ericosmith

9 hours ago, CleveRocks said:

I tried searching, but I didn’t find anything that wasn’t too old or not quite the info I’m looking for. 

 

Our cruise, next June, disembarks in Reykjavik on a Friday, and we expect to be off the ship by about 0800. We will fly home to the USA the next day, and we’re hoping to get a tiny little sample of the region during our full day there; during the cruise, we’ll have already made stops at Akureyri and Isafjordur. We thought about renting a car and driving the Golden Circle. [My wife and I tend not to like organized tours, as we prefer to come and linger-or-not-linger and go as we please. But if you’d like to convince me that a tour is better, I enjoy listening to experts, because I’m a seasoned traveler and I know that not all of my assumptions are correct.]

 

How do you recommend we go about getting the rental car? I’m sure there will be a taxi ride from the port, but then where from there? Our intention will be to keep the car overnight and drive to KEF the next morning and return the car there. THANK YOU!

There are a number of rental companies that will rent both downtown and at the airport.  Unless there is something you want to do in the city at night I would recommend going to one of the KEF hotels the night before just to shorten the driving distance at the end of the Golden Circle.  Plus the parking is less of an issue.  

7 hours ago, Cuckoo7 said:

Instead of driving down and parking like we usually do, this last cruise we rented a car and dropped it off in La Marque.  Getting an Uber from La Marque to the port was very easy and inexpensive.  That was certainly not the case on the way back.  Prices were crazy and the time seemed to never move.  Checked both Uber and Lyft.  In the end, it probably took a little over an hour before we finally got picked up.  Good thing we weren't in a hurry or had a flight to catch.

Could you tell me who you rented with?  I'd really like to spend some time at the space center but the prices with Enterprise one way to Galveston are a little rich.  

1 minute ago, Mich3554 said:

The Neptune has a noodle bar.

Well, if it does it was never listed in the hours for the Pool Grill.  Those hours were always listed as ending at 5:00.  At least they were a month ago.

I recall reading someplace that there was a limit to the length of a song that could be used without paying royalties.  I don't remember what the limit was or if the age of the song mattered.  It seems unless it's an original show that there are always just a bunch of shortened versions of older songs.  

On the Neptune the Pool Grill was just plain closed at dinner...well, except for bbq night.

Why is it that jeans always end up with the longest threads (other than perhaps tipping)?

5 hours ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

Currently on the Venus and the cruise director said the port talks are edited and then uploaded to the server. The process takes 2 hours. I believe they are speeding up the video and compressing the dead air.

 

 

 

They also do a kind of split screen technique.  They were advertised as being available at 8:00 but were often somewhat earlier.

check out Rinkmo  walkers.  The fold from side to side rather than front to back so that you can simply partially fold them to a width that will fit through the door.  

Nobody ever talks about getting them off the wall or ceiling...one reason to get the ones just strong enough to hold what you want to use them for.  

8 hours ago, duquephart said:

I don't think there's a beer of the day. If you ask for a dark beer you'll get one.

Better yet that Norwegian IPA.  You can even ask for more than one...perhaps not at once though.

4 minutes ago, SDWalt said:

Not sure anyone ever answered, but the cost to go from Plus to Premium package is $20/day per person.  I did this on my last Alaska cruise, 7 days an additional $140.

That still leaves the question of how much it costs to go from the 1 device to 4 device internet without upgrading to Premium.  

There are two hotels across the street from the train station.  The Zander K and the Grand Hotel Terminus.  The Zander K is modern and the Grand Hotel is more of a historic kind of place.  We've stayed at the Zander K a couple of times.  We were able to leave our luggage with them after we checked out and took one night trip to Flam.  Large free breakfast.  

On 8/1/2024 at 8:01 PM, dgorder said:

For what it is worth, in 2022 I cruised with the Princess Plus package. I decided to upgrade to the four wifi device package and Princess automatically discounted for the single device from the Plus package and also gave me the Elite Captain's Circle discount for wifi.

