Driftwoodgal

We did Pompeii on our own with a local bus transfer and then using the train to get there. Used a tour guide there at the ruins. Very inexpensive day, got all of the information how to do this from the boards here under ports of call.

It was great to wander on our own and not have to rush. We walked in parts of the ruins that the regular guides weren't taking people. We walked all the way through to a plaza and had lunch.

Used Rome Cabs for Rome.

FLACRUISER99 have to disagree with you on the distance. I walked it and walk 20 minute miles . Stand by my original post if you walk down past the other piers to the plaza

Thanks for the Halifax tip

Oh Patty I was hoping the answer was curved door. One more small lysol bottle to the list.

Carol,

Thanks for the airport tips, flights have been changed. Gotta love Southwest they make it so easy.

We too love the smaller ships, but loved the Allure too. We have 9092 booked which is near the centrum. Thought about an aft, my favorite, but wanted the wind block for the TA.

Curious what you did at the faroe islands and Halifax? Have things planned already in the other ports just those two left.

Carol,

Just noticied you sailed the Quantum!!!:D How did you like her, would you sail her again?

1:05, 1:35 and 5:05

Can you just take a cab to the airport?

How would you suggest to get from pier to airport?

Thanks for your help

I am so sorry you guys are having such horrible weather. I know we haven't had anything like you guys have had, but the high for us was 34 with sleet etc. I have peach trees blooming it is supposed to be spring.

We have decided that we are just going to run out of money after doing Ireland, London and then the 15 day cruise back on the Brilliance.

We are now wanting to just fly back home the day we return on Sept 18. Can you give me a really good estimate how much time we should allow befor booking a flight home? The ship docks at 6 AM.

We are Diamond Plus on RCL so we should be able to get off soon after the excursions etc.

It is walkable to the downtown plaza about 3.5 miles

On Our Feb 8 sailing a new Pinnacle couple were awarded their gold sea pass.

I think there was 14 other Pinnacle couples sailing with them. I believe most of them were saying on fo B2B2B so there would be lots of Pinnacles on the February sailings. We choose to do to the concierge lounge as we were right down the hall on deck 9. The diamond lounge is very nice with the outside deck and computers to use. Great improvement on the lounge Rccl.

We are on the TA from Harwich to Boston in Sept 2015. Wondering is the foilage will be changing then?

We are arrive on Sept 18 on the Brilliance and then leave at 5:00 PM on Sept 21.

Would love suggestions on how to do a whirlwind tour of the city and see most of the sights in that time frame. What are you must see things?

Would love suggestions for a hotel. Have only used Priceline once in my life but willing to give it a try.

Thanks for your help.

Will return the favor if you make it to Austin. ;)

Hotest ship I have ever been on. Our cabin was comfortable during the day even with the sun shining in the cabin. When it came to sleeping it became stuffy and hard to sleep. I took a very small fan with me, only to have in confiscated at the port, so not a happy camper. Was told that the fan was a fire hazard;)

I think this is the first time I can actually say I was uncomfortable at night sleeping on any of the fleets ships. Yes, my balcony door was shut, numerous calls to engineering told me that it was.

We were in a boardwalk cabin.

I so appreciate the posts for everyone. That is what is so great from first hand cruisers that have been there and done that.

For those that have used the Choice Air international, did you book your airline tickets a year in advance or follow prices for a bit and then book?

Did you use a website to track prices or just check each airline on their one way fares?

This will probably be three seperate flights on this cruise, one to Dublin, then to England then from Boston home.

Any tips are welcome.

still dont have a block and not sure if I want one. We have downsized and not sure where I would put something that takes up more room in the house. I would rather have a perk to take my hubby out for a dinner at cozy spot an announce we made it.

Our experience with Choice Air has been with two Celebrity Cruises, in both cases a very good way to book the air. You need to have the cruise booked, with a confirmation number (reservation number). Call Choice Air, explain what you want, and they will give you a number of options, with prices. There is no need to book immediately; you can review the choices, make your decision, and call back.

In both of our cruises we had a choice of carriers and times, and we saved thousands of dollars over what we would have paid had we booked through the airlines.

Thanks for your reply. Wondering how far in advance you booked your air? Did you price it and then follow and book or did choice air do it for you?

I am assuming once booked you are locked in the price? Can you include the Choice Air in your travel insurance?

