PaperSniper4

I checked out prices on Viking as I found an email from them this morning....prices looked comparable to the tentative Avalon Rhine cruise in April 2015. I don't know what's different between the two lines, however.

We'd be looking at a mid-level cabin with a large window. I think that's a category D or C on either lines. I saw a lot of differences in Vikings ships, and they have a lot of them. For instance, some cabins are 135 sq ft, while the same category cabin on two of their others ships (Viking Sun, Viking Helvetia) have much larger cabins at 170 sq ft. We'd want a cabin with chairs by the window, which the larger cabin provides. But there might be other differences between the two cabins I did not notice.....anyone have experience?

Airfare didn't look at all good! We live in Memphis TN. I checked yesterday and found a few flights MEM-AMS/Basel-MEM for $1190-$1300. Viking offered those routes for $1195, but that was from ATL - an 8 hour drive for us, or an expensive flight MEM-ATL. So no good deals are to be had there at all.

Viking's offering of Pre-Post cruise hotel stays were also super-expensive - like $500-$600 per person for 2 or 3 nights, depending on the city. I know hotels are expensive over there, but surely I could get a double room for $200 a night. Their price includes transfers, a tour and breakfast.....but I figure I could do my own for a lot less money.

I can't help being thrifty; I am of Scottish descent!:o

Thanks for the advice and suggestions on temperatures, transfers, etc. Those issues are already on my list, but thanks for the reminder!;)

I'll check about those spring/fall specials, which I bet it when the temps aren't at their best. But as long as it's not raining steadily, we'll be just fine. We visited many large, open "tourist" areas in and around Rome and Naples for 4-5 days a few years back, and it rained nearly the entire time! The first day I debated using my brand-new digital camera to take pictures...it probably would be ruined; maybe I ought to wait a day? But then I thought: Camera cost $200, trip to Europe cost $10,000 - Hell, I can buy another camera!:cool: As it turned out, the camera did fine, and we have these wonderful photos of Pompeii and other places. We will never forgot THAT particular cruise/visit!:D

....

We do it all directly ourselves, have found booking well in advance and also knowing when airlines run their special saves us $$$$

Good luck

How did you find out about those specials?:cool:

:rolleyes:

The flights are the worst part of any cruise, river or ocean.

Repo cruises don't mesh with the timing of your river cruise, they leave the US very early in the river cruise season. I feel the 7 day river cruises are too short, especially with the agro of the flights. Look for a 14 or do 2 in a row with different ports. We've enjoyed Viking, western Europe, Budapest to Amsterdam would be my suggestion. Since the cruise includes tours in each city, the planning is very easy.

Thanks for your reply and suggestions.

Actually, I could make the repo cruise work, but then I'd have to spend several more days in the pre-departure city - thus increasing costs. So it might not be a great solution as you point out.

I will consider a longer river cruise, but we are attempting to keep prices under $10k USD.....yeah, I know, good luck to me on that!:cool:

Do you usually book air with the river cruise agent? Or do yourself? My initial reaction is to book both the air and pre-cruise (2-3 days) stay myself. Hopefully I could book the same hotel the cruise line uses so I'd not have to pack/unpack. We are lazy; that's why we likes cruises!

Good point on the tour planning, and I agree! That sure simplifies things over our UK and Med cruises were I did ALL our tours myself! Saved a bunch over the cruise line tours, but it was a lot of work!

We have done about 30 cruises, all but two in the USA. Others were the UK and the Mediterranean. We flew RT for both those. We do NOT enjoy flying!

We are interested in a Rhine River cruise in 2015, probably May 2015. Something around 7-8 days. We are looking at Avalon and Viking so far, but for no particular reason other than that's what I found first doing research. Looks like the cruise only will cost about 6-8k USD for we two.

We would want to spend a few days in the departure city prior to the river cruise to adjust to the time zone change from CST USA, if we fly, and just to sight see if we don't fly.

I am thinking of taking a "repositioning" cruise from the USA east coast to near the river cruise departure (AMS looks most likely). That would be a way to avoid flying over to Europe, and help us adjust to the time changes. Only interested in doing that pre-river cruise. Cost would be more than flying, but it's a nice 8-15 day vacation in itself; and beats the heck out of 12 hours in a cramped airplane seat!

I think this is my first decision: Will a repo cruise work? if not, start looking at airfares.

Questions:

1. Anyone done this before (repositioning cruise) and departed a river cruise in Europe? Any suggestions on what to avoid or seek? Any experience with what additional things I ought to consider, like transportation from the repo arrival port to the river cruise departure city?

2. Anyone have tips on booking flights to/from Europe if the repositioning cruise doesn't fit? I have heard to avoid the cheapest seats and pay more to get some legroom, which makes sense. Suggestions of where to start finding the best fares?

