Traveling Library

On 11/21/2019 at 2:16 AM, mnsweeps said:

We booked one night in June 2020 at 

Hotel Skt. Annæ

Sankt Annæ Plads 18-20

 

Its close to Nyhavn and a negotiated cab rate of 260 DKK to cruise port. Anyone stayed here before?

Yes! We stayed here in 2017. In one direction is 1 block from Nyhavn restaurants and in the other a (long) 1 block from Amalienborg Palace.  Our room overlooked that inner courtyard/breakfast area but we were never bothered by the sound.  Our room included breakfast which has lots of local breads and cheese along with other breakfast foods.  It is an easy stroll to the canal boat trips and is on a bus line (I think the number 6).  We had a Copenhagen Card which we used for all public transportation/tourist activities.

The Doubletree is across the street  from a grocery. It is a few blocks from the beach. It has a pool. 

3 minutes ago, dsa181920 said:

We will be cruising on Celebrity at the end of June. Our first port is Bergen. We’d like to see the Bryggen Wharf area and take the funicular.   Is it possible to walk from port to this area? Would we need transportation or would it be better to book an excursion.

 

Sallie

We've walked. It takes about 20 minutes if you stroll. Right across from the port is the Bergenhus Fortress which is worth a visit (if I recall correctly we climbed some stairs --kind of hidden by foliage but clearly used-- that were almost directly across from the port entrance to get to the "castle").  You can walk along the shoreline to the fish market and follow the signs for the funicular (about 10 minutes or so from the fish market). We also enjoyed the Hanseatic Museum which is on your way to Bryggen market.

If the 7-11 doesn't have your soda call Stop & Shop in South Boston 713 E Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127 (617) 269-7989. This is sort-of on your way to the ship (not quite but it's the closest big grocery store). You may want to ask them if they sell wine. I can't tell from their website if this location does or doesn't.  

the Trader Joe's in the Seaport does not sell wine.

Sad news the No Name restaurant  has closed. I like J Hook or Barking Crab for seafood.

The Yotel is in the Seaport district which is much better located for touring/food/walking/etc.  than the Ramada on Morrissey Blvd.  You will be near the SilverLine (bus) Courthouse stop and also South Station (Red Line and SilverLine) and lots of restaurants (my favorite is the Barking Crab in the Seaport district). You'll also be near a FAB bakery called Flour and you will be near the city and the port.  I've never stayed there (I live in the Boston 'burbs) but  I can tell you the neighborhood is safe and convenient. 

The public transportation system is called the MBTA (aka "the T") their website at www.mbta.com has a Trip Planner which is very very good. Look at the baseball schedule.  If the Sox are out of town you can take a tour of Fenway Park instead which is lots of fun.

Newark Airport is the closest.  It's a hub for the former US Air (now American) but many many other airlines fly in there.  

The Boston Public Library has a nice order-at-the-counter cafe in the (new) Johnson building.

Go see the John Singer Sargent murals on the 3rd floor in the (old) McKim building and if you like maps the map room is amazing.  Library also has free WiFi.

3 hours ago, 138east said:

The SL 2 Silver Line bus is not free from the Cruiseport.  It’s only free inbound from Logan Airport.  Fare is $2.90.

The SilverLine bus from the port was free in October when the AIDA ship was in. I took the bus. Maybe it varies or depends on the driver.  

Here is a link to the MBTA (aka The T) website. Use the Trip Planner to map out your trips via public transportation. www.mbta.com. The Silver Line (aka a bus) is free from the port into South Station where you can transfer (for free) to the Red Line (a subway).  If you want to take the Silver Line (SL2) from the port once you get off the ship walk around to the other side of the big white industrial building (the Boston Design Center) and look for a bus stop near the sign that says "23" (it's a big round sign).  This is where the bus come into the port area. You can board there and get a seat.  You will then go around the port (where you just walked from) but you won't need to deal with the crowd to get on the bus.

My favorite trip is to take the Red Line from South Station over the Charles River into Cambridge (get off at Harvard and see the campus).  The subway goes over the river and on a nice day the view of the city is spectacular.  Also if you are here in the summer make sure you take a ride on the Swan Boats (take the Silver line to the Red Line. Change to the Red Line toward Cambridge. Get off at Park Street Station and either walk thru the Common to the Public Garden or change to the Green Line outbound and get off at Arlington Station and walk to the Swan Boats in the Public Garden). For the Freedom Trail follow the above directions from 138 East. Enjoy Boston! It's a great city.

The hop on hop off bus stops at the cruise port. It takes you into town and up to Bellview castle.

The weather should be lovely. May is late spring so the days will be longer and warmer than April (or winter for that matter). You'll need a jacket or sweater for mid-May which isn't usually "beach" weather.  Bring layers and a light rain coat, and you'll be fine.  In Boston we've occasionally had snow in early May (think May 1 or 2) but it melts quickly and by mid-May we are full into spring flowers.  Late May and June starts summertime.  Sometimes you'll need a light sweater in the evening but the days will be warm tee-shirt weather. Spring is my favorite time of year in New England. You can't go wrong! 

