Kugel

Found a great van service and used them in FLl and Miami. Name is :

I Show 4 U. His name is Scott and he was very reliable and friendly.

His number us 954-449-3508

I was really impressed and will use many more times. Have October scheduled already and next April 2017.

Has anyone used Athenstours.gr

I asked for a quote and website seems like a good company but who knows?

Any recommendation in Rome without selling my first born

Hi Livin Life, I did not get this email - can you share any more details?

 

Thanks!

This is the email I received yesterday. Again it was sent to agents and they are suppose to tell their clients.

Please be advised the Reflection 11 Night Greece, Turkey & Italy itinerary has been modified as detailed below.

11 Night Greece, Turkey & Italy Cruise:

April 25, 2016, May 16, 2016, June 6, 2016, June 27, 2016, July 18, 2016, August 8, 2016, August 29, 2016, September 19, 2016 and October 10, 2016

The overnight call to Istanbul, Turkey has been replaced with an overnight to the existing Athens, Greece single day call.

The new arrival time for Athens (Piraeus), Greece is 6:00 AM and the departure time on the following day is 5:00 PM.

The port order was revised due to this change.

The call time for Mykonos, Greece is 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

The call time for Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey is 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

The call port of Bodrum, Turkey has been added to the itinerary.

The call time for Bodrum, Turkey is 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

The call port of Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece had been added to the itinerary.

These changes were made at the request of brand leadership.

Sincerely,

Celebrity Cruises

http://www.celebritycruises.com

There's a discussion on the Celebrity boards -- a lot of people received emails yesterday from Celebrity about the Istanbul cancellation. If you booked with a TA you may not have gotten one.

 

Here's the discussion: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2283166

That is exactly what happened. The agents received it yesterday and asked to tell their clients. Also had to send back with acknowledgment that it was received. In other words if clients are not told the responsibility lies with the agent. Wish they would have given the real reason. If construction in the port is the problem then all would be cancelling.

I'll be on the Reflection for a June 2016 cruise. The website still lists the original itinerary calling on Istanbul. Where did you get the info about the itinerary changes for April through October Celebrity itinerary changes?

I received an email yesterday and told to tell my group. I would call Celebrity direct and ask them.

While I would be unhappy to lose Istanbul (we have been 3 times on Celebrity) I would be happy with the substitute of Crete. You did not say which port (we stopped at Souda Port (Chania) on two Celebrity cruises and enjoyed both our days there ALOT. Crete is a stunningly beautiful island and the people are friendly. We did a private tour and enjoyed Chania and its harbor but truly loved getting out into the countryside !!!!!

That is the port (Chania) we are going to. been there and loved it.

Just received notification from Celebrity that our October cruise and all from April through October will be skipping Istanbul. the changes are as follows:

Overnight in Athens and stopping in Bodrum Turkey. They added Crete, Greece and took away a sea day. So we gained a port. I have never been to Istanbul and the reason was " this change made by brand leadership"

I hope everyone in my group understands and stays with the cruise.

Definately do the canal tour. We did this in 2009 with Okey Dokey Tours. Just booked him again for january. He was the best tour operator we ever had and the tour A1 was terrific. I highly recommend him. he answered my first email within a few hours and has been emailing me every day for the last 4 days.

If no one answers you here, try asking on Trip Advisor.

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowForum-g155025-i50-Quebec.html

Thank you will try that also.

Looking for private guide to take 6 people to Ile D'Orleans and the falls.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

Thank you all so much. Trying to get a group made with some Mah Jong players and they need a square table. Wondering if they could set one up in the conference center if unused.

Is there possibly a space in the Crown Viking Lounge?

Is there a card room on the Majesty or somewhere that is set up for that?

It is an awesome room and does not feel like a hospital room. Extra bars in the shower that is all and the shower seat. Take it and enjoy the extra space. Amazing that you got it.

Susie51: I filled out everything including the passport numbers, and everything.

 

if gives me the option to print the set sail passes though, just not the official luggage tags.

If you have your set sail passes you can get luggage tags at the port worst case scenario.

Check on the main page "Before you board". An agent should be able to help you. I could walk you through it on a phone but not here. Try the before you board on top of the main page.

Good luck.

It's not the upgrade that's world class, it's the travel agent.

 

My anonymous travel agent is on an African safari right now. Been over in Tanzania for a week. Ahhhhhmaaaaazing pictures on facebook as she goes along.

 

So, today when I'm price checking I find an aft Jr Suite is available on our family cruise. Less money than we paid for our E2 balcony. It's Saturday, my TA is in Africa, so I call the D+ desk at C&A. They can't make the change. They call Resolutions. They can't make the change, BUT they approve a price protection for that single, one and only, JS. If it's still there when someone at the travel agency calls, we get it.

