stan vermeers

I use TravelGuard.  Reason: (1) Someone answers the phone almost immediately.  That person is knowledgeable and answers questions, as opposed to other companies who put me on hold or transfer me because the person answering does not know anything and is only a receptionist.  With one company I was transferred 3 times and still did not get a good answer.  (2)  They are available 7/24 (at least when I have called).  Important when overseas, on cell with limited reception.  Need immediate contact.  (2) As others have stated, call and tell agent your travel situation, what is important to you and they can recommend a plan.  Example: I do not need to pay for rental car coverage.  Insusuremytrip.com only lists a few plans from each company.  The TravelGuard plan I chose (Travel Guard Plus) is not listed on Insuremytrip.com.  Also, my travel agent has told me to get a lot of Emergency Medical Evacuation insurance.  Years ago she had a client traveling in Mexico, and it cost over $200K to get back to California.   A personal friend required a nurse to be flown from USA to Spain to accompany him on flight home to Nevada.  Not cheap.  I go for min of $500K medica evac.  There are companies such as Medjet Assist that insure for medical evac only, but nothing else.  This is cheaper, but limited.

Is there a shuttle at Newport Rhode Island.  Oceania says they dock as a smaller ship.

Thank You 
linda

Thank you cruise mom and John.

I was hoping we would have in person port ideas.  

On VoV the auditorium was full.

Sorry to see an impersonal way now.

Linda

Hello Hank,

Questions:

We are on Westerdam Japan next April. We were on Voyage of the Vikings 5 years ago.

Does Westerdam have a port lecturer?  The lady on VoV was wonderful.  We also had 2 other speakers on interesting things .  We also really enjoyed Barry from Boston. A large group of us really enjoyed nitely.  

I would hope the same would be on this Japan cruise.  (The one reason besides itinerary that we booked HAL.)

We were on the Koningsdam in Nov.  Our first cruise after pandemic.  It was a cheap Mexico one, which we had done many times prior.  That cruise was ok but not great...very slow service in dining room, alot of other small stuff, but just ok.

Hope Japan will be better.

Our favorite line is Oceania, but we cruise now on itinerary.

Linda/Stan Vermeers

Thank you all so much for responding!

We want to try a "new" cruise area for us.

So encouraging to hear the area offers alot and no one mentioned a negative.

Thank You,

Linda

Oh Dear

Not too popular area to cruise, I am thinking.

Positive or negative would be helpful.

Linda

Wondering if anyone who has done a cruise like this one has any suggestions for tours, etc..

Or is each port souks, mosques and desert?

Would appreciate any recommendations!

Also I realize that Dept. of State has Dubai at level 3.

Love Oceania but can use suggestions for this area   good or bad.

Linda

Having sailed the Rhine and Danube for the Xmas markets,,,

Loved both but would highly recommend Danube that includes Nuremburg.

Rhine loved Strasburg.  

We used AMA for both of these a year apart.  Ama went from Nuremburg to Budapest.

All the ports were interesting, had wonderful markets.

Rhine, I feel is scenic, markets good but not great.

Either one is a wonderful experience.

• April 29, 2009
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• 2,179 posts

Thank you all so much.  I appreciate your time and suggestion.

Decision made:

Hoi An  our guide includes China Beach and Marble Mt. and the Buddha. 

Hue next time.

Linda

Can anyone please suggest which of these 2 cities has the most interesting sites to see?

We were also looking at the Golden Bridge, but it seems a distance to go to mainly just see it.

Any thoughts about these 3 sites would be appreciated.

Thank You

Linda

We are on the Milennium docking for 11 hours at Chan May port.

The question I have is ..should we see Hoi An or Hue?  Also, my so-in-law would like to see the Golden bridge outside of Da Nang.  That is a distance from either Hue or Hoi an. 

Any advice appreciated.

Linda

Love Locanda Orseolo!  It is now Palazzao Orseolo.  Under new management.  Suposedly a few changes.

Loved the location also.  When is Venice we may check it out.

Linda

Loved our Croisi river cruise on the Loire.  After the cruise we stayed In Amboise and saw 7 more chateaus. Loved the area.

Would definitely sail Croisi again.  For us it is all about itinerary tho.

Love Quebec also.  Would consider Canada with Croisi.

Linda Vermeers

Some wonderful, helpful posts.

Thank you one and all.

Learned a lot.

