Hlitner

Let me address the issue of "unfamiliar ports" and Do It Yourself (DIY) travel. Some folks feel that they cannot handle that kind of challenge, and for them, a tour/excursion is the best solution. But, for others, the challenge of unfamiliar places is not very difficult. These days there are mulitple sources of terrific information (mostly online) and plenty of folks right here on CC who can give very detailed info to pave the way. I still smile, when a few years ago, somebody wanted to know where to find a laundramat in Civitavecchia and both Euro-Cruiser and I quickly responded (I believe Euro even posted a detailed map of the location). The reason I suggest a combination of solutions (i.e. DIY, Tour and even excursions) is because each port is different and has it's own challenges. There is also the issue of what you want to do in a port. For example, one can dock in Marseille, take a taxi or shuttle bus into town, and simply spend their day in Marseille. That is quite simple. Those same folks may want to go to Aix en Provence, and that is a bit more difficult but also very doable (many of us here can give detailed instructions). But others might want to go further afar to places like Pont du Gard, Avignon, Les Baux, etc.. and for these folks a tour is probably going to be the best solution (although it can all be done DIY). The key to all of this is to do your own homework! Keep in mind that there are plenty of cruisers who will not take a step off a ship without a guide and some of them think it is the only viable option. There are others of us who think of the word "tour" as a 4 letter word to be avoided except as a last resort. Most folks fall somewhere between those extremes. Going to a new place can seem overwhelming but once you focus on your goals, things start to become clear. On the Asia board we recently had a discussion about visiting the "Morning Market" in Hokodate, Japan. Some folks actually book an expensive excursion that includes a visit to that market. What they do not know (without homework) is that market is across the street from the port (less than 100 yards) and the only way to visit that market is by walking. So they leave the port, expecting to get on a bus, only to find that the market visit means walking across the street (with a guide) for which they have paid a significant amount of money (that market is entirely free). And that is just one example (out of hundreds of ports). Hank Hank

My advice to the OP is based on more than 50 years of extensive travel/cruising all over the world. There is no magic answer. Some folks (like me) do their own thing throughout most of the world with few problems. DW and I handle Europe the same as we handle travel in the USA, which means using trains, rental cars, our feet, buses, etc. Each person has their own risk tolerance/level of comfort. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa. If you are willing to put in the time to do your pre-trip homework, have some "travel sense" and a spirit of adventure, than you can probably handle anywhere in Europe without the use of tours, excursions, etc. However, if you are prone to anxiety, are going to constantly worry about getting back to the ship, need "hand holding," etc. than you should consider using organized tours/excursions. When it comes to tours, you can find them online (i.e. tours by locals, Viator, etc) or you can get active here on the CC Roll Call board (for your specific cruise) and join with some others in forming small group tours. The reality is that many folks use a combination of both methods (independent on your own and excursions/tours). On a cruise, your decision might depend on where you dock when compared to where you want to go. So, for example, if you are docked in Barcelona it is relatively easy to explore the city. But if you are docked in Civitavecchia or Livorno, you must deal with the distance to Rome or Florence (over an hour in each port). Just keep in mind that even in those ports, one can use the regional trains, hire car/driver, or even rent a car (we do not suggest this for first timers). Hank

Explora Journeys includes 3 devices per person! Speaking of Explora 1, that ship has 8 elevators (two banks of 4) and each elevator holds up to 26 persons (they are the largest cruise ship elevators we have seen). And that is on a ship with a maximum of 930 passengers! On our 18 day EJ1 cruise, we never waited more than 10 seconds for an elevator (I kid you not) and it became a personal contest. Hank

You just hit on one reason (out of many) that we cruise on many different cruise lines. The sameness of shows, menus, etc. drives us to seek variety. Our last few cruises (this year) have been on HAL, Seabourn, and Explora Journeys. After our upcoming Sky Princess cruise we have booked Oceania, Silverseas and Seabourn. On our Princess cruises we have often heard complaints from frequent crusiers about the old shows, stale menus, etc. That always prompts our question, "why keep booking the same line if you are tired of the sameness?" On the other hand, we always look forward to the salt variety in the Crown Grill. The quality of the beef might suck, but the salt is always good :). Strange way to promote a restaurant....salt? One big issue with Princess is that even if we only cruise (with them) once every three years, the Production Shows are often the same :(. On the other hand, they could follow HAL's lead and simply eliminate all the Production Shows. Hank

