Booking Air and Hotel/Transfers for Southampton

You may be shocked, but in my almost 160 cruises I have never sailed out of Southampton!

So I relied on some friends for help.  First our travel agent Neil and Monika Best of Best Dreamy Destinations (and no I get nothing for mentioning them - they are just great!).  And also our friend Roy Bennett.

First we had to book our air.  We did look at Princess Air, but it was almost $1,000 more per person.  So we booked it on our own.  We found a great deal with Air Transat, via Toronto to Gatwick.  Then for return it was surprisingly a great deal from Orlando.  Originally when we were looking the prices were so high as it is the US Thanksgiving that weekend.  But they have dropped considerably.  So we got a sweet direct flight home.

Now for transfers.  We had looked at the train and the bus and would easily and gladly book those - especially because of the price.  

However, we are  now sailing with some friends Lori and Andy and we decided to spend a bit more and book a car service.  Neil and Monika recommended Blackberry Car service to Southampton.  So for $400 we booked it.  

After flying all night and with a 4 hour time change, not to mention we would be arriving early morning and probably not being able to get early access to a hotel room at Gatwick we agreed it would be better to just push it to Southampton and settle in there.

We looked at a variety of hotel options and settled on a recommendation for the Voco Hotel which is part of the IHG chain.  

So all is in place!

Last Minute Booking - Transatlantic on Sky

 

We just booked!  We had been looking at this trip for awhile but we weren't ready to commit.

This week we booked.  It was too good a deal to pass up.

We booked with Neil and Monika Best of Best Dream Destinations - they are the Best to work with.  Very quick to respond and so helpful - especially for new cruisers.

This will be our first cruise as actual guests in two years.  We have sailed alot (160 days in two years) but it has always been as guest entertainers, and that is a very different cruise.

Now we are back as guests on Princess (with our elite perks).  And with the Premier package (which I still believe is the best package of all lines) and is worth it for us.  

So 16 days, leaving from Southampton and ending in Port Canaveral.

Now off to book air, hotel, transfers and tours.

Final Tasks Before Leaving

Lists, lists, lists.  It is what keeps things in order.  List to do before we leave and a list for the day we leave.

We are down to the wire.  Today I went thru my clothes.  I personally like to try most items on.  Does it fit?  Does it need repair?  Does it go with at least two other items?  Is it necessary?  

I often lay out my dress pants and then check blouses that goes with them.  I do the same with shorts and shirts.

In the end for 4 months away I bring (note if I was a guest and not lecturing it would a third less).

• 2 dress pants and 7 blouses (this is the outfit I wear for lectures).
• 3 summer dresses
• 3 pj's
• 3 pairs of shorts
• 3 pairs of light everyday pants
• 1 cardigan
• 2 shawls
• 2 pairs of high heels, 2 flip flops, 2 flats
• 1 formal dress (some of my other items can work on dressy night if necessary).
• gloves and mitts for tip of South America 
• one Christmas sweater
• 1 Halloween costume
• pair of runners
• 7 t shirts 
• undergarments 
• 3 bathing suits and one cover up

That is it for clothes.   

We both got the flu shot and the most recent covid shot, which just became available here on Friday.

Hair cut, pedicure, manicure done too.

The house is ready.  We have guests staying next week so it is ready for them.  Otherwise our neighbours are checking the house regularly.  

Garden has been put to bed for another year.  It was a great growing season.  

All my lectures are backed up.  Paperwork to assist guests are in the folders.  

We are both excited for this contract.  Especially the itineraries,  to learn more about where we are going click here.  

We leave for the airport hotel As our flight is crazy early.  Staying at the Quality Choice Hotel, which our friends Monika and Neil highly recommend. 

Majestic Princess Here We Come - Care To Join Us

I am very excited to announce that I will be joining the Majestic Princess this winter as Destination Expert!  I know!  

After some discussions back and forth with Princess, I have accepted the role for the Grand 51 Day South America Journey.  As many of you know South America is my passion and I love the itinerary.

