retiredbrit

If you can't or don't want to rent a vehicle, there are commercial tours of the Everglades which pick up from some Fort Lauderdale hotels, a Google will show them.

We did one in December - which I would not really recommend. It goes to the Everglades Holiday park and includes 1 hour air boat ride, and then an alligator handling demonstration by the "Gator Boys" that was a waste of time - we didnt see any of the alligators move voluntarily - the demonstrator dragged them by the tail to the middle of the arena

In my opinion not worth taking, the air boats are large holding 20 plus passengers, we did see a couple of alligators, the boat did a fair bit of rushing about but didn't go far from the embarkation point.

I would advise plenty of research before you decide - it passed the time but that's all.

Alan

I believe on some radios (walky talkies) it is necessary to keep a button pressed to talk.

Alan

received our passports and visas today. A London company VisaGenie dealt with it and they dealt with the Indian ministry

I filed in a form on their web, they checked it and emailed me an official application form which I had to sign and return

Costs in the UK for two Visas seem to be similar to US

Embassy fee : £110.88 ea plus Visa Genie fee : £35.95 ea - total with postage £300.56 ($366.60)

Very easy I would recommend Visa Genie for Brits

Alan

For me - I dont want to buy a 24 hour access package - lots of people do I am sure.

I only use the internet on holiday in short sessions - The Browse Package - browsing, plus email and social networks £12.50 for 24 hours, I prefer the old costing way buying so many minutes.

In a port intensive cruise you can be off the ship for several hours and not able to get full benefit of your purchased 24 hours.

Our next PandO cruise is in February and it is unlikely we will be P and O'ing again for a long time if ever.

With Princess on a 14 night cruise we get 500 minutes (as a couple) free which is more than enough.

Alan

Thanks folks - that's what I thought - so I will be joining the crew in port.

I think the pricing is stupid - This is another reason why I prefer Princess, Celebrity and Regent, their loyalty programs include an amount of free internet time with no restrictions. The P&O discount on on-board spend is not important to us as we spend little on board.

However I see in the Mail on Line today http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3268288/The-WiFi-tide-turned-Cruise-ship-giant-slashes-internet-charges-90-guests-able-log-just-3-day.html

That Carnival has slashed its internet prices

Hopefully by the time we cruise next year this may have been rolled out

Alan

Have P&O dropped their internet package charges which had a number of minutes for a fixed cost, this could be used over the duration of your cruise.

It seems that now there are three choices (copied from the web) -

The Connect Package - £7.75 for 24 hours (internet messaging, social media)

The Browse Package - browse as you would usually (With the exception of video streaming), plus email and social networks £12.50 for 24 hours (web browsing, email, internet messaging, social media)

The Works - stream YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music, video call, browse, email, and share via social networks £24.95 for 24 hours.

Does this mean that say the Browse Package @ £12.50, lasts for one 24 hour day ie 8 am to 8 am and has to be renewed every day of your cruise

Or

that I have a total of 24 hours usage for one payment of £12.50 split over the cruise (unlikely to be this I suspect).

Usually on board I download emails, log off, write my replies and then log on to send.

I expect to have to check my emails in the terminal buildings

regards Alan

You will I am sure get replies from people who know Singapore well - as a suggestion Google "breakfast in Singapore" and you will get lots of information.

Its a great idea but! what you do will depend on where you are staying and if you are doing independent transfers. If you use ships transfers - you will be to a "hurry up and wait" timetable, - breakfast - cases out - recheck your case is in the lobby in lobby, sometimes check cases onto coach, and sometimes at the dock

So some embarkation mornings can be a bit frantic, if you are transferring to the ship independently you can set your own times.

Personally I would try to get on board as early as possible and celebrate you birthday with your family over dinner

Alan

If you are on Any-time dining you can if you wish remove your tips

If I recall with Celebrity if you are whatever they call any time dining the tips are added to your invoice and paid before you embark and cant be removed.

Tipping is a minefield and is often influenced by where you live - generally I tip for exceptional service - above the normal I would expect. I read an old definition of tip as being To ensure Prompt Service, I don't believe its up to me to supplement an employers wage bill.

