DipBrat

I always use google maps for transport in Japan. It is a bit more user friendly and seems reliable. Just choose the public transport option and it will give you the trains and times.

Thanks! I figure that they know the best spots!

I would question this assumption. They go ashore for Wifi and other communications and to buy supplies. Even if they did want to spend a day's wages on a fancy meal their taste may be very different from yours.

I cruise with kids but can respect your desire to have less kids onboard. The problem is Florida departures include people form all over North America and even the world so it can be hard to predict school vacations.Also pre-school ages kids aren't limited at all and even Kindergarten and early grade school parents can ignore school calendars. (We usually do) Longer cruises are of course better but if you are looking for a 5 day cruise I think it is tough to find an ideal time.

I agree with Trend. If they were both located the same distance from the port I would still prefer Halong Bay. Hanoi is a nice enough city. Choked with traffic but with an interesting vibe and a few historical attractions. Not hugely different from Saigon.

Halong Bay is one of the more spectacular natural settings in the world. If you can try and see some of it from a kayak so you can get up close to the caves and other attractions. If that doesn't work for you a junk tour is also great.

Contact the cruise line. The Embassy is probably correct but the Cruise Line will decide if you board in Shanghai so you want something in writing from them confirming that they don't see a problem with your passport and itinerary.

It is odd that some people fuss about the hygiene of filling water bottles, yet they will get off the ship and eat and drink at restaurants and bars in ports.

 

They know nothing about the hygiene or habits of the workers there.

 

Germophobics are an odd lot !!!!

I don't have actual statistics to back this up but I am pretty sure that Norovirus and other serious illnesses are more commonly spread on cruise ships than regular restaurants and bars. Also the impact of getting one of these illnesses is greater at sea than on land.

All that said I don't dispute your sentiment.

I will be in Halifax on October 12th I have already rented a car. I kind of want to get away from the touristy stuff. What is a must see? I love the small fishing towns and stuff like that. I know I won't be able to get away from all the tourist stuff, but I want to see some local flair.

Peggy's Cove is worth seeing but the towns around there will be dramatically less touristy and in some cases completely free of tourists even in the summer. Chester is very pretty if affluent and Blandford and the drive to it would fit your bill. Herring Cove to Sambro could also be of interest. The 207 mentioned above will be even more authentic in the sense of less gentrified.

Hi all

 

thank you for the sensible answers, much appreciated. I am in bed with a ghastly flu so please excuse if I sound vague- I certainly feel it. At least I'm putting this time to good use by doing some research. I must trawl through searches trying to find others who have asked the same question but - you know - sick.

 

I neglected to mention that we would be in St Petersburg for three days if we take this cruise - so that's quite a bit of expense for private tours and we really really do hate being guided, on the other hand it's not a bad amount of time to DIY.

 

So I'm still tossing up whether to actually go on the cruise or fly there, but we are spending six weeks driving around the UK and I thought the cruise would be a bit of luxury relaxation.

 

I just found out that Russia is 'Visa free' if you have a World Cup ticket during that time - there's another process but it's a thought. Will keep investigating and thank you.

Keep in mind you need to actually go to the game as tickets are not transferable. It is not clear you would be allowed off the boat each day or only the day of your match. I don't think cruises were envisioned when they developed this process.

They will of course accept tips in any currency, but be aware that USDollars in Norway are as useful as Norwegian Kroner in the US. All they can do is take them to a bank.

This is an exaggeration no? Sure the bank or they could also save for a trip.

The Burj Al Arab has just an ok view.Not the best skyline there. Good view of the Palm but still hard to see its features. Atlantis has a better view of palm though not sure any bars in Atlantis have this view. Jumeirah Beach has great view of Burj Al Arab and similar view of palm and ocean.

Elsewhere the Address and even the water level bars in Downtown Dubai have great views of the other Burj. Actually lots of waterside options in various developments.

Thank you, this already helps us plan how much money to change.

 

Arrival of our ship is 2pm on a sunday. We´ll stay on board overnight and then have to leave the ship on monday morning.

So basically we have the afternoon and the evening / night to ourselves. I thought, since everything is dark, there´s not much to do / see at night. Please let me know if I am wrong.

IMHO the skyline view is more impressive at night. I usually go at sunset to get both views but the night view wins out. If you want to maximize your time there are lots of other things you can do at night in Downtown Dubai or lots of other developments (which is what they are rather than neighbourhoods). Atlantis, The Palm, Burj Al Arab and adjacent beaches are probably better seen in the day but Madinat Jumeirah could be a good night destination. Lots of choices for dinner than a nightime Abra ride and a drink along the water.

Agree with all the advice here. I would suggest starting with the city (best on foot) and use a rental car to go to Peggy's Cove after lunch when it should be quieter. Lot of coastal stuff to see on the way and you can take the direct route back at the end of the day.

This should be very affordable and leave your budget for a tour to Bay of Fundy.

