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debshomespun

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    Pick your 2020 "dream" cruise

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Taking our "Dream cruise" on the Jade, 2/23/20.  It's a 20 night from Singapore with stops in Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Phuket (overnight), Sabang (Indonesia), Maldives, Seychelles (overnight), Oman (2 stops), Abu Dhabi and ends in Dubai.  Staying 4 nights in Dubai post cruise.  Got an Oceanview cabin, then upgraded with points (30,000) to a balcony.  Life is looking great for 2020! 🏝️🛳️🌅

    • Like 1

    Booked through X site, transferred to TA, then hijinks ensued.

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    Weenah, you need to visit our roll call here on CC for the Equinox 5/13/20 sailing.

     

    We have sailed Equinox a couple years ago, along with several other Celebrity sailings. Celebrity offers a great trip and I'm sure you will enjoy the ship and the cruise.

     

    Welcome to cruising and watch out for the cruise bug.  It will hit you on board and you'll need to book your next cruise before you leave the ship.  Cruising can be very addictive!  A great way to see the world (as we have been doing)

    No more Abu dhabi for Celebrity cruises?

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    We are cruising NCL Jade in Feb/20 from Singapore, going to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur & Langkawi), Thailand (overnight), Indonesia, Maldives, Seychelles ( overnight), Muscat (2 port stops) Abu Dhabi and ends in Dubai.  A fantastic itinerary with several bucket list ports.  Yes, we stray from Celebrity to see other parts of the World.  Variety is the spice of life. 

    • Like 1

    Review Crown Princess 12 Day British Isles – Dublin Overnight June 18-30

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted · Edited by debshomespun

    We are not coffee drinkers and would like to know if the ship has the little individual packets of hot chocolate in the buffet area to make our own?  If not, I'll bring my own. A nice cup of hot chocolate after returning from a chilly day out will hit the spot!  

     

    Thank you for all the great information. We are on the 8/29 sailing.  

     

    All our tours are independent except we are doing "Paris on our own" with the ship transportation.  Never been to France, and will be our anniversary the day we are there. We plan to see the Eiffel tower, to snap a few pictures, have lunch at a local French Cafe, then snap a few shots outside the Louve. (Not enough time to go inside).  Any additional ideas for our 4 hours on our own?

    Dubai question for Anne (Jayayeff)

    in Africa & Middle East

    Posted

    9 minutes ago, Jayayeff said:

     

    The Jumeirah Zabeel Saray hotel is very nice, as are all the Jumeirah Group properties.  It is as you note at the far end of the Palm Jumeirah so not close to either New or Old Dubai.  There is a monorail that links the Palm to the mainland and once on the mainland it then links with the Dubai Tram which gives you access to the Dubai Marina area.  If they provide a shuttle to the Mall of the Emirates then you have easy access to Dubai Metro from there.  The Wild Wadi Waterpark is also part of the Jumeirah Group and even if you didn’t want to go to the park you could use the transport as Wild Wadi is right beside the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Burj Al Arab and the Madinat Jumeirah which is also a pick-up/drop off point for the hoho buses.

     

    With regard to your visit to Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa/Dubai Fountains - the mall is huge and there is lots to see in there apart from stores!!   Atmosphere is not a coffee shop, it is a restaurant and lounge (bar) on the 122nd floor and I whilst you can go for coffee in the mornings (Coffee in the Clouds) or Afternoon Tea later in the day I believe you need reservations and can’t just stop by.... The Dubai Fountains only ‘perform’ twice during the daytime (1.00 & 1.30 Sat to Thurs, and 1.30 & 2.00 on Fridays) all other performances are in the evening - every 30 minutes starting from 6.00pm so you need to time your visits to suit.  I would also recommend you spend a day in ‘old’ Dubai and visit the Heritage Area along the Creek, take an abra across the Creek to the Spice Souq or venture further down the Creek to the newly restored Jadaf Waterfront area where there is an arts centre and the soon to be opened Sh. Mohammed Bin Rashid Library.   

     

    I can’t really help with the desert safari but have heard they are less ‘busy’ in Abu Dhabi than the Dubai ones.  However, if you only have one day in Abu Dhabi there are lots of other places you could visit, the Louvre, the Grand Mosque the Presidential Palace, etc. 

     

    Anne..

     

    Anne

    Thank you so much. I can plan out our days better now with this information. 😊

    Dubai question for Anne (Jayayeff)

    in Africa & Middle East

    Posted

    Anne, we will be arriving by cruise ship 3/18/20 and leaving the ship.   We have planned 4 nights post cruise in Dubai.  We have chosen to stay on the Palm at the Jemeirah Zabeel Saray.   We got an fantastic rate for this hotel.  Do you have any info on this hotel?  We know it is the farthest away on the end of the palm.  From what I read in the reviews for the hotel, they offer a free shuttle to the Emirates Mall, and thought we could take advantage of this for 1 day.  The hotel also offers a free day at the Wadi World water park, with free transportation.   Not sure if we will take advantage of this or not.   We will be in Abu Dhabi for 1 day on 3/17/20, and thinking we would take a desert safari tour here rather than from Dubai, as others have mentioned, is better from Abu Dhabi, rather than Dubai.

