gretnagirl

8 hours ago, Harters said:

Ignore the comment about only one WW2 Canadian burial. The CWGC download was playing up. 

 

I now see there are seven with a Canadian connection, including one from Manitoba. 

My great-uncle was Ivan Evans, from Victoria Harbour, Ontario (both of my parents hail from Ontario).  He had recently been presented to the King and Queen in recognition of his distinguished action in important raids with the RAF and was returning from his final mission before heading home on leave when his plane crashed due to low cloud cover near Upavon.  Apparently there's a large hill that numerous planes crashed into which could be one reason why there's a large number of soldiers buried there.  

Our Canadian VA website has provided us with some information (https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2710471), and my brother has done some digging into Uncle Ivan's service.  His is a name I grew up hearing much about even though he died 15 years before my mom was born; I think he and my grandmother were quite close.  My mom said my grandparents would have visited his grave in the 40s or 50s, so it's past time that the family go to see him.  

7 hours ago, Harters said:

If you enter the ancestors name into the CWGC website, it will bring up his page which will tell you exactly which cemetery he is buried in (along with other info, such as any inscription the family paid for to have added to his headstone). It will link to the cemetery page which will give full details about location, including map and GPS co-ordinates. 

 

I'm a founder member of a voluntary group which works with CWGC to identify casualties who were, for whatever reason, overlooked for official commemoration. One of our members did all the work, as a volunteer,  to establish the GPS co-ordinates for all the UK and European cemeteries. An amazing and extensive piece of work - fortunately completed not long before he died. 

Thank you, I've found him on that website and you're right, GPS coordinates are there.  Luckily for us, my dad is a GPS fanatic, so I'm sure we'll be able to find him.  We're not really sure why he wasn't buried in the military cemetery; could be because his plane went down upon returning from a mission and not during a mission, but that's just a guess.  

I've been impressed with the records that have been kept, both on the Canadian and British sides, about soldiers in general but my great-uncle in particular.  Being able to pay our respects is incredibly important to my mom, so we very much appreciate the work of people such as yourself who have helped to make this possible for us, as well as the people who routinely care for his grave as we the family are unable to.

On 6/10/2024 at 6:53 AM, John Bull said:

Yes, Salisbury, Stonehenge and Upavon make a very sensible combination for you (Upavon is a village which isn't worth a visit for anyone without a specific reason).

 

Try https://westquaycars.com/ and https://www.aquacars.co.uk/ and https://gunwharf-executive-travel.co.uk/

They will all have experience of Salisbury & Stonehenge, but do take care to check out the location of the grave in (or near) Upavon.

 

The military cemetery in Upavon is particularly difficult to find https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/4196/Where-is-Commonwealth-War-Graves-Upavon-Cemetery.htm 

But he might be buried in a local churchyard such as St Mary's in the village centre.

Or perhaps in the large military cemetery at Tidworth.

If you're unsure, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission https://www.cwgc.org/ hold records and is very helpful.

 

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/

You are visiting in August, when Stonehenge will be very busy.

It restricts numbers to avoid overcrowding - you are strongly advised to pre-book your visit, for which you have to select an arrival window of 30 minutes (there's no limit on how long you can stay).

If you miss that arrival window you may have to wait until numbers fall, causing a delay& fouling up your day.

Liaise with your private tour operator for the most appropriate time window to select.

I suggest you book to visit after Salisbury (allow 60 - 90 minutes there) - if you are delayed you can shorten that visit or continue past Salisbury & visit Salisbury on your way back. Salisbury to Stonehenge takes about 30 minutes.

 

JB 🙂

 

 

 

Thanks for that detailed response!  We will certainly check out the drivers you mentioned.

Luckily for us, Veterans Affairs Canada also has pretty good records of soldiers, and there's actually an entire page filled with pictures, articles, and information about Uncle Ivan, including the exact location of his grave (row and number, if you can believe it) in the "Upavon Cemetery."  This is also corroborated by the Commonwealth website you listed.  I'm hopeful that with those details, we'll be able to find him.  As far as we know, he is not buried in a military cemetery, but in the local church graveyard.  I guess we'll find out for sure when we get there.

