cole

I was able to upset to a DOS/ two bedroom on the Dawn. At the time, the 2 bedroom family suite with balcony wasn't available. I now see that it has become available and considering calling and changing cabins for that balcony. Besides losing a bit of space in the cabin... would I be giving up anything else? I'd also be moving from deck 12 facing straight aft to a side cabin. I've looked online and still can't decide! Any inputs would be awesome!

I can't speak to the DOS 2 bedroom, but we loved our 2 bedroom family suite on a recent cruise and have booked another on a future cruise. I honestly don't believe that you will miss the bit of space you would lose in exchange for a nice balcony.

Cole

Again, it just depends on your airline. Flying Delta/SkyTeam, I'll never fly through Germany, only TO Germany if that's my desired itinerary. And I've flown to and through CDG many times without issue at all. They seem to be in a bit of a construction lull at the moment and their signage is MUCH improved over a few years back.

 

You will always be able to find someone who will never fly X airline or through X airport because someone had a problem there once. I don't travel like that - I pick the itineraries that makes sense for me and do the best I can to prevent problems (like allowing lots of time for transfers as appropriate) and then I'm flexible and enjoy myself.

Totally agree about CDG. We have flown through that airport many times and even though it can be quite daunting unless you look at an airport map before you land, we have never had any problems and our luggage has always arrived with us. But we always make sure that our connecting flight is at least 2 hours from arrival to give us adequate time to go from one terminal to another. We have had delayed luggage coming from the US several times, but it seems if they leave the US on time - they always meet us at our destination.

Cole

We finally gave up on Uniworld and booked with Avalon.

Cole

We will be doing a Christmas Markets cruise sailing from Nuremberg to Frankfurt in December. We'd like to spend a few days exploring other holiday markets prior to the cruise. One option would be to go to Prague for two nights and then travel to Nuremberg to meet the ship. Another might be to fly into Munich or another city and explore. Any suggestions or insights would be welcomed. Thanks in advance for your help!

We flew from the US to CDG and then to Prague for a two night stay and loved it. Our hotel was within walking distance of the city center with a great Christmas market and the tour conducted by the cruise line covered all of the highlights. We also had the option of a dinner and entertainment at a local restaurant which was fantastic. Prague is a beautiful city and shouldn't be missed if you have that opportunity.

Cole

Avalon offers this tour for 44 Euros. No timing is provided, perhaps half-day?

Would like to hear from those who have taken the tour as to recommendations.

 

Thanks

We are on this cruise in April and have booked the tour (yes, it is probably 1/2 day and scheduled after lunch). We have never been disappointed with any of the optional excursions and are looking forward to the wine tasting.;)

Cole

We did a NE/Canada cruise last September with RCI. We had two Canada ports of call. When we stopped in Boston on the return trip, we were required to show passports upon returning to the US. This is exactly what we had been told by RCI.

 

 

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Thank you for that information. I am going to recommend to our family that if anyone has a Passport that is going to expire before our cruise and they do not want to renew (some of us are getting of the age that international travel is not in our future), to get the Passport Card ($30), which is just as good as a Passport, as long as you are not flying. And the card is good for 10 years.

Cole

I don't know how this would work for you, but since you've already bought plane tickets and made hotel reservations, have you tried checking your dates with another river cruise company to see if you can find one that's compatible or at least doable? Then you could take the full refund and book with someone else.

I think that is great advice. It would be a shame to miss the Rhine cruise and with so many different cruise lines now days, there ought to be several options as alternatives. I would contact a travel agent with knowledge of river cruises and let them search for you. Good luck!

Cole

Just be sure they're official birth certificates issued by the government agency (whether it is city, county or state) that is responsible for these records in the place where the birth occurred. By the way, only US birth certificates are valid. If someone was born outside the US they need either their Certificate of Naturalization (for someone who was not a US citizen at birth) or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad(for someone who was a US citizen at birth).

 

Birth certificates issued by hospitals are not official and do not satisfy the requirement.

Good point. Thank you for pointing that out.

Cole

Thanks to you two! That's what I have been able to find in all of my searches. It is just so frustrating though when you talk with two different people from the same company (who are supposed to be "experts") and they tell you two different things. We will go with the birth certificate and driver's license for those of us who don't have passports. If they don't let them on the ship, they will just have a nice vacation in New York (just kidding).

Cole

Our family will be on a round trip from New York that stops at two Canadian ports and there is a question as to whether a passport is required to board the ship (NCL) and to re-enter the US at the end of the cruise. Two different answers from NCL reps and the US travel website seems to indicate that a birth certificate AND driver's license will be the only necessary things needed. Can someone who has done this cruise, please clear up the confusion? Thank you for your help.

Cole

I received the Asia brochure in the mail last week. I'm looking at Europe. Should have been more specific.

 

Roz

Same here!

Cole

When does Uniworld typically release their list of cruises for the next year?

 

Roz

We are waiting for the same and from what I have "heard" about mid-February. Can't wait!

Cole

I hope your health improves quickly & completely. I had a similar year in 2015 & am celebrating my recovery with a trip from Basel to Amsterdam this May. We were 'tossed off' the Danube in May of 2013 with record breaking flooding. . . hoping for a smooth sail this year.

 

 

DocDave

This will be our second cruise on the Rhine, this time from Basel to Amsterdam in April and so looking forward to it. We think it is probably the most beautiful river cruise that is offered (but of course, that's just OUR opinion ;))

Cole

http://www.cruisecritic.com/v-5/news/news.cfm?ID=6769

This says that many major lines are no longer going to dock in Turkey at least until things settle down (and who knows when that will be).

