Ba' Datz

Is the pool in the solarium on the Independence covered and is the pool heated?

Thanks

1 hour ago, cinesage said:

1 hour ago, cinesage said:

It depends.  Remember, just because the ship has 'docked', doesn't mean you can get off.  They have paperwork etc. to be approved before disembarkation is allowed.

 

Having just taken a Greece cruise that ended in Rome's cruise port this past October, I can tell you that we were lined up ready to self exit the ship as early as 6:30 AM, but were not cleared to depart until 7 AM.

It depends.  Remember, just because the ship has 'docked', doesn't mean you can get off.  They have paperwork etc. to be approved before disembarkation is allowed.

 

Having just taken a Greece cruise that ended in Rome's cruise port this past October, I can tell you that we were lined up ready to self exit the ship as early as 6:30 AM, but were not cleared to depart until 7 AM.

  A few years ago we arrived on time in Civvi but the Italian authorities did not board till about 8.  They then proceeded to drink coffee for about an hour and finally cleared the ship after 9.  I had a reservation for a 9:30 train to Rome and made it by sheer luck by the skin of my teeth.

Sounds great.  How much did it cost?

A few years ago I was on the Serenade and we had the above mentioned nightly passenger led Windjammer celebration with Sufganiot (jelly doughnuts), Latkes and Manischewitz wine. 

There were also large banners hanging in the Centrum and two electric Menorahs; one in the Windjammer room and the other at the Guest Services counter.  The day was off so I explained to them why that was so on the second night, and they fixed it

In the terminal there is a taxi dispatch with an official price list. Your price is to Tel Aviv.

Mind you it is one way and it will cost you around 80USD.

The OP said that there is a shuttle to the city. He could get a taxi there for a lot cheaper. Like I wrote the official rate is about $32

Hi Ruth,

We will be in Ashdod in October and the ship,leaves at 1400. There is a shuttle into Ashdod city. We would like to see Jaffa and wonder if it is feasible to DIY via a taxi or do you have other suggestions? Would we be better with a tour??We will have been to Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Masada and the Dead Sea. Thanks in advance for your help

I am not Ruth but will try to help anyway. A lot depends when you can disembark. Between 7-9 AM it could take you up to an hour to get to Jaffa. After that maybe a half hour or so.. You would probably have to leave at about 12 noon and the trip should take about a half hour depending on port traffic on road 42.

You could see Jaffa in that time but it would be a run and you will always be looking at your watch. My suggestion would be to consider the National Park in Ashkelon and the nearby Marina. It is a short, up to 30 minute drive, with no traffic as you are heading south not north.

There are antiquities, walking trails, a nearby beach, (probably no lifeguards at that time of year) and a large new marina with cafes etc. The official one way taxi fare is 112NIS or about $32. You could try to arrange for your driver stay with you to take you to the marina (it is about a 35 minute walk) and then back to Ashdod, or maybe just come back to return you to Ashdod

You can check it out on Google and see if you like it.

Can you please post a link to the review. Thank you

Just a little clarification about when Yeshiva week is. There is no set week and even the attached calendar is only a recommended one. I am not even sure which schools it covers.

During that time of year there are many groups of friends that book by themselves and do not go on an organized trip such as the one listed.

The only steadfast rule is that it will not depart or end on a Saturday and it will try to (but not a must) have a sea day on Saturday

We will be in Israel and Egypt in late November. I’ve looked at all the averages but I’m interested if anyone has had first hand experience during that time for Luxor, Valley of the Kings, and Jerusalem. Cold, hot? Any thoughts? Thank you!

It can be cool in Jerusalem and there can be some sporadic rain but generally the temperatures are similar to late fall. The real rainy cold season starts in December

Thanks for the restaurant recommendation, Shaddow. The Harmony Hotel does seem to be in a prime location; walking distance to the Old City and the big market (can't remember the spelling of that right now), be in the evening. With only one night we want .

The Market's name is Ma'cha'neh Ye'huda. It has recently transitioned to a lively nighttime scene when the vendors close for the night. There are bars, cafes, restaurants etc. Very lively. Enjoy

What are the best things to do in Alicante? We will be stopping there this spring.

 

Thanks

 

Doug

I was there last year for the second time and took a two hour Segway tour which ended up almost 3 hours. It was fabulous. Even if you never rode a Segway before you can master it in about 10 minutes. The tour went also to Saint Barbara Castle so there is no need to go there by yourself unless you are really into old castles and forts, and then you could spent at least 3-4 hours just there. It is our favorite city in Spain

I haven't done a B2B before and was wondering about the immigration & customs, and boarding procedure at Port Everglades.

The first cruise is a round trip in the Caribbean with no US ports. Do the people doing B2B disembark like regular cruisers and have to go through Immigration and Customs individually or is there a "group leader" who takes them through the process and then brings them back onboard? In either case are they required to do the whole biometric data thing like they would do at an airport entry?

Also where and when do they get the second Sea Pass Card? Do they have to be photographed again or do you get both at the first embarkation?

Any help from recent B2B cruisers would be appreciated

This will depend some on the cruise line and ship involved, and is very commonly discussed on various cruise line boards. The new Sea card issue is very cruise line specific. On HAL, you use the same card for both cruises, if you booked the cruise on one booking number.

 

The situation is that all ships have to "zero down", meaning all pax, and a number of special types of employees, have to clear Immigration and Customs. Some ships are required to bring all pax and those employees ashore, and thus "empty" the ship of those required to do Immigration and Customs. Some ships do some of the procedure on board, and complete it ashore, and some do it entirely on board. There aren't many ships in the last category.

 

Usually the process involved "scanning" off the ship, showing your passport to Immigration, and getting back on. Your comment about biometrics indicates you are probably not a US citizen. I am not aware non US citizens have to do anything different.

 

You may go off on an excursion instead, but you accounted for in the system when you leave the ship, and come back.[/quote

Thanks for your reply. I did post that it is a Royal Caribbean cruise in order to try and get a more focused answer. And I am an born and bred American. If you have a passport with a chip, at the airports they require you to give an electronic fingerprint scan if you go to an immigration Officer and if you use a kiosk they definitely scan your face. That is why I used the term biometrics

I haven't done a B2B before and was wondering about the immigration & customs, and boarding procedure at PE.

The first cruise is a round trip in the Caribbean with no US ports. Do the people doing B2B disembark like regular cruisers and have to go through Immigration and Customs individually or is there a "group leader" who takes them through the process and then brings them back onboard? In either case are they required to do the whole biometric data thing like they would do at an airport entry?

Where and when do they get the second Sea Card? Do they have to be photographed again or do you get both at the first embarkation?

I am talking about an RCL cruise if it makes any difference

Any help from recent B2B cruisers would be appreciated

I was on the Serenade a few years ago for the entire Chanukah and besides decorations hanging in the

Centrum there was an electric menorah on the Guest relations desk and in the Windjammer side room. We had a Celebration there night ( I would not call it a service and no Rabbi or Cantor is needed) with jelly doughnuts and latkes. It was self led. We had a female Reform cantor who was among the passengers, who led some singing and myself , strictly Orthodox, doing other parts

On Shabbat on the Oasis on its last TA we had about 15-20 Orthodox and traditional passengers and I got the CD to agree to have a second Orthodox Sabbath service with Wine and Challah (for those who would eat it) in addition to the usual more open service. They even published it in the Compass

So it really depends on the passengers and the staff to arrange what is needed and I have always found RCL staff to be more than understanding and accommodating in all things Jewish and Kosher

Thank you Talia for the help. Do you know of any hotels that provide free transportation to the airport for guests? I've heard conflicting reports about Sadot and Kfar Maccabia. Their websites say yes, but people on trip advisor say no.

Both hotels are pretty close to the airport and at that time it should take you no more than 20 minutes. Best thing to do is call them up and ask

I have read here that is it either a 1.5 mile walk from the dock to the terminal or a 1.5 kilometer walk. Which is correct?

Sorry, I can't answer your questions about the beach or shopping, but I would like to encourage you to take a second tour. Israel is an amazing country with so much to see! Perhaps you could visit Tel Aviv, Jaffa, and Caesarea the second day.

 

 

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I second the vote not to go to the beach or shopping. You should definitely go to Tel Aviv and Old Jaffa. They are only 30 minutes from Ashdod without rush hour traffic. I am not so sure that you could add on Caesarea in the same day.

Start in Tel Aviv and if you have the strength walk along the promenade towards Jaffa. If not hop on a bus or taxi. Try to get there a little before sunset and watch the area including the old walls transform for the night. Near the clock tower in one of the passages is the Dr. Shakshuka restaurant. Go there for a dining experience, They serve many variations along with the original shakshuka which is a fried dish of eggs, tomatoes , sauce and other vegetables. Its popular priced and a great experience. Also don't miss the adjacent indoor and outdoor flea market

You will be glad you didn't go to the beach

Very interesting summation. Where does most of the food come from? Do they get it locally, depending on where you are cruising from? Do they prepare it themselves in Kosher kitchen and then freeze it and send it to your ship, or is it prepared by one main company which RCI uses for these meals?

Cheers

Len

Thanks.

All meals are prepared on land by Kosher catering companies and brought on ship frozen. I was told that they are supplied by RCL to the ships throughout the world along with their regular inventory supply. Nothing is bought locally. I was on one ship that was running a little low and they contacted another ship that was to be in port with us the next day to transfer meals to us

They usually use three companies with Borenstein Caterers being by far the best in my opinion. If you request Kosher food in advance through Special Needs ask for Borensteins. It sometimes helps

I am a strictly Kosher cruiser and have been sailing RCL for many years and there is some truth in all of the above but not all the truth.

The meals are not packaged in aluminum trays like on a plane, but rather each element, appetizer, soup, main with sides, and dessert is separately packed in plastic dishes and double wrapped in plastic. Usually the area Maitre D will come to you at supper and ask what you want for all meals the next day based on the available inventory which he will show you. You can take as much or as little as you want but keep in mind that quantities of each item are limited especially on longer cruises, and when it's finished it's finished. So don't eat all the beef the first night

The food is presented to you closed on paper plates and you can ask the waiter to take it out of the plastic wrap if you desire (it is very messy to do it at the table) But remember there is a problem according to Halacha (Jewish law) if he opens a heated dish with his non kosher knife. I bring 2 small colored kids scissors with me and give it to the waiter. On Shabbat I ask them to defrost all the food and put it on the steam table and not in the oven which is a problem. Also ask for the gefilte fish to be served cold

The food is usually not bad and sometimes very good and they will always give you cut or uncut vegetables. Fish as written above is usually salmon and made double wrapped.

What helps here is that the kitchen departments are totally separate because of the fear of contamination and mixing is not allowed so a veggie knife is just that and did not just cut meat a minute ago

Bread is the biggest problem as sometimes there are Challah rolls but most times not. The bagels usually have a hechsher but you have to check every cruise. So too are the frozen waffles and pancakes

The entire staff is very well versed in Kosher laws and you can ask them to bring you a photo or the actual package of anything they have if you want to see if it is Kosher.

I have never been hungry after a meal and neither should you. Enjoy Be' Tayavon

I am Emerald on Royal and never cruised MSC. What level would I get and what are its benefits. Thanks

As you said, its only waste deep and you can't swim or even wade in it because of the water feature in the middle, people just find a spot and stand, or dip and get out.

 

Believe me it is very easy to swim in waist deep water and easy enough to go around the center fountain. It all depends on the crowds like any other pool. True you won't do laps with the butterfly stroke but you can definitely enjoy it and cool off.

I am not sure why you would call the Allure Solarium pool a "bird bath". We did a 13 day TA on the Allure and were in the solarium pool every day. It is about waist high and on some days it was heated and on some days not. It was always a cool respite from the hottish solarium air. True you can't swim laps in it but you can't do that too easily in the other pools either.

It was our favorite spot on the ship with the attached Bistro open for breakfast and lunch. It would be very hard to get us on the Harmony without it. Our next TA is on the Brilliance and the Solarium is always our first stop

Yes, just dialling the regular number, but here in Aus. However, if you are trying to dial from overseas it may well not be set up for that.

 

For whatever reason they no longer provide local numbers. This is one of their old numbers you may try and see if it works, but I'm not sure it's still valid. It is no longer current. It's (02) 9959 3922. (it's currently 11 p.m. so no point trying right now as they aren't open.)

The number is disconnected

It could be that i cant get thru to. A 800 number from abroad so a regular number would be appreciated