Oceansaway17

On 4/20/2024 at 2:20 PM, Crusin Karen said:

I’ve been on her 3x. Going again 5/6 and booked for May, 2025. She’s a nice ship but….I live in NE NJ and only cruise from this area now and I enjoy getting away winter/pre spring. Carnival  isn’t keeping a ship here in the winter anymore so I’m looking for something else! 

This summer and next will have the Symphony of the seas in Bayonne and she is Oasis class with Aqua theater and ice show and Broadway show in theatre 

I think you should try Symphony as well as Odyssey.

both classes of ship offer a lot and yet are different.

Also you will get to go to Coco Cay the private island with the big pool just like Amber Cove only with free food too.

Also Royal will not charge money for flavored tea bags in buffet.

and cookies are better than CCL

On 5/1/2024 at 12:46 PM, js said:

Us too. April 13.

I am a week later. Sure wish Odyssey had one covered pool.

On 4/29/2024 at 6:40 PM, mahdnc said:

 

In 2005, we took a cruise on board Horizon out of Tampa for a Western Caribbean sailing.  During its stop at Colon we took the ferry tour of the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks.  You get a much different perspective of the locks than from a large cruise ship.  For example, we were allowed to touch the walls of the locks from our small ferry boat.  A motorcoach took us from the pier at Colon and drove us to the Pacific side of the canal where we boarded our ferry boat.  After we sailed through both sets of Pacific side locks, the bus picked us up somewhere at a pier at Gatun Lake and then the it took us back to the ship.  It made for a very long and grueling day.  This shore excursion is still offered by Celebrity and was available for our cruise.  If you are a hard core Panama Canal enthusiast, I would highly recommend taking this excursion even on a cruise that crosses the canal simply because of the different perspective and experience that you get.  

 

Here are some photos from our 2005 canal shore excursion:

 

 

Yup that is why I shared my photo as we all could touch the walls

Many who take Radiance to Seward or the other way back also do land tour packages so hoping the first two cruises get sorted out and folks get to see Denali

Captain Kate on her Day 94 short You Tube showed the X Beyond passing Icon OTS and she face timed with Captain Teo and he waved back..  So, Captain Loy did not get on April 20th and not sure about 27th either.

I am on this coming week and will let you know.  Perhaps RCI is doing 3months like Celebrity which is 12 weeks.

I enjoyed this thread, and I also watched the ship go through various locks.

I love the Summit and I sailed on her in 2016 to Bermuda (with Captain Kate) out of NJ and then I sail on Summit last year from Boston up to Canada and ship stayed overnight in Quebec City. We even got to go to Bar Harbor since this year only very small boats are going.

Now I am looking forward to meeting Summit again for yhe 3rd time in Vancouver to sail up to Seward.  

As for the PC, I went through once on small excursion with HAL after just doing Gatun Lock and they were building the new canals off to the left. Then I was lucky to sail on the NCL Bliss in 2018 for her first trip through the PC and at that time the largest cruise ship and we did the new locks.

I found the older locks more interesting. 

Here is a photo of a small excursion through the locks and how interesting it is to be way down

So, I enjoyed this thread for both PC and the Summit.  Thanks for photos and I agree some of the best one are in the back of the ship. I was lucky to have perfect weather. sorry dude..   Bye have a great sail up to Canada.

3 hours ago, CuseJeff44 said:

We just got assigned our last cabin for the June 23 sailing, and it looks like a pretty "meh" location. 3848. Looks like it's close to elevators, bathrooms, and main dining room traffic. Only upside I can see is that it looks like a cabin that won't get a ton of traffic after hours as there is nothing else there. Has anyone ever stayed here or near here who can out my mind at ease? It's for my sons, who are both 17-20 and can sleep through a train but still would rather it not be very very loud for them. 

I looked up on cruise deck plans site and your room is a connecting room also.  above your room is the casino too.  I would change if I could and try to let the cruiseline pick your room again.