Cole

It seems NCL has cancelled all Turkey visits for 2016. Here's the article.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/cruiselog/2016/01/22/norwegian-regent-seven-seas-oceania-cruises-cancels-all-turkey-port-calls-2016/79130430/

We are interested in a river cruise that begins in Budapest and ends in Bucharest with an extension to Istanbul. It will be interesting to see if they alter their itinerary now that the big ships have pulled out. We were going to opt out of the extension to Istanbul, but would consider another alternative. Will be monitoring their website to see what happens.

Cole

Cole is generally correct. Most of the optional tours are in the afternoon, and one is substituting the optional tour for either a regular tour or an afternoon left free to wander around on one's own.

 

However, some of the optional tours are all day tours, leaving early in the morning, often travelling a bit of a distance, and not returning until up into the afternoon. Then one must really look at what they want to see and the costs of doing so. ;)

You are right! We have also been on all day excursions that were included in the itinerary and we departed in one port and then met the ship in another port down (or up) the river. Some people choose to just remain on the ship and enjoy the scenery. Sometimes you have so many choices - it is hard to choose!

Cole

I'm looking at the Uniworld Cruise Companion for my river cruise in June. I can't find any explanation for the differences between the "Featured Excursion" , the "Choice Is Yours Excursion" and the "Optional Excursion" that are offered in various ports. :confused:

 

I do see that the Optional Excursions have an additional fee, but can't figure out if you can do all three, two or just one excursion.

 

Since this will probably be my one and only trip to this area of Europe (Rhine and Moselle Rivers), I want to see and do as much as possible.

 

Thanks.

Generally speaking, the Featured and Choice is Yours excursions are choices you can make between the two and there are no extra charges for them. The Optional Excursions are done at an additional charge per person. The cruises we have taken have had the Featured & Choice are in the morning and the Optionals are done after lunch. You probably can't do all three, but we have never had problems doing the featured excursions AND the Optionals. Our thoughts are - go and do and see everything you can because you may not return to that area.

Cole

When we start planning for a river cruise, I do a spread sheet and compare ports and excursions first, then look at the ships. As someone commented, also take into consideration what charges you will pay above the cruise price. We love the all-inclusive that Uniworld has. Less to worry about at the end of the trip. So far décor has not been a high priority that would determine one company from another with all of the other details taken into consideration. Just our opinion. ;)

Cole

I should have provided more detailed information - so sorry - yes, we are departing from Manhattan Port. So the recommendation is Dial 7 - right?

Cole

No frills transportation from Renaissance to port and/or port to EWR - Independent driver - 888-816-0973 - phone only no website

Big picture transportation map - http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/rail/Rail_System_Map.pdf

 

Newark Airport to Newark Penn Station schedule search - http://www.njtransit.com/sf/sf_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=TrainTo

 

PATH - http://www.panynj.gov/path/maps-schedules.html

We appreciate all of your information. Thank you!

Cole

Please give us more details about your exact dates, hotel name, and number of people. Are mobility issues a consideration? Could you use public transit or a combination of local taxi and public transit to World Trade?

 

Car Service from EWR to World Trade would be in the $80-100 range each way. You do NOT want to use a taxi for this trip between NJ and NY.

 

Public transit from EWR is $11.50 via NJ Transit train and PATH.

 

Local taxi would be $20-30 each way for up to 4 people between your hotel and Newark Penn Station plus $2.85/pp each way for PATH to World Trade.

 

Travel time will vary. Car Service time will depend on the Holland Tunnel traffic - 30 minutes and up. Public transit from EWR will be an hour plus depending on connections. Taxi and public transit should be 45-60 minutes.

See, told you we knew nothing about getting around in this particular area ;)

We are staying at the Renaissance Hotel (airport) and probably will just be the two of us with no mobility issues for that trip. I assume that with the recommendation to NOT take a cab across state lines, it also applies to getting from the hotel to the cruise port the next day. That will involve 6 - 8 people with luggage, so we will be booking private transportation for that trip. Also, returning from the cruise back to the airport - right? Thanks for your help.

Cole

What is your estimate as to cost for transportation (cab) from EWR hotel to the World Trade Center and how long does it take to get from point A to point B. We know nothing about the area, so any help is appreciated.

Cole

Ditto! Certainly hope that Uniworld specifies those cruises that are family oriented so one knows what to expect when booking. Would guess that these cruises will be summer dates so booking spring or fall might be a good choice.

I was searching for a Christmas Market cruise with Uniworld and saw that the second week in December is designated as a family friendly cruise with special prices for children ages 4 - 18. It will be interesting to see how they fit families into the river ship cabins. I can see the older children in separate cabins, but the little tikes will need to be in with their parents. That would be the week that we would not book.

Cole

I don't mind, but your link didn't work for me. And in the meantime [remember that we are 6 hours behind UK] it has come up on the US CC site:

 

Uniworld Launches First Dedicated Family Brochure, Increases Family-Friendly Cruises

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6748

We certainly understand their reason for increasing their market by including children, but I can assure you that we will avoid the "child friendly" cruises. The ships are too small to have little ones running around, and just doing what comes naturally for children. If we wanted to be accompanied by youngsters, we would book with Disney. I hope they designate certain dates as being "family friendly".

Cole

 

We did this cruise last December at Christmas time, we flew out of JFK a day early and took the train to Lucerne and did the Viking 3 day post cruise extension in Amsterdam.

This is a great cruise, 4 countries, lengthy river travel, good food and plenty of sights to see.

 

I enclosed a link of my photos that highlighted the trip.

A great picture review of your trip. We will be doing the same itinerary in April and loved getting a preview of the scenery. Of course, won't have the opportunity to drink the Gluwein, but I am sure we will find many substitutions!

Cole