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amri638

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    Cruising on RCCL Allure of the Seas September 13-20, 2020.

    in Spain and Portugal Ports

    Posted

    As for what to do.

    My son told me about this tour company. Runner Bean Tours. I went on their Gothic Quarter Walking tour and tomorrow l am going to their Gaudi Walking tour.

    Their meeting time is also great with Barcelona as a port of call too since it is at11am and last about 2 1/2 hrs. Just right for a shore excursions. Their price is unbeatable for it is really free. (I have just been to a free tour that charged before the tour started early this year cruising in Norway) You only give them tips at the end.

    During the tour l was shown some places l have been and more others l don’t know of. I even enjoyed those l had been for our guide pointed out a lot of details to see, the history and tales about the places. He made it so very interesting. He told us tips like visiting Churches for free in the morning and evening. I wish they would start more interesting tours and l will be back . Their meeting place is also convenient to cruiser in Placa Reial, not far from the port shuttle, walkable or take the metro.

    l think l covered most of your questions and you can email me if you want to. amri638 @gmail.com

    Cruising on RCCL Allure of the Seas September 13-20, 2020.

    in Spain and Portugal Ports

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, amri638 said:

     

    I think l pushed a wrong button and got erased.

    l am now in Barcelona (4th visit) for a precruise sailing 11-22-2019 Norwegian Epic.

    l am lucky  to get many good deals for this visit.

    Airfare Norwegian Air about $280 LAX to BCN.

    Next year l am sailing Allure of the Sea March 1,2020. Flying CDG (staying 5 nights in Paris post cruise.) to LAX for the same amount. I didn’t buy tickets together since l didn’t plan to go on Allure at first.

    Booked a wonderful Airbnb for 8 nights for about $500. A spacious room with bathroom and use of kitchen and living room. It is 1min to La Rambla and 1min to metro station. 3-4 mins from port shuttle.You can book it for less days. Email me for detail.

    Eat paella at 7 Portes which is walking distant. The food is very good.

     

    Cruising on RCCL Allure of the Seas September 13-20, 2020.

    in Spain and Portugal Ports

    Posted · Edited by amri638
    Not finished

    On 11/13/2019 at 2:49 AM, saw1457 said:

    Hello my husband and I are looking for a hotel near the cruise port in Barcelona Spain.  We are celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary in May, 2020, but are cruising in September, 2020.  We are going on RCCL Allure of the Seas September 13-20, 2020.  Any suggestions would be wonderful. This will be our first time in Spain.  We might even stay one night coming back from the cruise before we fly out back to Florida.  If anyone has great advice on what to do, restaurants, etc... please let us know.  Thank you!

     

    Iceland in September

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted

    I agree that the best option will be to have a stopover thro’ Icelandair or Wow. Both airlines offer it for free. We went there for 4 days before flying to London in September for a transatlantic cruise with a stopover in Iceland and another in Greenland.The weather was Just right. We even swim in a natural hot spring out in the wilderness with a long walk from changing area to the water. It was to me more fun then the Blue Lagoon which was all man-made and crowded on the day we were there. There are scattered showers but they didn’t  last long. Lots of attractions are far from any docking areas. The drive were so pleasant. I like it so much that l am going back coming May for a 6 days tour around the island before my next Norway cruise. Actually I never got to dock in Iceland last time for our ship had to change course and skipped Iceland and Greenland. When you are there, don’t forget to try their lobster soup or sandwich and catch of the day. Wish you lots of fun.

    • Like 1

    Change airports in London flying home

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted

    On 12/1/2018 at 5:47 PM, John Bull said:

    Sadly I really don't think the timings would make even a brief visit to central London worthwhile.

     

    At LHR you'll need about 90 minutes to clear airport formalities, then anywhere between 30 minutes to get to a central London hotel close to Paddington station if you take the Heathrow Express (via https://www.heathrowexpress.com/ ) and an hour or more if you take the Tube (London's metro) to a hotel handy to a tube station on the Piccadilly line.

    By the time you've checked in & dropped your luggage it'll be the end of the day. You'll have just the evening.

    Even with the 1pm flight from LGW you'll not have time for sight-seeing next morning.

     

    Same applies if you stay at a hotel handy to LHR. It's even too late for a 20-minute taxi ride to take a sensible lo Windsor )last admission to the castle is 4pm)

     

    Probably your best bet is to fix up a hotel handy to LGW (and with a hotel/airport shuttle), & head there by  https://www.nationalexpress.com/en the afternoon that you arrive. Mebbe find a comfy pub for the evening, then head to the airport next morning. 

     

    As per fabn40+'s post, airports recommend arrival 3 hours before your flight time - but 2 hours should be plenty.

    We've used Virgin Atlantic's LGW - Orlando flights a few times - probably the best value on that route.

