Sharon, maybe you're the one to ask about the train in Germany. We looking at the Connie TA next April - Miami to Hamburg. Then we plan to take the train to Frankfurt airport for the flight home. I checked the trains today and the only options (yes, I realize it's too early for next April, but I curious) are Flexible 2nd class and Flexible 1st class. Since there is almost $300 difference between the two, I am anxious to know what the 2nd class means. Can you help?
Bobbie
Hi Bobbie,
I just did a quick check at www.bahn.de - Ihr Mobilitätsportal für Reisen, Bahn, Urlaub, Hotels, Städtereisen und Mietwagen for you. Since there are almost always special offers on for trains, there is really no need to pay more for the one-way train trip from Hamburg to Frankfurt than you are paying for the ta cruise!! The fast trains run every hour direct-nonstop from Hamburg main train station to Frankfurt Airport or Frankfurt main station. (For example dep. 9:24 Hamburg - arr. 13:16 Frankfurt Airport, 10:24 from Hamburg would involve a change at Frankfurt main station, 11:24 is again direct to Airport) And now -- don't fall off your chair -- the angebot is € 29 per person (ca. $40 today) for 2nd Class fare. There is a "catch" in that you need to book for a specific train, it is non-changeable, non-refundable, which means maybe booking a train later than the earliest possible one -- "just in case", and also the booking must be made at least 3 days in advance of your travel date, and no longer than 3 months in advance. The offers do change occasionally (this one, called the Dauer-Special, is on until Dec. 2009, and may be different by next April, but if you let me know a couple of months in advance, I'll keep watching for you. You can also book 1st class on this offer for about 50% more in cost. So, definitely no need to pay $300 or more for a train ticket! The first class is more comfortable and generally less crowded, but that's the only advantage. (Plus that the seats are a bit bigger).
Funny, we really thought about booking the Connie TA, but couldn't resist the incredible offer on Oceania for the TA from Miami to Barcelona (March 21) with $950 OBC. Of course, we really would rather end in Hamburg (just about 2 hours drive back to where we live in Germany), especially after just having paid a "small fortune" for overweight luggage when we left Stansted last week on Air Berlin to get back to Dusseldorf (the short version -- Flights cost € 29 each, overweight luggage a total of € 220 -- that's what happens when you are travelling for several months in lots of different climates), but ... we have wanted to try Oceania so...
BTW -- for everyone, be very careful about the LCCs (low cost carrier such as AirBerlin, Vueling, Ryanair etc.) flights within Europe. Unless you are checking your luggage all the way through from the U.S.to your final destination (and most of the LCCs will not interline with any scheduled airline), any overweight luggage will cost you between € 8 - € 25 PER KILO!! for short flights. And for some airlines, Ryanair etc., that is beginning with the very first kilo - you are allowed NO free check-in luggage. We were aware of this, but had no other alternative I had originally thought of booking another seat just for the 20 kg allowance, but could not get a definite answer from HQ if this was allowed -- seat yes, luggage maybe). We had already sent 30 kgs.via post from our first spanish port stop, Vigo, to friends in Madrid and still had 25 kg. overweight.
I saw that one. Hubby likes those... we did one in Aruba. It was a hoot!
Cheryl, this one looks a bit watered down, but still appeals. You don't actually go off road even in a four wheel drive, but at least there is just six of you in an open top vehicle which I think will give you a better view of the beautiful Esperanza Forest and Las Canadas. You drive 20 minutes out of the port area by bus to pick up the vehicles, but it still looks fun. Sun screen, even in November a must!
Sharon, if you would go with us (instead of doing laundry) or recommend a guide, I think I'd love to do a private tour. I'm always very excited about visiting a new country/island. We can always specify a time to back to the ship with plenty of leeway for problems.
Garry
Hi Garry,
I'm afraid the laundry is going to be a "necessary evil". That, and checking to be sure the house is still standing.
