Katesowner

Finally got the problem solved. We have reservations on CP leaving in the wee hours but getting us to Singapore in plenty of time. They have at least one other flight leaving later but still time to make the cruise, so that's our back-up if the first flight has difficulties. UA is refunding in full the price of our original flight because they cancelled it.

We're paying more for our new flight, and the time is less than ideal. However, it's a lot better and cheaper than having our ship sail away without us, missing 1 1/2 days of the cruise, and having to fly to join it at the next port. We are happy with the outcome.

Thanks for your help!

Didn't realize I had duplicate posts. Appreciate your practical suggestions. Please see other post for latest.

Thanks for ideas! Work dictated our trip start date, but we will sleep on the flight.

We are experienced international travelers & cruisers - never had anything like this awful situation.

Cruise is Singapore-HK; we (not cruise ship) booked round trip DFW-HKG; then bought ($, no award miles) HKG-SIN via UA's flight after 9 p.m. UA cancelled, subsequently twice put us on flights we didn't want. UA says Singapore Air releases empty seats to UA as they see fit. SA won't allow us to change the flight because UA, not we, booked it. We are caught in the middle.

Our plan now is to 1) book a flight on our own; 2) cancel the flight U made; 3) try to get our $ back w/help from suggestions made.

If we fly on to Singapore the evening of the 9th, can anyone tell me what the process will be since we won't be leaving the airport? Do we go through both Security and Immigration before rechecking our bags?

Thanks!

We are caught between 2 airlines. Our American flight from the US is due at HKG at 5:30 p.m. More than 6 months ago, we booked a United flight from HKG to Singapore leaving around 9 p.m. Later United cancelled their flight and booked us on Singapore Air leaving HKG at 7:55 p.m., a tight connection for us particularly since we won’t be able to check bags through.

Singapore Airlines would not deal with us directly because United had made the reservation. We asked to be on the next day 8 a,m, flight, but United put us on the 9:05 a.m. flight, arriving at Singapore’s airport 1 hour and 55 minutes before our cruise ship (NCLJewel) says we must be on board.

There are 50+ seats left on the 8 a.m. Singapore flight. Singapore Air-says they’re available but must be bought by United since they did the original booking. United says they can’t book the flight because Singapore doesn’t let them have access to all the inventory. United tells us to continue to call in case something becomes available. Both airlines say they’re so sorry, but neither one will budge.

This is way too much information. Can anyone tell me about how long it takes to get our bags and go through Immigration in Singapore? Google says the distance to the port is 19.3 km. Are 115 minutes enough time to get our bags through Immigration and reach the port?

We are caught between 2 airlines. Our American flight from the US is due at HKG at 5:30 p.m. More than 6 months ago, we booked a United flight from HKG to Singapore leaving around 9 p.m. Later United cancelled their flight and booked us on Singapore Air leaving HKG at 7:55 p.m., a tight connection for us particularly since we won’t be able to check bags through.

Singapore Airlines would not deal with us directly because United had made the reservation. We asked to be on the next day 8 a,m, flight, but United put us on the 9:05 a.m. flight, arriving at Singapore’s airport 1 hour and 55 minutes before our cruise ship (NCLJewel) says we must be on board.

There are 50+ seats left on the 8 a.m. Singapore flight. Singapore Air-says they’re available but must be bought by United since they did the original booking. United says they can’t book the flight because Singapore doesn’t let them have access to all the inventory. United tells us to continue to call in case something becomes available. Both airlines say they’re so sorry, but neither one will budge.

This is way too much information. Can anyone tell me about how long it takes to get our bags and go through Immigration in Singapore? Google says the distance to the port is Are 115 minutes enough time to do that and reach the port?

Thanks for advice(y)

We have lots of ocean cruise experience but have never done a river cruise. We are considering the 2-week China one that Viking offers.

Is there any difference (aside from room size) in what a veranda guest or a suite guest) would get on the cruise?

Has anyone used Viking’s travel insurance? Or is buying our own insurance, as we do when we travel on big ships, a better purchase?

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks for info. Celestyal probably best meets our needs. While we would prefer more time in Patmos, there is enough time to see the important places. The cruise is not leisurely, but traveling in comfort (not having to drag luggage around) makes a difference.

We appreciate your input!

We are two women, experienced travelers, who would like spend about a week to go from Athens to Patmos (for a day) as well as to other islands, such as Rhodes, in the area. Our preference would be a small ship (rather than the big cruise ships) that goes to several ports - sailing at night mostly and going ashore during the daytime. Can anyone recommend a small cruise line that offers just food, sleeping cabins, and sailing between ports? Or would it be better for us to travel via ferry?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks for helpful info. We will keep our fingers crossed for separate packets!

