Worldtraveler 4727
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Posts posted by Worldtraveler 4727
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This shows some good examples....
Thank you!
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Do you know if the package includes only "rail" liquor or can tangueray, for example, be requested?
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We had a 10 and 3 day BTB cruise on the Sapphire. My husband purchased it for the 10 day but didn't get it for the 3 as it was port intensive. The answer is you have to buy for all days if it's a single cruise. My husband found it was definitely worth it. In the dining room they were bringing him 2 glasses of wine at a time. He would buy me a bottle of wine at the 40% off price. Our cabin was close to a bar and he would get drinks to bring back. I am not a big drinker so I chose to buy my drinks but sometimes the waiter didn't charge, just put it on my husbands. Getting big bottles of water for shore was great and coffee was included which is much better than the normal coffee.
Thank you. This was very helpful.
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I understand Princess offers an alcohol beverage package for $49 @ day + 15% gratuity per day. Can anyone tell me if this package must be purchased for EVERY day of the cruise? For example, Can I purchase it midway through the cruise? Or if I don't want the package the final two days, may I purchase it for the first 10 days? Have you found this package to be worth it since it covers drinks up to $10. Does that include name brands (like tanqueray gin)or only rail brand alcohol?
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We've done this three times pre-cruise in Rome. Assuming you have a fair amount of time you might want to simply chat with fellow passengers a bit at first to see if you feel there is a degree of compatibility before setting up, or joining, a group for either a pre-cruise or port-of-call tour. Usually one person acts as co-ordinator, you might not want to be the organizer for everyone else on a number of tours, but some people like the idea. It makes sense to join a group with people who are staying at the same pre-cruise hotel, or at least nearby hotels - to avoid multiple pick-up charges.
If you connect with people on the same flight into Rome, it would make sense to share transfer to your hotel - again it makes sense if the same or nearby hotel is involved. Because you will be travelling with luggage, you will definitely need a van if more than two couples are involved - and you should make sure to count bags and carry-ons while organizing transfers: there has been at least one case where an extra taxi had to be arranged at the last minute for transfer to Civita Vecchia because all bags would not fit into the van,
In any event, sharing tours and transfers is a great way of getting to know some of your fellow passengers, while saving on costs. Talk things up on your roll call - and have a great cruise.
Thank you for these excellent thoughts. Your experience is very helpful.
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If you do Florence and Pisa ask for Elizabeth. She is the best guide that we have ever had.
Thank you! I have made a note of that.
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I have done several tours with RIL. Everybody will pay the driver their portion after the tour is over. One nice thing about RIL is that they have a tour sharing site http://www.romeinlimotoursharing.com You can go there and see if anybody has already started a tour that has room. If not start your own then post it on the Roll Call for people to sign up. One advantage or disadvantage depending on the way you look at it is people not on the Roll Call can also sign up. Normally once you advertise it there will be plenty of people on the roll call that will sign up immediately. If you have any questions email info@romeinlime.com and Jany will get back with in a timely manner.
Your tour sharing site recommendation is a wonderful idea! Thank you!
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The vaporetto goes to Murano and you don't need a guide. The guides/tour leaders receive a commission from the glass factories and are therefore anxious to take you there, many free of charge. Buying a vaporetto pass for the length of time you are in Venice is a good value.
Thank you for the advice. Can you tell me what would be the best and fairly economical way to get from our hotel to the airport? Our hotel is near St Mark's Sq. Also, would you have any recommendations for restaurants you enjoyed?
Thank you
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Thank you for these additional ideas! Much appreciated!
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Just remember that out of the number of passengers are on your cruise' date=' only a small percentage are members of this forum, and there could be members who don't bother with roll calls.
Also, if collecting money for your excursion while on board, remember to be discreet as there's been some who have gotten into trouble with with the ship for this.[/quote']
Thank you. I appreciate the warning. I don't like it -- nor agree with it--but I understand it, and appreciate the heads up.
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Please be aware the ship will not look kindly to your actually collecting money from others on the ship. You can meet in one of the bars and leave the ship together to debark and meet the tour operator on the dock. We have done countless tours we organized or where we joined others for tours that were organized by others. I suggest you get email addresses from those who respond from the roll call so you don't have all the messages lost in the roll call. We have had some no shows at the last minute due to illness, but they insisted on paying their share anyway. Be sure if one of your ports is a tender port your tour operator either does not require prepayment or will refund your money if the ship skips the port for bad weather. Good luck! I hope you have a wonderful trip. Romeinlimo is the best in the business. I think 6 people is a good group. Remember for the transfer from and to the ship you will have lots of luggage. They are so good, they will give you good advise and provide the right sized vehicle for your group.
