Izzywiz

Congratulations on taking your first cruise!

I am guessing that you are talking about excursions booked through Celebrity.
In my experience, you will find the tickets for your excursions in your cabin when you board the ship. 

On the ticket you will find the name of the excursion and the date, meeting place and time.

There are 3 possibilities for getting to your excursion transportation;

* Sometimes, you will be told to meet at a venue on the ship…..most often the ship’s theatre….where you will show your tour ticket and collect a numbered sticker which corresponds to your transport vehicle. 
You will then be asked to wait in the venue until your ticket group number is called.
At that point you, and the rest of your excursion group, will be guided down to the quayside and directed to your transport.

 

* The second possibility is that you are asked to meet at your transport on the quayside. I

n that case, you make your own way to the quayside…..you will be told which deck the exit is on as it may vary according to the tide and size of the dock. The information will be announced over the ship’s PA system and will be signposted on the stairs and in the lifts.

Once on shore, there will be crew members directing you to your tour transport. 
The coaches could be directly on the quayside or in a car park once through the terminal building.

 

 * The third possibility is if your excursion involves tendering to the shore.

Once again, you will meet in a shipboard venue, collect your sticker and then be escorted to the tender when your group number is called.

 

A couple of things to be aware of;

1. Make sure you take your excursion tickets with you. If you wish to be with other members of your party on the same transport, one person needs to take all the tickets together to get the stickers. There may be several vehicles being used for the same excursion so stickers need to show the same group.

2. Have your cruise card with you as it will be scanned as you disembark the ship and again when you embark at the end of your time ashore.

 

I have just paid £45pp each way in economy for seats on our TUI flights in December for our Caribbean cruise so £180 for the 2 of us. I did enquire a few months ago about Premium seats and was shocked by how much the cost was but can’t remember the amount as I decided it was much more than I was prepared to pay.

Hi Boiler Cruiser, I'm back from our 'warmer climes' holiday and have found my Alta information from my diaries. There is a lot of info but I'm posting it all in case you find it of use.

P&O Cruises

Day 9. Tuesday 28th February 2017

Tromso to Alta with scenic cruising

Arrival in Alta at 13.30

A.M. Very cold, sunny and clear until mid-morning and then increasingly cloudy 

P.M. The mist dropped as we neared Alta and there was a heavy snow shower before the sun came out in short bursts. -3*C without the wind chill.

 

We watched the sail-in to Alta, got dressed in the 'Arctic gear' and caught the shuttle bus into the town. Sadly, there wasn't much to see so we spent about an hour in the shopping mall before getting the shuttle bus back to the ship.

Alta.

·         The ship docks at an industrial pier on the outskirts of the town.

·         The town is small and 'modern' with 60s style architecture.

·         There is a regular free shuttle service from just by the ship to the town square.

·         It is a 15-minute journey and a 5km walk.

·         There is very little to see in the town except for the tourist information centre by the bus drop-off point and the shopping mall which is opposite the bus park.

·         The shopping mall has a food court, a variety of shops and a supermarket. I thought prices were very high.

 

'In search of the Northern Lights' - ship's excursion - 4 hours.

·         We got changed into our really heavy gear and headed to the Crichton Lounge for our 21.00 meeting time.

 

·         It was an interesting excursion but I was glad that there was the choice to get the coach back and I was back on board just after midnight having not seen the lights. Jim got in at 01.00 and he had seen them and got a couple of pictures so he was fairly happy.

 

·         I booked this as soon as the tours became available on line so I got the day and time of my choice (day 1, 21.30 departure).

·         I did look at independent tours but, although they offer more flexibility, I found the price to be even higher than the ship's excursion and as I am on a budget, I chose the less expensive option.

·         Each day's groups had the option to attend a 30-minute special presentation given by the local expert on the day of departure.

·         This was excellent as he explained the cause of the phenomenon and how it is tracked.

·         He also explained which of the 3 possible viewing sights we would be taken to (2 are 50km from the ship and the other is a 15-minute drive) and what would happen once there.

·         There are:

·         toilet facilities 

·         Hot chocolate and cake.

·         10 guides who will help with photography and other queries.

