Hlitner

LOL about the temps. You will certainly not freeze. DW and I do enjoy the beach, the sea, etc. so we prefer the warmer weather (we live in Mexico during the winter). The last time I was in "your neck of the woods," Ak was having a heat wave! We went hiking in Denali in shorts and t-shirts and were sweating in 80 degree temps. On the other hand, Athens can easily top 100 in the summer, and it really is an awful place during their too frequent heat waves. Hank

I am also surprised at the lack of response to the OP's questions. I do think part of the reason is that most experienced travelers, that post here on CC, tend to travel in-season or during the shoulder seasons. When we do island hopping (using ferries) in the Greek Islands, it is during the season (or shoulders) because it suits our own style which does include gong to some beaches, outdoor night life. etc. Sitting at an outdoor restaurant in Naxos, at 10pm, is fine during (or near) the season, but not likely to be something we would want to do in late November. You might want to consider some short day trip ferries such as to Aegina and/or Hydra. But I have no clue what those islands would be like that late in November or the frequency of ferries in the off season. I should also mention that taking ferries (which are often the size of a small-medium size cruise ship) does favor folks who are mobile, can handle their own luggage, etc. Just getting on a large ferry, with luggage, can require some effort and one is not likely to get much help. It often means walking up ramps, negotiating some steps, etc. And once arrives at their destination island, they must reverse the process. try to find a taxi, get to a rental car location that may or may not be convenient, etc. For some of us, this is just normal travel life and we are well within our comfort level. For many folks we have met on cruise ships, this would not be their idea of fun. So what to do in Greece in November? We would certainly take advantage of the smaller crowds to enjoy the usual attractions found in and around Athens. Climbing up the Acropolis in cooler weather would be a welcome change from doing it in 100F. The OP might also want to consider a full day trip to Delphi. Many of these day tours include visits to some other historic places and the ccoler weather will be a real plus. A drive down to Sounion is also a nice way to spend at least half a day. There are also some interesting caves (for folks that like to explore such places) in Greece and I recall once stumbling on a cave while driving from Sounion to Athens along the less popular inland route. Off season, I would favor going to Crete, which is a huge island that has its share of historic sites and some nice towns. The popular islands, such as Santorini and Mykonos, go into something akin to hibernation after their shoulder season. Many shops and cafes will even close for the winter season. The thing to remember about Crete is that it is a very large place that is over 160 miles long (east-west). One could probably plan a nice, off season, driving trip on that island. Hank

Have lived in Puerto Vallarta for 18 winters and never give water/ice a 2nd thought at any of the local bars/restaurants. Hank

We really like having a rental car on Tenerife. For a first-time visitor we would suggest working out an itinerary that includes the drive up to the top of Mt Teide. That can be done as simply a round trip day trip, or one can vary the route. One of my favorite routes is to drive directly from town to Teide, and later use the back roads to head down to the northern coast (i.e. Purerto de la Cruz). At that point, we work our way around the eastern end of the island back to Santa Cruz (the Port). Hank

With a 10:30 am flight, you have no choice but to use a vehicle. Whether your cruise ship offers a bus transfer, that can get you to FCO by 7:30 (8:00 should work but is tighter than we like) is a question you need to ask. I would suggest that you post on the CC Roll Call (for your specific cruise) and look for a few others that want to share an early private transfer. Once you get more than 3 folks (sharing) the cost of a private transfer is usually less expensive than cruise line transfers. Ideally, you would want a transfer that is scheduled to depart the pier by 6:30am. For the reasons cited by Euro-Cruiser, using the train is not a reasonable option for such an early flight. And even with later flights, we are not big fans of using the trains since dragging luggage on and/off trains (and ensuring they are always secure from theives) is not a particularly great option (you will need at least one change of train to get to FCO). Hank

We travel all over the world, and carry several different adaptors (including the standard 2 prong that works in most European countries). They are simply in a large ziplock bag that also houses various charging cables, extension cord, and chargers. Adaptors are inexpensive and do come in handy. By the way, another use for the European adaptor is on cruise ships where it is common to have European receptacles in one's cabin. When we have 1 or 2 US receptacles and 1 or 2 European, we are able to use them all :). We do make sure that all of our electronics and appliances, with which we travel, work on dual voltage 120/240 so that we never need to have a bulky voltage converter. Hank

