crusin4fun2000

6 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

It might be worth considering a private transfer to the airport from a central hotel. With 4 people, the express train to the airport will cost 14 euro per person, although if any of your family are under twelve they are free (1 per paying adult). If all four pay, the cost is 56 euros, while a private transfer from Rome to FCO for four runs around 65 euro.

Thats a really good point private transfer would probably work best for us.  Is there a central hotel you recommend?

5 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

Close to the train station doesn’t really equal close to the sites. However, Termini is also a bus, taxi and metro hub, so you CAN get around.

 

I don’t really have any great recommendations. Hotel UNA is very close to station with larger than average rooms. But part of the reason I’ve recommended them is their very good breakfast (American style).

Do you think it would be better to stay somewhere else, so that I am closer to the sites and then find away to get to the airport?

Need a little help with hotel/panning.  We disembark NCL Epic on December 1st, docking time is 6:00 am.  We would get off the boat as early as possible and plan to take the train to Rome.  We are planning a full day of site seeing with really just sleeping at our hotel, we will even leave in the morning before breakfast.  We would like to take the train to the airport as well.  We are a family of 4.  Does anyone have recommendations on where to stay.  We are looking for something economical, since we only plan on being there to sleep.  Close to the train stations would be great.  Easy walking distance to major sites, as this is our first time to Rome and want to get in as much as possible in the one day.

3 hours ago, IgKh said:

The first thing to note is that Tel Aviv does not have a cruise port. All cruises that start in Israel embark in Haifa port, which is about 1 hour by train from Tel Aviv or 1.5 - 2 hours from Jerusalem.

 

Getting to the country early is always a good idea, the more time the better. Arriving in Saturday is somewhat less convenient because public transportation doesn't run on Shabbat (which is from Friday evening until Saturday evening), so getting out of the airport requires a using a private or shared taxi or a pre-booked private transfer. However there is plenty to see and do in all of the main cities even during Shabbat, so that's not a problem.

 

Regarding maximizing your limited time, in my opinion the key is cutting staying in the same place for both nights pre-cruise. You should pick one of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or Haifa as your base of operations.

 

Tel Aviv is lively and centrally located, but if you're primary interest is religious I'd base myself in Jerusalem. This will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the evening atmosphere there, and enjoy night-time attractions like the Tower of David light show. For your full day (Sunday the 19th), depending on what you were planning to do on your day docked in Ashdod, you can do an in-depth walking tour of the old city together with an extra location (Bethlehem, Mt. Scopus, Yad VaShem, the Israel Museum, etc), or perhaps join a day trip to the Galilee (although that will be a very long day trip, starting from Jerusalem). On Monday morning, you can take either the train (around 1:40 hours, changing in Tel Aviv) or the direct bus (either route #940 or #960) to Haifa to board your ship.

Basing in Haifa is best as starting point for exploring the Galilee region and the north of Israel in general (e.g. Acre, Caesarea). It is also nice as a destination by itself, but probably not if that's the only place in Israel you are going to see. All depends on your interests and any "must see" sites you may have.

This helps so much!  Thank you

We are going on the Nov 2023 NCL cruise that starts in Tel- Aviv on November 20th, which is a Monday.  We were planning on flying in 2 days early. Which would be on Saturday.  On the 21st we stop in Ashdod.  This will be our first time in Israel, we are Christian and we want to see as much as we can.  Does anyone have any suggestions for us as how we can maximize our time while we are there?  Is it a bad idea to come in 2 days early, will everything be closed down on Saturday? We are using NCL's flights so we don't know exactly when we will be arriving.  

On 9/16/2022 at 1:57 PM, MotownVoice said:

My only xmas cruise was Brilliance of the Seas in 2010 when it felt like we might be celebrating the holidays at the bottom of the Mediterranean off the coast of Alexandria.  
 

I’ll have a chance to get back on the xmas horse this December.  
 

 

Wow! That must have been pretty scary!

We have never been a cruise for Christmas.  What should we expect? Do they have a special dinner for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?  Do they have any special entertainment or  activities?

Do you remember which night the Beef wellington was served?

Does anyone know of a hotel close to the Los Angels Cruise port that lets you keep your car there while you cruise? I was hoping to get one that had a free shuttle to the cruise port as well. Any suggestions would be great!

Thanks

Does anyone know of a hotel close to the Las Angels Cruise port that lets you keep your car there while you cruise? I was hoping to get one that had a free shuttle to the cruise port as well. Any suggestions would be great!

Thanks

Thanks for taking the time to post this review!

How did you get the VIP status?

We will be in Ketchikan during the first week in June. I have read where fishing off of the bridge during Aug/September is really good. Has anyone fished in June? Will we be able to catch fish? Is it worth our time. I heard you can pick up a license and rent a pole at a local shop. Any help or suggestions would be great! Thanks

Thanks, this helps a lot, We are going to be traveling as a family, my husband and I with our 4 kids.

Children 15 and under can enter the United States from Canada with a Birth Certificate if you are traveling by land or sea:

 

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/74/related/1/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xMzk1MjgxMDk0L3NpZC9XR3pPZEdQbA%3D%3D/~/children--travel-documents-for-infants

 

The regulations for an American entering Canada is a bit more lax:

 

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/ifvc-rpvc-eng.html

 

 

I have not taken my children across the border between Alaska and the Yukon with birth certificates, but I have taken my children between Sault Ste Marie, Michigan and Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. My wife and I had passports as required and we had original, raised seal, government issued birth certificates for the children. We had no issues going into Canada. Coming back into the States, we had no issue either, but the Customs Agent asked to see the children (I opened the van door so the guy didn't have to leave the booth), which I presume was to make sure they appeared roughly the ages on their Birth Certificates.

 

 

My only concern is that you used the work "I" in your question. If only 1 parent is taking the kids across the border, I would research that a little bit. Some countries are picky about potential parental kidnappings. If only 1 parent is going, I'd probably get a notarized letter from the other parent stating they are aware of the vacation and they give their permission to take the kids into Canada, just in case.

I have been looking into renting a car in Skagway, and driving up to the Yukon. I've read where you need a passport, because you cross into Canada. I have a passport but my kids do not, will they let them through, or should I plan a different tour?