Jim_Iain Apex Key West, TansAtlantic and British Isle with a Week in Amsterdam

[JeanieC,Aston]

7 hours ago, terrydtx said:

We are on the Apex in September from Rotterdam which is less than 20 miles from Amsterdam. Both cities share the same airport Schiphol in Amsterdam. We are spending 3 nights pre cruise in Amsterdam and then taking a private transfer to the Apex in Rotterdam. Most of the Apex cruises this summer are sailing from Rotterdam because of water level issues in Amsterdam.

Hi.

I was in Rotterdam in March on P&O Iona.

Just for info the ship docks next to Erasmus Bridge.

Photo taken from on the bridge….

[swjumbo]

7 hours ago, terrydtx said:

We are on the Apex in September from Rotterdam which is less than 20 miles from Amsterdam. Both cities share the same airport Schiphol in Amsterdam. We are spending 3 nights pre cruise in Amsterdam and then taking a private transfer to the Apex in Rotterdam. Most of the Apex cruises this summer are sailing from Rotterdam because of water level issues in Amsterdam.

You’re probably aware but for the others who are reading this, the quickest and one of the cheapest ways from Amsterdam to Rotterdam is by train.

Very, very reliable and many departures throughout the day.

Might be difficult with luggage though.

[terrydtx]

10 minutes ago, swjumbo said:

You’re probably aware but for the others who are reading this, the quickest and one of the cheapest ways from Amsterdam to Rotterdam is by train.

Very, very reliable and many departures throughout the day.

Might be difficult with luggage though.

We have 4 in our group and the trains are less expensive but with a private car transport we get picked up at our hotel and dropped off at the cruise terminal.  We traveled last year by trains in Italy and getting on and off them with luggage was challenging at best. 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

3 hours ago, upwarduk said:

Probably non existent, if our previous experience is anything to go by!

Have you done a TA with a ship that has Starlink ? 

[Dar & Bob]

1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

We have 4 in our group and the trains are less expensive but with a private car transport we get picked up at our hotel and dropped off at the cruise terminal.  We traveled last year by trains in Italy and getting on and off them with luggage was challenging at best. 

Who are you using for your car transfer.  We are on the May 7th sailing and staying in Amsterdam for 2 days before.  Still trying to find transfers.  I am not into lugging suitcases onto a train.  Thanks

[Ipeeinthepools]

1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

We have 4 in our group and the trains are less expensive but with a private car transport we get picked up at our hotel and dropped off at the cruise terminal.  We traveled last year by trains in Italy and getting on and off them with luggage was challenging at best. 

 

You've convinced me that the private car to and from the airport in Amsterdam is the best way for me to go.  The train is probably the best way to go if you're young and travel light.  However, as we get older it seems like we have more luggage and it's no longer easy to navigate the trains with a couple of suitcases.  Sure I'm looking to save wherever I can, but this may not be the place.  Given the cost of the cruise and the airline ticket to fly to Europe, a few extra dollars for the private car isn't significant in the total cost of the trip.   It's also nice to exit baggage claim and see someone holding a sign that says "Pee".

Edited April 20, 2023 by Ipeeinthepools

[Ipeeinthepools]

1 minute ago, Dar & Bob said:

Who are you using for your car transfer.  We are on the May 7th sailing and staying in Amsterdam for 2 days before.  Still trying to find transfers.  I am not into lugging suitcases onto a train.  Thanks

 

Please let me know if you find a good contact for transfers.

[terrydtx]

32 minutes ago, Dar & Bob said:

Who are you using for your car transfer.  We are on the May 7th sailing and staying in Amsterdam for 2 days before.  Still trying to find transfers.  I am not into lugging suitcases onto a train.  Thanks

We used this company to do the Amsterdam to Rotterdam transport. We also used them  for the airport to Amsterdam Hotel.

Private Transfers Schiphol | Private Transfers Amsterdam (viptravelservices.com)

 

Other places to look are Trip Adviser, Viator and

Welcome - Making travel easy, friendly, personal (welcomepickups.com) we used them for our transport from Athens to airport at the end of our cruise.

 

Edited April 20, 2023 by terrydtx

[terrydtx]

38 minutes ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

 

You've convinced me that the private car to and from the airport in Amsterdam is the best way for me to go.  The train is probably the best way to go if you're young and travel light.  However, as we get older it seems like we have more luggage and it's no longer easy to navigate the trains with a couple of suitcases.  Sure I'm looking to save wherever I can, but this may not be the place.  Given the cost of the cruise and the airline ticket to fly to Europe, a few extra dollars for the private car isn't significant in the total cost of the trip.   It's also nice to exit baggage claim and see someone holding a sign that says "Pee".

Last year with 2 cruises from Rome and Venice (Trieste) we used private transfers for all locations for our group of 4 and for the 4 of us it was a lot cheaper than using the cruise line bus shuttles. See my post above for who we used. It is nice after a long overnight flight to see the driver holding the sign with my name on it.

 

We took trains from Rome to Florence and then to Venice. We had luggage for the 4 of us for a 5 weeklong trip. When we were boarding the train in Rome the train cars doors closed on me loading the last of our bags. After that we got more efficient but with all of us over 70, it was not easy schlepping the bags.

Edited April 20, 2023 by terrydtx

[Dar & Bob]

11 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

We used this company to do the Amsterdam to Rotterdam transport. We also used them  for the airport to Amsterdam Hotel.

Private Transfers Schiphol | Private Transfers Amsterdam (viptravelservices.com)

 

Other places to look are Trip Adviser, Viator and

Welcome - Making travel easy, friendly, personal (welcomepickups.com) we used them for our transport from Athens to airport at the end of our cruise.

 

Thank you - going to look into it.  I don't feel that old but really don't want to start out the cruise frazzled.  As mentioned by @Ipeeinthepools with the amount we are alreadi spending why not!

[terrydtx]

Just now, Dar & Bob said:

Thank you - going to look into it.  I don't feel that old but really don't want to start out the cruise frazzled.  As mentioned by @Ipeeinthepools with the amount we are alreadi spending why not!

For the 4 of us the cost from our Amsterdam Hotel to the Rotterdam cruise port is 219 Euros or 55 Euros per person. The transport from the airport to our hotel is 109 Euros total.

[Jim_Iain]

10 hours ago, terrydtx said:

We are on the Apex in September from Rotterdam which is less than 20 miles from Amsterdam. Both cities share the same airport Schiphol in Amsterdam. We are spending 3 nights pre cruise in Amsterdam and then taking a private transfer to the Apex in Rotterdam. Most of the Apex cruises this summer are sailing from Rotterdam because of water level issues in Amsterdam.

 

Really strange this year -  they are alternating with the TA arriving Rotterdam,  the next cruise departs Rotterdam and Returns Amsterdam, Then the British Isles Cruise Departs Amsterdam and Returns to Rotterdam.    They then do Rotterdam returns for 6-7 cruises then shift back to Rotterdam/Amsterdam until mid-September then heads to Greece. 

[terrydtx]

2 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Really strange this year -  they are alternating with the TA arriving Rotterdam,  the next cruise departs Rotterdam and Returns Amsterdam, Then the British Isles Cruise Departs Amsterdam and Returns to Rotterdam.    They then do Rotterdam returns for 6-7 cruises then shift back to Rotterdam/Amsterdam until mid-September then heads to Greece. 

I agree, the email we got months ago when our September 14th cruise departure moved to Rotterdam referenced water levels and quality issues with the Amsterdam cruise port. Not sure what the real truth is?

[Jim_Iain]

10 hours ago, terrydtx said:

My doctor told me the same thing about Ambien, I am 73 and for the last year I have been using Relaxium Sleep that is advertised on TV and I sleep better than ever, I get it on Amazon.

Hmmm.. I just looked at the ingredients.   I've been using L-Triptophan and Melatonin which is the #2 and #8  ingredient of Relaxium.    When I was working in Ireland I would have to commute back to California every 3 weeks.   My doctor use to prescribe Halcion -  it's a hypnotic and they don't prescribe it much anymore.   Boy would it knock you out.    I would take one when I got on the plane and sleep for the complete flight.    A prescription of 30 would last me 3 months

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, swjumbo said:

You’re probably aware but for the others who are reading this, the quickest and one of the cheapest ways from Amsterdam to Rotterdam is by train.

Very, very reliable and many departures throughout the day.

Might be difficult with luggage though.

 

We will be doing the train.   Luggage is no problem as we also often travel with a EuroRail pass.   As long as you have wheels should be ok but as I recall in Civitavecchia you have to use stairs to go down and up to cross to the departure track.    

 

Dutch Rail is really convenient and if you download the NS App you can buy your scanable Rail ticket as well as daily passes for the Tram/Bus system in Amsterdam

[terrydtx]

20 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Hmmm.. I just looked at the ingredients.   I've been using L-Triptophan and Melatonin which is the #2 and #8  ingredient of Relaxium.    When I was working in Ireland I would have to commute back to California every 3 weeks.   My doctor use to prescribe Halcion -  it's a hypnotic and they don't prescribe it much anymore.   Boy would it knock you out.    I would take one when I got on the plane and sleep for the complete flight.    A prescription of 30 would last me 3 months

Before I started using Relaxium I would wake up between 2 and 3 am and toss and turn for hours. Now I sleep through the night, even with a pee break or two and feel well rested in the morning with no prescription hang over. My doctor who is 70 years old told me about the product and highly recommended it to me.

[Jim_Iain]

What a great evening we had last night!

 

We bumped into a wonderful couple, Susan and Charles, that we met in OVC Tuesday who recognized us from the FB Zenith group.    The just happened to show up at Luminae at 8:45 when we did they invited us to join them.  

Time melted away with wonderful conversation.  All of the sudden we heard a click and the whole restaurant went black.    The staff ran out with iPhone flashlights, profusely apologizing.  It was 11:30 and they said the bridge has the lights programmed to go off.  
 

We joked with them about the shuttle way of telling us it was time to go.   We didn’t realize it was so late and decided we better leave. 
 

 

[Jim_Iain]

I awoke at 6:00 and decided to get up.   Started my morning with some walking and enjoyed watching the sunrise. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 20, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

At 6:30 Al Bacio opened and got a much needed shot of caffeine and some yummy Greek yogurt. 
 

Full of energy I went back to the rum to retrieve my AirPods and went to the gym for 45 minutes on the elliptical.  
 

My cool down laps was reward with a reminder to follow the yellow brick road. 
 

 

 

 

Edited April 20, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

27 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

Before I started using Relaxium I would wake up between 2 and 3 am and toss and turn for hours. Now I sleep through the night, even with a pee break or two and feel well rested in the morning with no prescription hang over. My doctor who is 70 years old told me about the product and highly recommended it to me.

 

I'll have to give them a try.  

[terrydtx]

49 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

As long as you have wheels should be ok but as I recall in Civitavecchia you have to use stairs to go down and up to cross to the departure track.    

For that reason, last year we took a private transfer from Civitavecchia to the Rome train station to catch our train to Florence. Didn't want to navigate the stairs and changing trains in Rome. I will say the high-speed express trains are amazing to Florence traveling at over 150 MPH. When they say they depart at a certain time they mean they will depart at that time by closing the car doors.. They wait for no one.

 

Last year the Italian government required that all passengers on public transportation (trains included) had to wear a mask for the whole trip. In our car to Florence there was a couple who refused to wear masks after the train started moving.  After a much-heated argument with the conductor, they were escorted off the train at the first stop. There were police waiting for them on the train platform.

Edited April 20, 2023 by terrydtx

[Dar & Bob]

@terrydtx  Thanks for the info on VIP transfers, I now have one less thing to worry about!!

[Jim_Iain]

[Jim_Iain]

For those adventurous ones going my train, the NS app even gives walking directions. 
 

[Ipeeinthepools]

One last question for those experienced travelers.  I'm not trying to start a debate and I would just like to know the local expectations.  What is the expected gratuity to the driver for these trips?