Gilpet

.....and it's a third vote for Alla lol. I'm sure it's ok for me to post a link to their website as I originally heard of them through the Cruise Critic Ports section http://www.alla-tour.com/tours/2

We also did the two-day tour and can't recommend it highly enough. My highlights were the Fountain Park at Peterhoff and Yusupov's Palace but everything was amazing.

Gill

My january cruise on Jewel has dropped exactly the same amount as if I was to re-book with the 50% discount.

Just Phoned my TA and he doesn't see any problem applying the price drop. Just waiting for RCI to open so he can confirm.

 

$456 reduction.............That will pay for my drinks package and more!!:)

Clarky213, I noticed that you're from Liverpool - how were you able to get the 50% discount, do you use a TA in the US?

Gill

I can't say about any other ships but on Independence when you have purchased 6 speciality coffees you get the next one free - you need to ask for a card when you purchase your first and remember to have it stamped/marked each time. I know that's not exactly what you were asking but every little helps :)

Gill

 

Hot dogs, bratwurst and sausages on toasted specialty rolls at The Squeeze Bat. Very convenient if you're at the pool. I found out about them here on Cruise Critic too before we sailed!

 

Thanks :), I'll look forward to that. We've often said that it's a shame that Indy doesn't have some sort of grill bar by the pool.

 

Gill

Hot dogs were not available at The Squeeze Bar until day 5.

 

Well you learn something new every day........7 cruises on Indy (including two since the re-fit last year) and I never knew they did hot dogs at the Squeeze Bar - how on earth did I miss that lol :confused:. We're back on in October so I'll have to make sure I visit then. Thanks for the review, Indy is my favourite ship and I love reading good things about it :)

 

 

one thing i was wondering if anyone knows

 

when it comes over here for the summer

do the staff change?

 

I am hoping that rock the boat are still there as really looking forward to seeing them also if the staff stay the same can you give any info on what the nightly shows are?

 

)

 

Sadly the production and ice shows haven't changed since our first cruise on Indy :(. We hoped we might get something different after the re-fit but no, still the same ones that have been on since 2008, having said that, if it's your first time on Indy then you will love them as they aren't things that date. The ice shows are amazing and I could (and have) watch them time after time but although the production shows are good there is a limit to how many times I want to see them and I reached that limit a long time ago.

 

I'm sure Rock the Boat will be there for you as they've been on every cruise we've done on Indy :). It's likely that when you cruise you will have Joff Eaton as the CD, he looks and sounds like a younger version of John Cleese and I find him very funny, he's the first (and only) CD who actually made an impression on me. Make sure you try out the Schooner Bar, we've had various entertainers in there, some good and some not so good, but give it a try.

 

Have a great cruise.

 

Gill

We usually purchase one but when ordering a drink I always ask for it with no ice and for the ice to be put in a separate glass..........ice can take up a lot of room in the glass :D

Gill

"it was pretty easy to avoid the situation by walking on the pool deck side where smoking was not permitted"

 

BUT...BUT....I paid to walk in both areas!

Of course you did - but the pool deck on Independence has a CENTRAL lift and stair area at both ends so regardless of which side of the ship you walk along you end up in the same place. I realise (or hope) that your comment was probably tongue in cheek but I'm sure there were a lot of people thinking it :).

Gill

We've done this a couple of times by train and it's very easy - be warned though, it's quite a long walk to the platform to get back onto your train in Rome so allow plenty of time, and of course aim for at least the train before the last one that would get you back in time!! We took the HoHo bus from Termini station last time getting off at the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain and we had no problem getting back onto another bus.

We haven't been there with Cunard but the ship's we've been on have always got in very early so we've been able to get into Rome for an early start - if you want to go to St Peter's make sure you go there first to avoid the worst of the queues.

The Italian authorities don't allow passengers to walk from the ship to the port gate so you have to use the shuttle bus.

Have a great time

Gill

Thanks for all your help everybody. I was so disappointed when I thought this trip might not go ahead simply because of the impossibility of travelling around for two weeks with six weeks worth of luggage :eek:. We are doing our first TA in November this year, also our first trip to the US, so we'll wait until after that before we book anything.

Gill

We did something similar a few years ago traveling south. We FedEx'd our bags to the beginning location. An expense but it was easy & went smoothly.

 

There is a FedEx not far from docking area

 

I was born & bred in Boston. Where I work I can actually watch the ships come in :)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Thanks, I'll look into that and see what my friend Google can find for me :). I am very envious of your view from work.

