jenZ

I have never been to Hong Kong but in researching for my future trip, I have found a private transfer for the same price as a taxi/uber.  The advantages of a private transfer are: prepaid so no HKD needed PLUS a meet and greet option with your driver at a designated spot within the airport.  And a pre-determined cost for extra luggage, as I understand that taxis can only accommodate 3 large pieces or there is an extra $5 charge per luggage.  Try Mozio (an app for booking transfers; have not used myself) and Rome to Rio (web-based or app, recently bought by Google. Once you plug in your to/from destinations it will show all the options & costs of each with directions on how to access).  Also as another option, consider the Airport Express; you can pre-buy tickets via Klook or the Airport Express.  While this is not door to door (shuttle to main hotels at the MTR destination), it is supposedly the quickest without traffic delays if you arrive during rush hour as well as most comfortable with clean facilities with wifi.  And the Airport Express offers free luggage porters.  Not sure how that works exactly (are they at the baggage claim area?!)  Both methods are susceptible to protest impacts: access roads to airport & exit at MTR stations. So I haven't decided yet which way to go, yet.  Maybe a field decision at the airport and using Uber is the most flexible with built-in contingencies.....

Found this interesting article from a travel security expert:  https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/hong-kong-protests-travel-advisory-security-outlook-airport-mtr-11863852

 

A few helpful tidbits.

hmmm.  I checked my hotel and it is the same price as has been tracking all summer.  However, the exchange rate went down after the airport shut down and I saved $100 by booking then.  

 

Thanks @Sky shield for the local update.  I had contacted my hotel and they gave the same assurances.  I respect that Hong Kongers are protesting for their freedom and way of life.  I trust it will continue to be orderly.  An historic time to be in a great city.

For consideration, depending on what activities you do before you head to the airport:

1) I have read that some hotels will hold your luggage for a nominal fee/ tip. The finesse is knowing which one in advance!

2) At the airport there are showers for a very nominal charge ($12 pp). As well as other options including a separate place with foot massages ( but did not see the prices)

http://www.changiairport.com/en/airport-guide/facilities-and-services/pay-per-use-lounges.html#t1

3) also, if you google it, there are photos of public chairs that people sleep in. Some look very comfy!



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The Andaz is just a year old and fabulous. Beats the Swisshotel by far!
 
You can’t walk to the port from any hotel. Take a taxi, very inexpensive in Singapore.
 
Another option is the MRT. The Andaz has a private entrance to the Bugis MRT station. 
 
You can also take an MRT to the airport. Uber is also an option for around 20 USD.

Thanks! I know it is a beautiful hotel with a unique room configuration. Since we only have 2 days, I am wanting to be close to the action! But one of those days will be going to the Botanic Gardens and definitely won’t be able to walk there from anywhere. So a nice mid-day pool break is probably a good thing!


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Another time we stayed at the Andaz Singapore - which was fabulous. 
The rooftop infinity pool is nice and quiet, the service is personal and amazing, their rooftop bar offers beautiful views and hotel guest enjoy a happy hour with free wine etc.
We just booked the hotel again for February.
 

I have reservations here for October. Did you find the location walkable to the Harbor or did you take other transportation? And how did you get to the airport from the Andaz? Thinking about switching to the Swisshotel The Stanford - newly renovated and closer in.


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Thank-you for posting. Very nice write up.


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Awesome!

 

I was hoping you entered because I figured you would win! Good call to just be yourself. I enjoy your trip reports because of your ship and people stories.

 

Congratulations and happy to share your joy 🤩

 

Jen

 

 

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Sorry to slightly hijack the question, but it is linked - do you know if you can book both the 'cruise now' and 'cruise later' for friends? We're on a cruise end of August but want to book for ourselves and another couple for a specific cruise in September next year.

 

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Yes, you can book for others while onboard and receive the onboard booking offer for others. You need: their Celebrity Captain’s Club numbers ( or, if first time cruisers, all their contact info including email address) plus pay the deposit.

 

 

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We know the items to try are conch; fritters, salad & soup. Any other items not to miss while we are there.

 

 

Try cracked conch. A conch filet that is flattened, pounded until lacey/soft, and lightly fried. Better than lobster , IMO. [emoji41]

 

 

 

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The key phrase:

 

Booking a Concierge cabin which would have given us 2 perks (part of the onboard booking extras)

 

It would seem that the logic applies that IF the extra onboard credit for booking onboard follows with your booking, THEN the extra perk that was also an incentive to book onboard ( where two perks were not part of an ongoing general Fleet wide Celebrity promotion) would also follow with the booking number.

 

The slippery slope is that if you didn’t book a concierge at the time then that extra perk is not recorded in code as

part of the booking. So it would seem it would have to be added manually.

 

Therein lies the rub: it could be argued

both ways!

