Bilje

Thank you Gillhalfpint for the timings update, more irritation. I'm the original poster and it was only yesterday that I was given the official timings change which arrived via my TA. I've been wondering if We are entitled to compensation for the change of a stop in Brest, which I was looking forward to, to another sea day. I totally accept this can happen unexpectedly as a result of bad weather but this change was made before the ship had sailed. Does anyone have an email address for Thomsons where I can raise this.

We walked into central Venice. Took the people mover into P. Roma that only takes a few minutes. We followed signs for Accademia and wended our way in up and over many small canals. It was a lovely walk and although still plenty of people about it wasn't touristy crowds. We came back along the canal promenade. We didn't take the ferry across the Grand canal tomSt Marks Sq. as we have done that area before. I think each leg took about and hour.

please note the morning flight to Malaga from Newcastle has been changed. E ticket issued a couple of weeks ago had a revised flight time of 8.05am, changed from the original of 7.05am. Boarding pass printed today shows flight time of 7.15am. My Travel Agent who had not been notified confirmed this with Thomsons. Apparently the itinerary has changed too. One port dropped and Cherbourg dropped for Le Havre. I haven't checked this out as yet. Not a happy cruiser at all....very shabby of Thomsons at this late stage.

We booked this morning through out TA. At that point it could only be booked by telephone. We've been waiting months to book the Malaga to Newcastle repo in May 2017 so I'm a happy girl.

We also visited, or should I say I visited the Peggy Guggenheim gallery last September. My OH just stayed in the sun and whiled away his time.

We just strolled back and sat at a gellateria? to eat extra large ice creams with Baileys, yummy

Difficult to say how long it would take guessing an hour if you strolled without too much looking around and photograph stops.

All in all a lovely day celebrating our wedding anniversary.

We did a similar cruise last year. We too have holidayed in Venice, on the cruise visit we used the mini overhead railway can't remember what it's called to take is from the port into a nearby square. Then we walked via a very interesting route to the Accademia ie the area opposite St Marks Square then walked back. By a different route along the canal side. That isn't the Grand canal but the main shipping route. All lined with restaurants ice cream parlours etc. lovely.

ROVINJ was lovely, again we just wandered visiting sites we'd read about online and in guidebooks.

TRIESTE again did our own thing, a very interesting central square and a general wander about.

We were on Celebration last year when a few men wore long sleeved shirts with a waistcoat and bow tie on the formal nights. They looked very smart and relaxed too, my husband is considering doing that if we do another fly cruise to save on the weight of a dinner suit.

Thanks, what time do they do the drill?

Were doing a back to back on Celebration in September so in effect we depart twice from Dubrovnik at 11 pm. I've heard mention there is a sail away party at 10pm. What time do we need to be back on board on the evening and what time do they do the lifeboat drill. Naturally we want to maximise our time ashore and have an evening meal ashore. Thanks in advance.

Hi Mary, Jean here , lovely meeting up with you and the other CC roll callers.

We left Spirit yesterday, we had a full coffee tray and kettle setup in cabin 687 ....We were also fitted out with a new headboard and a stool was delivered. Will post reviews when I've done all the washing and ironing haha

Bilje

Hi Wizzbob have you checked out the Arctic Affair Roll call? A fair few folk have said hello and asked and answered questions. Those that want to are meeting at 2.30pm on Sunday 13th a sea day, meeting initially in the entrance to Horizons ...like you looking forward to the cruise very much, thermals at the ready! Jean

Cadiz is an interesting city which we did ourselves no problem. Extensive city walls cathedral old town. Just do a little google research.

Casablanca we enjoyed this on our own getting the shuttle in to the City centre. We liked the old town and market and wandered through the back streets to the very impressive Mosque. As none Moslems we couldn't go inside independently which was a disappointment but the locals were very friendly and interested in us. Don't expect there to be bars or cafés there aren't any in the old town. Seeing the day to day life of the locals shopping kids coming out of school butchers shops etc was great. We weren't interested in Ricks Bar etc even though I loved the film. Jean

Hi Malch are you on Arctic Explorer? We are, there are some interesting/informative posts on the Roll call. Just thought I'd say in case you didn't know, you may read but choose not to write of course.

Re tipping, several good ideas mind I'm not sure if the crew would spend money in Norway as it's so expensive.

Does anyone know what happens if you leave spare toiletries in the cabin at the end of the cruise can the staff take them?

Regards Jean and Bill

We went a couple of years ago, the ship ran a shuttle into the City centre and we did our own thing. Wandered into the souk/market and down to the mosque area. We couldn't enter the mosque as non Muslims but it was stunning from the outside. The area is bustling but felt very safe and folk were friendly especially the children. We weren't interested in Ricks Bar etched so would recommend you do your own thing.

