Victress2007

The additional tax charged is different depending on the state the port is in, it is the sales tax.  Interesting question on the beverage package, I don't know how they handle that. Tax is only charged on upcharges of food, so the buffet would not be taxed.

Vic

17 hours ago, mapleleaves said:

There is storage at the airport but that would waste a lot of time :  20 minute drive each way, plus whatever time at the airport.

There is storage at Piazzale Roma.  If you can easily manage your luggage for a few blocks, you could walk from the pier to the People Mover ( monorail) for the 3 minute ride to P Roma, 1.5E.  The Left Luggage facility is close to the monorail exit.   https://www.trasbagagli.it/en/main#servizi

When you're ready to go to the airport, you could take a cab for 40E+  (if you can find one that for 4 pax) otherwise the ATVO airport express bus leaves from P Roma 3 times an hr , 20 minute ride for 8E.

Additional info in this link: https://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/vi-index.htm

I believe the Trasbagagli  service will move your luggage to the airport for you for a reasonable fee.  We used it in 2015 when we were there and it worked very well. You drop it off, tell them when your flight is and the luggage will be there about 2.5 hours before the flight. 

Vic

It's tulip time in the Pacific Northwest.  Imagine if you will, 5 days of pretty much constant rain and absolutely no sun.  Then the forecast is for a sunny afternoon on Friday...

The sun shining through the flowers was stunning! Today we are back to heavy clouds and rain starting in a few minutes - the joy of spring in the PNW! 

Vic

Thanks for talking about updates, my A6000 was way out of date.  It's also nice that the instructions are clear and easy to follow on the link.

Vic

We usually stay in the San Marco area.  Riva degli Schiavoni is our favorite area right now.  It's harder to get to at the beginning but we like the area, restaurants and ambiance.  We are going late this spring and will stay there pre-cruise, but will stay in the Piazzale Roma area post cruise for 1 night because we have an early flight out the next morning.   Has anyone caught an early morning (4 am) land taxi out of that area?  Is it easy to find one?  

Thanks,

Vic

I personally wouldn't jump on a 1% price drop this early.  You are more than a year out.  Keep an eye out around the 15th of April and see if they run a tax day special - they don't always do it.  There is also a week in the spring (I think) that all cruise lines run a "best deal of the year" offer, your ta might fill you in.

Good luck, Vic

Near Spaccanapoli in the heart of the old town you can find the Museo Cappella Sansevero, with the amazing sculpture of the Veiled Christ:  https://www.museosansevero.it/

These sculptures are AMAZING - but no photos allowed! I would have stayed for hours taking photos if I could.

Vic

Use the Light Rail Link. https://www.portseattle.org/page/public-transit-link-light-rail

Vic

3 hours ago, shark&minnow said:

It has now been down for days. It seems like right after they announced the app ship wide they crashed. 

You might need to clear your cache.  The site is not down.

Vic

On 3/8/2019 at 4:37 AM, alrose251 said:

For those who have taken this tour, how much do you encounter small spaces?  Is this only getting from one room to the next?  Or are you in a small tight area for a little while?

 

The tour list "The spaces have, in some cases, small size and are on different levels connected by steep and narrow stairs: are therefore not accessible to those with mobility problems and is not recommended for those suffering from claustrophobia, vertigo of cardio-respiratory disorders."

 

My BIL has a slight problem with claustrophobia.  He will be fine if it is just a tight space for a brief time moving from one area to another. 

I would appreciate any experience with this tour.

 

Thanks,

Rose

 

When I encounter these situations, I just make sure not to get too close to the people in front of me.  I just wait for a space to clear before I step into it.  I don't have much of a problem with claustrophobia - if I am aware that the space is tight that is usually enough.  It gets to me a little if I encounter an unexpected situation. I don't remember any problems at all in the Doge's Tour.

Vic

On 3/11/2019 at 8:24 PM, mapleleaves said:

what time does your flight arrive in Venice ? 

You could stay in Mestre near the train station which would fix a few issues : easy access from the airport on the ATVO express bus (15 minute ride under 8E ), Mestre hotels are cheaper than Venice, no need to drag luggage over bridges, and easy access for the train to Rome.   The train ride from Mestre to Venice takes 10 minutes and under 2E.

https://europeforvisitors.com/venice/mestre/mestre-hotels.htm

If you arrive around around noon, you could check into the hotel, take a cat nap if your room is ready, then take the train into Venice.  The station is on the Grand Canal and there's a vaporetto stop right outside.  The next day you could check out of the hotel, asking the desk to hold your luggage, then sightsee for another 5 or 6 hrs. Maybe catch a mid-afternoon train to Rome ( a 3-4 hr nap).

 

Your vacation time, your money, so you'll need to think hard about it. Still not sure why you think this trip is a one and only.  

But if you have hesitations, don't do it. You don't want to start off your vacation stressed.  

 

Don't do this, you miss the whole point of a day and night in Venice.  With your schedule I wouldn't do Venice.  It deserves time and attention of its own and the magic is in staying the night in the city when the day trippers have gone.  We're heading back this year for our 5th visit.  So put it on your list for next time!  

Vic

Quick proofreading note - Your explanation of AE Lock is AE Lock. 

Vic

Photos can be purchased individually.  I believe the "real" price for the package is the same, but you don't get the bonus photo. I am not 100% on that - but I think so.  The only dining room picture that isn't included is Teppanyaki - the others are included.

Vic

On 2/10/2019 at 4:57 PM, pierces said:

 

Exactly. A walk and snap tourist that photographs everything in sight is a lot different than taking a photograph of something that interested you. Photography has taught me to really see what is around me and when I photograph something it is because the subject has already made an impression on me.