We do know an excellent guide who has a licensed company on the island (with 5 or 6 vans and buses, all in excellent condition) and I think Phil was in contact with him. I know that Elayne, on the other board, reached him recently to inquire about a private tour. His name is Ronald Bauer and his company is Sun Holidays (www.sunholidays.de) on Tenerife. Elayne mentioned that he has a new eMail address -- info@masca.eu (Tel. 0034 922 86 41 06 -- remember that Tenerife is 5 hours ahead of the US east coast -- 10 AM in New York is 3 PM on Tenerife) I am sure that Ronnie would be absolutely careful about not missing the ship -- his livelihood depends upon it!
About the 4X4 tour----if you have your heart set on it be sure to book it ASAP! It was one of the first ones to sell out on Tenerife.
Also, on the Summit last month in Tenerife ALL the tours met in the theater and were guided out to the busses. What a shambles! The theater was full and only one person in your group came up on stage to pick up your little tour number stickers. The reasoning given was that all busses filled up quickly and any latecomers were out of luck! You had to be with your tour guide out to the bus.
Cheryl, this one looks a bit watered down, but still appeals. You don't actually go off road even in a four wheel drive, but at least there is just six of you in an open top vehicle which I think will give you a better view of the beautiful Esperanza Forest and Las Canadas. You drive 20 minutes out of the port area by bus to pick up the vehicles, but it still looks fun. Sun screen, even in November a must!
Phil
It does look good, I think we may join you on this one.
Hopefully we do better than in Aruba...our 4x4 caught fire on the way back to the bus area. Our guide Lionel had many friends, and one of them passed by and picked us all up at the breakdown location and took us back to the busses. That was some ride back to the bus area... The guy was bombed. We were offloaded and Lionel was standing up in the back of the truck and Drunk Driver floors it. Lionel went flying up into the air and was a big lump of thud on to the ground. We were like OMG!!! He was a beefy guy so after a few minutes of laying there and seeing no movement, he thankfully managed to get up and walk, but I'll be he hurt real good the next day.
Morning Char!!! Thanks for the heads up on booking ASAP...trying to access my booking but it says my reservation is being modified try again later. grrr....
We would do either one. Since we have a "local" reference, my confidence in Ronald is pretty good. Especially if we tell him we will simply move in with him if we miss the ship. Garry and I will join you either way. Let us know which way you decide and we'll book right away (if you decide on the ship's tour) or commit to the private tour if you're still willing to arrange it.
I can't remember if it was Aruba or Curacao where we did the 4x4 we liked so much. There were 4 people in jeeps and we drove ourselves in a convoy. But being driven in an open vehicle sounds good. I got a bit of a neck cramp on the one in the Azores because I had to lean over to keep from hitting my head on the roof.
I was able to get into my reservation but didn't book anything yet. Waiting for Dr. Phil to tell me what I want to do.
About the 4X4 tour----if you have your heart set on it be sure to book it ASAP! It was one of the first ones to sell out on Tenerife.
Also, on the Summit last month in Tenerife ALL the tours met in the theater and were guided out to the busses. What a shambles! The theater was full and only one person in your group came up on stage to pick up your little tour number stickers. The reasoning given was that all busses filled up quickly and any latecomers were out of luck! You had to be with your tour guide out to the bus.
Sharon, when will you be in Orlando again?
Hi Char --
We expect to be back in Florida after the Equinox crossing and will be spending some time in Naples and Ft. Lauderdale and, naturally, in Orlando (maybe even a month or so there). Hope we can get together again -- wouldn't miss it!!
Take good care of yourself and love to you and Bob!
BTW -- looked into joining you on your Panama crossing in September, but it wouldn't work with our coming back over in November. But, while aboard Jewel, we booked B2B2B on Infinity for South America 2011 -- our longest yet, 42 days altogether. See if we actually make it this time. Who's going to join us???
I'd like to do something in Tenerife, but we're not the 4 wheeler type. Would like to do the Canadas del Teide. So if anyone is organizing a similiar tour, privately, we'd be interested. Otherwise, may bite the bullet and give it to Celebrity.
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and still had 25 kg. overweight.
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