My family and I did this cruise in August of 2022 and it was amazing!  The ABSOLUTE highlight was cruising Prins Christian Sund.  As we were on the inaugural sailing of this itinerary, I think it's safe to say that no one really knew what to expect and we weren't prepared for what was to come, and I think that's one of the reasons why it was so impactful.  We went in with zero expectations and had our minds blown!

My parents and I were up on deck in the early morning (before 7am, I'm sure) and I happened to walk past the cruise director on my way onto the deck who was commenting on the fact that so few people were outside and why would they be missing this?  My immediate thought was because none of us knew "this" was a thing!  We happened to get out just as we were entering the sound (we were on the eastbound itinerary from New Jersey to Iceland) and the only word I have to describe the experience is otherwordly.  We spent almost eight hours outside that day, from the time we entered the sound until we were back out in the open ocean.  The bookends of this passage were unreal; from the sheer cliffs at the entrance to the stories-tall icebergs we sailed past after exiting, it was astounding.  I highly suggest that you pack enough layers to support a day spent on deck and get up as high as you can.  You will want to be able to walk back and forth between the sides of the ship as the scenery is different on the two sides.  The temperature was for sure in the single digits (Celsius) but we're hardy Canadians and it truly didn't bother us at all.  As they say: There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes!

Beyond that, we did a ship tour to Peggy's Cove in Halifax; took a taxi to Signal Hill, Quidi Vidi, and The Rooms (a museum) and then wandered our way back to the ship; wandered around Qaqortoq, but be warned that if you're there on a Sunday, nothing will be open; we did a full-day tour in Akureyri and saw all the highlights; simply got off the ship and wandered around Isafjordur; and then we spent an additional five days in and around Reykjavik.  

This was a phenomenal trip and one that I would happily do again.  I don't think you'll find landscapes like those in Greenland or Iceland anywhere else on earth and I don't think you'd be able to see Prins Christian Sund without a ship.  It was truly the highlight of our trip, by a long shot.  I will try to include some pictures for you but bear in mind that they simply do not do the area justice.  Some things you just have to see (with your own eyes) to believe!

Hello everyone,

My family (of 4) has booked a cruise out of Southampton for August of 2025.  We are planning to spend at least three days pre-cruise in Southampton and our top priority is to visit my great-uncle's grave in Upavon (he was killed in a plane crash during WWII and buried in Upavon's local cemetery).  We are hoping to hire a driver to take us not only to Upavon, but also to Salisbury for the cathedral and Stonehenge since it all appears to be in the same general area.  

The reason I'm asking here (and not simply relying on an internet search) is because we would need to customize an otherwise standard tour to include Upavon and I'm hoping other people have suggestions of companies that they've used and recommend.  

Looking forward to your responses!

Jessica

Hi there,

My family and I are wanting to do a cruise to the Norwegian fjords in August of 2025.  We are loyal to Celebrity and have found two itineraries that we're hemming and hawing between.  However, having never been to this part of Europe, I'm hoping those of you with more experience can help guide us one way or the other.

The two itineraries are as follows:

Option 1: Southampton, Zeebrugge, Alesund, Flam, Tromso, Honningsvag, Trondheim, Southampton (12 days)

Option 2: Southampton, Stavanger, Olden, Molde, Trondheim, Honningsvag, Tromso, Geiranger, Flam, Rotterdam, Southampton (14 days)

We obviously want to see the fjords themselves so that would lead me to choose option 2, but I'm wondering if the beauty of the fjords comes from seeing them from above more so than from the water.  We've cruised the Prince Christian Sound in Greenland which was THE most amazing bit of scenery we've ever seen, and that was entirely from the water, so that makes me think that we would enjoy the process of sailing through the fjords as much as seeing them from elevation but I do want the fullest experience possible.

I am open to any and all advice/suggestions that this collective brain can give me as we more closer to choosing our cruise.  I would also be open to comments about the other ports as this cruise is about more than just the fjords, like passing the Arctic Circle as that is also a priority for us.  There are lots of duplicates between the two itineraries but maybe there's something about one of the ports that I don't know about that can help us make our decision.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Jessica

My family is going to our local Shopper's Drug Mart for the test.  $40, done by a pharmacist, results in 15-ish minutes.