Perhaps we should start a new topic called "cruiser's hypocrisy" or something similar. Why? Because we cruisers want to go to places that are not crowded with other cruisers and/or tourists. But we are part of the very problem we want to eliminate. And yes, you are right about Iceland. When we started visiting Iceland (and Greenland) we were usually the only ship in the ports, and our ship carried fewer than 600 passengers. Hank

When we started cruising, about 50 years ago, we always wondered about the old folks who would stay on the ship when we were in ports (mostly in the Caribbean). Now, we are those old folks, and will often stay on the ship the once or twice a year that we cruise in the Caribbean. We choose those cruises for the ship/line for that reason. When we cruise the rest of the world (i.e. Europe, Asia, South American, etc) we do generally go ashore (usually on our own) for the port days. Keep in mind that when it comes to the Caribbean, we have been ashore, more than 50 times, at most of the ports. While we still have our favorite beaches and places, on every island, we usually find that our ships have more to offer except for the days when we want to go to a beach or snorkel. Hank

If in your situation you have to make a decision do you want to deal with the hassles of the subway/metro, and train to get to Shin Yokohama or pay the big bucks (probably about $50) for a taxi from the port to Shin Yokohama. By the way, we spent a week in Kyoto and it was all very good. Another decision, you need to make, is whether to buy the train tickets you need, or get a JR Rail Pass (i.e. a 7 day pass). We opted for the rail pass, and took advantage when we spent one of our Kyoto days taking the train all the way to Hiroshima for a day trip. Hank

Argh! We have both seen too much of that kind of thing which does seem to be a problem with the various shore-based tour providers scattered all over the world. I have no doubt you will get to Grieg's home...somehow. But I really do feel sorry for the many cruisers who are uncomfortable doing anything on their own. Depending on cruise line excursions has really become a gamblers game.

Yes and no. I all the stations we used (Tokyo area, Yokohama, Kyoto, etc) there was always escalators and elevators. That being said, some of the stations are huge and it can be a long walk (sometimes blocks) to change trains, get to an elevator, etc. But lets talk about going to Kyoto. If you are doing it direct from Yokohama, you first need to get to the Shin Yokohama Station. This is not the same as the main Yokohama station. The Shin Yokohama is on the main line that has the high speed bullet trains (which do not go into Yokohama). You can get to the Shin Yokohama Station from town by taking the metro/train, but this is a commuter line and can be very crowded (especially during rush hours). Dragging luggage on/off these crowded commuter lines, and through crowded stations, can be a challenge to some folks (we did it and are in our 70s). That being said, Japan is probably the safest nation on earth and folks do usually cut you some slack just because they see you as a visitor. Perhaps the best answer to your question is that if you can handle the physical work of hauling you luggage (and perhaps needing to pick up the bags to get them on/off trains) you can do it. Now lets talk about the so-called bullet trains (which do connect Tokyo/Yokohama to Kyoto. You should have reservations on these trains and you can get assigned seats. There are two classes with the First Class option known as "Green Cars." The Green Cars cost more, but you do get more space (the normal class is also quite nice). The cars have overhead racks which can easily hold smaller bags. Large bags are more of an issue and can sometimes be left at the end of a car. But the best solution is to reserve the special Green Car seats that have extra luggage space. These are very limited (there are only a few on each car) and are near the end of the cars. These special seats have extra space (behind the seats) that have room for large pieces of luggage. These special seats must be reserved (often well in advance) but do not cost any more than the regular Green Car seats (the seats are the same, but the extra storage is nice). We reserved these seats when we took the bulltet train from Kyoto to Shin Yokohama. And by the way, if you do not want to deal with changing trains (from the port to Kyoto) you can simply take a taxi direct from the port to the Shin Yokohama station. If you are planning on going to Kyoto from Tokyo, you will need to deal with the huge stations (i.e. Shinjuku and Tokyo Stations are among the largest in the world). Keep in mind that you would need to roll your luggage a long way. Another option, especially if moving between two hotels) is having your hotel ship/forward your luggage to your next hotel (we have done it). This is a fabulous option (we used it to ship our luggage from Tokyo to Kyoto). You generally send out your luggage the day before you plan on checking-out, and it will be waiting for you when you arrive at your next hotel. The cost is quite reasonable (we sent two large bags for about $50) and saves you the hassle of dragging your luggage through stations and on/off trains. Hank