I was on a Princess cruise that stopped in Korsakov. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but....

 

1) It's a tender port, not docked. So there's a big production to even get off the ship.

2) AFAIK, you had to book a "tour" even to just walk around Korsakov.

3) There is absolutely nothing to see in Korsakov, unless you want to see what the wrong end of the Soviet Union looked like, in a town that time forgot.

4) The "big city", Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, is marginally better. Their big attraction is a giant Lenin statue. :) That requires an hour bus or train ride, though.

5) This port is clearly scheduled for legal reasons to make it an international cruise, not for any intrinsic appeal to the destination.

6) The majority of the cruisers simply stayed on board and treated it as a sea day. They must have gotten the memo that I missed.

 

2/10 would not recommend.

I haven't been myself but have been told by people who worked on the island that there is world class nature on the island. Were there no excursions to Lake Tyanacha or other wild areas?

Useful observation and good advice. This a common problem in these popular medieval churches. I had a similar experience in the main tower in Florence where they do have some kind of control helped by the cost, but it still gets very congested. It worked out fine for us but looking back should have noticed the crowds and steepness when ascending and turned back as I was with a 5 year old.

Most people would consider a second day in St. Petersburg more valuable than a day in Moscow and this ignores the long travel time back and forth. The only way it is worth it is maybe if you know you will never be back in Russia and want to see Moscow or check off that you have been there. To me it is like being docked in San Francisco and taking a day trip to Los Angeles.

Which is better to see or which is better to be on a tour. Peggy's cove is hands down more impressive than the Bay of Fundy. You can do Peggy's Cover on your own easily with a rental car or taxi and once there no need for a guide. Bay of Fundy a guide would be more useful.

I know people who have done the TerraCota warriors as a day trip from Beijing. Assuming Tianjin has direct flights to Xi'an you might be able to do it on your own for a very reasonable cost. In my opinion it is certainly close to the great wall for the most impressive sight in China. You could even fly back to Beijing and do the second day there before taking the train back to Tianjin. This wouldn't be easy but is certainly doable even foe a relatively in-experienced traveler without any Chinese.

Kyoto for sure if you haven't been. Probably better as a one night stay otherwise a really long day. It's 3 hours plus on the train plus transport at either end.

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For people who fly in the day before and/or spend time in the city afterward it is a lot more convenient than Red Hook or especially Cape Liberty.

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I would say the knights and just the palace interiors at the Hermitage would interest a lot of kids. I agree the room after room of 17th century portraits might not be ideal. I second the Kuntskamera suggestion. On a nice day Victory Park could be fun. It's not touristic but has rides and a chance to see " real Russians".

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I am far from a worry wart and hate to get to the airport earlier than I have to but have to agree a Singapore disembarkation will take a lot longer than a Florida for all the reasons above. I have also waited an hour for a taxi in Singapore. If you asked about an 11am flight most would say don't risk it and I would say go for it but 9:30 really requires everything to go perfectly. Even with a fully changeable business class ticket I would say it is not worth the chance the next day's flight is full.

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It's a taxi trip. I try to take public transport whenever possible, but it's well over an hour by public transport. Maybe 30 minutes by taxi.

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There were chickens around when we were at CGB last month. They didn't come on the beach but they were there.

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I am suffering from "too much information". The more I research St Petersburg, the more bewildered I have become. 2 days is nowhere near enough, is it?

But 2 days (+ 1 night) is all we have, on Friday May 19 and Saturday May 20, 2017. I doubt we shall have a second visit there in the future.

 

Please share your own experience there to help us with:

 

1. What to see - and what not to see.

The city is about culture and the arts, isn't? And we are quite comfortable with that; more into art and palaces than museums and churches (but would rule out nothing). And at night (Friday) - what? We also like to 'act like a local', if possible. We'd rather walk and take transit than hurry-up-and-wait for the tour bus. Getting to The Hermitage, only to be put in a line-up is not our idea of a good time.

Don't want much do I?

 

2. How's this for a add-on (again, your views, please). The ship sails for Tallinn at 6 pm on the Saturday, arriving there next morning. We, however, take the late afternoon train from Peter to Helsinki (the ship makes no stop in Finland). With sunset at 9:45 pm, we see something of Russia outside Peter, and of Finland; spend the evening and next morning in Helsinki. Then hop the ferry to Tallinn, to catch up with the cruise ship. We know we will need a Russian transit visa to do this.

 

Recommendations based on your own experiences there would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

In terms of option 2- you will need a visa, but this would,then allow you to explore the city on your own. This is not for everybody but it is possible. You are giving up time in both Tallinn and St. Petersburg for Helsinki and the train. Personally I would consider this a bad trade. Another option would be a train the next morning from St. P To Tallinn. This would show you some of Russia and gives you an extra evening to go to the theatre and enjoy the white(ish) nights.

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Yeah I agree coming from Southern California, New England/Maritimes will be a lot more interesting.

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