We've done the bus once (Seward to Anchorage) and the train once (Anchorage to Seward) and for us, there was no comparison.  Take the train!  We felt as though we were actually part of the scenery, as opposed to just seeing it whiz by on one side of the vehicle.  The slower rate of travel allowed you to see the scenery and we were often surrounded by trees.  The only downside that we experienced was the delay between wildlife being spotted and us actually getting to the place where the animal had been seen.  By the time our car got there, the creature was long gone.  That is hardly a knock on the train, it's just the way things go!  We still saw so much more than we did on the bus.  I don't know how one arranges to be in car at the front of the train, but it's worth asking about.

We didn't have Gold Class seats but were able to go up top if we wanted to for brief stints; I did not do that.  I spent a good portion of the trip in the section where two cars are connected (sorry, don't know what that's called) and took photos from there.  A few passengers joined me and times and we took turns at the railing.  I'm a fan of getting pictures that aren't being blocked by a window.

I would suggest, should you take the train, to bring your own snacks with you.  Maybe this is again policy, so I apologize, but the "homemade muffins" were definitely grocery store-made and cost a fortune and other breakfast items very quickly sold out on the train.  If you are set on purchasing from the railroad, do so at the station beforehand to ensure you get something.

You can absolutely take a bus to Totem Bight. You want to be on the silver line; simply catch one on Front Street (my interpretation of the bus schedule says that you should be picked up at 26 minutes after the hour) and ask the driver to let you know when to get off. As I recall, the bus stop was in front of a bunch of shops, was well-marked, and easy to find.

When we did this (in 2014), bus fare was $1 per person and half that for seniors. We thoroughly enjoyed wandering around Totem Bight and are in fact going to do the same thing when we're back in a few weeks. Cheapest excursion we've ever done, and it gave me some of the best pictures I've taken! The poles are beautiful and the scenery is so calm; it's a nice break from the busyness that can be an Alaskan port.

Enjoy!

As odd as it sounds, there is a library within walking distance of the port that has a restaurant on the top floor. It’s a chain (can’t remember the name) but had lots of options and everything that we had was good. The pull is that you get stunning views of Amsterdam from up there. If walking from there to the port isn’t an option, the taxi ride will take mere minutes.

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So love this idea! My little sister has Down syndrome and is on the Autistic spectrum and is largely non-verbal. We have lots of cruising strategies for her but this particular idea is one we'd never thought of. Definitely using this the next time we cruise!

Just read some reviews......sharing rooms and bathrooms freaked me out. Someone posted their room had about 10 beds and shared baths.

Happy to see you did mention you had a private room. Did you also have a private bath?

When booking, you select if you want a private room or a shared dorm room. We always go with private so that we can have peace of mind but if I were on a serious budget, I would consider a shared room as they have a locked storage area for luggage (which you can use after you've checked out if you're planning on touring a bit longer). The bathrooms are shared but let me explain. There are basically enough bathrooms for every 1.5 rooms and they are a mix of full and half baths; you'll generally be only a few steps away from a bathroom. You choose the one that suits your needs, lock the door, and you're good to go. You'll be left towels on your bed that you'll take with you when you shower and there are hand towels and soap in the bathrooms, ready for use. I know that shared bathrooms can be a little scary, but rest assured- these are as private as shared bathrooms can be! We really wouldn't consider staying anywhere else as we love it so much!

Does that guesthouse have elevators or is it all one story?

The building is seven stories, I think, and has an elevator. It's old and small, but it does the trick. The building is shared with a number of businesses but I've never noticed any people wandering about and it's very safe.

We love cruising from San Juan and have done it many times. We now stay at Posada San Francisco, a cute guesthouse in the heart of Old San Juan, literally a stone's throw from Castillo de San Cristobal. It's an easy 15-20 minute taxi ride from the airport and an even easier 10 minute ride to the port. Virginia, the owner of Posada, will help you out with anything you need- she is pure gold. And, you can't beat the price- around $50 for a private room! It truly is a wonderful place to stay.

Absolutely go with the Category 6 rooms on Deck 3. We've been on the Millennium twice to Alaska and had room 3118 both times and would not hesitate to book it again. The window is HUGE and the location is fantastic for getting on and off the ship. You will not be disappointed if you choose one of those rooms!

If you can be at the Indiakaj bus stop in 22 minutes after arrival you can catch bus 26 at 10:22 and be at Rådhuspladsen 10:43.

 

It take 6 minutes to walk.

 

https://www.google.dk/maps/dir/Langeliniekaj+(Midt)/Indiakaj,+Copenhagen/@55.6968004,12.5967347,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x465252dda8e3b789:0x177c1078db48f2c3!2m2!1d12.600197!2d55.698501!1m5!1m1!1s0x465252de6ee8856f:0xeb0e221fb2acd1be!2m2!1d12.597887!2d55.695197

 

 

 

If that plan doesn´t work out you can walk to Østerport station Sløjfen and take the bus from there (only every second bus goes all the way to Indiakaj).

 

It goes at 10:34 so you have to walk from the pier at around 10:20.

You will then be at Rådhuspladsen at 10:53.

 

https://www.google.dk/maps/dir/Langeliniekaj+(Midt)/%C3%98sterport+St.,+Sl%C3%B8jfen,+Copenhagen/@55.6959679,12.5911993,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x465252dda8e3b789:0x177c1078db48f2c3!2m2!1d12.600197!2d55.698501!1m5!1m1!1s0x465252e0509b6503:0x67f1b40f512f1420!2m2!1d12.591225!2d55.693549!3e2

 

 

 

No matter what bus you choose its bus 26 towards Ålholm Plads.

Thank you for this! As a follow-up question, what would be the approximate cost of a taxi from Langelinie to Radhuspladsen? I'm wondering if it wouldn't be easier to just jump in a cab and get to the square without having to worry about connections and making it on time.

Thanks!

Hi Danish Viking!

A quick question for you- my parents and I will be in Copenhagen on the Celebrity Silhouette on Thursday, August 6th and we're planning to take the Copenhagen Free Walking Tour which departs from Rådhuspladsen at 11:00 am. The ship docks at 10:00 am and I can't for the life of me wrap my head around how to get from the dock (C196 if I'm correct) to Rådhuspladsen. Can you please help us with creating a plan of attack? Thanks so much!

Jessica

I've not sailed on the Infinity but have twice sailed in 3118 on the Millennium, a nearly identical layout to the Infinity. We had no noise issues whatsoever on either sailing, and the second time my parents were in 3116 so we used the adjoining feature but still had total privacy. They are fabulous rooms- the windows are amazing!

Good afternoon, all!

I have a quick question for the Amsterdam experts out there: does anyone know the approximate cost of taking a taxi from the American Apparel on Utrechtsestraat (85) to PTA (our rented apartment is directly across the street from AA)? It's not too far of a walk, or so Google Maps tells me, but with carry-ons and backpacks and suitcases, I'm not sure it's the wisest of plans to walk there. Any help you can give me would be great!

Thanks in advance!

We are sailing to Scandinavia and Russia this summer in assigned inside rooms. Last weekend I noticed a residency rate on balcony guarantees that was the same price we paid for our inside rooms and had my agent call in on Tuesday morning (holding my breath all weekend- a long one at that- was terrible!). It took all day, but both of our rooms (including a single occupancy) were upgraded and we now have our assignments- 2Bs! We were not charged anything to make the switch and Celebrity made a note of our connected reservations and gave us rooms that are directly across from one another, with a hallway in between. We are very happy with the outcome and would not hesitate to attempt an upgrade again in the future.

My advice- book a room at a location and price you're comfortable with and then watch the prices like a hawk. We've upgraded multiple times to "better" rooms but always approach our cruises with the attitude of, "An inside room is perfectly fine because we are on a cruise!" The balconies will be lovely, but we would have been just as happy sitting on a public deck watching the world go by.

