Monday, June 27, 2011
Cattail Cruisers Pre-Theatre Dinner in London, July 15
As some of the group are spending a few days in London before the cruise, I thought it would be fun to get West End theatre tickets & of course enjoy a pre-theatre dinner in Covent Garden! Reservations have been made for Porters English Restaurant. I did this online for our group of eight; Porters get good reviews on Tripadvisor.com! Some of us are going to see Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Theatre in the West End. I know, Jersey Boys in London??? What was I thinking? Well here's the deal... I wanted to see something upbeat, happy, and sing-along to begin our trip. So that's why Jersey Boys rather than War Horse!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
More Travel Tips from Pat
Make two copies of your passports and credit cards (just in the unlikely event that they get misplaced or stolen). Leave one copy in the safe in your stateroom and another copy with family or friends at home.
Remember that pickpockets are common throughout Europe and especially in tourist areas. Do not keep a wallet in your back pocket, but purchase a secure money holder (WalMart has them).
Internet service is available on the ship, but it is expensive. Although we purchase a package of minutes, we generally use internet cafes which are easy to find in every port – and are inexpensive. Just for our travels, we have a yahoo email account for the simple reason that it stores our address book and is easy access.
Cell phone: if you plan to use one check with your provider re: international calls. We purchased an international cell phone online from Mobal, at www.mobal.com. When we purchased our phone a year ago, the cost of the phone was $99 and there are no further fees or charges unless you make or receive calls. I see from Mobal's website that you can get a phone for as little as $29. Note that this phone will not work within the U.S. and calling rates are very reasonable.
You can call home directly from your stateroom on the ship, but the cost is around $10 per minute.
Clothing: Comfortable shoes are a MUST. Depending upon your tours, you could walk a lot and there are lots of cobblestone streets. In the Cathedrals, knees & shoulders should be covered. Open-toe shoes and sandals are fine. I usually pack a shawl in my backpack.
If you are worried about motion sickness: over-the-counter Bonine is what we use and it does not make you drowsy.
Cruisecritic.com: One of my favorite websites! Check out this website for a wealth of information from cruisers like ourselves, cruisecritic.com.
Baggage Allowance: Check with your airline as to baggage allowances; most airlines allow each passenger to check one bag of up to 50 pounds and one carry-on.
Remember that pickpockets are common throughout Europe and especially in tourist areas. Do not keep a wallet in your back pocket, but purchase a secure money holder (WalMart has them).
Internet service is available on the ship, but it is expensive. Although we purchase a package of minutes, we generally use internet cafes which are easy to find in every port – and are inexpensive. Just for our travels, we have a yahoo email account for the simple reason that it stores our address book and is easy access.
Cell phone: if you plan to use one check with your provider re: international calls. We purchased an international cell phone online from Mobal, at www.mobal.com. When we purchased our phone a year ago, the cost of the phone was $99 and there are no further fees or charges unless you make or receive calls. I see from Mobal's website that you can get a phone for as little as $29. Note that this phone will not work within the U.S. and calling rates are very reasonable.
You can call home directly from your stateroom on the ship, but the cost is around $10 per minute.
Clothing: Comfortable shoes are a MUST. Depending upon your tours, you could walk a lot and there are lots of cobblestone streets. In the Cathedrals, knees & shoulders should be covered. Open-toe shoes and sandals are fine. I usually pack a shawl in my backpack.
If you are worried about motion sickness: over-the-counter Bonine is what we use and it does not make you drowsy.
Cruisecritic.com: One of my favorite websites! Check out this website for a wealth of information from cruisers like ourselves, cruisecritic.com.
Baggage Allowance: Check with your airline as to baggage allowances; most airlines allow each passenger to check one bag of up to 50 pounds and one carry-on.
Thoughts on London
If you are planning to stay in London for a day or more (pre or post-cruise),I recommend that you take a city tour to get a good overview and to visit some of the major attractions: Tower of London, Thames River cruise, Buckingham Palace, Royal Albert Hall, etc. As food is pricy in London, we have had fun eating at spaghetti houses, pubs & Chinese restaurants. There is a wonderful chain called “The Spaghetti House” and London’s China Town is near the West End. And of course there is nothing quite like British “fish & chips” and beer! Shopping at Harrod’s is fun but expensive; we usually hit the fabulous & famous Food Court there & purchase some English biscuits or such. Selfridge’s, however, is where I usually shop; it’s a wonderful British department store! The West End (London’s Theatre District) and Covent Garden (you will remember from “My Fair Lady” that Eliza sold flowers there) are really fun areas & are quite close together. If you are interested, there are online sources to purchase theatre tickets; let me know if you want information.
Taxis are expensive (but oh so cute!) so we usually take the Tube (London’s subway system) and get inexpensive day or “oyster” passes. It’s safe, quick, and clean.
Taxis are expensive (but oh so cute!) so we usually take the Tube (London’s subway system) and get inexpensive day or “oyster” passes. It’s safe, quick, and clean.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Glasgow (Greenock), Scotland July 23
Crown Princess docks in Greenock, Scotland which is about 25-30 miles from Glasgow. The town of Greenock is about a 10 minute walk from the pier. I have learned that we will most likely be greeted on arrival by bagpipers and that the good-bye send-off is memorable. The Inverclyde Tourist Group runs free bus tours of the local Greenock area (not tours to Glasgow), for which you can collect tickets on the dock. These tours are offered by local volunteers who have a passion for their local area. The tours are free, but they do ask for a donation to cover fuel costs. You must however be quick, as they are usually full to capacity by mid day. After exploring Greenock, stop at the James Watt Wetherspoon Pub for some fine ales!
Planning to go into Glasgow for the day? While Glasgow does not have the historical past of Edinburgh, there is plenty to see & do. It's a more commercial and industrial city. There is a HOHO bus which leaves from George Square and takes you to most of the city highlights. In George Square itself, you will find the City Chambers, which Tripadvisor.com readers rank as the #1 attraction in Glasgow. If museums and art top your list, about 100 yards from George Sq., in Queen St, is the Museum of Modern Art. Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery is world class. There is so much to see in the museum and the Art Gallery boasts many originals from Picasso, Dali, Monet, Degas, Rembrandt etc. The Peoples Palace at Glasgow Green (city centre park) focuses on Glasgow history. Entrance to all museums in Glasgow is free.
Glasgow Cathedral is a magnificent Gothic building, parts of which date back to the 1200s. Beside this there the Religious Museum and Provands Lordship which is the oldest house in Glasgow (1471).
For shoppers,Buchanan Street the most popular area. The city centre is fairly compact and safe.
Planning to go into Glasgow for the day? While Glasgow does not have the historical past of Edinburgh, there is plenty to see & do. It's a more commercial and industrial city. There is a HOHO bus which leaves from George Square and takes you to most of the city highlights. In George Square itself, you will find the City Chambers, which Tripadvisor.com readers rank as the #1 attraction in Glasgow. If museums and art top your list, about 100 yards from George Sq., in Queen St, is the Museum of Modern Art. Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery is world class. There is so much to see in the museum and the Art Gallery boasts many originals from Picasso, Dali, Monet, Degas, Rembrandt etc. The Peoples Palace at Glasgow Green (city centre park) focuses on Glasgow history. Entrance to all museums in Glasgow is free.
Glasgow Cathedral is a magnificent Gothic building, parts of which date back to the 1200s. Beside this there the Religious Museum and Provands Lordship which is the oldest house in Glasgow (1471).
For shoppers,Buchanan Street the most popular area. The city centre is fairly compact and safe.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Edinburgh, Scotland... July 19
Crown Princess will anchor in S. Queensferry for our visit to Edinburgh (locally pronounced Edinbra). Click here for a map of Edinburgh. One of the highlights is, of course, Edinburgh Castle, a fortress which dominates the skyline. Edinburgh Castle is Scotland's most visited tourist attraction. Some of the Castle attractions include the Great Hall, the National War Museum, the one o'clock gun and the spectacular views: you can see the entire city stretched in all directions from different ends of the castle. Here's a map of the castle. The price for admission to the castle is £14 for adults and you can purchase tickets in advance online.
A walk along the Royal Mile, one of the most famous streets in the world is also a "must do" in Edinburgh. The Royal Mile has Edinburgh Castle located at the top and Holyrood Palace (Scotland's official residence of the Queen) at the foot and is roughly 1.5 miles long. The best way to see the Royal Mile is on foot, but a city bus tour will also give one the feel of it. This is the place to buy your souvenirs... kilts anyone?
Plan to stop at a pub or cafe for a refreshment! Into local cuisine? Then you must try haggis, one of the traditional Scottish dishes. Haggis is a kind of sausage, or savoury pudding cooked in a casing of sheep's intestine, as many sausages are. The haggis is a traditional Scottish dish memorialised as the national dish of Scotland by Robert Burns' poem "Address to a Haggis" in 1787. Haggis is traditionally served with "neeps and tatties" (Scots: swede, yellow turnip or rutabaga and potatoes, boiled and mashed separately) and a "dram" (i.e. a glass of Scotch whiskey. Sound yummy?
After experiencing some history and a tasty Scottish lunch, how about a Scottish whiskey tour? Visit the new Scotch Whisky Experience for a sensational journey! Take a swirling, bubbling barrel ride through a replica distillery as you become part of the whisky making process. Along the way you’ll hear the stories behind this magical craft, with expert tour guides and whisky advisors with you every sip of the way.
Princess offers a variety of excursions for Edinburgh. As Ken & I love to do things "on our own" when we can, we are planning to book the Princess "on your own" tour which will provide transportation to/from Edinburgh. I haven't had much luck in discovering if the city of Edinburgh provides shuttles from the pier at Queensferry that may be less expensive than a Princess tour. So, to be safe, the Princess on your own is on my agenda!
A walk along the Royal Mile, one of the most famous streets in the world is also a "must do" in Edinburgh. The Royal Mile has Edinburgh Castle located at the top and Holyrood Palace (Scotland's official residence of the Queen) at the foot and is roughly 1.5 miles long. The best way to see the Royal Mile is on foot, but a city bus tour will also give one the feel of it. This is the place to buy your souvenirs... kilts anyone?
Plan to stop at a pub or cafe for a refreshment! Into local cuisine? Then you must try haggis, one of the traditional Scottish dishes. Haggis is a kind of sausage, or savoury pudding cooked in a casing of sheep's intestine, as many sausages are. The haggis is a traditional Scottish dish memorialised as the national dish of Scotland by Robert Burns' poem "Address to a Haggis" in 1787. Haggis is traditionally served with "neeps and tatties" (Scots: swede, yellow turnip or rutabaga and potatoes, boiled and mashed separately) and a "dram" (i.e. a glass of Scotch whiskey. Sound yummy?
After experiencing some history and a tasty Scottish lunch, how about a Scottish whiskey tour? Visit the new Scotch Whisky Experience for a sensational journey! Take a swirling, bubbling barrel ride through a replica distillery as you become part of the whisky making process. Along the way you’ll hear the stories behind this magical craft, with expert tour guides and whisky advisors with you every sip of the way.
Princess offers a variety of excursions for Edinburgh. As Ken & I love to do things "on our own" when we can, we are planning to book the Princess "on your own" tour which will provide transportation to/from Edinburgh. I haven't had much luck in discovering if the city of Edinburgh provides shuttles from the pier at Queensferry that may be less expensive than a Princess tour. So, to be safe, the Princess on your own is on my agenda!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Final day on Oasis of the Seas… back to the real world tomorrow!
Oh what a time! Late December back in ‘63, what a special night (time!)..Just remembering a song… I digress… This has been quite a time onboard one of the largest cruise ships in the world! Following a spectacular Cinco de Mayo in beautiful Cozumel, dinner at Chop’s Grille was the icing on the cake! I really can’t decide which I like better, Giovanni’s Table or Chop’s Grille! Meeting the cast of Hair Spray following their small, personal performance of Broadway tunes, was a nice touch.
This morning’s seminar was the final one for this sailing. Peggy and Monika did a fantastic job; our group of agents rocked the Oasis… oh yes, the seminar was topped off by a complimentary visit to the Cupcake Cupboard, compliments of our BDMs, Peggy and Monika! Delish! Today’s session was on social networking, among other agenda items. For those of you who know me, you know that I LOVE socializing, networking, facebooking, and I’ll soon be tweeting! Presentations were made by the groups manager, spa manager, sports & fitness manager, assistant cruise director, and more. Needless to say, I have gained a lot of knowledge & am loving being a part of the travel industry!
After a fun & informative morning of seminar, lunch at Giavanni’s Table awaited… divine once again! I will say, though, that we enjoyed a lighter lunch. Pool time next!!! Beautifully sunny day with lots of poolside activities and music so I found the perfect perch. Reading my kindle ( a novel written by a local from wilmington, NC about british royalty… in preparation for my next trip.. to the british isles!) I also wandered round the ship to take more photos… smile everyone!
We have dinner tonight with the group… time to say our good-byes for the moment. I’ve met some colleagues with whom I will stay in touch and have thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful experience.
Our flight departs tomorrow at 1:05 pm so we shall be back home tomorrow evening in time to order Papa John’s Pizza… YES, I hear that Southport finally has a Papa John’s! Zoey, little furry friend, here we come!
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