ttnc4me

On 8/11/2022 at 4:38 PM, OneSixtyToOne said:

We also took this trip in August and had a wonderful time. The hotel in Zurich offered a free pass for the tram, which stops right in front of the hotel and takes you right downtown. The included tour of Zurich was first rate. The pre-extension in Geneva and Zermatt included a first class trip on the Glacier  Express train across Switzerland. I highly recommend the extension if available.

Hi, how long was your pre cruise extension to take advantage of Glacier Express? We are staying at Rennaissance on our own, but I'm struggling to determine how to plan to get to either Zermatt or St Moritz to take the Glacier Express.

On 3/26/2024 at 5:13 AM, CDNPolar said:

 

Are you are saying that you paid for Viking Air - $100 pp - but did not use it?  You just took the flights that were given?

 

Then call Viking reservations and ask for Viking Air Plus to be removed and they should refund you the $100pp that you paid.  In my knowledge this is only a fee you pay if you actually use the Viking Air Plus service.

I actually did have to use it since we are flying in two days early, so there's that, but thanks for the idea anyway and the input. I wish I could!

We have family traveling with us that took the standard flights and are getting in at 5:40pm for the boat to leave at 9! Too close for comfort for me.

12 hours ago, ural guy said:

Last week I flew American RT from Watertown NY to Zurich, 1 connection in Philadelphia.  It couldn't have been smoother.  I booked the flights a month prior and got a great price, and layflat seat on the way over, premium economy on the way back...but it was March.  15 minute train ride to city, roughly $8 usd.  

 

Main train station in Zurich is a mass of people, 470,000 passengers a day.  4 levels, includes a layer of shops.  Construction outside added to the chaos.  Very efficient place.

Thanks. We are traveling in June. Only took a day and we got our flights assigned. Air Canada/Swiss on the way over and VA on the way back. Guess we paid $100 extra for nothing since the flights are actually wonderful without any interference on our end. 

Here's to hoping the train is easy to navigate since we'll be exhausted on arrival. Thanks all!

On 7/11/2023 at 4:13 PM, JosieCat-MN said:

 

THANK YOU.  I just called AGAIN, and got a completely different answer from a different person.  I am now flying into Zurich.  I was already paying the deviation fee because I'm flying in early.

Curious to know which airlines you got booked?

It seems Delta is a frequent partner and who? Lufthansa? BA? 

We are also flying into Zurich and google flights gives cheap carriers like WestJet and Norse that surely are not candidates for Viking. The cheaper flights are also like 20 - 22 hours when 11 - 15 hours are possible but at double the cost ($600 vs 1200 (United/Delta/American)).

What does Viking base their deviation options on? Any ideas?

2pm arrived. Just a few minutes wait for valet $57.

Too late for luggage porters so had to carry our own luggage on. 

Probably 15 employees checking in. Several apologies for just a 5 min wait. One of the quickest checkins ever. 

Walked right on ship and straight to room. 

The robes in the room are a nice touch. I appreciate having shampoo and conditioner. Whoever thought just having a shower curtain in the shower was ok should be fired. It’s an itty bitty space and water floods the bathroom floor. 

Lunch buffet not great. Salad. A few stew looking type dishes pasta and burgers were the choices. 

The juices available are the same as other cruise ships except the ice machines were always out of ice.

Went to top forward deck and immediately started to experience the worst part of the whole cruise. Smokers everywhere. Cigarette, vapes and weed. All outside decks, each level outside, both sides of the ship and out back at the buffet also. 

No employees around to even try to ask to ask them to go elsewhere and when one was found, he said to leave it in the review. <shrug> 

Love that the casino is no smoking but BEWARE that all other outside decks seem to be fair game. 

Dinner at Fins was very short on food options with many spicy dishes. Opted for the buffet and was ok with chicken fingers, shepards pie, carving station, green salad bar,  potato bar, pasta bar. Only one station had all juice drink options. One had ice. 

Night one went to margaritaville stage show production. Fantastic talent but the sound in the theatre is unbearably loud. Like, need ear plugs at a concert if standing right in front of a speaker loud.