What really was the deciding factor is I will be back working with the Entertainment Director Ron Goodman.  

Upated...  i now join October 22 and will do 4 ten day Mexican Riviera cruises.  I will be joinng in November to do 3 ten day Mexican cruises.  

Then it is the Grand 51 Day South America Cruise!

Once back in Fort Lauderdale we will do two 14 Day Caribbean cruises.

We love this ship, we love the crew and the itineraries can't be beat.

Care to join us!

Gigi's For Dinner

Ahhh what a relaxing sea day it was.  We slept in.  We read.  We enjoyed great company.  I attended line dance class.  Bernie went to trivia. 

It is also a formal night with the Champagne waterfall.  Love that Princess still does it.  

We decided not to dress formally but still smart casual.  Many, were dressed very casually.

But I am a firm believer that it is their vacation, they can do what they want.  It in no way impacts my holiday.

We get two free casual dining venues per cruise with the plus package.  This ship has three options.  Gigi's pizza, O'Malley's Irish Pub, and Ocean Terrace for sushi.  

Tonight after cocktails in Crooners we went to Gigi's.  It was very very quiet.  3 tables.  We had 3 servers, and two chef's plus the supervisor.  They were on the most part just standing by.  

I started with a Salad and then the Capricosa.  It all was very good.  The Piazza was a little under done in the middle for me so next time I will ask for a little longer in the oven.  

We opted out of dessert.  We couldn't finish our food so no room for dessert.

We then went to the Crown Grill Bar and enjoy the music of the Silver Duet and and after dinner cocktail. 

Quebec City Port - Which One?

Just like my earlier blog about which pier do we go to in Brooklyn.  The same issue arises when talking about Quebec City. 

Quebec City has two cruise piers.  Pier 22 which is right in the lower town - where we use to always dock.  And Pier 30 (Quay 30 in French) which is further away  - and where we now dock.

The port building is huge and is new.  Buses pull right up to the pier.  Taxis and Uber can deliver you right here.  When leaving you can easily call a taxi right from the phone at the base of the escalators that connects you directly to the taxi company.

not far from downtown but further away

Princess operated (in 2023) a free shuttle from the pier to the end of the swing bridge (about 5 minute ride). On the map below it is the blue line.  From terminal to shuttle stop.  You then need to walk about a mile across the bridge - marked in red - to Lower Town.  It is all flat but you can experience cobblestones on many streets in Quebec.

Once in Lower Town you can explore the historic, oldest area of Quebec.  Or take the funicular or stairs up to the Upper Town to Dufferin Terrace, Chateau Frontenac and so many other sites.

Note you can also easily walk right from the ship to Lower or Upper Town.  Takes about a half hour in total and the walk is through some nice park areas.  Note if you are going to Upper Town you will have to climb a steep road.  

And don't forget you can easily grab a taxi or Uber from town back to the ship if necessary.

Hope this helps.  Please share to others.

First Day in Quebec With Travel From Airport Info.

After almost no sleep the alarm sounded at 2 am.  I am renowned for not sleeping before any trip.  My mind just wouldn't shut off.  We were on the road just before 3 for the drive to the airport.

Flights went smoothly.  First plane was so small that almost all carryon roller bags had to be checked as they don't fit in the overhead compartments.  So I had to pull out my laptop, hard drive and put in knapsack.  I can manage without my clothes if my bag goes elsewhere but laptop is necessary for my lectures.

A short flight to Montreal then a 1,5 hour layover before my very short flight to Quebec,

Thankfully both my suitcase and carryon were there when I got to Quebec. Although my android airtags gave me peace of mind as I checked their location and knew they were nearby.  Definitely worth getting for peace of mind.

Although princess had transfers for me to a hotel and a nights accommodation I told them I did not require it and would stay with my sister at her airbnb.

After collecting my bags I went out looking for transport to Vieux Quebec.