 

Good luck finding the right person to add it into your changed cruise!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I was on this cruise ( nice meeting you, Paul! You weren’t at the martini bar late one night- it was empty!- when my friend and I did our pole dance show! Ha,ha! We had to work off our late but wonderful Murano meal )

 

My DH and I walked the ship daily, various times, and I was amazed that I saw someone shooting hoops every time! Fun to watch as you make the bow turn.

 

(have read that future renovations will turn this into a suites only lounge. Probably a better use of space; hope they keep the walking access though I imagine that might impede on the privacy of the lounge? hope they also keep the solstice deck open to all... a great place, but underused.)

————————————————-

 

After a little meandering we ended up at the basketball and arcade. Nothing says fun like a few poorly coordinated drunk guys in suede loafers and jackets playing basketball.

 

 

 

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We traveled with 16 once and had two tables of 8 with the same wait staff. The seating was fluid, with first arriving choosing which table they wanted to sit at and therefore the mix changed nightly. The wait staff accommodated us very well.

 

However, I prefer a table of 6 for dinner conversations. [emoji6] On a round table of 8 you really can only communicate well with the person on either side. So there ends up with multiple conversations, difficult to hear or participate. You do get to share good bottles of wine and see more food choices! And if some folks end up with alternative plans on a particular night, then the table still has a good mix.

 

All good either way! Enjoy your cruise.

 

 

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You will be surprised to see pricing after final payment. I have learned my lesson few years ago.

 

Our last TA on Silhouette in 2015 - we booked the first day schedule was opened. Got our AQ cabins. Prices were somewhat high. We watched pricing climbing over next 12 months and after final payment - almost 40% price drop. Going on Reflection TA next week. I booked 2D large balcony a year ago. After final payment for $500 total got upgraded to AQ.

 

 

 

Just followed pricing on transatlantics this year, and noticed the lowest pricing was just before final payment. The price has risen steadily since then.

 

 

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Is there the reverse? If you are dropping off a car rental at the airport, is there an airport car rental bus that takes you to the port?

 

 

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Guess I didn’t read far enough: It appears the answer to my question is no. Thanks Literacy Lady for the update.

 

 

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If you are renting a car at the airport, there is an airport car rental bus which picks up in a designated spot. No charge.

 

 

 

 

 

Is there the reverse? If you are dropping off a car rental at the airport, is there an airport car rental bus that takes you to the port?

 

 

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Thank-you for sharing. We will be in Lisbon for the first time in a few weeks. We are looking forward to exploring and your photos help build up our anticipation!

 

 

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[emoji3][emoji3][emoji4]

Since our last cruise, my husband has some serious lung problems and can not walk as well as he could before... We were wondering what level we needed to be on for dinner for 2nd seating..

 

 

 

Cruisehappy gal... and my guy....

 

 

Hello Cruisehappy gal ( and your guy!)

 

Just a follow-up regarding which deck traditional seating is on: Latest intel is that apparently it varies, depending on the amount of registered select diners.

 

On my last Reflection cruise 5/2016, traditional/fixed dining was on the lower deck as has been reported here. However, I have read recent reports where Select dining is assigned on the lower deck (3) and traditional dining is assigned to deck 4. On my most recent cruise on the Infinity 5/2017, it was this way : Select on Lower, Traditional on Upper.

 

Given you are trying to plan in advance to make this as easy and enjoyable for your guy, perhaps a call to the Captain’s Club would give you more insight for your cruise. While I doubt they know the answer, especially far in advance, there may be a method to inquire about the trend: is it always upper deck now for Traditional dining? Or does it change per cruise?

 

Captain’s Club phone number: *(800) 760-0654‬.

 

( I think [emoji848]; I have two numbers recorded!). I have always been pleased with the service I have received.

 

Good luck and I hope you have a wonderful cruise!

Jenz

 

 

 

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4 weeks to TA; 25% off drink packages. Same sale as in December. Guess that means no online BOGO before sail date!

 

So what happens on-board? ( and does the answer vary depending how successful this sale is? I know the answers are hypotheticals!)

 

Trying to develop a strategy I can live with for my first TA- not big drinkers but we are on vacation!

 

A) does pre-cruise sale of 25% off eliminate an on-board BOGO?

 

B) if there is a BOGO on-board, can you buy it and get credit for whatever drink package you purchased pre-cruise/online?

 

C) if no to both of those, speculatively of course, can you negotiate with bartenders ( have heard of 30% off)

 

D) if you buy a package pre-cruise on sale, how likely is it you could upgrade on-board at the sale price (25% off) or more than 25% off? This would allow the bartender to earn the gratuity and allow use of r-OBC.

 

Thoughts? speculations? First hand experiences?

 

 

 

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For those following: The Reflection has just been added to the mix.

 

 

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My hotel, Albergo del Senato near the Pantheon, suggested these when I asked for lunch and dinner recommendations for my upcoming trip. I requested ones that locals would go to and at least one with seafood.