Happy Retirement Lois! I retired Aug 30th and haven't stopped smiling yet.  

Yours, 

Another Lois

BTW There is a Lois Club on FB. Come join us if you aren't already a member!

0 Strong Place is right off Cambridge St. at the beginning of Beacon Hill and a few blocks (may be uphill haven't walked this route in a while) from the Charles St/MGH T stop.  As long as the owner has registered their Airbnb with the city IMHO this would be a good place to stay and tour the city.

In case you change your mind about The Beatles we took the 3 hour "Lennon Tour" with Fab4Taxi Tours.  We split the cost with another couple (so no large group. Just us 4 and the driver/guide).  Tour is in a black taxi cab with stops outside each Beatle home, Strawberry Fields, the church where they met, Penny Lane, etc.  I'm the big Beatles fan and it met my needs without driving my husband nuts (he liked the Beatles but....).  

We had them pick us up after lunch. In the morning we took the HoHo and visited the Maritime Museum (one of the best Maritime Museums we've ever been to).

The Maritime Museum is wonderful. Take the HoHo for city tour and get off at the Museum (I think next to last stop). 

Homeland Security requires everyone to be checked in 90 minutes before departure.  Arriving at 2:55 means you need to be checked in (and probably boarded) no later than 3:30. Too close for my taste.

The Silver Line gets crowded at the stops you can see from the ship. The easiest way to get a seat is to walk around the Boston Design Center (the white industrial building you will see once you get off the ship) to a sign that says "23" (number is large blue and you will be facing it) and look for the bus stop kiosk (it's between "23" and "25") . Do not cross Dry Dock Ave.  The "23" and bus stop is on the white building side of the road.  This is the first stop for an incoming Silver Line 2 bus.  Get on there. You will then go around the white building and you'll pass just where you got off the ship.  Call the extra few minutes a sightseeing bonus!

I retired Aug 30th and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It was time. My 40th work anniversary was Aug 1st which was a milestone I wanted to achieve.  Aug 30th worked out well for the cycle of my position.  I miss the people but I do not miss the alarm clock or worrying about driving to the office in the snow.  

For the first 4 weeks I pre-planned one "big" thing to do in each week: baseball game, dinner out with a long time friend, Downtown Abbey exhibit, etc. As time has gone on I've filled my calendar more and more. I've also learned how the rest of the world functioned when I was at work (e.g. don't go to the grocery store at 2PM when everyone else is trying to complete their shopping before school lets out!

To all of you who are retiring soon....you will LOVE it!

4 hours ago, clo said:

So would the menu be in pesos and then you would convert it to dollars?

 

Yes. Prices were in Pesos. I agree with  BillTheKid's comment. Enjoy!

13 hours ago, clo said:

"Many restaurants  wanted US  dollars  in cash not credit cards." Would that be places that cater to tourists or to locals? We tend to 'hang' with the locals.

I guess more tourist oriented but there were locals as well at the places we went.  It was a clear preference to not use a credit card. I suspect some of it had to do with the credit card fees and the stability of the USD.

At the airport is a large circular  kiosk  which handles taxi requests. We paid in USD cash and they gave us a receipt. We waited until  we were  called and escorted to our taxi. I think the kiosk is run by Tienda Leon (a large taxi and bus company) but I could be wrong.  I think you can also prebook with Tienda Leon via their website.

Many restaurants  wanted US  dollars  in cash not credit cards. The HoHo is cash only if you buy  from their downtown  kiosk. You can pay by credit card on website . Note the HoHo is capacitycontrolled which can cause  long waits. 

The Casa Rosada is often open on Saturday  or Sunday  and is well worth a visit. Also the Teatro Colon offers English language  tours at various times during the week. 

Enjoy! BA is a great city!

Remember at San Juan Airport you need to go thru USDA screening before you can check your suitcases. This adds on to the time needed at the airport.  I second the suggestions to have a late breakfast, stay onboard until the last minute (usually 9 or 9:15), cab it to the airport, go thru USDA screening, check your bags, and either go thru security and have lunch or walk around the airport and sit outside for a few minutes more of sunshine and then have lunch.  Time will pass quickly.

Did the now cancelled tour list the restaurants you would be going to in the North End? If so could go on your own? The North End is steps away from Quincy Market.  I've eaten at Lucca  which was very nice.  My favorite seafood place is the Barking Crab. A walk down the Rose Kennedy Greenway, though maybe farther than you want to go.

Here is a link to Boston Restaurant Week. This isn't going on right now but you can search by neighborhood which you might find helpful.

http://www.restaurantweekboston.com/?neighborhood=north-end&cuisine=all

Where ever you go enjoy!

Out of cabin by 8:30. Latest off  ship 9:30.