Aunt Tina

Check Trip Advisor for Shore Excursions in Belfast. Unfortunately, I want the same thing on the 30th, but Odyssey is not doing it on the 30th!

We will also be on the Riviera that cruise. I'd be interested in any private tours you find,

DCSAM, I like the Riverside Hotel. I've stayed there several times. The River Taxi is one block down. The River walk runs behind the hotel pool, fun to see all the boats going by and leads to the park several blocks up. The pool area is great. Pre-pandemic there was a bakery and ice cream place across the street and Cheesecake Factory next door. There was a market that made subs a couple blocks down the street. I've booked it on Priceline or HotWire hidden hotels a couple times.

Consider staying in Ft. Lauderdale and checking out one of the shuttle services between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami docks. We have paid $15 per person to shuttle directly to the ship. Lots to do in Ft, Lauderdale - especially using the shuttles on the river.

I won't plan travel without it. My husband passed away after two weeks in a hospital two weeks before a cruise many years ago, and I got the cruise line's (Azamara) insurance payment back in a couple weeks after ther doctor signed the papers. I have been stranded twice in Ft. Lauderdale for several days due to weather - unable to fly home. Once was the day before the Super Bowl in Miami. I also got stranded in Puerto Rico for 3 days because of weather at home. Each time hotel and food were covered by the ship line's insurance (Celebrity) with no problems with all the receipts including a statement from the airline. It used to be the ship's insurance did not vary by age - so it was cheaper when I traveled with my 85 year old Mom. I'm now looking for better medical coverage than the cruise line offers. Looking at Insure My Trip.

I will be on the Oceania Riviera approximately that date (not home with the schedule now). Eyesight not good enough to drive at night and on the "wrong side" of the road on unfamiliar roads! Also looking at going there after the cruise from Portsmouth. Thanks very much for your information.

John Bull - is there a way to go from Portland to Torquay for just the day to visit relatives who are not able travel?

Check out the Fort Lauderdale airport schedule, I find prices to Ft. Lauderdale airport is often cheaper, and if you stay over the hotels have free transport to the airport the next day. There are great things to do in Ft. Lauderdale. There were several shuttle services from Miami to Ft. Lauderdale starting at $15 per person.

I just returned from the Summit Boston to Miami cruise - you will love it! The staff is outstanding - they deserve every cent they get! Every staff member and officer who passes you acknowledges you every time no matter what their position. They even had several staff members on deck as we were leaving saying goodbye, thank you and come again!

I just returned from the Oct. 15 Boston to Miami cruise on the Summit in a concierge veranda. Our cabin steward had magnetic hooks for us to use - they worked well except for hanging the terry robe!

We used Rapid Test and Trace Oct. 14 and they were outstanding! when I had problems connecting, they responded immediately to my email. When my friend was able to connect for her appointment that person was able to supervise both of us at the same time. The person who responded to my inability to connect stayed available until everything was done and verified.

They were hacked a couple of weeks ago. Maybe they are still having problems. I booked with Rapid Test and Trace - fingers crossed!

This thread could be valuable to people who are on the Celebrity Summit repositing cruise leaving Boston Oct. 15. Our first port is Bermuda and they are requiring an antigen test within two days or a pcr test within three days. Celebrity dropped Bermuda for all the TA's - but not for the repositioning cruise. Since many of us are traveling on one of those days it makes it difficult to plan. Once in Boston we won't have transportation. Insurance companies are not covering tests for travel. I have prices of up to $250/ person for the test at home - but they don't schedule it early enough to do before we fly. Urgent care clinics have similar prices and additional charges. One online supervised site (onPoint) has been hacked. Others require specific tests to be purchased. Some online sites require personal information be given before finding out costs, times, etc. It would be great if people could just share practical ideas and success stories. Thanks!

I never travel without travel insurance. My husband (at 61) passed away two weeks before a scheduled cruise- I got a full refund within a couple weeks from the cruise line insurance. I was "stranded " in Puerto Rico for three days after a cruise because of a storm in the Northeast and could not fly home. The insurance paid for hotel and food for those three days. It also happened in Ft. Lauderdale after a cruise when the Super Bowl was in Miami - a storm canceled our flights home. Again the insurance paid for hotel and food for those three days. Unfortunately, New York State is not allowing us to buy insurance from the cruise lines - and I just had to pay twice as much for insurance from Insure My Trip.

Sailed on her first cruise as Captain. She welcomed people onboard then said - when I find the purse I put my keys in we will get sailing! She is very personable and fun to talk with.