Suzieanna

Hi. We just got taxis to and from the airport. The taxi system in Singapore is really cool and well organized Airport to hotel was a regulated fixed price. Not as expensive as London. More expensive to pick one up outside the hotel just to get around Singapore though. We walked everywhere to be honest. The hotel they put us in turned out to be a better location than the first one. We were by Clarke quay. Once we finally got our tickets, we actually had an amazing time.

It was very very hot! And it rained a lot, and there were amazing thunderstorms!

F1 is not big in the USA.... yet! But I think it might be soon. There was a race somewhere there last year. It was funny cos the drivers were given big "walk-ons". That doesn't happen here!!

We did last year. Went through a travel agent here in the uk who have a tv channel. The booking process was initially a bit of a bait and switch i that they were advertising a balcony cabin even though there were none left. They still carried on adverting these though. They also changed our hotel at the last minute to a less desirable one (I liked it though, just a bit dated)

Our tickets didn't come for the F1 at all. Because they were that late sending us anything we had terrible trouble getting decent seats on the plane. We had to check in again at Doha. Everyone else on the flight didn't. So we spent that hour layover in a bit of a panic We had to then find our way to a massive shopping center/hotel complex in Singapore.. half the roads were closed too remember. Then they had no trace of us on their system.

Once we got our tickets though we had a great time! Singapore locals were lovely! The place was great, the F1 very well organized. Seats were on a straight so the cars go past very fast. There are big tvs so you can see what's going on on the rest of the track. Great pop concerts etc

I loved the Mariner - Despite being in an inside cabin!

I have done 18 transatlantics sooooo "ask away"! WARNING.... "you will become addicted to them"

Wow! 18!!! That's impressive! It's funny how what you like changes in time though. When I was a new cruiser I didn't like seas days. I much prefer them now. All about getting a bit of a rest for me!

Hasn't this trip got something for everyone though. The caribbean, the transatlantic, and the europe bit

There's not much on this board about our ship though is there? She certainly looks beautiful

And,,,,, bottled water.

Hahahaha!!!!

I think all Europe trips are shockingly expensive! I was pricing out the Independence out of Southampton for a 12 night... 2 adults 2 children... the best part of 12 grand - ouch! I know she is getting her refurb - but I'm not that bothered about trampolines. So I guess if I was coming from the other side of the world , I would be wanting to make the most of my time on land to get the bang for my buck... who knows when you might be passing this way again etc.

However, on looking at where you are going the only place with any "real" travelling that would take the whole day is Rome, so my feeling is that you would be okay

• You could do a half day trip to Pompeii
  
• You could go on a lovely boat trip round Cinque Terre. They look great from the boat. Pisa/Florence are A LONG way from La Spezia.
  
• You could get to Barcelona a day or two early to "see" there properly
  
• You could get together with people your roll call and organise a full day trip for Rome.
  

Marseille could be your lazy day.

Have a great vacation!

I wish I could find all these cheap cruises other people seem to get.

Looking at Independence of the seas from Southampton - balcony cabin 2 adults + 2 children . ELEVEN AND A HALF THOUSAND POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's 1/2 of a annual salary (after tax) for someone on the average pay in the UK

Is that a cheap bottom line vacation?? - not in my opinion no.

But back on topic, the pay restaurants... On my last Royal vacation, I was all set to go to Chops - until I realised that there was then a second charge to eat the "good" stuff there. In effect, people are paying 3 times for their food... I am not going to do that.

That's ace! Thanks for your helpful responses!

I am watching a cruise shopping channel and the presenter has just done a piece to camera about 5 courses available in MDR?? Is there?? Am I going on the wrong ships???

Me and my husband are on this - but we leave on 2nd from Barbados. Flying in from the UK.

Don't know how I will bear the excitement of waiting a year and 3 months though!!

I have wanted to do a transatlantic for as long as I can remember being aware that such a thing existed. It will be for my 50th and my husbands 40th.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2582190&page=7

Is it this on post 123 down near the bottom?

that was a corker of a review!

I think I know what you mean. was it a photograph of the daily sheet - and it showed you could buy credit and they would top it up a little

like for example - put 100 credit on your card for "fun" (F1 etc) and they would top it up a bit?

going to go and have a look now

Sorry Kittykitty, I am not sure what you expected NCL to do?

I think you started this vacation on the wrong foot by assuming you would get your upgrade accepted. You were the one who led your family to disappointment by making them believe they would be upgraded.

