more questions

[sanfrancisco]

sorry another couple of questions about our Destiny Renaissance trip in September. How much luggage allowance are we allowed, on Thomson's site it says 23kg hold and 7kg hand baggage, I know it will be on our tickets when we receive them but planning my wardrobe already!! Also is it adviseable to take your passport with you when you go on excursions or just a copy? This site has been so useful answering all the questions that keep cropping up!:)

[ekco]

You've got it right on the luggage allowance. We take luggage scales with us for the return, but beware, our luggage weighed in at 39Kg but on arrival at the airport in Turkey their scales weighed them as 45.5Kg which was bit too close for comfort. We checked our scales against the digital ones at home and they were correct so it could be an excess baggage money making scheme. We never take our passports on excursions although we took photocopies with us in case they were stolen or lost. Hope that helps.:):)

 

Jan

[sanfrancisco]

Thanks for the quick reply Jan, think we will invest in some digital scales before we go, glad we have the extra 3kg to what we usually have on holiday especially with all my clothes and hubby's DJ ;).

[ekco]

Thanks for the quick reply Jan, think we will invest in some digital scales before we go, glad we have the extra 3kg to what we usually have on holiday especially with all my clothes and hubby's DJ ;).

 

We did a cruise and stay so needed 2 different sets of clothes and used almost all of them. In hindsight though I think we would cut down a lot as we nearly crippled the baggage handlers and ended up with a case with a broken handle, lol.:D:D

 

Jan

[sanfrancisco]

cant imagine packing for a cruise and stay, must be like packing for two holidays, one's bad enough:)

[ekco]

cant imagine packing for a cruise and stay, must be like packing for two holidays, one's bad enough:)

 

It was a bit but we felt as if we did have 2 seperate and different holidays and that we were away for a long time. I'd definitely do it again though as the first week was all go and I think coming home after that we would have felt like another holiday as we didn't relax much the first week.:):)

 

Jan

[capasamari]

We had check weighed our cases in the cabin and thought they would be ok at 23.4kgs each, but the Turkish check-in desk made us take 2kgs out of each one. We put some stuff in with Paul's golf clubs and some in our hand luggage.

 

Carol x

[sanfrancisco]

Glad we are not going to Turkey then:(

[1160451]

Never had a problem with weight, as our suitcases no matter what take around 20 to 22 Kg, and anyway if my wifes is too heavy she takes some out of mine. Simples.

 

I know on Summer hols this is not useful, but on winter hols we fly in around 4 layers so we both look like billy bunters.

 

When going through security it takes us ages to take the heavy coat, light coat, fleece, etc etc. Often it bit too warm:)

 

Always carry a copy of passport plus card from Ship saying which it is and when not on a Cruise a business card from the hotel to show taxi drivers, as our Yorkshire accents are often a problem. These foreign jonnies never understand "ee by gum" :)

[kruzseeka]

Just check your Cruise News - occasionally it does say you are required to take your passports with you when going ashore at the next day's port. I think one or two ports on the Spirit's Adriatic/Aegean had this requirement. Just checked my documentation - Koper, Dubrovnik and Korcula all need passports taken ashore. (Actually this isn't relevant to your itinerary - but may affect other ports/travellers)

 

In fact, last year I have a feeling one couple tendered ashore somewhere then had to go back because passports were needed to get through the passport control. (Now that is a pain! Not so bad walking back onto the ship to fetch passports - although the port entrance sometimes can be quite a way off - but having to tender back and tender out again - very frustrating!:eek:)

 

But these requirements apart, it is a good idea to have a copy to take out - or leave back at the ship if you have to take your passport so you have the details to report should it get lost/stolen.

[goonersue]

Jan.

 

I think the excess baggage at Dalaman airport must be a money making scheme. On coming home, we were charged £75 for having 6 kg excess baggage. We couldn't believe it. If anything it was lighter than when we went out! And, you have to pay in English Sterling too, not Turkish Lira. So watch out all you Turkish airport fliers! We had the scales too!

 

Sue

[Jim The Scot]

You've got it right on the luggage allowance. We take luggage scales with us for the return, but beware, our luggage weighed in at 39Kg but on arrival at the airport in Turkey their scales weighed them as 45.5Kg which was bit too close for comfort. We checked our scales against the digital ones at home and they were correct so it could be an excess baggage money making scheme. We never take our passports on excursions although we took photocopies with us in case they were stolen or lost. Hope that helps.:):)

 

Jan

 

Hi Jan,

 

Certainly sound like an excess baggage scam.We weighed our luggage before we left our house and it thought we were a bit tight but when weighed at the airport there scales had us a 1kg and a half under.phew ..On the way home we were 2kgs over but nothing was said,bigger phew

 

We did a cruise and stay so needed 2 different sets of clothes and used almost all of them. In hindsight though I think we would cut down a lot as we nearly crippled the baggage handlers and ended up with a case with a broken handle, lol.:D:D

 

Jan

 

Know what you mean.We did a stay and cruise as normal but our luggage allowance was only 20kg

[ekco]

Hi Jan,

 

Certainly sound like an excess baggage scam.We weighed our luggage before we left our house and it thought we were a bit tight but when weighed at the airport there scales had us a 1kg and a half under.phew ..On the way home we were 2kgs over but nothing was said,bigger phew

 

 

 

Know what you mean.We did a stay and cruise as normal but our luggage allowance was only 20kg

 

That was a bit close with your luggage. We thought we were fine and had allowed for 2 bottles of spirits in the case but now I've read Sue's post I realise how lucky we were to get away with it at half a kilo under.

 

If we do a cruise and stay again next summer we won't be taking formal night clothes and shoes as they're too heavy and take up to much room in the case and we won't wear them on the stay as they're just too dressy for a hotel in summer. We've been there, done that and got the photo's, one set of those is quite enough, even though they were very nice.:):)

 

They must be getting a good exchange rate on their own currency if they want £10 notes at the airport. Can you imagine our airports accepting Turkish lira? Good scam though, perhaps we should do it to visitors here and clear the national debt, lol.:D:D

 

Jan

[sanfrancisco]

thanks for all the useful information, think that's everything answered for now (until I think of something else that is);)

[bankiegirl]

It was a bit but we felt as if we did have 2 seperate and different holidays and that we were away for a long time. I'd definitely do it again though as the first week was all go and I think coming home after that we would have felt like another holiday as we didn't relax much the first week.:):)

 

Jan

 

 

I did a stay and cruise in March. After booking it I was wishing I had booked the cruise and stay instead. But as it turned out I loved it. The first week in the hotel was lovely. I checked out just after lunch and was in my cabin just over an hour later, no queues at check in and luggage delivered straight away. Unpacked, changed and out on deck hours before the flights arrived with the other passengers. some didn't arrive until just a short time before the ship sailed. I felt as if I had an extra day on board.

[ekco]

Just found this on a post about a Turkish hotel out of Dalaman on Trip Advisor and thought you might be interested.

 

"On our return we were penalised £44 for excessive luggage, this being 41 kg, 11 kg over our 30kg limit. Manchester airport did not raise an eyebrow on our way out of the country but at Dalaman airport we were charged. We were escorted by 2 guards to a cash machine to pay the fine in cash. This money went straight into his back pocket and we, like other families for left shocked at the way we were treated. This experience ruined our holiday."

 

So beware, even if you take luggage scales leave about 6kg spare.:eek::eek:

The 15kg each luggage allowance they had is a bit mean, at least Thomson give you 20-23kg.

 

Jan