Latin dance night was fun. 

Quest adult game show was similar to other cruise lines’ and fun. Prizes for all activities/games is just a free drink. 

Dinner at Fins. Not sure why 100+ people are held in the hallway at 7:45 and all allowed in at the same time?!? The waiters were overwhelmed. Very slow service. The food was decent though. Had pineapple chicken, & macaroni and cheese (was spicy), and key lime sponge cake. No two entrees allowed to be ordered unlike free on other lines and a second would be $7. 

Love and marriage game show was decent. I like how all 3 couples stay on stage and answer more questions than other lines that take turns with spouses off stage. It moves faster. 

The comedian / magician Rich Purpura bases his comedy on racist jokes and denigrating guests when they enter the theatre and in the audience. 

The casino stays open until 2am the 2nd night which is longer than other lines’ 10pm. Love that it’s non smoking. 

I never found where they were passing out pool towels. The band that played at the water pit open to all (can’t really call it a pool because the pool in my backyard is bigger) was good, but the singers were awful. 

Orlando the cruise director is great. 

The assistant cruise director Venus comes across fake, forces her excitement and isn’t very entertaining. 

Employees seen in hallways, on deck or inside do not greet unless spoken to. There aren’t enough employees in the buffet cleaning off tables for people to sit. The mixed drinks at the adult pool bar were weak. 

Disembarkation was haphazard. Early flights off first. VIP next but no one is checking. Folks before security saying no liquids allowed off but that wasn’t true as long as it was in a bag/luggage. Passport line flowed decently. Valet took longer. Got off around 8:40 and on the road at 9:30. 

The $24/pp fuel surcharge after the fact is ridiculous to not simply be in the cruise fare as is the $32/pp gratuity service charge that they refuse to adjust. 

Even though we could sail free in the future, we won’t ever return. 

Are the pool towels decent? Can they be taken on shore for the day & returned once back on board?

19 hours ago, joe/jack said:

Thanks for reading 

Fuel Surcharge 20$ per day per person 

Pizza (never saw free pizza)

60$ to park for two nights 

5$ for bottled water

 

Do you mean a fuel surcharge once on board? Or, you mean something that was charged at the time of booking?

On 3/19/2023 at 3:36 PM, njhorseman said:

If you're at the official taxi stands at the airport or piers there's no chance of being scammed because only licensed taxis are allowed to pick up there and the dispatcher will give you the voucher shown above which has your total fare clearly stated. This system of fixed tourist taxi fares has been in place for many years. 

Sort of. At the airport, we never got a voucher shown above and I have no idea who we rode with as there was just a long line to get taxis and a guy routing people to waiting vehicles from that line right outside the terminal. We paid $41, but didn't feel entirely shafted since Uber was quoting $47 at the time, but still not good since it should have been less. 

The issue is that where the "official" stands are are a blur - especially at the port.  We were accosted by no less than 4 other individuals (charging more) on our way to search for the official taxi stand once exiting the ship. So many vendors yelling and so many people milling around that it's chaos. Hopefully this post will help some seek out the actual official licensed provider and save some money. 🙂 

Edit: It actually includes up to 5 passengers, not unlimited. 

There are many vehicles / drivers that lead you to believe they are official taxis when they’re not. 
The official website is here:

https://sanjuanpuertorico.com/taxis/

It’s $21 to get to /from the airport to the port and vice versa plus $1 per bag and varying lesser amounts for shorter distances. No matter the number of passengers in one vehicle! 

Anyone charging more are not official and are simply trying to make extra money off you. 

The official dispatch will have a large receipt pad and give you the amount in writing up front. 
The more you know… Enjoy your trip!

https://sanjuanpuertorico.com/taxis/

Any insight please… Is this &15 per person One Way or round-trip?

On 3/7/2023 at 7:05 AM, jean87510 said:

yes.  I did hertz through Expedia.  It was $45.  Avis was $60.  Was just there 2 weeks ago.