The food - again, that doesn't make sense. if you couldn't eat a bite, then it wasn't "that" that made you sick. if there was something wrong with that particular food, everyone would have been ill?

Deckchairs - I don't know what ship you were on, but isn't there usually bars on outside decks with seating. There has been on all the ships I have been on?

Credit Card - you would have been asked at check in whether it was okay to use the one card for everyone? Had you said no at this point, they would have looked for other cards from your party. So, you must have agreed.

Generally when people complain I can see "a bit" where they are coming from - but not this time.

I find it really hard to believe that people cannot afford to pay tips/service charge/staff remuneration (call it what you will). I am also saddened that people plan on complaining about poor service before they even set foot on board.

I have never removed such a charge, and never will. If something strikes me as being bad enough I will complain loudly and make a real fuss and get the issue solved.

If it's something that cant be solved, well getting a few quid back wouldn't make it all better would it?

.

All booked!!! Fantasia, starboard side balcony.. and free drinks package

 

Flight from uk to Barbados week round caribbean, week transatlantic, week in med... £2100 That's the real deal!!!

 

 

Thanks again for all your help everyone

I mean Fantastica of course!!

All booked!!! Fantasia, starboard side balcony.. and free drinks package

Flight from uk to Barbados week round caribbean, week transatlantic, week in med... £2100 That's the real deal!!!

Thanks again for all your help everyone

Thank you all so much for your helpful responses. It is confusing isn't it!

going to go and have a think now

Hi folks

I am looking at booking but I don't understand the different packages and levels

if I went for a Bella room, do I get to pick which Bella room I want? Are there Bella floors?

There is a free All inclusive Drinks package included in the deal. Do you suppose this would be restricted to type of drink - or is it a voucher system

Sorry if these questions have been answered already. I have tried to search and not really found what I need to know

Thanks in advance to anyone that can offer some clarity

MSC Prezosia I am looking at - there doesn't seem to be much written about it?

I haven't read a lot of this thread so apologise in advance if this has already been brought up.

Surely it's not healthy for a dog to be pushed around in a stroller? Isn't it a bit cruel to make a dog wear a tuxedo? Do they not get fat and sick eating food meant for humans?

But then again --- maybe the fact that these people think it is okay to play dress up with fluffy and push him round in the pram and feed him chocolate - maybe they "do" have emotional disturbances??

I love dogs. And I feel sorry for dogs that are treated like substitute babies.

Smoking is disgusting... I don't smoke obviously!! I did though, for about 25 years!

People that smoke should only do it in the areas where they are allowed to do so. They are not allowed to smoke on their balcony.

I can't see the danger in leaving a shirt out to air or dry though? I think they don't want us doing this because stuff might blow into the sea and be an environmental issue?, not one that might kill us? Why is this rule in place? What's the logic?

Hi Harry

I love the rock pictures too....

but can I swerve for a photography question? How/what settings to get that bokeh effect?

thanks!

I had terrible trouble in September with a uk travel agent who gave us the runaround.... we had to turn up at a Middle East airport for the second leg of our journey and just hope they had a seat for us because of the cluster of errors caused by our TA. Then we had to run around Singapore to try to track down our F1 tickets (part of our trip). Second to none?? Haha!

Several tips: GET VIBE PASSES! So worth the extra $100.

 

 

I always think about getting VIBE but then I "cheap out" because I remember that I don't like to sit down for more than 20 minutes, and would be thinking about all the stuff going on while I was sitting sunbathing.

 

Am I missing something really good? I know lots of people want to go up there?

Thank you for your review. I always appreciate when a person explains "why", something didn't work for them. Your review was fair minded and helpful. We are going on this ship in April. I knew my shadow might get seen by my room-mate but didn't think about the noise at night or the "aroma" :eek: sneaking out! Note to self - put PooPoori and earplugs on the packing list!

I remember when this ship was new, and was horrified at the toilet/sink situation.... and I will be honest, I thought - that's not for me! But, if that's as bad as it gets - then I am sure I will manage!

What is being removed?

Sounds more like Geology than Geography. :confused:

Nope - the class was deffo called Geography!

It was about 40 years ago mind you. But that knowledge of tectonic plates and what igneous/sedimentary rock is has stayed with me forever! Pinpointing places on maps is something that I have learned through experience.

Maybe we did learn about different places and cultures, and my interest wasn't there? When you are 11 or 12 you never think one day you might be inside a glacier or standing on that same tectonic plate that your teacher is droning on about, so you kind of switch off. Maybe it's only people who are lucky enough to travel that bother to find out about the world?

History was my subject!