marazul
-
Posts
5,503 -
Joined
Content Type
Forums
Store
Blogs
Downloads
Events
Gallery
Posts posted by marazul
-
-
Ahh, fellow Oenophiles. DW and I never tire of visiting wine areas and vineyards when we travel. So we will mention the wine road (S222) that goes between Florence and Siena and takes one through the beautiful countryside of Chianti. For cruisers, this area is a possibility if you have a day in Livorno. Of course that means ignoring Florence (which is an amazing city)...but life is full of these tough decisions.
Hank
Hank, please!!! Shhhhh!
We don't want bus tours going down that road!
-
fa -
your cruise offers a tour to Cinque Terre. You would get a lot more actual sightseeing time on this one than on the others offered.
-
Anyone know if the tour is worthwhile?
Yes! Absolutely!
You see a lot more than the self-guided tour and learn a lot more.
-
The more information I'm getting, the more I feel like I may not even leave the ship.
I do not want to be in a car for hours and hours and it doesnt appear to be anything nearby. Any recommendations?
I am travelling with my father and his wife who are in their 80's and i just wanted to book a tour that would provide us with a overview of the area with hopes of one day returning.
Two options.
1. Go to Cinqueterre, or
2. Go to Lucca
Google them both and search these boards for lots of info on both.
And look at a map.
-
Sorry to hijack OP's thread. I'm in the midst of outlining an itinerary for a trip to Spain in November. Originally, was going to do 5 nights in Seville, 2 in Córdoba and finish with 4 in Madrid. But, have been second guessing whether to grab a day each from Madrid and 2 from Seville to add Malaga. We've already been to Granada, so my original thought was to focus on the Western part of Andalucia, with day trips to Ronda and another town from Seville and skip Malaga. But, Nerja looks interesting, and weather might be a bit warmer in Malaga. We'd also day trip to Toledo from Madrid.
Carlson Club changing their free night awards at the end of May has forced me into some early itinerary planning.
Forget Malaga if you have already been to Granada. Malaga is a tourist beach town. Nerja is not worth changing your original plan which is very good.
Ronda and Jerez de la Frontera are very good side trips from Seville in the unlikely event you run out of things to enjoy there.
-
We will dock in Marseille. RC excursion options include City tour including Notre Dame; Aix-en-Provence; Cassis train tour; or St. Remy & Les Baux-de-Provence. Any suggestions? Reviews/comments?
My choice would be:
1. St Remy and les Baux
2. Aix (a very close second place)
3. Cassis
4. City tour (distant fourth place)
Also look at options for private tours on these boards. If you have a long day in port you could go to both Avignon and Les Baux passing by St Remy. That would be my best option. Or you could easily combine Aix and Cassis if you prefer. Don't forget, ship tours waste a lot of time rounding up passengers, long lunch stops, restroom breaks, etc. You can see a lot more on a private tour.
-
Or...we could even go in another day earlier making it 3 days/nights in Sevilla.
That's the best plan. It would give you a little extra time to get over jet lag. Sevilla is totally worth it! It may even give you time to go to Cordoba (1 hour 30 minutes each way by car or 45 minutes by AVE train) to see the Mosque-Cathedral and the Old City. In fact, go two days earlier. :)
-
In addition to museums, you can also purchase the Paris museum pass at airports (both CDG and Orly).
Arrivals - available at the tourist information desk:
CGD: Terminal 1, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f
Orly: Sud Terminal & Quest Terminal
I highly recommend buying it at the airport. Don't take chances on lines at the museums - you never know!
Besides, you can ask questions and pick up a lot of other info, maps, etc. at the information desks.
-
A fellow cruise mate read there is a "small train" that goes up to Grimaud from the port. Do they run regularly or is the bus a better option:confused:
No idea. We always drive.
Google Grimaud and tourism. You should get to the local tourist board that would have info on that sort of thing.
-
We aren't really sure what to see while we are there. Any suggestions?
Which port? Provence extends from the Rhone river to Italy.
-
We are going to take the ferry from St. Tropez. Can't decide which one to go to now or can we do both??? We are in port from noon till 11 pm.
Grimaud is inland from Port Grimaud. It requires additional transportation. It should be possible to do both, but be very careful with the schedules.
For example:
-
This appeared yesterday in the Washington Post:
The tide may be turning in favor of fair wages and against tipping.
It certainly would eliminate the practice of customers of punishing or rewarding employees instead of complaining or praising to the management.
This is a great quote by a restaurant owner:
“The idea that if you get bad service, you get to punish the server — that’s awful,” said Cohen. “All the negative comments have been, ‘But what if the service is bad?’ And my response is: ‘Then complain, say something to the manager, let the restaurant take care of it.’ Not, ‘I’m going to decide how much I’m going to pay you for your job.’ Nobody works that way except servers.”
And by an industry expert (and by cruisemom):
"Tipping boils down to guilt, says Michael Lynn, a professor of consumer behavior and marketing at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. “I personally believe that most people tip because of social expectations, and they want to avoid the disapproval that comes from violating that — which means they’re giving up money not to get anything, but to avoid a negative outcome,” said Lynn. “That suggests to me that overall, they would be better off if they didn’t have to tip at all.”
That's the way it works in Europe and most of the rest of the world. There are no "social expectations" that the customer should tip.
-
We are using the same guy for 7 days and for transfers. He is the owner/driver-guide. I will be paying him 2250€. That is a ton of money. I'm not sure I owe anything more because he is getting the entire amount.
