kurgan

From Amsterdam Central to Paris Nord it's about 3.5-4 hours. For schedule and price see sncf.com

2 hours ago, MudderBear said:

In particular, I'm trying to find out if C1 or CA (both are cabana) are "Reserve".  In particular, Suite 9241 which is C1 and also 12427 which is CA.  I've been searching and searching online, but wish I could find a listing of all of the Mini Suite categories.  Thank you!

You can try direct line cruises database 

Agree with "little britain", better to stay in a city. We stayed in hotel "Atlantic", walking distance from railway station in Bologna. The are lots of trains  during the day to Ravenna.

Cabin Number 8014

Ship  Onward

Month/Year sailed Dec 2022

Would you choose this room again N

Is noise an issue Y

Balcony size Normal/Larger/Smaller N/A

Any other comments  Constant noise from the Pool deck

9 hours ago, Jayayeff said:

 

Sh. Zayed Road is a convenient location with easy access to the Metro and with lots of choice of hotels/restaurants, etc.  however, I’m not familiar with the 4 Points Sheraton itself so I’d check tripadvisor reviews for any hotel specific info...

 

Anne...

Thanks Anne

On ‎9‎/‎9‎/‎2019 at 6:49 AM, Jayayeff said:

 

When you get on at the airport it won’t be crowded at all, but it will become more crowded as it goes along so you’d just need to be comfortable getting yourself and your luggage off the train and through the station you get off at.   Friday noon shouldn’t be too busy as Friday is the main weekend day here so only leisure passengers not commuters would be on the trains however, a lot of people do still use the Metro even on the weekends.  The stations, platforms, etc. are all quite spacious and user friendly with both escalators and lifts for those who are more comfortable using them.   Personally I’ve only used the Metro without bags or large pieces of luggage but you see many families with pushchairs, or others with luggage so it’s doable...

 

Anne..

Thanks!

What is your opinion about 4 Points Sheraton Cheik Zayad road?   Looks like it not far from mayor sightseeing points in New Dubai.

7 hours ago, Jayayeff said:

 

Yes you can travel on the Metro with luggage.  I believe the restriction is 2 pieces per person (i.e. 1 check-in size piece and 1 carry-on size piece).    The airport terminals are at the beginning of the Red Line so the trains are virtually empty when you get on but will be much more crowded when you negotiate getting off at the MoE... Also, the Metro does not run 24 hours a day so check operating hours with your arrival time and day...

 

Anne..

Anne, how crowded will be that red line train in Thursday afternoon and Friday  about noon? More or less that usual?

Anne,  I would like to ask another question. It was conflicting info in the internet about luggage in Dubai metro. In some place was written that luggage not allowed, carry-ons only, in another was mentioned opposite... What is real situation with luggage in subway? If we will take subway from airport to hotel near Mall of Emirates ( or another station on the red line), can we do this with luggage?

Thanks!

Anne , thanks a lot!

Anne, would you ,please, help me again?

Our planned cruise will be finished in December, morning time, as usual. We have 2 options to fly back home- midnight or 3 am next morning. Question- what to do in Dubai  for this long day? If you aware of some luggage storage for one day? Or we need to get hotel room for this day? In this case- do you know which hotel allowed to book day room? Or we need to book usual way and just leave room at evening or at midnight? And what's about taxi for midnight ride to airport? Actually, is taxi available in this time?

Thanks 

• Anne, thanks again!

1 hour ago, Jayayeff said:

 

It’s quite a long drive from the Creek out to Miracle Garden.  It opens at 9.00am but in morning traffic I’d say it could take 45mins to 1 hour to get out there, and a similar time to get from there either back to the hotel or directly to the port...Depends what time you want to get to the cruise terminal for embarkation whether it’s worth making the trip or not... What day of the week are you looking at???? 

 

Anne..

My cruise suppose to start Friday morning in November

22 minutes ago, Jayayeff said:

 

The Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel is the most convenient for a late arrival into Dubai International airport.  It’s one of the earlier 5* hotels in Dubai but still very popular due to it’s location right on the Creek.   The two 4 points ones are on the cruise terminal side of the Creek but the Creek Hotel is a better location, and via the Shindaga Tunnel it’s a fairly short taxi ride to the terminal.   If you can get a Creek view room that would be even better!!!

 

Anne..

Thank you very much!  Another question- How far this Sheraton Dubai creek from Miracle Garden? Do we have enouph time to visit Miracle Garden at morning before embarking cruise of it will be too risky?

Thanks

Anne, I have a question about Sheraton hotels. I see there are 3 Sheratons- 4 points Sheraton Downtown, 4 points Bur Dubai and Sheraton Dubai creek. Which one is better for access from airport (our flight  suppose to arrive around 10 pm), for sightseeing  and for access to cruise port?