Linda

Thank you both for the wealth of info on restaurants.

I think we will reserve Le Tupina.  It seems like it would

be a great choice.

Again thanks so much!

Linda

We have an overnite in Bordeaux. Does anyone have a good quality restaurant to recommend?

This is for an anniversary.

Thasnk You,

Linda

We have done the Danube and the Rhine for the Xmas markets on AMA.

I feel the Danube has the best markets. Did like Strasborg, very pretty city, and markets very nice.

We had a juliette balcony, which even in the winter was nice to look out of. I've heard there might be engine noise or vibration with a very low level cabin.

As a side note..we did Croissi on the Loire this past June. Liked the ambience on the ship. Tours great like AMA, small cabins, large bathrooms. Looking at Elbe this next summer on Croissi. Know there are water difficulties.

Having done the Danube you might like something new and therefore the Rhine.

Linda

I agree, the ship was spotless and the crew really really nice. Anna at the reception desk was always smiling and ready to help with any question. The maître d was great!! (Do not remember name,:() He was always "running" in the dining room. For one of our tablemates, she did not eat fish, he subbed chicken, she also did not drink milk on her cereal, he found soy milk. She was surprised and pleased. The Gala was so much fun. The food was incredible and the dancing after in he lounge really fun. The French know how to dance!

For us, this was the way to start our visit to the Loire Valley. Then continue on with our own decision of which chateau appeal to you.

Loved Le Vieux Manior. Never heard a word from another room. Yes we used her suggestions for restaurants and liked them too. Saw Amboise "castle" and Da Vinci "castle" And really like the little white train in front of the Visitor Center. Good overview to start.

One thing to remember is all shops close from 12 noon to 2 or 3. That little town was quiet and deserted.!

Just a quick post on this cruise. On July 31 of last year I asked on this board about Croisi and received a few good thoughts. My husband and I have been on the Rhine and Danube with AMA.

We were concerned about Croisi being French and the language issue. We did not need to worry. The personnel are great about including English speakers. There were 2 dining tables speaking English, mostly from the UK. There was also a Rhoades Scholar group of about 20 Americans on board, who had there own tours and guides.

We had wonderful guides and bus drivers, who all spoke great English.

My husband is somewhat picky eater, but had no problem with the menu. The food was great and of a good quality. (As stated before you can ask for a different entrée.)

Our room was a balcony, a little small, but adequate. Bathroom large and shower great.

The only thing to point out is no bathroom by the bar, You have to go back to your room.

Shore excursions were great. In Nantes we loved the mechanized elephant, carousel and large spider. The 3 chateaus we saw were fabulous. (This was the main point of our river cruise.)

After the cruise we stayed in Amboise at Le Vieux Manior and loved that charming town. Saw 10 chateaus from there.

Without hesitation we would sail with Croisi again.

Linda

We also saw Stromboli volcano. What an amazing sight. We asked when we would pass it. It was about 6 pm. We got great photos.

Sure glad we saw it. Ask when your ship will pass it and try to see it.

Linda

So agree with MiamiNice

Taormina! If you have been to Hawaii and "done' the volcanoes there, don't spend time at Mt. Etna.

We were on the Celebrity ship about 2 weeks ago and Sicily was a new port for us. So glad we saw Taormina. A lot of charm, the place just feels good. Wish we had stopped in at Hotel Metropole.

Looks great. Did have a cannoli. Our taxi driver knew of a non touristy bakery and we got a few pasteries.

A great day!

Linda

Have 6 tickets for Feb. 9,2018 Section 7 under cover box. (Daughters cancelled on us)

If interested email me at

jvermeers@msn.com

Linda Vermeers

Maria

We are thinking of using n beyond for a July 2019 safari. Were they efficient? Considering Seregenti Under Canvas, Lodge at the Crater, and Kiba at Selous. Were you at any of these camps? All in Tanzania.

Appreciate any info or thoughts on and Beyond.

Thanks

Linda

Was in Key West last week and loved Santiago Bodega! They have a Happy Hour and it is well worth going early.

Also went twice for lunch at Kermits for the Cuban sandwich! They make it with ham and pulled pork. really good. Had the key lime pie too. Liked it

Also loved Latitude. Very romantic with the Xmas lights on the Palm trees. Green fronds and white on the trunks. Liked the key lime pie here as it had meringue on top. Was interesting.