AsianBohemian

....sorry, this is a more accurate link : https://www.cruisemapper.com/cabins/Costa-Fortuna-723

On 3/3/2020 at 6:54 AM, goaussiegal said:

Hi All,

 

I am looking at an inside cabin on the Costa Fortuna 2207 - it has a small square on it? I think this means Single Sofa Bed?  Does this mean it has a double bed for 2 people and a soft bed? or is it a single room? Can anyone help stop my confusion?

Hope this helps....https://www.icruise.com/cabins/costa-cruises-costa-fortuna-cabin-2207.html 

They do have inside cabin with sofa bed. I was at deck1 , cabin1207 https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/costa-fortuna-293/member-3/133936/.

I forgot. Two ways to check. Either log in via the RC website with your reservation number to check cabin details OR download the RC app and log in with your reservation number and family name of the person staying in that cabin. You should have a better picture.One of them carries more details (including bed-type).

I brought post it pad and affix them with a magnet near the switches to tell my folks where the bathroom switch and bedside switch are, and in which clock direction does the bathroom door lock, "who- is- in -which room".

One thing I want to ask....can I bring toy walkie-talkies? 400m distance is sufficient for me to find my folks.

True. The pocket map given to me when I checked in was similar to what's written in the link. SB was not made available when I enquired for my trip in May. They were busy hardselling cabins with balconies to families. I believe they will reconfigure to accomodate more cat 2F cabins for a different clientele.

@Brandis 

I hope this link can help somewhat https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Spectrum-of-the-Seas.

I am late in the game...had only discovered such deals two weeks ago.

If I were to book an inside cabin guaranteed,i would most likely need to book two cabins. Almost all offers are available for two in a cabin only.I couldn't find family rooms with such offers

Has anyone of you book two guaranteed cabins and end up being assigned with cabins on different decks or very far (fwd and mid ship) apart?

...much apology....I am trying to postthis the third time…

I need to clarify that I am a frequentvisitor to the locations covered by Costa Victoria 13 Januaryvoyage. I began all my cruises from the port of Singapore and it's usuallyfor a week.

If you are visiting Southeast Asia for the firsttime, and if you can afford, it would be better to take the cultural excursions on those stops in Penang, Melaka (Malacca),and perhaps Singapore. It saves you theheadache of reading loads of materials and the tour guides should be able toexplain the unique culture in these cities although it is a lot more expensivein my perspective. Phuket and Langkawi are focused on beach activities andnature walks.

I am able to use Grab taxis in Penang, Melaka, and Singapore. My friends tookGrab in Phuket. I have not tried any excursions in Langkawi.

January is still a hot and wet season. Youcan still decide on the outdoor activities shortly before you dock in Phuketand Langkawi. Remember to carry a brolly and mosquito repellent.

If you do intend to go out on your own, doremember to negotiate for the cost of the journey before you board the taxiunless they turn on the meter. That applies to Singapore too.

Except for Kelang (Klang), I would usuallysniff around these cities for spices. The spices are could either be for condiments, cooking, traditionalremedies.

(Cinnamon, blue ginger, tumeric, old ginger,lemongrass repellent, cloves, pandan cakes, coconut products, etc)

Kelang (Klang) - this location is furthestfrom the city centre. Almost an hour ride to Kuala Lumpur. Not advisable toexplore on your own. Kuala Lumpur is notorious fortraffic congestions. I am not into cosmopolitan culture, so I skip this to savea penny for Melaka, Phuket and Penang.

Melaka and Penang - culturalcities. Many can understand English. The heart of Straits-Chinese culture. Theports are in the city. I usually take a Grab. You can reach most places within5-10minutes ride. Melaka's tourist area is at Jonkers Street; Penang's is in Chowrasta Street. I picked Costaspecifically because it's the only vessel that arrives in Penang in the morning.That allows me to explore the wet market and visit old curiosity shops, minglewith the locals in that area.There are lots of foods and knick-knacks. Mosttraditional shops and "coffee shops" close in the afternoon.

Singapore - Englishspeaking country. From the pier, it's 10minutes walk to the Tube.5mins ride tothe city. .If you are interested to visit landmarks, the tour excursion is theoption, otherwise,.you can use credit card to pay for a storevalue train ticketand go to the station master for the train station map. He should be able torecommend. Singapore is a safe citybut it is not crime-free. There are pickpockets, credit card fraud and taxitouts too.

Maybe I have been watching too many episodes of "Love Boat" in the past. I thought I must look classy to enjoy a cruise ship, so I felt a little embarrassed bringing my own water bottle up and down the the decks to refill during my first trip.

Thank you all for all the survival tips.....I don't feel like a cheapskate anymore for bringing my vacuum flask on my second trip.

I have to bring my octogenarian folks on cruise ships and they always have problem identifying their own cabin. I didn't know we can our 'decorate' cabin door...i will do so in our next trip. Ribbons for the luggage and the cabin doors+lanyards for luggage tags and cruise cards. With octogenarians, I do bring along a hot/cold pack(kept in the fridge) and a first aid toiletries bag with their daily medications in case their engines break down.

Emergency: On my third cruise, I decide to pack a day trip bag.

In it, a maglite torch (as suggested in this thread),first aid toiletries bag (also suggested in this thread), cell phone, a power bank, photocopies of my travelling documents in ziplock bag (also suggested in this thread), money and everyone's cruise cards in ziplock bag, and a warm shawl. Deep into the night, I had banging on my door to "clear deck"...temporary evacuation to the muster station.I pulled my folks and grabbed my day trip bag and followed the rest (everyone in our pj) to the muster station. That wasn't a drill. On hindsight, I realized i have taken the right advice from you.

