FreestyleNovice

Thanks for replying. Although indeed not the same this seems to best way(s) to go for a birthday celebration! Thanks!

That's gone too, just realised that. They did delete the floral category, that is something at least. Still wondering why they did half a job..

The Gifts by Celebrity webshop is a mess.. it's totally stripped with zero items in some categories now. Does anyone know if there still is a way to (pre)order a birthday cake for cabin delivery? What's available does not meet our needs and wishes as a gift to someone: The Premium Package: "For the ultimate indulgence, start off the morning with breakfast in your stateroom complete with mimosas, reservations for two at one of the chic specialty restaurants on board, and a personalized cake (choose from 5 different cakes). Later, in the evening, we’ll deliver a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne, and a dozen chocolate-dipped strawberries." Very romantic but not what we need, we just need a cake or at most a package of a cake and stateroom decoration. The mess I mean, example: https://www.celebritycruises.com/cruise-gifts/items-results?category=CULDEL&collection=CELCAKE this gives you zero platters (I know I said I want a cake but checked all categories..), click the pull down Culinary Delights and a Cheese & Fruit platter appears. Wished it still had the cake category around to do the same trick heh. I emailed X about this too, this was the reply: "I am very sorry, our Celebrity Store did go through some changes, and we no longer offer cakes for purchase, the items that are shown on the website are the only items that we have available to purchase. We have not been advised if cakes and other gift items will be brought back. If you do have a cruise booked with us, and you are not trying to purchase a gift for someone else who is sailing, there should be an area in pre-cruise planner (where you booked shore excursions and things like that), called gifts and gear. There are some items in there that can be ordered . I don't think I have seen a cake but there are other items." I am not aware of any other ways to order a cake for a standard cabin?

I think the vodka is something from the past. It's wine, water, fruit plate etc, as posted above. Staff will be reducing service when the dinner service starts at the Lawn Club Grill and it may get chilly and they will clean up other alcoves around you before anybody will, even at all, tell you it's time.

No apologies needed, your scope deserves an own thread!

Found this guy sharing his photos with shoe covers, I guess he liked the Aqua more! Close up of one of his photos, the hull art is coming on! Originals:

For those posted here and/or anyone's future reference, @Beezo's thread has some excellent info, including some incredible renders: Probably best if we keep that one and discuss it there but I thought that thread was started on April 1st when I first saw the renders of those mountains.. 🔒

@Beezo, that's some nice work!

We sure had some good fun with previous builds, I like the idea of NCL executives spitting their morning coffee over their desks when scrolling through their bookmarked CC threads finding out about such things heheh! A big help was the Meyer Werft webcam and social media from their visitor gallery, that helped a lot with puzzling out to be announced areas. Unfortunately Fincantieri is less easy to follow and more and more fellow cruisers and even influencers are learning the tricks of sleuthing! Times are changing..

No problem, that's what CC is for! That sounds like a good insurance! And good to know. Enjoy your day in Amsterdam!

I think they are two separate companies, one wears orange and the other one wears pink shirts on their boats. They seem to be quite identical in what they do.

https://flagshipamsterdam.com/ https://bootuitjes.nl/en/canal-cruise-amsterdam/ https://www.floating-amsterdam.nl/en/ Your plan sounds reasonable, I personally would pre-book the boat giving the time restraint. Your motivation to not pre-book is clear but in general those August days are some of the best days we get and availability might run out with great summer weather. In case of bad weather those open boats will have a canopy up and you might even discuss a cancelation with them (I am not sure of all policies). And even on a rainy day it's still a sight to see Amsterdam from the canals, by foot you will be even more wet. By foot you ca tag on an easy paced 1½-2 hour circle from and to the Centraal Station; Dam, Wallen, Jordaan, etc. Be aware the Vondelpark, Rijks and Van Gogh are not within that time frame, as they are too far south unless you take public transport to cover the distances. The Dutch love their summers, I hope you get to enjoy the canals on a beautiful sunny day and see the locals and youngsters relax on anything that will float whilst taking in the views of our historic city.

The small boat canal cruise with the walks to and from the boat/bus stop combined with the places you listed. Amsterdam is restrictive in coaches/busses in the city center; see https://www.amsterdam.nl/en/traffic-transport/coaches-tour-buses/. In short: tourist busses are no longer allowed inside the canal belt/S100 road perimeter unless they have some rare permit. Your most probable point of drop off will be De Ruijterkade Oost (Centraal Station). Plan from there, use an app like Moovit or take an Uber to move between further away spots or as last resort to be back in time at the bus stop. Amsterdam is compact, very walkable and lots of public transport options to help you get around quickly. Enjoy your stay in Amsterdam!

I wasn't impressed by the Apple reseller on my post Covid Celebrity sailings (2022 & 2023), it used to be better in my experience. Perhaps the market is either moving too fast for their inventory or who knows? Back in the days when duty free airport shopping was a real thing, buying i.e. a discman cheaper than main street prices, perhaps a bit similar?

