1st European Cruise Questions

[SCjason]

Hello Cruise Critics!!

 

I must admit, my wife and I are long time fans of CruiseCritic.com but this is actually my first post :o. I have seen cruise critic stickers on stateroom doors in the past and always wanted to knock on it and introduce myself but I never wanted to impose. I guess I can take a quick minute to tell everyone about myself. We live in South Carolina and I am 31, my wife is 32 and we both work in very stressful jobs, so, what a better way to unwind then to sail out into the ocean where we can turn off our phones and escape for a while. We have no children (they would get in the way of our cruises ha ha ha). We took our first cruise to Alaska for our honeymoon in 2004 after being recommended to Princess. We loved them, but, wanted to check out a few others so in between we tried RCCL, HAL, and Carnival. We found our best fit was with Princess.

 

My wife and I were just on the Ruby Princess from March 11 - March 18, actually, we just got home a few hours ago. I have been a HUGE fan of Princess for years now and we just completed our 10th voyage with them. As everyone probably knows, the Royal Princess went on sale March 15th and we were lucky enough to be on board at that time. The future cruise consultant was amazing and he actually opened his office early so we could be there right when the rooms were released. We were able to secure our reservation on the maiden voyage and I couldn't be more excited :D!! But now the scary part, we have NEVER sailed in Europe and we have no clue what to expect? We plan on flying from Charlotte to London and then from Barcelona to Charlotte.

 

These may sound like really dumb questions so please forgive my ignorance ahead of time.

 

1. Is the shipboard account still is USD or is it in Euro's instead?

2. Will the food onboard favor European style?

3. Is it better to travel with USD's or convert them over to Euro's prior?

4. Any suggestions for the long International flight?

 

Since this is our first European cruise, we plan on arriving in London 4 days early and then staying in Barcelona 2 days after. Any suggestions on hotels in London that are reasonable but still within walking distance to major attractions?

 

I am sure I have a ton of additional questions but I will keep it short, if not, no one will read my first post lol.

[paul929207]

Welcome to Cruise Critis.

 

I am in Greenville, SC Where are you?

 

1. On board account will be US$

2. Same menus

3. I get Euros from ATMs in Europe. Note that you will need British Pounds for the UK. They are not on the Euro.

4. Fly first class. :) In my dreams

[CruiserBruce]

As far as hotels and other local travel info, come over to the Europe Ports board, here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=19

 

and do some reading.

 

For good general info, here is the Princess board:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=197

[bbwex]

You have to look around a lot, but there are some bargains out there. We are going to be in the Med a little out of season (late October) and I was able to find a fare from Toronto on Air Canada (about $182) each way. Note that the fare from Pittsburgh to Toronto was almost double that! We then put that together with a fare back from Venice for just a couple of hundred dollars to Toronto. If you are on an early cruise, and it is not high season, there might well be fares out there.

 

I agree as to the hotels to go to the requisite Ports of Call board.

[John Bull]

I can't say, "welcome to cruise critic" - it sounds like you may have been peeking in longer than me :)

 

Shipboard account will still be in USD. And the casino too, so bring cash if you think you can win back the cost of the cruise.

 

Food will be much as on your previous cruises, but maybe with the option of one or european specials.

 

Those travelling from the US tend to use ATMs in europe, there are plenty & instructions are in english. It seems your banks in the US give a comparatively poor rate -but not as bad as exchanging on the ship, avoid that at all costs :eek:

Do tell your card supplier that you will be travelling to europe, to avoid problems created by anti-fraud blocking.

 

As Paul's response, Britain (but not Irish Republic) are on British pounds. Some tourist places accept euros - but see my note re ships' exchange rates :rolleyes:

I don't know your itinerary, but :

Gibraltar is the Gib pound (interchangeable with UK pound at 1:1). You can use up unspent UK pounds or you can pay in euros at a sensible exchange rate. Don't accept change in Gib pounds, they're not legal in the UK & they're the devil to change back.

Any other non-euro ports you can use euros in touristy areas, but generally not public transport or govt-run museums etc, though some accept card payments.

 

Hotels in London - most sights are from Buckingham Palace in the west to theTower of London in the east, and either bank of the river or within a mile north of the river. More sights in the west of that area. Handy to a tube station & a ho-ho route makes a lot of sense too.

Somewhere like Premier Inn County Hall is very convenient & a bit historic.

But check on the Britain board for more detailed hints.

 

Flight - don't take Paul's cheapskate advice. Check out the advantages of your own private aircraft.:D

 

Have a good one

 

JB :)

[binkysmom]

for the long flight I'd recommend non-binding clothes, shoes that can be slipped off and maybe a sleeping mask. Drink lots of water on the flight and get up to move around. If it's not possible to get up and walk around every hour or so, I'll stand at my seat and do mini squats (as much as the space will allow). I'll also do "bicycle" movements with my legs while seated if I can't get out easily.

 

It's an international flight so most airlines should still provide a pillow and small blanket.

