BRUCENLYNN

I’m Elite on Celebrity but I haven’t cruised in two years for unfortunate reasons. I’m getting the classic beverage package perk on my upcoming cruise and would like to know if anything has changed, I.e., can I pay the $10 per day to upgrade to the premium package?  If I stick with the classic are specialty coffees still included?  

Thanks

Well, BRUCEnLYNN.... where to start, So.... 1. How sketchy can you handle 'things'? If black volcanic sand, cheap Bucket o' Beer and fried fish etc. with locals on a surfie beach is the your deal...go NORTH by cab up to Nautilus Beach Cantina. Write NAUTILUS CANTINA on a piece of paper, walk out to local tourist helper kiosk under the big thatched Pier Pavilion. Point and say, 'TAXI?. If 1/2 way there, your gal-pals say 'too sketchy' and need '$$Better$$...turn back and take the Greyhound tourcoach to Antiqua and fergitaboutit at Nautilus. 2. Or. Take the charter Greyhound for about 90/min up into swell Volcanic mountain city of Antiqua. Wander aimlessly, then find this damn fine inner-courtyard restaurant, LaFonda de la Calle Real on street 3a Calle Poniente, 2blks uphill from Town Square, back toward yer Bus, for beer and ambience n GREAT food. Right Next to Mayan Boutique weaving studio. They have 3 locations, so... Your call.... Locomotiveman Tom

Great description, Tom, of what to expect! We are all about doing things on our own as opposed to ship's excursions; however, many have warned about the trip to Antiqua on your own. Being 90 minutes away I guess the traffic could cause a delay returning and potential to miss the ship. I say the ship tour buses will be in that same traffic ...... Any thoughts on using the charter Greyhound at the port?

I appreciate your help!

Lynn

I would say 'Go to Antigua' on the standard Motorcoach Shuttle from Puerto Quetzal's dock. Trouble-free and you will have a nice day, see some smoking Volcanos, wander Antigua and do it all for $$Cheap$$. Zip in Puerto Quetzal unless you are into cheap beer cantinas a Mile up the Coast. LocoLoco1

The bus sounds like a good idea for our group of six. Easy to find at the port? Also, can you be more specific in your reference to "cheap beer cantinas a mile up the coast." We have beer drinkers in our group!

Thanks!

Thank you!

We ran into a tax problem somewhere once before but once you leave the port then taxes no longer apply. We leave from Tahiti but plan to wait and see if buying a drink package is best for us.

On Celebrity we are able to purchase the drink package at any point (except the last couple of days) during a cruise and pay just for the remaining days. Can you do that on Oceania as well? Next month will be our first cruise with them.

Thanks

We have booked a private transfer with Goldfreight Charters from Fremantle to Perth airport.

Hi,

 

Can you tell me when get off the ship in Hong Kong? I am trying to determine what flight times would work. Thanks!

I'm not sure what cruise line you'll be on but they usually provide that information. Our ship stayed overnight in Hong Kong so our travel mates were able to leave the ship at 5:00 a.m. for an early flight. However, they had to find someone to call them a cab so you need to have something arranged in advance. Also, taxis do not take US $'s or credit cards!

Have a great trip, Sheila. I didn't get to spend a lot of time in Singapore but I thought it was a really interesting city and so clean!

Which airlines have good prices. Do we have to book early.

All the way from the Caribean going to Hong Kong pre cruise and catch the cruise. Some advice please .

We flew China Southern but I'm sorry I can't help with prices. Our route was Orlando-LAX-Guangzhou-Singapore and the return was Hong Kong-Guangzhou-LAX-Orlando.

You could check with Expedia or similar to see who flies the route you need and price compare. Good luck!

Hi Bruceenlynn,

 

did you have lunch at the Marina Bay Sands top floor? We will be in Singapore next year and were told to do this. The views should be fabulous. If so, did you make a reservation before hand. Enjoyed reading all your posts.

 

sheila

Thanks, Sheila. We walked over to the Marina Bay Sands but did not go up as we thought we could go for free and were told we had to pay. I should have researched it beforehand. So to answer the question, no we didn't eat lunch there. I'm sure someone has answered the question if you search the threads. It's a great city!

Hello,

 

We will be cruising on Princess visiting Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Viet Nam and Indonesia. On your recent trip, did you use the

currency of the country or was USD accepted with no problem?