On 4/14/2024 at 11:26 AM, NHProud said:

We took the National Express bus from Heathrow to Southampton.  We boarded the bus at our arrival terminal in a shaded area with seating. There were taxis waiting at the Southampton bus terminal. I made the mistake, or maybe not, of booking a Hilton that was not too close to city center. One day , we took the bus to Winchester. 

thanks I won't book the Hilton then

I have discovered that if you try to make RCI and Celebrity password the same it won't be accepted.  I mean I try to make one digit difference too.

very odd if trying to go into Celebrity and then RCI each time they want password updated.

so very odd

2 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Well, my plans to spend the day walking Stanley Park have changed….instead of arriving Vancouver tomorrow morning, I will be (hopefully) arriving 11hrs later due to “operational issues”At least DH & I don’t have to get up before dawn tomorrow morning and there is now a strong possibility that the “kids” can meet me at the airport when I arrive.  Time to put that koala onesie back into my carryon and embarrass the heck out of my kids - with my 🐨 hugs at the airport.

Sorry you will miss Stanley park as it was great place to walk and I slept well that night and legs were sore too

On 4/8/2024 at 6:22 PM, dani negreanu said:

 

The only time we considered travelling directly to Southampton from Heathrow was for a "tester" cruise on the Apex inaugural (April 2020, Covid cancelled).

 

I've found the process of booking reserved seats very user friendly and convenient (and, of course, when we cancelled due Covid, we were immediately reimbursed).

 

I've made a mock booking for July 11....

 

 

https://book.nationalexpress.com/coach/#/choose-journey?journeyType=single&departureStopId=57020&destinationStopId=65136&departureDate=11%2F07%2F2024&departArrive=DepartAfter&outboundTime=00:00&returnDate=11%2F07%2F2024&departArriveReturn=DepartAfter&returnTime=00:00&adults=1&children=0&infants=0&euroAdults=1&euroChildren=0&euroSixtyPlus=0&euroInfants=0&ouiAdults=1&ouiChildren=0&usingCoachCard=false&youngPersonCards=0&seniorCards=0&disabledCards=0&partnerId=NX&campaignId=DEFAULT&request_locale=en&numResults=4

Thanks I will most likely do the bus rather than lugging suitcases on train.

Just have to hope no delay of flights so I will book a bus 3 hours after arrival

If the beach is on Nevis and is the same one I went to, there is a deep decline down to the water. And the vendors bothersome too.

A lot of times the strenuous part is getting in and out of bus or boats and some of the walkways too.

On 4/4/2024 at 4:00 AM, Snaxmuppet said:

I feel for you.

 

Have you seen how MSC treated Ben & David, well-known video makes (can't mention the video site or I'll get into trouble!)...? 

well now all this just makes me less inclined to EVER go on MSC.

They are building a new terminal in Miami, and they will need to treat folks better given the competition.

9 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

Not much of a port really.

oh good to know.

12 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

Our experience when sailing out of Southampton --

 

Book a private transfer from Heathrow to a London hotel.

Spend 2-3 days in London.

The day before the cruise -- book a private transfer from London hotel to, for example, Premier Inn West Quai Southampton. From the Holiday Inn you can just walk to the pier....

Morning of the cruise -- you're all set within 5-10 mins drive to pier.

 

National Express buses and trains -- all require additional transfers by taxi.

 

If flying in from US, might as well spend a couple of days in London, to get over the jetlag.

 

I have been to London 5 times now and I want to just get down to Southampton and spend a day there.

I would be by myself and not sure if I want to have a stranger drive me for more than an hour.

I would feel safer on the bus.   

I do see there are hotels within walking distance of bus terminal but a taxi is fin.

Lot of thinking before taking cruises from Southampton.  Did one in 2019 with Celebrity and i had a hotel package with transfer.  Now I think some ships want us to use train or bus on our own,  

Appreciate all you for your comments and who knows I might go into London for a day too.

1 hour ago, Island2Dweller said:

Not especially.  About two hours by road - can be more as you have to deal with some of the most congested roads in Europe.  You can go by public transport, which will also be about two hours.  One change from Piccadilly line to rail at Kings Cross-St Pancras.

aw thanks I will give Dover a pass.  Sounds like lots of roads in UK are busy.

1 hour ago, Island2Dweller said:

If there are still seats available, you can pay the driver and get on.  But services can be busy and if the coach is already full with reserved passengers then you will be left behind.  If you need to get to the port that day, I would certainly reserve a seat.

The trains to Southampton leave from central London (not Heathrow).  Not a recommended option if you are starting at Heathrow

do the trains fill up and need reserving.    I also worry if the plane is late about my bus so I would make sure I had a 4 hour cushion or more.  

