loma linda ca a & j

Hi! How are you!? Oh man do I wish I could go back to my FAVORITE itinerary, the British Isles! We'll get there! My son is almost 5 and just started kindergarten yesterday. He's been on two 3-night Disney cruises out of San Diego, a 7-night Pacific Coastal on Ruby Princess, and we have a 8-night western caribbean with friends scheduled for January on Adventure of the Seas/RCCL. Can't wait! Unfortunately he got Noro on the last day of the Disney cruise (that was a fun drive home!)

 

I will 100% do the British Isles cruise again, though! Maybe 2020! NCL has a great itinerary that includes a little bit of Norway and Iceland and England. Will absolutely post an update on here if we book through Princess again. Still to this day, 13 cruises later, my favorite vacation! I recently enlarged a photo of a lighthouse I took from top deck sailing away from Cobh and framed it in my bathroom. And I still have Union Jack pillows all over the house. Anglophile at heart!!!

Emily so happy your son is experiencing the thrills of cruising !

Let us know when and if you decide to do another brit cruise esp on princess in 2020 or ? We just booked this week nye dec 2018 on ruby princess - there was a hand available at really discounted ca residence and casino rates !!

We communicated on here a few years ago before and after our BI cruise in 2014 ! Each time I get an email notice I go back and see if I missed any thing so now wondering if you Emily returned to BI with your son this year ! We would love to return to all the itinerary again but next year we're going to sweden to see where my maternalgrandparents

Lived before they sailed to America in the 1880s - I was their youngest grandchild born in 1942.

We found a company called Citytours after we got to Havana. We used them for a classic car tour. It was wonderful, Great English-speaking guide plus a driver(did not speak English), a beautiful orange '54 convertible all to ourselves, and he accepted USD. We had done research ahead of our trip, so knew basically where we wanted to go, and he took us to all places we asked for, plus ones he thought we'd appreciate(he spoke with us in detail to figure out what we were interested in) We found him in the plaza near the Capitole, where many cars were waiting. We also were returned to our ship for about 1/4 the price of ship's tour. We did take Ship's tour first day, and it was worth the orientation we received. Guide was informative, excellent English. We did Old Havana. It was a goodidea to have a tour already booked on first morning, as everyone was off ship at same time, and guides seemed scarce.

Thank you for this great explanation of your tours !!

We are going on NCL sky next April 9 could not find a roll call

Really looking forward to seeing the old cars - my first car in 1961 was a 56 red and white ford :p

No I have not bought a day pass there. But I stayed at Secrets for a week this year. That's a reputable reseller that I have heard of though. I met people there from the Carnival ships as they had it offered as a Carnival excursion. Attached is a link to my video shot there.

 

 

 

enjoyed your awesome 10th anniversary video of your time in jamaica -

brings back memories of our carib ports in the past - started snorkeling

in 2008 at 66 - thrilled the day with starfish & stingrays - loved every excursion !:)

am now in wheelchair temporarily until i get my hip replacements but still love to

cruise with my jim pushing me about the ship !!

we tell everyone no matter what age to enjoy every minute while they

still can !!;)

as always your comments are so helpful and photos glorious !!!:)

can you believe it's been 7 years since we were on the emerald TA -

that was a sensational time at all the ports !!

glad you both have been able to travel - there is nothing like it &

all the wonderful people we meet !!

hope to see you both again someday !! ;)

ann & jim

what an awesome place & photos !!! ;)

honestly, your photos were spectacular !! :)

you found so many interesting places in london -

would love to go again and find some of them !!;)

we spent our 4 days in museums and in the #24 bus

but also enjoyed it so much !!

