Coach pick up at Crowne Plaza birmingham

[charsgran]

Can anyone tell me if there is any shelter at the Crowne Plaza Birmingham coach pick up point ? We will be on Britannia B609 10th April. On our first cruise ever for our golden wedding anniversary and very excited and also a little daunted. Wouldn't like to make any faux pas! Any tips would be most appreciated. We may be early at pick up point due to handing dog into kennels. Thanks in advance.

[dave9898]

have been picked up twice from The Crown Plaza, you can actually sit in the hotel and have a coffee, and can see when the coach arrives as I stops right outside

[charsgran]

Thanks so much. That's good to know :)

[Turbofun]

We will be on Britannia B609 10th April. On our first cruise ever for our golden wedding anniversary and very excited and also a little daunted. Wouldn't like to make any faux pas! Any tips would be most appreciated..

 

Don't be daunted, our first cruise was a spur of the moment booking and we just rocked up and learnt as we went along.

 

However, after that we researched and planned more. So, read all the FAQs on the PandO website, read the forums here, across all cruiselines and the ports forum.

 

Then, once on board, don't be afraid to ask if you need information or help.

Your cabin steward if you want ice everyday or more teabags, reception if your loo isn't working. Waiters in restaurants or servers in buffet if you want something a bit different foodwise. It's the old saying, "If you don't ask, you don't get".

 

Fellow passengers can often help with knowledge, especially as many will be seasoned cruisers and, because of the fact that it's sort of secure and everyone's in the same boat (or ship), folks are more approachable than say in an hotel. Never mention what you paid for your cruise though.

As always in life you have to weigh up those you meet and decide how to interact with them. That said, in all our nine cruises since we started some four years ago, there has only been one person we both thought, no.

 

Sometimes, as with our last cruise, you get a table in the MDR that really gets on and, as it was second sitting, we were usually last out and, sometimes, then off to a bar. 2 from the USA, 2 from Scotland, 2 from Australia, us from England.

 

Read the Horizon daily information "newspaper", it will help you lots.

 

You'll probably come away thinking "Why haven't we cruised before?" and, like most here, start thinking about the next one.

[charsgran]

Thanks so much for the info. I am looking at forums. So much information, negatives as well as positives. Mind boggling! Keeping an open mind though and really looking forward to the experience. Just over 3 weeks and counting !!

[spf]

Hi I am travelling on that cruise too with my son. Loved Britannia last year so much to do. Am travelling from Preston so may end up on the same coach. Will look out for you although not as seasoned a cruiser as some on this board will always be happy to help.

[charsgran]

Thanks for that. Will probably be looking for some help. Hope we meet :) Don't know yet what time the pick up is at Birmingham.