Heyjude555

Haven’t booked it yet, looking at next summer. Also looking at Oceania smaller ship.

Thanks!

We are looking at a 10 day cruise that goes to Iceland & Norway on the Norwegian Prima Ship.  The ship was built in 2022 with a different design than most of the bigger ships.  We have never sailed with Norwegian and would like some input into this cruise line as far as service, quality of cruise, etc.  We saw several reviews on the Prima Ship that were not good.  They said the smaller restaurants that were scattered around the ship were not adequate for the number of passengers.  I think it holds 3000 guests.  They complained about the service and the long lines trying to get into all of the restaurants, bars and lounges.

Also, if anyone has done this trip I am concerned that a ship this size will be too large to adequately access the Norway Fjords in order to fully experience their beautiful scenery/landscape.   Were the few stops in Iceland enough to appreciate this country?  The pictures make it look amazing but they are only making a few stops and wanted to know if that is enough to make it worthwhile to include on this trip; or if it would be better to focus on the Norway Fjords and book a trip to Iceland at a later date.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Has anyone done this trip from Dublin to Copenhagen going through Norway Fjords?  Have never sailed with Oceania but have heard good things.  The Sirena ship that goes on this cruise was built in 2000 but refurbished in 2019.  It only holds around 650 passengers so it is a much smaller ship.  I am concerned if we will have a rougher time navigating the waters because of its size.  Also, does the ship stay along the coast line when stopping at the various cities in Norway, or does it actually cruise down the fjords?   We picked this itinerary mainly because we wanted to experience the Norwegian Fjords.  

Thank you,

11 hours ago, ladyt said:

Omg!!! Please tell me what cruiseline goes to these places. I have family in Ljubljana and went there when I was 13. I went to Lake Bled also. Along with other places when it was Yugoslavia. Such a beautiful beautiful place to visit and the people are so friendly. I never knew their was a cruise that had excursions to Ljubljana. You just made my day. Might I suggest Chevabchichi and Jota

as a dish you might like to try. Both are absolutely delicious.

 

We are doing a 14 night Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia Land/Sea Cruise through Unforgettable Croatia Company.  The first part of the tour is via land which is when we visit Ljubljana and surrounding area.  We get on a small cruise ship (only hold 38 people) in Split and cruise to Dubrovnik making several stops along the way.  Thanks for the food suggestions.

6 hours ago, CPT Trips said:

 

This! 

We toured a similar itinerary in a slightly larger (45 pax) ship. The Captain invited all of us up to the bridge for the trip in. He, the pilot and our tour directors provided a running commentary. Hopefully you will get a similar opportunity.

We overnighted in Kofor. Not a real hopping cityy for big time nightlife, but fun. The city walls are lit at night, so that was very nice.

Split was interesting to me. Read some hisrory to help understand who Diocletian was. It will increase your appreciation.

6 hours ago, CPT Trips said:

 

This! 

We toured a similar itinerary in a slightly larger (45 pax) ship. The Captain invited all of us up to the bridge for the trip in. He, the pilot and our tour directors provided a running commentary. Hopefully you will get a similar opportunity.

We overnighted in Kofor. Not a real hopping cityy for big time nightlife, but fun. The city walls are lit at night, so that was very nice.

Split was interesting to me. Read some hisrory to help understand who Diocletian was. It will increase your appreciation.

Thank you for your input!  Can you tell me which cruise/land tour company you used for your trip to Croatia?  We are having difficulty finding anyone that has used the "Unforgettable Croatia" company using the MS Mama Marija vessel for the itinerary we are looking at. I'm hesitate to go with a cruise line we can't get any recent reviews on. We have gotten very valuable information from the feedback we get from experienced travelers on this site and rely on educated travelers to help us out!!

Thanks again!! 

Thank you for your input!  Can you tell me which cruise/land tour company you used for your trip to Croatia?  We are having difficulty finding anyone that has used the "Unforgettable Croatia" company using the MS Mama Marija vessel for the itinerary we are looking at. I'm hesitate to go with a cruise line we can't get any recent reviews on. We have gotten very valuable information from the feedback we get from experienced travelers on this site and rely on educated travelers to help us out!!

Thanks again!! 

11 hours ago, MamaFej said:

Get up early and watch the sail-in into Kotor, it is stunningly beautiful! Watching the sunrise as we came in was an absolute delight. The sail-away was fantastic, as well, under different light.

 

 

 

 

Thank you!

9 minutes ago, ilikeanswers said:

Are you sure you have your ports right? Ljubljana and Bled are quite far inland and while they have a river I'm not sure it is big enough for even a small cruise (unless it is a really small boat?😕). I have been to those destinations but only land based, so I can give you a quick run down of my opinion and hopefully it will be of some use.

 

Ljubljana is a small capital but has some really pretty architecture. There is fort you can go up that has a decent view of the city, you can pay for a cable car up or choose to walk up. I don't know if your cruise includes or has as optional but if so I would recommend a visit to the Postojna Caves. Bled is a tourist trap and very Americanised, to get to the famous view point it is an 18 Euro entrance fee. It is up to you if you think it is worth it, I personally regret paying it, the view from the lake edge is just as nice.