[cid8448young]

I'd just like to reply that I am going on my 1st European River Cruise as well. I have been looking up points of interests in each Port. (Antwerp, Amsterdam etc.) finding out places like Museums I might want to fit in during our day at that Port. I found out I could use a week to see all I wish to in Amsterdam so I am going a few days early and staying over a day or two as well. Several Art Museums are closed (one in Antwerp and One in Amsterdam), so I am glad I looked them up in advance. I also bought an early ticket for the VanGough Museum because they said there are often long lines otherwise, and a pre-purchased ticket allows you to go right in. Things like that are helpful to know ahead of time, so if you know your Ports-of-Call - and want particularly to see a certain place or AVOID it too, It's best to research it on-line first. For instance, I want to avoid the rather "Imfamous Red-light district" in Amsterdam, because who cares, I'm a woman, but I'm certain others might put that at the top of their MUST-SEE list!

Last, one might like to look at Google Maps (Satellite View) to get a good idea of the area where the ship docks and if you can walk to nearby attractions instead of taking a Taxi. You can get a good idea how to plan the day too, if things are near each other, rather than ping-ponging around the town and wasting time. Even better is looking up bars or restaurants and similar "subjective" places to dine. In Antwerp it says they speak a Flemish dialect, and also French or English, but it might be considered rude to try to talk to them in French, for some reason. I'm glad to know this as I do speak French.

Enjoy your cruise.

[dolittle]

About the long flight from the east coast (S.C.) most times you will leave in the evening so you will arrive in europe early morning . Most people (us anyway) cannot sleep on airplanes when you get to London drop of your bags and hit the town running stay awake all day get something to eat at dinner time and then go to bed. You will wake up early but you will avoid jet lag.

[SCjason]

Welcome to Cruise Critis.

 

I am in Greenville, SC Where are you?

 

1. On board account will be US$

2. Same menus

3. I get Euros from ATMs in Europe. Note that you will need British Pounds for the UK. They are not on the Euro.

4. Fly first class. :) In my dreams

 

 

 

Hello Greenville!! I am over in Rock Hill. Not too far away at all. When looking for airfare, I checked Charlotte, Greenville, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Raleigh, Atlanta, Miami, JFK, and Boston. Believe it or not, Boston appears to be the cheapest by about $500 but I am not sure I can justify the drive. I am having to guess right now though because airfare for this trip won't be available until July.

 

Flying first class. . . After seeing the prices from CLT to London I am not even sure I could afford to fly with the baggage :D

[SCjason]

I can't say, "welcome to cruise critic" - it sounds like you may have been peeking in longer than me :)

 

Shipboard account will still be in USD. And the casino too, so bring cash if you think you can win back the cost of the cruise.

 

Food will be much as on your previous cruises, but maybe with the option of one or european specials.

 

Those travelling from the US tend to use ATMs in europe, there are plenty & instructions are in english. It seems your banks in the US give a comparatively poor rate -but not as bad as exchanging on the ship, avoid that at all costs :eek:

Do tell your card supplier that you will be travelling to europe, to avoid problems created by anti-fraud blocking.

 

As Paul's response, Britain (but not Irish Republic) are on British pounds. Some tourist places accept euros - but see my note re ships' exchange rates :rolleyes:

I don't know your itinerary, but :

Gibraltar is the Gib pound (interchangeable with UK pound at 1:1). You can use up unspent UK pounds or you can pay in euros at a sensible exchange rate. Don't accept change in Gib pounds, they're not legal in the UK & they're the devil to change back.

Any other non-euro ports you can use euros in touristy areas, but generally not public transport or govt-run museums etc, though some accept card payments.

 

Hotels in London - most sights are from Buckingham Palace in the west to theTower of London in the east, and either bank of the river or within a mile north of the river. More sights in the west of that area. Handy to a tube station & a ho-ho route makes a lot of sense too.

Somewhere like Premier Inn County Hall is very convenient & a bit historic.

But check on the Britain board for more detailed hints.

 

Flight - don't take Paul's cheapskate advice. Check out the advantages of your own private aircraft.:D

 

Have a good one

 

JB :)

Thanks for the information. See, without your help I would have had the wrong currency!! Go figure though that they are on British Pounds instead of Euro's. . . our dollar is worth even less in pounds!!

[paul929207]

Hello Greenville!! I am over in Rock Hill. Not too far away at all. When looking for airfare, I checked Charlotte, Greenville, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Raleigh, Atlanta, Miami, JFK, and Boston. Believe it or not, Boston appears to be the cheapest by about $500 but I am not sure I can justify the drive. I am having to guess right now though because airfare for this trip won't be available until July.

 

Flying first class. . . After seeing the prices from CLT to London I am not even sure I could afford to fly with the baggage :D

I would not want to drive to Boston. When you look at the expenses for the trip there you will not save too much money. Gas, tolls, parking, a night or two ina motel, meals.