We have single lady friends, in PV, who are out and about every day. These ladies are in their 70s and we know some that live in places that are on quiet dark streets! Do we have crime in PV? Of course (which is why I always warn folks to take the usual precautions against pick pockets). But violent crime, during the daytime, against solo ladies (or anyone) is rare. DW would tell you that she feels safer in PV than in most places of the USA. Hank

My DW's response was "I don't see where that is a problem." Understand, that the area outside the cruise terminal is a very busy (with both traffic and pedestrians). Other than the normal risk of pickpockets, and getting hit by a car/bus, it is quite safe. In fact, the entire region from the cruise port all the way into town (which spans the so-called Hotel Zone) is safe for anyone during the day time. As to choosing Uber over a regular taxi (generally yellow) that is debatable. Until the last two years, I was a big fan of Uber because one knew the cost (it is on the app) and Uber prices were somewhat less than the taxis. However, in the past two seasons we have noticed an increase in Uber prices (something akin to their surge pricing in the USA) which often means that the regular taxis are competitive. The thing about using the regular taxis (those outside the port) is that there are no meters and the drivers will often overcharge (they are supposed to use published zone fares) "gringos" and especially cruisers (who they see as naive easy marks). Before using a regular taxi, always tell the driver your destination and ask for the fare (you can specify dollars or pesos). You can bargain, but this is best done before getting in the cab. I will reiterate why I say "regular taxis" Inside the port area, the taxis are so-called "federal taxis" and follow different rules form the normal taxis found everywhere outside the port (and airport). The port or federal taxis charge a price per person fare and are not permitted to pick-up any customers outside the port. This means they must return to to the port, empty! Accordingly, their fares are generally higher than the regular taxis (assuming you have 2 or more in the taxi). The regular taxis (found outside the port) charge fares for the taxi...not per person. All the taxis (federal taxis and the regular taxis) are safe and the drivers licensed. In theory, Uber is also controlled, but some folks have their doubts (just like in the USA). Once upon a time, about 3 years ago, I was ripped-off by an Uber driver. She overcharged me, big time, by reporting that I had made several stops beyond my Uber App destination. I caught the error, within an hour, and immediately sent a message to Uber (via the app). Uber (Mexico) did acknowledge my complaint, asked for more details, and corrected the overcharge (this all happened the following day). I mention this, because just like the regular taxis, Uber drivers can try to scam folks. Hank

Finally, after 12 long years of indecision and very slow repairs, the famous walkway between Riomaggiore and Manarola, in the Cinque Terre area, has reopened. But, it is only open to those who do some planning and are OK with putting up with the overtourism that is endemic to the area. Here is a link to a related article that explains the situation: Italy’s famous ‘Path of Love’ reopens after more than 12 years | CNN DW and I walked this route, many years ago before the mudrock slides that destroyed the trail. If similar to what existed prior to its destructions, it should be a relatively easy hike for folks that can handle a half mile on a paved trail. Hank

Cruisemom, the last time we were in Bergen (just prior to COVID) we did dock at that terminal and taxis were very scarce. We walked into town (and later back to the port) but I do realize that is not a good solution to going to Grieg's House. This might be a case where Uber is your best friend. Otherwise, if no taxis at the port you would have little choice but to walk towards the center of town and hope to spot a taxi. Hope all is well and good to see you are still on the move :). Hank

When we want a cruise for sun/sand/ and relaxation, we head to the Caribbean. When we want a winter home, we live on the Mexican Riviera (Puerto Vallarta). Would we recommend flying from Europe to our west coast to take a Mexican Riviera cruise? Probably not. But, if you happen to be on the west coast, and like to cruise, than the Mexican Riviera is a great option. Another alternative is taking a Panama Canal cruise that gets you some of the Caribbean, Central America, Hank

I have no idea what the OP would like or not like. I can say that we do like Croatia (and many other places around the world) and will be heading back to Dubrovnik (for a 3 week cruise) in a few weeks. Theme Park? I have no clue what that means when referring to a city. Many of us are not very happy with the impact of overtourism, but that is the price we all pay for being tourists :). The OP can escape "theme parks" by going to many of the remote places in the world such as in parts of Africa, Asia, and even Europe. But we do find that most folks who complain about overtourism are the same folks who are contributing to the problem by going to the more popular places. When we first went to Croatia and nearby Montenegro, there were not a lot of tourists. But, alas, these countries have been discovered and their popularity continues to increase. On our most recent trip to that part of Europe, we rented a car and drove through parts of Slovenia (which was surprisingly crowded with tourists). If the OP wants to get away from overtourism the best bet is to rent a car and go far from cruise ports into countries like Slovenia, Serbia, Poland, etc. Even in Croatia, there are plenty of places to escape the hoards, but one generally needs a rental car. Keep in mind that cruises and tours tend to go to tourist places. Hank

Sure, in fact they have two excellent watch shops where you can spend $30,000+ on a watch. There is one shop with a few clothing items, but it did seem like the company is obsessed with pushing very high-end (expensive) products. You can spend money on more expensive wines (they do have a wine list).

