Review Emerald Princess British Isles May 9-26, 2022, plus one week in London!

[PacnGoNow]

26 minutes ago, ROWSE said:

We usually stay with airbnb's so haven't been in a Holiday in for years.  Sorry I can't compare.  

Maybe someone else will answer.  

Thank you for your reply.

 

[insidecabin]

21 hours ago, ROWSE said:

So happy to see you on here!  You gave some great information on our roll call and I appreciate it!!  I loved the Premier in's staggered pricing.  We went with the "non refundable" and got it for 33.50 pounds for the night.  WOW!!!  

 

Thank you for listing some pubs!!  

Once down at that rate it won't go a lot lower anyway.

 

As someone asked about the HI, it a decent popular cruise  hotel not used for years it may have had some work as it was getting run down

The Leonardo across the road is also a good call.

 

The Dolphin Mercure has reopened wait for some recent  reviews some rooms are in the older part.

Star is similar lots of character.....

Moxi is very new 

Travelodge central is a good budget option compact rooms

Ibis budget is another compact but further away 

 

There are multiple premier Inn and Travelodge make sure you check locations.

 

It comes down to price/value some dates the better hotels can be good value as the cheaper get full and put prices up.

 

 

 

 

 

[ROWSE]

May 11, Port of Cobh/Cork Ireland 

 

So before I start on our port day, I must correct a couple things after reading my notes.  With so many days, sometimes I forgot.  We did go to the production show on Guernsey night, and it was called Sweet Soul Music.  It was very good!

The other thing in my notes was that they took our passports that afternoon of Guernsey day, and did not give them back till after Ireland visits.  I am sure others have had this happen on cruises but this was our first experience of this.  It was very unsettling to hand our passports over.  We usually guard those with our life, or at least in money belts!!!  😂

 

Back to Cobh, pronounced Cove.  My notes say we were late getting off, and I had read this is often the case in this port so I booked our Titanic Experience tickets for 10:45.  

 

Coming in to Cobh

 

We had the beverage package, which includes all specialty coffee, so we often had those.  It was a cold morning!!!

 

 

 

We tie up very close to the town and it was an easy walk.  Love how cute everything 

looks from the ship!!!  

 

 

We take our time strolling in and there is a lovely park!

 

 

 

Another look up at that beautiful church!  Called St. Coleman's Cathedral.

 

Upon entering the Titanic Experience you are given a card with a person who sailed on the Titanic to hold and see if they were a survivor.  I had a gal and she made it through the Titanic sinking April 14, 1912, only to die in 1918 of the plague.  My DH's guy did not make it.

 

 

 

The tour was just "okay".  We had a hard time hearing the young lady as she did not have a microphone.  We notice some other guides do have one.  Still, it was something worthwhile to do!  

 

 

 

This is the kind of lodgings way below deck for where our two people would have lived.  

 

Very nice replica of the ship.  

It was a sad experience as well, knowing all those people had such high hopes for a wonderful new life in America.

Edited June 2, 2022 by ROWSE

[PacnGoNow]

10 minutes ago, insidecabin said:

Once down at that rate it won't go a lot lower anyway.

 

As someone asked about the HI, it a decent popular cruise  hotel not used for years it may have had some work as it was getting run down

The Leonardo across the road is also a good call.

 

The Dolphin Mercure has reopened wait for some recent  reviews some rooms are in the older part.

Star is similar lots of character.....

Moxi is very new 

Travelodge central is a good budget option compact rooms

Ibis budget is another compact but further away 

 

There are multiple premier Inn and Travelodge make sure you check locations.

 

It comes down to price/value some dates the better hotels can be good value as the cheaper get full and put prices up.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for that.  Which is closest to the West Quay mall for shopping or close to a place to pick up wine, etc?  
TIA

[insidecabin]

3 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Thank you for that.  Which is closest to the West Quay mall for shopping or close to a place to pick up wine, etc?  
TIA

Depends where you go for the wine.

Any down near the port are walking to shops.

 

Majestic is a good near the train station(proper wine place)

(Ibis/Novotel)

Asda has a good selection an prices(supermarket).