Do any of the Balcony staterooms have adjoining rooms with other Balcony Staterooms?

Yes. Look at the deck plans on Carnival's web site.

....There are signs at the stations about not using personal cups. Oops.

 

 

Ah, you're just a rebel like me, apparently:eek:

No coffee makers in the cabins, room service or hike up to the Lido deck. I did this every morning to get our coffee. The Dream is an awesome ship.

 

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Thanks ya'll. On some ships I found a source for coffee closer to the Lido deck....sometimes in a "24 hour" café. Not sure if there is one on the Dream.....I will check it out.....or try room service......or just resign myself to a hike before having my morning cup on our balcony. BTW, we always bring those plastic coffee cups that hold around 10-12 oz - they are insulated, and perfect if I have to do the hike.:cool:

While you are certainly correct that the new cruiser should keep an eye out for potential time changes when crossing time zones, I have not heard of the Dream changing times. ....

 

In fact, we cruised the Eastern route during the daylight savings switch in November, and we did change ship time for the daylight savings switch. Had we not, we would have been equal to St Thomas & St Maarten. But because we switched, we had a 1-hour difference.

I referred to cruises on which the CCL Dream might be tasked, for instance, in the Mediterranean or other itineraries outside the Caribbean where long distances are sailed east to west or west to east. I don't know, maybe the Dream has only done these short Caribbean cruises? But eventually I suspect she may be home ported elsewhere. I know the Carnival Liberty on which we did a Med cruise a few years ago did change time zones to keep in step with the local time.

Room Service will gladly deliver a caraffe

 

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This is probably a reply to my question about an in-cabin coffee maker....

Thanks, but I'd rather make my own, it'd be nice and hot, and I could make it when I needed it. We hardly ever use room service just because the food is generally cold, and I believe they say the delivery is plus or minus about 30 minutes. You don't know me, but I GOTTA have that coffee in the morning! :eek:

Few ships have coffee makers, like you see often in motels and hotels, but lately our NCL cabins have had them. Just wonder if anyone knows about the Carnival Dream? I can't find any info on that on Carnival's web page.

If no coffee maker in the cabins, where the nearest place to get one for cabin 8362 which is midship, port side? Can you tell I need a cup of coffee first thing in the morning? Having a cup out on the balcony to me is the way to start our day!:D

Thanks.

I never said it was ALL ships. This thread is abut the Dream and someone asked about the Dream so I answered. When we were on the Dream 2/19-2/26 we did not change time at all. I have cruised many times on other lines and know fully well about time changes. I rather liked not changing times.

I need to gently point out that your experience on the CCL Dream on one cruise is NOT how it always works, although in the Caribbean cruises that seems to be the case. If the Dream includes an itinerary that goes east to west or west to east sufficiently, she very likely will "change" the ship's time. That event is always posted in the ship's planner, and you will also see it posted as you depart the ship for a shore stop.

I just don't want a new cruiser to be shocked when the ship's time is "changed.:cool:

Aft Cabins below Lido Deck.....DON'T book them! The noise @ 1a, 5a, 6a....crazy and we could not sleep. It was so bad that Carnival Refunded 15% of cruise price and gave me 10% off my next cruise.

I'm assuming you meant RIGHT below the Lideo deck, that is, on the Vista deck aft. Cabins on decks below deck 9 ought to not have that noise problem....I hope! :eek:We are booking an aft quarter cabin on deck 8, the Verandah deck.

..........On the [ed. NCL]Star I thought the bathroom was actually bigger but perhaps it's just better laid out.

 

I agree, I think the heads are much better designed on NCL than most other ships. I also like the enclosed shower over those on most other cruise lines' use of shower curtains. :cool:

For those of us who do not have a suite, or a butler......do the NCL Jewel balcony rooms have a coffee maker in them?:rolleyes:

I'm not looking for something fancy, just a way to have a hot cup of coffee on the balcony before my wife gets all dolled-up for a trip to the MDR or Lido deck.

The NCL Star had one in our cabin last March, and at first I thought we'd never use it, but convenience in a powerful thing....we used it every morning. I did insist on getting decent sugar and Half n Half elsewhere on the ship, however.

Thanks.

It couldn't have changed enough to make it worth paying any $$$ for. It was the worst of ALL our cruises, and you can see that we are not newbies. They would have to pay me to even think about a cruise on their line!

 

 

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Great! Reports help keep the rates down on the NCL cruises. Thanks. :cool:

.....I know some cruisers are old and enfeebled.......

HEY! I resemble that remark!:eek:

Aloha Kakou,

As far as I know, David will be on the Sapphire after drydock. Leialoha and I will be on the Golden for the remainder of this season. We look forward to having you with us onboard.

