treesah

Thanks for great photos.  We'll definitely try Share this time.  I'll be fasting all day prior to my dinner.

If you can handle your luggage, i.e. one suitcase and a backpack or similar, transfer from Yokohama cruise terminal to a Tokyo hotel by public transportation  is quite easy.  We were there in October.  Got off the ship, free shuttle to Yokohama train station.  Bought two tickets (under $10.00).  We made one transfer and then took a taxi to our hotel (around $12.00).  People were very helpful and we always found someone who spoke some English.  I was very impressed by Japan.  Clean, organized, efficient.  Good advice about learning a few key words in Japanese.  It is very appreciated by the locals.  I loved the custom of bowing instead of shaking hands.  I was still bowing when I got home.  Got some strange looks.

12 minutes ago, Woobstr112G said:

One insisted we get to one line while the other told us to get in another line.....😊😊😊

 

Bob

This has happened to us on a couple of occasions.  Annoying but easily forgotten.

6 hours ago, Pia1913 said:

 

Unfortunately not. 

Pia, I'm so very sorry to hear this.  

Teresa

Nice to know you had a great time on the Ruby.  We'll be boarding her in December and I was a bit worried because of some rather negative reviews.  It's interesting how cruisers on the same ship, at the same time, can have such an opposite experience.  Luck, I guess, or different expectations.

One of the reasons I enjoy cruising is because of the sunsets.  Thanks for the beautiful photos.

Have a lovely cruise.  We're thinking of doing it next year so I'm following with great anticipation.  

Personally I would not cut it this close for a 19 day cruise. You'll probably be fine but if you can arrive the night before, even if it costs more money, it's worth it. Arriving the day of the cruise would stress me to the max. I've done it previously and it's no fun. Good luck to you.

Loved the Botanical Gardens. Stunning.

Great report and stunning photos. Thanks for posting.

Stunning pictures, Shadow. You had incredible weather in Skagway, for sure. Our guide told us that the reason the Emerald Lake has these incredible colors is because the Aurora Borealis hides there in the summer. Thanks for sharing your adventures.

Sir, you crack me up. Thanks for a refreshing, joyful review.

AusQueen, thanks for posting. We'll be on the Jewel for the first time next September (19 day repositioning) and I'm preparing for a substandard experience. No expectations, no disappointments. Thanks for the forewarning. Perhaps the powers that be will read your post and improve their performance.

Princess has that familiar feeling. I like the perks, I like the elegant decor, comfortable staterooms, the attentive crew (with a few very minor exceptions) and I like the people that cruise on Princess. The food has definitely changed but there is plenty to choose from. As someone said "love the Norman Love" desserts. Princess offers a very decent product for the money. The enrichment lectures on the transatlantic and repositioning cruises were excellent.

Thanks to all for your enlightening explanations. I've been cruising with Princess since 2004 and although I do visit the casino I'm a frugal gambler so my chances are nil, I guess. Wishing you all good luck.

I'm curious. How do you become member of the Players Club and are offered free cruises? Do you get an invitation from the casino manager? How do you qualify? How much you gamble or how long you gamble? Are we talking about gambling thousands of dollars? Does anyone care to share what's involved? Or is it random?:rolleyes:

Yes, I agree. But if you can get one of the two last cabins on either side of the ship on the Emerald deck, which are mini-suites, those are absolutely the best! The balcony is super sized and covered to boot!

I do think you should get a covered balcony for Alaska ... you just never know what the weather will be like and it is oftentimes, so nice to sit out on your balcony in Alaska. Not quite so enticing if it is raining on top your head.

I absolutely agree with the above. Caribe deck balconies are the best. There are very few minis on Emerald deck so naturally they get snagged fast.

Here's a report on the tour we booked from San Antonio--we were not wanting another wine tour as we seldom drink wine.

 

We ended up having a very nice day but there were some, uh, some boondoogles along the way. Our guide was over an hour late; we did understand, as the Pope was in Santiago that day and was touring some of the outlaying areas; many highways were shut down for his motorcade which made alternate routes very crowded. Security was very tight.

 

Next, after he finally made it, we walked with him to the exit of the port area, where we waited while he went to get his car. Quite a while later he came back very apologetic; car wouldn't start (it was quite a nice newer car). Possibly the starter? Battery? My husband and he walked back to it and spent some time trying different things.

 

He had a friend delivering people to the ship for the next cruise and arranged to have him take us on a tour--not the one to the mountains, since by now there wasn't time for that. First though, his friend jumped the car and then we followed him until he managed to get a new battery and have it installed.

