Vitalsign

Certainly is - gutted I'm babysitting the grandchildren 25th March so can't apply ☹️😪

Yet I'd be free to do everything else in between my Marella cruises of course 😎

UAE yes no visas required but definitely required for Cochin or anywhere else in India

If you fly back from Muscat in Oman you also need a visa

You check in only for your flights on line

As said before by Dronnygirl on arrival at the port you register credit/debit card and have your photo taken and are given your ships card which you use to purchase anything and to get on and off the ship. Some ships also use the card to enter your cabin

Found correct photo - this was taken at Doctors Cave showing an amazing thunderstorm over the port whilst we were in brilliant sunshine - all those on the ship got soaked

You pay for entrance and beds/brolly separate so you don't need to pay for loungers and just use towels on the beach

Normally the taxi driver charges for a return trip and you don't pay until he comes back for you at whatever time you agree on so you can go walkabout and then meet him back outside Doctors Cave at whatever time you want

US dollars are all you'll need 

Enjoy

Please ignore jpg as I uploaded wrong photo and can't delete it 😏

Thanks UnHappyShipmate - I'm gutted and can't understand which ship he's now on Explorer is visiting Dominican Republic but only Santana and Amber Cove and also Gavin is contracted via Peel so unless he's jumped ship (sorry about the pun) he couldn't be on Explorer

Love to hear from someone who knows which ship he is on 

The last couple of weeks TUI flights to Montego Bay have been flying across to North America and then down the East coast Watched them on plane finder but flights to Barbados flew normal way over the Azores

Can anyone tell me when Gavin Carroll CD left Discovery please He has been posting on Facebook trips in the Far East but on Thursday posted a photo of himself in La Romana Dominican Republic which was puzzling Just hoping its an historic photo and Gavin is still on Discovery He has been moved to another ship historically in January for a couple of months before so I'm hoping he'll still be on for the repositioning back to Palma

I thought anyone booking a TUI cruise (apart from Canadians flying into Montego Bay) had to pay from a British bank account or credit card with a UK address so doubtful any Far Eastern passengers cruising on cruise only

That's a good speed when 24knts is maximum which is rarely used 

We travelled at 22knts 2018 on latter stages of Transatlantic crossing due to weather conditions and captain Jason was worried about how much fuel he was using

Yes the same as Barbados but slower as the immigration form is a nightmare and lots get it wrong and hold up the queue to get on the coaches

The taxi driver after dropping you off,  he will wait to take you back to the port and the cost will be on a return basis You don't pay the driver until the return trip He will also know the latest time you should leave to get you back to the ship on time taking into account the school buses and extra traffic late afternoon

Yes strange we've been there at least five times with Thomson/Marella and never tendered 

And you won't want to use bottled water in your kettle with all those minerals in it ugh!!

Hairymcclary - we have heard nothing yet and have been able to book excursions also I did think we might miss Khasab as it's on the straits of Hormuz but having been before and Hubbie hasn't we've booked the Dhow trip which is fantastic and hope we get there

we haven't been advised that after flying in to Dubai we might have to embark the ship 2 hours away as happened when the ship sailed out so keeping fingers crossed

we don't need to apply for visas as we'll get a free visa when we land in Dubai and as we are not flying in to Muscat (as our friends are) don't need to apply for one there either but our friends do If you are flying out of Oman if think you'll need one too

I cruised on Marella Jan 2017 for a week from Dubai visiting Bahrain and Oman and didn't have to get visas before we went Any needed were provided when there and there was no charge

To summarise - obviously Indian visa is required but thereafter you're considered to be passing through and unless you fly back from Oman - no visas are required and not for Aqaba either for those flying back from there 

This is according to the websites and questions to google

Hi Bagpuss33

we are on the repositioning cruise on Discovery this April from Dubai to Aqaba and the trips to Petra are as follows Sorry can't put all the details on here

Petra 10hours £124

Petra & Little Petra 11 hours £120. ( don't know why this is cheaper than the above)

Petra & Trek to Monastery 11hours £108

All the above include lunch in a hotel

I have been to Petra twice with Marella and there was only one trip so can't help as to which one will be the best but as has been said this is a trip not to be missed It cannot be done independently.

The first time I went it was in January and there was snow on the journey there and back  in the mountain area so you may need to take warm clothes and good walking shoes with you although no snow at the actual site

As Pensioncruiser says please walk there and back as the horses have a terrible time. You can have a camel ride from the Treasury to further into the site and back which is fun and they look after their camels as they are worth a lot to them

As you will be mostly at the coast you will be ok it is only recommended if you travel to the interior of the Central American countries 

we never even sprayed ourselves during the day and we travelled the canal without problems at all Only sprayed ourselves If when we arrived there was standing water about after it had rained We were never ashore after dusk either

dont worry but use a spray if that makes you feel more comfortable 

We have done this cruise 3 times and have never needed a yellow fever jab nor asked for proof of vaccinations although all our others were up to date

Agree well said Nancy - those were the days 😎

Which ship are you on? And where are you going? It's very strange I've been able to access excursions over 6 months away on all my cruises with Marella

Go to TUI cruises page where you can select cruises

Scroll right down the page almost to the bottom to Cruise Experiences and click on the left hand box Shore Excursions

Enter your cruise ref no, lead Passenger name and date of cruise

This will take you to the Excursion Planner for your cruise

You can select various excursions and they will be saved in your planner

When you are sure of what you want to buy go through to payment

Your tickets will be in your cabin for the first week when you arrive If doing two weeks they will arrive on changeover day a week later.

It certainly was on the other ships too We only ever ate there though if we missed lunch had afternoon tea and missed dinner - not very often though and I'm not surprised it was stopped as it was usually poorly attended very late at night. Currently few are eating now as late as 1pm that I've seen. I bet the staff were happy 😀

If their flight is 1pm they need to be there 3 hours before I.e. 10am

I have always docked in Mahogany Bay on three cruises with Marella Docked in Coxon Hole only once with Ocean Village years ago

My reply was in connection to your post quoting the possibility of bad care in the DR

and my final comment is below

'That said I would definitely ensure you do have cover for any activities not covered on your basic travel insurance'