pinksuit

We just got back, healthier that when we left. And we included an extra week in Peru to see Machu Picchu.

 

The only caution we came across was insect repellant for Machu Picchu because the mosquitoes were terrible.

 

Yeah....we actually saw 3 mosquitoes while we were there. :confused:

THANKS! Certainly will be taking my repellant. My blood type happens to attract the blood thirsty creatures:

Most top hotels/resorts have learned that it is the "petty" stuff which builds loyalty. As to pricing, we are in total agreement. Although we have no problem paying more money for better quality, asking folks to pay more money for lower quality has a strange way of coming back to haunt the executive that makes that decision. Fortunately there are many different cruise lines and not all see it the same way as "Lisa."

 

Hank

Hank, Thanks for your view of Princess and Celebrity which I tend to agree with you especially after getting off of the Celebrity Reflection 2 weeks ago. Although we were booked in Aqua class as before, we noticed "notable" differences for bigger prices. Matter of fact, I wrote a review and even requested to speak to the Senior Manager of Guest Relations while on-board because of several infractions.

Because we prevailed with our concerns, we were granted credit to our account. I haven't given up on Celebrity but will be sailing with Princess in So. America for my next cruise since the Itinerary is equal and the cost of a Mini Suite on Princess is considerably less with Princess vs a Aqua Class balcony with Celebrity. Plus we get to use the laundry room vs. sending items out.

I love quality and don't mind paying for it.....but something seriously needs correcting with this prized line.

Ms Pink

I have inquired with 2 companies, Blackberry Cars and Totally Driven. Prices are about 80 GBP difference for same trip, pickup at apartment in London and drop off at cruise terminal in Harwich.

 

Without saying which company is the higher priced which should I choose based on experience some of you may have with these companies.

 

Blackberry gets good reviews on Trip Advisor, where Totally Driven I can't seem to find much information on.

 

Any help is appreciated.

If you want reasonable and good service, consider taking the Cruise Train directly to the Terminal. We did so 2 years ago and it was WONDERFUL! No fuss and the train made 0 stops from London to Harwich Cruise Terminal. Hope this helps.

Pinkie

Don & Tom, You have given us a wealth of information on the Epic. Thank you for taking so much of your time to share your experience with us. Your candor and humor is simply amazing! We (21 in my group) will be sailing out of Barcelona in Oct. This is my first NCL cruise although we have sailed plenty with Princess and Celebrity.

Trust you will continue to have wonderful experiences in your future travels.

Pinkie:o

During our (christian based) tours in Israel we only had entrance fees in Capernaum archeological site, small parking fees (minimal, easily covered by the coins we all pulled out of our pockets) and at the Dead Sea beach area (which we ended up getting for free because we had lunch at the Kibbutz that owned the beach facility). Our guide got free parking in Jerusalem, otherwise the parking garage would have cost extra. All the other sites we visited were open to the public, no entrance fees required. The gift shop at Yardinit baptismal site accepted dollars (www.yardenit.com) and had a nice selection of gift items (the honey products could be sampled and seemed to be very popular). They have an online shop so you can see their selection and compare prices before you get there. Rolf and I had exchanged 100$ for both days of touring for lunch, entrance fees and small gifts.

 

The cost of the tours depends on how many are in the group and what you plan to do and see. Our tour of Jesus' ministry in Galilee from Haifa (May 2010) was 99$ per person for our group of 6 and 135$ pp for the second days tour out of Ashdod of Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. GTI did require a credit card number to secure the tour but this wasn't a problem, my card wasn't charged. No deposit was required. Our guide collected the tour fee in cash each touring day. This seems to be the common practice. It was the same with the other private tour companies I have used in Russia, England, Italy, France, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and now Israel. Some have required a credit card to secure the tour but a deposit has never been requested.

 

We were pleased with our tour/guide/pricing. We were out and about for 8-9 hours each day. The mercedes van was our guide's private vehicle. It was new, air-conditioned and comfortable for our group of 6 (we switched off with three persons in the back seat, two in the middle in seperate seats and one in the front next to our driver/guide). There were other vans awaiting passengers for private tours and ours was one of the nicest.

 

Israel is small, only about the size of New Jersey. There is lots to see and do in there, alternative arrangements can easily be made when you have a private tour. Our guide made a few suggestions after picking us up in Haifa to change the tour, we ended up doing some completely different things that we had originally planned (and had a great day and saw an amazing amout of sites, way more than any ship tour had!) An interesting tour option: a group from our ship left the ship in Haifa, toured Masada/ Dead Sea overnighting at a Dead Sea Resort and then toured Jerusalem the next day and picked the ship back up in Ashdod that evening. Other fellow cruisers overnited in Jerusalem which was reported to be a wonderful experience but beware -the hotel prices in Jerusalem are sky high. We did two seperate day tours and slept at home on the Azamara Quest!

