luv2gonow

No, most every country uses PIN and chip credit cards except the US, where we are just now switching to chip and signature credit cards.

 

Many, many threads here on the topic. You will be fine with your chip and signature card except in a few locations- usually unstaffed ticket machines at train/bus stations are a problem. Taxi might be a problem.

Sorry to hijack but;-)

I have a chip Visa card ... I don't use a pin in US.. Will I need a pin in Europe?

Should I establish pin?

Thanks

Kerri

Hi,

Before I start a thread seems a lot of knowledge on this thread.

I have the ship Russian ballet tour. booked. It is in July .

Are the theatres air conditioned? We are also booked on 2 day ship tour )

And thinking I want to be comfortable at this point!

Ship tour ballet worth it? Is it at hermitage????

Thanks

Kerri

Hi,

We are going to Amsterdam after our baltic cruise:D

My husband wants to go to Zeeland specifically to the town of Bruiness.

Family from there.

Is it easy to rent a car in Amsterdam. I think there is a train but I thought it would be important to have car to explore there.

We are staying at the Hampshire hotel-Amsterdam American.

Has anyone stayed here seems to have good reviews on Trip advisor.

Is it easy to get taxi at airport to this hotel?

Approximate cost? Credit cards accepted or Euros?

Also....ahem....In my 20's went on a tour that went to Amsterdam and the tour bus took us on an excursion to a Live Sex Show:eek:

Yes I know....it was actually in a nice theatre....seriously crazy.

Well I've told the story to my husband so many times laughing that I wonder if they are still around:o

Also Has anyone used Viator to book day tours. They seem to have a few nice ones around Holland and Amsterdam.

Canal cruises worth it? we are going in the summer. Are they indoor? Outdoor? Have A/C?

Also we have a 10:15 flight on a friday morning to US. I figure I should arrive at airport at 7:15. I would imagine this is rush hour

on a friday morning. What time should I get a taxi to make it to airport for 10:15am safely. I am a lunatic with lateness. I know my life is a hurry up and wait. But unless major catastrophe.....I won't be the one missing the ship or plane;-)

Any other info would be great:D

Thanks

Kerri

Thanks so much for the great info.

Looks like ship docks at 7. I will be in lobby waiting for quick exit!

Thanks

Kerri

Hi,

Going to Amsterdam after cruise.

Do you think I can be safe booking a 11:50 flight?

Same security line going to US as Amsterdam?

Was going to take taxi and walk off ASAP

Thanks

Kerri

Same thing here. I loved everything about the Family Suite but couldn't chance it with noise from the Galley. We opted for the OV Family cabin under the MDR. Crossing fingers the noise will be minimal to none [emoji4].

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Hopefully it is quiet:D

Kerri

Hi,

I was hesitant to book Family Harbor Balcony/Suite (which is now sold out)

because of noise from Galley. Had a previous bad experience on the Dream in Cove balcony with very loud noise.

There is still an Ocean view room left that my mom is considering in Family Suite area. It is deck 2 aft which is below the Main Dining Room.

Anyone know if there is carpeting in these rooms. Any experience with cabins

under a restaurant dining area?

Thanks

Kerri

I'm bummed!

I am booked on the Star this summer for a baltic cruise....already booked airfare....I would have switched to the escape in a second.

I even looked at pricing to see if any difference so early to offset airfare change:o

Not listed on site yet:roll eyes:

Oh well....I"m sure the Star is fine....but Getaway looks Amazing!!!

Kerri

I agree with a PP about taking the Catamaran back.

We did train and catamaran sail tour.

Train was interesting narrow gauge RR? not too many around.

Must sit on upper level to have any scenery.

Ask which direction faces the water prettier view.

I did enjoy it but the catamaran sail was the highlight.

Happy planning

Kerri

Thanks so much!!!

I am soooo excited to hear this.:D

Wish those ships would go to Alaska;)

Thanks

Kerri

Hi,

I sailed Independence and we scored an "obstructed" view

corner aft balcony.

Wide open in back Some ship beam obstruction with a large porthole on side.

Balcony was HUGE with loungers and chairs.

Does Navigator have these...Say cabin 7388 and 7688.

Is this a similar setup to the Independence?

Thanks

Kerri

HI,

After our baltic cruise on NCL Star disembarking in Copenhagen, we want to go to Amsterdam for 5 nights.

I was thinking of flying didn't seem very expensive compared to if I would add it to my original delta flights.

Was thinking Doubletree Hilton right near Central Station.

Is this a good location to walk most places?