How much was your additional daily charge?

People are always using the terms wifi and internet interchangeably.  They are not the same.  My question is whether only one device can be connected to wifi at a time or only one device can be connected to the internet at a time.  For example, can I connect my tablet to the internet and still maintain the ocean now, tracking and messaging capabilities of the app on my phone.  

13 hours ago, DaveinCharlotte said:

Open seating: come in anytime during the period, sit anywhere there's room.  Beer and wine available lunch and dinner; hard drinks can be ordered, but be prepared to wait.  Beer and wine available in lounge all afternoon, but bar not open.  Beer, wine, and hard drinks available during cocktail hour and then later in the evening. All meals via order-off-menu; special requests honored, no buffets.  Room service is available.  (This info applies to all ACL ships, not just the Jazz.)

So is there good beer or just that boring Bud and Bud Light?

There are other ways that aren't as all inclusive as Whatsapp.  I can call from a mobile app on my VOIP landline without charge.  Or an app like Talkatone will provide a free number that can be used to call. 

13 minutes ago, CurlerRob said:

1) They do the math and determine that it makes economic sense based on what and/or how much they choose to drink.

2) They view it as a convenience and like not having to pay that bill at the end of the cruise.

3) Some people like to experiment with different drinks they might not like when under the package, as they feel more comfortable putting it aside when under the package.

 

I'll add number 4.  I'm a cheapskate.  I'll agonize as much over a 8.95 beer or mixed drink as I will a $600 up front expense.  I can bite the bullet one time and then don't have to think about it while I'm on the cruise.  I likely don't drink enough for it to make economic sense but I can enjoy whatever I want whenever I want without thinking about the cost.  Plus, I can feel free to drink half a beer if that's all I want.

I've done both and it's really kind of a toss up.  If you want to hike down or around sites on the top of the mountain then it's the Funicular.  If you want to eat a cafe or pub type meal at the top then it's the Cable Car.  You can eat there either indoors or out overlooking the view.  No view from anywhere but outside at the Funicular.  Better views from the cable car when going up and down since it's above ground level.  The Funicular is closer to the water and a short walk from the Fish Market.  I saw a shuttle to the  Cable Car from the Fish Market but I know nothing about it.  

I can't remember where I found it other than it was on a Viking site.  It's an exact duplicate of the MVJ website but you can add it to the task bar and it goes straight from there.  It's on my desktop which I can't access for a couple of weeks while I'm getting ready to board.  I'll take a look once I get home in a couple of weeks.  

5 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

using its internet browser, as there isn't a MyVikingJourney app.

I actually found a windows app. Not real useful since you can just use a browser.

I found that I had to turn off NFC on my watch when using the payment terminals.

6 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

I have the feeling that what the article refers to as "plumbing" is actually the piping systems in the engineering spaces, and in particular the steam piping (it's been so long since I was on a ship where steam was anything but an auxiliary), but the steam piping may be pitted, and need replacing. I know there is a difference between requirements for auxiliary steam piping and "main" steam piping, and since the paddlewheel is the primary propulsion, this makes the steam system a "main" steam system.

Except the Countess didn't have any steam propulsion.  Given the fact that it was converted from a casino boat only a couple of years ago it was either a lousy build or the claim is bogus.  I certainly never saw or heard of any plumbing issues when I was onboard.

16 hours ago, puppymama1 said:

Did you just walk out of the airport and follow signs to find the taxi line?  I know the 07000 taxis are recommended… do you just look for them in the line or do you just take the first taxi at the head of the line?  Thanks!

We walked out, booked on the app and the 07000 pulled up around the line.

I submitted a request for a transfer and it's been paid for.  There is no information about it showing on MVJ.  Should I be able to see that somewhere or how do I find out more detail and confirm it's actually booked?

I'm trying to understand how to utilize the wifi.  According to what I've read there is one connection allowed per person.  If that's the case, how do you manage the ability to text back and forth while simultaneously being on a laptop or tablet?