G.M.T.

It seems that the currently available Costa Drinks Packages are causing some confusion (Costa still hasn't learned how communication work! ).

So here is a list of the drinks packages that are currently available:

1. Extra All Inclusive - price for adults €19.50 and children €10.00 (price per day), as from the 2015 season these prices will be rising to €22.50 and €11.50. Service charge included. Also do not forget to check your Costa Card to see that it is marked "EXTRA" as soon as you get your card.

What do you get in this package, following this link and click bottom right hand side on PDF, 43KB "Download" (this is a German Website but the PDF file is multi languages):

http://www.costa-inside.de/getraenkeoptionen/extra-all-inclusive.html

2. neoCollection All Inclusive - price for adults €28.75 and children €18.75 (price per day) effective Costa neoRiviera sailings from 03.02.2014 and Costa neoRomantica sailings from 21.05.2014. Also do not forget to check your Costa Card to see that it is marked "????" as soon as you get your card.

What's included, looks like the same as the Extra Package. Don't know the reason why the difference in price, I suspect it's to do with the fact that the "neo" ships are not designed for children but for a higher percentage of adults, so instead of hoards of snotty nose kids running wild there will be "pissed" seniors living it up.

Conditions of items 1 & 2 above:

"This package must be purchased by all passengers travelling in the same cabin or who are travelling with the same booking number and by all passengers who dine together. The price includes the service charge".

Adults are persons over the age of 18, except sails from a US port then it is 21 y.o.

Other packages available:

3. Boys and Girls price €42.00 for 20 alcohol free drinks form the following selection: Soft drinks, Virgin Delights, Fresh squeezed citrus fruits, Iced Tea, Milk shakes, Assorted Sirups. This can be used for both kids and adults.

4. WEINPAKET "EASY SELECTION" price €77.39, includes bottles of red wines, 2 bottles of white wines and 7 bottles of mineral water.

5. MINERAL WATER Package price €26.00 for 13 bottles mineral water.

NOTE: Other packages may be available on-board.

The following packages may have now been discontinued:

6. Costa All Inclusive (equivalent to the old X1 package), adults €13.00, children €7.00, includes wine, beer and water (by the glass) in the MDR and Buffet during lunch and dinner.

7. Coffee Packages, 25 special coffee €32.50 and 25 cappuccinos €50.00

8. Beer Package, 20 beers for €80.00

This is certainly not the absolute list but is intended to clear up some misunderstandings as to what is available now and in the future. If you have and additional information then please post.

Ron

PS. I have heard rumours of a Premium All Inclusive drinks package, somewhere in the €40 to €50 price range that includes spirits upto €7.50, but I have never seen any official from Costa.

PPS. The last WIFI charges I know were €25.00 for 3 hours with a one off €3.50 admin charge .

PPPS. Cost Club members get a 20% discount on the WIFI package and on on wine packages but NOT on All Inclusive Drinks Packages

Ron

I write this from the upper deck of the MS Vienna as we are docking near Passau. So far the cruise has proceeded to plan. Regensberg has completely recovered and showed no signs of the high water. The Passau docks are not yet ready for ships, so we are about 10 km upstream of Passau. The Passau organ concert is on for noon. Stunning travels with new and very dear friends.

 

I did send this to tellus@vikingcruises.com a few days ago, but heard no response: 'Viking, one last note on communications. Now that we have arrived in Germany the English site and access to the updates redirects to the German site. No news. No information. The full site did work from Prague and Budapest.'

 

Having a fine time.

Welcome to Passau, hope you enjoy the organ concert (cathedral was way above the high water mark and suffered absolutely no damage).

Are you docked in Vilshofen?

Ron

Anybody there - I haven't a clue with this one Whitby Lass - other than "Down" - depressed - I think Ron us up a ladder trying to blend paint to camouflage his MIL

Liz, I am up a ladder but nothing to do with paint, Passau our main town near to us and where No. 1 DD lives has been hit by highest ever recorded floods (and records go back to 1501). Water is currently at 12.66 m, spent yesterday and most of the night moving DD stuff up to the 1st. floor.

So looks like a third house to renovate

Have a look:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22752544

Ron

Are we talking Stockholm?

First try and you get it right. Well done.

Ron

Step for a hint??:confused:

Can be broken down into two parts.

"Replenishment of supplies, your house"

Ron

So here is what you all have been waiting for, the clue is

"Replenishment of your house supplies"

Ron

Aberdeen....;)

The Golden Haggis has been won.

Ron

Abba and Dean are almost correct.

Try saying them together and see what it sounds like. :confused::D

Ron

So we have Abba and James Dean and we are looking for a Port or Place.

Ron

Think you have it - My mind set was on ABBA - Waterloo - Sweden - but couldn't get the Jimmy Adam together - but I did think of the ESC (we don't get it in Oz) Googled it - and found Denmark won - threw me right off track.

 

Another one please Ron

Liz,

First part "Abba" is correct. CS is also correct with East of Eden, the original clue for the second part is "Jimmy was no Adam when looking at the Sunrise" so we're looking for someone called Jimmy in East of Eden.

