Tips For Travellers
l look at the 7 worst pieces of cruise advice that I hear, or see, being given to cruise passengers all the time – and what I you should do instead, and why.
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I have revisited the 4 main classic premium cruise lines (Princess Cruises, Holland America, Celebrity Cruises and Cunard Cruise Line) to see how they have changed, what makes them different to each other and who they are now best for. Even if you think you know these lines, you may be surprised at how different they are to before.
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I looks at how I manage to cruise so often, and although mine is an unusual situation, all the tips and tricks I discovered and use that any cruiser can use to cruise more or get more cruise out of their budget
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I look at the best cruise lines in each of the 4 main cruising categories and why they are the best choice right now, and why smart cruisers are choosing them over the other options.
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The worst packing mistakes that I see cruise passengers make and cruise packing mistakes to avoid as they could get you into trouble, have you disembarked, affect enjoyment of your cruise or items confiscated.
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I explore 3 big issues that many cruise passengers have with Holland America
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Returning to Viking Ocean Cruises, I discovered 4 things I hadn’t appreciated last time, making me rethink and reappraise Viking Ocean cruises. It had a big impact on my thoughts about if I would consider returning to cruise on them, and who I would recommend them to
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I booked myself on a 3-week cruise on a foreign cruise line and started worrying about it. As it came closer, I grew increasingly apprehensive having done a few foreign non-English speaking cruises before. Some of which had not gone so well. But finally on this trip, I found out when going on a foreign cruise line cruise does and does not make sense. As you will find out.
info_outlineGary Bembridge of Tips for Travellers shares observations, tips and advice for visitors to Hong Kong.
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This show covers among other topics:
Observations
- Dense with multitudes of skyscrapers and people. More people live and work above 15th floor than anywhere else in the world and has most residential blocks about 40 stories high and constant development.
- Very pretty harbour - Victoria harbour - one of deepest natural harbours in the world - Hong Kong means "fragrant harbour".
- Population of 7 million.
- 262 islands - Hong Kong island, Lantau Island (Airport and Disneyland ), Kowloon peninsula and Northern Territories.
- Transforms at night - skyscrapers have light effects - 8pm light show (biggest and longest running permanent show) on Hong Kong island and at 9pm on ICC (International Commerce Building) in Kowloon.
- English widely spoken as one off 2 official languages.
- Very connected city lots of free wifi around
History
British colony until 1997
Getting There
Very busy airport built on reclaimed land on Lantau Island.
Cruise - Kai Tak Terminal designed on site of old airport runway in Kowloon.
Best time to go
Hot and humid most of year
Coldest in Jan
Hottest July
Getting around
Coveted walkways and open air mid -evels escalator - worlds largest outdoor covered escalator.
Trams - kept despite modern metro system following pretty much same routes.
Busses - 5 companies run 700 routes.
BigBus Hop-on Hop-Off bus tours
General Tips
Use UK style 3-pin plugs
Good App - "Discover Hong Kong" developed by HK tourism board and Cathay Pacific Airline. Works off line and has series of suggested walks.
Must-do activities
Victoria Peak
Tram launched in 1888- 8 minutes ride to the stop with stunning views across city, also has Madame Tussards and shopping.
Star Ferry
Iconic service since 1870s - taking people 7 minutes from Hong Kong to Kowloon Ocean terminal.
Harbour Tour
Many options from Star Ferry, Sailing Junks and motorised junk boat trips.
See Hong Kong at night
Night bus tour
Light show- "Symphony of lights" - 45 skyscrapers on both sides of harbour
Walk the streets on Hong Kong side in Wan Chai and Kowloon along Nathan street
Shopping
Good prices as do no sales tax and is a Duty free port
Stanley market
Central district- high end shops
Hollywood road - antiques and art
SoHo - galleries
Ladies Market
Temple Street Night Market
Aberdeen
Fishing village and Luxury marina
Afternoon tea at Peninsula Hotel
Flagstaff house museum of Teaware - in oldest surviving colonial building -
Beaches
Repulse Bay
Theme Parks
Disneyland
Ocean Park -see Cunard notes
Museums
Can get good value 7-day museum pass
HK museum of art
the space museum
HK science museum
HK museum of history
Further afield
Macau - high speed ferry or bus