Northbay

Just got off a 10 day Caribbean cruise on Monday on the Vision and was served 2 large and very tasty lobster tails for free on the Dress up to Impress night.  Very satisfied with that.  I think it was Maine lobster…it certainly was larger than any others I’ve had on board in the past.  No upcharge.  However I did notice on the menu every night a price of I think $29.99 if you wanted to purchase lobster.

Hi.  I’m wondering if anyone who has recently been on the Vision can advise whether Diamond members are allowed to use the Diamond club on the Vision of the Seas, or is that just restricted for Diamond plus & pinnacle members?  It does seem to occupy a very small space on the ship, and I couldn’t find a Diamond lounge anywhere on the ship map.

On 10/15/2022 at 6:37 PM, kaisatsu said:

Definitely not if you have two separate tickets. If it’s a single ticket, you just need to be prepared for the possibility of missing your connection, but of course you’ll be rebooked.

 

It’s enough time if your inbound flight is on time, but if you are at one of the most distant domestic gates, you can’t dawdle at all. Since you’re not leaving the Schengen, you won’t have to worry about passport control, but you will need to switch to the international gates so you’ll need to walk at least a little. Worst case would be arriving at the auxiliary B gates on the domestic side, which can be a 10-15 minute walk to the terminal center. From there, the farthest Schengen gates are typically less then 10 minutes away.

 

For the most part, all of the gates are used by both Norwegian and SAS. If you are flying both, it’s definitely separate tickets and a terrible idea, since you’ll end up stranded if you have a delay and miss your connection. Personally, I would even want a little more time on a single ticket. An hour minimum and preferably 75-90 minutes just to have a cushion for delays (which are not uncommon at certain times of day and certain kinds of weather).

Thank you so very much for the info.  We’ll overnight instead in Oslo so we don’t have to rush around to make it on time for the second flight.  I see there are a couple of hotels with a walkway to the airport.

Hi.  I am wondering if you can advise about the Oslo airport and whether a 40 minute layover to change planes is enough time….flying from Tromso, Norway, going to Amsterdam with a 40 minute layover to change planes.  Is that enough time?  Or how much time would you recommend to change planes?

I have no idea what gates will be used by SAS or Norwegian Air.

Thanks so very much.

5 hours ago, gnome12 said:

@NorthbayFor your information, it is possible to edit posts within 15 minutes of posting. Click on the 3 dots at the top of your post, and, if you are the poster and within that time limit, you will see an option to edit.

Thanks.  I didn’t know that.  Nice to learn something new every day.

1 minute ago, Northbay said:

We were at the Movenpick Hotel in Amsterdam in May, 2 people, 3 pieces of luggage, and paid 41Euros for a taxi from the hotel to the airport.  We used Staxi vervoer, phone number 31207058888, they take credit card or cash. We were very happy with their service and the driver was very punctual and we would highly recommend them. We prebooked on line.  Clean Volvo vehicle.

The taxis outside the hotel front door quoted 60E for the same trip.

Their email address is info@staxi.nl

We were at the Movenpick Hotel in Amsterdam in May, 2 people, 3 pieces of luggage, and paid 41Euros for a taxi from the hotel to the airport.  We used Staxi vervoer, phone number 31207058888, they take credit card or cash. We were very happy with their service and the driver was very punctual and we would highly recommend them. We prebooked on line.  Clean Volvo vehicle.

The taxis outside the hotel front door quoted 60E for the same trip.

7 hours ago, catmandu73 said:

i am going on a cruise from Amsterdam August 19 around the UK.  When i took this cruise back in 2019 i used a shuttle service called CONNEXXION or something like that but don't believe they are in service any longer.

anybody have recommendations on other shuttle services or taxi services or   other shared services.

i am arriving a day early so am in no hurry to transfer from the airport to the hotel where i will have to wait to check in.

i am aware of the possibility of going to Central Staation and then taking a tram from there but traveling solo and pulling a bag is a bit much for me.

Thanks.

Cathy Berg

 

 

We are using Staxi Vervoer from the Movenpick to Airport tomorrow, cost 41E.  They 

are willing to store your luggage until check in or when your room is ready.

if you’re looking for something to do once you’ve dropped your luggage off, for storage, the hop on /hop off bus has a stop, stop number 2, called Passenger Terminal, right across from the Movenpick…. day rate for the bus is about 19E if memory serves me.

Tickets can be bought on line pre arrival.  

Cinque Terre.

42 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I've seen several posts on this. If the discounts applied are higher than the balcony discount, there might be no balcony discount or very little. I think I got $44 discount off one cruise. Depends on the discounts believed applied. If it's a group rate I think you get the whole discount or i did.

Thanks so much.  Today is the first time in a booking that I hadn’t seen it applied.

Does anyone know if they are discontinuing the balcony/suite discount for Diamond and above C & A members.   I’ve tried booking on line, and although they’re applying the second guest discount, on the current & ongoing sale,  it doesn’t seem like the balcony/suite discount is showing up.

Re hotel, we’ve stayed at the Hilton Barbados resort post cruise about 5 years ago, and would recommend, if staying there, booking a sea view room. Great views.  It’s about a 15 minute taxi ride to the port, and a little bit longer to the airport.

I’m so very sorry for your loss.   May he RIP.  Please keep in touch with your aunt as much as you can.   

2 hours ago, atricks said:

Just received the big cancel notice for our October 14th,2021 Hawaii->Sydney Transpacific Quantum cruise.  Just a refund, no other options.

 

We just received the same cancellation notices on our Radiance  Vancouver to Hawaii to Australia TP and Quantum TP.  Deposit refunded plus a compensation of $100 OBC for a balcony, if similar itinerary is rebooked in a month.   No other options after holding our deposits for 2+ years. 

8 minutes ago, Wine-O said:

Radiance is going to Miami for the 2021-2022 Caribbean season doing 5/9-day sailings.  Probably the ABC Islands and CocoCay.  That screws up our TP on 15 Apr 2020.  😕 🍷

Same here, with the TP in September 2021.  

I guess they’ll transfer us to the other ship, if there is availability.

3 hours ago, HicksRA said:

We’re booked on the Quantum TP 10/14/21 out of Honolulu and it has disappeared from RC’s website. Anyone have an idea what’s going on with Quantum’s TPs?

This was a L&S from the Allure TA. Seems like every time I get excited about another cruise it just ends up with another kick in the groin. 😏

We’d be interested in knowing too as we’re also booked on this one.  Lifted and shifted from a TA.

1 hour ago, Mark_UK said:

 

Would say an Eastern Caribbean (Allure) to a Western Caribbean (Symphony) on the same date next year be ok? We are thinking of switching to Symphony as we intentionally booked Allure as it was meant to be 'amped' (and paid a premium for that). 

I would think that should be possible.

If you go into your booking on the RCCL website, and request the option to lift and shift, you will find the various options available for shifting your cruise to, and the cruise price, (except for the taxes), will be price protected.

They have been allowing folks to shift from a TA to a TP.

Hi.  I have a question re lift and shift also on the Rhapsody.

if you lift and shift a TA Rhapsody that was booked with a refundable next cruise booking certificate does the new booking still remain as refundable? 

Thank you so very much.  

Hi,  would someone be able to advise us as to the name of a good 

Car rental agency they’ve used that’s closest to the port of Barcelona?

6 hours ago, NZ Sailor said:

Jill and I would be keen to join you for the Petra and Wadi tour. We were looking just at the Petra tour but looks to be a large bus so prefer to go with a smaller group. Rod

Hi Rod and Jill, a great big welcome.  We look forward to meeting you on board and joining us on our small group tour.  Anything organized by Duncan is always successful and a great time usually had by all.  See ya soon.

Liz

1 hour ago, Northbay said:

Hotel is wonderful, huge room with spectacular views from large plate glass windows.  Concierge extremely helpful.

Tackled the metro today, using the silver NOL card, but since it’s the weekend it was extremely crowded, but everyone was very polite and helpful.  Visited the Mall of the Emirates to see the skiing, sledding and penguins, and then spent a glorious couple of hours outdoors at the Miracle Gardens enjoying a spectacular array of flowers.  Absolutely gorgeous.  Temperature 66 C with a bit of breeze, so it  was very comfortable for being outdoors.

I’ll head back now to our regular board and leave the posting of photos etc. in your so very capable hands.

Correction.  66 F.

18 minutes ago, aussie cruzer said:

We are doing the QE2 tour on the Sunday @ 3pm if anyone wants to come along,tickets can be purchased on the day at reception. 

https://www.qe2.com/board/inside-the-qe2

 

Entry fee includes food & drink vouchers on board the QE2.

We may join you there.  It just depends on how exhausted we are after our week + here.

Just a bit of info re arrival at airport and visa etc.  

very smooth and quick procedure, with visa stamped on the passport.

No problems with medication forms or any questions asked re this, but we had our prescriptions in the original packaging, plus pharmacist form duly filled out, together with prescription by doctor duly signed.  This was something that was freaking me out before I left home.  

The only wait we had was collecting our luggage, about 45 minutes to retrieve same.

After disembarking plane, just follow the signs for visitors without visas.  Once visa stamped, follow signs for trains to get to baggage claim, a short 5 minute ride.  Whilst waiting for luggage we noticed the duty free store, ATM, washrooms, everything clearly marked in English.

As we left with our luggage, following signs for a taxi, we noticed Spinneys supermarket on the right hand side and stopped to purchase water etc.  Great place to purchase a few snacks and cheeses etc.  A great mini market.  Reasonable prices too.

Taxi ride to Gevora Hotel in the Trade centre area on Sheikh Zayed Road, 58 AED.

Very reasonable.  Very impressed with hotel.  Absolutely spectacular 180 degree views from our suite, with no buildings impeding our view of the Burj.  Great pool on the 12th floor and an amazing lobby.  So far, no problems with elevators, which were pretty fast, however for a hotel with 70 floors, IMHO I feel they should have installed more elevators.  

There also is an array of antique cars on the 12th floor with the original bat mobile.

The hotel also provides a free shuttle to the Mall of the Emirates and a couple of other places, however we used the metro instead of waiting for the timed shuttle.  Info at the metro booth was great, guy in booth selling tickets spoke excellent English and was extremely helpful.

Taxis are very reasonably priced too.

Weather today was 66 degrees, with a slight breeze, very comfortable for walking.

Hope this info can help others who may have some concerns.

The Horizon together with 3 other ships was in port today.  Had a beautiful view of it together with the QE2 from our room, even though it was far away.  DH got a great telephoto shot of it.  

19 hours ago, aussie cruzer said:

Liz,

 

Glad you arrived  safe & sound ,hotel sounds great.

 

 

Hotel is wonderful, huge room with spectacular views from large plate glass windows.  Concierge extremely helpful.

Tackled the metro today, using the silver NOL card, but since it’s the weekend it was extremely crowded, but everyone was very polite and helpful.  Visited the Mall of the Emirates to see the skiing, sledding and penguins, and then spent a glorious couple of hours outdoors at the Miracle Gardens enjoying a spectacular array of flowers.  Absolutely gorgeous.  Temperature 66 C with a bit of breeze, so it  was very comfortable for being outdoors.

I’ll head back now to our regular board and leave the posting of photos etc. in your so very capable hands.

On 2/28/2019 at 4:57 AM, aussie cruzer said:

Heading to Dubai next week for the Horizon cruise to Athens via Suez canal ,plan on posting heaps of photos and info.

 

Duncan

 

Arrived safely in Dubai, Duncan etc all.

Amazing!

No problems at all at airport.

i posted on the Pullmantur web page but for some reason it never went through.  

Will post later.

Long 12 hour flight, but so excited to be here.  Great view of BUrj Khalifa from our hotel room.  Looking forward to meeting up again.

Nice that you have started this as there is so little info on these boards.

Liz

On 2/28/2019 at 4:57 AM, aussie cruzer said: