diane.in.ny

I was just wondering if anyone besides me thinks it would be great if Princess added solo cabins to their new builds? And not charge 2x single rate!

On 4/24/2019 at 3:21 PM, cansas.piligrim said:

If your ship docks in Hernessaari you can take bus 14 to Bulevardi
If she docks at Western Quay, walk 10 minutes east to Lansiterminaali (terminal for ferries to Tallinn) where you can take tram 7   to Rautatieasema (central train station) or Senaatintori (Senate Square).
The cost of a day pass is 9 euro.

Thank you

On 4/20/2019 at 2:43 AM, brian1 said:

Hi,we used the red buses that were outside the ship.If you get a combo ticket,it includes the harbour boat trip.Also keep your ticket as it gives you 10% off all the other Baltic ports with the same company,cheers,Brian.

Thank you!

I've discovered there are two companies doing HOHO buses in Helsinki. Looking for a recommendation of one over the other.

(And, yes, I know Helsinki is easy to do on your own but my husband tires easily and anything I can do to minimize his walking is worth the extra $. We arrive in STP the next day and he needs to be able to tackle that.)

Thanks for any help.

Re Opal card daily max ... On Sunday it is only AUD2.70

very interesting. thanks for posting

I did the lookout and the views were super! (I am 72 with a bad knee and still managed it.  🙂 )  

Get an Opal card and make use of public transportation. Ride the ferries, subway, and buses.  We rode out to Bondi Beach and took the Parramatta Ferry to the end. Also went to Manly Beach and Watson Bay. 

We stayed in Pott's Point and used the subway and buses to get around.

Been away so replying now. Agree with all those that said you want to be all over the ship. There is no 'best spot' unless it is on the Promenade deck when the ship is down in a lock. I think that is pretty cool.

And I admit I haven't read (or reread) all the posts but assuming the sailing is through the old locks.

23 hours ago, WallyNDiane said:

 Metro was 4.40€ pp roundtrip from our Hotel Lleo. 

1

Hey, we stayed at the same hotel! Great location!!

Several weeks before a trip I start pulling cash out of the bank. I specifically ask for $10s, $5s, and $1s. I sort through them looking for bills that are totally clean and in otherwise good condition. I then take the bills and quickly run a warm iron over them. Crisps them up 🙂

That explains it. I have the Delta AMEX card.

17 minutes ago, compozer said:

Interesting.   Most of our OBC credit comes after final payment - AMEX and stock so that doesn't always help.  I did book one two years ago but don't remember if I had any OBC.   Will have to check that out. 

Sounds to me like you can book your excursions after final payment. And I have a question about your AMEX OBC. do you use an agency which gives AMEX promos or just use your AMEX card to pay and that gets the OBC 

On 1/5/2019 at 3:46 PM, compozer said:

I agree.  I hate paying ahead for any excursion.    I usually have a lot of OBC's and many times don't spend it all.   I want to use the OBC for the few excursions I book with the ship.   

If you have OBC at the time you make your excursion reservation,  the cost is automatically taken out of your OBC. I know some people get OBC from their booking agency which doesn't show up until they board, so for them, this won't work. But we have OBC from a Princess promo and i just booked an excursion paid for by OBC.

We were in Albany and Broome in October 2018. In Albany we took the shuttle into town. There was a kiosk set up by the local tour company selling tours. I don't know if they had one for ANZAC museum but the visitor center is also right there and you could ask.

In Broome, the tourist authority had things arranged with the local buses. AUD $10 for all day bus rides. Plenty of buses to and from Cable Beach.

11 minutes ago, Ka Honu said:

 

For the Cambodia e-visa, which port of entry did you select? We're on a cruise arriving for a one-day port stop in Sihanoukville; the e-visa application lists the airport but not the cruise port.

Good question. We are flying into Siem Reap. For coming in by ship, I think you have to get a regular visa.

Just for future reference, if you ever are not happy with a ship's tour, be sure to head to the excursion desk when you return. Let them know what was wrong with it (the waste of time, the lousy tour guide) and ask for your money back. You may not get it, or may get a partial, but it is worth the effort.

Here are the links for the e-visa for Cambodia and Vietnam

https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en_US/web/guest/khai-thi-thuc-dien-tu/cap-thi-thuc-dien-tu

https://www.evisa.gov.kh/

On 12/28/2018 at 6:50 PM, 2SailingNomads said:

How did you apply for the Vietnam and Cambodian visas?  Did you use the Vietnam consulate web site?

Thanks.

Notifications about Vietnam and Cambodian visas both arrived within 5 business days. I got an email then had to go to the evisa sites to print them out. You will need a current passport sized picture. We went to AAA, I scanned the pictures (You get 2 side by side) and then cropped to have just one facial image. Will also need to scan photo page of your passport. I have the links for the application sites bookmarked on my computer which is not available to me now ( on my tablet now .. grandson visiting and sleeping in my computer room).  Please comment on this to bring it back to the top of my notifications ( to remind me) and I'll Reply with the links

On 12/27/2018 at 2:03 PM, tinykygal said:

Totally correct.  

We purchased trip insurance, but the 60 day look back period for pre-existing fell during the period when my meds were changed.  IF and only IF, a medical emergency occurs involving the condition for which meds are prescribed, I am out of luck.  

Even though trip insurance can be purchased up to the day or so before the trip, it is not wise because of the 60 day look back.

Since you mention a 60 day look back, I am assuming you are buying insurance through the cruise company. (I know Princess has a 60 day look back.) We buy third-party insurance but I understand (and I could be wrong) that you can pay for your cruise insurance at any point ... even up to final payment. So the key to this (I understand) is waiting for a 60-day medical free period and then buy the insurance. That way you are covered for everything.

The only thing you MUST be careful about when flying into Sydney is whether or not you are bringing things like open food products. They have VERY strict biosecurity rules. 

I didn't have anything open but still went to the line for declaring things. I got sniffed by a dog, asked a couple of questions and then off I went.

I think I got info on it when I applied for my Australian visa but in case you don't have it .... 

http://www.agriculture.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/arriving-english-factsheet.pdf

We flew into Sydney beginning of October.  Nobody asked about meds.

Some biodegradable sunscreens

SPF 30

SPF 45

insect repellents

baby wipes with repellent

On 12/21/2018 at 9:32 AM, 1951art said:

We did of course state pre-existing conditions but, as I said, due to the fact that my wife is having investigative work done the insurance company won't insure any pre-existing conditions as they make the assumption these may impact on the current one! My wife's doctor says she's good to travel or we wouldn't consider it. You've answered my main concern though which is could they turn us away at the port if they aren't happy with the level of our cover, so thank you for that.

Did the insurance company tell you they won't insure the current issue? I don't know how it is in the UK, but in the US, if you develop an issue AFTER you purchased the insurance but before the cruise, you are covered because it did not exist before the purchase.

As suggested, go to the Ports of Call part of the forum and you'll find recommendations for guides there.

In Italy, we have used Rome in Limo. They have a great touring site where you sign up for a tour and then post the link to your Roll Call to ask others to join you (and make the tour cheaper).

We have done private tours at almost every port of call in the Med. Those we haven't, have been DYI

I carry a copy of our marriage license. I read (somewhere?) where spouses were unable to get information or make decisions in some countries because they didn't have proof they were married.