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Post by Really Red on Jun 6, 2017 16:27:23 GMT
I'm looking at going on my first cruise. It's a river cruise and they want $600 for something called a transfer? What the heck? That sounds like it gets me (plus my 3 kids) from the hotel to the dock? Is that correct? That sounds outrageous to me. I'd prefer to just take a taxi to the dock from our hotel.
Does take me their on winged feet? Ply me with champagne along the way? Thanks for info!
Update: I updated below that the itinerary was backwards and Prague wasn't a stop on the river trip. I'll have to figure out whether I really want to go there or not.
I'm going to look at Cruise Critic right now, but if anyone has anything they need to say to me about river cruises down the Danube and whether I should pay for insurance ($900!!!!!!!!) or not, feel free to tell me what to do! Thank you for sharing your expertise!!!
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Post by scraphappy0501 on Jun 6, 2017 16:33:45 GMT
I haven't done a river cruise, but on ocean cruises "transfers" are exactly what you're describing - they take you from your hotel or the airport to the ship/boat at the start of the cruise and then to the airport or to a hotel at the end of a cruise. I would shop around to see if you can get a better price arranging transportation on your own - $600 for 4 people seems a little high to me (that's $75 per person each way!)
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
Posts: 6,225 
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Post by valincal on Jun 6, 2017 16:35:49 GMT
Where does it sail from? I've never done a river cruise. I'm sure you can book something privately but if you are in Europe you may be hard-pressed to find a taxi that will hold all passengers and their luggage.
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,635
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Post by amom23 on Jun 6, 2017 16:36:36 GMT
It's much cheaper to grab a taxi. For our last cruise our hotel offered a free shuttle to the dock.
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Post by Really Red on Jun 6, 2017 16:46:38 GMT
Thank you! I can't even believe they are suggesting such a sum! Who would pay that? I think I could take 4 taxis from the hotel and pay less than that!
We sail from Prague.
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basketdiva
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,699
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Post by basketdiva on Jun 6, 2017 16:52:02 GMT
Transfer fees are generally from the airport to the dock ( or hotel if an overnight stay is needed) and back to the airport. If you purchase the cruise line air package, transfer will be included.
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Post by papersilly on Jun 6, 2017 16:58:14 GMT
it might depend on how far away they have to take you. when we did a Mediterranean cruise, the transfer was about an hour each way. i would search around for a cheap option but that may be why it's so expensive.
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Post by Leone on Jun 6, 2017 17:01:48 GMT
The big issue may be just where do you fly in vs where you get on the cruise. For instance, we flew into Munich but the river cruise started in Passau which was several hours away. Plus, the advice from someone who suggested you will be hard pressed to get a taxi large enough for your family and luggage is a valid concern.
The distance between ports and major cities is something to consider when planning a European cruise...for instance, cruise ports are well over an hour away for both Rome and Florence...it costs a lot to actually get into the city both in money and time.
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Post by Loydene on Jun 6, 2017 20:11:01 GMT
Again -- check on Cruise Critic -- they have a big and very involved -- section just for river cruises -- and river cruises are different.
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Post by grammadee on Jun 6, 2017 20:30:27 GMT
can you contact your hotel and arrange a shuttle through them? Or at least check out the costs?
Does the transfer fee include travel from airport to hotel, then from hotel to dock, then at end cruise from dock to airport? If that is the case $50 per person per trip is about what you would pay for local transportation.
If you wait to call a cab on arrival, you may find the cost a lot higher depending on the distances.
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Post by elaine on Jun 6, 2017 20:55:18 GMT
When we cruise out of Port Canavarel, it is 1 hour from Orlando's airport to the port. Even Disney Cruise line charges a transfer fee to take you each way. And, if you choose to rent a car, the parking at the port is something like $20 per day, so not a savings.
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Post by Really Red on Jun 6, 2017 22:16:17 GMT
The big issue may be just where do you fly in vs where you get on the cruise. For instance, we flew into Munich but the river cruise started in Passau which was several hours away. Plus, the advice from someone who suggested you will be hard pressed to get a taxi large enough for your family and luggage is a valid concern. The distance between ports and major cities is something to consider when planning a European cruise...for instance, cruise ports are well over an hour away for both Rome and Florence...it costs a lot to actually get into the city both in money and time. I am a serious newbie. Yes! I mentioned I wanted to go to Prague, so my itinerary read "Prague -city-city-city Budapest." Well, my trip starts in Budapest and ends in Nuremberg! No wonder it was so expensive. And the trip was backwards!! Again -- check on Cruise Critic -- they have a big and very involved -- section just for river cruises -- and river cruises are different. Thank you for this!!!! I will get on it right away!!! |
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Post by birukitty on Jun 7, 2017 19:24:15 GMT
I was just standing over the Danube taking photos of it a few days ago in Regensburg, Germany. Well, a week ago now. I took a day cruise (45 minutes) down it while I was there to see the Walhalla and after a long, hot walk up to the site and down while I was waiting for the boat to come back to pick me up I stuck my feet in the Danube-oh that felt so good! It was nice and cold and just what I needed. I was alone at the dock so no one saw me.
Anyway, I spent almost a month (28 days) traveling around Poland and Germany and a few people asked me about my journey that I met. Some asked me if I stopped in Prague when I mentioned Krakow and told me, "Oh, you should have gone there" (I didn't this time, didn't get a chance) and told me how beautiful it was there. I heard over and over again not to miss Prague the next time. Just thought I'd tell you that since you mentioned wanting to go to Prague, but it not being a stop on your river cruise. Maybe choose another river cruise that does have it as a stop if you really do want to go to Prague?
What city/town is the transfer for? I just paid 45 euros to go from Regensburg to Munich airport (which is an hour and a half) from my hotel directly to the airport. It was a van called an Airport Liner that my hotel arranged for me. It even came at 2:30 am because my flight was 6:30 am and I had to check in at 4:30 am. The van was full of other people going at the same time. That was for one person (I was travelling alone) but even if you added your 3 children that would still be cheaper than $600. The euro to dollar rate right now is very good. You can find out exactly what it is by googling one of the currency converter sites.
Have fun doing your research and I mean that wholeheartedly. I did a ton before I went and my trip was amazing.
PS Never did a river cruise. I traveled on my own from town to town using the rail system.
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