 

I call her office to see if someone is available. Nobody there. I call her parent agency. Nobody there. So, I do the thing I don't want to do: I texted her to see if she could have her office help do it for me here in the US. I told her DO NOT do this yourself; it's not THAT important. Just give me somebody from your office to do it.

 

(drum roll)

 

She is over there in Africa taking care of it for me. This woman is unbelievable.

 

Waiting to see if we got the upgrade............................................

Speaking from personal experience, that is what I was taught to do. If you cannot beat big online agencies then offer 24/7 service. Good for her! And good for you. So glad you got your Jr. Suite and price reduction. Stay loyal to her.

Does anyone have a copy of the 7 day planner for the Eastern Caribbean on the Allure?

Does anyone know if there are safes in the rooms?

We are 8 people and were told the van would be fine. Anyone actually on it that can comment on 8 people in the van. Do you think we can sit for so many hours comfortably?

Thanks.

Arriving in Marseilles end of October. What private excursions are recommended.

If you want a Meet & Greet that will be about the rate but there will be lots of limos at YVR and on a walk up basis a 6 pax limo will run you $55 plus tax and gratuity . Aerocar has this as a contracted flat rate with YVR.

 

http://aerocar.ca/rates/flat-rates/

thank you that is what we are going to do!

I'm 99% sure ell52 is correct that the hubster means Hon's (there is a chinese resto called Won More but that's down by English Bay). That branch of Hon's isn't one I've tried (I'm much closer to their Keefer branch) but in general the reviews for the whole chain (there are now 4 I think) are on a downward trend.

 

If you want noodles there are more options than you can shake a stick at downtown - many closer to your hotel than Hon's. Personally I think Jinya's pork broth makes it the best in town, and it's 300 metres closer to you

 

If it's a full-service Chinese restaurant you want, Kirin is slightly nearer the Holiday Inn than Hon's and is very well-respected. Pricier than Hon's though.

 

NB: you said Holiday Inn Express above but mentioned Howe St - the HI Express is waaaaaaay out east, almost outside the city. Be sure you name the hotel correctly to the driver, preferably giving the intersection (Howe & Helmcken for the 'Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Vancouver Downtown') to avoid any surprises - there's also the 'Holiday Inn Vancouver-Centre' on the other side of False Creek at Broadway & Heather as well as the Express out at Hastings & Renfrew.

Thank you it is Hon's. Also it is the Holiday Inn on Howe. Going to look for Jinya's also. We have been stay at HI express so much here in Florida I just automatically called it express. Actually we have stayed at the same hotel twice before. Much less than most and certainly good enough for 2 nights. Do not plan on being in the room much. Coming in late on a Wednesday night, Thursday going to Whistler for the day, Friday leaving for the port.

Thank you so much for the information. a few more things. The limo company that is at the stand at the airport quoted me $110 for the 6 of us to the hotel on Howe Street (Holiday Inn Express). Does that sound right to you? A taxi is about $35 but we would need at least 2 and maybe 3 due to luggage. Any other suggestions for someone to drive us?

also my husband is set on going to Won's on Robson because we did that a few years ago and he loved it. Is it okay or stay clear?

Thanks so much.

I think that strongly depends on how long you have pre- or post-cruise (I'd always prioritize Vancouver sites unless you're here at least 3 days). Assuming you feel you have enough time in Vancouver and can spare the time: if you enjoy mountain scenery and/or want to do some active outdoorsy stuff (go walking, mountain-biking, zip-lining - ski season doesn't overlap with cruise season) Whistler would undoubtedly be a good place for you to visit. The Peak to Peak gondola gives tremendous views, but is definitely not recommended for anyone who isn't good with heights.

 

If you're taking a bus tour (you asked about Land Sea elsewhere...) they may include a stop in Squamish for refreshments (I recall being taken to the Howe Sound brewpub on our Whistler bus tour which was excellent) and they'll definitely stop at Shannon Falls which is pretty impressive - make a point of stopping here if you decide to rent a car & do it yourself. I see Land Sea also offer a visit to the Squamish-Lil'wat Cultural Centre as part of the tour - again, if you go by yourself I'd visit this, it's a very informative museum with a great cafeteria (try the venison stew & bannocks).

 

The ride itself along the Sea to Sky highway provides a lot of good views - if you're driving yourself though do pay attention to the curves and frequently-changing speed limits, try not to get distracted by the scenery!

Thank you. We are not active at all. Two men just had hip replacements. 4 of us have been to a vancouver and done everything in our three trips prior. This is a van just for six of us. Thought it would be a nice ride with beautiful views and photo ops. Peak to peak is out for half of us. Figure a nice lunch, walk around the town a bit if there is a town to walk around, stop where you suggested and then back in time to clean up and maybe go to won's on Robson.