Did you pick up from the airport? Or...? How did you get the car?

Is it cheaper to rent ahead of time?  I feel like they know you're at their mercy if renting at the port upon disembarking. 

Thanks for asking as we in the same position with seemingly downgrading from Oasis class and I'm a bit concerned, but all this feedback has been a bit reassuring. 

5 minutes ago, jamin jul said:

Thank you. I have done Barachinas in the past. Will do again. Flight leaves at 5pm. The post cruise excursion was really easy- didn’t have to worry about luggage at all. Will see if it shows upon the cruise. 

Please report back with what you find.

The notice is beyond extremely confusing.  It states no negative test to enter US, but seeing as how we are departing from the US and returning to the US, then that would seemingly imply that no test is necessary whatsoever.  Katty Byrd needs to be demoted. 

Curious to know also.  Anyone?

We were there yesterday and it was disgusting!

We took the shuttle over to the beaches and where we were dropped off smelled so bad that my kids almost threw up.

We walked down the beach a bit past Krayzy Lobster and the smell got better but the water was murky and not enjoyable.

The Costa Maya forum (or board) is here:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=169

 

Do what interests you! Snorkeling is pretty good there.

Any particular recommendation for DIY snorkeling?

shuttle was $3 per person.

 

 

Follow the shops around to the backside of the pool, once you see the flamingos you can cut through one of the shops or walk a little further to a little alley that lets you get to the taxis/shuttles.

 

 

there is a little booth to the left selling the tickets once you get to the loading area

So, if we were to take the "shuttle" in to town. How would we know where to go for the beach just to hang out for a few hours?

Separately, is there the ability to DIY snorkel anywhere near here, or somewhat within 1/2 hour or so from the port?

Personally I felt it was a waste of time. A place to pay for food, pay for drinks and swim in the ocean if you weren't hitting the shops or the Real Estate Company trying to sell you a vacation home. It is lush and clean.

This.

What a waste for a cruise passenger. There are plenty of other 'go to the beach and have to pay for extras' opportunities on the itinerary. Every other major cruise line's private island is just that - private. The fact that a passenger has to pay for food and drinks here is ludicrous when most others have buffets galore, free drinks and drink packages are honored.

Shame on NCL for implementing this type of stop.

Has anyone been able to compare the unlimited wifi with the unlimited Premium?

Sure you did. Next you will be trying to sell us a bridge in Brooklyn. If that is the case why did you say 2-3 floors and not just 2. Still my question remains why does this even bother you if you do not use the elevator in the first place and please tell us the minimum number of floors one can go and use the elevator so we do not violate your rules going forward. Oh and is this all pertaining just to Americans? Are there different minimums based on nationality or maybe time of day?

It pertains to all and the answer is easy; (able bodied) people should at the very least take the stairs when going up 1 floor or down 2. Isn't this common knowledge?

You are correct. The smaller kids didn't care nor bother with the song. They too probably didn't know any better. I don't shield my children from profanity either, but I don't put them in an arena with it. It's called being a parent. It's just not appropriate venue!

 

And yes, I personally like that song....but not for my 11 & 13 year old. I don't encourage that language. Will they learn it some day, probably...but hopefully I can instill enough values and morals in their life that they don't use it on a day to day basis.

 

YO

100% and they'll be hearing from me if that garbage is played on our upcoming cruise.

That's why nothing changes for the better. People can't except the fact that the line keeps cutting back and caring less because people don't say anything and keep on paying the outrageous prices. These are supposed to be 4-5 star cruise lines, you shouldn't have to point out their shortcomings, or live with them. You are getting a Dollar Store product at a Sax Fifth Avenue price. The saying "you get what you pay for" isn't relevant to cruising.

We went from 40-60 days a year to 0 last year, not just because of the price but the quality of the product as it is. They set the level of expectations when we started sailing 15 years ago and until about four years ago they met or exceeded it everytime.

This. With the amount of money they're charging, it should be nothing short of top notch.

You could simply find the cruise compass posted in these threads & look at the sea day activities. ;)