paddingtonbear

Call again and you may get a different answer.

 

What size package are you trying to book?

I was thinking the 240 mins for $102 USD

Hi

I have the cruise personaliser up and running for a British isles cruise booked thru a Canadian TA because we are temporary residents there. I would like to buy Internet minutes prior to boarding to get the extra minutes so I rang princess and they said it had to be done on line because it was booked in Canada. Online it says you have to ring princess. I am currently travelling in the UK.

Can anyone help me to do it online please or do I have to do it on board and miss out on the extra minutes?

Honestly, what is wrong with people? Would they flush a diaper down their toilet at home?

It is not just nappies. Too much toilet paper can give the same results as well as women's sanitary items.

Some people are lazy and since it's not generally their toilet that ends up having the problems, they don't care.

In Greece the pipes are 50mm (2 inches) wide. You can't out toilet paper down those toilets without them backing up. You have to put it in the bin. They have rubbish systems to compensate. You get used to it but in the top hotels there are many problems because foreigners refuse to obey the rules.

Thanks for taking the time to write your trip report. It is very helpful.

We will be on the Ocean Princess - 8 day British Isle August 9. I did the 12 day British Isle in August 2013 on the Caribbean Princess and would highly recommend this cruise.

 

 

 

Do you know where the Princess shuttle for Dublin drops you off? Last time, we took a taxi and it cost us 15E each way.

 

 

 

We plan on seeing the Book of Kells at Trinity College then the HOHO.

Trinity College Is one of the stops on the HOHO bus.

We got there at 9:10 and were 2nd in line. By the time the doors opened at 9:30 the queues were very, very long. The pre purchased ticket line (to the left of the door) all got to enter before anyone in the buy a ticket line.

I agree with ducklite.

I went to a pub in Ireland and they had quite a few foreign currency notes pinned to the ceiling. I thought they must had been obsolete currency until I saw a current AUD $10. They said it is not worth it to exchange the (money wise and effort wise) so the just decorate the ceiling with them.

Paddingtonbear I think that you'll find that sneakers and trainers are synonymous, whatever colour they are ! 5 degrees and sleet here in Portree today, fur lined boots are more appropriate and certainly no one seems to be concerned too much with fashion !

I realise every country is different but This is what I thought people referred to as sneakers:

http://*******.com/p5umdzd

And these are what I refer to as trainers or joggers:

http://www.footasylum.com/mobile/nike-air-max-90-premium-trainer-078252/

I think what people are generally referring to is that it is not necessary to wear big white trainers (as above) as there are so many more elegant and much more comfortable options available.

Most people I've been travelling with in Ireland and Scotland have been wearing real walking or hiking shoe. But I happy to live and let live : )

Sadly this will affect many visitors to this country. The strike will add considerable pressure to all other means of transport and congestion on the road network may be considerable. The effect will be spread out on either side of the actual strike as management try to get trains to the right places.

 

 

 

If you are arriving at any of the London Airports on those days, I strongly recommend that you book a coach or a taxi in advance.

Hi bob,

Would the effect Edinburgh to London trains and the Eurostar as well or just London local trains?

Thanks

I'm with Bob++ on this.

 

 

 

Travel from any of those places is not 30 minutes each way. That may be the time the train takes from departure from platform to arrival at platform. But there's still the time taken to get from hotel to station, to wait for the next train, and then to get from the London terminus to the actual destination in London.

 

 

 

I've done a lot of travel for work between central London and Luton / St Albans), and a realistic timescale for an undisrupted journey would be 75-90 minutes each way.

I agree with the guys.

Last time we stayed at Earls Court on the Piccadilly and circle line. It was great for access too and from Heathrow and the city. The tube here comes about every 3 mins. Fantastic service, really quick and access to everywhere. You can also walk to a lot of places in London from various tube stations. The hoho buses and regular buses tend to be held up by traffic a lot. Whereas the tube has no problems. Once you use it once you will be sold on it!

Next time we are staying near kings cross station for access to Eurostar and city and Victoria station for bus to Southampton. It's cheap around Kings Cross.

This year the London premier inns are expensive and unless you get a sale there is better value elsewhere.

Hi Dermot,

We were planning on having lunch at O'Neills Bar & Restaurant. How is The Bailey or Davy Byrne's compared to O'Neills? I'm especially looking for a place that serves good Irish stew.

Thanks,

Joey

I was in Dublin las week and lots of places do an Irish Stew with Guinness in it. The Guinness storehouse does one too.

Law got to the library for the book of jells at 9:10 and were 2nd in line. There was a long line by the time it opened at 9:30 but it moves quickly.

The pre purchased tickets get you in via an exclusive line. When looking at the library door go to the queue on the left. The were all admitted before anyone on the regular line even though they hadn't been there long and went in straight away while we had to wait to buy tickets.

There is a hall of information about the manuscripts, the scribes and the decorations. Then there is a small room with the book of kells under glass. Then you go upstairs to see the old library.

As with most attractions it's pretty underwhelming but it's something you feel you should do while in Dublin. Getting there really early made it pretty painless. We went straight to the book of kells room and had it to ourselves for a good while then went back to the info room. Your money goes to help book restoration etc.

The Bank bar in temple bar - close to a HOHO stop - has an easily accessible copy.

I thought the HOHO bus was good but it's 20e for one day and 22 e for 2 days. We were there for more than 2 days so it was worth it for us. It was cold 50 degrees F when we were there no way would we want to eat outside.