·         Places to be warm

·         Transport back to the ship on request if you want to return early.

The Solvang site.

·         We were taken to the Solvang site which is the 10-minute drive from the ship.

·         It was interesting to see into people's houses as they don't draw their curtains and have the rooms brightly lighted. The homes seemed cosy, spacious and modern with good quality furnishings and kitchens.

·         Once at the site we were led along pathways to a large field where people spread out to find a suitable space.

·         We passed a building where the toilets were situated and a rest area where there was a teepee and 2 camp fires.

·         No mention was made of the availability of refreshments.

Important.

·         It was extremely cold (-10*C and no wind chill factor.....thank goodness ) so it is important to have the correct clothing.

·         There was very little seating so people were standing for hours.

·         I took a fold up camping chair which was invaluable and envied by many!

·         You need a long exposure time on your camera (between 10 and 20 seconds is recommended) so a tripod is vital for getting clear pictures.

·         We had hand warmer gel packs which also proved to be invaluable as the night wore on.

·         The lights are a natural phenomenon and viewings can't be guaranteed. It was cloudy when we got there and I left after 90 minutes without seeing them but my DH saw them after a 2.5 hour wait.

·         The lights appear as a fuzzy, ethereal gas cloud. Photographs enable you to see the intensity of the colour.

·         The ship offers tours that begin at various times through the evening. We chose the 21.30 departure but there were earlier and later options.

·         There were a lot of people from the ship at the site but also from other tour companies.

·         We didn't need a torch and we were requested not to use anything with a bright light while in the viewing field.

·         Coaches returned to the ship at regular intervals once they were full.

 

 

Fred Osen Cruises

Day 8. Friday 18 February 2022.

Alta - 08.00 and overnight.

NORTHERN LIGHTS TOUR WITH AL - 19.00

A.M. very cold and overcast with occasional snow flurries.

Sea conditions: moderate swell

Alta Port

• the port is a small industrial area right by the airport.
• There isn’t a terminal building 
• Tour busses and shuttle busses are parked about 100m from the gangway.
• I didn’t see any taxis or independent tours being offered.
• The town is approximately 3 miles from the port.

Alta Town.

• The town has grown a bit since we were last here but it is mainly industrial units and housing.
• The main attraction in the town centre is the 'cathedral’.
• There is quite a large indoor shopping mall close to the shuttle bus drop-off point which has free wifi, a supermarket, a variety of shops and several food outlets.

Our tour. 

• I booked the tour through Viator.
• I had several communications from Alta Adventures asking if we had questions, needed cold weather clothing etc. I requested a chair as I will not be able to sit on the ground on the reindeer skins…..not a problem.
• Our meeting time is 19.00 at the bus car park and Stig arrived promptly. There was another couple with us and the people carrier seated us all comfortably.
• Stig told us that the likelihood of seeing the lights that night was very low but he used an app on his phone and made a valiant attempt to locate them…..no luck!!!
• Our first stop was at Stig's office where we were provided with extra warm clothing.
• He then drove us through Alta and told us about the locality and its history before we headed out into the hills.
• Unfortunately, the longer we drove and the higher we got, the worse the weather became until we were in the middle of a blizzard.
• Stig turned the vehicle round and we left the blizzard behind as we got lower and closer to the fjord.
• Stig spotted tracks made by a lynx and he stopped the vehicle so we could see them
• Stig then made a comfort stop. He took us to a small harbour where there was a cabin with a toilet and a waiting room. He served us with fruit tea or hot chocolate and a reindeer meat sandwich baguette while we had a chat. The tea was nice and the baguette was delicious….the reindeer meat was very tender and the lingonberry sauce was sweet and tangy.
• Stig dropped us off at the port just after midnight. It was such a shame that we didn’t see the lights but it was an interesting 5 hours.

 

Day 9. Saturday 19th February 2022 - LOCAL BUS

Alta - departing 02.45 on Sunday 20th

A.M. very cold and overcast 

P.M. as above with snow showers in the evening 

 

Local bus

We left the ship on the second shuttle bus about 09.15.

I went into the shopping mall to access the free wifi while Jim went to the tourist information office to enquire about the local bus routes.

