bgomes

Thanks again, Mary Beth.  It was an amazing review, as I knew it would be.  Perhaps we will meet again on another cruise or in the Grand Rapids area.  So happy to have met you and the family.  I have your num er and plan to look you up sometime that we are in your area.

Barb & Bob

Thanks, MaryBeth.  We enjoyed your company, as well.  Wish we could have talked with all of you more, maybe some other time.  Again, we are in the Grandville area enough to try to meet up with you all again  Our email address is bnbgomes @ att dot net

Can anyone tell me if there free streetcars in Orangestad?  Is it true that they start at the cruise port and run every 1/2 hour or so to the end of downtown., making a stop near The Pastechi House?

And if you have been to the Pastechi House would you recommend it?

We are sailing on the Rotterdam in February.  I will pay the increase for crew gratuities, they certainly earn and  deserve it.   Items for them have increased just as much as it has increased just as much as for us .  After all, it is only $1 per person per day.

On 5/2/2023 at 7:50 AM, Mimiya11 said:

Bumping this thread as I researching this port for a TA in the fall. 

Still waiting for a response to an email I sent Green Visions inquiring about a tour with a person with mobility issues.  

Any other ideas appreciated.  

I, too, am waiting for a response from Green Visions.  All I need for now is the cost.  If I don't hear back within the next couple of days, I will be looking elsewhere

If you find something, let us know.  I will be watching as well

Thanks.  I saw a 2023 Norway cruise that I was hoping would be offered in 2024, with extra hope I could book it with a Black Friday sale. Maybe during “wave season” in the spring

Does anyone know when HAL releases itineraries for 2024 Europe sailings?

I have bought the cheese on previous trips.  We also need to fly home, 3 hour flight, plus airport wait time and then 1 hour drive home from airport.  Never had a problem except the cheese usually gets a little smushed.

We will be coming to Curacao, Aruba and Bonaire in December and are wanting to buy some Gouda cheese.  My favorite is the medium Belegen (spelling?).  I can do the regular Gouda if availability and price is better.  Where is the best place to buy some and what can I expect to pay for a wheel?

Just ordered this service for our Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise in August.  Yay, no luggage transporting or checking in at the airport

Are there island tours available at the port?  Are there any recommendations for tour companies?  I have not been able to find much info for our cruise in March

Starting to look at some planning for our cruise.  Can anyone recommend a prenite hotel In Melbourne or at least the area to stay in or stay away from

Also, what is the best way to get from the airport to a hotel.  We are sailing Grand Princess March 21, 2023

Any recommendations greatly appreciated.

Chilkoot website will be open for reservations starting Tuesday, March 8

Thanks so much for the information ana the link to that awesome booket

Thanks

Which is the side of the train for scenery is best.  We will be going up from Skagway by train, then back by bus

Thanks Matt.   This is exactly what we will do.  We prefer to not do cruise line excursions if possible.  Have been following your review, hope your neck is much better.

On 5/24/2019 at 10:02 AM, CruisingWithMatt said:

Days 10-11 (sea days) Skipped, dm for cruise compass

 

Day 12 Dunmore East/Waterford, Ireland:

 

Today went much smoother than the Azores. We decided a while back not to book any excursions for this port and to self-guide for the day. We tendered to Dunmore East and we were able to take a bus from round trip to Waterford and back for 15 Euro each. In Waterford we spent most of our time in the “Viking Triangle”. We saw the Viking sword (a huge wooden sword about the length of 5 cars that was carved out of an entire tree and a Viking boat. We took the medieval tour/museum and the bishops palace tour. Both tours were good but if I were to choose just one to do again it would be the medieval the museum had many cool artifacts. We ate lunch in the Bishops Palace café (a little café in the corner of the palace). We were happily surprised at how delicious the food was. My wife had a 100% Irish beef burger and I had a fried chicken sandwich on a fresh ciabatta roll and fresh Irish cheese. Mmmmm. The only weird thing was I swore the water tasted like moss. My wife noticed it too and she didn’t mind it, but it was a no-go for me. After the tours we spent time looking in the souvenir shops and then took the bus back early to spend some time in Dunmore East. We walked the cliffs where the views were spectacular, this was my favorite part of this port. We finished off our day in the local pub for a pint and some crisps and tendered back for a good night’s rest.

Thanks for doing this, it is giving me ideas for our TA next year on the Brilliance.  Where did you catch the bus in Dunsmore that takes you to Waterford?  Also, is Waterford Crystal near the Viking Triangle, is it within walking distance?

We, too, are doing this itinerary in May 2020.  Interested in reading your review.  Thanks for doing one.  Happy sails

Our first day we drove around in a convertible for about one hour,  just seeing the area. Then we walked around Old Havana for about 3 hours.  We stopped once for coffee and then later just before we headed back to the ship we stopped for a drink.  I felt like we got the "feel" of Havana while walking around, seeing the people going about their everyday lives.  Old Havana reminds me a little bit of Old San Juan (if you have ever been there).

So, if you plan on walking around the area by the port you will be in Old Havana.  It is very walkable.

3 hours ago, Wakepatrol said:

Hi- so you just bring an SD card and they take the pics with their own camera?

we will have our own cameras as well. It would be convenient to not have to keep passing our camera off to get pictures together

That is correct.  Between the 2 days that we were with them, they took about 175 -200 photos each day.  We started taking out own photos, but when we saw how many pictures they were taking and so many with the 2 of us in them, we mostly stopped taking our own.  The  pictures are awesome.

On 3/27/2019 at 10:35 PM, Baletrina said:

Thanks for this suggestion! Contacted Yosel through email and he was quick to respond. Booking for November! 

 

My question for for you is that our ship docks at 10am. Do you think that’s too late(giving myself a window to get off the ship and through the port) to do the tour that day? Or should we plan for the next full day? 

Our ship docked at 2:00 PM, we had booked with I Love Cuba Photos Tours for a two day tour.  Our tour the first day was from 4 - 8, The second day was 9 - 3.  Yosel is very accommodating, see what he suggests for you.  Was a great tour, plenty of pictures from them

Just back from Empress, spent an awesome 2 days with Rey and Yosel from I Love Cuba Photo Tours.  We arrived in Havana at 2:00 pm on the first day ----we spent 4 hours with Rey, walking around Old Havana then spent one hour in a classic Convertible, then more walking around, stopping for a Cuban coffee and drink along the way.  All the while Rey is taking photos of us and the sites. 

After an overnight on the ship we met up with Yosel, the owner of the company, the next day.  We spent a little more than 6 hours with him, traveling around the city.  Again 1 hour in a classic convertible and the rest of the time in an air conditioned classic hardtop. Many stops along the way including lunch at a paladar and drinks at the Hotel Nacionel, again taking photos along the way.

Couldn't have asked for a more pleasant time in Havana.  Both guides were extremely informative, you could talk to them about anything.  They will do/go where you want to.  Since they are professional photographers it is no wonder that the photos are fantastic.  We got over 250 photos.  All you need to do is make a reservation with them, take a SD card and you will have fantastic memories.  Don't hestitate to book with them.

From my observations I don't think I saw very many tuxedos, if any Mostly suit coats. But then, I didn't really real pay attention