in 2013 we spent 5 nights in london & 5 in southampton pre cruise

stayed at premier inn west quay - great breakfasts & dinners in the restaurant

one day in winchester, one day in salisbury, one day in portsmouth,

fourth day at the sea city museum & tudor house in southampton

delightful stay in both cities !! :D

some of you have already said many of the things i was going

to state but as you can see from our cruise history we have only

cruised carnival and princess - have never experienced a bad cruise !!;)

we usually take longer cruises and appreciate using the laundromats in both lines -

our next princess we'll be elite w/ free laundry which my jim will use more than i

as i hang my undies in shower and usually do my silky blouses in sink but for jeans

slacks will use the elite bag

jim orders the warm melting chocolate cake every night ! we like traditional dining

w/ 8 at table - usually very luscious food & nice people - staff is wonderful both

in dining room & cabin crew -

we always tip them the last day plus the daily gratuities cuz we

know how hard they all work

really enjoy the comedians at carnival late shows

like the bingo more on princess as the prize $ increase each day

usually can get a balcony on carnival for about same price as we

pay for our inside cabins on princess - we do not mind inside cabins

which allows us to travel more, take excursions, and do our own

land trips pre and post cruises

we are 70+ which fits in well on most princess cruises but we

actually feel younger on carnival with the younger crowds & music -

like being at a party all day and night !!:D

fortunately, for us jim & i both enjoy traveling, meeting people, &

laughing a lot !!!:)

doubt that the halls & elevators will be empty on 10 may 2016

sailing with over 20+ TA carib princess cruisers taking the QM2

return voyage to nyc

assuming we'll be playing cards & dominoes on sea days &

meeting for lunch & drinks with our newly acquired friends;)

Wow! You have another wonderful trip ahead of you. Stay with that diet so you can have your hip replacement surgery. I have several friends who have had this surgery and leave yourself enough rehab time to be in top shape. It takes time!;)

you may be off ship by now enjoying london !! keep me posted !!;)

for those going to british isles - hope you enjoy ;)

as you can see we have done the british isles in 2013

and again next year cuz we loved it so much !!

i wrote a detailed review of our 5 night stay in london (luna simone)

and 5 nights in southampton (premier inn west quay) but do not know

how to link it here - you might be able to find it if you are a good detective ;)

p.s. i found it and brought it up to this P to Z forum - titled

Carib princess brit isles 6/29/13 w/ pre & post stays

i stopped after i was on the ship but all the pre cruise is there

hope it is helpful !!

Wow! You have another wonderful trip ahead of you. Stay with that diet so you can have your hip replacement surgery. I have several friends who have had this surgery and leave yourself enough rehab time to be in top shape. It takes time!;)

you are probably in flight or in england already

so wishing you the very best trip ever !!! :D

found my red binder of our trip in 2013

a cc group of 8 emailed/hired dominique eudier

of guided-normandy-tours.com for an all day

(700 E for 8 of us) trip to giverny & honfleur

we were picked up about 8 & returned abt. 6

about 90 min from port to giverny,

abt 90 min to honfleur, about 30 min to port

had plenty of time at giverny - 2 gardens,

home, gift shop, & lunch in nice cafe on way

back to van in parking lot

she guided a walking tour in honfleur

dominique may be booked but if not

will take you where you want to go;)

found my red binder from our 2013 trip -

the private van tour of 8 was guided by

dominique eudier of guided-normandy-tours.com

we went to giverny & honfleur but she will take you

wherever you want (if she is not booked already !)

thanks for the ebag sale !!

 

just bought 3 different sets

-red fleur de lis, red paisley, & all raspberry medium set

plus a samsonite aspire boarding bag to go with our

samsonite luggage - all for $110 ;)

the boarding bag has not arrived but all the packing cubes

arrived today - they are really nice - can't wait to pack for

our 2016 lengthy trip 33 cruise days & 2 weeks following

in england and wales !!;)

Ann and Jim,

We will also be in Southampton May 20-22 pre-cruise. We are doing the Baltic cruise on Celebrity Eclipse May 22. Thank you for all the information about Portsmouth to you and Bob. I had no idea these ships/museums are there. Post cruise we plan to take the train to Portsmouth to catch a ferry to Normandy for D Day activities. Are the ferry ports easily accessible from the Portsmouth Harbour train station? We plan to take the ferry to Caen, but plan to stay near St. Mere E'Glise. Has anyone done this pre/post cruise trip or anything similar before?