 

 "How can you enjoy a vacation through a viewfinder?" Short answer...I don't. I enjoy vacation. I vacation to places that offer me the opportunity to photograph things that interest me because I truly enjoy photography. I see wonderful things, look through my viewfinder and take the picture. The primary action is seeing. It's a beautiful world if you take the trouble to see it. Photographing it is icing on the cake.

 

Dave

 I took a photo tour in Edinburgh with James Christie, as we were standing at the Robert Burns monument he asked what was at the top of the monument.  He said in all the years he had been doing the tour only one person could tell him exactly what was up there, because she had googled it walking up.  I at least had a guess of 3 winged lions.  It wasn't exactly right, but he said I was 3rd closest of all time, so I got bonus points.  (I think we lost them when we left early to go to the castle).

His point was look first, take pictures second.  

Vic

TOM - Laziness and the fact that it is a great lens! I think it will have enough length for most of the architectural detail you want.  I'm excited to take it to Venice.  I just can't see it being worthwhile trying to replace it with 3 separate lenses.   

I'll probably keep the 18-135 on the 6300 and probably the 35 prime in Venice on the 6000.  I'm keeping an eye on the 6400 too.

I hope you have at least a couple days in Rome - a wealth of places to take pictures!  I highly recommend the tour of the Coliseum that takes you to the 4th level and underneath the floor.  

Have I mentioned, I LOVE Italy! 

Vic

Last spring we went to the British Isles.  I don't think I ever took the 18-135 off my 6300.  I usually had a 35 prime on the 6000, when leaving a port and looking for dolphins I put the 24-240 on the 6000.  I did have my 10-18 on the 6000 when spending a couple days in London before the cruise and many of my favorites were taken with that combo.

But the 6300 with the 18-135 was the real workhorse (so to speak).

The prime was a new lens to me and I took it on a photo tour in Glasgow.  I learned a lot about it on that tour.

We're going to Venice and Greece early this summer.  I'll take those same lenses with me this year and expect to use them in about the same proportions. I don't really like the 24-240, but it's my longest lens now.  I'll probably just put that on for taking long shots from the ship and leave it on board when in port. 

Vic

But were those people in the study photographers or random people with cameras.  I would submit that there is a big difference.

Vic

We got snow last night.  Not much and it doesn't (usually) last long. And that's ok with us!

Vic

And yet the average person probably looks at more images taken by friends now than in years past.  

Those pictures help us stay to connected to friends and family scattered across the globe.  I take pictures because I like to.  Taking pictures helps me focus on what I am seeing and to see both the big picture and the closeup details. 

Then I share them, on social media, in gifts (I gave family some of their favorites photos as coasters this year), using them as screen savers both at work and at home, and printing them out and putting the up on the walls of our home.  

So it doesn't matter if I give someone something to look at for 15 seconds or 15 years, there is a big, wide world out there and I want to see it and share it!

Vic

Abstracts in the snow:

Vic

This is what I learned on my trip.

1. Rainsleeves - I didn't need them.  It snowed lightly frequently.

2. Plastic bags for condensation.  Never used them, either for going in and out of the bus or in and out of the hotel.  Never had any condensation on either camera.  Temps were in the 20s and 30s.

3. White balance - I over exposed by .3, I used a ND filter one day and CP one day, the CP was too dark so I have a lot of post processing to do.

4. Fingerless mittens with liners worked great!  I highly recommend them.

5. Spare batteries, I brought two and never had to use them.  I did run down one battery the first day by turning on the camera when I put it in the camera bag.  My extra batteries were in my luggage in a different vehicle.  I had a cable and battery charger for the phone and that worked great.

6.  The rented 70 - 300 is a great lens!

7. I got a Tenba medium messenger bag and it was great for the A6000 with the 70-300 lens.  It held my wallet and phone and a lens cleaning cloth (which I should have used more). I'm looking forward to using this bag in further travels.  It held both cameras with smaller lenses.

The scenery photo happened when I took a face plant into the snow while snowshoeing. 

Vic

That must be why these boards have been so quiet lately!  Come on Sony - we need something to talk about - new lenses!!

Vic

I'm going to Yellowstone later this month and I'm trying to get prepared.  We'll be on a guided tour the entire time so I won't have a lot of flexibility on where to go or what to see.  We do spend an entire day traveling (whatever roads are open) by snowcats, with frequent stops for viewing and photography. We have a night walk (hoping for clear skies because the moon will be almost full). We have a snowshoe walk around Old Faithful area and a regular walk there too.  Right now the weather is predicted to be partly cloudy to snow showers and we're two weeks out - so who can really predict!  I'll have my Sony A6000, A6300, 35mm prime, 12-18 wide, 18-135, a rented 70-300.  Should I bother with my 24-240?  (Not my favorite lens in the first place.)

1. Rain sleeve - for if the snow is wet

2. Plastic bags  - for condensation going in and out of warm hotels

3. Reading up on white balance - advice appreciated!

4. Fingerless mittens with very thin liners (along with all the assorted cold weather clothing we need, layers)

What am I missing and what else should I study?

Thanks,

Vic

No.  There is a set number of photos in a package, ie 10, 20, etc.  You can have as many pictures as you want taken, then a couple days before the cruise is over you can browse through the photos and choose the ones you want.  We have done this a couple of times and try to finalize what we want before the last full day of the cruise.  The photography area is a zoo that last day.

Vic

Perhaps if you have the original RAW files saved you can go in, save as a jpg and see if the frame pixelates that one.

Vic