easy spirit

Taking a cruise with an overnight in Mumbai (Bombay). Want to go to the Taj Mahal. Trying to decide between a ship's escorted shore excursion for 4/3nights that includes Jaipur, Delhi & Agra or a private tour for 5/4 nights that also includes Varanasi. There are 3 sea days after the 2 days in the Mumbai port, getting to Salalah, Oman on the 6th day. That gives me plenty of time to do either one of the tours. Some concerns are planning the logistics (tour company, hotels, flight schedules) with the private tour. All that is solve with the ship's tour but they end the tour in Muscat, Oman instead of Salahah. I think the distance from Muscat to the Salahah port by bus is around 10 hours. Please any feedback/recommendations are highly appreciated.... Thanks

Tkanks

On which port of call section should I post a question regarding Mumbai/India? On this one {Africa/Middle East}or in the Asia one. Kind of confusing as there is very little info on Mumbai /Cochin / Goa ports in India.

Just my experience..... When I took the tour few years back I had no idea about the windy roads & how sick I was going to get. It was tough... The driver/guide stopped at a pharmacy & got dizziness tablets, ginger ale, crackers etc.... for all those that needed them. I was very miserable along with a couple of other passengers. Only you knows how prone to car sickness you are... so just be aware of it

I can't help you from a cruise perspective, but we went to both Hoi An and Hue during a 3-week land trip in SE Asia. Both were interesting, but if I had to choose, I'd pick Hoi An. While very popular with tourists, Hoi An still has an authentic feel with very friendly locals. Old Town is a UNESCO heritage site and most areas are very walkable. It's a charming place to simply wander around and soak up the ambiance. A photographer's dream! There are excellent tailor shops, a vibrant waterfront market, wonderful cooking schools and tasty local specialties. There's also a lovely beach, but that's not our scene and not what Hoi An is really about. Hue is equally fascinating and historically significant as the ancient capital of Vietnam, but it's much larger and full of hustle. Just my take.

Thanks so much for your reply.

Hoi An has been my incline all the time but a friendly feedback is always appreciated.

Loved the "photographer's dream" highlight, plus the authentic feel to just wonder around city concept. My type of things to do..... I am sold.

For our shore excursion from the Chan May port, undecided to go either to Hoi An or to Hue. Any feedback on which way to go, regarding most picturesque or more interesting things to do for a full day tour.

Please .... NO interest in beaches (just in case there will be one around, which I do not know)

This year there is a new helo service between Hanoi and Halong Bay. Smaller helicopters.

There is no minimum number of pax required.

They fly 7 days a week.

R/T Hanoi-Halong is around US$300 per person.

Where can I go to find out about this service, unable to find anything that is NOT on a Saturday

Unless something has significantly changed since August 2010 when I inquired again while I was in Haiphong, the helo for transport ONLY runs on Saturdays only-small or big helo. Here are just a few of the tour agencies offering the trip-with and without junk trip. And I emailed my port contact-he stated the same thing-charter except for Saturdays (he called it "tourist day"). You have to round up a group of people to make it financially feasible any other day.

 

http://www.charmingindochina.com/en/tour/ha-long-bay-tour-helicopter-service

 

http://www.vietnam-car.com/rental/Vietnam-charter-flight.asp

 

http://www.luxurytravelvietnam.com/EN/Vietnam_tours/Vietnamcruises/HalongBaybyHelicopter1dayEverySaturday.htm

 

You still have to fly MT one way to use the helo FROM the ship. Unless you drive in from Halong, I see no way other than a charter-Hanoi-Halong (pick up passengers)-Hanoi-Halong. Then the helo STILL has to get back to Hanoi, MT or loaded.

 

This sounds like a good business opportunity for someone-take the regular "tourist" passengers TO Halong, pick up the cruise ship passengers bound for Hanoi, go back either MT or loaded with other passengers, take the original tourists back to Hanoi and pick up the cruise ship passengers. Only one MT leg that way.

 

If there are other options, I sure would like to know about them. I will be in Vietnam again this summer for business. That long trip from Hanoi to the ports is getting very tiring and longer and longer.

It's being a year since your post. Did you find out something different about the heli ride? We are interested in doing it but the cruise is there on a Wednesday

Beverages packages are not for sharing, and should you decide to go ahead and do it, it's best not to come back and gloat about it, or you will be pounced upon! Quote

Great advice.... IMO of course there will be persons that DO share the beverage package. The issue is ..... DO NOT ask permission to cheat or break a rule. That's up to your personal discression.

Another topic..... The bottle water in the cabin is NOT included in the beverage package , but I think you can ask for the bottle at a bar & then take it to your cabin. Is that correct?

Terry.... after doing a lot of research that I "copy & paste" for future reference & reading many reviews for the Nikon D3100, I'm SOLD.

Your pictures were an inspiration. It's true.... she can be complicated but at the same time very simple to use, exactly as you said. I think I will be able to handle it.

Unfortunately at home, the only place that might have it is Best Buy. I could go to see it personally, but I got some prices online.

Thanks so much for taking the time & giving us such a wealth of information.

Doris

Terry... your photos are AMAZING. I"m in AWE.... Possibly the scenery, the good weather and indeed your Nikon D3100 & professionalism helped a lot.

I think that type camera will be way beyound my knowledge. Could you give me any camera recommendation that could possibly suit me better..... There is so much out there that is making my decision super difficult. Perhaps your input will help me decide.

My requirements for a camera will be user friendly, lightweight, adequate zoom, good night shots ???. An SLR could be but not a necessity.... the budget is no problem.

Thanks so much for any help.

Doris

PD. We are going in the Solstice in October 23 ,2011, a very similar itinerary as the one you just did so I copy & paste some of your notes. They have a ton of info that will become very handy.