tnt10

I hope someone on these boards can give me some some advice/information/advice:(

We are 2 adults stopping over at Heathrow for 4 nights prior to flying on to Amsterdam for a cruise.

We are trying to get from Heathrow to Colchester, the easiest way that doesn't cost a fortune. We have been looking into traveling on the National Express, since we will have several bags and this method does not involve transfers or bus changes.

In looking further at reviews and trying to find the drop off location in Colchester, we are a little discouraged. National Express reviews are pretty negative, and the location in Colchester is reported to be seedy and dangerous-especially at night. (We would be arriving at approx. 8:15 PM into Colchester).

Any advice or suggestions? Is the bus really that bad? Is the stop in Colchester truly dangerous, especially at night? Is the Colchester drop off point for the National Express the stop at the Town Center on Stanwell street? We would need a taxi from the bus stop on to the Wivenhoe House Hotel.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Tim

Welcome D&J.

I had forgotten I even posted this on the G&L roll call until you responded today on the general roll call.

We did a TA from Venice to Fort Lauderdale last year on another cruise line (unfortunately).

We love the westbound TA's, relaxing sea days after the fast pace of multiple port stops at the beginning of the cruise.

We have our air all lined up and the hotel in Amsterdam, (found good prices at Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre). Have never been to Amsterdam before, so should be an interesting trip.

Tim & Terry[/color]

They had eliminated this requirement for a few years, but just reinstated it a month or two ago.

 

 

 

 

It is one device at a time. This means you can use your phone while you're out around the ship if you want, use a laptop or tablet in your cabin, or one of the ship's computers. You just have to log out of one before logging into another.

Thanks! That's what I thought, but wanted to make sure:cool:

Thanks Bob. Just so I'm sure of what I'm doing, this would be good to use either my own device or one of the ships computers right?

Thanks

Just checked my September 2018 westbound TA and found the following:

Deluxe Beverage Package $41/day

Deluxe Bev Package & VOOM one device $52/day

VOOM & Stream one device $12.59/day

We are thinking of the VOOM & Stream for one device at $12.59/day. Is this a good price??

Thanks:)

Following your review with interest. We will be travelling to London for nights next August. Especially interested the Victory Service Club, as it is one of the reciprocal clubs available to us in London. (We have stayed at the Naval Club and Lansdowne Club on prior trips).

How were the accommodations at the VSC? Do you happen to have any pictures of the club/rooms? There aren't a lot of information/pictures on line.

Thanks!

Seems the end results can vary widely! On a few too many occasions, we have had to call the laundry manager and have items re-done. They were either wet and moldy-smelling or just not clean.

From that point on, we don't use the bags and just send items out in the regular bags with slips and pay for the items to be cleaned/dried properly.

Of course, your experience may be different.;)

aviator1945,

Sorry to hear about your gout acting up!

If your health allows it, you may wish to go to the infirmary and ask for Allopurinol-to reduce instances of episode flair-ups, and methylprednisolone-to treat your current flair-up. The latter can ease the pain and swelling within hours! Good Luck!!

Reading your trip report with interest as we're booked on the westbound TA September 1, 2018.

Happy Cruising,

tnt10

He just sounds very young in his posts. He travels with his dad. I had him on ignore for a while, because he is a little embarrassing for a northern Californian. But I think travelplus is harmless, and there is really no need to respond to him if you look at his past posts. :D:):D

Wow, care to explain that statement?:confused:

The two US news channels on the Allure are now MSNBC and Fox News. This look to be permanent as a channel guide was delivered to our stateroom is listing the change.

 

Lou

Is this going to be fleetwide, (international versions of course), or just on select ships on select itineraries?

You can always go to RCI and ask to have the travel agent removed from your booking, which would give you control of your booking-but would eliminate any perks the travel agent was offering you.

(I was in the process of doing this when my [then] travel agent finally realized that he could in fact do what I had been asking him to do all along!)

Good Luck!

We have been on numerous cruises abroad and have taken all our pills in pill dividers along with a copy of our prescriptions. Any controlled meds have been kept in their own labeled bottles. Never had a problem.

However, as others have mentioned, some countries in Asia and the middle East, do have strict rules governing medications and lists of forbidden meds. Look at their websites carefully to avoid any potential problems. For example, in Abu Dhabi they have a common cholesterol medication on their forbidden list. To bring it into the country you need a notarized letter from your physician prescribing the medication and a letter from your state or the US government (can't remember which one) as well. Truly, truly a hassle. Gave up on that one!

Good luck!:)

Thank you for your insightful mini-review. We have always sailed in suites on both RCI and Celebrity for exactly the reasons you mentioned. The exclusivity of sailing in a suite, with the accompanying perks, makes sailing on the large-to-mega-ships less stressful more personal.

The next logical step would be to sail on one of the more inclusive lines, with smaller ships-like Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, etc., remembering of course, that one may indeed miss all the activities that only the mega-ships of RCI (and others) can offer:)

Happy Cruising

Was that before the Diamonds were kicked out of the CL? Either that, or the Diamond member was in a full suite.

 

Funny story though....LOL...Cubic Zirconia!! Love it! :D

Yes, was before Diamonds has their own lounges....:D

Maybe the cruise lines should simply allow passengers to bring their own?

 

Just kidding....that would NOT be a good idea.

Reminded me of an Archie Bunker solution to airplane hijacking - "...just arm all the passengers...." :D

So my husband (he is some like Platinum or Aluminum Foil), can have the same status as me (Diamond)?

Short OT story:

Years ago we were in the CL and 2 women were discussing their C&A status. One said, "We are Diamond members." The other replied, "Well, we are Diamond plus members!"