 

A Hui Hou,

Dave "Kawika" Soreff

(of Elua)

Brother Dave, we took a cruise with you a few years ago on the Golden, and are doing another cruise on her 4-11-2012. PLEASE tell me you and your lovely bride will be there again! You guys were one of the top 3 reasons I booked this cruise so we'll be devastated to learn you would not be there! I was a "Ukulele Master" then, but I really need more ukulele lessons again! Your playing and singing (uke and guitar) got me so inspired to play again, I picked up a guitar post-cruise after a 30 year sabbatical! And I want to watch my wife do the hula again!:rolleyes: We also need to get another autographed music CD!

Please reply to the address below or here on the forum.

deek589 @ bellsouth.net

Doug

Is there a Port, Country or Region that you have absolutely no desire to visit on a cruise or do you want to see it all?

 

Karysa

Jamaica.:eek: The walk from the ship into town was unnerving.

My husband is pretty tight with a dollar and,when you're talking about a Mainer, that is really tight. He doesn't think that a balcony is worth the extra money. I'm looking for opinions about balconies. His argument is that we spend very little time in the room, the balconies are small and have uncomfortable furniture, and the ship is sourrounded by the same view of the ocean up on deck. On our upcoming cruise it would run us an extra $450 for a balcony of a 10-day cruise with Princess. Is it worth it?

Nothing is all or nothing. Suggestions:

1. Compromise on an ocean view?

2. Purchase a "balcony guaranteed" cabin. You won't be able to pick your cabin, but you typically pay the least expensive balcony rate and might be upgraded. Sometimes, sometimes not.

3. Figure out what is important; the most money will always bring the best cabin (duh!), but the least money doesn't guarantee you an awful time! Balconies are nice, but so are the excursions you otherwise could not afford, or the extra cruise you can work into your budget by going "cheaper".

No one here can make that decision for you. Personally, we usually try to get a nice OV, but on occasions we'll book a "balcony guarantee" or pick our balcony cabin, knowing it will cost a premium. On our November cruise we paid for a "balcony guarantee", and were assigned a really good balcony cabin on the Caribe deck (Ruby Princess). Suites are beyond our wants.....at least for now. :eek:

................

Prior to their cruise, during the booking phase, guests will choose flexible/open dining or Holland America Line’s traditional pre-set dining time (early or main). Guests with flexible seating may make reservations daily during a cruise up to 4 p.m. or simply walk up anytime during dining hours. ....... and casual Lido dining with <SPAN> waiter service and the option to select dishes from the main restaurant menu or regular

So I'm understanding that if I have already elected a fixed seating time (ours is Early) we cannot take advantage of the open dining occasionally, such as when we're returning late from a shore excursion? Too bad we can't use the "open dinning" for those times. We usually just go up to the Lido, and that's fine too.

Wow! You sure do have us beat! That ship must have been really something back then, and how lucky you were to be on a cruise ship in 1958 at age 11! Not many people had the opportunity to cruise then like they do now. We loved that ship and that cruise, and part of what made it special was knowing it had a lot of history and a lot of famous people had sailed on her. I hope you have made many more happy cruise memories since then. Cheryl

Yes, I was so lucky to have had that experience. But my next cruise was not until I was married and age 43!:eek:

.....I have to figure out how to scan slides at home...I can at least scan a few slides of the ships I've been on. ...If I get around to the personal ship scanning, I'll make a post of all the ships! And I will let you know if I get them uploaded...maybe this weekend.

Thanks. That would be great if you can do it.

We have been pretty lack about taking pictures. I wish I could go back and fix that!

We went on her sister, the Independence, in August 2001. My husband and I were just saying last night that that was our favorite cruise. I'm not sure where they are now. :) -- Cheryl

Gotcha beat. I sailed on her in 1958 from Naples to NYC. I was about 11 at the time. I remember the FOOD more than anything else! <g>

Now I've got to pull out the old slides and scan a few Mardi Gras shots into the computer...In fact, since all my pre-1999 cruises are either on slide or film, maybe that would be a fun project to scan in photos of all the ships I've gone on. Since then, I've predominantly used digital, or had digital copies made from film, so my 199+ cruises are easy to access.

 

Thanks for the detailed information...though it is sad to hear.

Wow!! I'd LOVE to see your old slides of the Mardi Gras! We sailed on her in '89 or '90. Great ship. I still have an unopened deck of cards with the ship's name on them. They used to do that, remember?

I really only started taking pictures around 1995, so have few pictures from my earlier cruises. Digital has changed all that, thankfully.

That's a good plan you have for keeping picture data for your "199+ cruises". That's quite a few!;)

If you can post some shots of her, please drop me a line at deek589@bellsouth.net

Thanks.