movc

Thanks for the info.  Do you know if there is still a paid shuttle to the airport?  From https://www.visitdubai.com/en/travel-planning/cruise-dubai/dubai-cruise-terminal-facilities

"Complimentary shuttle bus services to selected shopping malls across Dubai  + Paid Shuttle busses to Dubai Airport and Dubai Mall"

Can anyone who has been in Dubai recently give an update on the list of malls currently offering free shuttles from the cruise terminal or post a pic of the info stands.  Also, what is the price of the shuttle to Dubai mall.  I have tried emailing Dubai tourism but they are not too responsive.

TIA.

On your first night, I wouldn't be planning for a night out. If you leave from Southampton, you have 3 hour forwards and typically an early start and long first day. A good percentage of people that book the ballet as an evening tour don't show up.

Asia Hotel is right beside Ratchatewi Skytrain station. Transfer south transferring lines at the next stop Siam to head to Saphan Taksin and you can take a Chao Praya Express boat to the Grand Palace. This will avoid traffic but not the scammers hanging out at the Grand Palace. Alternatively, you can walk a block to the canal and take a canal boat heading west to the last stop (by Wat/Saket Golden Mount). This will get you closer where you can continue your journey by taxi. There is a lot of stair climbing when riding the skytrain and you also need to have good balance boarding and exiting canal boats.

Also you should confirm the tour still drops off at Asia Hotel since Central Word is also used.

I was on the Pacific Princess (R Class) and we docked in Phu My. Maybe the port fees were less or the timing was better.

Tips for Europe

1. Public washrooms are usually pay for use. Always use free washrooms when available - museums, restaurants, cafes. McDonalds may require a code to access.

2. Don't walk in bike lanes unless you want to get run over.

3. Always be aware of pickpockets in crowded areas and on public transit. Also be familiar with scams such as the found gold ring, clip joints and bracelets.

4. Pre-book tickets online for popular museums and sights.

5. Always ask first if using a magnetic stripe credit card. Most automatic kiosks will only accept chip and pin. Always decline being charged in your local currency since you will always pay more for that convenience (google dynamic currency exchange)

There are three main ranks each with their own messes and rules for access to passenger dining areas. Officers (anyone with stripes, dept managers, pursers, cruise staff) can eat at specialty restaurants. Staff (youth staff, spa, dancers, musicians, photographers, casino) and officers are allowed in the buffet at non-peak times. Crew (waiters, stewards, cooks, everyone else) are not allowed to eat in any passenger area. Staff and officers eating in passenger areas need to be in uniform and not take away seats from passengers.

European officers tend to have wine with their meals which is their culture. The blood alcohol limit rule is in place because every crew member is assigned an emergency duty though enforcement will depend on the situation.

Trains in Europe are more like public transport buses vs planes. Reservations are only needed if you want a guaranteed seat which you will need to pay a small surcharge for. There are usually digital signs above each seat to indicate what portion of the route they are reserved for. If the seats are all taken, you will have to stand. Exception would be high-speed trains where all seats are reserved and no standees are allowed or higher class tickets. You can search fares and schedules on the DB Bahn website.

I have taken the bullet train from Beijing South to Tianjin and there were automated kiosks with English option and counters where some staff spoke English. Bullet train seats are all reserved so you don't have to get there super early, just in time for boarding.

Australian ports are great for animal lovers. Kangaroos, koalas, tazmanian devils, kiwis and wombats are the usual suspects. Most zoos have petting/feeding areas for kangaroos. Smaller wildlife parks may let you pet or get close to koalas that zoos in larger cities may charge you extra for. Only certain states allow koala cuddling. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Australia Zoo near Brisbane both have cuddling sessions.

There was a 24 hr visa exemption enacted in 2013 but the recent change extends the time period.

http://www.sh-immigration.gov.cn/listPageEn.aspx?lx=37&id=2943

For those wanting to see future days activities in advance, they usually don't finalize the patter for the next day until late afternoon. Then it's a scramble to get the various departments to give their ok, print and distribute. Though repeating 7 day cruises would see little change except for the date, weather and new guest entertainers.

Tanggu is no longer the terminus of the high speed line with the recent opening of Yujiapu Railway Station. You should be able to take bus 513 out of the cruise terminal to avoid the taxi mafia there. Looks like cruiseportwiki has been updated with new info and lots of links.