When we cruise on an all inclusive like Regent I don't tip as the cruise price is high enough to cover staffing costs

Alan

Booking from UK passengers follow Princess std gratuities format they say

To simplify the tipping process for our guests, a discretionary gratuity of $12 per person for mini-suites and suites, and $11.50 per guest in all other staterooms per day (including children) will be automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. Effective on voyages departing on or after January 1, 2016, the gratuity charge will be $13.95 per guest for mini-suites and suites, and $12.95 per guest for interior, oceanview, and balcony staterooms. This gratuity will be shared amongst those staff who help provide and support your cruise experience, including all waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, and housekeeping staff across the fleet.

For your convenience, this gratuity can be pre-paid online via Cruise Personalizer. Alternatively, you may call us at 0843 374 4444 and reference Special Services item number 0591. Pre-payment is available up to 2 days prior to departure.

A 15% gratuity is added to bar charges, dining room wine accounts, and Lotus Spa® services. This is shared amongst the beverage staff, their support staff and Lotus Spa® personnel.

The 15% added to drinks is sometimes forgotten by passengers - especially those who buy a drinks package

It is no problem to get it removed if you want to dish out cash.

If you have freedom or any-time dining then you have to pay all gratuities up front and cant take them off!

When we used to do fixed dining I have seen guests not eat in the dining room on the last night to avoid tipping. There is the story of a waiter who found his non tippers in the Buffet and reminded them loudly that they had forgotten to tip

Alan

Posted today by Se@wing

Good news in this mornings Sunday Times regarding the thorny issue of obtaining the Indian Tourist Visa.

The article outlines plans for the expansion of India's e-visa scheme being opened up to more countries including the U.K. and the U.S.

Passport holders will be able to apply and pay for a visa at http://www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa

It suggests the cost will fall from £89 to £39.

The journey is around 2 1/2 hours each way (we took 2 hour 50 minutes to get back last Christmas / New year) Princess only have the usual long day ships tours. There is a Bangkok on your own 9 1/2 hours cost $40 this coming Christmas

We did the 21 day Christmas / New year Cruise from Singapore last year and for a number of reasons we are repeating it this year. We took all ships tours but will be more selective this year

If you scroll back through the roll call 18 December forum people have posted about both private and ships tours

To find information on the ports look at http://www.whatsinport.com/

It is important to be aware of the distances from where the ship docks or tenders to the attraction, and of course the heavy traffic, and I believe public transport - if it exists can be unreliable

We didnt take a drinks package - there is somewhere on the forum a detailed analysis of the value. You cant share a package so you need one each - it does of course depend on how much you want to drink - the analysis said if you go ashore most days its difficult to see its value. For us the 24 hour tea / coffee in the buffet was acceptable and we drank water from the tap in our bathroom filling bottles and keeping them in our refrigerator, or filled a water bottle from the buffet

Alan

There is somewhere on Cruise Critic a very comprehensive analysis of the value of Drinks packages.

You need to asses your drinking pattern - keeping in mind the type of cruise - we are on the 21 day cruise from Singapore at Christmas / New Year (we did the same cruise 2014) I was glad we didnt buy a drinks package On that cruise shore days were very long which reduces available drinking time.

For us the free tea / coffee which is available 24 hours was fine and we didnt buy water. we either drank the water from the tap in our bathroom or filled our bottles in the buffet

Water from the tap was kept in our refrigerator in bottles and tasted fine.

This Christmas I will take a wide necked water bottle so I can add some Ice - then use that ashore. Some excursions give a bottle of water on the bus

Alan

Why would you not ensure you have insurance when you book? and not trust to luck!.

In the UK it is a condition of booking that you have insurance in place.

Accidents can happen (or worse) on any holiday, and the cost of hospitals (or ships Doctors) and repatriation can be crippling financially.

I understand ships medical charges are so high because they expect people to have insurance

We have an annual travel insurance which covers up to 30 days at a time world wide (including USA), it costs £224 a year for my wife and I (Joyce is 81 and I am 79).