They turned to us and asked what lever of C&A we were.

My spouse, (then partner), replied, "Oh, I think we are Cubic Zirconia!" They were visibly NOT amused:).

No set time. Check your Cruise Planner periodically.

Is there a "ballpark guestimate" as to when these reservations can be made? A year out? Less than 6 months out?

Just trying to figure out when to start looking;)

Thanks!

Did you not have the choice to choose the fare with the refundable deposit?

Or the option to purchase cruise insurance within the time frame required to waive pre-existing conditions, (usually available within 14 days from cruise deposit)?

I know many don't purchase this, but wouldn't insurance cover non-refundable deposits?

A perfect example as to why minors should never be allowed to occupy a cabin with no responsible adult.

Sure, adults do stupid stuff as well, but that in no way excuses this.

Ban the parents, (since they don't know how to be responsible parents), and the kids, (since neither of them [the older of the two definitely knew better-notice how he "shushed" to the camera as they were sneaking past their parents' room?!] want to act like responsible kids). And yes, kids can be taught to be responsible for their actions. It's just not easy to do....

Very interested in your next part thanks for taking the time to write I'm going to hire a tux and really get into the spirit of the ship when I go why do it half assed is my motto .... my bil who is coming will be the complete opposite so I hope it all works out ...

 

I've watched titanic and want to be one of the first class passengers for an evening to match my wife's beauty for once ☺️

Good for you!!:cool:

I agree.

I know that on our cruise on BOTS in September 2018, there are additional cabin categories not shown on your attachment, (like 2 bedroom GS and 2 bedroom OS, to name a few).

:)

The "final outcome" on this was, as a good TA should do, she kept at it until finding someone who understood. The answer was most assuredly NOT that "A Royal Suite is a 4p booking and the fare is based on that." So it'll be just the $3800-ish for each of the two of us plus taxes and fees. She also noticed the Insurance looked on the high side from RC and was going to see if she could find something comparable for a more reasonable price.

 

On the "non-refundable deposit" she clarified that of the $1000 we put down for the suite, there's a $100 per-person change fee, and we can transfer the balance to another trip. So while there is no longer the possibility of RC refunding $1000 to the credit card, in the event of a change we have $800 to apply elsewhere.

 

As I told her: if non-refundable means "RC pockets our $1000 if we have to cancel or reschedule there might be some big-time changes in how we plan and book cruises going forward."

Is this in reference to my post comparing rates for 2 vs 4 people in a cabin? If so, you need to read it again with an open mind.

I just did a dummy booking comparing the rates for a cabin with 2 people occupying the cabin vs 4 people occupying the cabin. Both were done in the same cabin class. These were on an actual cruise on the Brilliance sailing September 17, 2018.

4 Passengers in a Cabin Fare Structure:

Guest 1 Cruise Fare $1,570.00

Taxes & Fees $83.25

Guest 2 Cruise Fare $1,570.00

Taxes & Fees $83.25

Guest 3 Cruise Fare $427.00

Taxes & Fees $83.25

Guest 4 Cruise Fare $427.00

Taxes & Fees $83.25

Discounts & Credits

BOGO50 $1,000.00

TOTAL $3,327.00

2 Passengers in aCabin Fare Structure:

Guest 1 Cruise Fare $1,570.00

Taxes & Fees $83.25

Guest 2 Cruise Fare $1,570.00

Taxes & Fees $83.25

Discounts & Credits

BOGO50 $786.00

Total $2,520.50

I hope this explains what I was attempting to say previously. If you go from a fare structure with 4 sharing a cabin to a fare structure with 2 sharing the same cabin, you don't just take the 3rd and 4th persons fares and taxes/fees off the total. The fares for the 1st and 2nd person are re-calculated as shown in the examples above.

(I would be very cautious if someone promised to just refund the 3rd and 4th persons fares without affecting the 1st and 2nd persons fares. In other words, once caught, there would be an adjustment to the 1st and 2nd passengers' fares to pay-sooner or later:eek:)

We always insure for medical evacuation and cruise costs when cancelled for medical reasons.

Unless you purchase Primary Medical Insurance, the medical insurance aspect of cruise insurance policies is secondary coverage, which means the primary insurer will be responsible first for the reimbursement-then if any left over bills can be submitted to cruise insurance for reimbursement.

Something also to remember-in many instances abroad, payment is required upon provision of services. (I had to pay for a 5 night hospital stay, including ER, ICU and cardiac cath placement, before departing the hospital. Luckily, I was able to charge it to 2 high limits CCs, and was reimbursed by primary insurer after returning home).

So, even when travelling in the Caribbean, we always purchase travel insurance!

You have to remember how this all works:

The fare for 2 in a RS is a certain amount (X).

The fare for 4 in a RS is an amount less than X for the first 2 passengers, and then even less for next 2 passengers.

If a RS is booked with 4 passengers, and then 2 passengers drop out, the fare refunded will not be 1/2 of the total fares. The remaining 2 passengers fares will be a recalculated (increased) to an amount based on a current booking with only 2 passengers occupying the room.

Do a dummy booking with 2 pax in a room. Then do a dummy booking with 4 pax in a room. You will see what I'm trying to explain. The fares are not equal.

Good luck!!:)

Completed the special needs form and submitted it yesterday.

Today, I received an email from Special Needs-Access Advocate at RCI, stating:

"Thank you for contacting us with this information.

One (1) gallon of distilled water and an extension cord will be provided for your use.

It will be placed in the stateroom upon your embarkation."

Really quick and efficient response from RCI.:)