Message for Lady Ann Marquise

[rickpo]

Probably see you on the bus in Koper if not before.

I'm a short guy with short grey hair and a funny brown hat.

 

Rick.

[Pensioncruiser]

Don't worry Rick you will easily recognise Lady Ann she will be the one in the Tiara!!!

[Lady Ann Marquis]

Don't worry Rick you will easily recognise Lady Ann she will be the one in the Tiara!!!

 

One up to you PC but I am not sure there is enough room in the case for my Tiara - so may have to make do with my pink hat.

 

Rick, both John and I are vertically challenged but seem to have no trouble growing outwards unfortunately! :eek: - Your description could be of John except his hat is green I think! :rolleyes:

 

Maybe we should carry a red rose;)

[Lady Ann Marquis]

Thank you have a good one😁😁

 

Hi PC

 

Well that’s it all over and very nice it was to. As promised here is a wee report on some of the ports of call but before I go any further we agree with you about Korcula it was our favourite as well.

 

Koper as you already know the town and beach here are both very pleasant - we spent a lovely couple of hours here in the afternoon with Rick and Pauline. The HOHO trip in the morning was really nice and well worth doing, Piran is very pretty they call it little Venice –it’s easy to see why. You get a couple of hours here, which allowed us to walk from the bus stop into town (there is a little free bus into the town if you prefer) it is only a ten minute stroll at most to the town square and the information centre. From the square we went up to the church with the bell tower, it’s a little bit of a climb but nothing too strenuous. We didn’t venture up the bell tower but the view I am sure would be amazing from up there but if you go to the back of the church up the few steps on the right side there is a great view and then come down the left side and you get a look into the church, which is very nice. We then followed the path down from the left side and it took us to the start of the promenade where I dipped my feet in the water. There are lots of little inexpensive bars all along the prom and plenty of ice cream shops as well!!! We walked right along the prom to the beach area near the harbour and had another wee paddle. The beaches as you know aren’t sandy but the water is crystal clear.

 

Rijeka, it’s a pretty uninspired walk from the port to the town but there was a free shuttle bus running that we didn’t know about until we started walking so ask about that, as it’s not a very nice walk.

 

We walked into the centre and caught the HOHO bus at the museum near the fruit market at 10am other times up on the board it runs every 2.5hrs.( It only cost 50 kuna so about £6 each and worth doing to see a wee bit of the country side) It took us up the hill to Trsat where there is a nice church and the castle we got off for 20 mins and had a walk about (you can stay off and walk to the castle and catch the next bus).

 

From there you do a pretty uninspired drive to the Tower shopping centre (again you can get off and catch the next bus back to town)

 

You then head back to town this time stopping at the main bus stop, which is beside the little craft market, I would suggest catching the bus from here unless you particularly want to see the church, which is a famous pilgrim place of worship. I think the HOHO leaves this point around 11.20am from here you drive along the coast to the nice little seaside holiday resort of Opatija about 30 mins along the coast. The weather wasn’t nice so we stayed on the bus and got back to Rijeka at 12.30pm but on a better day we would have stayed in Opatija until the next HOHO bus.

 

Rijeka town itself has a very modern pedestrianised shopping centre; there is a nice garden area in front of the museum with seats and the fruit and craft market as previously mentioned it took us about an hour to stroll around these areas.

 

Durres, so many people didn’t get off the ship here, which we thought was a real shame. Make no mistake it is a working town but there are lots of sculptures dotted around the place, a nice main street area with plenty of shops and café’s. There is a lovely square at the top of the shopping street with fountains. There is also an amphitheatre, which you can walk around if you aren’t good with steps go in on the way down it’s the second left turn after all the stairs at the mosque, which is also an entrance to the amphitheatre. When you come back down instead of heading to the ship turn left, which leads you to a rather nice promenade, which goes for a fair distance. We sat in a lovely wee café here with a nice view

we ordered a pint and a half pint of local beer it came to 400 lek, which should have been 3 euro but the waiter asked for 3.50 euro but for the convenience of not changing money we were more than happy to give him that plus a tip as it was a really nice view. Oh and of course we managed a paddle. We walked right to the end of the prom but if you walk as far as the pier you can see right to the end without walking that far…

 

Hope some of this info is helpful enjoy….

[Lady Ann Marquis]

Probably see you on the bus in Koper if not before.

I'm a short guy with short grey hair and a funny brown hat.

 

Rick.

 

Hi Rick and Pauline - it was lovely to meet you both. John and I enjoyed the time we spent with you both.

 

Pauline, I hope you manage to convince Rick into do a family cruise;)

 

Rick its only money:rolleyes:

 

Hope we meet again sometime:)

[Pensioncruiser]

Thanks for the report Lady Ann and welcome back, I have few question's when I have had a good read bit busy at the moment, it just happens to by what day which comes round once a year but I will come back tomorrow.