The last time we were on Princess (Enchanted) there were no bar snacks. A bar tender suggested we simply order, online, to get snacks. We started ordering potato chips (from room service) which were delivered to our bar location. It was almost humerous and we thought it was silly. One evening we apologized to the room service waiter who just laughed and said he did not blame us. Hank

During our 18 days we never saw a single bottle of mineral water although we did make the request at several restaurants. They provide either still or sparkling water (simply their still water infused with some CO2) which does not have any of the flavor of popular mineral waters (San Pelligrino, Perrier, etc),

Another issue is how many days you plan to stay in Tokyo? With only one night, we would suggest staying somewhere near the cruise port (as Brucemuzz points out, there are multiple ports). For one pre-cruise night we would suggest staying relatively close to the port (such as Yokohama if you are embarking at that port). With more than 1 night, we think one needs to give more consideration to where in the Tokyo area best suits you wants/needs. My suggestion to the OP (besides agreeing with Brucemuzz's post) is to extend your pre-cruise visit as much as possible. For example, on our recent cruise (from Yokohama) we spent 11 pre-cruise days in Japan and split our stays between Tokyo and Kyoto! I would have been delighted to spend many more weeks in Japan...but there are limits :). It is an amazing country to visit and land time gives one many opportunities not enjoyed by folks who rely on cruise days. Hank

We have spent a fair amount of time in KW, and we park our car in our hotel garage and go everywhere on foot or using the local shuttle bus. For a cruiser who has normal mobility, I would not rent a cart unless planning to go somewhat afar. Hank

DW always carries a scarf, not wanting to put on anything "borrowed" on her head. It goes without saying (but we will say it anyway) to wear modest clothes with knees covered. Hank

Just keep in mind that Topkapi is closed on Tuesdays. DW and I have always enjoyed just stopping for lunch at an outdoor cafe (often in the area of the Covered Bazaar). Remember to pay attention to your personal security as pick pockets/purse snatchers are always active. Hank

Much ado about very little. All Barcelona is doing is eliminating an excellent docking location that primarily served relatively small ships. Their main cruise port, which can handle 4-5 large ships, remains unaffected. There is also additional docking space in the commercial port area although this is somewhat more distant. As to the main cruise ship area, most cruise lines run shuttle to the Columbus Statue (at the base of the Ramblas) and there is a regular local bus route that stops at the port. For those of us who like long walks, it is also possible to walk from the port into town (we really enjoy the view as we cross the bridge). Hank

If embarkation convenience is your priority, Pireaus is a pretty good option. It is not difficult or expensive to move between ATH (or Athens) and Pireaus. Rome/Civitavecchia is also not difficult, but it does involve somewhat more money (a private transfer between Rome and the Port can cost over 120 Euros). But as one who often travels and cruises in Europe, we think the embarkation port is a relatively minor factor, if one is willing to spend a little money. When it comes to Europe, we suggest that the itinerary is king. Once you find a cruise/itinerary that best meets your wants, you can look at the transfer options. Venice has become somewhat of a hassle for many cruisers. In fact, we have an upcoming long cruise that ends in Trieste, and we are not even planning on a visit to Venice (been there many times) because it is a hassle. The Port of Trieste opens up many other possibilities for a driving trip in Croatia, Slovenia, and even into southern Germany. Hank

Unfortunately, many of the Princess drink recipes (these are company recipies) are more about size (large) and looks. If you want properly made cocktails, befriend the bar tender and tell them exactly what you want. Living in Mexico for many years (winter months), we are well versed in a proper Margarita and the Princess recipie is anything but! We once gave a real Margarita recipie to a friendly bar tender (he made it) but he explained that making the drink properly would not come close to filling the glass that Princess specifies for their margarita's. So, in order to fill the glass, they must use mixes and other non-alcohol product to bring up the volume (and ruin the cocktail). Fortunately for us, we are happy with basic drinks like straight or on the rocks whisky. Even an amateur bar tender cannot ruin those kind of drinks. A glass of Cognac cannot be ruined (unless they use bad cognac). Lets face it, Princess uses commercial drink mixers (out of cartons) that are full of fillers and preservatives. How about a real pina colada made with Coco Lopez and decent pineapple juice? It ain't going to happen on Princess. Hank

A Cubano without some kind of roast port is not a real cubano :).