I originally was going to do Uber but when I pulled it up and saw the price of $74 I quickly closed the app and decided on a taxi.

For those of you coming into Quebec, there was an information booth right outside baggage claim and they assisted guests with info.  Note there was also a Princess table set up for those on ship's transfers.

The taxi stand is at the other end of the terminal, but there was no wait.

Taxis are regulated and travel from airport to the city is a fixed price of $41.50 and they take debit and credit cards.

Once at her airbnb and big hugs I was able to have a good nap that left me refreshed and ready for the day.

It is raining off and on.  But still warm so a light rain jacket worked.  

The first thing I needed to figure out was how to get to the ship.

Normally the ship docks right in town at pier 22.  But today it docked at pier 30 which is further away and more industrial.  

So I had a few questions.  Do we check in at pier 30 or pier 22?  Do we need to take a shuttle to the ship from the terminal?  Can we walk back and forth from pier 30 to town or is the shuttle mandatory?  

The ship is overnighting in quebec.  All guests get off tomorrow the 4th and we board, then we have another overnight and leave at 5 on the 5th.  

I did see guests walking to the area with blue circle and catching a shuttle bus.  Lines were long.

We walked over to the cruise terminal to see if I can ask anyone but it was all locked up and no one was there.  I may head out early tomorrow to ask at the cruise terminal, where to go for check in.

In the meantime I took my sister Linette and her husband Al on their own private tour of the city showing them lower town and the sites.  Then we walked all around upper town and found a spot for dinner called shakers.

It was a lovely day and night and was topped off with fireworks.  

My Lecture Contracts for the Next Year and a Half

I am super excited to share where I will be for the next year and a half as a Destination Expert on board Princess Ships.

Of course things can change but this is a good outline of where I will be.

Bernie will not be with me on all of them but will join me when he can.  We have been fortunate to line up some house sitters in friends and family and that helps, especially in the summer.

Care to join me?

Caribbean Princess August 4 to Oct 19 doing Canada New England and Greenland cruise.

Enchanted Princess December 8, 2023 to February 26, 2024 doing ten day Caribbean itineraries.

Emerald Princess doing Canada New England.   Stay tuned for dates.  

Then watch for an exciting itinerary early 2025 that is in the works right but can not confirm.  

Life is good, especially when at sea!

Booking EZ Air for Mediterranean Cruise

After booking the Enchanted Mediterranean cruise we now had to look at one way flights to Barcelona.

We did are usual search engines (all incognito) and was shocked at the prices.  

Now everything has gone up.  Anyone visiting a grocery store lately will agree.  But flights!

In 2018 we flew one way to Barcelona (actually one flight to London for a few days then quick jump to Barcelona) and we paid $350 Canadian TOTAL for the flights.

Now we are looking at $900 to $1100 Canadian, and even higher!  And these are just economy seats.

We then thought, why not check EZ Air.

I have used EZ Air on numerous occasions with good results.  Sometimes it is a great deal, sometimes it isn't.  When it isn't I book my own flight.

Biggest downside with booking EZ Air is Princess is booking your flight.  So if there is an issue, you have to go thru Princess.  And everyone knows how many flight changes there have been since the restart with flights.  If a flight gets altered I have to let Princess know and they have to contact the airlines.  

But this time it was worth it.  We got a 3 leg flight (all were pretty much 3 legs) Halifax, Toronto, London and then Barcelona for $800 Canadian each.

Now there are lots of good things about EZ Air too.  Princess will get you to ship if a situation arises with flights.  

Also I don't have to pay for these flights until final payment is due.  This gives me the opportunity to keep watching flights and if something better (routing, time or price) comes up I can change or even cancel EZ Air and book myself.

In the end, I am so glad I have something locked in and booked at a decent price.

Now time to book a hotel.  

Wine Menu From Medallion App March 2023

This is the Wine menu you can order from with room service from Sapphire Princess 2023.

Room Service Menu - March 2023

Here are screenshots of the room service menu from Sapphire Princess March 2023.