 

Opatija has a bit of a resort town vibe, but it is pretty and laid back and there is a nice seaside walk you can do though don't expect much medieval stuff it is quite modernised. Plitvice is another inland destination, I'm assuming you are stopping at Spilt to reach Plitvice? Plitvice is stunning and an absolute must to visit but it is extremely crowded unless you are there at the time of opening (and I was visiting in a shoulder season) but I would assume your guide will help navigate the crowds. The park is split into two areas the upper falls and lower falls, there is a courtesy bus that can take you between the two areas but again I would assume your guide will have this all sorted. The lower falls I would say are more dramatic of the two if you only have time to visit one part (it took us all day to see the whole park). Split is very much a harbour town (a lot of the ferries to the islands depart from here) and is busy all the time. The Roman buildings are really popular, we chose not to go inside so I can't tell you if it is any good.

 

Trogir is tiny but it is has all the small winding coblestone lanes you expect of a medieval town. The town itself is set on an island and try to taste some Trogir rafioli, they are quite nice. Hvar and Korcula are stunning islands. Hvar is more drier and desert like than Korcula and Korcula also has some dramatic cliffs. Hvar does attract the party crowd and has a lot of bars and some nightclubs. Hvar is also very expensive, if you are looking for souviners they will cost double here than on the mainland. Korcula is more laid back and historical. Korcula town is small and there is a tower everyone climbs but the staircase is very narrow.

 

Dubrovnik seems to depend on your luck. I have read people who hated it because it was so crowded, I somehow managed a visit avoiding the crowds so I liked the city and personally enjoyed the wall walk, which I have also read some people don't like. There is also a view point on the hill behind the city. From what I understand there is a cable car that can take you up there.

The last one Kotor is probably my favourite of the destinations. The city itself is tiny and not that particularly interesting but the bay is stunning and if you can do the climb to the fort ruins, it is absolutely worth it, the view is amazing. But I have to warn it will be hot and sunny on the cliff face by the time your cruise docks (we did it at the crack of dawn and by the time we came down the sun was hitting the rocks and it was baking) also you will need coins for the entry fee. I don't know if your cruise offers a tour to Njegusi but if so, that is a must do (you can even do it istead of the fortress). Kotor Serpantine has the best views you will ever see and once you get to Njegusi they make the best slow cooked lamb you will ever have.

 

Sorry for the long reply, seems I had more to say then I thought😋. Anyway I do hope this informations helps is some way but either way the Balkans are an amazing place to visit so I don't think you can wrong with whatever choice you make.

Just reread your first paragraph, this is a cruise/land tour so we will be bused to some of these areas not near the ports.  Thanks again!

6 minutes ago, ilikeanswers said:

Are you sure you have your ports right? Ljubljana and Bled are quite far inland and while they have a river I'm not sure it is big enough for even a small cruise (unless it is a really small boat?😕). I have been to those destinations but only land based, so I can give you a quick run down of my opinion and hopefully it will be of some use.

 

Ljubljana is a small capital but has some really pretty architecture. There is fort you can go up that has a decent view of the city, you can pay for a cable car up or choose to walk up. I don't know if your cruise includes or has as optional but if so I would recommend a visit to the Postojna Caves. Bled is a tourist trap and very Americanised, to get to the famous view point it is an 18 Euro entrance fee. It is up to you if you think it is worth it, I personally regret paying it, the view from the lake edge is just as nice.

 

Opatija has a bit of a resort town vibe, but it is pretty and laid back and there is a nice seaside walk you can do though don't expect much medieval stuff it is quite modernised. Plitvice is another inland destination, I'm assuming you are stopping at Spilt to reach Plitvice? Plitvice is stunning and an absolute must to visit but it is extremely crowded unless you are there at the time of opening (and I was visiting in a shoulder season) but I would assume your guide will help navigate the crowds. The park is split into two areas the upper falls and lower falls, there is a courtesy bus that can take you between the two areas but again I would assume your guide will have this all sorted. The lower falls I would say are more dramatic of the two if you only have time to visit one part (it took us all day to see the whole park). Split is very much a harbour town (a lot of the ferries to the islands depart from here) and is busy all the time. The Roman buildings are really popular, we chose not to go inside so I can't tell you if it is any good.

 

Trogir is tiny but it is has all the small winding coblestone lanes you expect of a medieval town. The town itself is set on an island and try to taste some Trogir rafioli, they are quite nice. Hvar and Korcula are stunning islands. Hvar is more drier and desert like than Korcula and Korcula also has some dramatic cliffs. Hvar does attract the party crowd and has a lot of bars and some nightclubs. Hvar is also very expensive, if you are looking for souviners they will cost double here than on the mainland. Korcula is more laid back and historical. Korcula town is small and there is a tower everyone climbs but the staircase is very narrow.