We are comfortable on flights as early as 11am and have actually taken flights around 10am. Keep in mind that you should figure about 1 hour for the actual transfer. The idea of being off the ship, getting a 7am private transfer and being at FCO around 8 gives you plenty of time to make an 11am flight. If one is nervous about having the cruise line take off your luggage, than you can do an express disembarkation (where you must carry all your own luggage). With you a 12:40 flight you have plenty of time and could even plan on a 8:30 transfer time. At that hour you would also be OK using the cruise line airport transfers, although we are not fans of big bus transfers where we cool our heels at the port until they get all the passengers (and luggage). In the past, we have often arranged for a private transfer through Romecabs (romecabs.com). We will sometimes use the CC Roll Call to get 1 or 2 other couples to share the transfer (this reduces the cost). Another good transfer company is Romeinlimo. Lately, we have heard rumors of private transfers being fully booked so it is wise to make arrangements well in advance if you do want to deal with a decent private transfer option. Hank

The question for the OP is whether they would travel in the USA without carrying any cash? I would not go anywhere, in a country, without having some local cash (i.e. Euros). Ideally, you have an ATM/Debit card that does not charge you ridiculous fees (if they do it is time to find a different bank or credit union). In Europe, ATMs are everywhere (even more common then here at home) and you would want to only use bank ATMs (avoid private ATMs such as Trevelex). There are some folks who feel more comfortable getting some Euros at home (some banks will sell them and they can also be purchased online). But in over 50 years of extensive travel, we have never bothered to obtain foreign cash in the USA. Why not? You will usually not get a good deal in the USA, and we have never had a problem using European ATMs. You will need to know your PIN in numbers (there are no letters on most European ATMs). By the way, if you do plan on using your ATM/Debit card and/or credit cards, make sure to notify the issuing banks (in advance) of your trip. Hank

When luggage is an issue, I would think about spending the big bucks (probably close to $150) on a taxi. Plenty of taxis at the port and they do generally take major credit cards (but always ask before getting in the taxi). When I looked online, I noticed the mention of a direct bus from Yokohama Station to Tokyo Disney. I have no first-hand info on that bus (which apparently runs every 15 min) but it might be worth checking out as to whether it has space for luggage. With luggage, you would probably want to take a taxi from the port directly to Yokohama Station, unless you are comfortable lugging your bags a few blocks and onto the metro (that would take you to Yokohama Station). There are also options using the rail system. But unless somebody knows something I don't (which is very possible) I think this would mean changing at Tokyo Station, which is not fun if one needs to drag lots of luggage. Hank

That is only part of the issue. I have previously posted about an excursion, from Izmir to Ephesus, that we took on Princess, many decades ago. On that excursion, our guide rushed us through the ruins of Ephesus (much too fast to enjoy the experience), put us back on the bus. and took us to a nearby "jewelry factory" that was actually opened as we arrived. The only folks in that large building were our bus. As we entered they turned on the lights and the staff came out from a nearby room and took their positions behind the many counters. After more than 30 minutes of folks wandering around the large room (nobody was buying anything) a few of us decided to go outside, only to discover that the exit door was locked. Yes, we were truly locked inside! A few of us complained to the guide who finally managed to get an employee to unlock the door. Most of the group (about 60) went outside to wait (a few folks did stay inside). After more than an hour at that "factory" we were allowed to reboard our bus for the drive back to Izmir. Later that day, we stopped at Guest Relations (to complain about the excursion) only to find a line of others from our excursion. The following day we received an apology letter from Princess and had the cost of the excursion refunded. I have subsequently pointed out that that excursion (more than 30 years ago) was a life changer because it not only turned DW and I against cruise line excursions but played a big part in turning us into avid independent travelers (who only take excursions/tours when we cannot possibly do things on our own). I go into all this detail to point out that we had paid the big bucks for an excursion that was supposed to be about seeing the historic sites found at Ephesus and Kusadasi. By taking over 1 1/2 hours to drag us to that jewelry factory, we lost all that valuable time in Ephesus (and some other sites). Many excursions, today, have become more sophisticated on how they steer their charges to stores that have "arrangements or are owned by" the tour company. Put bluntly, it is a racket (perhaps it should be called "payola redux"). I live in a cruise port (for part of the year) and see cruise line excursions moving around town, nearly every day. It is no accident that these excursions stop at certain stores, and give their charges time to shop (in those specific stores). In many cases, they are stores that most of us who live in the area would not even think about frequenting (because there are other better less expensive stores selling the same stuff). Speaking of cruise excursion cons, an even bigger con is the "shopping guarantees" pushed on some cruise lines. This is where passengers are told to frequent certain stores for which there is some kind of guarantee. The truth is that those "recommended" stores are only recommended because they pay a promotional fee to the shore excursions company! We know of one major jeweler, in Rio de Janeiro, who finally got tired of the "black mail" and refused to participate in these schemes. At one point they were truly blacklisted by the cruise line (in this case it was Celebrity) which did their best to convince cruisers NOT to go to this particular store, which happens to be a world-class jeweler. Hank