 

Thanks

In Singapore I got money from the ATM at the airport as I heard they don't easily accept US dollars. In Viet Nam I used dollars which they were happy to accept. I also got local currency in Thailand. Didn't visit the other countries. Hope you have a great trip!

Thanks for the advice, we have confirmed with Mr Chob.

 

Do you have a favorite guide book you recommend? Thanks!

Since most of our trip was with private guides, I did very little research and bought no travel books. I find the internet provides most of what I need when sightseeing on our own. And Cruise Critics provide a wealth of knowledge!

We have Ms. Aom confirmed for my group of four on Feb 5th and 6th of next year. Looking forward to her guidance. Thanks for the recommendation!

That's great - she is so sweet and a good guide.

Brucelynn - we are going on HAL in January 2015 starting Hong Kong and finishing Singapore, with Halong Bay, Chan May, Nha Tang, Ho Chi Minh City, Sihanookville, Bangkok as ports of call. Could you please give me the name of the private tour operators you used in the places you visited and their e-mail address. Many thanks.

I personally booked the excursion with Thai Tour Guide (Mr. Chob) for Bangkok and HIGHLY recommend it. Ask for Ms. Aom as your guide, she was delightful.

The excursion in Saigon was with Smile Tours. I joined an excursion booked by someone else.

The excursion to Halong Bay and Hanoi was with Mr. Zoom tours, also booked by someone else

All these companies are easily found with a google search. And I can recommend them all.

Hi Brucenlynn, Thanks for posting. We are cruising with Princess out of Singapore. What time of day did you arrive there? Was there enough time for you prior to your embarkation? Thanks in advance!

 

 

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We arrived in Singapore at noon. That gave us time that evening to visit Chinatown, walk around near our hotel, have some dinner and have some drinks. The next day we visited the Botanic Gardens in the morning, walked over to the Marina Bay Sands and had some lunch before heading to the port. We always arrive the day before our ship departs (and the Millennium actually stayed the first night in port). Our taxi ride from the Conrad was only about $7 I think. Taxi's are very reasonable.

Well said. I wonder if folk from "new" countries deem Asia to be dirty as they're used to modern and purpose-built.

Well I disagree. Anyone that squats on the floor to pee and washes their hands in a community barrel is what I consider dirty. Did it stop me from visiting the country? No. I'm from the south so my definition of "friendly" is probably different than someone else's. Did it mean I didn't like the Vietnamese people? No. I was asked a question based on my opinion. So I answered that question. I did not mean to offend anyone personally. I have travelled the world since I was 8 years old and encountered many cultures and am very tolerant. However, I do have an opinion that may disagree with yours or someone else's. I do not appreciate being told where I should or should not travel. Plenty of people criticize America and they are entitled to their opinion, I'm okay with it because I know the truth.

Now back to my original intent, to help people with questions about my experience in SE Asia.

I have been told by 2 world cruisers that VietNam was VERY dirty, people

unfriendly - both were jostled in the market. What did you think?

I agree that in general the Vietnamese people were not as friendly but realizing it is just their culture it didn't bother me. You can't help but get bumped in a market as they are so crowded but then no one seemed to care if they did bump you. Yes, it is pretty dirty. I used the "toilet" at the market and let's just say it is an experience I'd like to forget! :eek:

I wouldn't miss Hoi An. Of all the stops on this cruise, its the most attractive and historical

, giving a taste of the old Vietnam.Even if you just take the ship transport, its easy to wander round the old world village and diy

Agree!

Glad you got your visas and are set to go!

As said by others any info on Hoi An and Hanoi appreciated. We are currently minded not to go to Hanoi because of the journey time but would be interested to hear more

 

Phil and Doreen

I'm glad I went to Vietnam and saw the places I did but I have no desire to return. That said, I felt like while I was there I should take the opportunity to see all I could. But I would not do Hanoi in one day of driving!

Hi Lynn

 

we'll be arriving in Chan May in a month from now on Celebrity Millenium and I'm thinking of just a beach day. Looking at google earth it appears of there are beaches close to the port. Just wondering if you happened to notice this. I'm not interested in the celebrity excursion to the beach. Were there many taxis available at the port.