Gill

Well the Cunard itineraries for 2015 are now out and this trip is looking seriously in doubt because the first sailing back from New York to Southampton is two weeks after the second cruise finishes in Boston :eek:. We would be very happy to spend those two weeks travelling around by bus/train if it weren't for the luggage - there will be a lot of it. Does anybody know if there are any baggage handling companies who would pick our luggage up from Boston and deliver it to New York two weeks later - I don't know if this is even possible but we're clutching at straws here.

Gill

We've never managed to get a price drop but it never hurts to ask. We have, however, twice got a very cheap upgrade because of price drops. I'd check the website to make sure the cabin/price is still showing then give them a ring, you have absolutely nothing to lose. You wouldn't get any money back but you may end up with a better cabin.

RCI say that UK customers don't receive the benefits of price drops because of the other benefits and "protection" that UK law gives us but I have yet to find out what any of those benefits are!!!

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Gill

Beekat, it sounds as though this will be your first cruise (not ferry) - do you think it may be best to try one that doesn't involve so many sea days as your first? I can understand your fear of the unknown, we have cruised quite a few times but are going on our first TA in November this year and I share a lot of what you're feeling :). Maybe a short cruise from Southampton would be a good idea before you book the TA because if you don't like it going out you've still got to come home and knowing that could spoil your time in New York as well.

My husband used to suffer from sea-sickness but he swears by the wristbands, he just puts them on if he starts to feel "not great" and after that he's fine. I've only felt a bit iffy once but that was in a hurricane in the Bay of Biscay so I'm hoping not to feel the same anytime soon lol.

Gill

That may be the case with you but sadly it doesn't explain why one very well known high street TA in the UK wants the final payment a full two months before RCI. I only used them once without realising this and would never use them again.

Gill

My parents have today booked a 14 night cruise leaving on 13th June, the cost for an unobstructed balcony was roughly £2400 pp

 

They will actually be on-board when they celebrate their Diamond Wedding Anniversary ... quite an achievement in this day and age

 

They cruised extensively until a few years ago when it became stressful for them negotiating airports etc. but this cruise is perfect as I can take them and pick them up from Southampton.

What a wonderful way for them to spend their Diamond Wedding anniversary. I don't know if it's something they would like but you can arrange a cake for them by phoning P&O.

It's so handy sailing from Southampton, I'm glad your parents will be able to enjoy cruising again.

Gill

Well done Daz :). If only Cunard had done the same as this year we'd have been ok for Brilliance. We haven't totally decided against it but it would mean being away for a long time so I think we'll probably give it a miss........watch this space lol.

Gill

Fortunately there was a huge price drop for the April cruise today so I booked it...........and I didn't have to sell my house to do it :p

Gill

I just read that if I was in the Q & A area, and brought a friend that had never cruised on RCCL, I would get a $25 OBC. Does anyone here know about this? Does the friend have to be in another room, or can it be mine?

The friend/relative can be sharing your cabin, they just need to be new to RCI.

Gill

You'll always pay a premium for a brand new ship ;)

Lol - and I thought RCI's Anthem was expensive :p

Or have the entire ship to yourself for a fortnight?

I don't know if I'd like that, it might get a bit lonely lol

Gill

I just tried again and it's now telling me that I can book from tomorrow! Obviously I was quoted the Early Booking Price when I tried before lol.

Gill

I have just priced up a basic (unobstructed) balcony on Britannia for the April 11th Med cruise - I think we may have to save up for a few years for this one as the total for two of us came to £189,998.00 including our past passenger discount :p. Do you think Britannia going on sale has cause a meltdown lol.

Gill

Last July we ate in Sindhu and even though I don't normally like Indian food we had a delicious meal. We also ate in the Trattoria area of the buffet on four separate occasions and the food was wonderful - especially the "cook- it-yourself" steak (for want of a better description lol) - I believe we paid an additional £6.99 for this but I'm not completely sure.

Gill

Hi Gilpet

 

I'm looking at the new schedules now, on my TA's website - or the link from their email - and there's a sailing from New York to Southampton on 11th October that may be of use to you. The code is M524A and it's a 7 night Crossing.

Thanks so much for finding that, all may not be lost after all :). Not only have you made me happy but you've also saved the ankles of the people who get in my way in Tesco's today lol. Now we just have to decide where we're going to spend the extra two weeks in the extra two weeks we'll have in the US

Gill

Thanks Ray, I hadn't noticed the other gaps because I was totally focussed on September/October.

Gill

Hi Happyboating,

I only noticed out of sheer desperation, as I won't fly the whole trip would be a non-starter if we can't get home, October 29th from New York would be far too late.........so I'm clutching at straws and hoping that it's not maintenance but that the only site I could find the details on have made a mistake and missed out a "there and back" to Southampton! As I said - clutching at straws.

Gill