Waitrose in the mall

All stores have selection/price on line.

 

Google maps is your friend for locations

[PacnGoNow]

16 minutes ago, insidecabin said:

Depends where you go for the wine.

Any down near the port are walking to shops.

 

Majestic is a good near the train station(proper wine place)

(Ibis/Novotel)

Asda has a good selection an prices(supermarket).

Waitrose in the mall

All stores have selection/price on line.

 

Google maps is your friend for locations

Thank you!  Appreciate it.

[ROWSE]

May 11, Port of Cobh/Cork Ireland continued...

It had been more than a couple hours since we ate, so of course we needed some food! 

I had read that the restaurant at the Titanic Experience was great so we tested that out.  Then it was on up the hill to see that beautiful St. Coleman's Cathedral!

We got a lovely table outside.  This was the first, if not one of the first, ships that had come in to port and they were just opening things back up here.  

 

 

Restaurant sits just below the Titanic Experience

 

First some drinks, beer for DH and a Bailly's for me!

 

I had fish and chips and DH had a Veggie burger!  We split it to taste it all!  

 

 

We had going to Spike Island on our radar, but it was only taking people over to it a couple times a day at 3 1/2 hour intervals.  This did not fit into the day.    Word to the wise, if you want to do this, probably book through the ship.  Or it could be with more ship traffic they will get this moving better.

 

We headed on up to the Cathedral on a lovely walkway.  

 

 

 

A view of how they build houses on a hill in Cobh!

 

 

 

Just takes the breath away!  So beautiful!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coming back down,  we come upon this lovely Lusitania Memorial.

 During World War I the Lusitania was sunk by a German torpedo.

 

 

 

 

 

[ROWSE]

May 11, Port of Cobh/Cork Ireland continued...

We still had time to do something else and we noticed the Heritage Museum, which is right next to the ship port area.   It was $10 euro each for cruise ship passengers.  Their website says:  The “Queenstown Story” is the story of Irish Emigration.

This was so well done!  

Entrance area

 

Here we were also given a name of someone to connect with and I had Anne Bonny

 

She was amazing!

 

These displays really brought it to life!

 

 

I can't even imagine the hardships they endured!

 

 

After a big day in Cobh we headed aboard as we had booked our perk of a Specialty restaurant tonight.  We would have preferred Sabitini's but it was closed for this cruise.  No explanation, just closed!   The Crown Grill was amazing just the same.

Started with Riesling!  

 

An incredible tiger prawns appetizer!

 

Black and Blue Onion Soup

 

Salad

 

My side was asparagus

 

and Mushrooms 

 

DH chose Apple & Rhubarb Cobbler for dessert.

 

I had the Triple Chocolate Treasure!  YUM!!! 

 

We caught a little of the music as we passed by.  With these big days we are so tired and head to bed after dinner!  It was a fantastic day!!!   

 

 

[insidecabin]

Great day you packed a lot in...

 

We usually end up in one of the music pubs close to port.

[cruisegal415]

On 6/1/2022 at 2:56 PM, ROWSE said:

Guernsey St. Peter Port continued...

We had booked with a few others off our Roll call with Annette Henry Tours.  We met her at the tender drop off.  Just a FYI, there is a bathroom here that we used before the tour.

 

We met Annette, who I can't praise enough.  She brought all the history of this place to life and while she is not a fan of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society movie, as she says they did not film it here at all, I loved the movie and was fun to know a little of Guernsey's history of the German occupation before we came.  

Annette's walking tour is filled with wonderful drama, and intrigue!  

 

This is Annette pulling a lot of us in to her stories 

 

We walked up up up

 

 

The view was lovely.

 

This has to be the skinniest building I have ever seen.  

 

Telling us of the tragic history and gory details of the past!  

 

 

 

 

 

Just too horrible to imagine!!  

 

Later we walked through some of the shops in the area.  Can you guess what this shop may have sold???

Note the scales on top, it was FISH.

 

 

These steps were not there at the 1500's but this was the hill to climb to be executed. 

