Owlhelm

The breakfast is very good and is all you can eat so is plentiful.

Nothing like starting early! ;)

Just back from holiday (not a cruise :( ); thanks for all the replies.

M.

Hi all,

I wonder if I could call upon the experienced P&O-ers to help me out with the cruise personaliser itinerary arrival and departure times.

Can anyone put some times to these descriptions?

Early morning (arrival)

Morning (arrival)

Early Afternoon (departure)

Afternoon (departure)

Early Evening (departure)

Evening (departure)

Afternoon and Evening are the most important - I guess the early versions would be an hour or two earlier.

Cheers

Martin

As I understand it - family friendly ships, fly cruises and short cruises tend to attract younger people. Longer cruises out of Southampton on Adult only ships tend to be older crowds.

Agreed. We're just back from 14 nighter out of Southampton on an Adult only ship. We're 51 & 49. There were a few younger than us, but the vast majority of people (90% easily) we spoke with were retired.

Yes, as you get off the ship, right across the street

 

You can also snag someone hawking tours who will get your tickets, saving you the trouble of standing in line

 

Check out the slide show, particularly the picture with the buses

 

http://s1375.photobucket.com/user/pmdgancnj/media/Olden%20Norway/DSCF0429_zps89104d84.jpg.html?sort=2&o=4#/user/pmdgancnj/media/Olden%20Norway/DSCF0429_zps89104d84.jpg.html?sort=2&o=4&_suid=1403128843763029546512923432294

Thanks for that.

Do you happen to know if any of them have an internet presence? I'd prefer to get some more information on the companies before deciding to go for one rather than the ship's offering.

Cheers

M.

I am looking into the Eurodam with a 2 day stop in St.Petersburg. Does anyone know the rules and regulations and costs for a visa?

I heard if I book a tour through Holland America then I don't need a Visa but that I also wont be able to walk around alone or go to any local restaurants.

Please advise.

Thanks so much.

If you book a ship's or local tour (we used alla tours on a 2 day tour) you won't need to do anything regarding visas. As long as you're with the guide you'll be fine. It depends what you mean by walk about alone. If you mean go off for half a day on your own, the answer is no.

To be honest, there is SO much to see at St Petersburg that you'll need a fully dedicated guide and a strict itinerary to have a chance to see the major attractions...and they are pretty major.

Most include lunch as they tend to be whole day or 2 day tours (return to the ship between days). We had one packed lunch (we were on a river cruise at the time) and one in a small restaurant.

Martin

Hi all.

Does anyone know if there are any independant local operators who do the Kjenndalen Glacier and Lovatnet Lake tour (which seems to be offered by all the cruise ships that visit).

Thanks

Martin

we have booked with GeoIceland tours for our trip on Oriana at the end of June. they are number 2 on trip advisor so will see what we get;)

We've gone with GeoIceland too. All getting a bit close now!!! :D

M.

That's interesting about Costa, I wouldn't have equated Costa to Ballroom dancing.

I wouldn't have either, but found out about it before we went, and was not disappointed. 6 piece band in the main room (the dance floor was packed at times) and the violinist in the specialist violin/piano bar was taking requests all evening. Tango'd to a superb rendition of Por una Cabeza and we were the only ones on the dancefloor. Our performance wasn't worthy of Scent of a Woman or True Lies but we had a great time nonetheless.

M.

Next one...

Is there the facility for ballroom/latin dancing during the evening?

Our previous experiences are with Princess (no dance floors big enough, even if music suitable) and Costa (fabulous music, multiple venues, huge dance floors).

So, is it worth packing our dancing shoes?

Thank

Martin.

Thanks guys,

Just don't show your medallion off though :-P

I'd need the (fake) tan for the medallion...and the chest...

ps - my jacket is a nice crumply linen one without gravy stains

Hmmm....could use ties as gravy deflectors if it looks like I'm going to I run out of shirts and have to recycle a couple...

M.

Hi all,

First off, apologies for the thread title.

A question about the Smart (not formal or smart casual) dress code. We have 4 such nights coming up.

The P&O site states:

"Men: a smart shirt and trousers with a jacket, such as a blazer or sports jacket. Or a suit and tie if you fancy it"

My point is that a tie is not mentioned as a necessity if you go for the shirt/trousers,/jacket option. I've plenty of nice shirts and given a choice prefer not to wear a tie. Is this permitted/frowned upon? At a push I could go down the tie route the first smart evening to give me an indicator for the other 3, but forwarned is forearmed.

Thanks

Martin

Will they charge additionally for how many cases you have. I thought taxis always charged an amount per case as well.

There's no reference to the number of cases in the fares table. I've never been charged (that I'm aware of) for the number of cases before.

Checkin opens at noon so you should be able to go straight there and be on board for lunch. If a lot of people turn up around that time, you may be asked to wait in the lounge and be given a lettered card and wait until your letter is called. Usually the wait is not more than 30 minutes.

Brian

Good news! Thanks Brian.

Lots of taxis available at the station and terminals. Make sure you get a train that arrives around about noon. You know what the trains are like for delays :eek:

The drive is one of the reasons I was considering the train - road works, accidents, breakdowns (!!!). Yes, we're planning on getting in at 11:45, and as checkin is from 2pm, that'll leave us plenty of time :D

M.

Taxis are readily available at Southampton Central railway station and at cruise terminals when you disembark but I would suggest depending on terminal that it would cost a lot more than £5.

Thanks re the availability. It's the Ocean Terminal, and is a 1.6 mile drive according to Google Maps.

I was so taken aback by the thought it would cost a lot more than £5 that I did some research. According to Southampton City Council who set the fares, it is calculated as...

TARIFF 1 – Daytime – for any hiring begun after 6.00 a.m. and before 11.00 p.m. except as in Tariffs 3, 4 and 5 below

(a) For the first 110 metres (120.3 yards) or part thereof: £2.80

(b) For the each subsequent 110 metres (120.3 yards) or part thereof to a maximum total distance travelled of 330 metres (360.9 yards): £0.20

© For each subsequent 195 metres (213.3 yards) or part thereof thereafter: £0.20

(d) Waiting Time – For each period of thirty-six seconds or part thereof: £0.20

It's 1.6 miles, so that should add up to £5.60. Getting back there is an additional fee!! I quote again from the City Council...

Additional Charges

CRUISE TERMINALS – if hired from a marshalled cruise terminal rank, £1.00 per hiring

I put this on for anyone else wondering's benefit. Also, as prices are subject to change, the link to the council page is http://www.southampton.gov.uk/business/licensing/taxis/

Cheers!

M.

Hi,

Currently trying to decide whether to drive down to Southampton or get a train. Money-wise the train is slightly cheaper (when adding fuel to parking) , and only requires 1 (easy) change across both journeys.

So, my question relates to the taxis in Southampton.

Can anyone tell me the availability of taxis at the station and at the port on disembarkation? Both days are Friday. Also, it's a short journey, so I'm guessing the fare will be about a fiver?

Thanks

Martin

RE also does an afternoon Golden Circle tour. https://www.re.is/day-tours/gullfoss-geysir-thingvellir-afternoon-tour

Indeed. This one was the one I was interested in. https://www.re.is/day-tours/the-golden-circle

I've now emailed re.is to see whether they have availability etc.

M

Martin,

 

would be grateful for any info you get from Iceland Horizons.

They're fully booked on the day we're docked. :(

M.

Babs,

The P&O Golden Circle excursion is 8 hours too. The one offered by Rejkjevik Excursions is also 8 hours. This looks to be the norm for this tour.

Martin

Need to work out how you add those comments to individual comments!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

You mean the quotes? By clicking the quote button, or by clicking the multi-quote buttons for multiple posts then the Post Reply button :D

M.

I don't want to be a 'pier-runner' :D

Me neither!! Always a slight worry in the back of my mind when doing things ourselves. Can't help but keep half an eye on my watch.

We used Iceland Horizons for our Golden Circle and were very pleased.

Thanks for this. I've emailed them asking for some details as their website's not the most helpful.

Any more info most welcome!

p.s. Apologies for misspelling Rejkjavik.

Martin.

Hi all,

We're on a cruise in a couple of weeks visiting 3 Icelandic ports; Akureyi, Isafjordur and Rejkavik. We've decided to explore Isafjordur ourselves. The cruise ship offers tours, but we are interested in a couple that we can source much cheaper directly, and wonder if anyone has had any dealings with the following companies:

Elding Whale watching (Akureyki)

Rejkavik Excursions (Golden Circle tour)

Many thanks

Martin

Thanks everyone.

Just need to pop out and buy a couple of pairs of trousers with a bit more give in them than the ones I have at the mo. I guess I am at the elasticated waistline time of life. :rolleyes:

:D

Cheers

Martin

Which ship are you on?

We're on the Oriana going to Norway, Iceland, Faroes & Orkneys