Stanley is mainly for the Market so forget that , if it does not interest you.

The bus ride to Stanley is very scenic with a hilly, winding road and the best view will be from the upper front seats of the double decker buses. The express bus shortcuts through the tunnel but you will still pass Aberdeen fishing village and the beaches at Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay.

If you exit Stanley market, there is a nice seaside promenade lined with restaurants. There is a beach on the opposite side as well.

Best way will be by taxi since public transport options are limited. You can find an estimated fare at taxifarefinder dot com and you will also have to pay the driver back for the tunnel toll.

There probably isn't a need to prepay for an airport express voucher since it looks like you need to go through the hassle to exchange it for a ticket.

There are two counters to buy MTR tickets or Octopus cards. The first one you see may have a bit of a lineup but there is a second counter closer to the platform which usually doesn't have a lineup.

From Kowloon station, you would need to complete your trip by taxi, which are relatively inexpensive. Alternatively, you cross the harbour on the airport express to Hong Kong Station, change lines to cross the harbour back to TST station and then take the underground walkways to your hotel.

What may be easier is to take airport bus A21 which has a stop on Middle Rd about a block away from your hotel. It will take a bit longer but is considerably cheaper. 33 HKD cash or buy an Octopus card. Google "A21 bus airport bus hong kong" for route and schedule info.

One more thing - flights to the US usually have additional hand searches of carry ons at the gate of all passengers. They will confiscate liquids more than 100ml even if obtained post-security. Exception are sealed duty free items. Large planes typically start boarding an hour before departure time due to these delays and the number of passengers.

Hong Kong airport is pretty large so get there as early as you can. There is an underground tram that runs between both ends. Check in online and you will have to go queue for both immigration and security. If you do have extra time, there are good restaurants post-security one level up from the departures level.

There are only two lists for bodies onboard a ship, either crew or passenger. Only grey area would be guest entertainers or lecturers which could be assigned to either list (typically passenger but crew in Australia due to local regulations).

If you can stomach it, you can find these episodes on youtube. Search "Baywatch White Thunder at Glacier Bay". Maybe more tolerable with the audio muted.

You will likely be docked at Tempozan Passenger Terminal (google Osaka cruise terminal) which looks like the area where the bus picks up at. http://www.kate.co.jp/en/timetable/detail/NU

The bus sounds like a good option since the airport is pretty far away - 30 miles. Make sure you can disembark early enough to take that bus though it looks like it runs hourly. Taking the metro will require transfering to the train. Directions from google maps indicate the trip is around 80 minutes (and you are also travelling in rush hour).

One thing you will find hard to find in Hong Kong is a supermarket as we know it. There are heaps of Asian food shops selling dried sharks fin and everything else man can dry to a dehydrated wafer . Few convenience stores but they largely sell only sugary drinks and confectionery, and doughy chinese buns .

In touristy areas, supermarkets are hard to find since retail space is expensive. It may just be a doorway leading to a basement store. You just have to know where to look and recognize the name. There is a large chain called Wellcome which will generally have good prices. There is a Marketplace by Jason's which is upscale with one location at I-Square mall. IFC and Harbour City malls both have a City'Super which is also upscale. ParknShop is another chain. 7-11 convenience stores are everywhere as well. You can always ask a local since the younger generation will generally speak English.

Here is an example of a ParkNShop entrance (I-Square mall is across the street). https://goo.gl/maps/vrPk7D8pVR32

One interesting thing you will find in Asia is skin whitening products. In some regions, having a tan means you're poor and spend your day in the fields. In the west, having a tan means you can afford to go on vacations in the winter.

I had an informative conversation with a carpet installer many years ago in Horizon Court just before the ship was heading to wet dock. He worked for a company based in the Vancouver area. The carpet is wool (naturally fireproof - have you ever seen a burning sheep?) and made by a UK company. One question I asked was couldn't any company install carpet on a ship but he said when cruise lines used other companies, they ended up wasting money and had to get it reinstalled after bad jobs.

Just because you are in a small ship, it doesn't necessarily mean you will avoid docking at Phu My. It's a shorter trip than sailing along the river and probably cheaper docking and pilot fees. Docked at Phu My on a world cruise on the Pacific Princess (Renaissance class, 700 passengers).