We've sailed from San Juan numerous times and always stay at Posada San Francisco, a guesthouse in the heart of Old San Juan. It is by no means a 5-star hotel, but the location is amazing (you can see the Castillo de San Cristobal from the balcony) and the price is right (around $50 a night). It's an easy taxi ride from the airport and another easy ride to the port, both about 15 minutes. There are many restaurants within walking range and so many sights to see. The couple who run the guesthouse are darling and will do whatever they can to ensure you have a marvellous stay. A quick Google search for "Posada San Francisco" will take you right to their website where you can see pictures and check prices for your dates.

I would suggest going on to the helipad for glacier viewing day. Yes, it'll be windy and therefore quite chilly, but it's worth it! I was up there this past August and wore two hoodies, a toque, and mittens and was fine (but, I am from Winnipeg where winter is almost six months long and -30 Celsius is normal for at least three months of the year). However, the views are spectacular and worth the discomfort. I would suggest getting up there as soon as you can to get a spot by the railing but if it's already filling up, don't worry because the crowd thins dramatically the longer you are there. We started with a couple hundred people and after an hour there were only 50 or so and everyone had a stellar view.

If the helipad isn't an option or it's too cold, my mom was on the promenade deck (deck 4 I think) and had the whole thing to herself. We stayed there for a few minutes after coming down from the helipad and she also had great sight lines, including all the chunks in the water as she was mere feet from them. Two different experiences, but both equally awe-inspiring. Whatever you do, get outside. It's an amazing opportunity to see a glacier that close.

As for where to watch the world go by, we hung out on the promenade deck all the time. We had window rooms and did not regret it at all as we just parked ourselves on deck and had a fabulous time. The view is the same whether you're on a balcony or not.

Enjoy your cruise, Alaska is an absolutely captivating place. And takeouts of warm others so that you can be outside and as close to the action as possible!

Hi there,

I can't answer all of your questions, but I can comment on a couple of them. We have been on the Millennium in Alaska twice, although the first time we were docked in Ketchikan for four days on account of a ship malfunction.

While none of us used the kids program on the ship, all the feedback I've heard about it has been excellent. There tend to not be all that many kids on Celebrity, although given that you'll be sailing in the summer, that number will be higher than usual. There are activities planned for kids and teens throughout the week, so look for them in the Dailies and have your daughter try them out. There won't be too many opportunities for her to use the club, though, if you plan to get off the ship in every port. Alaska is ALL about the ports; budget for excursions and enjoy every moment!

As for the pools, there is a covered pool on the Millennium but it is for adults only and that rule tends to be enforced. Even if it's not Celebrity employees enforcing it, the general feeling is that the solarium is for the sole use of adults and most passengers abide by that. There are, however, hot tubs at the main pool that are free to be used by anyone, with proper supervision, of course.

I can't comment on the beverage packages as I've never had one- we only ever upgrade to window rooms or higher on fares that aren't combinable with 123 Go.

My biggest suggestion for you would be to spend as much time as possible outside. The scenery is spectacular and any wildlife sightings that may happen will only be visible to you if you're outside. Take layers, bundle up, and enjoy the fresh air! And be sure, absolutely sure, to be outside for the Hubbard glacier viewing day. It's an awe-inspiring sight.

The best resource I've found for menus is the Preismans' website. If you look at their 14-day review of the Infinity, you'll find most of the menus. Pay special attention to days 1, 2, 3 (Top Chef menu), 4, 5 (I think), 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 15. I was on a 10-day sailing of the Equinox in December and these were the menus we had. I'm no foodie, but we had great food. Enjoy!

http://www.thepreismans.com/pan_can_menus.htm#mdr

Thank you so much for your replies! I would just like to ask one question for clarification: what makes the driving in and around Amsterdam so bad? We come from a city that, admittedly, has very little traffic but our drivers are among the worst in Canada. My dad is an excellent driver who does not get stressed out in driving situations at all. If we were to rent a car at Schipol and drive from there, would that make our task easier?

Also, if we wanted to add a concentration camp to our itinerary (I've been to Dachau but neither of my parents have ever been to a camp), is there one that's somewhat on the way or in the area? Do either of you have any experience with that?