Excursions can be expensive, or so I heard. But hey, since this is my first time, I'm willing to try anything.
Your annual vacation/holidays
- Thread starter Kilana2
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Excursions can be expensive, or so I heard. But hey, since this is my first time, I'm willing to try anything.
You will get to walk on a glacier, well if it’s still there by then.Excursions can be expensive, or so I heard. But hey, since this is my first time, I'm willing to try anything.
I hope you like Ottowa. My wife and I hope to see Ottowa too at some point. The canal system looks interesting. I wonder if they do canal boat tours on it.
*cringe*
Sure do!
https://www.ottawatourism.ca/member/rideau-canal-cruises/
And if you go in winter... you can skate on it!
http://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/rideau-canal-skateway
*cringe*
Sure do!
https://www.ottawatourism.ca/member/rideau-canal-cruises/
And if you go in winter... you can skate on it!
http://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/rideau-canal-skateway
as bad as I am on skates, I'm pretty sure the injuries involved and domino effects of people falling would make both a celebrity and applying for long term visa until my bones all set. thanks for the link on the cruises. I have that bookmarked now.
*cringe*
Sure do!
https://www.ottawatourism.ca/member/rideau-canal-cruises/
And if you go in winter... you can skate on it!
http://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/rideau-canal-skateway
*quickly bookmarks those files and passes onto friends as well*
Thanks!
Do you suggest the Nordik Spa in Chelsea, QC as well? I do like a good spa (though I'm figuring it maybe overwhelmed with families and kiddos in August)
Three days till Espana
If you’re asking me in particular, I’ve never been, and so can’t really answer your question.
Sorry I couldn’t be more help.
I came back from my 7-day Alaska cruise yesterday, Sunday, and it was a mostly pleasant experience.
My Favorites:
The port stops and excursions: We docked at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria. Tracy Arm Fjord was canceled due to the extreme fog. I enjoyed the local shops at the first two stops. Tracy's King Crab in Juneau was hands down the best I've ever had in my life. Skagway was a little paradise on earth. I did the Klondike Highway group tour and marveled at the amazing landscapes, particularly the glacier topped mountains, and crossed the Northwest Territories. I didn't get out at Victoria, BC, primarily because the ship got there late in the day, and it was the last night before disembarking.
The Food: The buffet was superior to the average hometown buffet restaurants in terms of quality and selection, whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I signed up for Anytime Dining, but only got to try one of the a la cart restaurants during formal nights. Nonetheless, having gone by myself, I enjoyed everyone's company at the table as well as the shrimp cocktails, escargots, rock cod plate, seafood soup, and the Baked Alaska, among others.
The musical trio: I didn't care for any of the shows, but one thing I loved listening to every day of the cruise was a group called the Adagio Strings Trio. The talented group of young Russian ladies were outstanding. I was there in the atrium's piazza for every single performance they had.
The housekeeping: The staff assigned to my stateroom was extremely diligent, polite, and professional, tidying up my room as many as three times a day, and I didn't make that much mess.
My Dislikes:
Wifi: Onboard wifi was slow and expensive. I purchased the 2.5-hour service twice for $99 each.
Certain websites like YouTube were inaccessible anyway due to limited bandwidth. On the other hand, this was an opportunity for me to have a cell phone detox. People nowadays spend way too much time talking, texting, emailing, and checking social media. It's okay if we're expecting an important call, but not every text or email is urgent that we have to be on the phone 18 hours a day.
Incidental expenses: For the price you pay, you would think you'd get free bottle water, specialty coffee, juices, and certain drinks. I didn't cave in and buy the "espresso package" and instead had to pay for them per order.
Entertainment: Not everyone's idea of enjoyment is sitting at a bar listening to a live rock and pop band. The so called musical performances and concerts didn't appeal to me at all. Where was the magic show? No live theater, no stand up comedy, no magic shows. No live TV. The most fun I had on board was listening to music on my phone and dancing to ABBA tunes alone in my stateroom.
Conclusion:
Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed this cruise and loved Alaska. But my next cruise may not be with Princess.
Overall Vacation: B
Alaska Excursions: A
Cruise Experience: B-
My Favorites:
The port stops and excursions: We docked at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria. Tracy Arm Fjord was canceled due to the extreme fog. I enjoyed the local shops at the first two stops. Tracy's King Crab in Juneau was hands down the best I've ever had in my life. Skagway was a little paradise on earth. I did the Klondike Highway group tour and marveled at the amazing landscapes, particularly the glacier topped mountains, and crossed the Northwest Territories. I didn't get out at Victoria, BC, primarily because the ship got there late in the day, and it was the last night before disembarking.
The Food: The buffet was superior to the average hometown buffet restaurants in terms of quality and selection, whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I signed up for Anytime Dining, but only got to try one of the a la cart restaurants during formal nights. Nonetheless, having gone by myself, I enjoyed everyone's company at the table as well as the shrimp cocktails, escargots, rock cod plate, seafood soup, and the Baked Alaska, among others.
The musical trio: I didn't care for any of the shows, but one thing I loved listening to every day of the cruise was a group called the Adagio Strings Trio. The talented group of young Russian ladies were outstanding. I was there in the atrium's piazza for every single performance they had.
The housekeeping: The staff assigned to my stateroom was extremely diligent, polite, and professional, tidying up my room as many as three times a day, and I didn't make that much mess.
My Dislikes:
Wifi: Onboard wifi was slow and expensive. I purchased the 2.5-hour service twice for $99 each.