 

Have not tried them yet! I did check a few out and seems like there would be one for a special dinner! You could google distances from near the Vatican but I believe these would be less than 20 minutes walking time.

 

Enjoy your trip!

 

 

http://www.ristorantegrano.it

(mediterranean cuisine)

 

http://www.hostariacostanza.it

(italian cuisine,)

 

www .ilsostegno.it

(typical roman cuisine)

 

http://www.casacoppelle.it

(french and italian cuisine)

http:http://www.archimedesanteustachio.it

 

http://larosettaristorante.it

 

 

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Hey guys, this could happen to anyone in any state so best to know what your back up plans are in case it happens to you...cruise critic exists for all of us to share our experiences and our suggestions/views without others being mean...or inappropriate. I appreciate all posters who express their views respectively even if I don't agree with their opinions.

 

 

Glad everything is working out for you!

 

In the spirit of sharing experiences for the benefit of others in similar situations: ( I personally learn a lot from Cruise Critic this way! So paying it forward!!! Plus, I really appreciate the ‘culture’ - read: different personalities- insights!!! )

 

We took our kids in college on a western Caribbean cruise about five years ago, and because the online written documentation allowed a driver’s license as an option for photo ID, I didn’t bother with bringing my or my son’s passport. ( although somehow we brought the DH and DD’s!).

 

At disembarkation / customs in Fort Lauderdale, when DS and I presented our driver’s licenses, we were pulled over by the agent and given the 20 questions routine. It added another 15 minutes to the process, while my DH and DD (impatiently) waited on the other side! I *think* my son’s age and beard and our Mexican and Jamaica itinerary might have something to do with it! ( although i didn’t notice any dog sniffers around!)

 

We did get through, of course, but my DH regularly reminds me NOT to forget to bring my passport, even on a closed loop cruise. He always double checks that we have our passports about 2 months before we need them. Thank goodness someone in the family plans ahead. We do have relatives that have had to fly to the passport offices for the expedited process just before travel!

 

It is one of those family stories: remember when you forgot to bring the passports?!

 

And in the FWIW department, in the wide-ranging off-topic conversation here, folks may want to consider applying for the Trusted Traveler / GOES program. It is $100/pp ( some credit cards will reimburse you) and requires a personal interview at an airport ( that can take two months to get the appointment). It lasts five years. Gives you expedited entry back in to the United States, even on a closed loop cruise that makes one stop out of the country. And it comes with TSA-Pre. Well worth the time, effort and money, IMO, even for occasional travel.

 

Travel should be fun!

 

 

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Another interesting thing we noticed is that the extra taxes and fees are different when pricing the exact same cruise, cabin and offer with a TA (higher) than with X?

——-

We noticed the same thing. Our travel agent explained it to us that the reason for the different pricing from Celebrity on the two categories ( cabin + taxes/port fees) is to distinguish her commissionable amount, which is the lower price on the cabin rate.

 

As long as the total price is the same as Celebrity, I wasn’t worried about it.

 

However, the cynic in me is now thinking: wonder if this is a tactic to make it harder to compare price drops?

 

If you think you are getting a certain rate on the cabin, which in fact is lower than what you are really paying because part of that cabin rate is indeed added to the taxes/port fees category, then will you know if the current advertised rate from X is lower?

 

Example: your travel agent invoice shows $699 for cabin per person. But if you take the total price for two, divide by 2, subtract the actual Celebrity taxes/fees, the per person cabin rate is actually $930. Now you have the real number to know if the current rates are lower than what you paid.

 

As a consumer, you have to do the math and keep track of it! And, always do a dummy booking to the point of the total price including taxes/fees/perks to compare the total cost on your invoice. (I noticed recently that the taxes/fees went up on a cruise I have booked. ) As well as take those screen shots and advocate for yourself!

 

 

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Just an FYI: works fine on my iPhone. Could it be it only works on the latest iOS? Or only on certain models? Have tested it on iPhone 6, 6plus, X. All good on those.

 

 

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We used Walks of Italy and I second that our guide was amazing. An archeologist who works the Forum site. Our group was relatively small- about 12 or 15.

 

However we were combined with another group for the underground portion of the tour and due to the tight spaces, I found it hard to hear and see the (different) guide during this portion. I am not sure of this, but I seem to recall this combining of groups might be a factor due to timing/frequency logistics of the colosseum administration, not necessarily by Walks of Italy.

 

Point is: if you can get a smaller group, and that holds for the underground portion as well, I would think the experience would be a bit better. More pricey though!

 

Whichever you choose, it will be worth it. I thought from the photos that the Forum was just a bunch of rubble. But the stories were amazing when recreated by our guide. (and I went to school in Italy and minored in Art History! Age does increase wisdom! Ha!)

 

 

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