideration: not only do ships now come with stabilizers, but the inside passage is pretty well known for calm waters. If you sail from Seattle your first day may be a little bumpy -- you'd have to go to a regional forum to ask about how a RT Seattle compares to a one-way north from Vancouver. (My thought is that the possible problematic first day may not be there, and you could have the value of a visit to Vancouver and/or Victoria to start with, although Seattle is a great location as well.) My personal experience is that sometimes a negative experience either very early or at the end of a vacation might color the memories of the entire experience? Best wishes,

DJ:)

If you are offered a guarantee for a specific category, say balcony at a significant savings -- and you review where the balcony cabins are and will be happy with any of them (this fits on some smaller, older ships where balconies may only be on one or two upper decks) then go for it! Don't expect a convenient time of cabin assignment (the company is still trying to talk others into paying more and taking a better cabin) and don't expect an offer of an upgrade (at least without paying for it?). Obviously each company knows way better what they are doing, while you have just Roll Call members and us here!

DJ:)

I love the planning and re searching before a cruise too. Can you tell:D

In Talinn we would like to walk around the the city again also we would like to visit the palace.

In Helsinki we would like to go outside the city to maybe Porvoo.

In Warnemunde we plan on Schwerin.

Hello Lars!

(1) We had a great time in Warnemunde when a guide from Talinn provided the name of a travel company in Rostock that was not discovered after much effort on Goggle: We put together a group with a visit (and on a Sunday as well) to Schwerin, Wismar, and Rostock. We were treated very well and were so amazed when they understood we were giving them a separate tip, they didn't want to take us back to the ship and we spent more time in Rostock and Warnemunde. (2) Our time in Finland included Porvoo, can provide details as well. (3) Do you sign up for 2-day tour with a Russian company? Our time in Russia was quite a surprise for me and I believe that it reflected in part the bias of Cruise Critic participants: that is, if you did it, your memories are indeed fond ones (very, very little reporting of negative experiences!).

Have some details of a proposed 9 hour Alesund/Andalsnes/Trollveggen/Trollstigen/Valldal/Stordal/Alesund adventure. Considering that we will on 1 July have an extended port visit (0700/2200) could start at 0800 and be back in time for dinner? Would like to go over details to confirm and provide what specifics I can for your upcoming cruise as well. DJ:) (balticports@yahoo.com)

Just think about if you can get on a non-stop to Amsterdam (give it at least three full days) and upon return, the train to Berlin (the cruise terminal in Amsterdam is directly behind Amsterdam Centraal -- plan to have breakfast, then throw all of you and your baggage into a taxi for even the short ride) then figure a train that arrives in Berlin with some convenience. Then fly back from Berlin. When in Warnemunde, we never considered going to Berlin (sounds horrible). With a great deal of effort, we located a wonderful tour company and was given a guide + driver/small buss and we developed a plan to visit three nearby towns (Schwerin, Wismar, Rostock). The guide and I emailed back and forth to come up with an itinerary that worked on a Sunday. Had a great time! (Contact me if you want details, think i can send PDF guides for these locations as well: balticports@yahoo.com.)

DJ:)

Oops. Hit the wrong button. Thanks kaisatsu for the info. We'll not prebook the Dalsnibba trip. Løsta and Vesteråsfjellet look like a good combination. If the weather in Dalsnibba looks iffy we could then cut across to Flydalsjuvet. Then back to Geiranger for the chocolate reward:)

Although weather will always be an issue at Norway ports, also will be last-minute decisions not supportable because of competition/capacity?

Your Dalsnibba 2-hour coach is being/would be booked through Celebrity? At what cost? If you go through gerirangerfjordservice (click English) you will most likely see a prepurchase at $42 (with the option of adding a 1 1/2 hour fjord excursion at a discounted $22. The problem is that these two independent options have a capacity of 40. My thought is to work through ports in this manner and prepare by being both warm and dry and realizing that there may be clouds (we are betting that low clouds might at least rise by noon? My advice from natives is that there is always the exceptions and very few "rules." In Bergen and Oslo we are considering both a clear morning and a raining morning schedule? In Alesund we would like to experience the Trolls Path you describe, but even if I was full of guts (have seen the Youtube video) the driver gets to sit next to his spouse who keeps exclaiming about a view that takes the driver's eyes off of the road and oncoming buses/trucks coming out of hairpin curves -- the kind of experience I now wisely avoid at age 67! (Looking for either independent booking or gathering 24+ others to book a private ride.)

DJ:)

Greetings,

Seems that there is a great deal of interest in preparing for this port, and what of up to 2,000 passengers going to the same location, each trying for the same bus seat? Reminds me of our port visit at Guernsey where we followed the CC "plan" and took a public bus for a round-the-island tour -- but we were joined by 100s of others with the same "unique plan"! The result was a long wait and buses filled beyond capacity, with the result that one couldn't see out of the windows anyway and the locals or those renting cottages on holiday were greatly inconvenienced by the mob -- Guernsey knew of the ship schedules, and neither took advantage of the opportunity represented or made life any more convenient as well (very much NOT my British experience!).

