sailawayjack

On 1/20/2021 at 2:13 PM, boat babe said:

We will be taking a river cruise in Oct.  We will be spending several days in Paris and Normandy arriving in Amsterdam the day before departure. Where have y'all stayed in Amsterdam?  Thanks in advance 😊

 

chect out small boutique hotel Fita. Great location, breakfast and good rates. Stayed twice

On 1/20/2021 at 2:13 PM, boat babe said:

We will be taking a river cruise in Oct.  We will be spending several days in Paris and Normandy arriving in Amsterdam the day before departure. Where have y'all stayed in Amsterdam?  Thanks in advance 😊

 

check out hotel Fita. Small boutique hotel. good rate, breakfast and perfect location

How would you describe dress options for a viking ocean cruise to Norway in April

only sailing Celebrity now. Royal only with our grandkids. Azamara is too relaxed. With Celebrity there is a lot to do, the service is amazing and the same regarding the food.

:cool::cool:yeah but do they have any good bars where folks can get a good drink and be entertained? Like a martini bar for instance?

:cool:Back from Reflection sailing of November 3rd. Submitted review on Nov 18th. Resubmitted two days later. Neither has been published. Is it me or website. Have done others before not first time:cool:JACK HAS JUST SAILED

non issue now. I was on the ship at 11:03. Never believe a boarding time notice and get there early. Your cruise starts the minute that youboard:cool:JACK IS SAILING AGAIN

Not sure why you have to be so negative. The OP has asked a very legitimate question. ;) I know when I go out for lunch at work with my colleagues, if I'm not in the mood to tip that day I change out of my suit into sweat pants and a ragged t-shirt (the same ones I often wear in the MDR on a cruise for dinner) so that the wait staff don't expect anything from me. But I never wear a backwards ball cap as that would taking things just a little too far! :D

:cool:Are you really serious? Tipping is based on service, amount spent, food quality. All of these things are the same if you wear a suit or sweat pants. Tip should be the same either way, NOT HOW YOU DRESS:cool:

I have used romeinlimo twice now. They are prompt, have clean new vehicles, and courteous and knowledgable drivers. I have used them from airport to port and back, from train station in Naples to positano, and for day trips around the Amalfi coast. Large or small parties are welcomed. Enrico for Amalfi area is fantastic. I will use them again

What difference does it make if they are elderly? Why should they get a free pass? :rolleyes: They should be respectful of others just like everyone else should be. There are plenty of places to play cards and not take up room where people want to sit at a table and eat.

:cool: There are not as many places to relax and play cards, if that is what you want. I agree that during meal time you may not want to grab a table near a food location. BUT--other time, the tables in the Solarium are the only peaceful place to play. My biggest problem is people who get on board, immediately run to the buffet, and plop their butts down and wait until their room is ready. Eat, get out, explore the ship. Others want to eat also:cool: JACK IS SAILING AGAIN:cool:

I do not have to fly to my next cruise and so will not be limited to airline baggage allowance.

Does Celebrity have luggage restrictions on number of bags for checked in and carry on?

I am aware of restricted storage space.

:cool: you can bring all you want, HOWEVER use you head. Make a list ahead of time of what you actually need. This helps keep packing smart. Most people over pack. I use to. Making a responsible list eliminates this:cool:

Sailawayjack, question for you. We have also booked our shuttle through this company and were wondering about tipping for this servce. What is the standard tip amount for this service. First time in Rome for us and do you know of a local restaurant with good food. We will be staying at the Albergo Cesari for 3 days. Thank you.

 

Mike

:cool:You will love Rome. For an ideal trip you need 3 days. One for Vatican, one for Forum Area, and one for Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. I have been fortunate enough to have gone there four times. The best trip was a freeby sponsored by the Philadelphia Inquirer. The publisher himself went with us. The food highlight of this trip was a little-hole-in-the-wall restaurant near the Forum Area. Dagiggetto Specialita Romane. They had fantastic food.

As far as tips go--In Italy 10-12% is considered fine. Six of us went from Rome to Port for 170 euro. I rounded it off at 200. But it is up to you.

Have a great trip.