 He came rushing back to say that the only coastal route bus was leaving in 4 minutes!

We 'raced' back to the bus station and caught the bus just as it was about to leave. It cost NOK60 = £5 for the 2 of us for a 1 hour round trip to Talvik.

 It was a very scenic route along the coastline and then a slightly more inland route for part of the way back so well worth doing.

 

 

·       Brought/forgotten - used/not used.

Forgotten

·         Highlighter pens

·         Polo shirts

Casual, thin day wear for around the ship. The ship is warm inside so have appropriate clothing for that too. We had concentrated so much on Arctic weather clothes that I didn't pack much indoor wear!

 

Brought and used.

·         Thermal vests, long johns, socks.

·         Water/wind proof jacket

·         Fleeces to layer

·         Scarf

·         Neck warmer

·         Thick hat with ear protectors 

·         Thermal gloves

·         Silk glove liners

·         Camera tripod

·         Snow/lined waterproof boots.

·         Crutch/walking stick ice spike

·         Hand/foot warmer gel pouches

Brought and not used.

·         Ski goggles

·         Crampon studs

Alta Port

 

 

Alta town

Solvang site

Scenery from bus ride

 

Hi Boiler Cruiser, 

We have been to Alta on Northern Lights cruises twice in recent years. I keep a detailed diary of our adventures and have lots of information about the town and tours. I am, however, unable to post these for a few days as I am currently on holiday in warmer climes!
 

Once I get home I will post what I have but, in the meantime, I can say that, on both occasions we did night tours and only got a quick glimpse of the aurora on one of them. Our best sightings were from the ship on both cruises so we could have saved a lot of money! Norway is an extremely expensive country.

 

 

I have mobility issues and use a manual wheelchair when there is a lot of walking involved. My DH is very good and pushes me. I also use an elbow crutch for support when walking shorter distances and while on board the ship.

We have sailed with many different cruise lines where I have requested assistance with embarking, disembarking and accessing a tender and have always received appropriate help. 

 

We have done several cruises with Fred Olsen where crew members have always been alert to my needs and have offered assistance without being asked. They have carried my wheelchair up and down the gangway without a quibble.

 

I have also been impressed by the help offered on board too. In the dining venues crew members offer to carry my plate (buffet) and the Maitre D changed our dining table to one near the entrance to the MDR so I don’t have to walk so far. I also had assistance to get an appropriate seat in the theatre where the shows are timed to accommodate the MDR sittings.

 

As for the drinks package, we just pay as we go as neither of us drink much so the package isn’t cost effective for us. 

Yes, both ships have laundrettes for passenger use. I googled your question and found the answer on the Saga cruises’ website. 

We found the system to be very helpful. We had a letter in our cabin the evening before the tender port with the information on which venue to report to. Ours was the MDR on deck 5.
We could go at any time once the tender operations started. 

Our cruise card was checked to ascertain our status as we entered. 
We were asked to wait while the concierge phoned down to the tender deck. 
Once we were given clearance, she escorted us down to the tender. 
For us, it is one of the most useful perks of being elite and above.

You don’t say if you are sailing from Southampton. If you are, then, as others have said, you will have a hostess tray in your cabin with a kettle etc.

We have done several Celebrity cruises in other parts of the world and have always been supplied with a kettle by our cabin steward when I have asked. 

I bring our own insulated mugs, spoons, favourite instant coffee and tea bags. We drink both beverages without milk and sugar but these are easily obtained in the buffet.

Love our freshly brewed cuppas first thing in the morning….really sets us up for the day!!

Any UK travel agency will book a package for you to include flights, hotel, transfers and cruise. We often add days on….pre and/or post cruise…and sometimes both. We also book each aspect individually on occasions. Very easy to do.

Hi Exiledowl, I haven't been called a 'lass' for a very long time but it is so nice to hear the expression again. Here, in Stoke, I get called 'duck' or 'shug' which I've now grown used to....LOL!

 

I, too, have quite severe mobility issues and now need a wheelchair for long distances but, happily, the brain still works and the desire to travel just increases so I try to be sensible in what I can manage. My DH is very fit and active so he often 'parks' me under a tree or in a café and then disappears for an hour or so!!!.