Thanks

On ‎6‎/‎22‎/‎2019 at 2:42 PM, CJcruzer said:

On our first Japan trip, we flew into Osaka, airlink bus to Kyoto and spent 6 days there... We sent our luggage onto our next hotel in Tokyo and took the bullet train to Tokyo for another 5 nights.  (the hotels do this regularly, purolate/fed-ex luggage - they will ask for your hotel, call to confirm you have reservation - and complete forms and insert them into plastic luggage tag holders - our luggage was delivered to our hotel room).

 

I agree with Hank that Kyoto and  nearby Nara deserve more than a quick whirlwind visit.  We also were able to visit Fushimi Inari shrine (famous for the long tunnel of Tori gates) and Arishayama (well known for its bamboo forest) independently with public transportation.  the walk along the philosopher’s path in Kyoto is wonderful, as the canal is lined with cherry blossoms. Nara makes for a nice DIY trip from Kyoto.   Also, if you have time, take in one act of a kabuki performance - the costumes are amazing, and you can rent an English translator device -it advance/scrolls automatically in perfect sync with the play/act being shown.    

 

Nagasaki, perfectly doable to visit Spectacle bridge, Peace park, Peace museum by tram... However, be prepared for the tram to be filled to the gills, and be packed in like sardines,  

 

As to Osaka,  we have spent several days on different trips - visited the castle, various shrines and temples...There is a great walking tour which takes you to some interesting spots you probably would not know, we found it interesting,  If you are there during the first 2 weeks of April, the Japan Mint opens it gardens to cherry blossom viewing for one week only - they have several hundred trees, some are very rare, and the whole garden is awash with sakura blooms.   Free to enter and easily accessible from the cruise port, using the green Chuo line and then transfer for 1-2 stops possibly on the purple line,    Signs with pink arrows will direct traffic to the Mint sakura display.

 

Hope this helps....  

Another interesting place to see in Nagasaki- penguin aquarium. 

Easiest way to avoid crowded commuter train is to book tickets in advance for Freccia train. This train have numbered seats, goes from Rome termini to Civitavecchia couple times in a morning.

Most convenient place to stay is around Santa Lucia train station, walking distance from Piazzale Roma.  There are a few good hotels, like Hotel Villa Rosa or similar.

---Also, there is a restaurant in Florence that we have been told not to miss (Il Latini) which we can only do if we overnight there.---

You can find  number of high quality restaurants in Florence. A few years ago we had a nice diner in Il Barreto restaurant, not far from Il Latini.

If you'd like to go to visit Uffizi, book your tickets way in advance online!

On ‎1‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 4:59 PM, dlwfarm said:

Trying to figure out what tour is good or if there is a way to get around and see the sites without a tour.  Did anyone do anything there that they thought was really good?  Thnaks

We took shuttle to the city, across of street from information centre took free shuttle to Zelandia park( which was great), spent there time to walk through park/forest, use shuttle move to Botanical garden ( near top cable car station), walk donw through rose garden to city. Easy day  DIY.

16 hours ago, OceanPrince said:

Hi all, I'll be going on the Majestic to New Zealand in couple weeks. Will be hitting up Tauranga, Wellington, Akaroa, Dunedin.

 

Do all these ports have vendors selling tours when we get off the ship or tender? 

Dunedin- we took shuttle to city center, there in info center bought city tour.

Wellington- shuttle to city center, then free shuttle to Zelandia park and Botanical Garden on top of hill near upper station the cable car, then walk down through Botanical Garden back to center. Very easy.

On ‎1‎/‎1‎/‎2019 at 7:22 AM, jshli said:

Has anyone used this company for tours of Tauranga? They have very good reviews and offer the tour we are interested in, but according to their website, if we miss the ship, they will help in arranging transportation to our next port, but will not be responsible for the cost. They claim that they have never missed a ship in the 15 years they have been in business and have received a Certificate of Excellence Award from Trip Advisor. I would appreciate any feedback.

We used this company recently for tour to Rotorua and Polynesian spa, all was  smooth, had no problem.

If you  will be in Venice 2 days, you can easy make side trip to Padua, nice small city  and Giotto frescos in old chapel ( not to be missed).

Does anyone know if you can purchase single day passes ???

We just finished Norwegian Star cruise. Single pass for port day was 49 dollars, thermal suite was open 8 am to 10 pm.

We are staying at Hotel Continental Palacete on Las Ramblas, includes unlimited breakfast, snacks, juice, wine, beer, water and soda 24 hours.

Another vote for Continental Palacete- nice hotel in perfect location

We are thinking about taking a ship tour to visit the Madiera Botanical Gardens in April.

Read some reviews on Trip Advisor. Not very positive. .

 

The tour also includes the Monte Cable Car and Sledge ride down for $99.

 

is the Botanical Gardens worth visiting? unkempt, no birds or animals, noise from road traffic, plants not labeled, tree's burnt from forest fires, and bad winter storm.....

We visited tropical garden, which was beautiful. Such nice and peaceful place...

We took city bus to tropical garden, spent couple of hours there, took cable car to Monte, from Monte took city bus back to city and enjoy Madeira wine tasting at Blandy...