Thank you so much for the tips.

Here's my contribution: if you don't have a plastic bag, ask the steward for a shower cap to wrap your beach slippers or shoes, keep a bar of soap or keep your toothbrush dry.

Little off topic, but we're going to be on the Sapphire Princess in March next year with our toddler (will be 15 months old then). Does anyone know if Sapphire Princess has high chairs in the restaurants, cafe's and buffets?

Yes, they do. I saw them last week.

Update from December 2017 trip:

they have removed the electric kettle from inner cabin.:eek:

There isn't any water cooler in the common areas except in the gym. Some guests use the ice bucket from the cabin's fridge to collect drinking water from the buffet station.;p

I brought my vacuum flask because my experience with Diamond Princess last year tells me it's more convenient than paging for the cabin attendant to deliver it twice a day.

That's not too bad, but I don't think those prices will apply to our cruise, as all the excursions and packages are quote on the website in Euros.... But just in case.... is that package available to buy onboard at that price, or did you pre-book?

My onboard expenses were quoted in USD. The hot beverage package was on the poster in every elevator. What I did remember is drinks packages weren't published in the website when I log in to do a web check-in.

 

not sure what pay table service is .... are pizzas included in your ticket if you get from the counter? And the noodle bar? Included or extra? Onboard expenses, charged to the Costa Card.

 

Remember to download the MyCosta Mobile app before you board. It enables you to use your mobile to call each other's mobile or cabin, free-of-charge.

2. The open times of MDR, buffet and grill will be stated in the daily program, rough idea of opening times:

Breakfast MDR 08:00 - 09:30

Breakfast buffet: 06:30 - 07:30 early risers

07:30 - 10:00 normal breakfast

10:00 - 11.00 late risers

Lunch MDR 12:00 - 13:30

Lunch buffet: 12:00 - 14:30

High Tea: 16:00 - 17:00

Dinner MDR: two sittings 18:00 and 20:30

Dinner buffet: 18:00 - 21:00

Pool Grill 1200 - 20:00

Pizzeria: Don't know if Victoria has one or if it is free or chargeable.

I have just returned from a cruise with Costa Victoria a few weeks ago. If you are looking for food outside of the main dining hours, visit Deck12 Butterfly. I have visited Deck 12 at 5am for sandwiches and coffee. If you do want coffee from the espresso machine, consider their USD18 for 6 cuppa. The longest interval without food happened on the last day between my last meal onboard 1pm and disembarkation 4pm. I couldn't find any water cooler.

Pizzeria, also on Deck 12, is Pay Table Service. But they also do have Noodles service between 11pm and 2am.

The sweetest surprise was finding an electric kettle in my Inside Cabin.....and free room service breakfast.

I am not sure of the menu on other cruise days, outside of my trip. Half of the passengers were from India, so there was always a special counter serving a full range of Indian food at the buffet deck.Those were good. So were the cakes and danish. Strangely, their intercontinental and Asian cuisine on Deck 11 weren't that fantastic. I had soggy and cold pasta at the buffet deck on the first day. And I never try it again. Breakfast spread is as described by alicat58. But on hindsight, the chef and his team didn't do a very good job planning the menu. I found 'recycled' sausages( cooked, stored in the fridge and re-cooked again ---hard and dry) On the last day, there was a tray of parboiled kale and another tray of baked sliced yellow capsicum for breakfast spread. That's expensive food mishandled. At one meal, they ran out of milk for the coffee and tea (the Indians, Singaporeans and Malaysians have the habit of adding milk to their tea/coffee) There isn't a food theme associated to the port they are visiting. If you are really keen to try out Malaysian food,Try befriending groups who are from Singapore.Tag along with them when they disembark in Malaysia.They know where the real deals are.

Rest assured, all the staff can speak English.

:confused:I am so curious. How does chicken noodle soup with quail eggs look like? I am a Singaporean but I have never seen chicken noodle soup.You are also making me wonder how chicken curry look like.

Marina Bay Sands does have a "food court" that offers local food, closest to what we really eat and in comfort, away from the humid weather. Whatever you find along Singapore River and Clarke Quay are for tourists. Ahem! Poor appetite and bad digestion do affect locals too when the weather gets too hot and humid.That explains why there is so much spicy food in SE Asia. Yes, we, SE Asians, add chilli into almost everything, except our beverages.

It was my first time on a cruise (to accompany my aged parents actually). I am wondering if it is safe to sleep on the beach chair at the balcony...hearing the waves and allowing the break of dawn to wake me in the morning.

I drew open the balcony curtains on the first night but I chicken out when the spectacular lightning on the horizon and stormy sea on the first night made me think twice about sleeping outside.

I found your travelogue while hunting high and low for feedback on Diamond Princess. I was in the same cruise 9-12Dec Singapore-Penang-Port Kelang-Singapore. Thank you for such a detailed description.I had thought those people who skipped the safety drill were culprits for the 3hr departure delay. I was quite taken aback by the level of sanitation onboard Diamond Princess. My bunch of trippers were amused that a lady is stationed at the buffet counter to make EVERYONE sanitise their hands EVERYtime we enter the buffet station. I learnt that this ship had a nasty food-poisoning episode early this year with over a hundred passengers down.

I have just signed in to this forum only yesterday. Sorry to hear about your finger. I would have recommended for you to get an x-ray in our local hospital...It would have been much cheaper and straight forward. It sounds like a fracture to me. I had one hairline fracture on my finger which swelled for 48hrs, little pain though. I am not sure if you are still reading this or are you halfway in the sky. Pain from a fracture can worsen during a flight and when the plane lands. Keep asking for ice to reduce the swelling.It works!