Definitely want to be close to a coffee shop and tourist sites.

Also possible trains to other areas of holland for day trips.

Any ideas If train is better or hotels you recommend.

Is it extremely easy to take train to Doubletree and walk to hotel or is Taxi best way to go from airport?

Thanks for any info:)

Thanks

In the past except for epic single couch

Has been fine for 1.

I see the star has a double pullout.... I have visions of

Old style bar in your back sofa pullout.... Is this the type?

Only Wdw has figured out the pullout so far IMO.:-)

Was hoping though:-)

Kerri

Hi,

Thinking of mini suite for 4 with my mom and daughter in pullout(double?)

Are these beds comfy?

Only comparison inhale is ncl epic which was not even suitable for 1 with the curve...

Thanks

Kerri

This was posted: "Two young ladies in their 20s having too much fun at Calico Jacks, the pirate boat, and totally forgot about the time. Mom had to get off the ship and go get them, and by that time the ship was leaving, mom very very mad. Plan to return one hour before departure, taking it to the last minute is not going to do anything for you."

Wow if this is the 3 people who missed the boat...YIKES!!!!

That mom is open a serious can of "whoop ass"

Kerri

Thanks for the review!! It sounds like you had a lot of fun!

I have one question - you mentioned there was no line at the Vatican - is this because you had "skip the lines" tickets thru Gate1?

Thanks!

yes Gate 1 took care of everything it was great. I would highly recommend company!.

Happy travels :-)

Kerri

Thank you for sharing your experience! I thought of doing Rome on my own pre-cruise but decided it was worth it to have someone else do all the organizing. How large was the pre-cruise tour group? Can you recommend any excursions for the ports visited during the cruise? Any information about the hotel or the area surrounding it (restaurants, sights not part of the tour) you could provide?

There was 36 in our group but we had a 1 wk tour that started in Venice and ended in Rome.

They use a few hotels Both I saw looked very nice. Lots of restaurants everywhere. Although guide said further you get from Vatican better and cheaper food.

You will have a great time!!

Kerri

any resturants that you really liked

Cagney's was great.

I'm booked for the land portion in Rome and then the cruise. Could you please share some details on the land tour in Rome? The thing I'm most curious about is the additional excursions offered - what were they? cost? did you do any and could recommend? Another question is what time did you depart for the ship? Did you have time to do any sightseeing prior to departure? Thank you so much for any information you could supply :)

Rome was great no lines Vatican, Colliseum, Roman Forum.

Only extra excursion was "piazzas of rome". They moved it to 4pm i think because of heat which was good!. You could have done it on your own but I liked

going as a group. Also went to Pantheon, Spanish, Steps, Trevi Fountain(under construction), some other Piazza's and left us in Piazza Navona at end of trip.

Which was a nice area to have dinner and look at artwork etc in the square.

Taxi stand was right there and it was a 25 min walk back to hotel. Don't remember cost maybe $40-50?

We left the hotel around 10:30 and had 1 other hotel pickup. We arrived at port 12;30ish. Very easy embarkation. Very minimal line. Eating lunch at a fairly empty buffet by 1;15. After dropping stuff in room.

They put luggage on bus and they have it transferred at ship....and it shows up at your room. Just bring your carryon.

Great experience.

Kerri

One more thing.

I did the future cruise credit actually 2.

We got 250 OBC plus 50 for opening 2 NCL credit cards. We used that to pay off bill on cruise to get double points.

Each cruise certificate is for a room not a person. So we were in 2 rooms and I bought 2 because lady said on Pride of America rooms are small and they didn't seem to have balcony rooms for 4....Is this true. Without being a suite??

Thanks

Kerri

Hi, I can't believe I am back from my long awaited 2 wk European adventure.

I booked a land/sea tour through NCL.

I will just do a brief synopsis.

Land portion. Land tour was run by Gate 1 travel. I cannot say enough good things about how great this company and our guide(Johnny) ran the tour. Everything was smooth, hotels were very nice, (cold A/C in room) Breakfast was large and plentiful. Tours very well organized with enough time on our own and optional tours were also available.

We were in Venice(2 nights), Florence( 2nights) and Rome for 3 nights with a stop in Assisi(unexpectedly really nice).

So happy we did this land portion we got to see so much of Italy and it was truly amazing.

After land portion it was off to the Epic. So great to have a cruise after land tour

looking forward to relaxing.

We embarked in Rome. Our included transfer got us to the port around 12:30.