When getting dropped off at port: Porters: zero. Taxi/car driver: 10%.

Renting a car or train plus local taxi. I would not pay an excessive amount (because it will be and it is) to sit in the discomfort of a regular taxi for nearly three hours. I haven't read anything indicating mobility challenges so I guess the luggage hauling might be a fear but.. Plan your train trip. Book your train tickets. Head to the Amsterdam Centraal Station, use the escalator or elevators, buy a soda/beer and a bag of chips, board one of the high(er) speed trains; the Intercity Direct or Eurostar train, store your luggage in between the seat back to backs or luggage racks and sit back and relax. Your views of the landscape passing by will also be better than other cars/highways. Here's a bit of info on the luggage part onboard the two trains on that route: https://www.nsinternational.com/en/before-you-go/luggage https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/travel-planning/luggage The last leg is on a regional Belgium train in most options, using the balcony and staying with your luggage to avoid logistical challenges.

I would leave the Markt Binnenrotte for what it is, if you go by foot you can plan your route to walk along or over the market towards the Markthal (route: Rotterdam Marriott hotel, Weena/Hofplein fountain, Cool Singel/City Hall) unless you are really looking forward to the street market experience but it's just local hustle. I personally would not sacrifice an easy morning in Paris for it! Your 3:32PM arrival might sound a bit late for your leisurely pace but still doable to me, it still gives you >6 hours for a 10:00PM end. An earlier train might give you some extra time or leverage but it would be a second or one drink at dinner thing in the end I think! On the other hand: perhaps the 1:32PM arrival biggest benefit is that it still gives you enough time even if it runs late for some unforeseen reason.

I missed the Euromast in your list by the way, swap it for the street market timewise (the Euromast will be longer though)? Not wanting to mess up your plans! https://euromast.nl/en/

Forgot to answer the actual question: I would not bother or skip other things prior to your arrival in Rotterdam (if that's the case) to see the street market, it's close by and does not take hours. Wandering around the street market will perhaps take 30 minutes off your Markthal visit if it's not done in 10, the Markthal definitely is the more attractive place.

Oh and you probably already found https://www.rotterdamcentrum.nl/en/plan-your-visit/travel-inspiration/binnenrotte-markt-rotterdam-centre?switchlanguage=true I think?

What @Klinkschakel wrote, I am not a Rotterdammer. Dutch street markets can have their charm but surely are not Barcelona's La Boqueria. Good for a quick stroll and a stroopwafel!

On the other hand, if I re-read your post; why not stay outside the city in a small/smaller town? Like north of Noord, or anything in a 15 min car radius from Schiphol airport? our taxi costs would be higher but with lower B&B (perhaps one with ground floor bedroom?) pricing your lodging would be way less. And restaurants will have more moderate pricing. Just a thought that I had!

A quite random Google on neighborhoods; https://amsterdamguiden.nu/en/neighborhoods/ Noord is across the large IJ canal, with free ferries. Look into https://www.amsterdamsights.com/about/ferries.html The cost of a taxi from Noord is general higher than one from the Centre as your taxi has only three car tunnels to cross the IJ. About the sketchiness, almost any neighborhood has their fair part, some more than others. In general avoid Nieuw West, Oost but you probably won't find any lodging there too. Westpoort is industrial harbors. Oud Zuid is fancy. Your best place would still be anything inside the canal belt with your limited mobility. Public transport in Amsterdam is very efficient, even with a scooter. See https://www.gvb.nl/en/accessible-public-transport If you like, could you share your actual dates so we can really help with finding a deal? Priceline.com might have a deal or use a site like Trivago to compare the different prices.

Schiphol: 6am curbside or wheels down? We’ve always taken morning flights from AMS to BCN departing 9am’ish, arriving approximately 10:30am on embarkation days, taxi, Aerobus or private car to the port et voila.

Sounds perfectly reasonable. I guess you will be having dinner somewhere along that route, I would suggest an easy outdoor dinner on one of the terraces at the Oude Haven (next to the Cube houses): https://www.cityrotterdam.com/en/visit/areas-rotterdam/oude-haven/. There's a pedestrian bridge between Hotel New York and the Fenix hall. I am sure you can drop bags and roam around before coming back. Rotterdam centre is relative safe at night, just like any other big city. You will be fine at 10pm in the centre with maintaining normal to high tourist caution. The city centre's clubs and bars, student associations form the nightlife crowds, also the Centraal Station generates some foot traffic for the night trains to Amsterdam etc., don't worry about them. General rule of thumb but you seem seasoned: After dark keep on the main streets, don't flash anything of value, don't be to obvious a tourist, keep walking, don't interact or respond to potential troublemakers, etc. all the common sense. Enjoy Rotterdam!