DanL
-
Posts
933 -
Joined
Content Type
Forums
Store
Blogs
Downloads
Events
Gallery
Posts posted by DanL
-
-
Just book your cruise with DRINK PACKAGE you will never think Elite is that important.:rolleyes:
We did that for the first time on this cruise. Probably won't think anything is important while imbibing :).
By the way I was told once "it never hurts to ask"
-
I cant see spending $2000 +/- to get to Elite before your January cruise.
Since the Caribbean cruises have 2 perks - if you selected the Beverage package for your January cruise then the Elite Cocktail hour has no value. So what you are getting is 90 minutes of internet, a bag of wash & fold laundry, a continental breakfast.
Good points. Agree logically.
-
Thanks all. Yes CeeeKr I saw that 6 Nov but a long way to go for 3 days. Considering 11/26 Reflection but will probably wait to see if better deal. Zika might scare some people from PR.
-
We have a 11 day January cruise on Equinox booked and it occurred to me that I would like to be Elite on that cruise. We are select, 14 Points Shy of Elite. Looked at a 7 day cruise in Dec with big OBC to get the 14 points.
Explored checking RCCL cruise to see if points would xfer to Celebrity CC - No.
Explored whether Celebrity Credit card would get points - No.
Does this community know any way to get the points other than a cruise?
In the past I have gotten good deals ~60 days prior to sailing. Are they still happening?
Thanks, Dan
-
Four seniors interested in just vegging with some snacks and beverages.
Looking at Money Bar (been before) or Paradise Beach. Any comments on those or a recommendation. Thanks
-
Was once under galley (Mercury?). Trays being thrown in corner = bad sleep. That may have been worst case. We got moved fortunately. YMMV.
We never book under an activity deck.
-
Thanks for this report, really useful! Also looking at SPB for tour (2 day highlights not deluxe) but wondered about lunch as an option. What was the approx cost please, and what happened on day two? Many thanks :)
Sent from my iPhone using Forums
Day 2 was per the posted itinerary on their website with souvenier shopping at end of day. Cost ~$14 US for 2 lunch without drinks. Needed to change to Rubles which guide did a stop.
-
Know it's hoping for too much - but were you able to get a gold elite upgrade?
Yes got the Gold Elite upgrade & was treated VERY well at the Radisson Blu.
Points probably better for Europe than US but will have to see.
Don't use card out of US since there is a 3% FTF
-
A couple more tips:
If you have an unlocked GSM phone, buy a preloaded Toggle SIM available on Ebay. Cheap calls from many countries even to US & a number that people can call you from USA. Used on 2 trips flawlessly.
Good Smorebrod at Kanal Cafeen, Fredericksholms Kanal, just around the corner from Danish National museum which is free entry.
-
Since I received much help from this board I am passing on what we did & tips from our Eurodam 5/23-6/4 cruise.
CPH: Arrived 5/22 @~2pm (from GVA). Got DSB 24 hour city pass 80 DKK, used CC from ticket window. Previously got Calrson CC & with 50,000 bonus points booked Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (great location across from info office, train station and room overlooked Tivoli). Took bus 11A to canal boat at Holmen church. Walk Stroget after dinner. Friday - Rosenbourg & changing of guard before boarding. Took bus 26 to ship @ Oceankaj since still had time on 24 hour DSB card..
Tallinn: Did SPB tour. A no brainer for the $15 adder to St Pete tour.
SPB: Toured with SPB tours, 2 day highlights tour. Great tour & guide. Great lunch stop, Stolle pie shop. One of reasons I booked tour. Don’t miss it.
Helsinki: We did using the Hop-on Hop-off red bus available at the port. Great WiFi and a 5 E discount coupon in map they were handing out.
Stockholm: HAL changed dock 3 days before stop from buoy in Strommen Bay to Frihmanen so had to get a plan B. Got 24 hour SL pass & took bus 76 to Vasa then to old town & lunch then Icebar. Hist museum next day. Free on Fridays. Needed chip credit card second day to get ticket. Red HOHO bus was a tossup decision but no show on second day until 10am & long waits at stops reported by others. Also construction & marathon next day caused traffic problems. Original plan was to use HOHO boats if docked at Strommen (or Stadsgarden)
Warnemunde: Took the train to Schwerin then Wismar using a Mecklenburg Lander ticket, Euro 26 for 2 people, purchased online. Anni an Aussie expat has lots of info here http://www.travelanni.webs.com/. She also posts on this thread http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...4#post37364914
Kiel: Took ferry to Laboe, toured Naval memorial & submarine. Walked around Kiel in afternoon after quick lunch on ship.
App recommendations: Accuweather, City maps2go, OSMAND+ and CE currency conversion app.
Used TD Bank ATM since no charge for withdrawals if have $2.5 K in account. We had 5 currencies to deal with not including Rubles. made about 10 ATM withdrawals.
Bring at least one chip & signature card or chip/pin. Mag stripe cards worked everywhere EXCEPT from machine in Stockholm.
Temps high from 84F to 45F so be prepared.
Took taxi from ship to airport. Try to share as it is expensive! Didn’t want to hassle bags on bus/train as we were both suffering from colds.
Thanks to Travel Anni, Danish Viking, Sinppu, Jonza & especially Desdichado62 who promptly answered my call for help when the dock changed in Stockholm.
Exhausting but wonderful cruise.
-
Did ice bar last week on Eurodam. Was fun but people were also walking in. We did a reservation online. A tourist thing.