glad you are able to do a little touring before & after your cruise -

when we have to fly anywhere we try to make our trip last as long

as possible :D

have no idea about the train station & ferries but am sure

there are taxis - have a fabulous time !!;)

We are looking at a Baltic cruise on the Emerald Princess leaving June 4, 2016. Love the Baltics :D and this would be our third cruise to them. We have sailed out of Southampton twice and came in just the day before sailing. This time we thought we come in earlier and for sure see Portsmouth. DH builds wooden ship models as a hobby and would really like to see the Victory and the Mary Rose. We may add another extra day and finally make it to Winchester.

 

Did we do a cruise with you???

 

<<<Karen>>>

karen, your dh will enjoy victory & mary rose museum !!

check out our 15 princess & 7 carnival cruises below

- perhaps we did meet ??? ;)

ann & jim in so calif

Thank you for all the replies. We have been to the Dock Yard in Portsmouth a few years ago and enjoyed it. We thought to see a bit more of Portsmouth this time. We are doing a back to back Transatlantic crossing. Would Winchester be a good trip? We wonder why Cunard don't offer more local trips for the time docked in Southampton. I am originally from Liverpool so spend a lot of time in England but mostly in the North so these places are new to me too.

winchester was a wonderful place as were all the other places

we visited in 2013 !!;)

Hello - We're planning a cruise next year. It begins in Copenhagen and ends in Stockholm, Sweden. I am now able to see flights and because of not being round trip, we are getting dinged pretty hard. Just wondering if anyone has suggestions. We are flying out of JAX (Jacksonville, FL)...obviously we have plenty of time to watch fares go up & down...well up :).

Thank you!

know you can get non stop inexpensive flights

to and from copenhagen & stockholm to certain places in usa

you might have to drive or fly to those places ??

we plan to use them in 2016 and 2017 for england and sweden

nonstop to lax in calif

LeHavre, we are going there in a couple of weeks. We plan on taking the train to Rouen. Do research on it a very historical city, very interesting. Vikings were there, buildings a few hundred years old, Notre Dame Cathedral. Joan of Arc was from that city, she was burned at the stake. Lot's of history. The train ride is about 55 minutes, there is on at 9:03 am, we will take a taxi from port to train station. We will return on the 4:00 train. Our ship does not sail until 9:00PM. It will be a fun day, also you can read about Rouen on tom'sportguide.com (a super site, you can download pdf's from it onto your Ipad in the area where you download purchased books). Won't need wifi to read them.

you will have a glorious time in rouen - lots to see and do !!

Thanks Ann and Jim. You're going in 2016. Right?

 

It sounds like you have a good plan set. Glad to hear. We plan on spending time in Rue Cler for shopping and dinner.

 

Interesting that David is selling the Eiffel Tower apartment. I'm sure everyone in my family has their own photo op in mind on that terrace. :cool: Can't wait. I will post photos here from the bike tours and apartment.

 

Len

len, don't think we can make it till 2017 so

will just have to enjoy your photos of the apt

unless the apt doesn't sell in 2016;)

but i think we'll enjoy the rue cler & champs de mars ones !:)

bet you are excited for your upcoming trip !!

ann & jim

hubofhockey,

have been in touch with david - he is so great

at responding to my emails & ??s

he is selling the eiffel tower apt sometime in 2016

but in 2017 we might stay in the rue cler for us &

the champs de mars for the other 4 - they are near

each other in the heart of rue cler

thanks again !! have a marvelous trip !! ann & jim

read all about their hotel - looks lovely - location is great !!

if it were just 2 of us would seriously consider but for 3 rooms

(the grandkids are teenagers) for 8 nights it was over US$6000

so might consider 3 bed 2 bath apartment for a week - plus we

would have living room & kitchen - maybe about US$3000 - 4000 -

a few cc members have written about

a few that look really nice - some with balcony etc.