 

I am very happy to share my information with you but, as there is a lot, it might be easier if I email it to you. This is my email - isabel48  at  hotmail . co . uk  (no spaces) so if you can send me an email with  your address I can make a start.

 

Fortunately, the Komodo dragons had been fed just before we got there but they are huge and quite fearsome looking so I was glad there were guides with us with sticks to protect us.

 

We flew to Easter Island from Santiago and stayed for 4 nights which was an incredible experience. It was an add-on to a Hurtigruten cruise which included the Galapagos Islands. I can understand that sightseeing on the island has to be done by ship's tour as there is very limited access to transport to the statue sights. The resident population of the island is only around 7,000 and the infrastructure, although it is being upgraded all the time, isn't as modern as many of the places that you will visit.

 

Looking forward to hearing from you 

Isabel

 

 

I've just found your itinerary and think it is fabulous. We have been to 32 of your ports and had a holiday on Easter island last October. I have fairly recent information from 2020 about Colombo, Singapore, Bali, Komodo Island, Ambon, Port Douglas, Cairns and Sydney. Our cruise to Bora Bora, Moorea and Papeete was in 2018 as was or trip that included St. John's and Cork so some fairly recent info for those port too.

Easter Island

 

Colombo,

Singapore,

Bali,

Komodo Island,

Ambon,

Port Douglas,

Cairns

Sydney

Wow Exiledowl, what a fabulous trip and how lovely to be on a small ship....I'm not fond of the huge new ships. 

We have been to all the ports you mention except Jamestown and, as you see, I keep quite a detailed diary for each port so, if I can be of help with the other ports, please don't hesitate to ask.

 

Although I have lived in Staffordshire for the last 53 years I am still a Yorkshire girl - Leeds born and bred (cheese with Christmas cake and mince pies!!!) and had relatives who lived in Gleadless so we visited Sheffield often. It's always nice to be in contact with another Tyke. 

Happy cruising

Hi exiledowl, I'm glad the information was useful. We loved our time in Walvis Bay. I'd love to know your cruise itinerary if you don't mind sharing it. We sailed on Azamara Journey from Lisbon to Cape Town in November and December last year and had an amazing time. I love the diversity of the African continent.

To answer your question about the dress code, I found this information on the FO website:

The dress code for Fred. Olsen cruises is as follows¹²³⁴:

·         Daytime: Shorts and a T-shirt or polo shirt while cruising in sunny climes, and a pair of light-weight trousers and a sweater or jacket for cooler daytime temperatures.

·         Smart casual evening: Tailored trouser suits and stylish dresses to casual separates and summer dresses. Men can wear a jacket and or a shirt and tie, while ladies are asked to dress smartly.

·         Formal evening: Most men opt to wear either a dinner jacket, or dark suit and tie. Ladies can wear an elegant dress, or casual separates (such as tailored trousers).

·         Trainers, shorts, and vests are not allowed in the restaurant at all times.

Depending on the length of your cruise holiday there will be one or more formal evenings whilst you are on board. This is your chance to add glitz and glamour to your dining experience.

Most men opt to wear either a dinner jacket, or dark suit and tie. Ladies are often seen looking fabulous in anything from dresses to gowns, or a skirt or trousers with a sparkly top.

All Fred. Olsen cruise ships feature a casual dining experience for those guests who do not wish to join the formal evenings. Dress code for these restaurants is smart casual every evening. These restaurants are The View Restaurant (Bolette and Borealis) and Palms Café (Balmoral). 

The exact number of formal nights will be highlighted on your cruise ticket. Below is a guide to the number of formal nights you can expect to enjoy on cruises of various durations.

3 nights or less	Smart casual throughout
3 - 4 nights	Captain's Welcome Party, but no formal nights
5 - 6 nights	Captain's Welcome Party + 1x formal night
7- 12 nights	Captain's Welcome Party + 2x formal nights
13- 20 nights	Captain's Welcome Party + 3x formal nights
22 nights +	Captain's Welcome Party + 1x formal night each week

We have met several people from the US and Canada on Fred Olsen cruises and everyone told us that they were enjoying the experience. Nobody mentioned being treated differently from the majority of the passengers. I think that the comment about being a ‘very British line’ will refer to several different aspects;

The majority of the passengers will be British so you will hear English being spoken with many different regional accents.