     

    JB  :classic_smile:

    In you posting you mentioned that it requires 90 min to clear  airport formality and  3 hours recommended for outgoing international flight. Can you advise me if l could make it in time for changing flight in Heathrow airport for our flight. I am taking British Airline arriving 10:10 am May 22 in Heathrow AP terminal 2 and leaving to go to Iceland the same day at 1:05pm on Icelandair terminal 5. I would like to know if there will be transfer service that we can bypass the formalities in Heathrow AP.

     

    On 12/1/2018 at 5:47 PM, John Bull said:

    Sadly I really don't think the timings would make even a brief visit to central London worthwhile.

     

    At LHR you'll need about 90 minutes to clear airport formalities, then anywhere between 30 minutes to get to a central London hotel close to Paddington station if you take the Heathrow Express (via https://www.heathrowexpress.com/ ) and an hour or more if you take the Tube (London's metro) to a hotel handy to a tube station on the Piccadilly line.

    By the time you've checked in & dropped your luggage it'll be the end of the day. You'll have just the evening.

    Even with the 1pm flight from LGW you'll not have time for sight-seeing next morning.

     

    Same applies if you stay at a hotel handy to LHR. It's even too late for a 20-minute taxi ride to take a sensible lo Windsor )last admission to the castle is 4pm)

     

    Probably your best bet is to fix up a hotel handy to LGW (and with a hotel/airport shuttle), & head there by  https://www.nationalexpress.com/en the afternoon that you arrive. Mebbe find a comfy pub for the evening, then head to the airport next morning. 

     

    As per fabn40+'s post, airports recommend arrival 3 hours before your flight time - but 2 hours should be plenty.

    We've used Virgin Atlantic's LGW - Orlando flights a few times - probably the best value on that route.

     

    JB  :classic_smile:

    In you posting you mentioned that it

    gastrointestinal virus

    in Ask a Cruise Question

    Posted

    This is a comparison of a personal experience of Norovirus/GI Illness onboard Princess and Celebrity.

     

    3 years ago on a Princess cruise, I got sick with diarrhea 2 days after shaking hands with my friend who unknown to me, came down with Norovirus the next day. When I started to vomit at the end of the day, I called up the desk and they sent a nurse over, gave me an injection, confined me to my room for 3 days and sent all my food to my room. I missed 2 shore excursion and had to eat the chicken that taste like cardboard. But my diarrhea and vomiting all subsided after the injection. 3 days later, a nurse came by to check me out and set me free.

     

    Last month (Jan-3 2016), I was on Celebrity Millennium with my son and husband. On the last day of the cruise, my son started to have slight abdominal discomfort in the morning off shore. After a few hours back on board, he then had watery stool. Due to my previous experience, I told him to call the number listed as Celebrity advertises complimentary consultation and treatment for any GI issues. He was told to go to the Medical Office to see the doctor there. His symptoms were mild and he didn't think it was necessary for me to go with him.

     

    There, the medical staff were as extreme rude to him and began to bully him. They accused him of having Norovirus and not reporting and threatened to report him to management. They told him that he would need to pay for his own medical treatment, to stay in his cabin, and rudely sent him away.

     

    His symptom got worse and he was up all night with diarrhea. The next day was disembarkment and so we left the ship and seek medical consultation. I respected his wish of not complaining on board but my family is not going back to cruise on Celebrity again. Instead of helping my son, the cruiseline treated him poorly when he reported. Luckily his diagnosis was not Norovirus.

    Celebrity failed to honor their written policy stating that if you had signs of gastrointestinal illness, you should call the medical staff at 4300 for a complimentary consultation and treatment and were hostile to their guests.

    I had been cruising since the eighties and have experience many different cruiselines. This is most likely the worst I have experience.

    Komodo Island, can we get our own excursion?

    in Asia

    Posted

    Komodo is one of the stop in our cruise on Millennium on Celebrity. We arranged a tour with Hendrick from Gotokomodo tour. I went to get in line for the tender tickets at 5:30am and got the earliest tickets for our group of 44 people. Our ship docked at 6:30am and we were on the island by 7am. Hendrick and his staff were their waiting and started our walk in the national park shortly afterwards. The weather was not very hot yet, and there is lots of shade from trees with singing birds everywhere. The best was the dragons were moving around and we saw many in our short trail. One dragon that we were following turned around and came towards us. 7 guides and rangers with their forks were immediately there and lured the beast away with a leg of goat on a string. What fun! Then we went to Pink Beach with lots of fishes and coral. We didn't need to spread fish food to attract the fishes for they were schools and schools of them. The beach was beautiful but in spite of the suntan lotion I got mildly sunburnt. There's a nice lunch on the boat before we returned. Unfortunately we had to end the half day for the ship set sail at 3pm.

    What a lovely day! Do go there for an experience of a lifetime but be sure to get there early.

    Celebrity told us that we can go to the island for $40 park admission but have to stay on the beach and cannot go on a trail without a ranger. From other cruisers we found some landed on the island and booked a sail to the beach right at the pier. Hendrick was easy to talk to for I called him a day ahead and added 10 more people to our group at the last minute.

