msk1

Thanks all for your knowledgeable replies and stellar advice! This was pretty much what we were thinking--although completely unaware of the fog issue--it's just that the sitting about in the airport with a toddler isn't appealing. We will target a later flight and stay tuned for the information upcoming from the users of the new terminal.

msk1

I realize this could be posted on the specific board but I am hoping for a wider range of advice. We are booked on a spring cruise from the new cruise terminal out of Houston. We are flying in and out of Hobby. Is it realistic to make a 1000AM flight with the ship docking @ 0700? We will be carry-on only, no checked bags. I am told it is about an hour to the airport from the ship?? This will be a Saturday morning so I'm not sure about the weekend traffic, better/worse?? We will be using private, pre-arranged transport.

We are flying in the night before our cruise--we know all of the precautions and use them wisely. We know this end-of-cruise option to be risky but would really appreciate the wise counsel of those either having done it, live nearby, etc.

Thanks, in advance, for the terrific assistance of all of our fellow CC'ers!!

msk1

We did Alaska on the Star this past July and a pack and play was provided. We brought our own crib sheets but the room steward also put down fresh sheets daily. We placed the pack and play in the closet area and it worked like a mini-cabin. We placed a black-out drape over the closet rung and were then able to use lights, etc. as necessary.

Be sure to place your request well in advance of sailing.

msk1

We are visiting Volos next summer and wanting to do a private tour for the Meteora Monastery. Any recommendations?

msk1

With all of this talk of "full disclosure" may I add my heartiest accolades for Ramses, having just returned from Egypt and using their EXCELLENT services. For those posters who are so jaded, we had a truly remarkable time and thoroughly enjoyed the professional and personal care afforded by our guide, Mohamed Ali Khalaf and his driver Mohamed Khaled. These gentlemen were well-spoken and well-trained. We were treated with the ultimate of courtesy and concern. The weather was horrid, 120' at the pyramids, but the Ramses staff made sure we had plentiful supplies of water and purposeful efforts to find shade for discussions. Our guide made arrangements for our camel pictures, evening light show, overnight at the Oberoi Mena, etc.

For those who choose to denigrate this wonderful company how about put your words to better use and speak about what you have experienced! We did!

MSK1

If you have specific questions I will be most happy to answer ms.msk1@yahoo.com

We, too, were on the Pacific Princess these past two weeks. Our time spent with Ramses Tours was all, and more, than we ever expected. We had the BEST TOUR GUIDE in Mohammed Ali Khalaf and his driver Mohamed Khaled. We did the overnight in Cairo, staying at the Mena Oberoi--well worth the extra cost involved. Having breakfast at the base of the pyramids was overwhelming. The evening light show was terrific and highly recommended.

There has been much discussion here on the boards as to the various tour companies in Egypt. Without a moments hesitation book with Ramses! Mr. George is incredibly responsive (fretters take note ;-) )and even up to the last day was working special requests and itinerary changes for us.

Egypt was the high point of this itinerary and Ramses earns TOP marks for their efforts!

MSK1

I have booked numerous tours all over the world and I'm now trying to book with GTI using e-mail. For some reason I can't. Spam or something like that. I have no problem with anybody else. Any ideas?

Try the following emails. They have been most responsive for us!

MSK

Guided Tours Israel

Top-Day-Tours Group

www.GuidedToursIsrael.com

Top Quality Tours in the Land of Israel

Email: info@guidedtoursisrael.com

Kathleen,

Thanks for your thorough discussion of Guided Tours Israel, especialy the remarks about the Dead Sea visit. This will be a of great benefit for our trip planning!

MSK1

My husband and I recently returned from our cruise to the Holy Land. We used GTI for two days of touring there and were very pleased with the service and tours we had there. I just posted a port review of our tours in this forum. I got our group together through our roll call a few months before the cruise. We were all christian and chose a christian based tour there. There are so many sites to see and 2 days are just not enough to get everything in. Alon Schneider of GTI was very helpful and prompt in answering all my question about the tours. We were in Jerusalem on a Friday, alot of the sites close early for the Sabbath. We were able to chose to visit the Dead Sea (our choice) or Bethlehem. If we had been there on any other day, I would have chosen to spend it all in Jerusalem and visited the sites at our liesure with losts of breaks inbetween. We rushed to get in as many sites as possible but in the end, it was a fantastic trip.

Thank you Kathleen! Your comments were most helpful!

MSK1

We are on Pacific Princess in July and would like to hear of experiences with Guided Tours Israel for an overnight/2-day tour. Were you able to get a group together outside of your Roll Call?? Please give details! ;-)