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fraj1

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Posts posted by fraj1

    LCV upgrade offer

    in Azamara

    Posted

    Is it a standard $398 per cabin irrespective of whether there are one or two people in it?

     

    Also do you get offered a certain cabin number and then have the opportunity to accept or decline it? Just a little worried that as I usually have a verandah midship I might get allocated to a forward CC suite and not sure I would be happy with that.

     

     

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    Bangkok - What to do with a couple days in Bangkok??

    in Azamara

    Posted

    I really want to do this trip (father was a POW on the railway) and am disappointed the ship doesn't have it as an excursion as I'm a solo traveller and feel a bit nervous about doing a private tour so far away from the ship. I'm hoping to do one of the cruises that dock in Klong toey for two overnights so there's a full day with no time pressure. Did it work well for you?

     

     

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    Bangkok - What to do with a couple days in Bangkok??

    in Azamara

    Posted

    I agree, it's a big day but so worth it. We did it with a private tour as it wasn't offered on the ship. It also included Kanchanaburi to see the museum, cemetery, and the site of the notorious Kwai bridge plus the 'James Bond' river boat ride and the train. We used 'Tours by Tong' don't know if they are still around.

     

     

     

     

     

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    Port in Bangkok

    in Asia

    Posted

    Klong Toey is in "downtown" Bangkok. I have no idea why the cruise ships are docking there. They are trying to clean up the area (they recently built a convention center and luxury shopping area), but directly across from the entrance to the port is Klong Toey slum, one of the poorest areas in the world. The "powers that be" are trying to get the poorest of the poor out of the area. There have been protests, murders and other problems. I think it is sheer insanity for a cruise line to dock their ships there. I certainly did not feel "tourist" safe when I was there in March for business purposes. I had a car and English speaking driver for two visits to the port to check on my shipments coming out of Cambodia. I was safe but I look at the world from a different perspective than most tourists. I spend a lot of time on docks worldwide in pursuit of my business (international logistics).

     

     

     

    http://en.dpf.or.th/node/22

     

     

     

    http://www.bangkokcrimes.com/2009/06/06/the-battle-for-khlong-toey/

     

     

     

    Just make sure you hire a guide or book a tour. DO NOT go wandering around by yourself hoping to find a taxi.

     

     

     

     

     

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    Thailand tours

    in Asia

    Posted

    Hi coastaljen

    Your posts have really inspired me!

     

    I am a single lady (UK) early 60s with a bucket list wish to visit 'the railway' and museum and cemetery in kanchanburi as my father was a POW there working on the railway. I've sought out cruises that dock in Klong tuey and have two overnights so I have one complete day when I could leave the ship very early and return very late. I'm a little nervous about doing this alone and so am inspired to maybe try and pull together a small group tour. You seem to have lots of experience in this (both for kanchanburi and elsewhere). What was your experience of doing this like? Any danger of not getting back to ship? We're others interested in joining in? Any tips?

     

    Cost not an issue as it's a 'must do' trip for me but some company on the trip and security that what I'm doing is safe and going to get me back to ship sometime that night ready for a departure the next lunchtime is paramount !

     

    Any tips or encouragement from you or others most welcome!

    Thanks!

     

     

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    Easy DYI from Livorno with kids

    in Italy Ports

    Posted

    Think I read somewhere that when doing a return train trip from Lucca to Livorno and wishing to stop off at Pisa it is best to get off at a train stop before Pisa centrale as it is closer to the Field of Miracles ? Anyone able to confirm this and tell me what the station is called?

     

     

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    Solo travellers on Star Clipper

    in Star Clippers

    Posted

    Thanks for this everyone - reassured on this so now the next biggie....do I need to have really good 'sea legs' for this?! Generally haven't felt sea sick on large ship cruises till I came across the North Sea from Copenhagen to the UK with Hurricane Bertha ... Now that did reduce me to the cabin for a day! Is everyone a veteran sailor??

     

     

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    Naples port terminal to Herculaneum?

    in Italy Ports

    Posted

    Easily doable.

     

    Just outside the port, along the major road that parallels the water (Via Cristoforo Colombo), you can catch a tram (Tram #1) that will take you to the Porta Nolana train station. The station is, I think, the first stop AFTER the tram takes a wide left off Via C. Colombo.

     

    Here you will board the little regional Circumvesuviana train. Be sure to look for the line that is headed to Sorrento. The stop for Herculaneum is about 20 minutes on this train. The stop is called "Ercolano Scavi".

     

    Once you get off the train, exit the station and walk downhill along the major road (Via IV Novembre). It is a straight walk of about 10-15 minutes, and at the end you will see the entrance to the ruins.

     

    The Circumvesuviana trains run about every half hour throughout the day. You probably won't have a lot of extra time, but the Herculaneum site is small and spending 2-3 hours there is long enough to see most things that are currently open. (Major restoration projects are ongoing and several of the most stunning houses and also the Palaestra are currently closed.)

     

     

     

     

     

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    Excursions?

    in Star Clippers

    Posted

    Does this mean you cannot book in advance as with other cruise lines? I'm a solo traveller looking at Asia so keen to do ship excursions. How many roughly do they offer for each port and do the prices compare to other cruise lines?

    Thanks

    Solo travellers on Star Clipper

    in Star Clippers

    Posted

    Hi - I'm a solo cruiser and just wondering if I'm likely to find many other solos on Star Clipper? Guess they don't do 'solo meet ups' as on the big cruise lines? I'm actually very happy with my own company and very sociable so have no problem sharing tables with couples for dinner - I have found on some lines however the 'couples' have not always been too keen to share with a 'solo'! Just wondering what it might be like on Star Clippers?

    Thanks!

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