callmehalia

That's great news! Well done to NCL for being completely sensible :)

What a shame. I hope it all works out for you - keep us posted!

They might be willing to transfer it, but I've not found the NCL UK people at ALL helpful, and highly suggest you call the US number.

Use http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/intcallchecker/ to find a cheap international dial-around number (just any of them that don't want an account - I use them all the time) and call NCL USA. After you call the dial-around number, once the voice starts telling you how many pence per minute, dial 001 866 234 7350.

Good luck!

I've never sailed NCL (going in December) but have done 2 HAL trips.

It's definitely an older crowd. I wouldn't think we saw more than 10 children total over the two trips, and with the exception of some grandchildren in their early 20s, we were pretty much the youngest (in our early 30s).

That being said, we tend to keep to ourselves and we're not into drinking or late nights (plus our cruises have always been port-intensive). The ships were nicely appointed, with a reasonable variety of food and activities. 24 room service, including a cooked breakfast, and a late night snack meant that even though the meal times are way less freestyle, we were never hungry (or anything less than stuffed, to be honest). We liked having the set dining time as the waiter knew us and what we wanted (even if he saw us in other places on the ship). They do have anytime dining but as there's just the one MDR that's free, there's admittedly less choice. We've never had dinner at the buffet but it looked pretty good.

The entertainment is definitely geared towards an older crowd, but if you go in a good mood and appreciate how ridiculous it is, it's a pretty good time.

If you're going on a cruise to see the ports and just be pampered and relax, you can't go wrong with HAL - quiet, sedate, decent ships, and for us, a big plus that there's essentially no children running around and screaming. The trade off is that you might get stuck behind someone wheeling their oxygen tank behind them ;)

Sorry it isn't a more of a compare/contrast kind of post but I thought my experience as a person close-ish to your age on HAL might be useful :)

I asked my TA about this and there are some cruise lines which give almost no commission (Royal C and Carnival were mentioned specifically). Since they're not making enough money to make it worthwhile on top of the booking, they don't have a lot of incentive to sell those and consequently, they don't offer good prices (they've no wiggle room).

Where you might find a price differential is when you want a TA to book pre/post cruise hotels and flights. When it's a bigger package all together, you have more power.

That being said, when I was booking a UK to US flight with my TA, it was actually cheaper online. I said as much and he reduced the price to match, and said they they only get £25 from the airline, but as the difference was only £10 they'll just take the less amount of commission.

Now I know these things vary from country to country and TA to TA, but that's just my 2 pence :)

Is there anyway to get these directions in English?

https://www.google.com/maps?t=m&sll=62.4730819,6.1504886&sspn=0.0304655,0.087893&geocode=FWo3uQMdvr5dACnherMoOtoWRjHmR8naqI7rBA;FR1IuQMdpg5eACk1iNddQdoWRjFaTo2g3uC2ag;FclCuQMdGCVeAClt2gB9Q9oWRjEX1sKBh8-VGw&saddr=Nedre+Strandgate,+%C3%85lesund&daddr=Fjellstua,+Aksla,+6007+%C3%85lesund+to:Vannspringdalen,+6003+%C3%85lesund&dirflg=w&output=classic&dg=ntvo

Whenever something is in a different language, just change the google.no or whatever to google.com to get English.

:)

We ended up doing the Hop on Hop off tour so we could see more of the city - it goes all the way from the cruise port to the Sunnmøre Museum, Mt Aksla, and the Aquarium. We got off when it suited and I'd recommend it. We didn't go to the Aquarium but got off to do some walking/hiking - and were pleasantly surprised with the free, fast wi-fi at the Aquarium!

The bus stops:

Stop 1 - Cruise Terminal

Stop 2 - Sunnmøre Museum

Stop 3 - Fjellstua

Stop 4 - Rica Parken Hotel

Stop 5 - Tourist information

Stop 6 - Dronning Sonjas Plass / City Center

Stop 7 - The Art Nouveau Centre / City Center

Stop 8 - Ålesund Fisheries Museum & Clarion Bryggen Hotel

Stop 9 - Ålesund Church

Stop 10 - Ålesund Aquarium / Atlanterhavsparken

We had a discount code for the HoHo bus - MATALAN20 - which saved us 20%. If you're interested, you can book here - http://www.city-sightseeing.com/tours/norway/alesund.htm#tourlandingposition.

Otherwise we just puttered around and enjoyed the only sunny day on our trip. A lovely city, and we much preferred it to Bergen.

Was on the Volendam in 2006 and had my first taste of muesli - it was TO DIE FOR! :) I am sure it was heavy whipping cream! :eek:

 

After reading these posts, I just wonder if there is anything NOT to get? Other than perhaps the cakes I've not read much that folks do not like!

 

Stretch wasteband pants only!!!! :D

Yes, the cakes in the Lido and most of the desserts in the MDR aren't anything exciting. We also didn't think the hamburger in the Terrace Grill was anything to write home about. Obviously YMMV!

Here are 2 videos that show the tour you are describing. The first video is of a tour of Alesund, and the 2nd the islands of Giske and Godoy. (The tour also went to the Sunmore Museum, which is not on the tour you describe). The 2nd video of the islands will let you know whether the tour would interest you. The couple who filmed it are Spanish and have done videos like this in every port they visited.

