hallasm

I did Komodo January 2013 - great experience to meet the dragons and also the visit to Kampung Komodo and Pink Beach by boat (only accessible by boat)

Both were ship tours. Pink Beach wasn't any special - no dragons, dolphins, penguins or seals - a boat trip and a beach.

If $189 is a sailing Pink Beach only for snorkelling it a bit expensive - if kampung Komodo is included price is fine.

I have included link to two videos from my trip:

Dragon Adventure

txXhvVPM60k

and Kampung Komodo

oUr-Lzm559E

I am sure that English would be sufficient for most cruise ports, but we like to learn a few phrases of a local language, to help with travel as well as to try to be good global citizens. Do the cruise lines have a few phrases in the daily newsletter or offer quick workshops with phrases? We are going with Royal Caribbean.

Not so sure if local phrases will make a different - but very different in Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Estonian, Latvian and Russian languages.

Temperature difficult to predict - just like Northamptonshire, UK - ranging from 10C to 25C - if sunshine you can sit by the pool, but bring jumpers / jackets in the evening.

For money you will be able to use either EUR or USD in ports including SPB - and how much money do you really need in SPB - all inclusive in tours and nothing to buy.

Some inspirations - click on link to watch the short videos:

Copenhagen on you own:

Tallinn on your own

Ship Tours in St Petersburg

An option might be to stay at a hotel close to Rome Termini Railway station and then take a train to Civitavecchia. Departure every 30 minutes.

Three more videos:

Opus Dining Room:

[YOUTUBE]FK0C5pWfC1g[/YOUTUBE]

Ocean View Cafe:

[YOUTUBE]MYFOs0fRVV4[/YOUTUBE]

Cellar Master:

[YOUTUBE]XWT2jE-jLxc[/YOUTUBE]

For a group of 10 you are absolutely right - do miss a boat trip at the river

If you have book this excursion, the place where they drop you off, are there any attractions nearby?

Danny

Not really - I would not be able to spend 6 hours in that area.

We did the RCCL 'Bangkok on you own' tour back in 2009. The primary reason was to visit Wat Phra Kaew

From Laem Chabang it did drive two hours by bus to Central World Plaza shopping mall where we were dropped off.

From here we took the BTS Sky Train from the station Siam to Saphan Tak Sin located next to chao phraya river

From the Saphan Tak Sin ferry pier we took a river boat to the 'Tha Tian Market' and walked from here to Wat Phra Kaew.

We did have plenty of time to visit Wat Phra Kaew. but did not visit other sights - except for the river cruise.

Here are some short video from my March 1st, 2014 Celebrity Reflection Cruise from Miami - embedded using the new Youtube feature. More videos will follow

Tour of Celebrity reflection:

[YOUTUBE]3Ob9v-jfToI[/YOUTUBE]

Celebrity Reflection Cabin 1257 (Consierge Class)

[YOUTUBE]PBMrfnYQ20U[/YOUTUBE]

Miami Sail Away, Celebrity Reflection

[YOUTUBE]KXGnkBzU0pw[/YOUTUBE]

Here is how it works - you only have to use the 'code' after /watch?v=

like '3Ob9v-jfToI' in this example

[YOUTUBE]3Ob9v-jfToI[/YOUTUBE]

On our visit to SPB in 2012 we didn't have the chance to use the credit cards at all - didn't even change to RUB -the few places where we did need to pay they were very happy to get USD.

Vacation time in Northern Europe is usually July - I do not see any problems with August - weather is normally good.

Yes - As I read the Geiranger/Hellesylt Cruise Port 2014 arrivals and departure at http://www.stranda-hamnevesen.no/GeirangerfjordenCPGD2014 - the MSC Orchestra August 24 is in Hellesylt from 08 to 09 and in Geiranger from 10 to 17:30 - looks like tendering at both locations

Mistake in link in post above corrected:See full review here: quito-2013.blogspot.com

I have made som new short videos from Celebrity Xpedition

Click on links below - you can find the full review and all videos from our November 10, 2013 Galapagos blog at traveltogalapagos.info.

I have also made some short videos from our Celebrity Xpedition Pre- and Post- Stay in Quito - See full review here: quito-2013.blogspot.com - click on link to see video:

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• (Center of the World)
  
• Next to JW Marriott
  
• Day tour from Quito
  
• Day tour from Quito
  
• - Lunch at the Cotopaxi tour
  

Below some links to short videos from our Celebrity Xpedition Pre- and Post- Stay in Quito - See full review here: quito-2013.blogspot.com

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• (Center of the World)
  
• Next to JW Marriott
  
• Day tour from Quito
  
• Day tour from Quito
  
• - Lunch at the Cotopaxi tour
  
• Sunday morning
  

We did use our Keen sandals for all landings - I found them fine for the volcanic islands as well. Our tour was in November - no mosquitos, however it was at the end of the dry season - I would expect mosquitos in May, which is at the end of the wet season - but not 100% sure. Enjoy the

We found the weather in November very pleassant - did have light rain Friday morning - other days clear skies and 20C (68F) to 25C (77F).

Pre- /post-cruise we did stay in Quito - here is a link to my Quito Review.

3 days prior and 4 days after - city tour as well as Otavalo Market and Cotopaxi Volcano.

We did choose to stay in Quito due to the relative long traveling from Denmark.

If November 2014 you better have to make your reservation now - selling out fast.

If you are looking for extra safety, amenities, stability, and more options for visits, panga rides and snorkeling, larger ships may be the ideal way to visit the Galapagos. The Galapagos National Park sets a limit on ships to 100 passengers and on-land tours to 16 people per group.

Celebrity Xpedition does have 92 to 96 guest - for tours the guest will be made up in groups of 16 - each group with a professional naturalist as a guide.

The bigger ships does offer more spacious and often more comfortable standards in service and accommodations, for example, most have a buffet style breakfast and lunch, with dinner served in a more formal atmosphere.

Often, there will be greater variety in choosing when to disembark for the islands and when to snorkel. Also access to internet along with intercom system announcing the day's schedule in advance. The cabins are spacious and the size of the boat provides for less rocking.

See my review at traveltogalapagos.info with links to pictures and videos. see galapagosexpedition.info for travel preparation tips .

Not sure for 2015 - but looks like it is the new terminal C330 for 2014 sailings

I will say that the Baltic Sea is definitely more calm than Skagerak and the North Sea for a Norwegian Cruise.

There should be time for both - but I did chose train only and saw the fjord from the cruise ship

Thanks for the responses. Now just wondering if we should do the Train or the Fjord Cruise which would you pick?

Thanks Karen

... or do both.

Time doesn't matter - 9AM is not early morning anyway in June.

Are you booking through cruise line or at web.

I do not recommen to book via the web since tickets have to be validated at the ticket counter if brought at the web or at NSB.

I thought it was funny! It is that spellcheck's fault! LOL

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

Unfortunately the spellchecker didn't pick it up!

Btw its commodore, not commode. :D

my spelling mistake :mad: