tenmile

We are booked on a Celebrity Millenium cruise to China and South Korea next year March 16-30. I just recently heard about the yellow dust that occurs in S Korea in the spring. Has anyone experienced this yellow dust? Any info is appreciated.

I would say two days in each city are fine - more is always good, of course, but two days are fine.

We have been to HK before and after and explored DIY most of the times but a very good address is hellohongkong.com.hk

Fabulous individual tours!

 

For Shanghai I would recommend www.jennysshanghaitours.com or www.chinahighlights.com.

 

In South Korea (Jeju and Busan) we also did DIY. We hired a cab (actually two) in Jeju on our second visit and drove to the lava caves, the crater and some waterfalls.

 

Busan is easy to explore on foot. There´s is a beautiful temple 30 minute outside the city. we drove there by taxi and back to town.

Thank you Miaminice for your suggestions and links. They are helpful to my planning.

We just left Busan and heading in, we had zero expectations. Three days before the port I booked a tour, and having cruised a lot, I was STUNNED that this city actually was once of the best excursions I have ever been on. We had a private van, and avoided the herds. We went to the oldest mountain temple in Busan with gorgeous views. We hiked along the coast to the wide sandy beach in the city. We went out to a far island via van to beautiful cliffs and a see-through walking bridge (like in Jasper, Grand Canyon). We went to this hill side old village that reminded me of Santorilli (sp?). It was newly renovated for tourists and it was amazing to walk the narrow valleys and take part in all of the photo-ops. We then went to the fish market, and the international market for shopping. It was one after another show stopping stops. Probably my favourite port so far in Asia. Quite the surprise! Message me if you want further details etc.

Will you please send me contact information for this tour company. This is just what we are looking for when we travel next March, Thanks. lpeirce49@gmail.com

You have already received some correct replies... so just some additional info.

We did the same cruise in March this year and it was fabulous!

 

- Airports will not be a problem.

- People in Hong Kong (most) speak English.

- Hotel recommendation in HK The Kowloon Hotel

- If there are places you want to see independently in S. Korea, Taiwan etc. it helps to have the names written down in local language.

Taxi drivers do not necessarily speak English and can not read English.

- USD are not always welcome. Taxis in S. Korea and China only take local currency (cash)

- get a credit card with no ATM and/or foreign currency fees and get cash as you go.

- Plan PLENTY of time for your return flight in Shanghai. Both times we were there we arrived 7 hours late (storm, fog) and could not leave the ship before 4 pm.

- you will need a Chinese Visa, the transit rule does not apply for this itinerary.

- should you stay in Shanghai the Les Suites Orient Hotel is great

 

We planned our excursions in Beijing with Chinahighlights - exeptional.

We arrived a day late because of fog and they refunded one day, reorganized everything etc. - perfect.

 

You will be happy to hear that Millennium (beuatiful already) will be a brandnew ship in 2020. She will undergo the Rovolution-program Spring 2019.

 

If you have any questions just shoot...

We are taking this same cruise next March. Thank you for the information you have provided. Can you recommend excursion companies for South Korea, Shanghai or Hong Kong? Are two days pre-cruise in Hong Kong and two days post cruise in Shanghai long enough?

We did the Hop On Hop Bus during our layover at Charles De Gaulle on our way back to the States from our Mediterranean cruise. We thought it was great, informative and plenty of opportunities to hop off and take pictures. I would definitely recommend it. The busses came so frequently that we actually had time to do the 2nd loop bus tour.

Princess Cruises Fan, was there one particular Hop On Hop Off bus company in Paris that you used? What kind of transportation did you use from CDG to the City Center? Thanks for any details.

Does anyone know if Jordan will still be performing on the Eclipse for the May 22 Baltic cruise?

Bob++ and John Bull, thank you both for clear, helpful information and links for booking reservations. Your info was just what I needed. We are really looking forward to our visit to England, albeit much too short! Thank you, too, for giving so much of your time to monitor this CC site so thoroughly. You are helping so many to enjoy your country. The Queen should be "knighting" both of you:D!

Linda

My DH and I are spending 4 days post cruise in London in early June. He wants to visit the Imperial War Museums in Duxford. Is anyone aware of a London tour company that does a day trip to this museum complex? If we do this on our own, should we plan to take the train to Cambridge or Whittlesford? Is there a tour company or taxi service from one of these locations that is recommended and can be pre-booked? Thank you for any advice, especially from those who have done this trip before.:)

If you wait to purchase when you are on board you will be able to get any status discount applied against that purchase. The price is the same. What I noticed before my Solstice cruise is that the online price did vary; am thinking this was due to price fluctuations (my booking was in GBP).

 

With Elite status I paid around $200 for the unlimited package on board on a 17/18 day cruise. I don't know if it's possible to get the discount applied on board if you pre-purchase.

Thank you for the info. I did forget that there is usually a discount offered onboard. This is only our third Celebrity cruise, so we are still Classic, so the discount won't be much, but I think we will wait.

Linda

In a few weeks we will be sailing on the Eclipse on a Baltic cruise. We want to purchase an unlimited Internet package. Is it less expensive to purchase it online before the cruise or wait until we are on the ship to purchase it? The cost to pre-purchase is $299 for a 14 day cruise. Thanks for any advice.

We ordered the standard drink package for our Feb. cruise and learned very quickly on the ship that it only includes the house brand red and white blend wines, limited domestic beer brands, well drinks with house brand liquors, bottled water and soft drinks. It does not include specialty coffees or teas, nor any other cocktail drinks including Daily Drink Specials, martinis, etc. We bought the standard drink package pre-cruise, but we were able to up grade to Classic on the ship. We actually waited to upgrade until the second day of our 7 day cruise, because they do pro-rate the upgrade based on remaining cruise days.

For us, the Standard package was too limited. Hope this helps.

Thank you for sharing such wonderful pictures from your cruise. We were on the Silhouette the week before your cruise (Jan 31-Feb 7). We, too, had a poor experience in Future Cruises. We made a point of booking a future cruise before the last day. Our staff member, "Roy," rushed us to make a decision, and when I went to bed that night, I wasn't sure I booked the cruise we wanted. The next morning (last sea and cruise day) I checked our cruise reservation print out and it was in someone else's name! So, I had to return to Future Cruises with the last day masses waiting to see Roy and have him correct his mistake. Of course, it affected billing to another couples' account, etc. At least I was able to change our reservation and book the cruise we wanted, but that was not how I wanted to spend time on my last day.

I am sorry you had such a bad experience in the MDR. We had select dining and ate every night in the MDR. We had excellent service from our waiters, somelliers, and those pouring water. Our food came promptly and hot, our orders were always correct, and we were always asked if we needed anything else. Our waiters were very friendly. Apparently the serving area one is seated in makes a difference, but it shouldn't. You and your husband were too kind when asked if everything was okay. We would have spoken with the maitre'd. He needs to know if his staff is performing poorly.

Glad you enjoyed your cruise despite some drawbacks:). Again, thanks for sharing such great pictures and comments.

You sold me with the warm chocolate cookie. But our next cruise is in the British Isles- what do they do if it's chilly outside?

Good question. Our experience was on a mild evening in the Caribbean. We were told that when weather is inclement they have pedestal heaters and they have heavy large clear plastic flaps they can roll down to protect from wind, rain, and some of the cold. I'm not so sure I would opt for this if the weather were too chilly. This is a good question for Celebrity to answer.

Can you share your Lawn Club Grill experience? We are not going for quite awhile, but want to be thinking about why we would eat outside of BLU.

 

Lots of choices I know, so will have to be selective.

 

Thanks in advance!

Since we have not yet experienced BLU, I don't feel qualified to tell you why you should not eat there. However, we loved the Lawn Club Grill for 3 reasons: the unique experience of eating out doors in the fresh air in a nice restaurant with white table cloths, the wonderful and attentive service, and the excellent meals we had.

We enjoyed grilled steaks and seafood and both were excellent. I had a 6 ounce filet cooked to perfection along with a skewer of grilled large scallops and shrimp. Instead of a choice of salads, a fresh salad bar is offered. The LCG is noted for its hand tossed flatbread pizza (you choose the ingredients including anything from the salad bar) that is then baked in the wood fired oven right there at this venue. Everything is prepared before you (except the bar and bar drinks) or, if you would rather, you can cook/grill your own meal with a chef standing next to you to share conversation, answer questions and offer advice, etc. So, if you opt, you can have "grilling and pizza dough tossing school" too. Several sides are offered and a dessert menu that is not typically offered in the MDR or other specialty dining restaurants. I had the warm chocolate chip cookie a la mode, and it was the best warm cookie I have ever had. I don't think you will find this experience on any other ship (except the Reflection) or cruise line. I I hope that some time in the future Celebrity will re-fit this restaurant on its other S class ships--have I said that before?? BTW, the surcharge for this experience is less than at the other specialty restaurants. Hope this info helps. :)

We were just upgraded from C3 to Aqua GTY due to a price reduction on our upcoming cruise in May. In Aqua, I know we get a free welcome bottle of water, additional bath amenities, and Persian Garden and Relaxation Lounge benefits, but will we still receive the welcome bottle of sparkling wine and afternoon savories as we receive in Concierge class? I love those little amenities and would hate to lose them. Obviously, this is our first experience with Aqua class. We are really looking forward to dining in Blu after all the positive reviews we have read. Thanks for any information.

