Iamthesea

The parades are fun, but watch out! After all of the St. Patrick's hoopla, we asked the front desk if there was anything going on in the street the next day, a Sunday, as we were flying out later Sunday morning. He looked at a sheet that was given to him by the city. There was nothing on the schedule. The guy at the front desk also said that we were planning on going to the airport too earlier and that we only needed to leave 2 hours before our flight. I knew better, but surprisingly, my DH (who is very OCD) went by this guys advice. I was able to talk DH into leaving 15 minutes earlier. Good thing! Nothing on the schedule my foot!!! We got down to the porter stand, collected our luggage, and called an Uber to get us to the airport. Making a shorter story, we went through 4 Uber acceptance, and 4 Uber's cancelled on us because they could not get through the streets to the hotel. There was a St. Patrick's runathon starting, and all the streets were blocked off. It's an understatement to say that we were sweating, DH was fuming, and I was making calls to cancel booked post flight transportation plans. One of the porters felt sorry for us, grabbed some of our luggage, and told us to follow him with the rest. Out the front entrance we went, running up the street sidewalk, crossed directly in front of a group of runners, and got to another corner about a block and a half from the hotel. There, a miracle stood before us! It was a taxi driver letting off passengers that were trying to get to the hotel after their cruise. They had called the front desk asking how to get to the hotel. We switched places with the cruise couple (the porter taking their luggage) and made it to the airport with enough time to relax. Luckily, and for some reason, the airport was not overly crowded like it usually is after cruise passengers hit it. We breezed through security and were on the airplane soon after. BTW - We got a $20 charge from one of the Uber drivers. 🤨

And we will come in a join you for that drink! Wifi connected quickly. We have Premium wifi included in HIA Early Booking, and it includes wifi calling. Good to now that WiFi Calling is included in the Premium plan. That's a nice touch since it was free through my cell carrier until many cruiselines started blocking it. I also noticed that the Premium package is only good for 1 Device. I thought it was 2 devices for each person in the stateroom. 🤔 Also see where they are cutting off the signal at midnight the night before you dock. Is that the norm? I was planning on using my plan to check on our flight status the morning we embark.

Hlitner - I keep forgetting that you are on the ship for so long and having multiple meals at specialty places. I would also get sick of the Miso Glazed Seabass if I had it more than twice in a couple of weeks. In fact, I would be sick of spending more than 2 weeks on the ship, period! The longest booked cruise on Oceania was 10 days. And that was cut down to 8 days. I was ready to get off after the Noro went around (luckily, did not get it.) The other 2 cruises have been 7 days and that was fine.

Hlitner - I cannot remember if you mentioned that you tried the Sea Bass at Red Ginger? To me, that is the best and most memorable entrée of all our cruises on Oceania! After our most recent cruise on the Vista, I agree on the bland assessment of most dishes. Love Malta!!! We have visited 3 times. Always a welcoming port of call. Also love Santorini!!! We like to book a ships excursion to get us on the island, quickly. When the excursion is over, we stay on Oia (wonderful after most tourist have left) and then make our way back to Thera by bus and foot. After Thera, we make our way back to the ship by either the steps, or on the funicular.

We also love the Riverside Hotel. Our most recent stay was last month after coming back from an Oceania cruise. We did not realize that it was St. Patrick's Day weekend. What a mess the Las Olas Boulevard was! We ended up getting out of the area by taking an Uber over to our favorite place to eat in Ft. Lauderdale, The Southport Raw Bar & Grill. Had a relaxing lunch of clam chowder and fried shrimp on the water. Afterward, we took the water taxi loop back to the Las Olas for some post St. Patrick's parade fun. We dined at The Cheesecake Factory for dinner, as the Golden Lyon was packed full of partiers. Happy and SAFE sailing, Jacqui!!!

Where do you see the “Special Services and Included Items” under HAL's website reservation? I do not see that on my reservation. We have CO, but booked it through a TA, so maybe that's why I don't see it. It is on my paper reservation that the TA sent me.

Did you see taxi's after exiting the train station? We will have to take one to our hotel because the tram does not go there. It's over the bridge near the port. P.S. - Just saw the following on the news. You will have to look it up because I was unable to link. "Massive anti-tourist demonstration kicks off in Tenerife"

We loved sailing a very similar itinerary many years ago. One of my favorites! As mentioned, we also left from Southampton. Thank you for outlining the steps from baggage claims to train platform in AMS, and to "tap out" once in Rotterdam. I have always wondered what would happen if that step is forgotten. We will be flying in from Germany in 3 weeks. Have a great cruise!!!

May 11, 2024 Rotterdam  11 Day Britain, Scotland & Ireland  

Thank you. We went through Amsterdam last May. It wasn't as bad as some years past. And remember that we will not be traveling back to the U.S. for that flight. So no International security until we leave Germany a few days later. However, to be cautious, I am sure that my DH will want to be on the first bus out!

It's been so long ago (2012) that I don't remember. I do not think that we were in port past 5:00 - 6:00. It was not a turn-around day. We did get off of the ship ASAP and walked to the train station. Do know that the Fast Track may not run anymore. Plus, there have been recent reports of train strikes. As I mentioned earlier, we had been to Rome a few times before this trip, so many of the things we wanted to see were not major have-to-see places for Rome. In addition to The Aventine Keyhole and Victor Emmanuel II (where we could see miles from atop the structure), we went to an overlook of Trastevere, called Gianicolo Hill. Trevi Fountain was a priority, of course, so that we could throw a coin in the fountain to ensure another trip back (which we have done 3-4 times since.) After lunch, we took a ride past Castel Sant' Angelo on the way back to St. Peters where we had planned to climb to the top of the dome for another view of Rome. Unfortunately, there was a protestor that had somehow climbed out a window of the dome and he was waving a flag. The dome was closed off to other visitors. We decided to have a nice cup of hot chocolate at a nearby outdoor café. Before heading back to the train station, I was taking a photo of my husband when a priest walked by, turned around, and insisted on taking our picture together. 😁 We were back in Civitavecchia before we knew it!

Thanks for this! I checked and I had added the flight for departure to Germany. I also noticed that I was wrong on the flight time. Our flight leaves at 12:25pm. That gives us a little more wiggle room. 😉 Heartgrove - I hope that is not the case at AMS. I would rather claim my bag at the cruise port terminal and make sure it is on our bus. Staying a few extra days in Germany after the cruise and will need my clothes! 😀

Thanks! We will be leaving on May 7th.

Good to know! I have A-Fib. When I go out of rhythm, and cannot normally get it back in sync with my own medication and exercises. If need be, the ER has been able to get me back in rhythm with shots to the abdomen. So far, I have not had to get a cardio version treatment. It's small electrical shocks to the heart. I think the onboard medical could handle that.

Relief Bands did not work for me. The Meclizine did the trick! On my most recent cruise, the ship was really rocking. My party and I all took 1/2 half of the chewable Meclizine every morning. Had to take a 2nd half one evening when the seas were particularly rough. If I take a whole pill, at once, I get sleepy by the early evening. Good luck to your wife!