I am going to go slightly off topic with some comments about the Alhambra. Yes, folks can do a rushed/timed visit on a port day which will mean at least 3 1/2 hours (round trip) in a bus or other vehicle. If this is your only way to see Granada (which you will not have time to see) and the Alhambra, then certainly do it! But we think the best way to see and experience the Alhambra is to actually spend several nights inside! And yes, you can do it if you stay at the Parador de Granada. This is a very nice quasi government hotel that lies within the Alhambra complex. When we stayed there, we (and others) would have breakfast on the patio that overlooked the gorge and Generalife. To see the various parts of the Alhambra, one only had to walk out of the hotel grounds! Because many do not know of this place thought it would be worth mentioning. What was fascinating (to me) was driving to the Parador, which meant going right through the main gates and streets (packed with tourists) to get to the Parador's parking lot. We did get stopped (a couple of times) by police, and once we said we were going to the Parador they moved out of our way. To say the Parador is a unique hotel would be an understatement. Parador de Granada | Paradores Hank

Wow, talk about cynical :). First off, the Viking ads that show Torstein Hagen is showing the real thing. He is actually a very interesting person in that he personally founded Viking River cruises and later Viking Ocean cruises. He is also a hands-on CEO/owner. When the Viking Sky had its disaster off of Norway, he quickly flew into the area to deal, face to face, with the passengers who had been evacuated off his ship (we had a relative on the ship who told us the tale). I am also not sure what you mean by "high brow" although my own limited experience with Viking (and its fellow passengers) has all been positive. The cruise industry is quite interesting with some folks, like Torstein Hagen, who have shaped the industry. With Carnival Corp you have the Arison family (Ted and Micky), NCL has a long history with Knut Kloster, and MSC has the amazing Aponte family. For those of us who love cruising, we have those folks to thank for much of what exists today. Funny how folks that are fans of specific cruise lines (such as HAL) will say nasty things about the "mother company" and refuse to accept without the CCLs, NCLH, and RCI, there would be several less cruise lines. In a sense, these companies rode to the rescue of companies that were failing (financially). Do not think, for one minute, that cruise lines do not go out of business as we have companies like Regency, Renaissance, and CMV to show us what happens when nobody "rides to the rescue." As to the future of HAL, I am concerned. For more than a decade I have posted my belief that HAL has been operating like a ship without a rudder. They seem to waffle all over the place on their target customer and the type ships they want to operate. Lately, it seems like they are trying to position themself as a budget cruise line for the elderly and the type of gamblers who line-up for cheap bus trips to Atlantic City (sorry for being so harsh). The truth is that "casino specials" are a growing trend on HAL (and we also see it on Princess). By the way, since Viking has been mentioned it is interesting that is one of the few cruise lines (along with Disney) does not even have casinos or offer near free cruises to gamblers. Hank

The drive takes anywhere from about 1 1/2 to 2 hours depending on traffic. The Alhambra does involve a fair amount of walking, depending on your actual tour. Just getting from the parking area to the entrance can be a hike, although your tour company may be able to drop you closer to the entrance. You are not actually going to a palace as much as you are going to an entire area that has the palace. If your tour also includes a visit to the Generlife, this would add substantially to the walking. Hank