Entertainment will be geared to British tastes so comedians will have jokes that non-Brits might not understand and the production shows will also have references that may not be familiar.

Quizzes and musical choices will have a British bias.

There is a ‘hostess tray’ in your cabin with a kettle plus tea bags, coffee sachets, sugar, milk and mugs.

Food options will favour British tastes with things like back bacon, baked beans, roast dinners, Yorkshire puddings, curries, malt vinegar etc, etc always available.

Passengers and crew members tend to be a bit more reserved in their interactions.

Lots of passengers will dress formally on the designated nights.

 

Having said all his, we have sailed on many US and European cruise lines where we have found the cultural differences have enhanced our experience.

I absolutely agree that FO has many fabulous and diverse itineraries. I am particularly excited that the Grand Voyage around Africa is now being offered in segments and would jump at the chance of doing the middle section if our health issues improve.

I hope this helps.

I see that you haven't had any response to your question and unfortunately I can't help you with information about a visit to Swakopmund but we were in Walvis bay in December 2022 and did an independent tour along the coast to Sandwich Harbour which was amazing. I used Red Dene Safaris, Namibia 

(https://www.reddunesafarisnamibia.com). John Paul, the owner responded very quickly to our correspondence and willingly accommodated  all our requests. He was waiting for us at the port exit  and he made the day really memorable. In fact, the tour was one of our very best.

 

Below is my diary entry for the day plus a few photographs.....maybe something to consider!

Walvis Bay port.

·         the port is large and industrial

·         There was a regular free shuttle service with 2 drop-off points - the beach and the town centre.

·         The tour busses for ship’s excursions were parked a shortish walk from the gangway.

·         There were tour operators offering trips to the sand dunes and lagoons  waiting at the port exit. There were taxis too.

·         A group of people had set up a souvenir market along the roadside close to the port exit.

·         It is possible to walk into town and to a beach if you are reasonably fit.

J&I - independent tour with Red Dunes Safaris. 08.30 - 18.00

·         I had done an internet search for a company that could pick us up at the port and tailor our tour to our requirements. I looked at several companies and emailed 3 but only got a prompt and personal response from JP at RDS. We emailed a few times and he always responded quickly and was very willing to provide the experiences that I suggested.

·         John-Pierre was waiting for us at the port exit and his 4x4 was parked a few metres away.

·         JP established our requirements and then set off to take us through the town to the wetland bird reserve where there were lots of flamingos and ducks.

·         From there we drove down to the town promenade (beautiful houses) to see more flamingos.

·         JP took us to the huge salt pans and then onto the beach where there was a large colony of seals with their pups and a ship wreck.

·         The tour continued with a long drive (40km) along the coast and through the sand dunes to Sandwich Harbour.

·         We stopped at an aquifer where there was a wooden platform to sit on while we had a picnic. JP had been very thoughtful and had included a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling wine.

·         We continued on to Sandwich Harbour where he drove the 4x4 up the huge and steep sand dunes in a ‘dune bashing’! The views along the coast were spectacular.

·         JP took a different route back through the desert and we saw a jackal, onyxes, ostriches and springbok.

·         We got back to the port at 18.00 which was long after our agreed time of 15.30 after a great day with an excellent guide!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, you don’t give a lot of information about yourself (age, interests, cruise ship requirements and travel dates) so my answer is a bit of a generalisation. The main cruise line that has ships sailing regularly from both Newcastle and Rosyth (port for Edinburgh) is Fred Olsen. It is a British cruise line using older, smaller and more traditional ships but IMHO, as seasoned cruiser with experience of 16 different cruise lines, I find their ships comfortable with a British ‘country house’ feel. The major plus point for me is the fact that their ships have home ports in the north of England and Scotland and also, because the ships are fairly small, they do interesting and unusual itineraries with ports that are not easily accessed by the large ships.