We did see some evidence of local purchasing, especially when it came to the raw seafood bar (in Emporium). As to the "very best wines" that is far from true but we do hear similar claims from the other luxury lines...none of which provide complementary "fine fines." We do give some credit to EJ for their contract with Moet and the provision of several of their very good Champagnes. Getting back to local food purchases, since the menus are unchanging in all the venues (except for minor changes in Emporium) there does not seem to be much reason for purchasing local items. Menus are set in Geneva, supplies are ordered weeks/months in advance, and the onboard chefs are given almost no flexibility to deviate from the Geneva dictates. Hank

We just came off a cruise where the cuisine would certainly qualify as 4 Star (using your standard) out of 5. In fact, we even had one meal that was cooked by a Michelin 2* Chef who provided a tasting menu (7 courses) that was based on what she serves at her NYC Michelin 2* restaurant. And then you have Seabourn where anyone can have caviar on demand (just call room service) for no extra charge. As much as we enjoy PB&J, I am happier when eating caviar :). The truth about the cruise industry is that there are many different cruise lines (I believe over 50) and you can get all kinds of food from barely tolerable to gourmet. It is simply a matter of your budget and personal preferences. Hank

I would want to know the actual schedule (times and day of week in port) and specific ship. Overall, if not on a strict budget, our preference (with those 3 lines) would be MSC...but only in their Yacht Club (only their newer vessels have that option). Hank

Welcome to the world of cruise line excursion "rip offs." There are many cruisers who are willing to pay a big premium (often hundreds of dollars) not to have to think, deal with doing things on their own, etc. The reality is that in Hokodate, both the morning market and red brick warehouses are within walking distance of the ship and not a problem for folks who are mobile. Unless you enjoy paying big bucks for a bus that drives you a few blocks, these two places can easily be done on your own. In fact, no bus will take you to the Morning Market since it is just too close to the ship. As to the Rope Way, for some of us it is a long walk and others might want to simply grab a taxi or use public transportation. Keep in mind that the Morning Market and Red Brick Warehouses cost zero (for those who simply walk to those places) and can only be visited on foot! As posted, doing the Rope Way on your own does involve the cost of the "ticket to ride" (also the name of a John Lennon/Beatles song). I will be honest and say that HAL cruisers tend to not move quickly :). When recently in Hokodate, DW and I walked from ship to the Red Brick Warehouses in less time (about 10 minute) than it normally takes to load a HAL Excursion bus :). Hank

Not sure why some folks want to get into drama! So let's understand that the Passenger Vessels Services Act (PVSA) does include rules that govern cruises between US Ports (or cruises that do not involve a "distant foreign port"). But a violation of that act simply involves the imposition of a Federal fine....not an arrest warrant. Cruise lines generally follow the rules are do not allow folks to book cruises that would violate the PVSA. In an emergency or extraordinary circumstances, violations do occur and a fine may be assessed. The PVSA rules are a bit complicated (some of us think they make no reasonable sense). But the rules are the rules and PVSA is something that both cruise lines (and their passengers) must tolerate. Hank

This is one of those situation where bigger is better, and I strongly dislike mega ships. But we all have our priorities. You are generally going to find the best production shows on the monster RCI or NCL vessels. Keep in mind that will be sharing those ships with over 4000 (even 5000) of your best friends :). Hank

