MTElkwhistle

Not $ or € but prior to disembarking the Equinox in Barcelona a while back the staff in Cafe al Bacio were thrilled to receive magazines in English as they were so difficult/expensive to get ashore.

Simple things.

Much cheaper to book through a US TA and arrange your own flights, assuming cabins are available. Regular flights from both Glasgow and Edinburgh to Barcelona.

The after dinner coffee is weak and nasty, we reckoned they didn't want to keep people awake.

It was slightly better in the buffet in the morning. I took a tub of my favourite coffee with me for the cabin but we also bought the costa card.

Ehg, We were on the Aurora Christmas Markets cruise and I'm very surprised at what you said about the food in the evening in the main dining room. We were in the Alexandra Restaurant, second sitting and we thought the food was excellent in most cases, especially with the new menu in action. I think I was disappointed with my main course on one evening but other than that the food was lovely. We were on a table of 8 and people were fulsome in their praise of the food. I had a sirloin steak on a couple of evenings, asked for it to be served rare and it was and it was juicy too.

 

We really liked the new dessert offerings, particularly the different Sundaes on offer. Stilton, soaked in port was on offer every evening with a very good cheese board too. I know different people have different tastes but I'm really surprised you thought the food was the worst you've ever experienced.

 

We only used the buffet for the occasional late lunch. I'm not a fan of buffets when on a cruise. However, I thought the food, especially the Daily Speciality was improved from our previous cruise last May. The cold selection was much better - the only thing I missed was the Jacket Potatoes which I used to enjoy with a salad.

 

So, everyone has their own opinion but I'd hate passengers to think the food on Aurora was awful, not this December it wasn't - at least not in our opinion!

We enjoyed dinner in Medina as well, the only thing we felt was that the waiters were rushed and had too many tables to serve, they sometimes got orders to the wrong person which on the whole was easily rectified, although not in the case of 2 steaks one med-well done and the other med-rare given to the wrong people. I had Gnocchi twice and it was lovely. Portion sizes were fine for me but if you wanted more or extra sides you could have it. Sometimes on a cruise by the 5th or 6th night I was not really wanting to face more food. I had cheese most nights as I prefer it and also I felt the desserts were a bit "samey". So no I didn't think dinner was awful either.

Life would be boring if we were all the same.

My husband said exactly the same as you have - I suggested he tried a folded towel under a single pillow which he said helped a bit. I sleep with a single pillow at home and found the one on board a bit too high.

We are just back from Aurora and compared to our last trip on her 7 years ago were disappointed in the evening buffet on the one night we tried it (Italian). It was however busy so I guess we were in the minority.

Breakfast and lunch were good though.

Thank you! I may take you up on your offer. We have an overnight in Rosyth and have plans to attend the Tattoo and visit the Falkirk Wheel & Kelpies but still have extra time available. Were originally hoping to visit Loch Ness, but that was when we thought we'd be docking in Invergordon.

If you are getting the train to Falkirk anyway you could stop in Linlithgow on the way past, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, Scotty from Star Trek and the location of scenes in Outlander. And actually quite a nice place to live.:)

High station would be easier I would have thought, you could walk along the canal.

Just had a quick google and found this - https://www.firstgroup.com/south-east-and-central-scotland/news-and-service-updates/news/falkirks-new-tourism-bus-dressed-duty

If it was a success I'm sure they will run it again. The Kelpies are well worth a visit as well.

When are the ships decorated for Christmas? If at all. Thinking of booking 1st week in December.

Thanks

Loads of sushi on the buffet on Friday past at lunchtime, it was flying onto peoples plates as quickly as it was put out, we sat there for ages watching. Not sure if it was available every day.

Sushi on 5 never seemed busy, we regularly sat in the seats overlooking the atrium just outside in the evenings and it didn't seem busier than bistro on 5 ever was.

When we boarded on 20/2 the sign for Bistro on 5 was still up, it was covered/replaced by the Sushi on 5 sign before dinner.

The coffee i am telling you about they sell it as a hold bean.Because I buy this and grind it up myself.But I do not know if they sell the coffee by the cruise port. But I do know it is from PR.

