Rubyfisch
Members-
Posts
1,645 -
Joined
Content Type
Forums
Store
Blogs
Downloads
Events
Gallery
Everything posted by Rubyfisch
-
Hey everyone - I'm getting ready to board the Volendam on Saturday for a New England and Canada cruise. It's our second on Holland America. The first was on Zuiderdam on basically the same route last August. Here is a link to that one. I've also been on five Royal Caribbean cruises as well. I'm currently halfway to Boston from Heathrow and thought I would get started on this thread (as BA's inflight entertainment isn't that exciting).
- 308 replies
-
- 10
-
Volendam 2024 eastern Canada season. Tips and lessons learned
Rubyfisch replied to CGinMTL's topic in Holland America Line
I'm on the May 25th cruise as well. Do you know what time the second seating is? -
We go to Montreal for long weekends once or twice a year, and we really like the Holiday Inn on Rene Levesque. Obviously depends on your luggage situation and your public transit desires, but you can take the bus right from the airport to the hotel. It's the second stop from the airport on the buses that go down town, and it's right at a metro stop as well. It has a lovely indoor pool. There are lots of great restaurants in that neighborhood and it's really lovely to walk around. It's not far from the Old Port, but it feels a little less touristy.
-
Transportation from Boston Cruise Port to airport (Logan)
Rubyfisch replied to cruiseorcamp's topic in East Coast Departures
We get on when you get off - take good care of her for us! So there is a Budget that is quite close. Depending on your desire to walk, you could definitely walk it. Assuming there is more than one of you, one person could get the car and the other person could wait with bags. There are some covered benches over by the design center (the giant white building across from the terminal). And the Budget is right near the Silver Line to the airport (which frankly would probably be faster, easier, and cheaper than trying to do a one at rental to the airport, but obviously depends on your plans). Here is the info for the Budget: -
I've stayed at the Courtyard right by the port. There are plenty of taxi cans at the airport, although they aren't particularly nice and cost probably 1.5 times what an Uber would. I have taken a Lyft to the port and used a shuttle service that works with the hotel (for a few). Both worked just fine.
-
Transportation from Boston Cruise Port to airport (Logan)
Rubyfisch replied to cruiseorcamp's topic in East Coast Departures
If it's Holland, I got the same email. I live in Boston - there is always traffic and construction, it's nothing new (and provided there are no actual tunnel closures like last summer) it shouldn't be an issue. If there are taxis waiting, that is an easy option. If there aren't, I've never had an issue getting a Lyft or an Uber anywhere in Boston (I usually check both, as the price and the wait times vary between the two). -
- 442 replies
-
- 15
-
Deployment 2025-26 booking season begins
Rubyfisch replied to SummmerInKefalonia's topic in Royal Caribbean International
Any guess on when those itineraries will be out? -
Definitely - my point was there wasn't an extra fee for using a credit card, which is how I read other posts.
-
At least last year, the funicular in Quebec City was cash only (they accepted both CAD and USD, but at a 1:1 exchange rate). That is literally the only place in Canada I have ever needed cash (although I've never taken a taxi anywhere in Canada). My US credit card has worked in all situations (and I don't have a chip and PIN card). No added fees, either.
-
The fixings for a PB&J are definitely available in Windjammer. Also, while there is a delivery fee for anyone not in a suite, it's also available on the room service menu:
-
Trying to find a hotel the week of Christmas that doesn't have horrible reviews under $400 a night proved very difficult. And there definitely decent options in the just over $100 range. Again, I have done this twice and am going out of Port Everglades this year (and did in 2017, where we paid over $700 a person for tickets on Spirit - American would have been over $1,000).
-
I've flown to Baltimore twice, once on an Enchantment and once on Vision. And would do it again for my annual Christmas cruise, but their holiday savings in 2024 in 2024 start way to early for my schedule. It is so much cheaper to fly to Baltimore than Florida - like, a fifth the price, and the hotel is a quarter the price. And I like old style ships. Many people do drive or take Amtrak to Baltimore, but a lot of people fly.
-
Baltimore Tragedy: Collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge
Rubyfisch replied to Airbear232's topic in East Coast Departures
-
Baltimore Tragedy: Collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge
Rubyfisch replied to Airbear232's topic in East Coast Departures
Yeah - it's a working industrial port - it's going to be a mess, without easy solutions. -
Baltimore Tragedy: Collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge
Rubyfisch replied to Airbear232's topic in East Coast Departures
The news reporting I read this morning said there were two pilots aboard. When I've sailed out of Baltimore, the pilots are with you all the way to the mouth of Chesapeake. -
What do you think of Vision of the Seas?
Rubyfisch replied to mizLORInj's topic in Royal Caribbean International
I was quite happy with the food in general - a few things I didn't love (would not recommend the Chicken Marsala), but otherwise very good. I thought it was better than Enchantment (which I also found to be fine), particularly Windjammer. Although the flow around the buffet stations is a bit odd (and when both sides are open, there is some overlap but some different stuff). -
Seeking advice on Boston/Québec Cruise Direction
Rubyfisch replied to BestCruiseFox's topic in Canada/New England
And normally an Uber from the cruise terminal to any touristy part of Boston will also be relatively inexpensive. -
I took the Royal Caribbean shuttle to BWI, and was there by a little after 9:00 am - I think you should probably be okay with a 11:30, particularly if you do self assist and take a cab (and probably even if you didn't).
-
Arriving in Baltimore (BWI) 7:00 a.m. Breakfast ideas?
Rubyfisch replied to Cinnamon2's topic in East Coast Departures
Having flown into BWI twice for cruises, I swear it is the slowest luggage delivery ever. I think there is coffee available outside security - maybe a Dunkin Donuts... I can't remember for sure but you could check the airport map. It's a light, bright terminal building and would be a terrible place to collect you stuff, collect yourself and wait. -
According to my waiting in December, all of the MDR chairs were replaced in the last dry dock. All the public areas furniture seemed in good repair, so that doesn't seem like it will get any changes.
-
What do you think of Vision of the Seas?
Rubyfisch replied to mizLORInj's topic in Royal Caribbean International
I loved Vision, but it is smaller ship with fewer bells and whistles. I'm totally fine with that, but I understand others may not be. I did a live review of my cruise on her, which as pictures commentary throughout: -
They had it when we were on Zuiderdam in late August last year.
-
Should RCCL have more accessible cabins?
Rubyfisch replied to thefog's topic in Royal Caribbean International
Do remember that many accessible rooms also sleep more than two. On the first cruise I took my parents on, I booked an accessible cabin because my mother is a wheelchair user. Sometimes, like if we were going to the pool, just my father and I would leave the cabin. So yes, we were two able-bodied people walking out of an accessible cabin. But the room wasn't for us - it was for my mother who just happened to be staying in the cabin for whatever reason. I'm not saying people don't abuse the system - I'm sure they do. But things aren't always what they seem.