Eschew

I am looking at booking a "Holy Land" cruise for September 2010. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciaited.

charli

We are taking one in 3 weeks, will let you know about ours after, if you haven't had many replies.

Eschew

Thanks Charli, the one we are looking at is the Pacific Prncess, 12 days Athens to Rome, with stops at Ephesus, Haifa, Ashdod, Cairo, Alexandria, Sorrento. The Israel portion would have tours to Gaililee and Jerusalem.
I think the Holyland is not exactly a hot destination so I do not expect many esponses. If you ahve a trip report,that would be great. I am concerned about security, travel documents, fellow passenegrs (due to destination) etc.

mamakathy

just got back from our Celebrity holy land cruise and loved every minute on it. The excursions were fantastic, the ship brand new (need I say more). we took an overnight in Cario which was first class. Would highly recommend it to all.

Eschew

Thanks mamakathy, what otehr stops you have and was it "safe" in Jerusalem? I heard on the news that there was riots.

doug_stallings

Actually, Israel is a particularly popular cruise destination. It's only been in the last year that cruises began calling there again, and the cruises that stop in Ashdod and Haifa are really popular. I think you should expect a full ship and some good tours, and this sounds like a good cruise. Tourism to Israel in particular is pretty heavy right now.

When did you hear about riots in Jerusalem?

Dayenu

Doug, there was a riot in Jerusalem and I forgot where, in one more place, due to Yom-Kippur observance, looks like all is back to usual now.

I was on a bus tour when there was a riot in prison, and we would go past that prison, but were re-routed. As nobody in our group understood Hebrew on our guide's walkie-talkie, we didn't even know we took a different road!

Israel is safe for tourists if you are on an organized tour.

charli

Eschew, I hope you are still checking your question. We just returned from our Azamara Journey "Holy Land" cruise and it was just wonderful. Actually, Israel is very popular at the moment and I have to say Israel and the Greek Island of Rhodes were the personal highpoints for me. We were a party of 6 and only I had been on a land tour in Israel back in the 1980s. Everyone left it up to me what to see. I booked a private guide, Gil Yaniv, through Avitours, and he was just what I had hoped - friendly, knowledgable, fun, efficient, etc. comfortable van for 6 psgrs. Can't say enough. From Ashdod we did Masada, Ein Gedi, Dead Sea, Qumaran. From Haifa we did the Christian spots in Jerusalem, Wailing Wall and Bethlehem. Both days were about 10 hours long but they sped by. We stayed overnight on the ship.
We have been to Cairo several times and chose to stay in Alexandria and tour that city. I assume by Cairo you mean Port Said - nothing there unless you take the Cairo/Pyramid etc., tour. Our traveling companions had never been to Egypt and took the ship day tour to the Pyramids, etc. out of Alexandria and enjoyed it very much except for the hawkers who are very aggressive. Port Said, we all relaxed as we knew the next 2 days in Israel would be long.
Two of our travelers were concerned before we went about "safety" in Israel, it was a non-issue and they were much impressed by the country in general, especially after Egypt (so clean). As we sailed out of Haife, my dear friend who is a "news junkie" was amazed to realize that she hadn't really found a thing to be concerned about while there. Sometimes you really have to take our news media for the biased and "mountains out of molehills" news they love to produce, and put it into a real perspective. In fact, I think that is what travel does for you, opens your eyes.
You should have no concern about travel documents (passports only required), or your fellow travelers - I am not sure what your concern was there. Dress conservatively (shoulders and knees covered) in Egypt and Jerusalem. Let the ship and travel companies worry about security, they know what they are doing. Last but not least, in Egypt off the ship, eat only cooked food - never mind those lovely looking salads or fruits. Drink only from sealed bottles.
You will love Ephesus - I love Turkey in general. We stopped at Anatalya on this cruise and it was most interesting with a fabulous museum. Hope this answers some of your questions. I am sure a cruise to this area of the world will be a highlight of your life. Don't let anything talk you out of it.

Eschew

Hi Charli, great info and insight, and Doug, thanks for the reassurance.

Here is the itemary:

3 days Athens pre-cruise, full day tour to Delphi, half day to Acropolis.

