Missus Makkem

Just back from a river cruise that ended in Amsterdam and we had an overnight onboard.

Please please be careful of all the bikes...they have right of way and believe me they zip along, also scooters and small mopeds use the bike lanes too.

Never saw one in the hundreds we encountered wearing a helmet.

Presumably cost (up to 6000 chocolates a night on a single ship every night will add up!)

 

And years ago

And 90% were thrown away.

Like I said - the SAME sheet feels very different if you dry in the dryer and put it on the bed vs ironing it. The ship I'm sure has an industrial mangle.

What about line drying it outside as we still do here in UK

Smells great if nothing else.

Really enjoyed reading your trip report, brought back a lot of memories from quite a few years ago.

We too are big, no huge Ocean cruisers mainly with Royal and Celebrity and took our first then second river cruise this summer, both with Viking.

Loved it, even took the bottom deck, no problems.

Staff were excellent food very good not the huge choices as cruise ships but the evening meals were excellent as was their wine with lunch and dinner.

The breakfasts and lunches were good too.

We only had the gratuities to pay at the end and these we did with cash in envelopes

The included excursions were brilliant and varied from 4 full bus loads to a tour with just 12 of us, excellent knowledgable guides who all spoke excellent English.We gave a small tip to those who we felt were good but then you know us Brits and tipping but none of them seemed to expect it.

Next week we are doing our first with Avalon and will be very interested in the differences.

On the independance at the moment and over 500 diamond on board , the coffee machine hasn't worked since we got on and the amount of free booze served in the first 2 nights from 5-8.30 would sink a battleship so can't see this perk lasting too much longer !!!

 

That was said years ago but at the price Royal pay their suppliers it will go on for a long long time.

Personally I think that the suite lounges should only be for suite guests, no matter of their loyalty status. If RCL goes the way of NCL that may be the case. We were in a Haven suite and their lounge is only for Haven guests. If I spent $$$$ for a suite on RCL I'd be annoyed to be dealing with the Loyalty members

So no RCI for you then?

Ah separated by the same language, thought the OP had had a fall not that they wanted to go in the Autumn.

There is a Port bus that stops at each of the terminals.....this is what the crews use.

Nice and cheap too, it runs into Miami then you can use the excellent Metro mover round town.

The Norwegian fjords are the best, made even better when you are up on Helipad and the Norwegian captain gives a running commentary on everything you pass by including his summer residence.

Spectacular!

Spoke to concierge on the ship and followed up to confirm with my PVP at Royal. Within the next month changes are coming to C&A program with the elimination of a lounge for Diamond members. They'll still get the 3 drinks loaded to their cards but will have to use them in one of the bars.

It was a good run while it lasted.

Which ship and which concierge?

Can you cancel before final payment date for a refund of deposit?

Probably not as this is against our Consumer laws and infact in UK if you place a deposit on an item you could be made to pay the full amount if you cancel your agreement but not many firms hold you to this but certainly you can loose your deposit.

Newcastle has an excellent Metro system and it is not too far from the Quay you should be berthed at.

There is also an outlet Mall next to where you berth called Royal Quays.

Let's make sure people are clear -- Gold Sea Pass cards are suite guests -- just not Junior Suites.

And Pinnacles.

Sailed many many times from Southampton with different lines too and never once tipped any of the shore side workers.

They are busy bees and just get on with their job and I have heard they enjoy it too.

Suites have access to the suite lounge and the Coastal Kitchen but Junior suites do not unless you are at a certain loyalty level.

So it could be worth it for the free drinks and the excellent dining in Coastal Kitchen.

Another thanks for your review, enjoyed reading it and look forward to our first MSC cruise next year.

Maybe the ice comment was because the machine was just outside our cabin and being Brits we are not obsessed with ice in all our drinks, well not in our tea which we like hot.

Giovannis chocolate cake....the best ever otherwise not keen on Royals desserts

Another yes fro Viking the only thing they did not do was bring ice.

There was an ice bucket in the cabin and ice station on each level to go get your own.

You ask about my thoughts on Bucharest...difficult to describe to people who do not go geo caching but that is what we love doing.

Our first visit and it was so so different to anywhere we have been in Europe and the people were great.

As for Viking , we loved it after so much ocean cruising it suited us to perfection we do nor want any whistles and bells just to be looked after and go places.

There included excursions for me were excellent and my husband usually hates bus trips but he tolerated them as he left us on our arrival and went caching.

Best for me was the visit to a locals home in Croatia and the Hungarian horse farm.

Off shortly on an Avalon cruise so will be interested in the differences.

Just done 2 river cruises with Viking this summer.....our first and found them to be very good indeed.

First one was to Budapest and the second to Bucharest , would recommend the first one as it was more scenic on the river but the second was a huge eyeopener for us and the places we visited and the people we met were fantastic

Loved Bucharest would return there in a heartbeat..

What is the colour of a Giraffes tongue.

What colour is Yak milk?

Who was Time magazines Manof the year in 1952?

Another vote for Budapest, so much to see and their public transport system is great, so easy by Metro, bus and tram too.

Just done our first river cruise on Viking and loved it.

Cannot wait to do another.

Bye Royal but never say never.