 

Our other option is just taking the ship transfer to Hoi An to do on our own. I've read a couple of reviews from people saying they enjoyed that. If you have more info on Hoi An that would be appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance

This port was kind of isolated if I recall correctly. I know the bus passed by lots of beaches but it wasn't real close to the port. I also do not recall seeing taxis but then I wasn't looking for them. Lots of private tour buses. I'm not sure anyone really "wings" it in the out of way ports because you may be stuck with no way to go anywhere.

I think you will enjoy Hoi An if you want a nice relaxing day.

Hi Lynn. Thanks for providing first hand info for those of us going through the planning stages.

 

Any info on Honoi and Hoi An would be appreciated. We are trying to decide whether it is worth while taking the 3-1/2 hour drive to Hanoi. Since the ship arrives at 1:00 pm the first day, and leaves at 10:00 pm then next, we're having a hard time deciding the best approach time wise. We certainly want to do Ha Long Bay by boat. But the rest is still up in the air.

 

We prefer set dining times in the MDR. How was the MDR handled during overnight stops? Was it open seating, or the normal set dining times?

We did Halong Bay by boat from 1-5 then the bus took us to Hanoi for the night. It is a long bus ride! I would never do Hanoi in one day, no way. I'm glad we went but I didn't love it there. I was pretty miserable though because it was cold and the bus had no heat.

I liked Hoi An, good shopping, very quaint, lots of restaurants (4 ate for $20) and a very nice day. The bus ride took us through Da Nang and we saw lots of beach. I wish I had bought more of my souvenirs there because there was no shopping in Hanoi.

The MDR didn't change on overnights, the set times were still in place.

Lynn,

 

Friend heading off to Hong Kong soon and was wondering about use of American $$ vs Hong Kong $$. She remembers from a trip in 2000 that all the vendors in Stanley Market accepted American $$ but was wondering about now.

 

And even if they did, would she get better pricing using HK$?

 

Thanks!

 

Diane

They accepted both. I feel you are always better off using local currency but dollars will work too. We always hit an ATM in each port.

Lynn

 

Thanks for your helpful advice. We are on Millennium next February. I too have emailed your contact in Thailand - any recommendations for Vietnam and especially Ho Chi Minh? By the way are you on Solstice April 2015?

 

Thanks

 

Phil McLellan

Hi Phil,

We did a private tour to Saigon that was booked through Smile. Our guide was good but not as personable as Ms. Aom in Bangkok. There were things I liked and disliked in Saigon but I was glad we went but happy it wasn't an overnight. The bus they provided was very nice and we had plenty of room for our group.

I can give you info on Hanoi and Hoi An as well if you are interested.

We are on the Solstice in 2015 but in February!

Lynn

We used Ms. Aom @ Thai Tour Guide. Her email from her business card is aom_thaitourguide@yahoo.com. I have honestly never had a nicer tour guide. She was was so sweet and bought us so many things I felt bad. Such a delightful person and good guide. Let me know if you want the itinerary for our tour.

 

 

Thanks Lynn, have emailed Aom for a quote, hopefully we'll get at least another couple to join and split the costs.

 

suekay, yes, even if we take Celebrity's "overnight on your won" transfer we'd still have to find tours for the two days, so it might be just simpler to go with a tour operator who'd handle the transfer too. Unfortunately I logged onto the RC only last week, by which time most tours were full:(

 

I think I'm pretty adventurous and normally my husband and I prefer exploring cities on our own using public transportation. I do recall in Bangkok thinking I was so glad we were on a tour. I found the traffic and amount of people overwhelming! Maybe it was my state of mind at the time (in lots of pain) and it isn't as bad as it looked!

Thank goodness you made the first post otherwise we'd have assumed the ship visa was acceptable, and not found out until the ship had already sailed and we were stuck at the airport. We're waiting for the letter giving permission to leave the ship and we'll certainly confirm our plans with guest services once onboard. Good idea to check the entry stamp before leaving Phu My. I'd already planned the possible need for a flight from Danang then transport to Ha Long bay in the event that the ship doesn't make Chan May, just not going overboard on flight times and transport companies. Although I've prebooked all transport and hotels four our trip off the ship, I'm pretty laid back about changes ( not too sure about DH though......I just don't warn him about possible hitches:))

Sounds like a fun plan. I'll be anxious to hear how it all works out for you! Good luck!