Certain websites like YouTube were inaccessible anyway due to limited bandwidth. On the other hand, this was an opportunity for me to have a cell phone detox. People nowadays spend way too much time talking, texting, emailing, and checking social media. It's okay if we're expecting an important call, but not every text or email is urgent that we have to be on the phone 18 hours a day.Incidental expenses: For the price you pay, you would think you'd get free bottle water, specialty coffee, juices, and certain drinks. I didn't cave in and buy the "espresso package" and instead had to pay for them per order.
Entertainment: Not everyone's idea of enjoyment is sitting at a bar listening to a live rock and pop band. The so called musical performances and concerts didn't appeal to me at all. Where was the magic show? No live theater, no stand up comedy, no magic shows. No live TV. The most fun I had on board was listening to music on my phone and dancing to ABBA tunes alone in my stateroom.
Conclusion:
Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed this cruise and loved Alaska. But my next cruise may not be with Princess.
Overall Vacation: B
Alaska Excursions: A
Cruise Experience: B-
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Got back from 15 days in Spain last Friday
Was boiling over there, freezing here
Been finalising the sorting out of my flat, trying to get back in October but money is tight
Was boiling over there, freezing here
Been finalising the sorting out of my flat, trying to get back in October but money is tight
I am loving San Francisco this week.
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Have fun.
We've booked our Hotel and Dining Reservations for our next trip to Disneyworld, we're going from February 15th to the 29th. We'll be there for my Birthday on the 17th, so we will be dining at Victoria's and Alberts for dinner. We haven't been to V&A in several years, so it will be nice to return. We're splitting our stay between the Wilderness Lodge and the brand new tower, opening in December, the Rivera Resort. The Rivera Resort is right on the new Skyliner, so we'll be taking it to Hollywood Studios often. We're going for the two week to really do the new Star Wars land well. We have 5 days planned at Hollywood Studios, plus maybe some park hopping to there as well. We already have reservations for everyone in the family to build our own droids. I have a reservation to build a LightSaber™ at Savi's Workshop and the wife and I have reservations for drinks at Oga's Catina. Really looking forward to this trip and I imagine I will be crying when I get to see the Millennium Falcon in person.
We are also going to Disneyland in May, my wife has a conference in Santa Barbara the last week in July. So the whole family is going and we're still working it out but we will goto Disneyland for a week, either the week before or week after. I'm thinking the week before, but we'll see. I can't wait to go to Disneyland again.
We are also going to Disneyland in May, my wife has a conference in Santa Barbara the last week in July. So the whole family is going and we're still working it out but we will goto Disneyland for a week, either the week before or week after. I'm thinking the week before, but we'll see. I can't wait to go to Disneyland again.
My dad and I are planning a train trip across Canada next summer. I really hope we can get it done...I've been looking forward to doing this for quite awhile now. I love travelling by train, I love Canada, AND I'm always trying to find vacations that my dad and I can do together - so it's win-win. 
We're also working on a return trip to Montréal next March (for the exhibition baseball games which have been reguarly held there these past few years, and which we enjoyed the hell out of, last time we were there) and a jaunt to Arlington, TX to see the new Rangers ball park.
Although for that last bit we will probably make use of Sports Travel & Tours as it's just a lot easier that way. I mean, I LOVE Texas and all that, but they're not really big on mass transit down there so it makes more sense to join an organized tour.
We're also working on a return trip to Montréal next March (for the exhibition baseball games which have been reguarly held there these past few years, and which we enjoyed the hell out of, last time we were there) and a jaunt to Arlington, TX to see the new Rangers ball park.
Although for that last bit we will probably make use of Sports Travel & Tours as it's just a lot easier that way. I mean, I LOVE Texas and all that, but they're not really big on mass transit down there so it makes more sense to join an organized tour.
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I remember you talking about that epic train trip across Canada, I'm glad you're going to get to do it!
Me too!
My dad has taken this trip before (he and my stepmom, back when she was well, did it a couple of times) and loved it. The trip starts in Vancouver and ends in Calgary.
And about those baseball games: I've probably said this a hundred times so I do apologize for that but I love talking about it. anyhoo, the city of Montréal used to have a baseball team - the Expos - but they don't have them anymore (the Expos moved to Washington, DC some years ago and became the Nationals). The MLB commissioner is working on bringing a new Expos team to Montréal and so every year there are a couple of games there, at the end of March, to see whether the fans are up for it. And they are - these games are a huge hit. (The Toronto Blue Jays are the home team, and they play a different team each year. Next year it's the Yankees! 
)
My dad has taken this trip before (he and my stepmom, back when she was well, did it a couple of times) and loved it. The trip starts in Vancouver and ends in Calgary.
And about those baseball games: I've probably said this a hundred times so I do apologize for that but I love talking about it.
anyhoo, the city of Montréal used to have a baseball team - the Expos - but they don't have them anymore (the Expos moved to Washington, DC some years ago and became the Nationals). The MLB commissioner is working on bringing a new Expos team to Montréal and so every year there are a couple of games there, at the end of March, to see whether the fans are up for it. And they are - these games are a huge hit. (The Toronto Blue Jays are the home team, and they play a different team each year. Next year it's the Yankees! )
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We didn’t get a summer holiday this year. That was ballsed up by unnecessary external factors. But, we are going to Scotland tomorrow for the half term break. Woot.
Our plan involves swimming, pandas, museums, trams, clockwork oranges, haggis, a birthday, beer, whisky, and sleep.
Our plan involves swimming, pandas, museums, trams, clockwork oranges, haggis, a birthday, beer, whisky, and sleep.
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