MarielH

What are your favorite ocean cruise lines, and why do you prefer them? That would help posters give you ideas about the differences among river cruise lines.

Have cruised with a Royal Carribean and Celebrity! Thanks

Been on ocean cruises before but never a river cruise. My husband is never too comfortable on the large liners. We are considering river cruise - Douro/Daunbe/France - which are the best river cruise lines to consider?

We are from Lincolnshire. We met up with a large group from the CC roll call in the bar on deck 10, at sail away on day 1. We particularly enjoyed sitting there when leaving Dubrovnik by moonlight!!

 

We have booked balcony cabins on our next cruises as I'm a bit claustrophobic. Although we enjoyed Aqua and all the freedom and food that Blu had to offer, we didn't use the spa at all. So we feel for us, it does not justify the price difference. Really loved the ship, itinerary and most of the staff :)

Don't think we met! We are from Scotland. Yes that sail away was beautiful from Dubrivnik - though I took pics from our cabin. It was a special trip for us as on our 40th wedding anniversary we sailed into bay of Sorrento where we spent our honeymoon!

Was up at 5.30 am sailing into Venice as very beautiful. We wanted Aqua class but no cabins left. No huge benefits with Concierge.

We probably crossed paths as we too enjoyed the sunset from the bar on deck 10! The waiters were so friendly and funny, and even entertaining people with a few tricks :). The staff in Blu were great and our cabin attendants were the best yet!

Yes we might have - where are you from as we met lots of people along the way. You must have booked Aqua class - we got one of last two cabins on ship - concierge but to be quite honest not much benefits. Loved that deck 10 bar!

We were on this cruise, our first with Celebrity. We found almost all the crew and staff to be really friendly, helpful and welcoming ……… with the exception of Guest Relations!! They were rude, arrogant and dreadfully inefficient!! There was an error made at the port with the credit card registered to our onboard accounts, so we went to GR to get it rectified before we even left Rome. The young girl on the desk supposedly corrected it and all should have been well. Several days later, we discovered that it hadn't so we went back to try sort it out again. A different girl couldn't have been more rude and her "couldn't give a dam" attitude was awful. She was more interested in singing and dancing along to the music from upstairs, and she clearly didn't believe that we had already been on Day 1 to sort it out. Only when we relayed the procedure/form signing that we had gone through, did she realise we weren't lying. She then said she had rectified it and all was well. I didn't have very much faith in her so I requested someone more senior deal with it. She reluctantly rang a lady called Connie and she promised all would be well and she would meet us at 8am the next morning to reassure us. So we went down yet again and surprise surprise, it was still wrong! Connie was incredibly embarrassed and very, very apologetic about the whole thing but she finally sorted it all out properly. It left a very nasty taste, especially after having such lovely service from most other places.

We also found most of the staff friendly and helpful but you will see we too had a bad experience with GR and someone called Lorna who looked straight past us while speaking to her.

Our favourite part of the ship was the bar on deck 10 watching leaving ports and the sun going down - staff there just great.

By the way - no one else on board knew but we sailed into Sorrento on our 49th wedding anniversary - this was where we spent our honeymoon - so special to us!

We were on this trip for our 40th wedding anniversary. Did not have any problems whatsoever on embarkation or disembarkation but we had booked a concierge cabin.

Had always been led to believe that Celebrity was 5 star - had only sailed RC before but did not find any difference. Seemed to be a lot of discontent amongst staff. Was shocked that cabin attendant and assistant were inky paid the gratuities and not fixed wage.

Did not find guest relations at all good. In fact went on one occasion to arrange transport in disembarkation and Lorna at desk looked past me while speaking to her - disinterested.

So saying had a lovely trip - just hope Celebrity look after staff better and also do not ask couples two days after special anniversary - do you have a special occasion when dining.

If you get an ADAPTER, make sure whatever you are going to plug in will work on 220/240V because even though a 110V appliance plug will fit, an adapter doesn't change the voltage.

 

If your device only works on 110/120V, you need a CONVERTER which changes the voltage from 220 to 110V.

Are the power adapters US type of continental - have both but want to know which to pack?

Ooh 3 is quite a lot Jelayne!

Thanks so much that's helpful. After a stressful three weeks of getting a new kitchen fitted - we just want to relax and not worry about what we wear!

Have not seen anywhere where you can choose your table size like a table for two - not to be at all unsociable but just what we like.

We are sailing next week having booked rather late because of circumstances - just wondered if there are many formal nights in an 11 day cruise? Also if you can chose your table size - prefer a table for two as a special anniversary.

Well, I for one THANK YOU for writing that. I haven't laughed like that for quite a while and really needed it!

Had a good laugh at that myself!!! He'd better not be seen with a drunk in fact know he wouldn't be as it will be our 40th wedding anniversary!:)

How much does wifi cost onboard and is there a good signal?

You made my night:p:p. Where are you when hubby's with a drunk?;)

Don't believe I wrote that!!!

Is there good wifi on board and what is the cost - an important feature for us?

Thanks - that is absolutely fair enough. My husband enjoys just one or two small cigars in the evening with a drunk! Health and safety more important!

Are you allowed to bring wine onboard?

Anywhere onboard?

Have booked a concierge class cabin - are you allowed to smoke on the balcony?

Have never sailed with Celebrity before only RC. Are you allowed to carry wine onboard?

Have never done a river cruise before but gave our 40th wedding anniversary coming up. Wondered if there are dining tables for two A which we normally chose with Royal Carribean or are you seated with others?

Wouldn't like to spend Ten days seated beside people we had absolutely nothing in common with!

I agree. I have a good friend here in MO, whose girlfriend lives in Tacloban, Leyte. He still has not heard from her since prior to the typhoon. It's heartbreaking to see his worry. Communications are down in that area and they aren't expected to be back up for the next 4-5 days, apparently. It is difficult to look at the pictures from the town where they are reporting approx. 10000 perished. Makes me wonder how there are pictures to see online yet no way to communicate there.

 

I can only imagine the worry of the many crew members. My thoughts and prayers are with them.

So thinking of the crews from the Phillipines - met quite a few onboard Allure - a very happy and resilient people. My daughter in law is from the Phillipines so have them all so very much in my thoughts!

Taking 3 other first timers on a tour to St Maarten could not be complete without a stop at SXM (Princess Julianna Airport - or at least the beach behind it). This time around I did some research and made sure that I arrived in time for the biggest jet that would be landing that day.

 

Arrived at Sunset Grill around 12:48, took a look at the flight schedule here written on a surf board (and yes they also have a speaker there broadcasting the air traffic control between the tower and the aircrafts).

 

 

Since Air France from Paris was slightly late (later than the posted time of 1:19) we ordered our food first. 30 minutes later, still no plane...BUT what's worse was food was also late. My pina colada was getting warm and all we got were tiny prop planes. Then........THIS HAPPENED!!!

 

ALL THE WAY FROM PARIS, PRESENTING Air France flight 3510

 

Andy

We were there too!!! But our Bernards tour was with the driver David and my other half was the one up front in charge of cooler with rum punch etc. wasn't Maho quite a place!

When we were checking in the day before, they handed us a sheet of paper indicating that the Nassau short stay will now be shorter by 1 hour on top of a delayed arrival in St Thomas 2 days later. The reason stated was - technical issues with the ship's top speed. I was also told while on board that they want to slow down a bit to save fuel.

 

Got a bit annoyed as I booked the only excursion that my son would ever want - NS86 Atlantis Aqua Adventure.

 

 

Cutting an hour out of port call means the tour was cut short. Well they claimed that it was the same 5 hours but I was sure that we didn't get a full 5 hours. Not sure if that was the reason RCCL dropped the price of this tour a month or so before the cruise but my DS cares more about time spent vs $$ paid by his parents.

 

We got off the boat as the Carnival Ecstasy was backing into the dock. It was wet as it must have rained over night.

 

 

Followed the crowd over to where the folks holding the waiver forms were. After quickly filling one out we were led to the buses that would take us over to Paradise Island. Got a bit of the history of Nassau from the bus driver in the short ride over.

 

Soon they dropped us off in front of the massive resort around 8:00. We were told the 3 time slots for shuttle back onto the ship. 11:00, 11:30 and 12:00. They gathered all of us for a description of the tour etc but since we already knew the place, we headed straight for the aquariums.

 

 

Weather was a little grey still from the rain the night before but that didn't dampen our stay. We have been here a couple of times but ne'er stayed over. So enjoying the facilities was a first for all of us.

 

 

Hmm lost children....

 

 

More to come...

Andy -we too were on the cruise.. Wonderful time but felt time rather short in Nassau and disembarked to find no shoos open. Our biggest disappointment though and caused upset - our trip to Sawgrass Mills cancelled due to lack of numbers just on Saturday afternoon - was intending using that time it get shopping, make transfer to Miami airport before flying home to Scotland - meant left high and dry and ended up sitting in airport for hours on end!!