Superb, thanks. Lots of options then.:)

I second Cuatro Sombras - probably one of the best coffees I have ever had. I go there every other week to replenish my supply.

If you're actually looking for coffee beans to be ground later, try Cuatro Sombras (http://www.cuatrosombras.com). I haven't gone in a while but if there's a place to find coffee beans in San Juan near the docks it's there.

Thanks that's what I was looking for, it is for a friend who grinds his own. He is our taxi to the airport and also looking after my horses when we are away so I thought some good coffee would be appreciated.:D

Thanks.

Where in San Juan, nearish the dock, can I buy good local produced roasted coffee beans to bring home for a friend?

Thanks

Check out DISboards

What tickets will you have?

I could do 2 weeks in Orlando and hardly do the same thing twice.

You need to do your Fastpass + and book any dining (sit down meals) especially if you have the dining plan.

Thank You all for your input - this is the first time I have used a US TA so was unsure of the procedure.

Should OBC show on the (notoriously glitchy) website?

If so where?

I can't see any on mine. I have paid in full and am around 90 days out.

Thanks

There's footage of it! :D

Wow, did you get dizzy?

Friends are on this sailing. Can't wait to hear all about it.

 

 

Yes! Last April. He wore red everyday and loved the attention.

 

He was on Equinox in October as well - and was pretty miffed when all of the attention turned from him to my Husband and son on formal night when they walked past the Martini Bar in full kilt dress!

I liked the breakfast tea in cafe al bacio but when we were on Equinox last year they did not have enough and ran out. I'm tempted to take some teabags with me next trip.

They had some nice flavoured teas as well.

We paid for the packages last year for the convenience, DH the alcohol and me the premium non alcohol and I reckon we just about broke even. It was convenient though and meant we weren't constantly thinking how much drinks were costing. I spent so much time in cafe al bacio and the waiters in the buffet saw us in the morning and brought us our OJ and coffee without us asking after day 2.

Try shopmobility in Southampton - they may be able to help. When I needed a wheelchair for 2 weeks on P&O Azura I booked through a company they recommended. It was £90 4 years ago. Can't remember the name though - sorry.

Red Cross might be able to help as well.

Good Luck

Celebrity has changed the port of call for the Amalfi region of Italy from Naples to SALERNO.

 

What a disastrous decision, the port is a major container port for Ferries to Corsica, Sicily and a major storage facility for newly manufactured cars with major industrial traffic chaos.

 

What ever your decision, taking a Celebrity tour, Independent tour or just a shuttle into the town you will have long, lo.........ng delays. The port is bottlenecked with lorry movements and is a total sick joke as a cruise terminal - Welcome to Salerno is painted across disused containers.

 

Celebrity, YOU must change this silly decision as it is definitely alienating your customers. We nearly missed our departure, it took over an hour to exit the port and twice as long to enter on our return to the port on the recent Equinox cruise. Future passengers be aware and please continue the complaints to Guest Relations to get the port changed back to Naples.

We sailed into Salerno in October, had no traffic problems whatsoever. We had a private tour booked, was there waiting when we got off the ship, we went to Positano, Sorrento and Pompeii. The traffic back was busy but not as bad as rush hour round here can be.

Sorry you had the opposite experience.

It was one of the best days of our 13 night trip.

They did me wonderful hot lemon and honey when I had a stinking cold on Equinox, used to put a shot of Brandy in it for me at night as well!

A pint of "heavy" or a short of whisky will be fine! :D

 

There are no car rental offices at POM :( - but there are a few that are close, including Hertz, Avis and Budget (all about a $10+ cab ride from the port). If you drop the car at the MIA airport you get to miss the "fun" of driving in downtown Miami and National, Alamo or Thrifty will shuttle you to the port (15-20+ minutes away); other agencies may offer shuttles, or you may need to take a $25 cab to the port.

 

Have a great cruise and vacation. :)

Thanks :)

Thanks, We are actually from Scotland but the flights with Aer Lingus are the best deal for us at the moment so you would be more likely to get a pint of Best or a whisky!

Re the car hire when driving down from Orlando if we booked one of the agencies with an office at POM will we be able to drop off there as I cannot see that option on the websites I have looked at?