We are platinum and platinum plus sailing in a balcony stateroom. Do we receive only two bottles of wine (the sparkling wine plus the bottle for our free dinner for 2)? It appears to me that there are no longer 2 dinner-for-2 vouchers anymore. We will be on the Jade for two weeks.

Thanks!

If there are 2 people in a stateroom and only one is platinum plus, will the other person be included in the dinner with officers?

Thanks for all suggestions!

Good morning,

 

actually (2017) the one-way fare from Hamburg Airport to Hamburg Downtown (for HafenCity)/Altona and Weddel (for Steinwerder) is 3.10 EUR and includes also all transfers to your destination to bus (except EXPRESSBUSES / surcharge applied 2.00 EUR).

 

From Altona Station it is a walk of 15-20 minutes with many stairs to the cruise terminal Altona or a bus ride of 5 stops by bus 111 (which also connects to Hafen City Terminal).

 

Or coming from the airport leaving at Landings Stages (Landungsdbrücken). Take Ferry 62 towards Finkenwerder to Docklands and you have the VERY BEST view to your ship - just passing and dock next to the cruise ship. From here 1 minute walk.

 

If you have a chance to rebook: The airport area is very boring.

 

So for me FROM LOGISTICS point of view:

 

Use InterCity Hotel at Altona. Normally a good price-value-ratio.

 

So you can easily get from Airport to Altona. Can stay there.

There hotel rate includes free public transfort.

So you can easily doing sightseeing with the hotel pass and next day go

 

Hope it helps.

 

Regards

HeinBloed

We arrive at the airport near midnight, so airport hotel is best choice.

Thanks for your help!

Heinbloed,

Good to see your post. You helped us a lot with Copenhagen info a few years ago. Your photos are great!

We are staying pre-cruise at airport hotel. Would the S train to Altona train station and then a taxi to Altona terminal be a good choice? About how much does the S train airport to Altona train station cost?

Price around $150 or less per night. Preference is for Marriott, Hilton, or IHG hotels because of affiliations we have.

Yes, I was referring to the Maglev. You are right that we want to stay near a subway. Is it reasonable to take the train and then transfer to the subway rather than taking some other type of transportation? Getting from the airport to the city faster is good since our time is limited. We'll have just one carry-on bag each so not much luggage to deal with.

We will be in Shanghai in July. We want to do a shopping tour as well as see some of the famous sights. One tour meets at the Shanghai City Centre.

We prefer to use the train to go from/to Pudong airport and would like a hotel somewhere near the stop for the train. We are totally unfamiliar with Shanghai, and any suggestions will be welcome.

When the Star was adrift off Australia, a concerned relative not on the cruise tweeted NCL and received no reply - until a subsequent tweet to Cruise Critic was shortly followed by one from NCL.

Coincidence or the power of Cruise Critic?

Ask for my family that is on the NCL Star that is now going to stuck in Melbourne for days.

Any recommendations for reliable tour companies that do daytime and evening wildlife tours?

Also, any other recommendations for things to do in Melbourne and the surrounding area while they are there.

Thanks!

Thanks everyone!

Thanks for suggestions. We will see wildlife in Dunedin, NZ (no kangaroos or koalas, though), so we're more interested in Melbourne itself. Glad to know about transportation options from the port.

Coming from Texas where summer temperatures are frequently above 38 degrees Celsius (100F) in our summer, we can understand Melbourne's heat.

We'll be in Melbourne the 8th and 9th, sailing at 1700, so perhaps we can visit Victoria Market. The night market sounds fun. Since we are older tourists and unfamiliar with the city, I'm wondering if it is in a safe area with easy access to transportation. Are taxis metered and regulated (same fares for same distances for all taxi companies)?

We like Starbucks but want to try your local coffee. Thanks for so many good suggestions!

We will cruise from Sydney on the NCL Star which has been struggling with azipod issues beginning in December. Like others before us, our cruise has lost ports and now will be spending a second day in Melbourne instead of going to Burnie. Can you suggest places we might visit that are not too far (too far would be going out of the city) from the port? Are the coffee places chains like Starbucks or individual shops? We'd like to try some that are popular. Museums near public transportation? Walking long distances isn't possible. Someplace known for local artwork and crafts? Any suggestions wIll be appreciated.

For more about cancelled ports on the January 5 and 16 and February 6 cruises, go to the last several pages of their roll calls. There are discussions about the changed compensation offers as well as ways to contact higher-ups at NCL.

Wire coat hangers. There are never enough hangers in the closet. I pack a dozen or more and leave them on the ship when the cruise is over.

Djamel, a few weeks ago.

 

 

 

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Thank you!