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*~ Cruising (travel by Waterways) megathread ~*

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,589 ✭✭✭patmac


    We're looking at doing an Alaska Cruise next summer as our honeymoon. I'd prefer to get one of the smaller ships (1st cruise) Holland-America or Norwegian, just wondering how soon to book as presumably the balcony rooms with views onto the coastline book out first? Can you chose when booking that you're on the starboard side - we'd be going from Vancouver or Seattle to Anchorage? Not much point in getting a balcony if you're just going to be looking at the empty sea rather than the coastline/glaciers etc.

    So, anyone cruised with Holland-America or Norwegian in Alaska? Would you recommend them over the bigger ships? Any other thoughts on Alaska? Would we be better booking for late August early September rather than late July-early August?

    We went on an Alaskan cruise with Silverseas 4 years ago, the cruise line was brilliant we seemed to have got a really good deal as Silverseas cruises are normally prohibitive. Unfortunately the weather was poor it rained 5 days out of 7 in August, it rains 300 of 365 days a year there, a bit like here, so it is pot luck, maybe June could be better. Also all the shops around the ports were bought up by the cruise lines so you had to go further into town to find the local ones.


  • Posts: 7,499 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    PaulieG wrote: »
    Hi, does anyone know if I can buy a roaming package of some sort for a smart phone while between countries on a ship? Is this a thing? Thanks.

    I went on a 3 week(almost) cruise last year and absolutely loved not having the internet :D

    The drinks package kept me entertained:cool:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,921 ✭✭✭✭hdowney


    I went on a 3 week(almost) cruise last year and absolutely loved not having the internet :D

    The drinks package kept me entertained:cool:

    Yea I think I am going to find it weird but interesting and relaxing not having the internet when I go on my cruise. Obvs I'll have it in port if there's WiFi in places, but not being plagued by facebook posts and the like should be peaceful


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,707 ✭✭✭whippet


    hdowney wrote: »
    Yea I think I am going to find it weird but interesting and relaxing not having the internet when I go on my cruise. Obvs I'll have it in port if there's WiFi in places, but not being plagued by facebook posts and the like should be peaceful

    it is nice not having it .. mind you I did download the Times and Sunday Time to my iPad when I got to port.

    the only time you will miss the internet is when you are left with little choice but to sit through the onboard entertainment and shows which are a naff as can be possible.

    Make sure to bring loads of movies / books for your own entertainment.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,344 ✭✭✭Thoie


    I avoid the internet as much as possible when cruising, and don't go looking for it in ports. If I happen to be sitting having a drink somewhere and notice there's wifi, I may drop a quick mail home, but I don't seek it out. Similarly with movies etc - I try to avoid them as much as I can, and stick with reading books or meeting new people. Or just sitting, looking at the water with a drink in hand.

    Sitting is very much underrated I feel :)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,921 ✭✭✭✭hdowney


    Thoie wrote: »
    I avoid the internet as much as possible when cruising, and don't go looking for it in ports. If I happen to be sitting having a drink somewhere and notice there's wifi, I may drop a quick mail home, but I don't seek it out. Similarly with movies etc - I try to avoid them as much as I can, and stick with reading books or meeting new people. Or just sitting, looking at the water with a drink in hand.

    Sitting is very much underrated I feel :)

    This would be so me. Sitting with a book and drink in hand, sitting with drink in hand watching the scenery or sitting with drink in hand watching people! As long as there's a drink in hand I'm good!!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭deisemum


    coylemj wrote: »
    Did that cruise with MSC in April 2014 except we stopped in Dubrovnik on the way back whereas you are stopping in Kotor.

    Let me offer some advice on the various locations....

    In Venice the best view (of St. Mark's Square) will be on the port (left) side of the ship departing on the first day and the other side coming back. That means that if your cabin is on the right (starboard) side of the ship, find yourself an open deck (that usually means the top deck near the pools) on the left side of the ship when departing Venice for the best view on your first day.

    Katakolon is a small town with a big long street. There's space at the dockside for a couple of cruise ships and on the day we arrived there was a Holland America ship in town along with us so the restaurants were fairly overwhelmed with the flood of arriving tourists. This can lead to a situation where you sit down, order food and then you have to wait for up to an hour for it to arrive or (as happened with us), they have such a backlog of orders in the kitchen that they ignore you and won't give you a menu. In that town I'd advise you not to sit down at the restaurants with lots of tables outside, they may not be able to serve you within a reasonable period so I'd go instead to one of the smaller places with only indoor seating, that way the kitchen will probably be able to cope and you won't be waiting half the day for your food.

    In Santorini you will be brought ashore by tender and you then have to decide if you will walk up the hill, hire a man and a mule or take the cable car, I'd advise you to take the cable car and then either come down on foot or by the cable car but be warned that if you walk down the steps, as you approach the bottom you will have to pass the place where the idle mules and their handlers hang out and the smell of dung is overwhelming. If it's a very hot day or the steps are wet, take the cable car down.

    The evening before you arrive in Corfu you'll get the hard sell to buy a ticket for the coach transfer into the town, do not fall for this. When the ship docks, just come off the boat on foot, walk to the ferrry terminal which you will be able to see about 500m away and right outside the terminal you can get a municipal bus to the town for about €1.50.

    I'm on countdown now, 2 weeks today I'll be on the above cruise.

    When you were in Katakolon did you go to Olympia or do a tour of the island?
    Did you do a tour of Bari, Kotor and Athens?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,175 ✭✭✭angeldelight


    Anyone cruised with Celebrity and a baby? We're off on an 8 night Norwegian Fjords cruise in 3 weeks and I'm really nervous now!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,501 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    deisemum wrote: »
    I'm on countdown now, 2 weeks today I'll be on the above cruise.

    When you were in Katakolon did you go to Olympia or do a tour of the island?
    Did you do a tour of Bari, Kotor and Athens?

    We didn't do any tour in Katakolon or Bari, just explored the town, our cruise didn't stop in Kotor (we docked in Dubrovnik) and in Athens I think we got a regular local bus to the Parthenon, then we hopped on one of those red double-deckers for a trip around the city, that brought us back to the Parthenon where we caught the original local bus back to the boat.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 843 ✭✭✭Yellowledbetter


    Anybody know when RCI will unveil their itineries and availability for 7+ night Bahamas cruises from New York for October next year? Did a Western Caribbean cruise on the Oasis for Honeymoon last year and would like to go on the Athem for anniversary next year. They seem to have availability for almost every other destination up to late 2017 on the website but not for the Bahamas which only goes up until April next year


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,712 ✭✭✭roundymac


    Anyone cruised with Celebrity and a baby? We're off on an 8 night Norwegian Fjords cruise in 3 weeks and I'm really nervous now!
    We're doing a Baltic cruise with Celebrity later in the year. I'd be interested on how you found them, eating that sort of thing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,175 ✭✭✭angeldelight


    roundymac wrote: »
    We're doing a Baltic cruise with Celebrity later in the year. I'd be interested on how you found them, eating that sort of thing.

    If I forget to post back when we get home just give the thread a bump!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭deisemum


    Just starting to pack now, staying near Dublin airport tomorrow night before an early morning flight to Venice on Sunday. I hate packing and sorting out food and stuff for my sons. :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,344 ✭✭✭Thoie


    I'm mid packing as well, though I have a few more days.

    Have a fab trip!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭deisemum


    Thoie wrote: »
    I'm mid packing as well, though I have a few more days.

    Have a fab trip!


    You too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭deisemum


    I got back from my cruise this evening, we had a great time. I'm give a review tomorrow when I've got more time and not so wrecked.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 608 ✭✭✭mockler007


    booooooats


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 608 ✭✭✭mockler007


    so over the years and its around 10 , ive been boating on the shannon, i had used emerald star but now have moved to Carrickcraft boats in better condition.
    i use their carrick marina, and have used various boats over the years, from 29 foot to 37 foot
    ive started with a 3 day trip and caught the bug,
    now i do a week but have done 11 days in the years past
    ive a week booked for the end of may with carrickcraft on their wexford class boat, 37footer, lovely wooden floors, wine and beer fridge, flush toilet, bow thrusters you name it,

    ive done carrick to beleek in 23-25 hours cruising around 2.5 days each way
    and carrick to killaloe in 23-26 hours 2.5 day each way
    as i love boating i like to cruise for long extended hours break for lunch and then cruise till i tie up in the evening, not into stopping off in every town,
    i get up early to enjoy a peaceful start to the day, and cast off around 7-8am
    ive stopped in most towns over the years and have my favorites, beleek, lusty beg island, kesh, castle archdale, enniskillen, ballyconnell, ballinamore, leitrim, boyle, carrick, dromod, tarmonbarry, glasson, athlone, shannonbridge, garrykennedy and killaloe.

    i get the non refund damage waiver and diesel has cost me 150-178euro for 11 days cruising last july, keep the revs down is my advice
    also if you intend to cross any of the big lakes always check the met service for the inland lakes winds warning, can be found on their website. :eek:
    i crossed lough ree on the way to athlone one april 2007 and it was sunny at the start and changed very quickly to high winds and hail, quite rough, took shelter in lecarrow as the mother and then girlfriend were a bit pale, had the same coming back from beleek last july in lough erne, had to head back to rosscor i think its called and wait 2 hours for the winds to die down and visibility too improve, it was quite rough, treat the lakes with respect and plan your journey and have a back up marina and you will be ok

    my itinerary for this may is as follows (average cruising times)
    early collection at 2pm with a 6 hour cruise down to tarmonbarry tie up for the night
    early start with a 6 hour cruise to athlone for a stop off in seans bar and then another 2 hour cruise to shannonbridge tie up for the night and head to the great pub there thats a pub/shop,
    then a early start too killaloe with a 13 hour cruise with a stop off in larkins in garrykennedy
    potter around lough derg on the tuesday with a 5 hour cruise to portumna to go through the last swingbridge 19:30 opening and tie up tuesday night ,
    wednesday early start again with an 13 hour cruise too tarmonbarry, early star for a 6 hour cruise to carrick
    optional if not delayed during the week is then an 8 hour cruise on the thursday up to lough key
    friday a 3 hour cruise to leitrim for some lunch and head back down to carrick on the friday for refuel before 5pm and last night out in carrick.


  • Registered Users Posts: 423 ✭✭whiz


    Hi Guys,

    I am looking at booking a 4 day Bahamas cruise for 3 adults, that departs Miami on the 29.08. The cruise will probably be with Royal Caribbean, but as I never booked a cruise previously I would like some advice :

    1. I am aware that some websites charge lower rates than others, can anybody recommend a website ? plus do some websites give cruise perks that others don't ?

    2. Should i hold off on booking the cruise till July as the cruise price may drop further ?

    3. Booking for 3 adults, is the cheapest option to get 1 cabin ?


    Any responses appreciated


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,175 ✭✭✭angeldelight


    roundymac wrote: »
    We're doing a Baltic cruise with Celebrity later in the year. I'd be interested on how you found them, eating that sort of thing.

    Got home yesterday - cruise was a bit of a disaster but nothing to do with Celebrity. We had our baby with us and it turns out she's miserable when away from home hence we were miserable.

    Food was really really good especially in the buffet - standard fare like burger and chips etc but also fresh pizza, sushi, stir fry made in front of you. Excellent staff, lovely ship (we were on Eclipse), great service. The one letdown was the entertainment - nowhere near the quality of Royal Caribbean. I would certainly consider Celebrity again


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  • Registered Users Posts: 146 ✭✭topspur


    Any information regarding cruise holidays around the med taking our first cruise so before we book some of the does and don't please


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,271 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    topspur wrote: »
    Any information regarding cruise holidays around the med taking our first cruise so before we book some of the does and don't please

    Always research your own trips on shore. The ship-offered ones will be a sizeable amount more expensive. Their only advantage is that the ship will wait for you if the ship-offered trip is late. It's easy enough not be late back to the boat and yes, they will leave without you if you're not on board.

    An extra night in your port of departure is nice, so that your first day is not spent rushing to the boat.

    If you know what port you are leaving from, people can give more specific tips.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,344 ✭✭✭Thoie


    topspur wrote: »
    Any information regarding cruise holidays around the med taking our first cruise so before we book some of the does and don't please

    Cruiseline and itinerary information would help people give better responses, along with age groups (elderly couple alone, young family with toddlers?) but here's a few generic points:
    • Food is usually included, most ships have restaurants where you can pay extra if you want.
    • Drinks (other than water, tea, normal coffee) generally aren't included. Most lines do some form of alcohol or soft drinks package. These vary wildly in price by cruise line. Only you can know if it's worth it for you.
    • Inside cabins are not as claustrophobic as you may think - more like being in a hotel room with the curtains closed. They're usually a lot cheaper.
    • Children in nappies, even swim nappies, aren't allowed in the swimming pools on most lines. No, not even your child. No, even if your child is super special.
    • You may be allowed board the ship as early as 10:30 am (depending on circumstances), but your cabin probably won't be available until at least 1pm. You can check luggage at the pier which will be delivered to your cabin at any point during the evening. If you carry on bags with you, remember you'll be lugging them around until your cabin opens - plan appropriately.
    • The prices shown when booking generally exclude the "daily gratuity" - an automatic service charge of around $10-$14 per person, per day. You can either pay this in advance, or it will be added to your on board account each day, and you pay it at the end.
    • Drinks on board will usually have an 18% service charge added (so the $10 will cost you $11.80).
    • Other than casinos, you don't really need cash on board - everything is charged to your cabin.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,501 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    spurious wrote: »
    Always research your own trips on shore. The ship-offered ones will be a sizeable amount more expensive.

    + 1 in almost every case you will be able to get ashore and into the local town for far less than the cruise company will be asking you to pay - even just for basic transport with no excursion.

    For example, the evening before we arrived in Dubrovnik, we were being bombarded with a sales pitch over the PA system for the bus from the cruise ship berth to the walled city - last remaining tickets going fast etc. etc. We ignored the hard sell and the next morning we walked off the ship to find a row of taxis waiting for us. We asked the guy at the head of the queue how much to the old city - €10 for the three of us one-way in a spotlessly clean Skoda Oktavia instead of paying the cruise company about €19 each for the round trip. On the way back we boarded the bus heading for our ship, nobody asked to see our tickets!

    Another example was in Corfu, we walked about 1 km from our berth to the ferry terminal and right outside we got a municipal bus to the town which cost €1.50 instead of paying the cruise company about €15 for the same trip. The standard sales pitch will greatly overstate the distance from the berth to the town, it's usually much closer and even if it's too far to walk, you can be 100% certain that there will be taxis waiting for your business and even if there's only two of you, it will probably still be cheaper than the official transport.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,249 ✭✭✭kbell


    We did the same in Corfu last year.
    Were you on the Norwegian Jade coylemj?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭deisemum


    When I was in Corfu a few weeks ago there were free shuttle buses alongside the ship that brought us to the ferry terminal. Outside in the car park the local bus was waiting to take us to the town centre, it cost €1.70 each way.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,501 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    kbell wrote: »
    We did the same in Corfu last year.
    Were you on the Norwegian Jade coylemj?

    No, MSC.
    deisemum wrote: »
    When I was in Corfu a few weeks ago there were free shuttle buses alongside the ship that brought us to the ferry terminal. Outside in the car park the local bus was waiting to take us to the town centre, it cost €1.70 each way.

    That must be a new service laid on by the port, or maybe the bus drivers were on a lunch break when we arrived as we had to walk to the ferry terminal. The buses that were waiting beside our ship were only there for the people who had paid for the trip to downtown. The walk to the terminal from our berth was about 1 km so not a big deal for fit people.


  • Registered Users Posts: 83 ✭✭blackwarrior


    Wondering what is the best place to overnight on Lough Ree north of Athlone? I've emailed several of the marinas on the eastern shore, but no replies. Shore power & showers/toilets ideally. On my own boat nest week. Thanks.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,501 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Wondering what is the best place to overnight on Lough Ree north of Athlone? I've emailed several of the marinas on the eastern shore, but no replies. Shore power & showers/toilets ideally. On my own boat nest week. Thanks.

    Most of those places on eastern Lough Ree just north of Athlone (the inlet east of Coosan Point is known as the 'inner lakes') are just into boat and engine maintenance and winter berthing, they're not really geared to people doing an overnight stop. Ring them if you're still interested, wouldn't rely on e-mail.


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  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,752 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tabnabs


    Wondering what is the best place to overnight on Lough Ree north of Athlone? I've emailed several of the marinas on the eastern shore, but no replies. Shore power & showers/toilets ideally. On my own boat nest week. Thanks.

    Private marinas on the Shannon are generally not set up for overnight visitors. A very different system to the coast. The Shannon has a myriad of harbours that are free and these are normally used instead.

    You have Hodson Bay (beside the hotel & bar, no shop nearby).

    hodson_bay_hotel_lakelands.jpg

    or Lecarrow

    518443975737_145738001502292.jpg

    or Portrunny

    3083+Portrunny.JPG


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 137 ✭✭Saysay19


    Myself and himself are going on a cruise in September. It's for 7 days.

    What kind of spending money would I need. We have drinks packages and dinner included.
    2 days at sea and 5 stopping off!

    Any idea I would be grateful !


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,843 ✭✭✭✭Strumms


    Saysay19 wrote: »
    Myself and himself are going on a cruise in September. It's for 7 days.

    What kind of spending money would I need. We have drinks packages and dinner included.
    2 days at sea and 5 stopping off!

    Any idea I would be grateful !


    It would probably help if you actually mentioned what country's you would be visiting... as well as what sort of things you would be doing when you come ashore... ie. much shopping etc.... ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,354 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    You'll need somewhere between €5 and $50000. About ¥50. Give or take.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 137 ✭✭Saysay19


    Strumms wrote: »
    It would probably help if you actually mentioned what country's you would be visiting... as well as what sort of things you would be doing when you come ashore... ie. much shopping etc.... ?

    Venice, Croatia, Turkey and 2 Stops in Greece.

    We were thinking of doing shopping in Turkey and excursions everywhere else.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,843 ✭✭✭✭Strumms


    Saysay19 wrote: »
    Venice, Croatia, Turkey and 2 Stops in Greece.

    We were thinking of doing shopping in Turkey and excursions everywhere else.

    Did a very similar cruise actually least year with MSC apart from a stop in Bari as opposed to two in Greece...

    None of those places are expensive aside from Venice however if you are starting and or finishing the cruise there you only likley expense there would be transport from the airport to the port which is expensive so do a bit of research on that..

    Considering you have a drinks package you won't spend any money on the cruise ship itself so I'd imagine somewhere along the lines of 180 euros each per day to cover your shopping, incidentals, food, taxi's and anything else you want to do... either way if you dont spend it it comes back with you...if you are stopping off in Istanbul BTW beware of local taxi drivers.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,501 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Saysay19 wrote: »
    Venice, Croatia, Turkey and 2 Stops in Greece.

    We were thinking of doing shopping in Turkey and excursions everywhere else.

    'Excursions everywhere else' will cost you, they are typically a rip-off, especially if it's just a bus to a local tourist hot spot. For example, is your stop in Croatia the city of Dubrovnik? If it is, do not buy a ticket onboard your ship for a bus to the walled city, instead walk off the ship and you'll find a line of taxis waiting for you. We (three of us) got a taxi to the city gate and the total fare for all of us was 10 euros instead of a fare of about 19 euros each for the return trip! The taxi was a spotlessly clean Skoda Octavia and the driver spoke a small amount of English but the fellow running the taxi rank spoke good English and he told the driver where we wanted to go.

    Tell us the names of the places in Greece and Turkey and people here can advise you as to what transport options you can avail of locally as an alternative to the official excursions.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,344 ✭✭✭Thoie


    Saysay19 wrote: »
    Myself and himself are going on a cruise in September. It's for 7 days.

    What kind of spending money would I need. We have drinks packages and dinner included.
    2 days at sea and 5 stopping off!

    Any idea I would be grateful !

    Things to spend money on on the ship outside of dinner and drinks would be duty free, souvenirs, handbags, casino, etc. All of these are totally optional, and would be charged to your room account, which you can pay by credit card at the end. Depending on cruise line, room service is generally free most of the time, but it's normal to tip the waiter a few dollars. Additional tips are about the only extra things you need cash for on the ship. All onboard purchases are totally optional, so how much you spend is up to you.

    Shore excursions, booked through the ship can vary between $20-$200 per person - they're all visible (and bookable) ahead of time so that will give you an idea of the costs of those. You can also make your own arrangements which can often be cheaper, but the shore excursion price list will give you a good idea of the costs of things in the area. Add to that some money for taxis and lunch in port.

    Even knowing all the details of what you're doing, no-one else can really judge what you'll spend. For all we know you could be a $10,000 a day gambler :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,707 ✭✭✭whippet


    Last year on a 14 day European cruise with two kids we managed to rack up a balance of about 3k on board ... We had a full drinks package included in the cost of the cruise. What you send is totally up to you but you don't go on a cruise to be frugal !


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 137 ✭✭Saysay19


    Thanks everyone for your replies! On my phone so can't reply (don't know how to reply individually!)

    We are stopping off at Dubrovnik, Croatia so thank you for that tip on the taxis!!

    We will be going to Kusadasi Turkey, Santorini and Katakolon Greece.

    Defnitely don't have a 10,000 a day gambling problem. I wish I could afford to 😂

    We had a stressful few years so we really want to enjoy ourselves and not watch ourselves. I'm aiming to have €2,500 going.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭deisemum


    Santorini: You'll be taken by tender to shore. What the majority of people including myself did was take the large speedboat from where we got off the tender - you cannot miss it, to Oia where a bus took us up the hill to the village and we spent some time there. It's full of tiny cobbled streets and gift shops. When we were finished we went back to where the bus dropped us and got the bus to Fia. We got the cable car back down the sheer cliff to the tender. The cost of the speedboat and bus cost €15 each, you buy the tickets in the ticket office and the cable car cost €5 each. You can walk down but it can take at least 30+ mins and you spend your time dodging the mules and their dung and on the way down there's a large area where the mules are tied and it stinks to high heavens. If you get the cable car there can be very long queues unless you're coming back a bit early.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,501 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Saysay19 wrote: »
    Thanks everyone for your replies! On my phone so can't reply (don't know how to reply individually!)

    We are stopping off at Dubrovnik, Croatia so thank you for that tip on the taxis!!

    We will be going to Kusadasi Turkey, Santorini and Katakolon Greece.

    See this post of mine from last August where I gave some advice based on my experience in Santorini and Katakolon ........

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=96724957&postcount=405


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 137 ✭✭Saysay19


    coylemj wrote: »
    See this post of mine from last August where I gave some advice based on my experience in Santorini and Katakolon ........

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=96724957&postcount=405

    Thank you very much for this!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 137 ✭✭Saysay19


    deisemum wrote: »
    Santorini: You'll be taken by tender to shore. What the majority of people including myself did was take the large speedboat from where we got off the tender - you cannot miss it, to Oia where a bus took us up the hill to the village and we spent some time there. It's full of tiny cobbled streets and gift shops. When we were finished we went back to where the bus dropped us and got the bus to Fia. We got the cable car back down the sheer cliff to the tender. The cost of the speedboat and bus cost €15 each, you buy the tickets in the ticket office and the cable car cost €5 each. You can walk down but it can take at least 30+ mins and you spend your time dodging the mules and their dung and on the way down there's a large area where the mules are tied and it stinks to high heavens. If you get the cable car there can be very long queues unless you're coming back a bit early.

    Thank you!

    Have you gone recently? Was it brilliant?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭deisemum


    Saysay19 wrote: »
    Thank you!

    Have you gone recently? Was it brilliant?

    End of April just gone. It's very pretty but a day is more than enough there.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 137 ✭✭Saysay19


    deisemum wrote: »
    End of April just gone. It's very pretty but a day is more than enough there.

    Lovely, were you on a cruise too?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭deisemum


    Saysay19 wrote: »
    Lovely, were you on a cruise too?

    Yeah, my second one.


  • Registered Users Posts: 83 ✭✭blackwarrior


    Tabnabs wrote: »
    Private marinas on the Shannon are generally not set up for overnight visitors. A very different system to the coast. The Shannon has a myriad of harbours that are free and these are normally used instead.

    You have Hodson Bay (beside the hotel & bar, no shop nearby).

    or Lecarrow

    or Portrunny

    Thanks for the tips. We went Garrykennedy to Carrick-on-Shannon and back. Overnighted in Banagher (Silverline), Quigley's Marina on Lough Ree, Cloondara and Shannonbridge. All worked well. We had two hotel nights in Carrick.

    Great trip, really interesting once you go north of Lanesborough and start entering the locks and smaller lakes. We also took in Lough Allen on a day-trip from Carrick, including Leitrim village and the Lough Allen canal.

    Recommended, and I'll do it again, and more.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 164 ✭✭captain caveman


    Hey guys!

    We're heading on our first ever cruise on Saturday (MSC Magnifica - Venice, Bari, Katakolan, Mykonos, Athens, Dubrovnik, Venice). Any tips on what to expect on board or anything we should look out for?

    We didn't purchase a drinks package (not huge drinkers, a glass of wine with dinner and maybe a beer or two), but wondering about waters outside of meal times. Should we just have booked a drinks package and have it all included?

    Seeing a few people saying avoid the hard sell for trips etc, are any of them worth doing or is it best to find a taxi into town ourselves?

    Thanks for any advice :)

    CC


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,344 ✭✭✭Thoie


    Hey guys!

    We're heading on our first ever cruise on Saturday (MSC Magnifica - Venice, Bari, Katakolan, Mykonos, Athens, Dubrovnik, Venice). Any tips on what to expect on board or anything we should look out for?

    We didn't purchase a drinks package (not huge drinkers, a glass of wine with dinner and maybe a beer or two), but wondering about waters outside of meal times. Should we just have booked a drinks package and have it all included?

    Seeing a few people saying avoid the hard sell for trips etc, are any of them worth doing or is it best to find a taxi into town ourselves?

    Thanks for any advice :)

    CC

    Glasses of tap water with ice will be available free of charge from bars, cafe, etc. As will things like tea and coffee - not the fancy stuff, but there will be somewhere to get a bog standard coffee if you want.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 164 ✭✭captain caveman


    Thoie wrote: »
    Glasses of tap water with ice will be available free of charge from bars, cafe, etc. As will things like tea and coffee - not the fancy stuff, but there will be somewhere to get a bog standard coffee if you want.

    Lovely stuff! And do you reckon we've made the right choice re: alcoholic drinks etc? Are single drinks so extortionately priced that you end up spending more than a drinks package would have cost? Thanks again!


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