 

The donkey is one of the national animals of Guernsey.  

 

Another narrow building. 

 

 

Annette  (she may be a magician also) described how they would severe the arms of soldiers for insubordination and fighting with someone with a higher rank than themselves when talking about Castle Cornet.  

Despite all the tragic stories, we had so many laughs and fun along the way.  

 

Loved her tour!  

 

We had hoped to book with Annette when we are there in August but unfortunately she has a wedding booked that weekend so she is not available.  We did book another similar tour but really was looking forward to Annette as we've heard so many good things about her tour.

[cruisegal415]

6 hours ago, ROWSE said:

May 11, Port of Cobh/Cork Ireland 

 

So before I start on our port day, I must correct a couple things after reading my notes.  With so many days, sometimes I forgot.  We did go to the production show on Guernsey night, and it was called Sweet Soul Music.  It was very good!

The other thing in my notes was that they took our passports that afternoon of Guernsey day, and did not give them back till after Ireland visits.  I am sure others have had this happen on cruises but this was our first experience of this.  It was very unsettling to hand our passports over.  We usually guard those with our life, or at least in money belts!!!  😂

 

Back to Cobh, pronounced Cove.  My notes say we were late getting off, and I had read this is often the case in this port so I booked our Titanic Experience tickets for 10:45.  

 

Coming in to Cobh

 

We had the beverage package, which includes all specialty coffee, so we often had those.  It was a cold morning!!!

 

 

 

We tie up very close to the town and it was an easy walk.  Love how cute everything 

looks from the ship!!!  

 

 

We take our time strolling in and there is a lovely park!

 

 

 

Another look up at that beautiful church!  Called St. Coleman's Cathedral.

 

Upon entering the Titanic Experience you are given a card with a person who sailed on the Titanic to hold and see if they were a survivor.  I had a gal and she made it through the Titanic sinking April 14, 1912, only to die in 1918 of the plague.  My DH's guy did not make it.

 

 

 

The tour was just "okay".  We had a hard time hearing the young lady as she did not have a microphone.  We notice some other guides do have one.  Still, it was something worthwhile to do!  

 

 

 

This is the kind of lodgings way below deck for where our two people would have lived.  

 

Very nice replica of the ship.  

It was a sad experience as well, knowing all those people had such high hopes for a wonderful new life in America.

How late were you in docking there? We booked an excursion that leaves 30 minutes after disembarkation begins, and I worry that we won't have enough time on it.

[BuckeyeMark]

Why did they take your passports?!  That kinda would make me nervous...

[GloriaF]

Brings back memories of our day in Cobh!  We found a little crafts market close to the port and I bought a much-needed hand-knit hat from the lady that knitted it, and walked the town up to the cathedral, talked with some locals, great memories.   

Edited June 2, 2022 by GloriaF

[Blondilu]

6 hours ago, BuckeyeMark said:

Why did they take your passports?!  That kinda would make me nervous...

All stops on this itinerary are in the United Kingdom except for Cobh and Dublin which are in the Republic of Ireland.  So, they take your passports so the custom people for Ireland can scan and stamp them.  This happened both times I took this cruise.  They will give them back after Cobh.

 

The same thing happened when we went from the United States up into Canada.
 

[insidecabin]

6 hours ago, BuckeyeMark said:

Why did they take your passports?!  That kinda would make me nervous...

 

There are quite a few cruises where this can happen.

 

for this one could be .....

Now the UK is no longer part of the EU on these round Britain you effectively check in and out of ROI,  not sure why they don't do the same for Le Havre. 

 

We have to make sure all our time in EU is recorded as we are limited to 90 days in any 180 day period

[insidecabin]

1 hour ago, Blondilu said:

All stops on this itinerary are in the United Kingdom except for Cobh and Dublin which are in the Republic of Ireland.  So, they take your passports so the custom people for Ireland can scan and stamp them.  This happened both times I took this cruise.  They will give them back after Cobh.

 

The same thing happened when we went from the United States up into Canada.
 

They would need to include Dublin for the time in ROI,  you need a stamp for in and out.