50 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

You should be able to book with an online agent for P&O in the US although Royal Caribbean ship facilities are in a different league.

On our recent cruise I spoke to Spanish and German passengers.

We have sailed on every P&O ship and would give you helpful information if you decided to book.

National Express special offers are online and for peace of mind you would be best to pre-book.

In 2007 we got a National Express coach from Heathrow airport to Dover when we sailed on NCL Gems maiden voyage.

I only post on the Daily on HAL and have not sailed on HAL and i joined when I got a mailshot of Rotterdam and wanted more information.

The majority of the Daily posters I would love to meet and the reason I still post here.

30 of our 67 cruises have been from Southampton and if only HAL sailed from Southampton we would sail with them without any doubt.

The few new HAL itineraries from Dover were twice the price of P&O balcony cabins and my wife Pauline likes P&O.

On Royal we have been Diamond plus for 10 years but now I mainly post on Dani Negreanus daily thread.

On P&O I mainly post on their daily.

Even though we are Elite on Princess I rarely go on their forum.

aw thanks for your nice reply.  I will prebook like you said and pick the option if I get delayed.

A little worried about getting to Southampton as a lot of cruise lines no longer have hotel packages with transportation.  They send you to the trains.  I am glad I did Celebrity in 2019 with hotel packages.  

Nice to know bus goes to Dover.  I remember when more ships like say Disney went out of Dover. 

Hal is no longer even doing cruises out of Copenhagen. In fact, a lot of ships have pulled out of Copenhagen as well as Amsterdam.  I guess water issues and locals complaining just like Bar Harbor and Key West.  Glad I did Bar Harbor last year and the year before on Adventure OTS.

You must come over to Miami and get on the ICON OTS.  I will be on her in 4 weeks and looking forward to seeing the layout.

BTW where I live in PA, I will have 90% of the solar eclipse and will watch tv coverage and not look at the sun.

Well now good to chat with you.

5 minutes ago, BND said:

Yes we are onboard. Currently in Freeport. Great weather and seas so far. We're on next cruise also. We saw that about end of May 

and you have a great cruise director named BAL.  I had him last year. He is great with kids.

Enjoy trip, Can't say I remember ever being in Freeport. 

6 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Good afternoon.

I hope everyone is safe and well.

We have just got home after 10 nights away including

7 nights cruise on P&O Iona.

We visited

Hamburg Germany.

Rotterdam Holland 2 days.

Zeebrugge Belgium

We had 2 sea days.

I pre-booked online our 7 nights speciality dining.

I will post photos separately.

Graham.

one of these days I would love to try P&O but unsure if I can book from USA.

I read that you have never been on a Holland ship even though you are on their threads is that True?

glad you had a nice time.

So next year I am sailing out of Southampton (Emerald Princess) and hope to take the National Express from Heathrow. Is it true reservations are not necessary?  Also, thinking perhaps a train from London.

Lastly, is Dover easy to get to from Heathrow?  

bye for now

I am sure you as well as others are disappointed that RCI is putting the Indy again in UK ports.

20 hours ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

Rolling Stones in June 

I saw them 15 years ago.  Wow they are still going.

Well enjoy having John back and I guess he can miss China and Japan.  two places I am reluctant to go to on my own.

3 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

They need to find funny comedians first.

Yes. I agree.  Some comedians think that just asking the guests questions is a funny routine.

I come to see comedy written not in response to stupid questions.

Also, even some of the adult comedians have gone too far and are more X rated than R.

I am slowly becoming less and less interested in comedians on ANY cruise line.  

On 4/3/2024 at 5:27 PM, BND said:

I'm in the NN/Yorktown area and will be boarding tomorrow.  Weather has calmed way down, but yeah, lots of rain all up and down I-95 today. Very messy drive.

hope you have of had a good time. I think you are on the ship right now.

Vision might get to return to Baltimore by June 1st.

I too have wondered about the Dougout last year and this.  I guess one can get burnt out of cruising and perhaps they are doing other vacations.  He was good in his threads.

Serenade was lucky to not be in Taiwan during earthquake.

Feel bad for all those affected.

so glad this thread is still going and bridge was beautiful too