Just hearing about Olden/Briksdal indicates a predatory approach to tourism that beats our Alaskan ports! Captive audience, prices going up every year. Nobody is talking about the relative effects of global warming and what other glaciers and sightseeing can be accomplished in a 6- or 7-hour visit from Olden? You won't be surprised that Olden is the port in which I am having the most difficulty obtaining replies to my emails (during the winter the office is open at Stryn). Some people mentioned just ask if you are on a ship, when the answer is "yes," they say "see you" and that is the end. (That is, we charge you for a 15 minute ride whatever we want and then you can surround yourself with fellow passengers, etc.)

Am going to what amounts to about outrageous ends to arrange independent group travel to another glacier experience. Currently looking at Jostedal National Park Center and Norwegian Glacier Center-Fjaerland. My assumption is the valley views will also be appreciated.

Just saw a Youtube video from a young Norwegian woman discussing US/Norwegian differences, that include an unwillingness to talk to people you do not know (even among teenagers?). Could be that some people at tourist information centers just are uncomfortable answering emails from people they don't know (sounds silly, I understand). In contrast, the next day for us (Molde) I have made a wonderful "friend" through multiple emails, as well as a private tour for a couple dozen of my new Constellation friends.

Anybody have any experience from Olden that was not to the Briksdal Glacier (or however much of it can be seen in late June 2014)?

DJ:o

Have been working through websites for both Geiranger and Flam. So far, very happy with non-cruiseline options as one knows the timing before purchase and the price difference reflects the fact that cruiselines negotiate a lower price from vendors and usually up to double the retail price! These websites can be sticky and at points corrections are needed.

For the Flam railway (just the two-hour roundtrip to/from Myrdal) I have been told that folks will be able to buy single tickets (with guaranteed seats for specific times) beginning at the end of March (I check on a weekly basis during the month. Also, they do an excellent job of answering your questions via email.) Those of us who have the experience are instead cruising to Gudvangen and taking the bus to Stalheim and back to Flam (check out the pictures by Googling Gudvangen and Staleim view!). In Geiranger there was a consensus to ride up to the top of Mr. Dalsnibba and only two bus trips are available each day. Depending what your time constraints are, they also offer a combined ticket with fjordcruising that only costs $22 more than the bus trip by itself! (We arrive at Geiranger at 7am and I seriously doubt I'm going to be topside at 5am and instead of eating a good hot breakfast with coffee!)

DJ:)

Did British Isles with Princess in 2012 -- used Discover Scotland (Google and talk with Michael I believe). We were in a full van and did Sterling Castle, Loch Lomand and many other things -- really wonderful, check it out!

DJ:)

I'm still subscribed to this thread, and went on here to add my two cents' worth. However, what I was going to say (that you will see the same scenery from the cruise ship coming into Geirangerfjord as you would on the boat trip) was already mentioned, so that's good. I couldn't understand why so many people were interested in that trip when they would be seeing the fjord while going in and out...but as I-cruiser says, at least you'll get a little more information on what you're seeing. In Geiranger, I walked up the road a little bit to see the church and cemetery with gorgeous mountains as a backdrop. If you're a photographer, you might want to do that - very pretty! Pictures are in one of my photo galleries, Islands and Fjords, I believe it's called, on www.pbase.com/roothy123

 

I did one of the bus trips (Ornesvingen and Flydalsjuvet) - not the one all the way up to Mt. Dalsnibba. I had read that if it's a cloudy day when you're in Geiranger, you may not see much way up top, so I opted for the lower trip. I reserved online before the cruise, and that worked out well, as the lines got long when our ship docked, and also when a ferry came in around the same time. We were there on a day with only our cruise ship and the ferry, but sometimes in summer I hear there are as many as three or four ships in town...As for Trollstigen, I would have loved to have done that, but it was out of my price range, so I just stayed in Aalesund - a very pretty place!

The truth of the matter is when you purchase direct/independent you often pay far less and yet try for the best experience. At Stavanger we will do a fjord cruise (3 hours) also offered through the ship by same company: we pay $57, the ship charges $119! As for bus to Mt. Dalsnibba, there are two 40-seat trips sold each day, morning and noon, we are on noon -- it also stops and one of the two stops on the "Panorama" bus and when purchased, the 1 1/2 hour fjord cruise costs $22/person? We arrive at 7am, to see the whole fjord going in, get up at 5am -- not this guy! Am working on a variety of private and independent port experiences. It appears that Norway excursions through the ship are often twice the cost if you can locate the way to purchase directly.

Just enjoying planning and passing on the information I locate,

DJ:)