coffee drinker

It's always reassuring to hear positive reports from on-the-spot travelers.  Excellent dining, interesting excursions, superior entertainment-- can't ask for more!  Except maybe an ironing board, which you confirm the existence of in a previous conversation.  Bravo all around!

Thanks so much  for your reply about the ironing issue --- beginning to think through what to pack, and an iron will grease those wheels nicely.   Appreciate your taking time to answer.  We're counting the days until end-September, are so looking forward to this adventure.

We'll be on the Countess from MN to LA this fall.  I wonder if there are ironing facilities on board ?  

An iron and board n the cabin closet?  Or both available to use?

As an alternative, send-out laundry available? 

Thanks in advance for any info !

Coffee Drinker

Thanks for your informative trip review! We'll be on a Sept AQ-Countess trip

from Minneapolis to NOLA, looking forward to the HOHO buses and greatly appreciated your comments on that aspect.  Plus the menus look lovely...

PS....remembering a long-ago vacation in GB and Scotland:  Edinburgh, Inverness,

train to Kyle-Lochalsh and Sky.  Lovely, no other words!

Thanks, TinCan 782, for the comments and for  your trip photos! Will peruse, pen and paper for notes in hand.

We've considered that Winona Boat excursion, thanks for your input

on that.  Sounds as tho'  that 'education' will be useful the rest of

the trip.

Wandb:  We're on the Countess, end Sept 2022.

Thanks, Navy Veteran, for your comment re a private tour.  Agree that

times may not work for such an effort.

We are taking a Mississippi River, Minneapolis / Red Wing to New Orleans, cruise this fall and 

beginning to plan our second river cruise-- our first on Germany's Main, Rhine, Mosel in 1995--

after many ocean cruises.

I'd like your opinions re the premium excursions offered. Guides good? Worth the cost? 

Anyone book a private tour instead?

 Museums, historic homes etc. accessed through the HOHO bus?  Which were interesting,

not-to-be-missed?  Pleasant towns worth a stroll?

Thanks in advance to any feedback, much appreciated.

Taters, well, that's a good question.  Whether one can take an excursion with Costco

having booked the cruise elsewhere.Worth asking Costco, I'd say. 

Maybe Tioga Cruiser has an answer, mentioning Shore Excursions Group.

And thanks for the info re getting to the excursion meeting place independently.

Another item to check before proceeding with Costco tours.

Again, thanks to all for comments, additional info....appreciate the Cruise Critic community

for passing along helpful hints.

Thanks to all who responded to my question on tour providers.  We

plan to take both ship and Costco (when offered ) tours this December

on the Panama Canal cruise.  We're sorry not to have the Costco 

option on our three Central America ports.

Again....appreciate the prompt feedback!

We'd like opinions and experiences on ship-sponsored vs Costco excursions.

Costco advertises several which look promising, possibly longer with better 

pricing than those offered through HAL   

Thanks in advance for your input.

June of 2018

In the Botanical Garden, the museum has a lovely exhibit currently, "The People of Bermuda" by a London artist-in-residence Jane Masajada. Hotel doorman, city official, teen, seamstress, doctor, soccer player --- a variety of Bermuda residents.

Check dates, exhibit time is short, but other museum exhibits, café, and gift shop are worthwhile also.

A bit of a walk from the Hamilton dock to the Botanical Garden where the museum is located. We couldn't figure out the bus, but that's an option at least part of the distance.

Coffee Drinker

In Hamilton's Botanical Gardens, the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, café attached, is worth a look. Currently, June '18, a lovely portraits exhibit "The People of Bermuda" by a London artist-in-residence. Check website for exact dates.

Another art museum in downtown Hamilton's city building....

Credit cards, yes, made the trip June 2 around noon.

Note there's currently heavy weekend traffic to airport because of freeway work. Our driver took several back roads to avoid.

Charge was $40 Canadian from downtown to airport, flat rate evidently.

Coffee Drinker

We've just completed a Boston-Montreal cruise, including a Sydney, Nova Scotia, port stop; since we've visited area attractions, we were pleased that Sydney made the most of its offerings.

Churches: St Patrick's (art display, singer/guitarist playing),

St George Anglican (organist, two ladies in period dress / hats for Q-A, pictures)

Historic buildings: Jost and Cossit homes (period dress docents at Cossit giving explanations), old bank building downtown open also.

Cape Breton Island music: Governor's Pub (violinist and guitarist in upstairs lounge 12-3 on 'ship' days). A local gal danced a bit. Plus excellent food, service. A highlight -- we love CBI fiddlin' !

And a bag piper near terminal adding to the atmosphere. Thanks, Sydney!

Coffee Drinker