Ron

Sandwich Islands? But I am not really sure how my logic is working here.

Sorry no.

Here are some clues:

"Britain would not win this Waterloo; Jimmy was no Adam when looking at the Sunrise".

Last weekend was the ESC; where did Adam reside, which direction does the sun rise (film).

Ron

So here we go:

"Britain would not win this Waterloo; Jimmy was no Adam when looking at the Sunrise".

Good luck.

Ron

Sorry no time for a stalk - busy decorating our new apartment.

 

Hope you aren't painting your DMIL into a corner with striped paint :p

No she is getting a special paint job - see below.

 

Actually she smiled last week, well not exactly smiled as she fell off her bike and caught the handlebars in her mouth.

 

Ron

OOOh teehee - good to have the gang all back on board!:D

 

Ron - are we getting a Mhairi stalk?? And a quiz???

My brain cells were just starting to develop (I actually wrote "again" there and deleted it)

Sorry no time for a stalk - busy decorating our new apartment.

But I'll start a weekly Silly / Port Place Quiz, this coming Saturday.

Ron

Would this be it - Trip - ole (with an accent over the "e") = Tripoli

Liz, you can be proud of yourself, you got it 100% (even down to the accent. Well done.

So until the next one.

Ron

PS. If I can find enough silly names I might start a weekly quiz.:eek:

Waaaaaghhhhh LOL well done Liz!!!! GO YOU!!

 

I am on the all inclusive tonight for sure!! I gained 4LBS on my Live Below the Line Challenge - eating cheap food - lots of fat grams and high carbs - have come to the conclusion red wine plus healthy food = less fat!!

I raised £300 for Unicef - am very pleased and thrilled with peoples generosity.

 

Spanish Bullfighter???

 

Wee hint or clue Ron???

Blondie, we're proud of you, as you have helped the world I'll help you.

"Gaddafi would have been at home here"

Ron

:eek:Stab in the Dark = Bora Bora for the Digital Boogy one (don't ask where I come with these things - just a wild guess) desperate really

Wow! Now only ONE left.

Liz, your stab in the dark was spot on. Now you are awarded an extra biscuit.

Congratulations.

Ron

Good one Tanya, now you can have water with your biscuit ;)

Ron, does that leave only 2 - Spanish bull fighters and the nose picking one?

Correct now only two.

Ron

Aqaba

 

Aqa = Acker

Watering Hole= Ba

 

Please let this be right! Luke is hungry and there are only so many times I can say. "Have a biscuit."

Tanja, you can be proud of yourself, you got it smack on, this was along hard road.

Well done.

Ron

I have no idea!

I have spent more time googling Aker Bilk in the last few days than feeding Luke! but I still have no idea????

My apologies to Luke.

Read the clues again.

A couple of more clues:

a. Lawrence of Arabia took it from behind.

b. It is phonetic

Have fun, until the next clue.

Ron

PS What about the last quiz:

"What did the Spanish Bull Fighter say when he stumbled"

Right - for nearly as long as Mels journey - we have agonised:confused:

Sooooo

The acker bilk one I have always been pondering Bar and Acker

and come up with ....

Barakar????????????

Yes and Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Correct words BUT in the wrong order.

Ron

Here's a stupid answer to start us off: pick a door - piccador

Liz, there are no stupid answers, just silly people who pose the questions.:(

With pick you are on the right track, nothing to do with doors, more physical. Look at the clues, from what region are we talking about, same as Tahiti.

Ron

Stalk - Day Final :(:(:(

So Mel's journey of a life time (at least for 21 days) has now drawn to a close - sad day indeed. Hopefully she is spending a few days in Singapore and not suffering from AI withdrawal symptoms.

One last :

Silly Port / Place Quiz

"What did the Spanish Bull Fighter say when he stumbled"

So here's wishing Mel a good flight home.

Until the next Stalk with fair winds and calm seas.

Ron

Run us a summary of clues one last time Ron the acker one..

 

Im in enough misery this week - I have bee doing the "Live below the line" challenge for Unicef - five days for five pounds to feed and drink myself - I am sick of carbs and fatty foods and grumpy COZ I WANNA GLASS OF WINE:mad:

I made ITV though - wee five minutes of fame :) and raised some ££s for a good cause

BUT looking forward to midnight tomorrow night!

Okay one last clue Ron??

 

Poor Mel - she is gonna be in misery coming off that amazing trip!!

Blondie, we are proud of you. So I gather there was no AI in "Live Below The Line".

So here are clues to Stalk - Day 17

"Famous English jazz clarinet player's favourite watering hole"

In for a penny...... utterly wild guess : Potters Bar - now I don't know where that relates to a Port - only that Acker Bilk lived there

Liz, first off it is a Port / Place Quiz. But in this one deals with a port, you are on the right track with the name of person and town, only two words are required from the four. Look at the various word combination.

Once I'll tell you, you'll be Red in the face, if you get it you will be ecstatic, elation and Elat.

Also still unsolved is Stalk - Day 20 which was:

"Digital Boogerectomy in Stereo"

With a clue that it is in the same region as Tahiti.

Ron