With only one full day in New York it was always going to be difficult to choose what to do. Being as it is our first visit we are going to take the HoHo bus so that we can get our bearings and also see most of the places of interest. We can then depending on time make decisions on the places we actually want to go to.
Below are an assortment of some the street views taken from the HoHo bus. Excellent value for money and a brilliant way to see the city and get your bearings.
After arriving safely at JFK airport we transferred to our hotel in Manhattan. Feeling very tired we opted for a walk and managed to find our way to the 9/11 memorial at ground zero. It is a very eerie place and also a wonderful monument to the people who lost their lives that day. Lots of photos but only time to post three for now. Not sure how well they have come out and will have to wait until I return so I can check.
Work is well advanced with the new Trade Centre and it is amazing just how tall these buildings are.
After an early start we have had good safe trip to Heathrow’s Terminal 4, we are now just 1 hour away from our Delta Airlines flight to New York’s JFK airport. Our plane is on the photo below.
You know you are getting close when all your documents arrive which was exactly what happened in this mornings post. We made this booking through an agent called Cruise Club UK and so far I am very pleased with everything they have done, they have been very professional and efficient with every aspect of our booking.
Cruise Documents have arrived
Looking through our transfer documents, we have some varied and interesting transfers. Previously it has always been coach’s when we have purchased a package but this time we will arrive at the port in an Executive Sedan Car.
JFK Airport to Cosmopolitan Hotel – Shared van ride transfer provided by Go Airlink (Shared Ride)
Cosmopolitan Hotel to Port of Cape Liberty – 3 Passenger Executive Sedan Car provided by My Sedan
Port of Cape Liberty to JFK Airport – 6 Passenger Limo provided by Chris Limousines
Our documents even go as far as to suggest the gratuity amount.
Posted using WordPress for BlackBerry (while still at home.)
The hotel we will be staying at pre cruise is the Cosmopolitan Hotel, NYC. It looks to be a great location right in the in the heart of Tribeca in downtown Lower Manhattan, New York City.
If what I have read can be believed, then it is an easily walk to the following places: The 9/11 Memorial and Museum, City Hall, Wall Street, South Street Seaport, Soho, Chinatown, Little Italy and Greenwich Village.
All booked and just counting the days down now. Nicknamed operation “kickback” will be this 12 night Southern Caribbean cruise departing from Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New York.
The ship is the Celebrity Silhouette and is one of the sister ships of one we have cruised on before, that being the Celebrity Equinox in January 2010.
Celebrity Silhouette
Occupancy:2886
Tonnage:122400
Inaugural Date:Jul 23, 2011
Length:1047 ft
Beam121 ft
Draught:27 ft
Cruise Speed:24 kts
On this cruise there are lots of sea days and 5 beachy islands. Just what we need.
Always on the lookout for a bargain or mini cruise, this 2 night cruise from Amsterdam to Southampton was brought to my attention while reading a thread on a cruising forum that I am a member of (www.cruisingmates.co.uk) . I quickly made some inquiry’s about prices and within 48 hours we had booked.
The cruise is a re-positional one which will take us from Amsterdam to Southampton with a sea day in between. Because it is a short cruise we have booked a Concierge Class cabin (#9100) on the Sky Deck. The Constellation has recently been in for a refit and the term “Solsticized” is what Celebrity call the make over, it brings the interiors more in line with the newer Solstice class ships in Celebrity’s fleet.
ITINERARY
DAY
DATE
PORT
ARRIVE
DEPART
Wednesday
Sept
5
Amsterdam, Netherlands
4:30pm
Thursday
Sept
6
At Sea
Friday
Sept
7
Southampton, England
4.30am
Celebrity Constellation English Channel Itinerary
This will be a welcome late summer break and I am already looking forward to it. The plan is to drive to Southampton airport and fly direct to Schiphol airport in Amsterdam with Flybe. We will overnight in Amsterdam before joining the ship the next day.
We have picked the Eden Hotel to stay because of its location. If reviews are to be believed it has TripAdvisor Traveller Rating of 3½ out of 5 from 830 travellers.
A Solsticized Celebrity Constellation Balcony Cabin
Below is the cabin arrangement but I think this might be the older version. I will post actual photos when I actually get to see it.
Celebrity Constellation Concierge Class Cabin Arrangement
I have upgraded my old Blackberry Bold to a Torch 9800. It has a much bigger screen and a better camera. Hopefully it will mean better photos from the field. It also comes with a touch screen and I have added the WordPress App which means I have control of the blog while I am away from my PC.
I am not a big fan of touch screen keyboards and the Torch comes with the option of using both. I am eager to now put this phone through its paces and see how much of an improvement it we be from my old Bold.