12 night cuises, and the ports are: Santorini, Patmos, Kusadasi, Haifa, Ashdod, Port Said, Alexandria, Sorento, Rome

3 days post cruise in Rome.

The cruise is on the Pacific Princess, one of their smallest ship.

There are land excursion options in Israel and Egypt where you stay at hotel rather than the ship overnight. You ended up being able to take shore excursions that takes you further away from the ports.

This is a "packaged deal" with almost direct air to Athen and home from Rome. (only one connection and I'm at the west coast!) I thought the price was reasonable at around 6G per person for everything: air, cruise, hotel, transfers etc (except shore excusrions and on board expenses) The package actually include breakfast in hotel daily, the land tours, and gratuities on board.

Outside cabins $300 extra and balconies another $400. Is the price reasonable? I think I can get cruise only from Princess for 3G (outside) can I do better on my own air and hotel package?

charli

Eschew, I think you have to decide what is best for you and whoever you are traveling with. If there is more than 2, or if you feel comfortable finding others on your cruise to book a small group (like the roll call on cruisecritic.com), you may find the cruise only a bit less costly, but a lot more work. On the other hand, if you are more comfortable with having it all pre-planned and packaged and are happy with the price, that is what I would go for. Not everyone likes the do-it-yourself plan.
Personally, I do not do inside cabins (I hate being in the dark all the time and feel like there is no fresh air - I know outside cabins have the same air, but it is my quirk). I love opening the drapes and being surprised with the view (or not) and prefer a verandah cabin (open door, fresh air). "Expensive" and "reasonable" are in the eyes of the beholder and your budget. Go with whatever is best for you and have a lovely, relaxed, time. Sorrento is so lovely and there is a good little bus tour from the main square for about 7 Euros each.

Eschew

Thanks Charli, we have cruised for many years and have yet been in an inside cabin. Don't spend much time in the cabin but likes the natural light. We keep our drapes open all the time.

For this trip, it would be just me and my DW. We have never travel with groups (except on a convention or shore excursions) and always managed to make new friends on board.

The reason why I ask the question is can I do 3 nights hotel in Athens and 3 nights hotel in Rome and land tours plus air for 3G. And I think I know the answer to that one already as the air is $1800 return.

I am not big on "group travel" and have stayed away from them. I have the impression that gtoup tours are conducted like cattle herding. Shore excursions are like that too ... But on this particular one, it is a "small" group of 50 people maximum.

With the language (may not be an issue at all), a group maybe a safer bet. We have wander off on our own many times, especially for ports that we have visisted before. I just don't know how safe it would be in some of the places on the schedule.

We are leaving in a few days for the Canal so I doubt that I will be checking the forum until we get back. Unless we get complimentary internet ... which is highly unlikely. Besides, there are many and better things to do on baord than logging on to the web ...

Thanks Charli for all your thoughtful comments.

ParrotMom

Pacific Princess....well, it is a smaller and compact little ship.. the way cruising used to be.. but having sailed her in April I would not sail the ship or Princess again..sorry folks.. The dining room food was exquisite..the buffet.. well, I could write a book about the buffet area..not positive.. One of the only things that I will say positive about this ship is they have a self service laundry.. I did not find the service on this ship up to our favorite cruise line.. the Maitre de(who may have moved on) has an attitude of snobbery. That said.. go for a balcony...but your ports sound wonderful.. Check out the airfare on your own...

ParrotMom

MAMAKATHY.. If it's the same ship we are booked on... I can't wait (Equinox) Will have to check back with you next year..The Holyland cruise is probably going to be the highlight...

Eschew

Thanks ParrotMom, so far we have been lucky with Princess although we don't cruise exclusively with them. Our last trip was with Celebrity earlier this year and the food was not quite up to par, and the cabin steward did a terrible job. Consistency seems to be a problem with all the mass market lines.