 

Cancellation policies differ from company to company and are subject to change. It is probably best to question the policy in advance when booking any private tour.

 

Happy cruising everyone!

Thank you for such a wonderful review re. Israel. We are planning to go next year in October and is planning ahead since we are organizing a small group of 16. We would like to do as you by staying aboard ship since we may stay overnight while in Egypt.

Regards,

Pinkie

Cheesehead, can't comment on a lot of those sites but here are a few thoughts.

 

Gibraltar: you can walk right off the ship and over to the the area where you go up the hill to see the monkeys,. That part was about $35/pp IIRC, so we just went to a pub and had a pint and Shepherd's Pie instead!

 

Naples: this is the one port where we did a private tour; a drive along the Amalfi Coast, Positano and Sorrento, a fabilous lunch up in the hills, and then a nap while the driver took us to Pompeii for a two hour tour. Great day.

 

Rome: easiest to take the train to Termini, then use your BIRG ticket to take the metro to the Colosseo stop; after visiting the Palatine Hill and Forum area, see the Colosseum, then you can walk to the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, etc. If you have extra time you can grab a cab to the Vatican, then catch the train back to port from the San Pietro station.

 

Cinque Terre: We loved Vernazza, esp. the Blue Marlin. Homemade gnocchi with pesto and local wine. I know you can take the train from Livorno, but we had a deviation and tendered in La Spezia instead which was much closer.

 

Cannes: not much there other than the beach. I would suggest a bus trip up in the hills to St. Paul de Vence, a medieval village that has actually some nice shopping and good restaurants--a fun day trip.

 

Pinksuit: with three days, you will be able to see a lot. I would take my time and soak in the atmosphere as much as possible. Don't overplan--pick one major thing to do each day, i.e. the Vatican, or the Colosseum/Palatine/Forum. Spanish Steps (in actuality just STEPS) and Trevi Fountain are short stops. When we go this year, we want to do the Capitoline and Borghese museums which we have not been able to get to yet, and spend more time wandering on our own through the Vatican museums. But most importantly we want to sit in the cafes and watch the world go by! Also of course you have to visit the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona and, geez, I could go on and on!

 

Hope all this helps!

 

Cathy

Thanks Cathy,

Actually, that is our plan (not too much on one day) The Vatican is already planned for one day and other city sites spread out. Because we will have extra time post-cruise, we want to do a day trip to Florence. Is that a good choice?

Pinkie

"Hank" - feel free to chime in too THANKS!

I don't think Hank is around, but I believe if you do the ship bus into Rome (total waste of money IMO when the train is so cheap and easy, but to each his own) it will drop you near the Vatican. The HoHo bus stops right at the end of the boulevard that dead ends at St. Peter's Square--they are very easy to spot. If you have the basilica at your back, you're in the right spot. You can buy your tickets right on board, no need to pre-purchase.

 

IF you'd like to take the train, it is 9 euros r/t and gives you access to the metro and buses (not HoHo) while in Rome. You can get off at the San Pietro station and walk straight to the HoHo stop from there.

 

Hope this helps

Cathy

Cathy, I just posted (#202) However, feel free to give your response as well. We have agreed to take a Vatican tour with another couple so no need to include that.

Thank You,

Pinkie

Private tour/cars for the $ only are competitive when you fill the vehicle. For many operators if you can find 4 people for a car, 6 for a van or 10+ for a mini bus the $ per/person cost drops well below the most extravagant of the ship meg bus 40+ tours and you see so much more with a better overall experience. Private tours have the advantage of smaller group so you aren't waiting for the last of the 40 people to make the walk etc. Most important the vehicle in most European cities can drop you off much closer to all the attractions then any of the bus tours, also being private you pick the attractions and how long you stay at each. Given all the advantages it really makes sense to go Private to get the most out of your limited time in Port. DIY saves money, allows you to experience European mass transit ( sorry that isn't one of my personal must see's on a whirlwind 10 port/12 day cruise :rolleyes: ). For people that might be going to a city/port for the xth time maybe DIY makes sense as they've already seen most of the sights and they just want that leisure and cost efficient visit to hit their favorites, no question walking the back streets is a unique experience in every foreign city I've had the time to do it in. But on a cruise tour, walking back streets and experiencing mass transit seems to be the odd must do, no?

 

If it is a first visit, you've spent thousands on the ship, thousands on your air fare, why would a person short change Rome for example to DIY to save 100 euros? Just a counter opinion ;) :D

Chipmaster, Thanks for your counter opinion. What is your suggestion for a first timer in Rome, especially if you have a 2-3 days?

Thank You,

Pinkie

Hi Chester,

 

I sent an email to you last Thursday and obviously you didn't receive it. I have resent it to you again a few moments ago.

 

Please let me know if it arrives.

 

Jennie

Aussie Girl,

Please share your thoughts with us with the must-see and must do on our Sydney to Auckland sailing. There are 20 of us. Thanks

PinkSuit