-
Eurodam May 29-30 changed from strommen bay buoy to Frihamnen 634. Best way to Gamla Stan? ATM at 634? We had planned to use hobo boats but now not sure. Open to suggestions for Plan B. Thanks
-
Checked SL site but still a little confused about tickets. I know I can't buy on bus. If I buy a ticket say at a Pressbyrån is there a time limit to it from when I buy it? Our primary method of transport will be the HOHO boats but may need a couple of bus trips.
-
Is there an entrance advantage with the card? That is a faster line or other advantage?
With the ~$105US for 2 days vs our planned costs of ~$70 (plus a few busses), it doesn't seem to be worth it. We also plan to use HOHO boats and apparently not covered by the card, correct?
Thanks for all your help. Very valuable.
-
Helsinki red HOHO bus http://www.redbuses.com/hop-on-hop-off-helsinki#the-tour
and HOHO boats in Stockholm http://www.stromma.se/en/Stockholm/Sightseeing/Sightseeing-by-boat/hop-on-hop-off-boat/
Check with them re mobility issues.
-
2) tell people to use the correct bus 26, we witnessed an entire busload of people with luggage being dropped off the bus around 7-800 metres from the terminal because they where taking the wrong bus.
Its also a little bit misleading because the correct bus goes to Færgehavn Nord - UNICEF and the wrong bus to Færgehavn Nord, its easy to miss the difference.
Also the bus takes people on and off the bus from the same bus stop, its the one closest to UNICEF.
The bus drives up to the parking lot next to terminal 1 to turn around but it doesn't stop at the opposite side of the streets when it comes back so if you wait at the bus there it will not stop.
But its easy to see because it has no timetable attached onto the bus stop.
So to sum it up it will pick up passengers from the same place it drops off the passengers and not from opposite side of the street.
I will post some pictures later.
We will be leaving from our hotel near København H going to Oceankaj on Friday 23 May & from the above bus info bus 26 to Oceankaj Færgehavn Nord - UNICEF is correct. Is that the most convenient since we are travelling with luggage? Can the bus accomodate luggage? I understand the train requires a change or a walk. Please clarify.
Don't want a long walk with luggage.
New pier presents some issues.
Thanks for all your great help.
-
I am confused. Will be in Helsinki end May. Is Hakaniemi Market Hall or Hietalahti market hall closed? Which is open for local snack?
-
We didn't choose Celebrity (which we usually use) because they didn't leave from Scandanavia. Instead we chose HAL since they spent more time where we want to be (in the Baltic). Been to AMS. Also wanted to leave/return to Copenhagen.
-
The problem with this method is expensive last minute airfares can eat up savings by last minute cruise fares. Last minute airfares can also be far less convenient in terms of times and routing. Plus a possible lack of choice in the cabins available.
Yes some risk as I said but I just checked airline prices 3 weeks from now & they are only $30 more than we paid in Feb. Not exactly last minute but little increase from February.
-
If you are looking for low price, wait until after final payment. HAL prices one category in each type cabin outrageously high. HH in outside, VH in veranda are 2 examples.
Then if ship isn't full (last year & this) they lower the price of the high priced categories (which no one has purchased). That way they don't have to lower prices of categories that people have bought.
For our 5/23 Eurodam cruise a VH veranda went from $5999 to now $1099. Lower than most insides. You can see at cruise fish dot com. Smart marketing.
We unfortunately are visiting daughter elsewhere in Europe & couldn't wait until they dropped the price. Some risk in waiting but reward can be great - 2 for 1 pricing.
-
-
The Chase Hyatt card is also chip and signature.
As is BofA Travel Rewards
-
Stockholm ports have re-designed the vessel call part of their website, it now includes links to a map with the berth pointed out.
http://www.stockholmshamnar.se/en/Map/Vessel-traffic/
Here are the berths in central Stockholm:
Stadsgården:
Stadsgården S167:
http://www.stockholmshamnar.se/en/Map/?harbor=Stohab&jettylocation=18.10513,59.31605
Stadsgården S160:
http://www.stockholmshamnar.se/en/Map/?harbor=Stohab&jettylocation=18.08888,59.3178
Skeppsbron/Strömmen buoy:
S106:
http://www.stockholmshamnar.se/en/Map/?harbor=Stohab&jettylocation=18.07613,59.32352
Strömmen Buoy 1:
http://www.stockholmshamnar.se/en/Map/?harbor=Stohab&jettylocation=18.08595,59.3199
Frihamnen/Värtahamnen:
F638:
http://www.stockholmshamnar.se/en/Map/?harbor=Stohab&jettylocation=18.12897,59.3447
F634
http://www.stockholmshamnar.se/en/Map/?harbor=Stohab&jettylocation=18.12434,59.34348
F650:
http://www.stockholmshamnar.se/en/Map/?harbor=Stohab&jettylocation=18.12065,59.34138
V523:
http://www.stockholmshamnar.se/en/Map/?harbor=Stohab&jettylocation=18.11646,59.34729
Thanks DV, very helpful.
Any guess where the tender will drop us from the Strommen Buoy? Seems closer to Stadsgarden than Slussen which I assumed would be the drop off point.
-
FYI, I received email confirmation from Stromma that there will be hop-on hop-off buses at the Oceankaj C330 when the Eurodam is there June 3. I'm thinking it is a shuttle type service that takes you to one of the regular stops. They said there is a bit of difference between the red and green buses, but I haven't been able to
check that out yet.
Big Al, found this re red & green HOHO.
http://www.stromma.dk/en/copenhagen/sightseeing/sightseeing-by-bus/copenhagen-city-sightseeing/
Hey Celebrity Cruises, what's a Verified Sustainable Experience
in Celebrity Cruises
Posted
PC marketing words. Glad you asked for specifics.