     

    The morning we leave the ship, we plan to go to the Jemeirah Zabeel Saray hotel, store our luggage, and rest at the pool for most of the day.   On day 2, we 'may' go to the water park, OR take the transportation to the Emirates Mall.  We want to stop by the Burj Khalifa and go to the coffee shop at Atmosphere, just a few floors below the viewing deck.

     

    Also would love to see the Dubai fountains. Thanks for all your great information.

    Celebrity TranzAlpine Shore Excursion in Akaroa

    in Australia & New Zealand

    Posted · Edited by debshomespun

    We did this tour in February of this year. I was not impressed with the tour. we had booked just the train trip, and once on the solstice the short screws in his desk called to see if we wanted to add the jet boat ride at no extra cost. We did and that was the highlight of the trip. The scenery was beautiful but after a period of time it all blend  in and looked similar. For the cost, if I had it to do over again I probably would not go.  There was beautiful scenery however there was no open car to take pictures. I was expecting there to be an open car and we could get much better pictures but ours were all taken through the windows. On our last visit for years ago, we went to Christchurch and I enjoyed going to Christchurch much better overall than the transalpine train ride. It would be a matter of choice, but that's my opinion after having done both.

    Jade in Asia, thoughts?

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    We have not cruised on NCL for several years.   We would be Platinum in their latitudes for our next cruise, whenever we go.

     

    We have come across a great 20 night sailing on the Jade 2/27/20 sailing from Singapore to Dubai.   I can't find much info about the Jade.  This sailing has a very unique itinerary.   There is an overnight in Phuket, along with 2 stops in Malaysia, then sails to Male, Maldives, then over to Victoria, Seychelles, making its way to 2 stops in Oman, then a day in Aubi Dhabi, and finishes in Dubai.   We have been to Singapore (spent almost 2 weeks here), Langkawi (1 day from cruise stop) and Phuket (5 day land trip).   Definitely on my bucket list are the Maldives and Seychelles.  

     

    Has anyone been on the Asian cruises either on the Jade or any of the other ships?   How was the cruise experience?    We have sailed Celebrity & Royal Caribbean in Asia in the past. We know the passenger will be a great mix of cultures and looking forward to this experience.   Any thoughts and input would be appreciated.

     

    I looked for a roll call, and was only 1 person.

    TIA. 

    Back to Back - Different Ships /Cruiseline

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Forecheck said:
    1 hour ago, Forecheck said:

    We are doing a back to back cruise -10 night Celebrity Reflection followed by 5 night Majesty of Seas. Both ships dock at Port Everglades . Reflection (Pier 25 ), Majesty( Pier18 )

     

    Our plan is to depart Reflection as late as they will allow us ( 10 ish ) .... Through Customs/security etc.... Cab to Pier 18..Drop luggage.... Cab to Hilton Marina - Water Taxi ... Return to Majesty around 2 pm for boarding....

     

    Am i missing anything .. does this plan work ?

     

    Any tips or suggestions are appreciated ?

     

    Thanks in advance! 

    We are doing a back to back cruise -10 night Celebrity Reflection followed by 5 night Majesty of Seas. Both ships dock at Port Everglades . Reflection (Pier 25 ), Majesty( Pier18 )

     

    Our plan is to depart Reflection as late as they will allow us ( 10 ish ) .... Through Customs/security etc.... Cab to Pier 18..Drop luggage.... Cab to Hilton Marina - Water Taxi ... Return to Majesty around 2 pm for boarding....

     

    Am i missing anything .. does this plan work ?

     

    Any tips or suggestions are appreciated ?

     

    Thanks in advance! 

     

    If it were me, I would leave the Reflection earlier, as it will take time to get through customs, then get my luggage to Pier 18.  They will take your luggage by 9:00AM if not sooner.  Then you can have plenty of time to do the water taxi, in case you have any hiccups.  Always better to get to your ship early, rather than run the risk of being late.  

     

    We have gone from Port Everglades to Miami (Silhouette sailing to Eclipse Sailing, same day) along with several B2B sailings.  

    Calling mainland USA from Pago Pago

    in Pacific Islands, All

    Posted

    If you have internet on the ship, or find WI FI on the island, and you are looking to check in with someone at home, you can use Facebook, Facetime, or Hangouts.  Not sure if you are aware of this.

     

    We were just in Australia, New Zealand and several South Pacific Islands in February, and we stayed in touch using Facebook.  You can make phone calls through all 3 of these apps, as long as the people you want to stay in touch with have them.

    Dunedin-ATM right at Port.

    in Australia & New Zealand

    Posted · Edited by debshomespun

    7 hours ago, 702allennaru said:

    Following too, I have nzl dollars but am concern as I may not have small exact change to take shuttle but Dunedin is my first nzl port of call. Is Dunedin walkable from port Chalmer?

     

    The center of Dunedin city is about 15km from the Port. I don't recall if there are sidewalks along the road from the Port into the city, but I don't think there are any. Port Chalmers reminded me of an industrial port. It would take a good 20-30 minutes till walk into town.

     

    On our first visit, we hired (rented) a car right there at the Port, and drove into town, then out to the Albatross Center. Very beautiful area.

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