Alesund

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D24uhL0FTAyU&usg=ALkJrhicHQ4VZhR2O5sfCOEGvlbbgQtXgg

 

 

Sunmore Museum, Giske and Godoy.

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D1owlNR3uHec&usg=ALkJrhhDUM8XdNfsN6O8C8Q3m3HuMqZUxA

The tours description for Giske sure makes it more interesting than it really is..Its nothing special at all.

Its a nice thing to have done but its not a must.

There are nothing else to see on those two islands than what is described.

Alnes contains a row of wooden houses and a lighthouse. Thats it.:) One thing I know is that it will be very windy and cold out there.

I have seen cruise lines offering these tours and I have always thought they are really milking it.

I believe you will have just a wonderful day just walking around the town.

Visit a few museums and maybe walk to Aksla.

Thank you both for saving us $200. ;)

We're in two minds about doing a ship excursion in Alesund. We don't drive and are in port from 7am to 4pm. I'm quite happy to just walk around and sightsee, but can anyone shed any light on doing the trip below, or what the two islands are like?

The Islands of Giske & Godoy

Your tour starts with a short city sightseeing of Ålesund's Art Nouveau quarter. Ålesund's architectural character is the legacy of the great fire in 1904, as the city was rebuilt according to the vogue of the day. A drive up to Mount Aksla follows, for a beautiful view of the city, the islands and the Sunnmøre Mountains. Leaving Ålesund, you will drive through some of the world's longest sub-marine tunnels connecting the islands to the mainland. The island of Giske is known as the birthplace of the famous Viking King Gangerolv, or Rollo, who conquered Normandy in AD 911 and was the ancestor of William the Conqueror. With its powerful families, the island was a seat of power in the Viking Age. Pass the Giske Chapel a very simple and starkly beautiful Roman marble church dating from 1135. The church was built as a private place of worship for the famous Giske Viking family and its interior was restored in 1756. It is surrounded by old headstones and a manicured lawn. Next, you will head to the island of Godoy to visit the charming little fishing village of Alnes on the shores of the Atlantic. Return to the pier by way of the sub-marine tunnels.

Thanks!

Holland America Line Afternoon tea review by cruise critic.

 

The Setting: Holland America actually offers three different tea events, each occurring once during 7- to 10-night sailings: Royal Dutch Tea, Indonesian Tea and the whimsical Cupcake Tea. You'll head to the dining room for each event.

 

The Spread: Royal Dutch Tea is, perhaps, what you'd picture when thinking about traditional afternoon tea. Tea sandwiches, pastries and desserts are featured buffet-style, and tea is served at your table once you've prepared your plate of goodies.

 

Be sure to also set your sights on Indonesian Tea. There, the staff don traditional batik Indonesian outfits, and the recorded background music -- played by an angklung, a traditional instrument of the region -- sets the exotic mood. Teas on offer include Indonesian green, black and jasmine tea. If you prefer coffee, you may choose between sumatra and celebes. An assortment of sweets, from banana and mango fritters to sweet coconut rice balls and chocolate rice sponge cake, are served.

 

Finally, you must check out HAL's Cupcake Tea, which features a variety of teas and 10 -- count 'em, 10! -- different types of cupcakes, including chocolate, vanilla and even bread pudding. Find your inner child with a sip of milk, either plain or flavored with chocolate or strawberry. Tea and coffee is served tableside.

 

Child Friendly? Children are welcome to all events, but they would especially enjoy the Cupcake Tea.

 

Free or Fee? All tea experiences are complimentary

We did the cupcake tea on the Volendam last year on our Alaska trip, and in true HAL form, the cupcakes left a lot to be desired. They were different colours but all tasted the same - of HAL sponge. ;) We still had a nice time and found that it drew out the other few people on the ship that were our age (early 30s).

It is in an i-phone5 file on the computer. The audio is saved, according to the download, in an MP 3 file. I can't figure out how to transfer the i-phone 5 file from the computer to the phone or even to i-tunes.

In iTunes, go to FILE-ADD FILE TO LIBRARY. Then find your .mp3 file and it will show up in your Library.

Then, depending on your set up, you either click sync or drag and drop the file from you library onto your phone (which will show up in the iTunes menu on the left).

Did you have any sort of travel insurance? It would cover a lot of your expenses.

Here in the UK our travel insurance comes with our bank account (we pay a bit extra for it). Or is this just something we do in the UK/Europe? When I lived in the USA (until I was 20), I was always covered under my parents health insurance so never really had to worry about 'grown up' things like it!

We have early upper - as we requested - for our upcoming cruise. But if for some reason we miss it (late day in port or whatever) are we free to go to the MDR for as you wish dining, or do we need to stick with room service or the Lido?

 

Thanks in advance!

Sorry, ignore me - I missed the post on a page or two back about it. :)

We have early upper - as we requested - for our upcoming cruise. But if for some reason we miss it (late day in port or whatever) are we free to go to the MDR for as you wish dining, or do we need to stick with room service or the Lido?

Thanks in advance!