    Celebrity & Dancers out there - Please read

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    Thanks very much Tagsalong - I thought I was clear but obviously not to all. My hope is that Celebrity might see this and even though a long shot, perhaps review their music offerings & types of bands playing on their ships. The direction they are heading in is is a huge negative for many. Additionally, I wanted to let cruisers out there know where some options for great music and dancing exist.

     

    I was told that the cruise company read our review so if we all put our effect together and complain a lot, they might value us dancers and let us have better location and music and time to dance. I had been cruising since the seventies and noticed how the newer ships got bigger but dancing location got smaller and with less bands.

    Komodo Island - Additional Touring Advice

    in Asia

    Posted

    I have been remiss on paying much attention to this thread however I do have a group of 60 doing Komodo in Jan on the Millenium.

    This is the same tour guide that was used last Jan for a group of 70...split into 7 groups of 10 and they all had an amazing time, well worth it and the tour company/guide is amazing to work with.

    If you would like his info you can contact me at jeani at j 18ktleo dot com

    I had started to organize this group/guide and then another passenger on our cruise booked with Jeffrey, they have a small group of 20 (I think) whereas I have the 'giant' group of 60!:rolleyes:

     

    I would like to get your tour guide information but have trouble with your email. Mine is amri638@gmail.com. Thanks very much.

    Oasis Photo Review – All Dining and Drinks Menus - Daily Programs

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Thanks Megacruiser,

    A excellent review of your Oasis experience. Thank you very much for I am now feeling not so anxious about getting lost for my upcoming Dec 6 cruise on Oasis. My only regret is not booking B2B for another 7 days since there might not be enough time to experience all you described. I can't wait for my own cruise. I am glad I didn't start reading until the last 3 days for I am sure waiting for your next posting would drive me nuts like following a soap opera.

    Just a question about dress code. I want to bring as little luggage as possible. I understand there are 2 formal nights. I saw on your pictures that people are wearing T-shirt side by side with others wearing suit on the dance floor but I saw no tux. Is that the case that a jacket with shirt without tie for man and a dress for women, would be enough for formal nights.

    Thank you again for you great job.

    Angela

    Iceland - questions answered

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted

    I do agree with Karlth that Iceland's name is misleading since it is quite warm during my stay. I was lucky to go to Iceland during my precruise for my transatlantic cruise. Due to the weather we missed 3 ports - Belfast, Iceland and Greenland. To people that plan to go to Iceland I recommend that you should fly there and spend more time than the only day of the cruise. It is such a beautiful place and beside I was told that the chance of missing it is quite high during the cruise (we missed it). We had such a lovely time but we still only managed to visit only the South during our 3 days visit. From the pick-up from the airport to all our day tours we used Iceland4you and is very happy with their service. Our experience is limited so we cannot say that they are the best but we can say we like it and if we should go back to Iceland we would use them again. Max the owner recommended Fosshotel Baron and it is a very nice hotel and the price is right. We visit the Blue Lagoon and think it is overrated. It is quite cold out of the water but how long can you stay submerged in the warm water? The South Coast and Glacier Lagoon with the many waterfalls and landscape along the way is well worth the 10 hrs spent. We visited the Landmannalangar on the 3rd day and enjoy the ride thro' lava field, volcano crater and the natural hot spring where we soak for free. The only problem is shower afterward is cold water. We left the Golden circle for the day when the cruise visit but end up missing it but no regret since this is the excuse for a second visit. Food is quite expensive. When we were told that we have to wait for 2 hours at Seafood Grill we left and found a great little place to eat. It was close to the church and our hotel called Fish and More or something like it. They serve steamed fish and the catch of the day which we ordered was cod. For 2000 ISK there were also vegetable, sweet potato and rice. The fish is cooked just right and very fresh. I am not impressed by the lobster soup near the harbor - too salty and only 1 piece of lobster in the soup. I did not try the famous hot-dog since I am not a big fan of hot-dog. The Iceland lamb soup is also nothing to recommend. I will eat fish and shrimp in Iceland. Next visit I will go to the north or around the island. Hopefully it will be soon.

    Wonderful Copenhagen

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted

    Noooo, was the cancellations weather related?

     

    But good to hear about your stay in Copenhagen.

    Did you went for Frederiksborg or Kronborg castle and if yes was my travel directions easy to follow.

     

    Yes to both castles and love it especially we got a nice guide for Kronborg with all the stories. You directions were great since I printed them out and follow them exactly. A boring 6 days at sea with rough sea and missing Belfast, Iceland and Greenland due to bad weather.

    Angela

    Wonderful Copenhagen

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted

    Hi Danish Viking,

    This is a thank you note to you. We just return from a disappointing transatlantic cruise in which Belfast, Iceland and Greenland were cancelled. Our group of 10 said that the high-light of this tour is the precruise stay at Copenhagen. With our 5-days Copenhagen Pass we went to so many places. I must say that your palaces are well kept and interesting. Your directions are precise and we didn't get lost. The places to eat are good. We would not have guess that the food in Travoli can be good and eat there if you had not mention eating there. Thanks again.

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