gobear

First time we will be going Europe trip and I am wondering which itinerary seems to be better and we are more of a landscape scenery type of person rather than historical stuffs.

There are 3 Barcelona round trip cruises sailing on 27th October, 4th and 5th November respectively
 

27th October (8 nights) Royal çarribean vision of the sea
 Xxxxxxxx 

4th November (7 nights) MSC Seaview
Xxxxxxx

5th November (7 nights) MSC Grandiosa
Xxxxu 

Your feedback would be greatly appreciated to assist our decision making in choosing which cruise and itinerary to go for provided you guys have been either or all cruise itinerary?

It looks like the Grandisa seems to be more attractive in terms of the itinerary, ship though it is more expensive.

Your thoughts?

Planning to do a cruise that is from Sydney to Auckland and I have a few questions to ask and hope you can assist

This is the cruise
 

https://www.princess.com/cruise-search/details?voyageCode=8060

1) I have done 2 times Royal Caribbean (Voyage of the sea and Ovation Of the Sea) and I am wondering if Majestic Princess good for those who have been there?

2) Will be choosing balcony (first time to take)  and I am wondering which is better? Choosing the AFT or forward? I know there are pros and cons but just to let you know, the most important is the view without obstruction and I am not concerned about the distance to the entertainment or activities nor even worried about the waves, bumpy etc (in fact I thrive on it).  

Is the higher the deck, the better it will be for the view?

3) As you can see the itinerary, as cruising to NZ, the land is on the left hand side so I want to take the cabin that is on the left hand side so I can see the view, so just to make sure, is it that I book any cabins that is left marked on RED BOX (as the link below) in Forward deck because I don't want to book that is facing to the open sea!

Deck Plan

4) And also, I notice one the AFT Deck, one balcony is larger (oversize) than the other, is that the real case provided you have the option to choose?  (please see the red box below)

Balcony size difference?

If so, do you recommend to take that one above? 

Your feedback and suggestion would be appreciated
 

Thank you

Thank you
I have made a decision to get the 8 days Rhine cruise lowest category (2 bay window) and the 4 days Danube balcony (given the 2 bay window category is sold out so I will treat this like a tasting menu or snippet given its better than forking out for the 8 days Rhine cruise balcony)

PS:  One more question, I noticed when we arrive on Vienna on 14th November, its actually the day when the Xmas Market starts (and is the only day and chance I have before we head to Amsterdam), so therefore, I would like to ask as I have never been to a Europe Xmas market, will the 1st day/2nd day have alot of lights, and Xmas feel?  Or since its the first day, most likely will be quiet and not many stalls around until at least early Dec?

Hi folks, thanks for the answer and feedback

First of all, sorry gnome12, I kept saying interior cabin because I am used to saying it for the ocean cruise and i am aware that it is the 2 little window and the other is with balcony (really panoramic) so i call it interior and balcony to make it easier but its interesting you call it the aquarium class

But anyways, I got the quote from my TA  today finally.

The Rhine cruise, has D cat but not E because, its full and it would mean I would pay an extra $500 i.e. $3600 total opposed to the original $6500 (with balcony)

Now, the Danube (Budapest to Vienna) cruise, i was told that that cat E and D are sold out meaning I am left out the panoramic balcony which comes to a total of $2450.  Should I wait and hope someone cancels  or?

So having said that, if I went ahead with my original balcony Rhine 8 days cruise would have been $6500 

Danube 11th to 14th Nov (and co incidentantly, Xmas market opens on 14th Nov in Vienna, probably worth to stay a night or two)

Then we probably take the bus or train to Amsterdam  for a few days tour AND also Xmas market before getting ready for the next cruise i.e.

21st Nov to 28th Nov

Now, 1 rhine cruise cat D = $3600 + Danube Panoramic cat B $2450 = $6000 which is less than my $6500 balcony Rhine cruise alone

So you think it is still worth the balcony upgrade for the Danube even it is just a few nights and that Cat D & E are sold out ?

I wouldn't mind if the view are worthy during the day.   Like Robin (acwmom) mentioned yesterday, it is more scenery than Rhine since the daytime sailing in Wachau Valley/Melk where we can enjoy in our balcony room.

And you are right, i should not rush the sale because originally, the sale was suppose to end tomorrow but now have extended till april 6 next month!  So at least I can still afford to wait and see if anyone cancels and then I can take the Cat E/D that was originally booked out?

Hi Daisi and acwmom,

I would like to say thank you very very much, you have saved me from making an important decision that I should go for the interior stateroom and in fact it looks like I can go for another cruise! Because it was all I wanted to know and if you say that the chance of staying in the room is far less since you had to get ready for the tour, eat breakfast, they cruise at night and in Nov, daylight goes short, then the answer is pretty obvious because I really dun wanna spend an EXTRA 3 grand for me and my wife for the balcony where we gonna spend very little time

I will tell you, the Amsterdam to Basel cruise, to be exact the fare amount is is AUD$1745 + $1449 balcony upgrade (or $1500 for middleship, so let's assume 1.5k), so it would be $3245 for 1 person balcony (times it by 2, its about $6,500). 