 

Since the mountains were out, we choose to go to the Vina del Mar instead. We enjoyed the area--reminded us of parts of the French Riviera or Amalfi coast. Also had a nice dinner there, then went on to Valparaiso for a short tour and to the airport.

 

The new driver was a little limited in English, but we managed fine and he did a very nice job. Kind of a mess, but really not anything anyone could help, so we went with the flow and still managed to enjoy our day--at a very good price--in the Santiago area. Que sera, sera!

Wow! Congratulations on your attitude. Sometimes the best laid plans go awry and you have to go to Plan B and not complain. We were on the Emerald in December and arranged for an 8 hour tour from San Antonio to Santiago. It did not go exactly according to plans but in the long run it worked out to our satisfaction and we had a great day. Based on my experience in South America, both in Peru and Chile, you don't always get what you signed up for.

Would like to know more details re your private MP trip.

Thanks

I booked airfare on Peruvian Airlines, leaving Lima at 2:00 pm on 12/22. Flight is 1:20 minutes. Arrived in Cusco, checked into my hotel. Taxi from airport to downtown Cusco was 20 soles. Next morning I was picked up by the tour company (arranged through Viator) at the ungodly hour of 4:10 am. A 2 hour ride to Ollantaytambo, where we switched to the Executive type train (an upgrade). Assigned seat, drinks and a snack complimentary. Train left at 6:40 am. Arrived in Aguas Calientes at around 8:15 am, walked across a bridge on the Urubamba River to a bus that took us all the way to the entrance of MP. A very narrow, switchback road surrounded by jungle. Last chance for a bathroom break since there are no facilities once you're inside. We had a wonderful guide, Jaime, very knowledgeable and attentive. Very good English and a very well educated young man. We spent around 3+ hours on the site. Exquisite cloud formation, blue skies and the green terraces plus llamas prancing around. We had a group of 8. Lots of climbing up and down. Bring WATER. It was hot in MP and cold in Cusco. Then back on the bus and into Aguas Calientes where we had lunch on a terrace by the swift Urubamba River. Lunch is on your own. I was told not to drink alcohol but I had a pisco sour. No harm done. Train back to Ollantaytambo at 2:30 pm. The scenery is magnificent. Once in Ollantaytambo we were picked up by a van taken to Cusco to our hotel.

Cost:

RT air Lima-Cusco-Lima - $168.00

Boutique hotel in Cusco for 2 nights, incl. breakfast $76.00 (total). I don't stay at luxury $500.00 a night hotels.

Excursion MP including bus, train, bus up and down the mountain, plus the guide $371.00.

The above is for a solo traveler since my husband stayed in Lima (mobility issues and high altitude problems).

My doctor prescribed Diamox for the altitude plus I drank lots of water and drank some coca tea. I had no problems at all. No headache or shortness of breath. I know of two people who were on a Princess excursion to MP who got sick and could not make it.

I spent the next day in Cusco during one of their busiest Xmas festivities. A serendipity moment.

P.S. I must say that I do not recommend Peruvian Airlines. The flight from Lima to Cusco was delayed and delayed and then canceled. Rescheduled on a flight 31/2 hours later. Coincidentally, the same thing happened to a friend of mine the week before! The flight back was OK. The planes are old and tired. I must admit the crew was very nice and they served complimentary drinks and sandwiches. I would pay a bit more and fly another airlines.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.

If any questions, I'll be glad to answer.

We were on the repositioning from Lima to San Antonio. We stayed one night in Santiago and flew to Lima. I arranged my own trip to Machu Picchu, round trip airfare, 2 nights hotel in Cusco and a full day excursion to MP. Total cost $612.00. Machu Picchu was the highlight of my trip. Words fail to describe it.

OP - great report. Just a tiny correction. Peru - soles. Chile - pesos.

You'll enjoy the Caribe Deck.

High recommendation for Rafael Torres Lopes. He's excellent. You'll be very lucky if he's available on your dates.

http://donrafaguestsinrio.blogspot.com/

Check Tripadvisor reviews. Have a wonderful time in Rio.

Teresa

I'm on the Emerald Princess arriving in San Antonio on December 20th. I'll report once we're in Santiago. Also, the Holland America Zaandam will be docking in San Antonio on November 17th. Hopefully some of the cruisers will let us know about their first hand experience. Also, Tripadvisor Travel forum has some information on San Antonio.

Thanks for posting, Jane. We're in C701 and I'm happy to hear it's a good location.

Hotel Arpoador. My brain and my fingers are not working together. Sorry.