…g hotels, packing and spending time on buses and trains between locations. Video of what to Expect on a European River Cruise Watch the video below on the page or on YouTube at https://youtu.be/qgYdXo5cRcM Download my free eBook with more advice and tips Want to find out more? Then downland my free eBook “European River Cruising Tips and Tricks” which has lots of advice, explains how different river cruises work and also the itineraries and line…
…ollection of vintage cars and Victorian memorabilia. Matjiesfontein Milner Hotel Kimberley’s Extraordinary Big Hole Not as strange as it first may seem, the Big Hole is actually an open pit and underground diamond mine in Kimberley, South Africa. It is disputed to be the largest mine excavated by hand and, whilst operations ceased here in 1914, you can still visit the Mine Museum to learn all about the diamond rush that took this area by storm in…
…ng, I recommend the following: Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari. Raffles Hotel Long Bar to have a Singapore Sling Resources: Official tourist site: http://www.yoursingapore.com/en.html My videos: 10 Top Things to do: https://youtu.be/hTw8uXSu5kY Gardens by the Bay: https://youtu.be/LdVYs1ESwuw Universal Singapore: https://youtu.be/wCWzXoGOR20 Bum Boat Trip: https://youtu.be/gKCjmh730nk After listening to the podcast: Please leave a comment on Ti…
…e a look at what Ponant offers. Their ships are small with around 132 staterooms, décor and comfort is akin to a smart up-market boutique hotel, there is a wide choice of quality French cuisine, attentive bilingual French-English crew and a choice of itineraries that take you to exotic and out of the way places. Many of the luxury expedition cruise lines are American owned and have an on-board experience to reflect that. However, Ponant’s roots, a…
…ind you can go on bike excursions. But Viking do tend to focus more on the hotel experience, with the destination more as the hero. Known everywhere! They are definitely well known and on pretty much every river that you want to go on they will have multiple itineraries. You’ll often find when you go to a port there’s often more than one Viking ship in there, because they have lots of different permutations of cruises of different lengths. Viking…
…nd you could be waiting for huge amounts of time. If you’ve perhaps booked hotels, flights, etc with the cruise agent, then with one call or email, the cruise agent has to deal with all of the refunds, and it saves you having to contact the cruise line, deal with the airline, get hold of the hotel, cancel excursions, etc. It’s one simple point of contact. And certainly, talking to agents, I know they have taken a huge amount of stress and strain a…
…uge amounts of time to speak to someone in a call centre. If you’ve booked hotels, flights, etc with your cruise agent, then with one call or email, your cruise agent will deal with all the refunds, and it saves you having to contact the cruise line, deal with the airline, get hold of the hotel, or cancel excursions, etc. It’s one simple point of contact. Exclusive Deals and Discounts – BEST prices Contrary to popular belief, booking through a tra…
…as compensation. How much varies wildly by line. If you’ve booked flights, hotels or excursions through the cruise line they will cancel and refund. But, if booked independently, the cruise lines gives relatively small amounts to cover flight or hotel changes only usually. For example, I usually see $200 per person to cover flight change fees if a domestic flight has been booked independently, and $400 for international ones. As some insurance com…
…in bunk beds. Virgin Voyages has led the way to have crew having their own rooms, and the new Mega ships have more single rooms than ever. In most cases only senior crew get their own rooms, with the Captain, of course, having the best. In some cases, like on Celebrity Edge class ships large and glitzy ones too! Crew do not seem to get a lot of say in who their cabin mates are, though married and partnered crew can usually share. I found a whole r…
…view or balcony, ideally midship for less motion. 5. Forgetting Flight and Hotel Costs One-way flights and pre/post-cruise hotels can eat into savings. Always check total trip costs before booking. 6. Choosing the Wrong Direction Repositionings crossing multiple time zones can be easier westbound (you gain hours each day) and tougher eastbound (you lose hours). 7. Ignoring Practicalities Check visa/ETA requirements for all countries. Don’t assume…
…ay to listen to the podcast. Including listening while using other functions. – Free exclusive show extras – which includes a PDF of facts and tips and also video of a related attraction, tour or hotel. – Email the show with questions and ideas….