Thanks for your help.

Kathy,

Did you search for prices on your own? Our cruise isn't until next September so I can't book yet.

Wondering where you are staying in Dublin and what you are doing.

Thanks for your help.

Wow... haven't read the entire thread, but I am really concerned with the change. I happen to have food allergies that require me to carry an Epi pen.

Really not sure if I am feeling warm and fuzzy about having different restaurants etc and the cooks not knowing about the allergies.

Does anyone know how they will handle people that have severe allergies?

Happened to me too, thus I book directly with the cruise line. I don't get perks with OBC or the bottle of wine, but I do know what the rules are with booking direct.

Our expierence on all of our ships including the Allure the 1 PM time applies. Not sure how the cabin attendants get them turned around like they do.

Have watched them on our Back to Back and it is a wonder.

Have a great cruise.

We are taking a TA next year on the Brilliance.

We would like to fly to Dublin and visit family and see Ireland, then either fly on our own or take the ferry over to England and stay a couple of days. We would board the Brilliance in Harwich.

I haven't used Choice Air so have no clue to what restrictions etc that apply. I read on RCI that you could fly in before the cruise, just wondering if we would have to fly to Heathrow, or if we could go to Dublin then get to Harwich.

Thanks for your help.

I had a similiar problem on our last cruise. Free internet at the library, but I was charged for each page I printed. I don't think I have printed anything but my set sail pass and luggage tags in a long time.

We did a sea lion encounter at Blue Lagoon and it was awesome. Loved that we could stay additional time after our tour and enjoy their lagoon. We had already done a dolphin encounter in Cozumel on our own so Murray was my water buddy for the day. Got news he has passed away..:(

Blue Lagoon is a wonderful ferry ride over and less commercial than Atlantis.

Atlantis is beautiful, but if I had to choose between dolphins and Atlantis....my water buddies get my vote.

Allisons,

Just some extra info for you to make up your mind on your future booking. We had fabulous weather on our cruise last week. We got closer to Hubbard on this cruise than the Captain has made it in the 10 sailings before. He told me he had previously sailed in 10 times and out of that 4 he couldn't make it in. Sorry you must have been one of the four.

I love 9256 and LOVED Paulo as our steward. Sailing in May you have shorter days than August. The sun probably wasn't an issue in May. We were fortunate to have sunny days for most of this past cruise, thus being out on the balcony with shorter overhang than some other afts, made it really bright. If we had really hard rain the cover on 9256 would only help where the loungers sit. Not alot of overhang on the right side of the balcony. If you choose a middle aft on deck 10 or deck 9 you would have more overhang if it was raining and from the sun since those balconies are deeper.

We had some heavy fog come in so I was glad we went up to the helipad for some pictures. If I had waited for the ship to turn I would have missed some shots. Sailing away from Hubbard the fog slipped in so fast I wish I had taken a video. I was able to get some pictures later that we only because I had the aft cabin.

We only parked in the shade in Skagway. Our cruise was a Northern sailing from Vancouver to Seward. Hope this makes sense.....still on jet lag from being up over 26 hours.

We stayed two extra days in Seward. We saw tons of things by just doing things on our own.

Is 9256 (within the Radiance class RCI) the only cabin that fits into that category? Is there a sister to it on the other side of the ship as well? We are a long way from even booking Alaska - so no worries, I am not booking competition. :D Just trying to get an idea. We have previously only sailed with balconies mid ship.

 

Thanks to all, and happy Thursday!

There are other cabins on the aft that are the same catagory as 9256. The balcony that mirrors 9256 is a suite as allisons mentioned. You could book a cabin next door to 9256 and have the same view, but not the wrap around. You would still have a larger balcony than on the side. Be careful when booking a hump balcony that you get one that isn't the end one on the hump as people up from the hump can peer at you from their balcony.

If your hubby has seasick issues you might need to go to a lower deck. My hubby can have issues if the seas are really rough, but for the most part Alaska is calm.

We have had some really warm sunny days on the sailing we are on right now. In ISP it was so bright and hot it was hard to use the balcony. Parked in Skagway right now backed in so 9256 is wonderful. We had this cabin in May of 2009. Don't remember it being so bright..I would think about maybe another aft more in the center. If I get great pictures at Hubbard 9256 will be just right.

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