 

Dubrovnik seems to depend on your luck. I have read people who hated it because it was so crowded, I somehow managed a visit avoiding the crowds so I liked the city and personally enjoyed the wall walk, which I have also read some people don't like. There is also a view point on the hill behind the city. From what I understand there is a cable car that can take you up there.

The last one Kotor is probably my favourite of the destinations. The city itself is tiny and not that particularly interesting but the bay is stunning and if you can do the climb to the fort ruins, it is absolutely worth it, the view is amazing. But I have to warn it will be hot and sunny on the cliff face by the time your cruise docks (we did it at the crack of dawn and by the time we came down the sun was hitting the rocks and it was baking) also you will need coins for the entry fee. I don't know if your cruise offers a tour to Njegusi but if so, that is a must do (you can even do it istead of the fortress). Kotor Serpantine has the best views you will ever see and once you get to Njegusi they make the best slow cooked lamb you will ever have.

 

Sorry for the long reply, seems I had more to say then I thought😋. Anyway I do hope this informations helps is some way but either way the Balkans are an amazing place to visit so I don't think you can wrong with whatever choice you make.

Thank you so much for your information.  It is very helpful and I appreciate your taking the time to help us learn from your experiences.

Thank you very much for your response.  All this information is very helpful for first-time visitors to that area.

On 1/11/2019 at 8:26 AM, Piratical said:

5 minutes ago, Zach1213 said:

No idea about the cruise line. I have visited some of those cities, though not on a cruise. Ljubljana, Split, Dubrovnik all very nice small cities. Montenegro is a country, not a city, so the specific port will be important here...more detail is needed.

 

6 minutes ago, Zach1213 said:

No idea about the cruise line. I have visited some of those cities, though not on a cruise. Ljubljana, Split, Dubrovnik all very nice small cities. Montenegro is a country, not a city, so the specific port will be important here...more detail is needed.

Sorry, this region is new to us and am just starting to learn the area.  I believe the port in Montenegro is Kotor. What time of the year did you visit the ports you mentioned above and how long ago were you there?  Thanks for your response!

Looking at a 14 day land/sea cruise through "Unforgettable Croatia" on a small vessel, MS Mama Marija, which holds only 30 people.  Has anyone used this cruise line before? It is a new ship that was built in 2019 and can access some of the smaller ports throughout Croatia and Slovenia. Also looking for reviews from travelers that have visited some of the ports in this area. (Ljubljana, Bled, Opatija, Plitvice, Split, Trogir, Hvar, Korcula, Dubrovnik, Montenegro).

We are on back to back cruises from Bisbane to Australia and New Zealand.  Has anyone taken the Princess Excursion on the one from Akaroa, New Zealand , Canterbury Station, Mt. Sunday & Lord of Rings?  It is 9 hours long and pricey.  Is the scenery on the trip worthy of the time and money?  It goes into Canterbury Plains, Banks Peninsula, Lake Clearwater, Rakaia River, and Mt. Sunday in the Southern Alps.  I would appreciate feedback from anyone who might have taken this excursion.

Thank you,

Thank you for your feedback.

We are on the Sea Princess back to back cruises; 1st one from Bisbane February 17 to Queensland, the 2nd one leaves the 24th for New Zealand.  Has anyone been on the Princess excursions to the Great Barrier Reef out of Port Douglas that can comment if this is a good excursion, considering the number of people and the pricey charge.  Was considering a private tour company but am concerned about the reliability of getting us back to the ship in time.  

Also looking at the Princess excursion in Akaroa, New Zealand that visits Mt. Sunday, Lord of Rings area. This too is a long and pricey excursion through Princess.  Has anyone taken this excursion and thought it was worth while.  All the reviews I read said the landscape was amazing and the length of the trip (9hours) was worth it.  I would appreciate any feed back anyone has that has done this excursion.

Thank you,

Heyjude555

18 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

Port Douglas is closer to the reef but is on the door step of  Daintree forest.

so I’d do the reef from Cairns and the rainforest from port Douglas.

Also it is a nice drive around port,Cairns is pretty unimpressive.

 

Thanks so much for your reply.  When checking the Princess excursions to the Great Barrier Reef the one from Port Douglas had the glass bottom boat/observation in case we don't do the snorkeling due to rough weather, stingrays, etc.    The excursion from Cairns didn't mention having the same option which is why we were hesitate to go on this one.  Did you do one of the Princess Excursions to the GBR or another travel company?  

Thanks again,

We are traveling on the Sea Princess Feb. 17 on the Queensland Cruise with back to back cruises on the same ship to New Zealand.  One of the highlights is the Great Barrier Reef.  Looking for advice on which port is best to do the excursion to Great Barrier Reef from: Cairns, or Port Douglas?  Also has anyone used a tour company other than Princess that is reliable and will get you back to the ship in time for departure.  Would also like to see the Rainforest in that area and not sure which port is best to access it from.   

Thanks,