But if we opt to take the interior stateroom for the 8 days Rhine cruise from 21th to 28th Nov, it would be AUD$1745 ($3490 for 2) for 8 days

Additionally, I just saw and realise there is ANOTHER cruise for Dandue that acwmomn mentioned that fits our time and also the lowest during the Nov period

It's a 4 day trip from Budapest to Vienna (also Avalon) [which includes going to Wachau Valley and Melk like acwmom stated] departing on 11 to 14th Nov for AU$630.......and again, to upgrade to balcony is an extra $620, almost 50% more.  

The good thing is that it departs from 11th Nov to 14th Nov for this trip and then  we can take train or flexibux to Amsterdam to tour for a few days before continuing our Avalon Rhine cruise a week later from 21st Nov to 28th Nov.

So if we take BOTH cruises interior stateroom for both Rhine & Danube cruise, the cost would be $4180 (2 pax) for a total of 12 days!!

If we take the balcony upgrade JUST Rhine cruise alone would have been like almost AU$6500 for 8 days!! Which cost more than the 2 cruises that can be taken even by about 25% margin more!

Of course if we add the Danube balcony upgrade, the total would be $2500 would be a grand total of $9000 (2 pax) for 12 days.......

But at the same time, I am not sure if it is still good idea to take the Danube upgrade for the extra $620 (x 2 people) $1240 for the  sample 4 days for enjoyment?  Or just go all the way for BOTH cruises interior cabin only????

Or perhaps 2 cruises will be too much?  I am not sure since I never done a ocean cruise continuously one after the other, let alone river cruise

Time is ticking as we need to make a decision within 24 hours........but looks like we may take 2 cruises upon your feedback/suggestion since it just popped out of my head today and also looked further that the timing is just right in terms of the schedule and good pricing as well 

Also thank you for reminding me to ask the TA for the outbreak policy which I will ask tomorrow as well

Sorry gnome12, I meant interior stateroom cabin (only 2 small bay windows) with no balcony/panoramic window  which is the one under Deluxe Category if you scroll down the middle

https://www.avalonwaterways.com/River-Cruise-Ships/Avalon-Vista/

So you are saying its very unlikely that I will have a lot of chance to see the view from stateroom if i choose the panoramic balcony statement?  Because one is like I said $1700 and once upgrade goes $1500 PER PERSON, so for 2 is about 3 grand.  Still kind of struggling to choose if it is worth it or not

I mean if we have alot of chance to stay in the cabin during the daytime or have light/night view during cruising, I wouldn't mind but if you say there's nothing much to see at night when we are asleep or we actually go out for excursion early during the daytime, perhaps we should reconsider??

Still struggling to choose..

The sale offer ends within 24 hours, or unless there might be bigger sale later due to the virus outbreak?  I dunno.. 

Thanks folks for the answer

So if I have a chance, would 228 be a good number as it sits in between plus its a good lucky number, hehe

And also, I saw the itinerary, it seems like most of the days, it cruises in the evening and dock in the daytime? Please correct me if I am wrong because I am still pondering if I should go for the interstate or balcony since the interstate is the cheapest like almost 1800 but once upgrades to balcony is almost twice as much.  I have been on an ocean cruise 3 times and each time we went on interior cabin because 70% of the time we played outside in Royal Carribean anyways but I am aware that this is a total different experience and probably a lifetime experience.  By the way my wife and I are just 40

So you reckon I should do the balcony or not?  If I am going to stay in the balcony suite most of the time, it would be great but looks like each day we are going to dock and day excursion.  

And also, which you think has the most scenic cruise and suitable for 1st timer? Rhine? Main? or Danube?

Planning to do Rhine river cruise this year on Nov 21 from Amsterdam to Basel and planning to get the panoramic balcony suite and for those who have been there before, we are going to get the Cat B which is the light blue colour highlighted as below for the deck plan

https://www.cruisemapper.com/deckplans/Avalon-Vista-857/deck02-3126

If so, which cabin number do you suggest I should get for the BEST view?  226 or 228?

And also, as we are going to cruise the 2nd day, that means first night, we will be docked in Amsterdam so is it better to get on the LEFT hand side i.e. 226 or 228 so that it will be viewing across the river rather than viewing the street?

And also, do you know if we go on November, is it likely to have low/high tide as we do not wish to have the cruise cancelled or escorted to bus excursions

Your answer and advise will be appreciated since I need to do the booking within 36 hours

Thanks