new2cruise

I've noticed that Lori isn't responding anymore. Are the recent requests still getting a link to her blog?

We are using Viking air and will be getting into Amsterdam at 8:15am the morning that our cruise departs. We had hoped to be taken right to the boat, drop off our luggage and go right back out and explore. We want to take as much advantage as we can of the short time we have in Amsterdam. However, now I'm concerned that since we have an early arrival, we'll be waiting a long time for other passengers to arrive before the Viking reps take us all to the boat. Does anyone have experience with this?

We have to make a decision on a cabin on a Viking longboat. We are going to be in the Main (lowest) deck. Our choices are 107,109, and 113. Does it make a difference? Is there more engine noise/vibration towards the back of the ship?

Thanks for your help!

Thanks for your response. Could you help me find the thread you mentioned? Is it on this board or the River Cruise ports board?

I don't necessarily need a private tour guide. For instance, on another thread, someone mentioned that it was better and much less expensive (even adding in the cost of transportation) to go on your own to the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna because you could choose what you wanted to see, rather than having to go at the group's pace and see what they wanted to see. I checked on Trip Advisor, and it seems relatively quick and simple to get there using public transportation that leaves from very near the dock. This is just one example.

We are long-time ocean cruisers, but we will soon be going on our first river cruise. I understand that many tours are included, but that you can also choose to take optional tours.

We have found on our previous cruises that when we arranged our own tours rather than taking the cruise line's excursions, our tours were much better, had smaller groups of people, and were also less expensive.

We will be on the Viking Grand European and will be going to the following ports. Does anyone have experience with arranging your own tours at these ports instead of taking the cruise line's optional tours?

Amsterdam

Kinderdijk

Cologne

Koblenz

Miltenberg

Wurzberg

Bamberg

Nuremberg

Regensburg

Passau

Melk and Krems

Vienna

Bratislava

Budapest

Thanks for your help!

After using Rome in Limo three times and getting excellent service each time, there are a few things I wish I had known ahead of time:

1. Pick-up - Ask ahead of time where they will pick you up. Depending on the port, they may pick you up right at the ship, or you may have to take the ship's shuttle to a drop-off spot. Corresponding with Jany by email is quick and simple to do. She always replies within a day or two, sometimes within hours.

2. Water - Most drivers bring water with them, but I didn't know that. They offered it at the end on the ride going back to the ship. Had I known they had it, I would have requested it sooner! However, depending on the van, it might be in the back where you can only get to it when the van is stopped, so keep that in mind.

3. Van configuration - we had two different types of vans for 8 people. One had a single seat next to the driver, two rows of two seats and a row of three seats in the back. The other had two seats next to the driver, and two rows of three seats. It didn't matter to us which we got, but if it matters to you, request the type of van you want and I bet they'll be able to accommodate you.

4. Wifi - some vans offer wifi. We wish we had known this. One driver never mentioned it until it was requested and then said he'd only turn it on on the way back to the ship. A friend told us her driver offered it immediately without being asked and it was available whenever they were in the car.

5. English Speaking - while all the drivers were very fluent, some had a very strong accent that made it difficult to understand them, especially if he was speaking quickly. Also, the people sitting in the last row in the back often had a hard time hearing him. Ricardo whom we had on our Florence and Pisa tour was extremely easy to understand. (It could be because he had lived in the States for many years.)

Note that Rome in Limo is a transportation company. While the driver is very knowledgeable and will usually give a running commentary while you are driving from place to place, they don't go with you when you leave the van to see a sight. They will hire a guide for you at an additional cost if you want one. We hired a guide for the Vatican and Pompeii who were excellent and well worth the cost.

Drat, I even took a napkin which had the name of the restaurant, just so I could remember it. I can't find it, now, of course, so...I went to seek Dr. Google.

 

I believe there was a Terranova store on the same street, which got me the street: Via Cavour.

 

Googling "restaurant ravenna caffe cavour" got me to a Tripadvisor review of "Cafe cavour ravenna", which noted "This is a little gem, tucked in through an archway into a quaint courtyard, this cafe has both inside and outdoor seating."