Many UK sold travel insurance policies exclude travel to the US because of high medical costs

Alan

many thanks for the helpful replies especially as I now understand it is the reduced deposit and OBC that you get by booking on board not further discounts.

I an considering booking a 21 day cruise on Sapphire, 18 Dec 2015 to 8 Jan 2016 round trip from Singapore. It calls in to Singapore mid cruise and ends at Singapore

Looking at departure dates shown within this cruise period ie 18 Dec to 8 Jan Sapphire is doing the following variations

Dec 11 for 18 days, Dec 14 for 15 days, Dec 29 for 10 days, Dec 29 for 21 days.

Princess sales told me because it is several shorter cruises combined a lot of cabins are on allocation (cabin numbers not given to passengers) and they can be juggled to suit the full 21 day passengers.

we will wait and see

Alan

I am sure this has been answered elsewhere but I cant locate a recent thread.

We are on Sapphire sailing 18 Dec, I am thinking of booking another cruise on Saphire while on board. I know which cruise I want and the sailing date.

I believe we would get $150 pp on board credit and a reduced deposit of $75 pp.

Is there likely to be any further discount offered by the ship?

I believe I can nominate my usual travel agent at the time and they will receive their normal commission from Princess.

I would expect my TA to give me their normal discount when I got home.

I believe that if I want a particular cabin by booking on board the ship can / may juggle the cabin numbers if there are a number of guaranteed cabins involved.

I have also been told this would only apply if I will be using the same TA for both the cruise I am on and the new one (I hope that makes sense)

Which is best ship or TA booking

thanks Alan

I wish we could find a trip to Volunteer Point for around $100. Patrick Watts is charging $185 US per head for 5.5 hours. We hear he is excellent but appears to be the only option. Any ideas?

We'll be there December 13th.

 

Hi Jan and Keith,

see below for who we went with.

If I was in your place I would book a private tour at almost any cost and if you are lucky enough to be offered one! - I expect it will be cheaper than the ships tour - which will be similar in that in both cases you travel in a convoy of 4X4's but on a private tour the money you pay stays on the island and is not part of the ships revenue.

Remember there are no roads or even marked tracks for the journey after you leave the made up road. Usually 4 passengers plus driver in the 4X4, its a long bumpy quite hard drive and in my opinion well worth the money.

When we went it was the highlight of the cruise - the Kings on a white beach are a sight I will never forget.

I dont think you stand any chance of haggling to get the price down, and in fact when you get there you will probsbly realise why. There are many more people wanting to go than there is capacity. Most of the drivers I spoke to were ex pat Brits who would probably be offended if you tried to haggle. Its not like other tourist ports with lots of taxis standing round.

There are only a limited number of 4x4's on the island and when we were there everyone who had one turned out. Several shopkeepers shut their shop for the day.

enjoy your trip regards Alan

Hi Brazilgirl

Gixer no longer posts on this thread as far as I know. Someone posted some unkind comments about her so she just let them get on with it. In mho cruise critic has lost a very helpfull poster for the Falklands

For me Volunteer point was the highlight - most adults would have spent more time there but I saw children of all ages become very bored very quickly. Many wouldnt walk and watch but insisted on running about - some herding the Kings into the sea. It could be the long drive - I dont know - the warden that lived there told me he was worried that some parents wouldnt contol their children - as he said its not a zoo park - he thought that in the future barriers might have to be put up to keep the children off of the nesting areas

Several families left early Volunteer point early when we were there.

But for me - ti was a beautifull New Years day - it was just magic

regards Alan

Do try to get to Volunteer point if at all possible

Look at http://www.visitorfalklands.com/content/blogcategory/12/151/

I have used - Falkland Frontiers Contact/Operator: Neil RowlandsSpecialty: Fishing, wildlife, excursions and transport services.tel:

+ 500 51561email:falklandfrontiers@horizon.co.fk

Neil Rowlands was wonderfull - the trip was the highlight of our cruise some photos http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/alanberko/SAmericaDec07#

regards Alan

Hi All Volunteer Point was the highlight of our Christmas 2007/8 cruise - but remember its a long journey from Stanley more than half (maybe two thirds) is cross country over moorland - there are no tracks - certainly no roads - so its very slow - each group of drivers has their own preferred route. When we went some of the drivers in our convoy were local shopkeepers in their own 4 x 4's.