Sailaway Jack

We have booked RomeInLimo for all three of our Italy stops - and everything I have read about them has been top-notch. They have suggested that we use a private guide on our tour of the Vatican at a cost of 150 Euros. Just wondering if anyone has used the private guide provided/suggested by RomeInLimo and either glad they did or thought it was a waste of money. Perhaps others have used private guides through other tour services as well - perhaps they can comment on this question as well.

:cool:All transportation in italy (other than trains) is expensive. I used Romeinlimo this past fall for trans to and from rome to port. In addition, they met us (6) in Naples and we took an 8 hour tour to the Amalfi Coast, including Positano where we are returning this September. Vans we clean, drivers great and informative. Enrico, driver from Naples was highlight of cruise.

Going back to Italy. Have them picking us up at Naples Train, going to Positano and back, with 8 hour day trip around Amalfil Coast. I trust them completely, and have no problem paying their rates. Drivers speak English and are very informative:cool:JACK IS SAILING AGAIN

Most of your questions have been answered, but I concur with them. Our vatican guide was waiting in line for us and it only took a few minutes to meet up with her and get into the museum. The line was very long, so thank goodness we did not have to get into it. She (the guide) knew a lot of little known facts about paintings and we learned a lot from her. She took her time and we did not get behind big groups. It took a few hours, but was very enjoyable seeing all that history, especiallly the Sistine Chapel.

 

Our driver for both Rome and Florence/Pisa were vrey knowledgable and told us all kinds of facts while driving. We were only 3 and had a car, so it was easy to get in and out of places quickly.

 

As for Pompii, that is one place I haven't been yet, but would love to. I have heard it is a long distance for a day, so maybe you would be better off asking Romeinlimo about that one.

 

Have a great trip - I can't wait to get there in November myself....

I used romainlimo this past fall. Picked us up from airport hotel and drove us (6) to port. Clean vehicle, good driver and on time. Then they picked us up in Naples for 8 hour tour of Amalie coast. Great day and fantastic lunch. Booked then again this fall for positano area excursions. They respond quickly, and I trust them completely

:cool:for many years now, I have been one of Royals greatest fans. This cruise was my worse, and last cruise with Royal. :cool:It started out with Muster Drill. 20 degrees outside, and we waited 25 minutes while some clown told us not to throw marshmellows down the commode. Celebrity in Rome in October (75 degrees) held muster inside. Next problem--Port Canaveral. Took Canaveral Highlights, which my daughter gave us for Christmas. Never left port area. Saw small NASA Tyupe museum, saw Enterprise Car Rentals, saw locks on a river, and stopped at a fish market, where five of us left tour and took cab back to ship. What a joke and waste of money. Then comes Coco Cay. Usually my favorite stop. A tender broke down delying departure. One hour ashore then came the rain. Hopped on tender to return. Saw first tender spend over two hours trying to tie up to ship. It was cold, rocky, people getting sick, and we were sprayed with cold water. Spent over two hours on that tender. NEVER SHOULD HAVE GONE SHORE. Another Anthem decision gone wrong. I blame the captain. Kids--many, but usually they do not bother me. They need to have fun. BUT--as above, they had kid hours in Adult Solarium, but were in there all the time. Security got cussed out by one mother, and they backed down. Kids were in adult hot tub even though they had one dedicated to them. food was generally good except one meal. Ordered Thailand Prawns. Received 6 of the smallest shrimp I ever saw. Temtations Tribute band was best show. Sorry to say this, but Ernest Hemmingway wrote Farewell to Arms---Sailawayjack just wrote Goodbye Royal Caribbean:cool:

Hello! I am a diamond member with Royal Caribbean but really like some of the port options for Celebrity. Does anyone have any pros or cons that have taken a trip with Celebrity? Thanks, Susie

:cool:After many RCCL cruises, we tried Celebrity for a Baltic Cruise because I would rather go out of Amsterdam instead of Harwich England. Royal is best suited for families with children (leaving sat on royal with my kids and grandson), but Celebrity is best suited for adults. Menu is great (escargot every meal), martini bar is best on the high seas (better show there than in theather). More refined. Laster went on Eastern Med with Celebrity, and have scheduled a 14 nt southern carib for fall 2017. You become an elite with Celeb which is what Diamond is the same status. Just wish that the two cruise lines would allow you to add total points earned together. Try Celebrity, you will like it:cool:

:cool:Hey Disney sailors, check out the top of this page and see Host Mick regarding Disney Roll Calls. Not too many of you folks are reading and responding to the Roll Calls. Roll Calls let you talk directly with people who are sailing with you on your ship. Compare ideas, set up meetings, share info on hotels, trips etc. Other cruise line roll calls have hundreds of people on them. Disney has very few. Maybe you are new sailors with small children, but it is to your BIG advantage to join your roll call:cool:JACK IS SAILING AGAIN--this time with grandson

You're also paying the same price to cruise today as you did 5 years ago (according to Cruise F I S H prices for an average balcony cabin are currently around $200 per person per night, the same as it was in 2010), even though food, labor, and fuel costs have gone up significantly. You can't have higher costs and the same/better food and the same prices, one of those has to give. The market has spoken and told them that people would rather pay cheaper prices for food with the OPTION to pay more for better food as opposed to higher prices with better food included.

:cool:you are right but part of the fun of a cruise is the relationship that I build up with my waiter and assistant. I enjoy talking to them each night and we grow together each night. If I went to a speciality restaurant (which I have), you do not have time to socialize:cool:

:cool:To me, the change sucks. Part of the thrill of cruising is getting dressed up on formal night because we don't do that very often in real life. Standards have been lax on RCCL for years, and that was one reason we tried Celeb for out last two cruises. You will see shorts, T-shirts, ball caps soon enough. Why excellerate the change:cool:

ooh I do hope so

:cool:Why? It seems that whenever a new menu comes out, it gets worse. Now paying extra (specialty Restaurants) for food which we used to get in MDR for free:cool:

:cool:

 

I don't know a lot of young person's cars I would want, but I know of a whole lot of old men's cars I'd love to have

 

:cool:69 and still driving a Porche. Right on son:cool:JACK IS SAILING AGAIN

:cool:Celebrity has just dropped its standards. I used to say that Celebrity is what Royal will be when it grows up. No more. Part of the thrill of cruising is doing something which you normally don't do. Dressing up twice per cruise is exactly that. OR WAS. I know that I still could wear my dinner jacket, but standing out in a crowd is not what I tend to do. Some things change. They always do. BUT--when they do, they change some more. Prepare for shorts, t-shirts and baseball caps in MDR down the road. Maybe the caps will have to be worn forward:cool:

:cool:This news from Celebrity is disappointing. Part of the thrill of cruising was doing something more elegant than what you would do anyother time. I understand that things change, but everytime they do, they again lead to something worse. Next will be shorts and t-shirts allowed. I know that I could still wear my dinner jacket, but standing out in a crowd is not what I would want to do. Will it change my attitude towarde cruising? Probably not. It sure will change what I pack for my Royal cruise inb Feb. They will be right behind.:cool:

Just returned from 10 on celebrity reflection. Used. Romeinlimo for transportation to and from airport. There were 6 of us. Cost was 190 euro each way. In addition we had day drip from Naples along the amalfi coast, stopping at almandine and posits to. Cost for 6 in private van was 500 euro. Driver enrich was fabulous. Next fall going back and will use them again as much as I can

I tip everytime, by the 2nd day the waiter just brings me my Bud Lite and keeps them coming till I say I am done. Personal choice but I find I get great service tipping

:cool:I'm with you. Tip well at first and you will never have to wait for service. Take dollar bills for tipping and pass them out. I hand my cabin attendant $20 the first time we meet and state that this is just to make sure that my ice bucket(s) are filled twice a day. Get great service there also:cool:JACK IS SAILING AGAIN

To be honest I can afford to rent a different tux every night if I choose to but it's not a matter of expense is a matter of comfort!!

 

The dress code doesn't say you have to wear a tux anyway!

:cool: Which brings us way back to the original post----NO YOU CANNOT WEAR JUST A SHIRT AND TIE. lOSE THE TIE AND ADD A JACKET, SUIT OR tUX. And Mr. T--If that is what you do, then you are dressing as your host has requested.:cool: