Di Princess

My daughter, S-I-L, and GranDaughter are planning a Diamond Princess cruise end of January-February 2015. I am looking for an AirBnB apartment for them near the Open Tennis Venue in Melbourne.

Can any of you nice Aussies help me with Zip Codes (Postal Codes) near where these tennis courts are located? :confused:

Thank you in Advance.

Donna

Hi, Greg,

I just bought San Francisco for Dummies for my GranDaughter at UC Davis because it was 40% off at the travel store in Pasadena (Distant Lands). I may need to get Scotland for Dummies. ;)

I have about 4 different books on Ireland, including Rick Steves.

Donna

For Beatles Week:

Crystal Symphony, Thursday 21 August, 8:00 AM to 6 PM.

I wish we were there all night. ;)

Got it, Greg. A big thanks to you and your friend. Having worked in Publications at Lockheed for 37 years (technical manuals and marketing pubs), I am rather fanatical about publications and your friend has done a fantastic job putting this together and I am sharing it with the 3 couples sailing with me that I met here at CC.

Thank you, Greg, for all the links. I shall look at all of them because half the fun of the trip is in the Research.

Marines are the Nicest, most gentlemanly people in the whole world. When I had Guard Duty on Coronado Island (doing my annual 2 weeks active duty), I picked the tallest, blackest Marine to be my partner.

I, too, was "Just a Reservist." (A No-No to say that!)

Aviation Maintenance Administrationman First Class, we kept the Logs & Records on the aircraft maintenance (working with the Supply Department). I was in RESPATWINGSPAT at Coronado and Point Mugu, where I retired. That was a good extra job while working at Lockheed.

Your trip sounds very exciting.

After 37 Princess Cruises, I have moved up to the Crystal Symphony, (7 days) sailing from Dover on 17 August, 2 ports in Wales, 2 ports in Scotland, Waterford, Guernsey, Liverpool, and disembarking in Dublin to stay for 7 days to travel by bus & train in Ireland. I would really appreciate your sending me your research:

donnaiworldtravel@gmail.com

Sorry to confuse you, I'm from California :)

I buy mine from Bed, Bath and Beyond. They sell for $.99 and they come in small packs of five.

BUT, they are FREE for the taking on your airplane! ;)

We have 2pre-cruise days in London prior to our cruise. I believe my electronics (cells, iPads) will work on the ship, but will they work in the hotel in London? If we need to purchase a converter any thoughts on where to purchase one? This is our first time out of the US and thoughts/suggestions from experienced travelers would be appreciated. Thanks.

If you have a Piece of Fruit, my 13-inch Apple Laptop worked in my London apartment without a converter; however, I needed an adapter for the round-holed plugs. My AirBnB Host gave me one.

Toilet seat covers. I think it's a CA thing.

Yes, it may well be a California thing (or is that Canada???) :confused:

Don't buy any. Just grab them from the aircraft and put into your carryon. Don't forget the heavy-duty cleaning of that filthy tray table you will be eating on. I always clean my hotel & cabin phones, TV remotes, etc. with the wipes from my Daughter's dental office. ;)

I will be in Oban from 9 AM to 4 PM on Saturday 23 August. Maybe you will be there on the same day?

You were in the US Navy? Thank you for your service and Happy 4th of July! For 20 years, I was an AZ1 (USNR-R).

On Friday 22 August, I will be in Glasgow (Greenock) from 9 AM to 11 PM. :eek:

Thanks, GD,

I have started researching those places. I have done the Edinburgh games a couple of years ago. I wanted the Crystal Castle Tour but I am number 41 on the waitlist. Already, 150 pax are signed up for it. It sounds like a lovely little town and should be very relaxing. The Islands interest me also.

I wish you a wonderful visit there.

Donna

This is a Maiden call for Crystal Symphony. I am looking at a website:

http://www.obantours.com/

and they have a bus tour for $19 for 2-1/2 Hours. It starts at Oban Railway Station. How do I get to the Oban Railway Station from the Port? I have sent e-mails as well as called their 800 phone but cannot get any information. :eek:

What else is there to do here in Oban?

Thanks for your help.

Thank you so much, Steamboats and Notamermaid.

I always learn so much from all your posts. I lived in Pirmasens (south of Kaiserslautern) for 2-1/2 years, 58 years ago.

Cruising the Rhine next year will be very nostalgic on the Viking Var. Thanks for all your help to all the Cruise Critters. ;)

Donna

That makes sense. ;)

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=5888

Nearly 200 Evacuated from River Cruise Ship due to 'Leak': (10 AM, EDT) -- A river cruise ship in the eastern Netherlands had to be evacuated early Sunday morning (June 22) after springing a leak late Saturday (June 21). The 360-foot (110 meter) Britannia was carrying 154 passengers and 40 crew when it began to take on water around 10 PM GMT. There were no injuries during the evacuation. A statement on the Zutphen city council website -- the municipality nearest to where the incident occurred -- said passengers were taken to a nightclub before being sheltered overnight in a large event building in Zutphen. The municipality's statement said Britannia has been "drained" and will be "stabilized" tomorrow (June 23). The cause of the leak is not yet known. Dutch emergency services spokesman Robert Spijkerman told AFP that the emergency services team on site had to furiously "pump out water to prevent [the boat] from sinking." Spijkerman said Britannia had "a large hole near the stern," which would be investigated by a team of divers. The cruise ship has been moored in Zutphen on the IJssel River -- an important tributary of the Rhine -- several miles east of Amsterdam. Operated by Nicko Tours, Britannia was making its way from Deventer, The Netherlands, to Cologne, Germany, with a group of mostly German and Austrian passengers when the incident occurred. Cruise Critic has contacted the line for further details about the incident and will update this story with any information we receive.

The least expensive I could find on AirBnB is $86 per night. It has a washer & dryer. Look at the great photos. The nice thing about Air BnB is that you can e-mail the Hosts before booking and ask any questions. I have stayed 7 times with Hosts (twice in London, twice in Barcelona, once in Seattle).

https://www.airbnb.com/s/London?guests=2&neighborhoods%5B%5D=Kensington

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/588959?guests=2&s=zrrn

$86 - Best Apartment in Kensington ! Apartment - Private room · Warwick Road, London, England SW5, United Kingdom

39 5-STAR REVIEWS.

HOUSE RULES: Feel free to make full use of the kitchen and lounge areas. Please keep the flat tidy. For stays of one week or more, there will be a cleaning fee of £30 weekly for cleaning during your stay. Breakfast can be provided for a small fee. For longer term stays, the price is negotiable - please simply send me a message. Any other questions, please contact me at your convenience.

The Space: ENJOY A BRIGHT SPACIOUS APARTMENT WITH A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN IN CENTRAL LONDON With a Large Private King Size Bedroom & Ensuite Bathroom. And With Free High Speed WiFi Internet – see below

Located in Central London, perfect for tourists and business guests, the apartment is in Kensington & Chelsea – one of the most sought after areas of the city. The apartment backs onto the largest communal garden in Kensington, complete with a grass tennis court ! You will have a key to access this during your stay. It is a few minutes from Earls Court Exhibition Centre as well as Earls Court Underground (Zone 1), with the District and Piccadilly lines to take you to the rest of Central London in a few minutes. There are many great restaurants, pubs, and supermarkets within a two-minute walk. All airports are within easy access. Heathrow is a 30-minute taxi ride or direct on the Piccadilly line tube. Nearby areas include the shops of High Street Kensington, world famous museums (V&A, Natural History, and Science museums), South Kensington, glamorous Knightsbridge, splendid Hyde Park, lovely Holland Park, and Stamford Bridge (Chelsea Football Stadium). In addition, two Exhibition Centres are a short walk away. Slightly further is Kings Road in the heart of Chelsea, as well as Westfield Shopping Centre. Bicycles are available within a one minute walk – Using the London bicycle scheme, for only £1, you can get around London with ease.

APARTMENT and ROOM: This is a recently renovated, luxurious and contemporary interior designed flat in a lovely area, overlooking the largest communal garden in Kensington. It is bright with large windows throughout, offering generous open plan living space, and modern bathrooms. It is on the top (3rd) floor, with a wide railed staircase to enter the flat, and lovely views of the garden from the lounge. The apartment offers a spacious roof terrace with stunning views over the garden and the surrounding area. You will have full use of the above – and the bedroom is a full ensuite with a large king size bed and a modern bathroom. (see pictures)

The interior includes the following for you to enjoy:

- Living: Open plan reception area of over 450 square feet across the lounge, kitchen and dining area. Stylish wood floors, elegant carpeting and luxury furniture make this a modern space.

- Media: A plasma satellite TV and a Bose sound system, complete with iPod / PC / iPhone jack to enjoy your music, television and movies. High Speed (up to 60mb/s) Internet.

- Kitchen: Fully equipped, large worktop surfaces, microwave oven, four point gas hob, fan assisted oven, toaster, kettle, dishwasher, stainless steel fridge/freezer, washing machine / dryer, iron and ironing board. Plenty of crockery, cutlery, utensils and glassware.

- Bedroom: Very cosy with a large king size bed, many mirrors and lots of space to hang your clothing.

- Ensuite Bathroom: A modern design with lovely limestone tiles, a walk-in shower enclosure and stainless steel chrome fittings. There is plenty of space for your toiletries, a large mirror and a shaving socket. On your arrival, you will be presented with fresh linen made on your bed, fresh towels, a welcome pack with some essentials, and a set of keys.

--------------------------------------------

TELEPHONE / WiFi/ INTERNET: High Speed WiFi / Internet (60 mB/ sec) is free, particularly useful for those who use it for calls.

--------------------------------------------

OTHER: For longer term stays, the price is negotiable - please simply send me a message. If you plan to stay for over one week, a weekly cleaning service can be provided if required at an extra cost. Please feel free to contact me with any further questions you may have.

Construction is nearing completion on a new Aranui ship in a Chinese shipyard. This Aranui 3 will be replaced by the Aranui 5 (since there were actually two Aranui 2 ships). We anticipate to see the completed ship in operation around July to August 2015. The Aranui 5 will be slightly wider (22 metres) and taller with two more decks (total of 9 decks), additional public spaces, have more suites (31), superior & deluxe staterooms (29) and will hold about 256 passengers (verses the current 200 passengers). It will have a cruising speed of 15 knots with a length of 125 meters, about the same as the Aranui 3, so that it can safely navigate the smaller harbors of the Marquesas Islands. Stay tuned for more updates on the progress of the Aranui 5. :D

http://aranui.ca/itinerary/aranui-5

I want to go in 2016. In 2004, I went to Tahiti on the Tahitian Princess (7 days). I ordered a brochure but I think it is probably for Aranui 3. There is no Aranui 4 because 4 is an unlucky number for the Chinese and Aranui is owned by a Chinese family. ;)

Anyone else going?

OK. Where are the lifeboats?

 

Come on Pam, when would a Costa ship ever need lifeboats?

When the Captain needs to get into one of them to get to the Island. :eek:

https://www.airbnb.com/s/DUBLIN-O'CONNELL-STREET?guests=2&source=bb

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1421663?guests=2&s=iACG

$82 - Heart of Dublin! Double bedroom

Apartment - Private room · Shaw Street, Dublin 2, Ireland

We have a spare double bedroom in our flat. The room comes with its own bathroom and it's located a 8-minutes walking from the Trinity College main gate, 2 mins from Tara Train Station and 5 mins from the Bus Station!

The Space: Our spare room is fitted with a double bed and a desk, plus two coffee tables on each side with drawers for your personal use. It can fit up to two people only. It's kept clean and tidy all the time. Of course, you could use the kitchen, fridge, washing machine, iron board and appliances during your stay. We have WiFi as well. If you smoke, there is no problem. We do have a balcony in the flat. And no pets with us.

Guest Access: Our flat is in a second floor of a secured building. It's really well connected to any kind of transportation. Apart from being situated between two main train/DART stations (Tara & Pearse), we have the Westmoreland / Trinity Aircoach stop close by and the Busaras Station just crossing the bridge over the Liffey river, where you have a LUAS (tram) stop. There is a public gym right around the corner that you could you use without membership and a city public bikes dock. Temple bar is 10 minutes away, where you will have access to all kind of pubs, clubs and restaurants. Grafton Street, and O´Connell Street, Stephen´s Green and Merrion Parks, everything within a 10-15 minutes walk.

The Neighborhood: The main point is that we live in a busy area, especially on weekday mornings. We have a bridge train across the street and traffic passing by. No one has ever complained, and as long as you have the windows closed, you barely notice. But better let you know if you are a light-sleeper!

BORJA: School: Instituto Leonardo da Vinci (Majadahonda), University Juan Carlos I, Madrid, Spain

Work: Embassy of Spain / SAP AG

About: We are a young couple of professionals working in Dublin, Borja & Sara. I'm from Spain and Sara is from Germany. We both are enthusiasts of traveling and we loved our flat, so it seemed like a good idea to try Airbnb and share it with the world. :D

YES.

The Creme d' Menthe Frapee is wonderful. ;)

Hi, Rachel,

I forgot to tell you that, besides reading the reviews and looking at the photos, you can also click on the MAP and see exactly the area that the Host's apartments are located. This one is more costly than the one at the airport (on your other thread); however, because it is right in town:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2492216

$77 - Dublin City Centre Private Room - Apartment - Private room · Conyngham Road, Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

Languages: Deutsch, English, Español, Français, Italiano

School: Hipnotherapy and Family Consultations

Work: Psychotherapy

Hello! Glad to welcome you in our cosy apartment. We are a Romanian couple who moved to Dublin, for work reasons. We live close to city center and to the many tourist attractions that you can find in this lovely town. I am passionate about psychotherapy, astrology and home design. I love pets and I enjoy traveling, but most I enjoy meeting people all over the world. Vlad likes to travel, loves tennis, and dreams to attend to Grand Slams tennis tournaments. We are looking forward to welcoming you and give you any help you need to have a great stay in Dublin! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to message us, whether or not you pick our place to live in. See you soon! Alina & Vlad

The Space: Located near Phoenix Park, this cosy apartment provides you with the perfect location to explore the sights and sounds of Ireland's vibrant capital city. Overlooking a cute, cosy garden while being at walking distance from the heart of the city, your stay in Dublin will definitely feel like home. The apartment faces into a large courtyard garden that is ideal for relaxation and gives loads of space for kids to play. It also ensures that the apartment is quiet while still in the centre of the action. There is very fast 30 mb WiFi as well as Satellite TV on a big flat screen, as well as everything you will need in order to feel at home. The bedroom accommodates 2 persons, and the double bed is very comfortable. The kitchen is very well equipped with cooker stove and oven, microwave and a washing machine. Everything you might need (bed linen, towels and kitchen items) is provided, as well as a small library of books on Dublin.

Guest Access: THE IMMEDIATE AREA: There are great walks to be found in Phoenix Park (Europe's largest urban park) and the apartment is 2 minutes distance from the main entry. If you are thirsty after your long walk, we can supply you with local knowledge of the finest watering holes the city has to offer! 5 minutes walk to Guiness and National Art Museum, 10 minutes to Jameson factory and you will soon arrive in the heart of the city at Dublin Castle and Temple Bar. All other notable parts of the city – such as Grafton Street area, St Stephens Green, Merrion Square, O'Connell Street – are within a 20 minute walk. The free Dublin bicycle scheme has been a great addition to the city and allows the freedom to explore further afield. There are several stations close at hand. Should you have any special requests, let us know and we will do our best to point you in the right direction, otherwise take your time to stroll around and enjoy all the city has to offer in the safe knowledge that you are only a stones throw from home. Enjoy your stay!

Hi, Rachel,

I am staying near the port, off the Crystal Symphony on 24 August. I am paying $66 a night with a private en suite and balcony; however, no brekkie. Take a look at the photos on this website. You can e-mail with the Hosts before booking:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/936063

$42 - Dublin Airport, We'll pick you up! Bed & Breakfast - Private room · Drynam Square, Swords, Dublin, Ireland

We are very easy going people and know lots about this great area, restaurants and activities. We are more than happy to give you advice or let you just enjoy the area on your own. We always make sure everyone around us is very comfortable. Our background is over 20 years in the Hospitality Industry so you can rest assured you are in the right hands. We enjoy traveling around Ireland and spend our spare time working or walking our dogs. If we have any more spare time, we enjoy a glass of wine and a good old chat. We will provide you with all the information you need so that you do not waste any of your valuable time in Dublin. We believe that you will get out of life as much as you put in! Just arrive in Dublin and leave the rest to us. Des & Sinead

82 REVIEWS, ALL 5 STARS.

Hi let us be your hosts, My house offers four bedrooms for a short or long term stay for visitors to Dublin's fair city. The house, built over three floors, it is very spacious, modern, and in a great location.

- 5 minutes from Dublin Airport

- 5 minutes from the coast

- 20 minutes to the city centre by local bus or train.

Accommodation will include breakfast: Selection of cereal, eggs, toast, bagels, cheese, jams, tea, coffee, and orange juice. A selection of herbal teas, tea and coffee are always available 24 hours. Airport pickup and drop off can usually be organised for a small fee of €5 each way for 4 people. Once you are settled in, a few minutes by car brings you to the vibrant village of Malahide which boasts a lovely 12th century castle set on 250 acres of park land. There are over 25 restaurants to choose from in this award-winning pretty seaside town, along with traditional Irish pubs with live music. Ladies boutiques, a yachting marina and the beach are also a big feature in Malahide village. A further five minutes along the coast is Portmarnock beach, nicknamed The Velvet Strand due to the beautiful smooth sand along the beach, and is popular with wind and kite surfers. The local double decker bus is a 20 minute ride to the heart of Dublin city centre and costs €2.80. Here you can visit all your planned attractions whether it be Temple Bar, The Guinness factory, Dublin Castle or just take a stroll around the city's streets and listen to the street buskers crooning. This house has a unique destination as it offers you everything you need on your visit to Dublin within a short distance and if you want more than just a city break then there are plenty of fishing villages scattered around. The M1 motorway is only a stone throw away and offers a direct access to everywhere in Ireland North ,South, East and West. So if it is a short break for you in Dublin, an airport layover or just a place to sleep for a night before you go touring, you can rest assured that we will pull out all of the stops to make sure that your stay in my home is a pleasant and memorable experience for you and yours. This house is a great launching pad if you are travelling Ireland for your first night before touring the country and your last night before departure.

INCLUDED WITH YOUR RESERVATION:

- Very warm welcome, - Breakfast, - Wireless Internet access, - Hot power shower, - Two soft bath towels per person, - Printing facilities, Hairdryers, - Cable Television, - Car Parking, - Malahide Castle drop off, - Dublin tour guide books, - All dietary requests met, - Sound advice.

We look forward to hosting you! Des & Sinead

Interaction with Guests: We are always here to answer your questions and give you advise on all that Dublin as to offer no matter how short your stay is.

Getting around: The local bus stop is a five minute walk to the end of the road and will take you straight to the heart of Dublin city centre.

Thank you, Cole. You have restored my confidence in Viator. I will call them with my concerns. I really need to stop reading the one-star reviews. I definately want to take the rail/flight tour from Dublin to the Aran Islands. ;)

Hi, Dubliners,

In August, I am staying post-cruise in Dublin for 1 week and I am looking at the different companies. Some (like Viator) are only On-Line Booking Agencies and one cannot tell how large or small, good or bad, their sub-contractors are.

I did use http://www.DublinSightseeing.ie to book my Ho-Ho Bus for 14.45 Euros. Is this a good rate? I like the fact that their office is right there in the City Centre and, although I cannot now phone them, I can e-mail with them.

I e-mailed Daytours Unplugged and they were pretty rude.

I am only interested in Bus (Coach) or Rail or Coach+Rail tours for one day because I have already paid for 1 week in an apartment in Dublin.

Thanks for all your suggestions. :D

Donna I.

Thank you, Mairnealach. I can always rely on you for good advice. ;)

LAURA:

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