Make sure you have enough time its a long swim to your next port of call, we were certain of out timings but unlike other excursions you pick up at the dock gates - you have few alternatives in the event of problems en route.

It was a brilliant experience - enjoy

regards Alan

On Cruise ship days everyone who has a 4x4 is pulled in to help

Last Christmas / New Year (2007 / 8) we did the Volunteer point trip with Neil Rowlands at falklandfrontiers@horizon.co.fk the drivers of the other 4x4's in his convoy were local shopkeepers etc who had closed up for the day.

If you have trouble getting hold of any guys who organise any of these trips on the Falklands it may pay you to email the Falklands tourist office jettycentre@horizon.co.fk. to get their mobile numbers.

There are also guide contact numbers here http://www.visitorfalklands.com/content/blogcategory/12/145/

In the end I found calling their mobiles the easiest way. Neil told me he didnt really have an office so emails had to wait till he got back from a trip. He always has his mobile with him.

It is a good idea to study falklandfrontiers@horizon.co.fk there is a lot of usefull information here that will help

There are a few penguin photos here http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/alanberko/SAmericaDec07

Cant help on the two names you quoted. Last Christmas / New Year (2007 / 8) we did the trip with Neil Rowlands at falklandfrontiers@horizon.co.fk He is always very busy and you may be too late to book for this December.. If you have trouble getting hold of him or if his email has changed try the Falklands tourist office jettycentre@horizon.co.fk. Neil says he is inundated with emails so he may have changed his email address

We booked more than a year ahead and were lucky to get a non ship tour - it took a lot of emails and telephoning the Falklands from the UK.

There are not many 4x4's on the island that are not tied up with the cruise ships so choice is limited. The trip is made in Convoy and when we went a couple of drivers in our convoy were not familier with the terrain and Neil always made sure he could see them following. Its a great trip most of it over moorland type terrain with no real tracks that I could see.

Whatever you do dont miss this trip - now I have been on it if I went to the Falkland again I would willingly pay the cruise ship price or even more.

In my opinion it is not really a good trip for children or anyone not interested in wildlife. When we went there were some families with young children (and a couple of teen agers) who went back to Stanley early as they were bored!!

For me this was the best trip I have done - there were lots and lots of penguins and if you sit quietly they come to you.

There are some photos of the Falklands ans Isla Margaretta on on my Picasa web album

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/alanberko/SAmericaDec07

Good luck Alan

John has got it spot on - the volunteer point trip was the highlight of our cruise. Book it - even at the ships prices it is worth every penny.

We enjoyed the cross country part of the drive, we went in a convoy of four vehicles - it is very bumpy but great fun. The drivers advice is to sit like a sack of potatoes and rock with the motion not try to hold yourself rigid. Its not a bad idea to use your coat as padding between your shoulder and the side of the land rover.

John's advice to go straight to the beach is good, if you sit quietly the Kings come near, I have a photo of John sitting with the penguins. The sand is brilliant white.

We went with one of the few freelance operators who was born on the island - he is somewhat concerned for the future of the site. He walked us to the colony and explained the ground rules - parents keep your children under control and near you at all times, no running, dont walk the penguins into the sea, keep out of the marked nesting areas, behave quietly and gently. All very good advice - but ignored by some people I am afraid.

There is a full time warden on site, keeping an eye on things and answering questions. If you go please thank the warden and shake his hand - I think he appreciated it. He and his wife live in a small house on site all season - could be a bit lonely at times but a wonderfull location

As usual you cant please everyone ----,

Some people thought it was too long and too bumpy a journey (but we all knew before we started)

Some small children and teenagers got bored and wanted to go back to the ship - in fact 2 out of our 4 vehicles went back early.

We were lucky we had a beautifull day there bright, windy but not cold.

Fotr this trip you need layers - a fleece, a waterproof (to keep the wind out) and a hat and you will be very comfortable.

You have probably guessed - we enjoyed it

regards Alan