Absolutely!! Dress for comfort and to protect yourself against the everchanging elements most likely on a British Isles cruise.

I am in Scotland now and it is freezing. 40-52 degrees F and windy, rain, hail and sunshine.

Actually, sneakers are quite fashionable atm in Scotland, not white one so much but certainly coloured ones. It was the case a few years ago that they were the sign of an overseas tourist, but not so much anymore. I now have a lovely pair of jade sneakers !

There is a lot of difference between sneakers and clunky trainers.

Also, when they have a tiny distance between ports does the ship just go in a loop?

Do they ever have yoga classes on the Royal Princess?

As already stated most airlines charge for seat allocation these days. If you don't want to pay the charge, then you have to accept the seat they give you.

On Qantas if you don't want to pay extra, 24 hours before the flight you can choose from available seats.

If everyone washed their hands regularly there wouldn't be a noro problem.

Check the last minute deals for this year on the right cruise, but not necessarily the right date, and see if you can handle the angst of booking after final payment is due.

Try to make it as late in May as possible and some areas on land (and even at sea due to ice) may not be accessible that early in the season.

Yes, they list all the excursions but not all excursions will be available at the beginning of at the end of the season. This applies even if you DIY. The Yukon rail trip for one is shorter at the beginning and end if the season and may not even run really late in the season.

I've been to Guernsey on multiple occasions, but never as a cruise excursion.

 

 

 

Intransit is a private bus company on the island. Their website mentions excursions, though I'm not sure they coordinate with cruise lines. On my last trip there, we had a group tour on one of their buses that was fabulous. Our driver, Peter, is a Guernsey native. Took us to the little chapel, to some WW2 sites in Torteval, a stop for tea at the Guernsey Pearl Tea Room, a stop at a hedge veg, and so on. Wonderful tour. For those not interested in walking much, it may be worth a call and maybe a group arrangement.

 

 

 

e.

Intransit private buses do not operate when a ship is in port they are fully booked by the cruise ships for their excursions.

Did you actually speak to Bob, paddingtonbear or someone in Bob's office? I ask as the 'Bob' I speak to does not sound young and told me that now that he was getting older he enjoyed being in the warm inside the office whilst a former younger colleague wanted to be out on the station and the platforms.

 

Whatever his age, he definitely seems to enjoy his job and perhaps he has trained a team up in the same ilk and they are all called 'Bob' to preserve the legend lol.

I spoke to Bob. What's young and what's young at heart? [emoji2][emoji2][emoji2]

He's definitely not a crotchety old guy I'd associate with waiting for retirement. You know the type: "In my day..." In a quavery voice. [emoji2]

That's great news, paddingtonbear and another feather in Bob's cap. I dread to think what will happen when he eventually retires!

He must have a few years left in him he sounded young and he must really love his job because he shows genuine concern for his passengers. Maybe he will train (!!![emoji39]) his successors so the service will be perpetuated! [emoji41]

Guernsey cruiser. Does the day bus pass for 4 GBP unlimited hop on hop off on the bus that goes around the island also cover the bus to the little chapel?

Would we be able to do the little chapel and go around the island? Our total stop is 7am to 3pm so a fair bit less than 8 hrs.

I agree with just about every thought in this post - except perhaps the speculation on Carnival/Princess business motivations.

 

 

 

I'm just off a really fantastic cruise on the Regal - which was a redeeming surprise after an generally unsatisfactory Royal cruise the previous year (in retrospect remind self to NEVER cruise at Christmas). That said' date=' while I appreciate the Royal class ships and what the offer, the line just isn't feeling like the Princess I fell in love with. I've dabbled a bit with Cunard and it's fine for what it is, but it isn't going to be my new go-to. I was so frustrated with the lack of 10day Caribbean options and PRICING for next winter that I'm actually going to try HAL. I normally take a minisuite and after my Regal cruise would only go on one of the extended balcony minis mid-ship but on HAL I saved over $1400 and got a suite. I doubt they will be my new go-to but it's a great itinerary and I'm sure it will be "fine."

 

 

 

For all of you who commented about Princess Live - it's going away on the next new ship. That whole area including the Wheelhouse and Crown Grill are being reconfigured. (heard this on the Regal).[/quote']

 

 

Cruising Chris,

I would love to hear a HAL vs princess report on this princess board after your cruise if you get a chance.

Aw, that was a lovely thing to do, Bob++. Nice to hear that Eurostar value their Bob!!

We booked our London to Paris Eurostar tickets 6 months out (as soon as seats went on sale for our dates) online after studying the seat61.com site about where to sit. This got us the cheapest seats and the best selection.

Then three months out (on the date seats went on sale) I rang Bob and booked our Edinburgh to London train trip through him. This ensures that if our train is late, even though we bought the cheap seats, we can get on the next train at no extra cost.

Bob was fantastic. He couldn't choose seats on the Edinburgh to London train but miraculously we got great seats on the best side of the train for that trip!

Great experience thanks to everyone's advice on this board.

We are really looking forward to our trip.

Are these Australian?

 

I've heard of "how's it hanging" but I would never use it and I don't know anyone who would except maybe in jest.

 

I haven't heard of the other two. Are you sure it's not: Howya doin'?

I just wanted to report back that a builder we know arrived today and addressed my husband by saying "How's it hangin'"

They then had a lively debate as to whether it should be: how're THEY hangin' OR how's IT hangin'

THEY won!

Colloquial slang used by a few in semi jest. It's a guy thing!