 

If you do an internet search for Fred Olsen Cruise Line and go into their website there is a very easy to use cruise search facility which gives you the option to look at cruises that start in Newcastle and Rosyth.

 

We sailed from Newcastle in July 2022 on a cruise that took us to several ports in Norway and then right up to Longyearbyen in Svalbard and had a fabulous time….

Olden….

Honningsvag 

Midnight sun

Longyearbyen 

 

Yes, there is a retractable clothes line in the shower cubicle in those cabins

 

I see that you have cruised on P&O as well as Princess in the past so I’m guessing that you are from the UK. If that is the case, have you looked at cruising with Fred Olsen, Saga and Ambassador cruise lines which are all UK cruise lines and geared to more mature travellers.

Their ships are smaller and more intimate than the huge ships being used by P&O and I know from personal experience that, although Fred Olsen does have an app, it is not used to book on board activities. In fact, the FO experience is very much cruising as it used to be.
I have not cruised with Saga or Ambassador so can’t comment personally but I have a feeling, given their target market, that smart phones and apps would not be needed.

Hi Poppy, it’s great to know that you enjoyed your first cruise so much and good that you want to explore other options.

I have just a couple of things to add to the replies that you have had already.
The cruisetimetables website is of use to show you cruise ships that dock in a port like Liverpool but don’t necessarily show that you can start your cruise from there.

 

I have cruised several times with Fred Olsen cruise line which has at least one cruise ship that regularly begins cruises in Liverpool. We live in Stoke-on-Trent and find embarking in Liverpool very easy and convenient….I hate that trek down to Southampton and hate it even more coming home 🤣 but do it if the itinerary is interesting.

 

You don’t give a clue to your age but if you are a more mature lady then

I definitely recommend investigating Fred Olsen because their ships cater very well for people who are happy not to have the ‘whistles and bells’ of the huge, new ships. We have sailed on Iona and other large Princess and Celebrity ships and enjoyed the cruises despite feeling that the product is becoming geared towards a much younger crowd.

We like cruising with Fred because we prefer the more gentle pace, less crowds, shows that have music that we recognise from the 70s, 80s and 90s, interesting and informative lectures and, because the ships are smaller, they can access different small ports so provide more unusual itineraries.

 

FO doesn’t include gratuities in their cruise fare but it is automatically added to your cruise account so there is no obligation to give tips to individual crew members. 
Liverpool port

Happy cruising!

Oops… meant to say ‘bring a spoon from the buffet’….

No problem but i sometimes forget to bring a spoon and I get very hot fingers trying to fish out a tea bag or stir the coffee granules!!😱😂 I have a ‘special’ spoon which is easily identifiable as mine.

I was on Infinity in March sailing round South America (fabulous but I digress) and my first request to my cabin steward was for a kettle. There was one in the cabin by the time we returned from lunch.
We always bring our own tea and coffee plus mugs and spoons. We drink both beverages black with no sugar but you can get milk and sugar from the buffet.

We have had kettles provided on Constellation while sailing in Eastern Asia, on Millennium while in Western Asia and Infinity on our Miami to San Diego cruise so there is a good chance that you will be able to get one if you ask your steward.

kettle on Infinity 

kettle on Constellation 

We have cruised a couple of times on Marella ships and will be on Discovery 2 again this summer. 

The ship’s previous incarnation was as Royal Caribbean Legend of the Seas and has, probably, my favourite layout of any of the many ships on which we have sailed. I particularly like the solarium area and the spacious feel which comes from a relatively large square footage compared to passenger numbers. 

I find the basic included drinks to be adequate for our tastes but you can upgrade to premium brands. 

We also find the food and entertainment to be ok but of slightly lower quality than the offerings on FO and P&O. I was, however, very disappointed with the quality of food in the specialty restaurants. We are huge fans of Fred Olsen’s specialty restaurants, Vascos and Colours and Tastes, which we feel offer excellent food at a very reasonable price. 

Personally, I would happily sail on Discovery 2 if the itinerary interested me and it was out of school holidays. The big advantage for us is the included flights and now that Marella is back doing cruises in the Far East we will be looking at their offerings again. 

 

 

 

 

You are very welcome