DebSailing Posted October 3, 2010 #26 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Hi Kim, I still haven't booked a hotel. Since I'll be alone and have never been to Lisbon, I was thinking of maybe just going with one of the big hotel chains. I'd like to arrange a Lisbon tour and thought it might be easier and the chances of the desk staff knowing English might be better. The Sofitel looked good, until I read a review that said it was fine, except the tours were "very weak". So I don't know if my logic is good or not! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor without a boat Posted October 4, 2010 Author #27 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Anybody get their cruise documents yet? This is going to be a loooong three weeks! LOL!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DebSailing Posted October 4, 2010 #28 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Just got them today. I'm looking over the shore excursions. Wondering if it's best to book through the ship or make independent arrangements... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluso Posted October 5, 2010 #29 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Hi fellow cruisers, Got the documents last week. Went online to pick airline seats--some were saved from my original requests, some not. Read the shore trip info--now I need to read the other info I accumulated to see if we will do it on our own or do ship's tours. Also preordered wine to be in our room --in US dollars, not Euros, and no bar tip. Need to keep checking the weather in Lisbon to see what to wear--the rest of the trip--not a problem. Need decent shoes for Lisbon's cobblestone and the Morrocan adventure.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor without a boat Posted October 6, 2010 Author #30 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Still haven't gotten ours, going to have to call my TA!:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor without a boat Posted October 7, 2010 Author #31 Share Posted October 7, 2010 Ok, all is right with the world, the cruise documents came yesterday! Now I've got another question: After looking at the itinerary and the excursions, something doesn't make sense. It looks like we are only in Safi for half a day in the am, yet the excursion to Marrakesh takes 12 1/2 hours. This doesn't seem possible, any thoughts? Also, I thought the ship would offer currency exchange for the individual countries, but the booklet doesn't say so.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluso Posted October 8, 2010 #32 Share Posted October 8, 2010 Documents in hand--good for you! Maybe the Safi trip picks them up to go to their destination and then delivers them to Essaouira (which I haven't seen on the itinerary before). We have seen that example on some past cruises. I don't recall the SC offering too much in the way of currency exchange--maybe too many nationalties to take care of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluso Posted October 8, 2010 #33 Share Posted October 8, 2010 Guess I have seen Essaouria on the ports of call. I guess I forgot about it because I have not done my Morrocco research yet. That's for next week!:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocH2O Posted October 9, 2010 #34 Share Posted October 9, 2010 Essaouria was on our itinerary last fall sailing from Lisbon to Barbados on the Royal Clipper. I figured from the itinerary that the bus would take us from Safi to Marrakeesh, and then Marrakeesh to Essaouria to meet the ship which would have sailed while we were gone.... but when we got to the ship in Lisbon, Essaouria was off the itinerary, and we just took the bus to Marrakeesh from Safi, and then back to Safi. We never went to Essaouria. There were considerable security concerns in Safi - we had a police escort half way to Marrakeesh - which may have been the reason Essaouria wasn't visited at all. My husband's brother, who lives in France, has vacationed in Essaouria and says it is wonderful, so I was a bit disappointed. If you take the trip to Marrakeesh, by the way, skip the pharmacy if you can. The rest of it is great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluso Posted October 9, 2010 #35 Share Posted October 9, 2010 Interesting. I had some friends on a Celebrity ship two years ago, and the ship cancelled all the Morrocco stops due to security issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor without a boat Posted October 9, 2010 Author #36 Share Posted October 9, 2010 It does list a two day excursion to Marrakesh, but it's going the other way, it starts in Safi, and you end up in Casablanca. The Marrakesh excursion takes you to a pharmacy?:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocH2O Posted October 11, 2010 #37 Share Posted October 11, 2010 "The Marrakesh excursion takes you to a pharmacy?:D" Indeed. The first 5-10 minutes were interesting, but then the hard sell to buy herbs and spices and purchase massages from the staff went on and on and on.:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor without a boat Posted October 11, 2010 Author #38 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Ok, wouldn't have expected that. Kim, how did you pre-order wine for the cabin? There's nothing in my documents about it, and I don't see it on the website either.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluso Posted October 12, 2010 #39 Share Posted October 12, 2010 We went thru Boat US who now automatically transfers us to the Star Clipper reservation system. The "The Star Clippers Gift Order Form- Bon Voyage Gifts" has always been part of the paperwork. We have not done this before, we always order wine at dinner and will continue to do so--but we figured for this long of a trip it might be good to have some in our room. Only a few prices are good, but we don't have that many stops on the TA so wanted to stock up a bit.:rolleyes: Also, the wine is prepaid with US dollars, not the Euro -which is way not in our favor now--and there is no bar tip added. Ask your travel agent about this. If you do it within 7 days of sailing there is an extra processsing fee! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluso Posted October 14, 2010 #40 Share Posted October 14, 2010 DocH2O, Researching Morocco now. Did you do the Casablaca or Rabat tour--or talked to anyone that did? Rabat seems to be a nicer city--and apparently you can do only one city due to the timing. I've seen a lot of comments about Casablanca being pretty nasty without much to see. Thanks for any input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor without a boat Posted October 15, 2010 Author #41 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Hi Kim, Thanks, I called Star Clippers and they e-mailed me the form, now I just have to fax it in!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluso Posted October 15, 2010 #42 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Did everyone get the word they changed the departure terminal in Lisbon to Terminal Passageiros Santa Apolonia?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor without a boat Posted October 18, 2010 Author #43 Share Posted October 18, 2010 No, How'd you find that out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluso Posted October 18, 2010 #44 Share Posted October 18, 2010 SC emailed me direct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor without a boat Posted October 19, 2010 Author #45 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Must be because I used a TA, I guess they go through the TA for everything. So, I was thinking that the four of us should either get together for cocktails or perhaps dinner one evening if you like, we will be in Cabin 119.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluso Posted October 19, 2010 #46 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Ok! 120! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor without a boat Posted October 20, 2010 Author #47 Share Posted October 20, 2010 No Way! You're in 120? That's too funny!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluso Posted October 20, 2010 #48 Share Posted October 20, 2010 A sailors's mindset for the Transatlantic. Low and amidships! :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor without a boat Posted October 22, 2010 Author #49 Share Posted October 22, 2010 Sage advice! When do you fly out? We're leaving on Tuesday.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluso Posted October 23, 2010 #50 Share Posted October 23, 2010 We leave here Sunday AM for flights. After our transatlantic overnight from ATL, we are at CDG for about 5 1/2 hours Monday morning. Hopefully no problems from the strikes, and we get to Lisbon @ 3 PM on Monday. We will be maxed out , but, have a few days to recover! Will have to check out some local port wine! :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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