[happy v]

Happy Birthday PC.:D:D

[Lady Ann Marquis]

Thanks for the report Lady Ann and welcome back, I have few question's when I have had a good read bit busy at the moment, it just happens to by what day which comes round once a year but I will come back tomorrow.

 

Happy birthday to you Happy birthday dear PC happy birthday to you.... 21 again;)

[Pensioncruiser]

Hi Lady Ann thank you for your wishes & happy v, I am pleased you had a good time, questions did you have any problems picking up the tickets for the HOHO and the free shuttle bus in Rijeka is that provided by the ship or the port authority.

And did you manage to get into Dubrovnik;)

Well its just four weeks on Thursday for us but we have two weeks:p

[Lady Ann Marquis]

Hi Lady Ann thank you for your wishes & happy v, I am pleased you had a good time, questions did you have any problems picking up the tickets for the HOHO and the free shuttle bus in Rijeka is that provided by the ship or the port authority.

And did you manage to get into Dubrovnik;)

Well its just four weeks on Thursday for us but we have two weeks:p

 

Good day - I hope you had a nice birthday and that the head isn't too bad today ;)

 

We got on the ship around 12 noon after a wee bit of hanging about at the port as lots of flights arrive about the same time and they only let 35 people on the ship at a time so a slow process. We got a bit of lunch and then headed into Dubrovnik on the local bus nae bother.

 

Had a good walk about the old town and harbour - really lovely. We didn't try walking the walls as it was too hot and as far as we could tell the cable car didn't seem to be working but the view from the bus from the airport could hardly be beaten.

 

We turned up for the HoHo bus at 2. 30 but not enough people interested so it didn't run. Instead we walked up to the wee Fort and then to the beach before catching the bus back for 5.30 safety drill.

 

We went out for a walk along to the harbour after the safety drill and got some water and cola from the supermarket, in the port, for the cabin.

 

Most folk we spoke to who were onboard for 2 weeks didn't bother with Dubrovnik as they were back on the middle Thursday and could go into Dubrovnik in the morning - there were 8 ships in port the day we arrived 3 of them were rather large vessels so you can imagine how busy it was.

 

We didn't get the drinks package as part of our deal with this cruise - it was offered at £26 per head per day but we decided we wouldn't drink that much on a cruise that you were in ports all but one day. Thus we were very pleasantly surprises when on the Friday the ships duty free had a special offer on 15% off all booze, which you were allowed to take it to your cabin. We got 2 lts of smirnoff and 1lt of ameretto for £25.50 we drank some of this in the cabin and brought the rest home. Note this offer was only on the one day and was much cheaper than the duty free at the airport.

 

Koper HoHo couldn't be easier you see the desk as soon as you clear port customs just head to the desk tell them your name and pay. R & P and J & me got there 15/20 mins early and we all four got the front seats on the coach. Quite a few people used this HoHo tour. The tour guide will point out the free bus in Piran.

 

To be honest I don't know regards the shuttle bus in Rijeka only that we left the ship about 9.30 and started to walk into town (its not that far but its not that nice a walk) the bus past us - it stated clearly Free Shuttle Bus for Thomsons cruise passengers but no one seemed to know about it. One also past us when we were walking back into the port so ask at the ships reception.

 

Have fun.....

[Pensioncruiser]

Thanks for all that

[Lady Ann Marquis]

Thanks for all that

 

You are welcome...:)

[Pensioncruiser]

Think I was being optimistic when I said 4 weeks till we go its 5???

[Lady Ann Marquis]

Think I was being optimistic when I said 4 weeks till we go its 5???

 

Oh dear how on earth will you last a full extra week!?! :eek:

 

Its 81/2 weeks until our next holiday, which is 10 days in Spain with our two sons. If the weather gets better here before then (hopefully!) then we will head off in the camper up the north of Scotland.

 

But it is a full 14 weeks until our first 3 week cruise, our first Transatlantic cruise and our first Western Caribbean cruise. Have you done either a TA or WC cruise?

 

Its a big birthday for me in November hence the cruise and last week was an early anniversary present. That is my excuse and I am sticking with it but honestly when you get to my age who needs more stuff :rolleyes:

[Pensioncruiser]

Never done a TA but have done seven Caribbean btb cruises but the one this year was probably our last getting a bit to far now for Mrs PC, we have booked the Dream in April for our early cruise next year and Discovery for our September break, and for the first time we have booked a JS? mainly with left over's from not going Caribbean. Don't tell anyone but I think we will miss the Caribbean so much it may be on the cards for 2018 on Discovery 2. It is an unbelievable place and I envy you if its your first time.