Very easy embarkation and was nice to get on board and go right to our rooms

to drop stuff off of.....and enjoy a quiet beginning of our cruise. Most passengers were off on there long Rome touring day.

We had an amazing cruise and I did really like the Epic with a lil hiccup about room.

I had 2 cabins booked. 10156(balcony) and 10150(inside). Cabins were very nice

funny though Inside cabin felt more roomy than balcony because there was no couch. More room to walk. Balcony felt tight.

I liked location of cabins. In between lifeboats for a nice view down to water and short walk to forward elevators which brought us to Buffet.

I was a little mixed up on ship at first buffet is forward and Spa is Aft which is opposite of ships I have been on.

Food We ate mostly at Buffet which was very good. 1 night in MDR I didn't enjoy and Shanghai which was OK. O'Sheehan's was also OK.

Standout was Cagneys. Very good. I had UDP and my other room didn't have that. Didn't want long dinners so didn't utilize them.....in hindsight I should have got the UBP for free but hey no biggie.

Room. Ok we had 2 rooms....thankfully my room(balcony) AC worked great but inside room did not. I called and they came but never got any colder. They didn't mind but I would have been very upset because I like it cold.....especially if I knew the other rooms were colder.

Design of Balcony room is IMO stupid. OK. no flames....it looks nice and I will admit there is a TON of storage. But whoever thought It would be a good idea to curve a mattress AND the couch apparently didn't sleep on them.

We usually have 3 to a room with someone sleeping on the couch. The couch is curved into the bed portion and it is NOT comfortable. My 12 yr old daughter did not like it.(She slept in my room 1 night).

So Only hiccup on the cruise was bed design. Blankets were comfy but BEWARE if you plan on sleeping on the couch as 3rd person....No good!

Ship is beautiful, slides a lot of fun. Only day felt crowded was the expected Sea day. With no chairs to be had for late arrivers(after 9)

I thought service was very good everywhere.

Did 2 ship tours Exclusive Amalfi and Pompeii, and best of in Barcelona. Both were good but not many options for excursions in Barcelona.

Debarkation, smooth got to airport in plenty of time for my 12;50 flight.

Although could not checkin at airport till 3 hrs before so had 1 hour of waiting till was even able to check in.

Airport is a lil crazy!

So overall this was an amazing trip so pleased with every aspect.

Any questions just ask:-)

Thanks

Kerri

Thanks, I can appreciate what you mean... I live in Long Island, NY with amazing beaches.

I am on a land tour in Rome now that I booked thru NCL before cruise.

We had 2 nights Venice, 2 nights Florence and 3 nights Rome.

Sitting at a cafe right now with a glass of wine... Life is good!!!

We are boarding the Epic tmrw and was hoping for a relaxing 1st port.

We did Pisa and Florence.... Don't want the craziness (and hot hard work of cinque terre... So I am unsure what to do in Livorno.

Any suggestions for a nice relaxing scenic day near Livorno that I can easily access a taxi back to port?

Thanks

Kerri

Hi,

Please recommend a beach near port of Livorno that has bathrooms,

Umbrellas/loungers and food available.

Readily available taxi's back to port is very important.

Thanks

Kerri

Hi, Just back from our cruise and land trip. We stayed three nights in Rome prior to the cruise and three nights after (Rome and Venice). We were in three hotels total and all of them had weak air conditioning. Is this normal for Italy in general? Last year when we were in Venice we stayed at Hotel Moresco and had great, strong air conditioning...in fact at times it was too cold. This time, we were literally sweating in the rooms and had to sleep with the windows open hoping to catch even a little breeze. Not sure if we just had the luck of the draw with the rooms or if this was fairly normal. We spoke to the front desks about it, and both sent someone to check on the rooms and they said it was working just fine.

Hi I am going on a land/sea tour on Tues. Venice, Florence and Rome.

What hotels were you at. I am hoping I am not at same ones:o

I think I am at Grand Monaco(venice), Grand Mediterreano(Florence)

and NH. Guistaniano? Rome......

Was your land portion through Gate 1?

Thanks

Kerri

Thanks...I bought a small fan that can run on battery or USB.

Wasn't sure if fan for USB needed converter happy to hear it dosent'

Kerri

Thanks for the review. I will be sailing this same cruise out of rome 7/29.

Doing a land tour for week before through NCL.

Soooo excited. sounds like it will be amazing

In palma....Did you taxi to Palma nova? Taxi's right out of ship and at beach to take you back? Chairs? Umbrellas? Food?

Cannes. Le Croisette...Nice Beach? Walk to right near film festival??

Thanks

Kerri