TessOR

2 hours ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

How’s the crossing going?  I’m looking for weather info and what everyone does all day long…preparing for my first TA next year from Bayonne on Odyssey.  Anyone care to shoot a little advice my way?

Thanks!

The weather has been amazing. Cool mornings and evenings, but sunny and warm during the day. Our first couple of days we just relaxed on the balcony or by the pool. This is our first TA and we found that they do a lot of different things on these than they do on the seven days that we’ve been used to. Each day they have guest lectures on a wide variety of topics. You can take lessons to be a part of a flash mob, join the ship, choir, tons of games and activities going on at all times. Most of the shows have multiple opportunities so you’re not locked into just one night, they even have matinees – which we love. Not sure what kind of advice you’re looking for, happy to provide whatever I can. 

We've used the laundry bag program on almost every cruise we have been on.  It has it's limits, but somehow, in my head, I never considered that hubby can have his OWN bag.  I also pack clothes that do not need ironing.  I traveled in my career a lot and long ago found fabrics that do well packed!  Thanks everyone for the great ideas. 105 days to go - buy who's counting?

We gave up the evening gowns and suits a long time ago.  I generally do slacks and a nice top with jewelry for "formal night".  Initially, we were going to do the TA and then be in the UK for 2 days before leaving for Norway for 7 days at a hotel that would have had laundry facilities.  We decided to stay on the ship for a little 2 nights to France and that's when I started panicking.  The tips I have been getting have me thinking of various solutions.  I am not sure why I did not realize that we BOTH get to do a bag of laundry if needed with our D status. 

In case another greenie stumbles onto this board - here is my plan after gathering tips:

• I ordered laundry sheets today - had never heard of them before
• I finally ordered the magnetic hooks that everyone talks about - for hanging items as needed
• Found reversible dresses - who knew? These are just casual, but with a sweater can dress up for evening if necessary
• I DO use packing cubes, so will order some for hubby as well
• Plan on taking advantage of the laundry days
• Packing only things that can wash in regular wash

Thanks Everyone!   I'm excited!

We are covering a lot of firsts this coming spring.  First Transatlantic, First B2B and just to make it fun, we are doing B2B2B.  At this point, it looks like we will have three different rooms, but that is just logistics.  What has me in a quandary at the moment is packing and laundry.  Altogether - we will have 22 days on board ship and 3 nights at hotels.  Any suggestions for clothing /  packing / laundry services?  I really don't want to lug 15 suitcases and I know there are experts on here that do this all the time.  THANK YOU!

EXCURSIONS!  Christmas is over and I am getting antsy!  We have a good idea of what we want to do in Portugal and Spain, but Hubby is going off to explore Normandy from Le Havre on his own and I am looking at a couple of choices.  Any input on either the Honfleur and Deauville or Rouen tours?  I love impressionist painting and am leaning towards the H&D.   Is anyone else booking one of these?

Taking two of the grandkiddos on their first cruise.  We had originally scheduled this for 2020 and Alaska.  Do-over merits a different location.  Looking for tween-teen friendly activities. 

Connecting the dots with this sailing from the TA to the Norway Fjords.  I like that this has a full day 7:00am - 10pm in France.  We think this might be a great day to rent a car and just explore.  What are your plans?

Anyone else doing this sailing?  We are also doing the 2 night Paris/LeHavre just before (5/10-5/12)

Hi James, there is another group started for this sailing.  It has not been very active so far, but I am hoping that will change after the holiday.

With the price drops, we decided to go ahead and book the two-day Paris/LeHavre sailing after all.  This group has not been very active - hoping that changes as we get closer.  The 2nd time through LeHavre is 7am-10pm so I think we are going to rent a car and explore.  Has anyone been there before?

On 7/27/2023 at 11:11 PM, wiltsw said:

They have the wreck of the Mary Rose (sank in the 1500s raised in the 80s) as well as HMS Victory which fought in the battle of trafalgar. 
 

Or there is the Seacity Museum which covers Southampton history , including the titanic  

Alternatively rent a car and go for a drive into the new forest (picturesque and lots of free roaming ponies)

You made my hubby's day.  Before I finished reading your note about Portsmouth, he asked if the Victory was there.  We will definitely do that!  I would be concerned about driving on the opposite side of the road :). I think we will be depending on Uber or Train!