[Lady Ann Marquis]

Never done a TA but have done seven Caribbean btb cruises but the one this year was probably our last getting a bit to far now for Mrs PC, we have booked the Dream in April for our early cruise next year and Discovery for our September break, and for the first time we have booked a JS? mainly with left over's from not going Caribbean. Don't tell anyone but I think we will miss the Caribbean so much it may be on the cards for 2018 on Discovery 2. It is an unbelievable place and I envy you if its your first time.

 

JS? Ah got it, Junior Suite... Lucky you. You won't want to leave the cabin ;)

 

We have done 12 ports in the Caribbean but never done western side before - Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatan and Harvest Caye, which is NCLs new private Island stop - it is due to open for business in November and we are due there in November so we shall see! Any pointers on any of these ports?

 

John fancies South America for 2018 and we have seen a nice 14day cruise on the Emerald Princess plus a 5 day land tour but it has to be Jan - Mar time for that part of the world and as we normally spend several weeks in the Canaries during the winter I am loathe to risk lossing our spot in the apartment we rent so we will have to give it some serious thought....

 

Anyway its time for my much needed beauty sleep - sweet dreams.

[Pensioncruiser]

Good morning, sorry we have not done any of those PoC as we also have only been to EC, also only ever cruised Thomson. There is a least on poster on here, geomagot, who has a vast experience of the Caribbean and a great memory he was most useful this year when I just wanted to visit beaches I am certain if you put out a request thread you will receive a good response.

Good searching;)

[Lady Ann Marquis]

Good morning, sorry we have not done any of those PoC as we also have only been to EC, also only ever cruised Thomson. There is a least on poster on here, geomagot, who has a vast experience of the Caribbean and a great memory he was most useful this year when I just wanted to visit beaches I am certain if you put out a request thread you will receive a good response.

Good searching;)

 

As you may have gathered by the way I contacted you the first time that I have no idea how to put out a request?!?

 

BTW, what is your favourite Thomson ship?

[rickpo]

Hi Margaret & john, It was lovely meeting the both of you.

We had an uneventful journey home, looked out for you at the airport just in case we overlapped but didn't spot you.

We took off a few minutes early and landed about 15 minutes early which makes a nice change.

Hope you enjoy your cruise in November and many happy returns in advance.

 

Rick & Pauline.

[Pensioncruiser]

As you may have gathered by the way I contacted you the first time that I have no idea how to put out a request?!?

 

BTW, what is your favourite Thomson ship?

If you wish I will post a thread on your behalf:D

 

We actually like all the ships probably we liked the old Destiny & Calypso & Emerald, favourite at the moment Dream but have not been on Discovery yet:)

[Lady Ann Marquis]

If you wish I will post a thread on your behalf:D

 

We actually like all the ships probably we liked the old Destiny & Calypso & Emerald, favourite at the moment Dream but have not been on Discovery yet:)

 

 

Hi PC That would be great if you don't mind.

 

We loved the Island Breeze but that was a way way way back.

 

There is a lot that we liked about Thomson cruising the first thing being the up front price includes tips (even though you still give small thank you tips) I wish all company's would pay the staff a fair wage and charge accordingly...

 

Loved the tea and coffee on tap all day and the relaxed attitude in allowing you to have a bottle in the cabin for drinks getting ready for dinner and a night cap as you are getting ready for bed. Very civilised, some of the American ships could learn a lesson or two in customer and staff care from Thomson. To be honest we thought the Celebration was maybe a bit on the small side if we were doing longer than a week but the Dream and Discovery both look nice - we will certainly look to book a Thomson cruise again.

[Lady Ann Marquis]

Hi Margaret & john, It was lovely meeting the both of you.

We had an uneventful journey home, looked out for you at the airport just in case we overlapped but didn't spot you.

We took off a few minutes early and landed about 15 minutes early which makes a nice change.

Hope you enjoy your cruise in November and many happy returns in advance.

 

Rick & Pauline.

 

We also had a really good journey from the ship to home; we left the dock at 9am cleared security around 10am so you would already be boarding by the time we got through to the gate.

 

Our flight also benefited from the tail wind but unfortunately although we arrived 15 mins early the airport didn't have the walkway ready for us so we lost that benefit.

 

The big bonus was our son was there waiting on us - Craig’s time keeping normally leaves a lot to be desired!!! So we were very happy that he made it on time….

 

Happy cruising – you can email us at Ladyannmarquis@gmail.com to let us know when you book your next cruise. Who knows we might meet up again, as I have already said to PC we will very likely book another Thomson cruise in the future.

 

Kindest regards John and Margaret