 

Further googling yields "Caffe Corte Cavour". I believe this is it.

Wow! You are "a gem!". Thanks so much!

Thank you so much for this review! I have a quick question. Do you by any chance recall the name of the restaurant you went to have the tasting in Ravenna? Thanks!

Hi new2cruise,

 

Thanks! Feels good to have a "real" mom assure me that we didn't overreact!

 

Stef

Oh Stef, foster moms, adoptive moms, step moms, "second" moms as well as bio moms are all REAL moms in that we all love and care for and try with our utmost to do the best by the kids in our lives. We all make mistakes (hundreds of them, some bigger than others!), and we all are just flying by the seat of our pants because there was no "motherhood" school to go to. Sounds to me (not that I'm an expert, mind you!) that you and Tanja seem to have a natural understanding of how to care for kids and deal with the inevitable ups and downs of a family. The kids that pass through your doors are very lucky to have you two! You are very REAL!

OMG! As a mother of two (now grown) children, I can't even imagine the panic and anxiety you went through. Even though I knew that Tarik had to have been found (or you wouldn't be so happily reviewing your wonderful cruise), I still had my heart in my throat just reading your story, and sympathizing with your incredible worry. Glad to hear it all turned out okay (well, minus the injured knee)!

Even though it's not me you're asking...Our private tour (just the 2 of us) with RIL in Rome and the Vatican was amazing !

I'm so glad to hear that! I've been reading great reviews of their tours. Could you post a review telling us exactly what you did and why it was so amazing?

Thanks!

Did you use Rome in Limo for any other ports? I would love to see your other reviews on this cruise, but I couldn't find any on your blog.

Day 1 –Embarkation

 

 

.successfully hijacking a foreign cruise shuttle bus just is hard to top. [/i][/color]

 

How did I miss this?? Can you direct me to this thread?

And BTW, I only see icons at the bottom of the page. There aren't any on either side. Hmmm..... I guess i haven't paid for the "premium" Cruise Critic... jk in case someone starts looking for the "premium" content.

:DYippie – finally getting to the day by day adventures:D!

 

Ooooo- this is the part I've been most excited to see...not that I haven't enjoyed the rest! I've got a quick off-topic question though - What night of the cruise was the Meet and Mingle? Oh, and one more (sorry!)- how do you get those face icons in the middle of your post? Whenever I click on them, they end up in the title instead of in my post where I want them.

 

Thanks for all the time you're taking to do this!

Hi Stef! Every RCCL cruise we've been on had Friends of Bill W. meetings listed right in the Cruise Compass. It would only make sense that there would be Friends of Dorothy too. I'm so sorry you had to go through that!

Thanks for a GREAT review...can't wait to read the rest! One quick comment- I've read on other postings that people with reservations for MTD often had to wait longer than those who just showed up and walked right in. This is what we experienced on our last cruise on the Independence. From what you said, this didn't seem to happen on your cruise. Now I'm not sure whether to make reservations on my next cruise. Hmmmm...such a dilemma!

Thanks for your responses. I've searched the web without much luck to confirm if the synagogue takes Euros. Does anyone know for sure? Would the Buza II and most restaurants take Euros?

So it looks like we'll have to get kunas. Where is the best place near the Guza port for this?

I have another credit card question - we'd like to not have to get kunas for the day in Dubronik. Is it possible to pay for all of the following with a credit card?

taxi from port

Buza II cafe

cable car

synagogue museum

komarda cafe

You've already said that we can pay to walk the wall with a credit card

thanks for your help!

What about going back to the airport from the ship. Is it easier (and cheaper) to get a taxi or the ships transfers?

What do they usually use for flights to Europe? I'm going from Boston to Rome. Does anyone have any experience with that?

Kathy, Maybe I'm not looking in the right place, but I didn't see a link to the photos.

I haven't seen a lot of postings about the Navigator of the Seas. This will be our first time on that ship for a 5 day cruise ( Belize and Cozumel). Any info about the ship that you'd like to share?