[caribill]

8 hours ago, cruisegal415 said:

How late were you in docking there? We booked an excursion that leaves 30 minutes after disembarkation begins, and I worry that we won't have enough time on it.

 

After disembarkation begins, you need to shuttle to shore. Even being on the first shuttle will be calling it very close if the shuttles started on time.

 

(I assume you mean a private excursion, not a Princess one.)

[leck57]

5 hours ago, Blondilu said:

All stops on this itinerary are in the United Kingdom except for Cobh and Dublin which are in the Republic of Ireland.  So, they take your passports so the custom people for Ireland can scan and stamp them.  This happened both times I took this cruise.  They will give them back after Cobh.

 

The same thing happened when we went from the United States up into Canada.
 

 

I was also on this cruise. The passport collection and return worked well. Receipts were given and the return arrangements were done well.

Many Asian cruises, your passports are handed over on boarding due to the number of countries visited.

[ROWSE]

18 hours ago, cruisegal415 said:

We had hoped to book with Annette when we are there in August but unfortunately she has a wedding booked that weekend so she is not available.  We did book another similar tour but really was looking forward to Annette as we've heard so many good things about her tour.

That is too bad, she was fantastic!  

 

 

18 hours ago, cruisegal415 said:

How late were you in docking there? We booked an excursion that leaves 30 minutes after disembarkation begins, and I worry that we won't have enough time on it.

My first picture off has the time stamp of 10:06 so I am thinking it was possibly 10:00 to

be able to get off and it was suppose to be 9:00.   Maybe they will be on time for your cruise!

[cruisegal415]

10 hours ago, caribill said:

18 hours ago, cruisegal415 said:

How late were you in docking there? We booked an excursion that leaves 30 minutes after disembarkation begins, and I worry that we won't have enough time on it.

 

After disembarkation begins, you need to shuttle to shore. Even being on the first shuttle will be calling it very close if the shuttles started on time.

 

(I assume you mean a private excursion, not a Princess one.)

Yes a private one, Butlers.  It worries me because I know that the Princess excursion folks get priority on the shuttles, and I think, then, elites? I guess if we all make it on the excursion, they may just have to readjust the schedule if we run out of time.

[Spudd]

29 minutes ago, cruisegal415 said:

Yes a private one, Butlers.  It worries me because I know that the Princess excursion folks get priority on the shuttles, and I think, then, elites? I guess if we all make it on the excursion, they may just have to readjust the schedule if we run out of time.

Is it a tender in Cobh or do they dock? I can't entirely tell if this conversation is about Cobh or Guernsey. We also booked a private tour in Cobh so I'll want to adjust the time if it's a tender.

[ROWSE]

19 hours ago, BuckeyeMark said:

Why did they take your passports?!  That kinda would make me nervous...

The paperwork said it was needed for Dublin immigration, but since they took it before Cobh and did not return till after Dublin I think it was for Ireland immigration.  

[ROWSE]

13 hours ago, Blondilu said:

All stops on this itinerary are in the United Kingdom except for Cobh and Dublin which are in the Republic of Ireland.  So, they take your passports so the custom people for Ireland can scan and stamp them.  This happened both times I took this cruise.  They will give them back after Cobh.

 

The same thing happened when we went from the United States up into Canada.
 

Thank you for replying I didn't see it till after I answered.  We did not get it back till after Belfast though.  

[BuckeyeMark]

10 minutes ago, Spudd said:

Is it a tender in Cobh or do they dock? I can't entirely tell if this conversation is about Cobh or Guernsey. We also booked a private tour in Cobh so I'll want to adjust the time if it's a tender.

this times eleventy bazillion.  I'm on a Butler excursion and they emphasize punctuality A LOT in their instructions about meeting the bus.

[ROWSE]

10 hours ago, caribill said:

 

After disembarkation begins, you need to shuttle to shore. Even being on the first shuttle will be calling it very close if the shuttles started on time.

 

(I assume you mean a private excursion, not a Princess one.)

Cobh was not a tender it was docked right in town.