Questions

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ShelbyAD

Guest
Hello,

I have a few questions so I thought I would put them in 1 post. (BTW - we are taking the 12 day Med cruise in Nov 2009 on the Grand Princess)

#1 - Formal nights. Does the dress have to be floor lenght or can it come to the knees? I'm trying to decide on a dress.

#2 - Customs. If I were to buy jewelry in any of the countries that we visit, do I have to claim them at Customs? Also, do we have to claim anything that we buy? If so, what?

#3 - Passports. Can we get our passports stamped when we enter these different countries? Isn't that what all those pages are for? When we went to Canada in 2003 they did not stamp it. =huh

#4 - Drinks on ship. What beverages are free on the ships? Last we knew it was coffee, hot tea, "tap" water, ice tea. Has that changed?

#5 - Coke cards. Why have these gone up so much? When we cruised the Caribbean in 2007 they were $25/pp. Granted that was a 7 day cruise. On the 12 day, it's $57/pp.

#6 - Ultimate Balcony Dinning. I know I made a post about this - but I have another question. Some people were talking about their picture being taken by the ship's photographer. Is the picture (developed) included in the price of the dinner?

#7 - While in: Italy, Greece, Turkey & Egypt - what do we need to watch out for (good & bad) and things NOT to do? We have already heard that on the pyramid excursions do NOT give your camera to a "local" to take your picture on the camels. We've heard that they will charge you to get your own camera back or they don't give them back at all. I read that during this excursion in Cairo - that there is a police convoy. Is it really that dangerous?


Thank You for your time and help. I thought it would be best to put all of these questions in 1 post rather than 7 different ones. save space
 
C

Calgon1

Guest
#1 - Formal nights. Does the dress have to be floor lenght or can it come to the knees? I'm trying to decide on a dress.
No, it doesn't have to be floor length.

#2 - Customs. If I were to buy jewelry in any of the countries that we visit, do I have to claim them at Customs?
Yes.
Also, do we have to claim anything that we buy?
Yes.
If so, what?
Everything that is a non-consumable (i.e.-what you eat and drink, you don't have to declare. What you buy in the ports,or on the ship, you have to declare.

#3 - Passports. Can we get our passports stamped when we enter these different countries?
Yes. But, many countries charge a fee for the stamp. Get your change in their currency. Nice souviner.
Isn't that what all those pages are for?
Yes.
When we went to Canada in 2003 they did not stamp it. =huh
Did you ask them to? Again, most entry/exit points won't unless you ask.

#4 - Drinks on ship. What beverages are free on the ships? Last we knew it was coffee, hot tea, "tap" water, ice tea. Has that changed?
You can add lemonade, fruit juices. If it's alcoholic, soda or served by wait staff, it costs.

#5 - Coke cards. Why have these gone up so much? When we cruised the Caribbean in 2007 they were $25/pp. Granted that was a 7 day cruise. On the 12 day, it's $57/pp.
The cost of everything has gone up ... worldwide. They charge for the coke card based on a projected usage pp/pd then add in a profit margin. $57/12 is still less than $5 pd. If you get four sodas pd you're ahead of the game.

#6 - Ultimate Balcony Dinning. I know I made a post about this - but I have another question. Some people were talking about their picture being taken by the ship's photographer. Is the picture (developed) included in the price of the dinner?
Dunno ...

#7 - While in: Italy, Greece, Turkey & Egypt - what do we need to watch out for (good & bad) and things NOT to do?
Check with the US Department of State for traveler's advisories. http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html

We have already heard that on the pyramid excursions do NOT give your camera to a "local" to take your picture on the camels. We've heard that they will charge you to get your own camera back or they don't give them back at all.
Anything's possible. Ask first.

I read that during this excursion in Cairo - that there is a police convoy. Is it really that dangerous?
It can be. Remember, you're talking about an economically deprived, third-world country here, and one that has a rather extreme (by our standards) fundamentalist culture. You, on the other hand are the "rich American" (translate that to "target" and/or "non-beliver/target")
 
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ShelbyAD

Guest
Calgon - THANK YOU for all of your answers.

I have a few more questions.

You said that we have to declare everything we buy at Customs. How does that work? Do they look at what you have bought and then charge you a tax or something? When we went to the Caribbean we didn't have to declare anything. But then again, we did a round trip from San Juan (US territory).

Has anyone ever been to the Grand Bazaar in Turkey? I've heard it's amazing. Any suggestions, tips, advice for shopping there?

When we went to Canada we did ask to have our passports stamped. The guy said no. But another Customs worker (a few "lines" down) did stamp another tourists' passports. Our customs worker did not and when I pointed out that those people got it stamped, he just said that he did not. :(
 
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SLI

Guest
Silly rabbit, I could have answered half of those at home.

Love, Hubby :loveya

(and thanks Calgon1!)
 
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