ganny3

Thank you very much for the information. I appreciate it.

Barbara

Looking for an answer from someone who has used Enrichment Journeys for their China and South Korea trip. Did they send you the paperwork for the VISA with the airline and hotel information already filled in or how did you know how to complete the VISA form?

Thanks in advance,

Barbara

Can someone recommend a restaurant near the port that serves local food. Not looking for a 5 star place, but local food. We'll be there for dinner. Thanks in advance.

Barbara

Question for chengkp75 please. I was on a cruise in the early 90's during a tropical depression and we were told that the ship couldn't go into a closed port and if they were in the port when it closed they had to leave. Because of this we sailed for 36 hours trying to stay ahead of the TD. We were told this was because the danger of a ship sinking in port was too great and the result would be a port that couldn't open. Is this true? Thanks in advance.

I believe cruise lines like other forms of transportation do get offered money deals. Here is a quote from an article concerning the Bayport Cruise Terminal in Houston.

"In an effort to kick start the cruise business here, the Port Authority commission voted in 2012 to pay Princess and Norwegian a combined $6.7 million to sign on at Bayport. Their contracts also waived rent or any docking fees."

Barbara

Was on the Serenade last year with a confirmed medical refrigerator from special needs for insulin storage. Once on board our cabin steward said there were no medical refrigerators on Serenade. He stored the insulin somewhere for my travel companion and had it in the room in ice every night and then returned it in the AM to a refrigerator somewhere. It was inconvenient but worked well every night except the night he forgot to leave it :( He had to come back after going off duty to bring it.

My Alaska cruise was a land cruise, followed by a B2B from Seward to Vancouver to Seward. My thinking was this might be the only time I got to Alaska and plane fare was expensive. The land trip was well done and even though it was a bus of 50 it was just fine. On the first leg of the cruise I did all the really touristy stuff....white water rafting, flying over Denali, helicopter to the glacier. On the second leg I took it easy. Rented a car and drove around in the towns and it was quite fun. It was like being on two different cruises. YMMV

Barbara

Thank you everyone who contributed screen shots and links. Very much appreciated. Thanks also for all the contributors that have made this such a learning experience.

Barbara

Another luker here who has followed from the very beginning.....first thread and then this one. I too appreciate all of the information everyone has shared. It has been such an interesting learning experience. My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the survivors and to the families of the lost souls.

Barbara

We are 3 ladies that travel together quite often in one cabin. We have done balcony's and Oceanviews on multiple ships. Cruises have ranged from 7 nights to 30 nights and we do just fine. We are all 3 neatniks so things are always put away. We always sail in a cabin with a pullman bed. We bring the hangers that hold multiple clothes on one hanger (Bed, Bath, and Beyond has them and I'm sure others places too) and this really helps with closet space. We do laugh a lot.

Barbara

No. But the baristas at the International Cafe will make you a frappuccino type thing. :)

Thanks

Barbara

On the Star can you use thespecialty coffee punches for milk shakes?

Thanks

Barbara

We stayed at the Quality Inn in LaPorte last week before the 4 day cruise. They offer a shuttle to the cruise terminal. I believe they also allow you to leave your car at the hotel and take the shuttle if you are driving. We didn't use the shuttle. Took us about 15 minutes to get to the cruise terminal.

Nothing fancy about the Quality Inn but it was clean and the beds were good. Worked just fine for a night before the cruise.

Barbara

I personally have not used it, but have two friends with college students that have used megabus and have been very satisfied with it.

Barbara

Burbank is probably the best airport for a North Hollywood destination.

Thanks Patricia. I appreciate you taking time to answer and I'll let my friend know.

Barbara

Barbara,

I use Burbank all the time...

For your friend, she should be overjoyed if she can find an appropriate flight in and out of Burbank...

Bruin Steve thanks for the information. I appreciate it very much and I'll pass it along to my friend.

Barbara

Wineaux this is not cruise related but a question about the airport at Burbank. I have a friend asking about this airport instead of LAX. She is staying at a hotel in North Hollywood for a convention. Will flying in there be a problem?

Thanks in advance

Barbara

If you are going to be here on a Friday or Saturday night there is a great new restaurant called the Catalina Bistro inside the Catalina Express Terminal. They only do dinners on the weekend and the food is awesome. They have a Cordon Bleu trained chef and are located right on the water. AND they are just a short walk from the fountains. It's a nice walk from the Crowne Plaza or you can hop on the Red Car at 6th street and take it to the fountains.

Thanks for the info on the new restaurant. Unfortunately we sail on Friday so we'll be there on a Thursday night. We don't sail until April 2014 so who knows....maybe they will be open for dinner every night by then. Thanks for the info on the Red Car to get us to the fountains.

Barbara

The Fanfare Fountain is about 1 mile from the Crown Plaza along a walking path. There is a restaurant in the Crown Plaza and within walking distance of the CP is the Acapulco Restaurant. Round trip from CP to Acapulco Restaurant to Fountain and back to CP is less than 3 miles.

There are several recommended restaurants near the CP...all within walking distance. Check thread #601 for WINEAUX's list of recommendations.

Thanks elcydcruiser for the information. I was hoping we could see the fountains and get a good meal.

Barbara

We will be cruising on Princess next April to Hawaii out of the San Pedro port. We are staying at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. We would like to see the CA Fanfare the night before we cruise. Will we need to take a taxi there and is there a good place to eat in that area? Thanks in advance for any information.

Barbara

Thanks again for all your help.

Barbara

I appreciate your insight on my plans for the suspension bridge and the park. I will wait until a little closer and check the shuttle schedules again. I will also check on the time we have to be back on board. I think it is like a port stop for us, but not sure.

Do you have an idea of what taxi fares to the bridge might be since that might be a faster way to get there.

Again thanks for all your help.

Barbara

Deck - 6

Cabin # - 6222

Class – 2B

Starboard or Port Side - Starboard

Bed near?(balcony or bath) – Bath

Quiet Cabin (With comments on problems. Note if connecting. ) – Connecting/quiet cabin - didn't hear any noise from connecting cabin

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – On hump / half of balcony covered with X / good view - could see water from balcony

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - Normal

Was wind a problem? Some whistling at balcony door when in windy conditions

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? N/A

Any specific problems with this cabin? None

Any other comments? Has pulman as well as trundle