Thank you for your positive comments. Our cruise on Silhouette was one of my favorite cruises. There is just something special about that ship. Be sure to try the Lawn Grill next time you go. It was one of the best meals I have eaten on a ship.

We just have to agree! We loved the Silhouette, its crew, its captain, and Lawn Club Grill experience! We only wish this restaurant was on all S Class ships.

Thanks JB. I passed the Dublin info to our friends. We have decided to return from Caen to London via train. It is more time efficient and will cost less:).

Thank you everyone (especially John Bull) for your helpful and thorough advice. Our ship does arrive in Southampton on Sunday, June 5, and you are right--I erred in the arrival time of the ferry to Ouistreham--should be 21:30(have looked at too many ferry schedules!). We are taking the advice of many of you--spending the night in Ouistreham and then going to Caen early Monday morning to get the car.

No, we have no aversion to public transportation! We are renting the car for flexibility (we have been to Normandy before). The couple with whom we are traveling has not been to Normandy.

The return trip via train is a good suggestion that we have not considered. It would be the best and most convenient choice for us since we are going to London and have hotel reservations beginning the evening of June 8. However, the couple with whom we are traveling is flying to Dublin on June 9, so they were considering returning to Portsmouth, spending the night in Southampton on the 8th, and then taking the National Express bus to Heathrow the next morning. Perhaps taking the train to London would be more convenient for them as well?? I will look at train schedules.

I appreciate all the advice and information you have shared. I am learning!:)

Thanks for your information. We are taking a ferry from Portsmouth to Ouistreham following disembarkation from our cruise in Southampton on Sunday. We will be missing many of the D Day activities that weekend, but we want to be sure we have full days in Normandy Monday and Tuesday to attend some events before returning to the UK. We have decided to get a hotel near the ferry port in Ouistreham Sunday evening (ferry doesn't arrive until 2130) and then a taxi to Caen to rent a car Monday morning. I appreciate all suggestions I have received.

My TA was offered less than the difference between what we paid for our !A and the current posted C3 rate. $100 is no bargain, but better than if we had paid the difference to move to concierge. We paid it because we really like the extra perks, priority check in, designated departure lounge, the bottle of sparkling wine, and priority dining reservations in Select. We have never had to wait more than a couple of minutes to be seated and usually were seated immediately in the MDR. Better upsell offers may come along before our cruise May 22--then I will learn to wait.:o

I called the Captains Club, and the customer rep told me to contact my TA to request an Upgrade or inquire about an Upsell. My TA was able to give us an Upsell to Concierge C3 from Balcony 1A for $100. Our travel friends were able to get a FREE upgrade from a 1C balcony to a C3 Concierge based on the original price they paid for their cruise. We booked our cruise 15 months ago, so we paid less than they did, thus the reason for our upsell cost. You may want to check with your TA if you are interested. As of yesterday, Celebrity had about 30 unsold Concierge staterooms. I decided to call the Captains Club because I knew yesterday was the deadline for final payment in the US and there were many C staterooms available. It worked for us:)!

We are planning to visit Normandy for 3 days following our cruise which ends in Southampton UK. If we take the ferry from Portsmouth to Quistreham (Caen) will we be able to rent a car at or near the ferry port on Sunday evening? The ferry arrives around 19:00 (7 pm). Would it be easier for us to rent a car at the ferry port in LeHavre Sunday evening and then drive to the D Day Beaches? About how long does it take to drive from LeHavre to Caen/Bayeaux/Arromanches areas? Thank you for any information or recommendations you can give me.

We are planning to spend 3 days in Normandy after our cruise to attend some of the D Day commemorative activities. Our original plan was to rent a car in Southampton, drive to Portsmouth to board a ferry to Caens, then return in reverse order, returning the car in Southampton before going on to London for a few days. Does anyone know if you can rent a car in Southampton that has the driver's seat on the left for right lane driving in France? Is there convenient car rental near the ferry port in Portsmouth that is open on Sunday? Are there charges for driving a car rented in the UK in another country? Are we better to wait and rent the car once we get to the port near Caen? :confused:

Thank you for any and all information you can share.

Thank you everyone for your information. We are sailing on May 22 and it looks like several AQ and CC cabins are still available. Final payment deadline is tomorrow. I think I will have my TA take the proactive approach later in the week.

Does anyone know if Celebrity offers upgrades after final payment? Thanks for any information.