jtsbusiness

Thanks kassie.   I was thinking about going to see mt Wellington and a friend had recommended the Mona exhibition.  Hopefully I can do both.  I had no idea Hobart had played such a role in the Antarctic and might try to fit that in also.  

Great advice. Many thanks

Thanks Denise.  That's what happens when you make spontaneous decisions without checking details.  I ought to know better!!

Thanks again everyone for your great advice. I looked at my confirmation email and found the worst scenario that I have left it too late!

Stupidly I had not thought to check there😟

Thanks.  I had looked at this but couldn't see how.  I went into manage bookings, but couldn't find the details.

Thanks so much for your detailed replies.  I need to make a decision now!

I have booked a rather expensive ship's tour and I am now having doubts as to it's suitability.  Can I cancel the tour.  I don't go on my cruise for another 2 weeks

Is it easy to book in port?  I was always afraid that there would be limited availability

Thanks Dunelm and RubyredDeb for your info.  The places sound wonderful.  Dunelm can you tell me who you toured Queen Charlotte Sound with and RubyredDeb who you toured with in Tauranga?

Really looking forward to going.

Thanks Lyndarra.  This is just what I am looking for.  It sounds as if I can make my decisions on the day, depending on the weather.  I want to see as much of the country as possible but don't want to be stuck on a tour bus.  I too am on my own now and find it difficult sometimes to make those decisions, but so looking forward to the cruise.

Does anyone else have any suggestions please?

Mine is from 1 February

Thanks Colbe.  Very useful, although not a fan of visiting cinema venues.  I will probably be in a lot of trouble from my grandson who is an avid fan

I am due to cruise on Noordaam at the beginning of Feb and wonder if anyone has already done this cruise.

I am travelling alone and wondered if anyone had suggestions for trips.  I am more of a scenery and local culture kind of person and hate trips that are fabricated for tourists.  Quite happy with HOHO buses but need to know what to look for but quite happy to go on an organised trip if it is worth it and allows me to appreciate my surroundings.  I appreciate it is all subjective but really could do with some help.

Going to Hobart, Port Chalmer, Akaroa, Picton, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, and finally 3 days in Auckland before flying home.

Really would appreciate some help PLEASE

Thanks for this detailed port synopsis.  Really good and just what I needed.

Are the shuttle buses free or do you have to pay for them?

For purely basic needs do you require nz dollars and if so how much do you think you need? I usually use cr cards for everything

Thanks everyone for your replies.  I did find the information about the buses but hoped somebody had used them so they could advise on how good/easy it was to use.  I am in my 70s and travelling alone so do not want to be left stranded anywhere!

Visiting Hobart on Holland & America in February 2020 and wondered whether anybody had used the above buses to go to Mt Wellington.  It seems a much cheaper way to sight see, and does not take as much time as other tours.

Any other recommendations for cheaper sight seeing than advertised trips please

Has anybody been on the Corinthian Canal tour. I have "done" Athens and wondered about taking this 6hr trip. Is it worth doing please?

Has anybody used the Easy Luggage transfer from St Lucia train station to the cruise terminal in Venice?

I am worried about how to get from the station to the terminal with a heavy case as I understand you have to climb lots of steps over a bridge and I saw this service advertised.

Thanks

Thank you everyone. It looks like I can take my walking shoes and enjoy the local scenary. Just praying now for some good weather.

The Canal tour sounds good for Athens as I have toured all the main sites and agree the traffic and hubbub is frantic. We had a fantastic taxi driver that collected us and took us to the Accropolis before the crowds got there. Fantastic!

Vicky do they have a Singles meet on the ship? They did on the Princess and Celebrity ships but have not seen any mention on Vision of the Seas.

Thank you for your good wishes:)

Thank you. I did but there's nothing recent and they were not on RCCL.

I had hoped for more recent help.

I am shortly going on a RCCL cruise to the above mentioned places and would dearly love some recommendations of what to do and where to go. I fear a lot of places might be shut as they seem to be closed from end of October and I will be travelling in November!! (Bad planning!):eek:

I will be travelling alone on a limited budget and in the past I usually tried to go 'local' when I went with my husband. However I am not sure how safe this will be on my own. Maybe I would be better with ship tours, and again any recommendations for these would be brilliant.

I wondered whether I could safely walk around Kotor and go to the top of the hill for site seeing. We have 5 hrs there but as we dont dock until 2, I feel I will probably have no more than 3 hrs to wander around before it gets dark.

We went to Athens a few years ago and took a fantastic taxi tour round all the ancient sites so would like to do something different this time. 8 hrs in the afternoon, so again probably only 5 hrs before it gets dark.

I have never been to Corfu, Crete or Kefalonia but they are places I have always wanted to visit. Corfu is again 5 hrs in the morning. Crete wll be 8 hrs morning and afternoon and Argostoli will be 7hrs.

I love to get the feel of a place and meet local people as well as absorbing the local history.

Any thoughts would be very very welcome

Thanks everyone for your helpful responses. I am virtually on the break even line so think I am going to go for it and then I know I can have what I want when I want it without worrying. It also helps spread the costs as I have to pay now.

Hope it has also been helpful to others and perhaps those going in next couple of weeks can let us know how they get on - both for and against.

I was interested in reading that someone was planning to bring their own wine on. I didn't think this was allowed for consumption on the ship.

Again many thanks

Could you give me an idea of drink prices on board. I am trying to decide whether or not to go for a drinks package. I usually drink wine with my dinner and maybe a gin and tonic or cocktail.

It is really good of you to offer to help while on holiday

I'm sure this has been asked on numerous occasions but cant find a link to it.

Each day I will probably drink 2 - 3 glasses of wine, plus one or 2 gin and tonics or cocktails of the day. I am not a coffee drinker so don't need speciality coffees.

I can't find a link that gives me the actual prices of drinks on the ship (Vision of the Seas) so dont know whether it is worth purchasing a package or not. I realise you have to add on tax etc but again not sure whether they add this on extra for the packages.

I will be going in November this year and have never been with RCCL before

Any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks for your help. It looks as if I would be better getting off at Maestro station if my ticket allows. It has been organised by TA to go to St Lucia.

Thanks for your help. Apparently the train comes in at St Lucia station.