Thanks for posting that number jem16. I booked a short cruise on line then spent 25 mins on telephone just to book a cabin. Seemed to be deliberate delay to extract extra phone costs. When I book at a TA I get them to price cruise then ring to ring Thomsons as to which cabins of my choice are available when I choose she asks them to hold, pushes computer key to book my cruise and then gives the booking number to the Thomsons person who books my cabin. Job done

There's a recent post regarding parking at Newcastle or more correctly North Shields, you may find it useful to read. Enjoy your trip it's another 7 weeks for us. Were doing the Arctic trip. Hopefully it will have warmed up a little currently Honningsvag is 4 degrees!

I am assuming you have prebooked parking. Yes you drop of luggage as mentioned above then drive round to car park area which is very close by. There are lots of helpful staff around. I seem to recall a shuttle to the port terminal building where you may have to wait prior to boarding. It is however within very easy walking distance from the car park which is what you would do if you were catching the daily DFDS ferry to Holland! When you've gone through security with your hand luggage the put you on another shuttle to take you to the ship...again it's a very short distance but the want to keep you safe I guess. If you are very early arriving at the terminal don't wait there but go to the Royal Quays retail park next door where you can have coffee/sandwich or go to the pub. The facilities at the port building are poor in my opinion

I'm happy to be corrected but I thought that from April all tourist Visas for Turkey, for visitors from the uk had to be applied for on line at a cost of £10. It could be there are arrangements for a cash payment for those not in the know I suppose.

we visited Reykjavik two years ago on a cruise. We didn't do an organised tour but wandered on our own, fabulous place. I cant remember its name but there is a striking new concert hall on the harbour side, looks like its built from honeycomb glass. While there we visited the restaurant /café just for coffee which was lovely and free refills.

I was hoping to have a brochure but my TA didn't have any yesterday. Details were available on line this morning. I've been really excited thinking about a fly cruise in the Adriatic but the price for a weeks cruise flying from Newcastle looked scary even for a low deck outside cabin, worse we actually want to do a back to back. Will visit TA tomorrow but not as enthusiastic as I was.....shame.

Thanks all, you've cleared up my queries. Were booked on Spirit to do Arctic Adventure in July and the AI is over £700 so that was out! I've been following threads re new home ports for 2015 and am hoping to see what Croatia itineraries are like, I believe they go on sale end of April so on the assumption early booking is the best deal I hope AI is included.

Hi, we are already booked for this year, paying as we go, but are starting to think about next summer. If we buy the drinks package how do you know what is included ie which drinks are classed as Premium.

As a couple can we order a bottle of white and a bottle of red with our evening meal.

Secondly if we met another couple and wanted to be sociable can we order drinks for them on our cards?

We don't want to be greedy or cheat the system just don't want to be embarrassed or caught unawares. Thanks

Booked on the cruise and now deciding on excursions. The all day one departing Hellesylt sounds interesting. Has anyone done it? What did you think. I would like to go to the top of Mount Dalsnibba. The info on Thomsons paperwork says we'll get to see M. D. Not sur what that means.

Can't decide whether to stay on ship to Geiranger and do the Dalsnibba half day one.

Thanks

Can't give you any info as to when 65 kicks in if you know what I mean. We opened a cooperative Bank current account purely because of the insurance. My husband had a heart attack aged 64 and the cost of insurance rocketed. I subscribed to Which Magazine and they suggested I contact Coop. The account costs £9 per month and covers us world wide. At first we had to pay a surcharge £35 comes to mind. As time has passed I ring the medical update number and declare the heart attack but now there is no surcharge. We are covered to age 80 if I remember correctly. Worth a look, the actual insurance provider is Axa.

possibly not exactly the same, my husband has exactly the same symptoms. it happened 10years ago, he took very ill at home with all the symptoms of severe sea sickness, no need for all the gory detail. he was hospitalised and no accurate diagnoses could be made so it was put down to a severe virus. He learned to walk again but always looks like a drunken sailor, but with a lot of laughter we just get on with life. Ive never come across anyone with a similar affliction. whether is was a coincidence he took ill after a 12hour flight 3 weeks earlier. Strangely he has never suffered from traditional sea sickness he used to crew on a yacht. surprising what you learn on cruise critic. !

After I wrote the above I went wandering on the internet out of curiosity. There is a difference in the symptoms so I now think there is a difference in their syndromes.

Whatever the cause folk deserve sympathy.