How long ago was that bad experience? They usually rotate the crew every 6 to 10 months, depneding on the contracts. We have not been on the Pacific yet but I knew it is an older and very small ship.

ppm

hi
for very recommended guide to israel(for max 6 people)
contact [email protected]
good luck

ParrotMom

ESCHEW--we cruised the Pacific Princess in April on their two week Amazon cruise. After all the comparison of both lines being equal we really were disappointed.. As Parrot Pop said..it was the little things that drove him crazy. At one point we were coming back from hot, humid and oppressive Devils Island and we were handed a frozen face cloth.. Parrot Pop wanted to know if there was a charge..lol.. On Celebrity there are cold drinks awaiting you and rolled chilled cloth and a "welcome back" ..okay..it's a small deal but aftr four Celebrity cruises... The big X does stand for excellence in service.. I had such high expectations..no.. cruising ain't what it used to be that is for darn sure.. what with climbing walls and ice skating rings and bowling alleys it just isn't the same..sorry if I sound like a snob.. That said.. we are packing for the NCL Gem for the end of the month from Barcelona and I dont even expect it to come close to Celebrity.. PPM thanks for the recommendation for a guide in Israel..we are on their Equinox to the Holyland next October.

Eschew

Thanks ParrotMom. We were on the Celebrity Mercury in August and was totally disappointed. The days of the "free" whatever is long gone.

Here are some examples: On the lobster night (formal night), what is on the plate was HALF a lobster tail, 3 shrimps and 3 scallops. That's it. The dining room staff, on the other hand, is good.

The Celebrity menu prices have also dramtically gone up. Most alcoholic drinks are $8.50 now, Latte is $5 and wine prices has gone up by $10 to $15 a bottle on average.

We have such lousy service from the cabin steward that we were tempted to tell the ship we want to withhold his tips. The towels have holes in them as well as brown stains. We haev alwasy tipped extra but not this time.

Despite repeated effort to ask for new towels. I though they would have checked to make sure the replacement towels don't have holes or stains on them. No such luck. He stored the bed cover under the bed for the turn down service, without putting it any protective cover or bag. The next day, it goes form the floor under the bed to the top of the bed. I hope they clean under the bed.

After seeing the brown stains repeatedly, we stopped using their face cloths and used a cotton t-shirts for face cloth. It's that bad.

We just came back on the Island Princess over the weekend, in comparison, we have a full lobster tail and 3 jumbo scampis for the formal night (same as last November on the Ruby but it used to be 2 tails before that). The Latte is still $2 and wine is about $30 on the regular run of the mill type.

We met a couple who sailed on HAL before and commented that they felt being nickled and dimed, example: paying for the bottled water. All I can say is there is not too many cruise lines that don't charge extyra for bottled water these days.
It is obvious that they have not been on a HAL ship lately.

Good luck on the NCL Gem. You are right, they won't come close to Celebrity or anyone else. They seem to be on a class of their own

The DW wanted the Holyland trip next year so I guess she will get her wish. It would be 3 days land in Athens before and 3 days land in Rome after. For us, the itenary is the most important part and that itenary looks very promising.

Our expectation for a ship is low, we just want a clean and quiet place to rest our head and decent food when we needed refreshemnt, reasonable price would be nice ...

With the cost of things going up all over the place, with inflation etc, the cost of crusing actually has come down. You get what you pad for. Before spending money and all the extras, 5 years ago, the Panama Canal cruise costed close to 8G. This time around, it's 5G, and we were in a mini suite.

You get what you pay for and all the nickles and dimes don't add up to 3G.

ira

Hi Esch,

Interestingly, my Lady Wife and I will be doing 3 days Rome, cruise, 3 days Athens in Oct, 2010 on the Prinsendam.

We booked through www.cruise.com, where you can check the route, accommodations and prices.

Eschew

Hi Ira, thanks ... I am also checking out the itenary on the Celbrity Equinox as well. Other than the Holyland, the other stops are quite different. So far, DW likes the itenary on the Pacific Princess best. Interesting enough, it is also the most expensive by far. I also find out that there will stops that are tendered ashore. I thought with the smaller ship (Pacfic Princess), that might not be the case. Not that it matters.

cruiser111

Hi,

I'd like to take my 11 and 13 year old on the Holyland Cruise. Although the cruise is more for me. I've heard it's pretty tough terrain for younger travelers. Any insight would be much appreciated!