Things have changed since our last visit, but it seems like you currently have two options. You could purchase an Istanbul Card (Istanbulkart) for 70 Lira (about $2.50) and than load it with an amount that would be appropriate for your travel habits. You would buy the so-called Anonymous Card which can be purchased at thousands of ticket vending machines (I believe there are machines at the Tram stop outside the port). A full fare on the train is 15 Lira or about 50 cents I understand there is also an app (for those with working Smartphones) which can be used instead of the physical card. For many that might be too complicated, but it has the advantage of not paying that 70 Lira price for the card..and you can tie the app to a credit card so you do not have to be concerned with loading money on the card. When you get on a Tram or bus you simply hold your card over the reader. Another option (which can be a good thing for independent travelers) is the Istanbul Travel Card (which covers transportation and other entrance fees). You can read about this online and decide if it makes sense. The bottom line for a cruiser (going off on their own) is that a single round trip on the T1 from near the port into town would cost about $3.50 (the $2.50 card fee plus 30 Lira for the fares). Additonal trips would only be about 50 cents. Its a bit of a rip-off that you need to pay for the card, but we are not talking about serious money and the cards are convenient. There is another option which might not be worth the hassle (we have never tried it). There is an App for Smartphones which can downloaded onto your phone. I think it works in conjunction with the card (which is how the system in Japan works) and there is talk of it even replacing the card (I assume you would scan your phone). You might want to go to this link and read more details: The Guide to IstanbulKart: Price, Where to Buy & How to Use Istanbul Transport Card – ISTANBUL.TIPS Hank

Like most parts of the world, it is a mixed bag and conditions can vary from very nice to darn awful. On our April/May crossing from Yokohama to Kodiac island we had the bad luck to cruise during a time when there were two major storms in the Bering Sea. The result was 5-6 consecutive days with seas around 8 meters (25 feet). On the Westerdam they had to drain the pools (which would have sloshed on the deck) but otherwise, it was just business as usual (except for those that suffer from mal de mer). We tell friends, who ask us about cruising, that rough seas are simply a part of cruising and folks that constantly ruminate about the issue might be better off taking land trips. Hank

Just had a delayed thought about our time on EJ. One evening, while sitting in the very handsome Whiskey Bar (everyone should at least view that venue) I asked the bar tender (who also handles the adjacent cigar lounge) about the cigars that are sold onboard (there is an attractive humidor attached to the cigar lounge). He told me that the cigars were Dominican and the most expensive one cost 90 Euros! WOW! That is over $100 for a single cigar. I thought about using some of our onboard credit to try that smoke, but DW would have tossed me overboard :). Hank

Just talked to some friends who are frequent cruisers on luxury/premium lines. They wanted our assessment of E1 and, knowing their preferences, suggested they would be very pleased with the cuisine and laid back entertainment (oops...meant "experiences"). Our friend got back to me a were very disappointed in the EJ posted future itineraries. To quote them, "we don't fly halfway around the world to go on 7-10 day cruises." EJ needs to thread a needle between shorter cruises (which are attractive to many younger folks who still work) and longer cruises (which are popular with many retirees). This can be done through careful planning (do not have repetitive itineraries) and marketing long itineraries (which consist of smaller segments that can also be marketed to the younger folks). But, if they continue to change/revise itineraries they will lose credibility among folks who tend to book cruises well in advance. Hank

Personally, we are fine with older vessels (the Prinsendam was a longtime favorite). But others, with whom we have talked on the Seabourn Quest and Explora 1 indicated that this was a concern. Many "Crystal refugees" have flocked to Seabourn, and we would hear comparisons (good and bad) on a routine basis. We also met quite a few travel/cruise agents on the Explora 1, who told us that they would push that product to their luxury cruise clients. My big issue, reading the thread, are the comments about closed restaurants, lack of sit-down dining options in some cases (we think that there should always be a sit-down option on any luxury line), etc. Our recent (March-May) cruise on HAL's Westerdam, really soured us on the current state of mass market lines (we have one remaining future mass market booking with Princess). DW and I have decided that, given the current situation with cruising, we should stick with premium and luxury lines. We do have future bookings with O, SB, and SS, and will keep looking at Crystal (and following onboard posts) to see what happens as their ships approach capacity. Viking and Regent are also on our radar. It is a very competitive market and there is no room for lines that truncate their services because of a lag in bookings. Hank