We used him in the past and paid for his meal. I know I will be doing that again this time. I am not getting any type of discount for multiple bookings. I am also bringing him a few things he said he would like to have from the US.
Melozone - You are right.
b-cruise - saying it depends on service and attaching a percentage to it is the US model. Don't forget, the customer always pays the same full price under either model. In the US you pay your bill plus tip to make up for full wages. In Europe you are charged more for the bill so the employer can pay full wages. In the end you pay the same either way. There is no need to over pay. On a private tour, a set amount (5, 10, 15 euros depending on service and length of tour) or buying lunch or afternoon snack for the guide is more than adequate to really show appreciation for good service.
cruisemom said it best: "I think most Americans have it so deeply ingrained that not tipping will look cheap that they simply can't bring themselves not to do it."
-
Yes. No problem at all. Go to Aix in the morning so you can also see the market. Go to Cassis in the afternoon. Have a late lunch by the sea and take the boat ride to see the Calanques. 11 hours is more than enough time for both.
-
Now I'm a bit confused! 658 is still more 'midships' though isn't it? I know the further you are down the bow end the more likely to get anchor noise. Although it's next to the main stairway, I don't suppose there would be too much guest noise, since it's not on the club deck for example. Would you still go for 658??
Anchor noise is definitely not an issue on either 621 or 658. It may be an issue in 401 and 402.
Other noise - guests, stairs, etc - not an issue either in 621 or 658. Truly, you can flip a coin and be happy with the outcome. Yes, 658 is slightly more to the center.
-
I agree with you and I much prefer the European and Australian models. However, in the States we seem to be going the opposite way. Places like Starbucks, where they do pay minimum wage or better, encourage tipping. It's annoying to me and must be confusing to visitors.
I am with you preferring the "fair wage" model. Interestingly, our local newspaper had an article recently about a couple of restaurants (not sure where exactly) that started paying full wages to their employees. One posted a "no tipping" sign, the other posted a "tipping optional" sign. Let's hope it is the beginning of an opposite trend.
Overall, I think it is best finding out about and respecting local norms. To go overboard with tipping because you always tip well at home is like saying you will drive on the right side in England because you are a very good driver at home. But can't fault erring on the side of appreciation and generosity. Within reason . . .
-
A little warning. La Merenda does not take credit cards.
-
Thanks for helpful opinions. So the person who said they would go for 658 - was the reason that it is more central? I suppose it would have the advantage of being close to all the social amenities.
I mistakenly thought it was more central to the ship, but I have been corrected.
621 is only one elevator ride away from the Observation lounge. 658 is closer to other areas.
-
Yes, but the employer is required to keep track of how much the employee receives in tips, in order to withhold taxes on the amount, and also because if an employee does not receive sufficient tips to bridge them to the minimum wage, the employer must pay the difference. Therefore, the employee will always earn at least the minimum wage rate.
Agree. But the issue here is whether to tip or not. That is, who is expected to pay the wages - the employer or the customer? If it is the customer, then the customer tips, like in US restaurants. If it is the employer, then the employer pays the full amount, as in a US department store or anywhere in Europe.
In the US, there is no expectation to pay tips to any $7.25+ minimum wage employee. In the US, there is an expectation to tip $2.13/hour employees. In Europe, all employees are compensated with at least the same minimum wage and there is NO expectation that the customers make up the difference in wages because there is no difference in wages.
-
In the US, the Federal minimum wage is $7.25 (more in some states), but the minimum wage for employees who receive tips is $2.13! In other words, the customer, not the employer is required to pay the wages. And, what's more, the customer is often "guilted" into paying higher and higher tips. In the US, you are not expected to tip full pay employees. For example, you would never think of tipping the cashier at Wal-Mart. Why? Because he or she is paid at least the ordinary minimum wage.
In Europe and most of the world, all employees are paid at least the same minimum wage. Employers are supposed to pay their employees for serving the public. The customers are not supposed to make up for the employers' payroll.
That's why it is not the custom to tip employees in other countries other than a token appreciation in the service industries. That is why many professional guides, drivers, etc consider it an insult to be tipped. Many others, of course, think: "Hey, if the fools want to throw money at me, I'll take it. It's their loss."
Yes, it is a cultural "thing." Don't carry your economic expectations to other countries.
-
Glad to hear these comments about no noise from elevators. I have a choice of 621 or 658 on Seabourn Sojourn. 621 is right next to midships elevators so I was concerned about elevator noise. However 658 is the very end cabin adjacent to the main stairwell. Any opinions please on the best choice??
If your concern is noise, it is not an issue on either cabin.
If you are going to Antarctica or TA, I would pick 658 because of less possible motion. Otherwise, no difference.
-
On our last Med cruise a couple of years ago we met people who went on this excursion. They said the lunch was excellent, but not worth the price. Have a wonderful lunch at la Sirenuse or elsewhere and save the credit for the spa or some premium wine, etc.
We might be on your cruise. We are planning to go to Positano on our own.
-
Cannes-St Tropez would be feasible if you rent a car. The drive along the Esterel is quite beautiful. However, you are better off, because of distance and transport options going to MC.
-
Yep, assume was the wrong word... :D
I guess I'm looking for feedback from others who have dealt with this.
The guide will normally tell you if it is ok. If not, ask.
In any event do not leave anything of value there. A not so new jacket, guide book, etc, should be ok. Never your purse, camera, etc.
museum pass for Paris,
in France Ports
Posted
You can also buy it at most FNACs (the French Barnes & Noble). There is one across the street from the Louvre. They are listed at the museum pass website.