On 5/12/2023 at 2:17 PM, Maddux said:

We are also on this trip and are staying on board for the Norway fjords trip also.  We are interested in visiting the beach’s of Normandy but so far have not found any cruise related tours.  We’re looking into booking a semi private tour like Viator or something similar.  If anyone would be interested or has any ideas on the best way to do the Normandy tour please share. most groups are 8 or less persons.

Jim/Karen

Haven't been on this board for a while, so sorry this is so late in response.  My hubby also wants to do something for Normandy.  I have chatted with others that have done this sailing and it seems RCL will post those much closer to when we sail.  Due to the distance, I am more inclined to book with the ship for this one, but there is a little group forming on FB that may get together with a private tour operator.  I will post here once more info is available.

On 7/16/2023 at 11:31 AM, wiltsw said:

Hi All,

Booked on this cruise yesterday. 

Flying over to the US from the UK a few days before, and plan on exploring the area a little bit. 

 

 

 

I am still figuring out timelines.  We plan to do the Norway sailing that is 2 days after this one.  Would like to see a show in NY while we are traveling, but I have not decided whether to do it at the beginning of the vacation, or after we get back from Europe.  Any tips on things to do while we are in Southampton for a couple days?

Hey All - We are sailing this week in 2024 - How was the weather overall for this sailing?

T

1 minute ago, Ampurp85 said:

The dates to this one has passed. 

Thank you for noting that - I had changed the month and day, but missed the year

I know there are quite a few people sailing on the TA and then this one so we decided to hop on board as well.  We plan on taking 2 days off after debarkation in Southampton and then doing this trip.  We have never been to Norway, not was it on the bucket list, but could not resist since we will already be in the UK.

On 4/5/2023 at 7:10 AM, Dave Reeseg said:

On this cruise too.  I had kind of sticker shock when researching return flight from Heathrow to Newark.  I guess we will have to extend our vacation and visit Ireland where the return flights are more reasonable.

Glad to see someone else here finally!  Still a ways out, but since all the suites of any sort were taken when I booked, I thought there might be some early activity here. 

Still too far out to actually book so I am hoping the rates come down.  I am really hoping to add up enough points in air miles to get a free flight home though.  Using my United card for EVERYthing for the next 6 months! 

I am looking for excursions as well - specifically the RZR tours like the ship offers.  Theirs are full.

1 hour ago, LakeAlto said:

 My concern is if he has to fill out a more extensive health questionnaire at the port, and they ask him if he’s been symptomatic in the past 14 days, he will say yes (he will answer this question truthfully).  At that point, they will most likely deny him boarding. Bummer. 

We were not asked additional questions at the port when we sailed in November.  No temperature taking, nothing.  I was a little surprised by that in fact.  The last "check" we had was the app two days before sailing.  Best of luck to you all!

Just booked this incredible cruise.  It will be our first transatlantic.  Looking forward to 6 days of relaxation before arriving at the first port. 

We are now looking for a snorkel / beach option.  Three months out and still nothing on the RCL app.  Any recommendations for a snorkel tour?  

This looks to be a very full ship, so I’m surprised there is not a lot of activity here yet.  
Maybe now that we are into 2023 it will pick up  

3 hours ago, DoomSlayer said:

When are they going?  I see the Dolphin Experience available in my cruise planner for my Dec. 12 trip. I don't see any mention of maintenance at dolphindiscovery.com for Costa Maya (that is the group that does this).  My wife and I did the dolphin experience in Costa Maya last September and loved it.  Added bonus was that it is in the terminal and close to the ship. 

They are going in March.  I pulled up a December cruise and saw it as well.  Perhaps they just are not populating the app yet for next year.  The dolphin discovery website for Costa Maya said "habitat maintenance".  https://www.dolphindiscovery.com/costa-maya/  I'll reach out to them directly and see if I can get a response.

Maya Chan sounds great for a relaxing beach day for adults.  How about for teens/kiddos?  I have a family traveling to there that has a 16,13,11,and 7 year old.

I have a client looking for a catamaran sail out of Costa Maya for some snorkeling, sightseeing, etc.   I am not finding that type of tour - has anyone taken one there?  They were initially interested in the dolphin experience, but it looks like that habitat is undergoing maintenance of some sort.  Any ideas for something cool to do there?  This is an active family group - so they are not interested in the ruins or beach break type of activities.