Onboard Quest's first cruise

[Huntingdon1701]

17 hours ago, uktog said:

Can I ask did you download Verifly before leaving home and did you pre populate any of it or did you do it all onboard?  
 

Welcome home I think you’ve brought the heat with you for some (though not us!)

 

I downloaded it in Greece and did it all either on ship or using the hotel's free wifi. 

 

Yes, surprisingly warm here!

[Huntingdon1701]

16 hours ago, malcliz said:

Oh thank you. I will stop trying to work it out then! Hopefully BA will appear in the dropdown when we are in Greece. 

 

It appeared automatically for me in Greece. 

 

I flew RyanAir (long story) on the outward leg so don't know about how it works for departing the UK. Not at all, from what uktog says. 

[QM2 fan]

Huntingdon, what's the best way from airport to town centre..assume cab?? If so, what's the approx cost -if you know please x

[Huntingdon1701]

3 hours ago, QM2 fan said:

Huntingdon, what's the best way from airport to town centre..assume cab?? If so, what's the approx cost -if you know please x

There are rail and bus links, but taxi is always the simplest in my view. I use Welcome Pickups, which was 48 euros. You get a picture and car registration beforehand, and a text/email when they've arrived, similar to Uber if you use that. Drivers wait for you just outside the arrivals gate with your name on a card and escort you to their vehicles, where free water is provided. All Covid safe. I also used them to get to and from the port - about 28-33 euros for that part of things.

 

If you pick up a taxi directly from the rank at the airport it's about 38 euros, but I like knowing there will be no queue or need to deal in cash (your card is automatically charged once the trip is done). The city regulates prices so both airport and port prices will be the same during the day.

 

The airport webpage had a guide to the other types of transport.  

[Huntingdon1701]

On 9/3/2021 at 4:36 PM, uktog said:

A question from a few days ago I meant to ask - did they offer ships shuttles in Cyprus as the cruise terminal looks a bit of a distance out of town or have I got that wrong?

 

I found the Insider and looks like you are right. They were offering shuttles departing every 1/2 hour, with the final shuttle back at 4pm. The drop off point was one of the main squares in the old town.

[uktog]

1 hour ago, Huntingdon1701 said:

 

I found the Insider and looks like you are right. They were offering shuttles departing every 1/2 hour, with the final shuttle back at 4pm. The drop off point was one of the main squares in the old town.

excellent thanks!

[alexandermaximo]

On 9/1/2021 at 8:36 AM, Huntingdon1701 said:

Crete today - the reason I picked this cruise. Knossos palace has been on my wishlist for a long time. The tour includes the palace, the archaeological museum, a brief town tour and free time. Very hot and quite a lot of walking.

Hello Huntingdon1701!  Quick question, we are on the Sept 18th sailing, I see this excursion departs at 10:30am, by approx what time did they return you to town for the free time?  Just trying to plan the time in town before heading back to the ship.  Thanks

[Huntingdon1701]

2 hours ago, alexandermaximo said:

Hello Huntingdon1701!  Quick question, we are on the Sept 18th sailing, I see this excursion departs at 10:30am, by approx what time did they return you to town for the free time?  Just trying to plan the time in town before heading back to the ship.  Thanks

 

It might depend on the order they do it. I'm not sure what order that normally is, but for ours they moved the museum to the front so that we could skip the long queues that apparently develop. We spent 2 hours at the museum, then about 90 minutes at Knossos. There was only about 45 minutes free time in the town, which was enough to wander down the high street and grab an ice-cream or coffee. I didn't really see anything you'd go into - a smallish church and an old Venetian building which took a minute. 

[macsails]

Hi Huntingdon1701.  Just found your tremendous posts from your Quest voyage. Since I am new to cruising Azamara Line, I found your input  most helpful.  We aren't sailing until August of '22 so hopefully even the mask issues will have been resolved by then. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.  

[Huntingdon1701]

9 hours ago, macsails said:

Hi Huntingdon1701.  Just found your tremendous posts from your Quest voyage. Since I am new to cruising Azamara Line, I found your input  most helpful.  We aren't sailing until August of '22 so hopefully even the mask issues will have been resolved by then. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.  

You're welcome. Definitely hope everything has been resolved by August next year!

[suttonrunner]

Hello there Huntingdon   Thank you so much for your wonderful posts from your recent cruise.   I have just cancelled my back to back Caribbean cruise and gutted about doing so - but could not take the risk when the USA were not allowing UK citizens into the country.  Since cancelling  I am aware  the restrictions have been lifted.  My question is about solo passengers of which I am.   You say that it is not allowed to share tables in the evening, that can be lonely for solo passengers   - what about the dancing at the end of the evening disco, is that allowed?  .   I was going to rebook one of the cruises but I  from your comments feel I shall have to forego  future cruises for  the near future.

[uktog]

10 hours ago, suttonrunner said:

Hello there Huntingdon   Thank you so much for your wonderful posts from your recent cruise.   I have just cancelled my back to back Caribbean cruise and gutted about doing so - but could not take the risk when the USA were not allowing UK citizens into the country.  Since cancelling  I am aware  the restrictions have been lifted.  My question is about solo passengers of which I am.   You say that it is not allowed to share tables in the evening, that can be lonely for solo passengers   - what about the dancing at the end of the evening disco, is that allowed?  .   I was going to rebook one of the cruises but I  from your comments feel I shall have to forego  future cruises for  the near future.

Dancing was allowed on the 11/9 sailing, they requested you wore a mask on the dance floor which was pretty busy some nights.

Solos also managed to meet others in Mosaic and the Den where is was possible for two people to sit the requested 6ft apart and have a drink/chat.  It wasn’t as easy for two compliant couples to do so unless they formed a cruise long bubble 

[Huntingdon1701]

23 hours ago, suttonrunner said:

Hello there Huntingdon   Thank you so much for your wonderful posts from your recent cruise.   I have just cancelled my back to back Caribbean cruise and gutted about doing so - but could not take the risk when the USA were not allowing UK citizens into the country.  Since cancelling  I am aware  the restrictions have been lifted.  My question is about solo passengers of which I am.   You say that it is not allowed to share tables in the evening, that can be lonely for solo passengers   - what about the dancing at the end of the evening disco, is that allowed?  .   I was going to rebook one of the cruises but I  from your comments feel I shall have to forego  future cruises for  the near future.

 

 

Yes, I'm afraid you are not allowed to share tables at the moment. However, they did run regular solo traveler get togethers - although I did not visit to see how many people were there. I did also see a few people taking tables near each other but socially distanced, and they were able to have a conversation. 

 

Dancing was allowed, so I don't think that would be an issue. 

 

Edit: I will add that I ended up chatting with people on shore excursions, including a couple of other solo travellers. So you're not banned from all interaction!

Edited September 26, 2021 by Huntingdon1701

[dacade]

How much are individual spa treatments?  Not entire packages.   

[Huntingdon1701]

On 11/27/2021 at 1:24 AM, dacade said:

How much are individual spa treatments?  Not entire packages.   

 

Sorry, I don't remember that now. Maybe someone who has been more recently can help?