If you have any specific questions, please ask.
Margee
Thank you so much Margee. I will keep your kind offer in mind. I really appreciate your help. I am a real newbie at all this, but I am determined to make this all work for my husband and me and 4 - 6 other lucky travelers! ;)
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We do lots of private tours and never had a problem with no shows.
Thanks, Paul. I am feeling a bit more relieved and a bit more confident moving forward. :)
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We do lots of private tours and never had a problem with no shows.
Thanks, Paul. I am feeling a bit more relieved and a bit more confident moving forward.
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Some Roll Calls are active others not so much. We have a cruise 8 months from today and we are closing on 3000 posts, nearly 200 people signed up.
That's a lot of people and a lot of posts, and is the reason why I am concerned my sign-up-for-this-excursion-for 8 will be lost in the shuffle. :confused:
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Most people will be up to date on the roll call it is just overwhelming to you since it probably has been up & running for several months
Just take some notes as you get up to speed with the others ;)
Enjoy
Thank you. I will just try to do my best.
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Join your roll call
post the tour you are booking
if the tour guide requires payment up front then ask if other people can just pay the guide directly separately or if you have to foot the bill & collect from them
Some guides will not require a payment until the day of the tour then just get everyone to pay the guide
I have a tour I had to prepay in advance ..I will be collecting from the people once I get on the ship
If they decide to back out then I may have time to find others to join if not they may forfeit their share $$ of the tour
Make the terms of payment & cancellation clear when they sign up with you
If people have to pay in advance they are less likely to cancel once you have their $$
Enjoy the cruise
Thank you. This info helps! I have joined the roll call (I answered someone asking where ppl which hotel before cruise). I will follow the advice given.
The pages get to be "endless" and this cruise is 8 months away--so I fear my notices becoming lost in the vast amt of pages....
Thanks all. Any other advice, pls pass on. Much obliged.
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Actually, there will be about 2,000 passengers on the ship. Just take the first 6 or 8 who respond. You may want to put the next few on the wait list.
For payment, most tour operators accept payment on the day of the excursion. Find out what currency they want and if the accept credit cards.
Some people do cancel private tours. This especially happens when final payment is due and some cancel the cruise. I would get email addresses for everyone so you can verify their participation.
Thank you, Paul. That info helps!
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I suggest you log onto princes cruises forums. Then once there log onto the princess roll calls and look for the date of your sailing. Someone may have already posted offers for people to join their trips if not u can do it. Whatever enjoy
But there are hundreds of people on the ship, and I am looking for a group of 6 or 8....
Also, how does it work for payment, AND do people--as a rule--come through if they say they will go on an excursion with you, or do people drop out and then I will have to find others?
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Hello all~ So very glad to have this forum and all you expert cruisers! Oct 25 on the Island Princess will be our FIRST! So I have a few questions...
I would like to book some pre-cruise excursions with Rome in Limo (great reviews) for the 3 days prior to our cruise, and one of them includes transfers from airport to hotel and then hotel to ship (nice deal)! Do I just post on my ship's roll call the date and time we are arriving, the hotel/approx area we are staying and ask who will be arriving at about that time, if they going near the area of our hotel and are interested in joining us for a day tour the next day (looking for 4 - 6 others)?
I would also like to list and book an excursion for Florence and Pisa (again group of 6 - 8) through Rome in Limo on my ship's roll call. How does this work then? The first people to respond are in? Do people drop out? How do you find others? How is the payment handled when working with these people who are currently strangers?
Thanks!
I will take ANY advice!
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Rick Steves also says no guides are needed...but what about getting to Murano to the glass factory? Worth it? Need a guide?
Thanks!
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I've real fabulous reviews about Rome in Limo tour company for Rome, Florence, Pisa and Pompeii. Is there a similar well-touted company like that for Venice?
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We will be in Rome in late October. When should I look into booking RIL? Also, can anyone answer if it is best to try to get a van of 8 from my ship (Island Princess) or to just book my husband and myself into a van of 8?
Alcohol beverage package questions
in Princess Cruises
Posted
Thank you