looking forward to reading reviews as we have booked to go on the emerald july 2005, ......going on the spirit next week for 2 weeks

Catkin

Hope you have read one of my notes about the differences between The Spirit and the Emerald.

THe Spirit is a newer ship with lots of extras but with an Informal attomsphere.

The Emerald is an old boat with fewer facilities but a greater scope of places to visit and a slightly more formal eating arrangement.

Out of interest where are you going in July??

As far as ports go, I have been to the greek and turkish ones

Yalta, Sevastopol, Odessa and Nessebar all in the black sea are new to me.

Once again I am happy with the ship as always

Sorry if I get a bit heated at times but I know lots of the crew personally now and have been to peoples homes etc and get angry when people moan about service etc

first week were doing the pearls of the aegean, second week adriatic explorer. i know that there is a difference in ships, but wanted to see other places and after looking through brochures decided on the emerald

Andy, the only port on your list I know anything about is Nessebar, and I love the place. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is built mainly in the Bulgarian Nationalist style, but with a number of buildings dating from the Turkish occupation and before. (The ruins of St. George's church date from the 8th century). A number of churches now function as art galleries or museums, so plenty of culture to be had. Also plenty of little cafes & restaurants overlooking the bay or harbour, with lots of shops selling cheap (but good) copies of designer gear. I don't know about October, but in the summer there are lots of artisits about, selling mainly land- and seascapes, some of very high quality.
Another good buy is crystal - there is a shop in the centre of the old town with some wonderful bargains.
Hope that helps a bit.
Iain

I am sure you will enjoy both cruises.

I will bear that in mind whilst I am out there

Just a thought Andy; Sebastopol, Odessa and Yalta, whilst in the Ukraine and the Black Sea coast are still in the former USSR. You might like to check the visa situation for going ashore in these lovely towns, because you may only be allowed off ship as part of a formal excursion group which has been awarded a group visa, and thus visiting on your own would not be possible.

Maybe the Russian Embassy might issue you and members of your party individual visas if you can convince them to do so, but I understand that these take a lot of red tape and time to organise and have to be paid for.

Have a great time whatever you decide to do ... wish I was coming with you!

Just been to the FCO site which lists all countries and visa requirements.

Ukraine definately want visa's but am waiting to hear from thompson if they are doing the same as the US.

When I travelled to the US Virgin Islands, they sorted all visa's and these were done personally so you could do your own thing.

I will update you with the results.

Andy

My friend and our wives will be going on our first cruise on the 15th oct on the Emerald, we will be on boat deck 6, cabins 645 & 649, we would love any info anyone could give us regarding this ship, the cabins and the black sea odysey cruise, and any other tips to help us along, as we are all past the galloping stage, some might call us senior citezens

Hi Blot and welcome to HT!

Fatandy1942 is going on this cruise at the same time as yourselves. See his post at Emerald Black Sea Odyssey

There is also a review of the Emerald Here and more recent ones on our Cruise Reviews site at Emerald Cruise reviews

HTH

luci

I came back from the Pearls of the Agean cruise a month ago so if you have any questions I'll try to answer them. The ship for its age is in good condition with the crew forever doing Maintainance and painting (be careful not to lie on deck to long they might paint you white). The cabins and public areas were always clean and tidy, our cabin steward was a bit like manwell from faulty towers, but worked non stop and sorted out any problem straight away.

The cabins are a bit basic and dated, but nice and comfortable. We had a Supierior outside plus on deck 7. Meals I thought were really good, with waiter service or buffet. Both with plenty of choice. Drinks if not all inclusive were around £2.20 a pint, £2.80 for a cocktail of the top of my head (we went all inclusive).

The black tie evening are twice on a 7 night cruise the 2nd and the 2nd last night.

If you have any futher question I'll try and help.

Paul

Welcome to Hoiday-Truth.com

Luci5 was right in saying I am out on the 15th October.

I am going with my Wife, but also taking my mum, my sister and her friend so we are a party of five.

Any questions please feel free. I have been on the Emerald lots of times and feel that you will like her, but some people prefer the newer ships.

Hopefully you took the free upgrade to AI.

I have not been round the Black sea before, and this will be the ships 2nd time there (having done its first visit the week before we sail).

A nice point is that some of the crew are Ukranian and Bulgarian and will be able to point out some nice places (Bar crew not officers).

The rest of the trip including Istanbul (if we get there) I have done before and have had great fun.

Andy

Thanks to Andy & Paul Y, for information regarding Emblem.
We are all looking forward to it, and to all the ports of call, we are all inc, so if I catch up with you andy during the cruise, I can buy you a drink without too much pain.
blot

Thanks Blot, being all inclusive i'll even buy you one back.

We mainly hang around the Monte Carlo Bar for normal drinks until it gets busy then retire to the yacht club come late evening.

Other than that I am in the casino.

Andy

Roll up Roll Up.

How many people from this site have booked for the black sea.

Currently there's two groups.

Any advance

So far we have

Fatandy (me) party of 5
Blot (2)

Any more

Luci, you ganna come?

Is that an offer Andy? If so and you're paying, I'm on my way >>>>>>>>

The dates will fit in fine with my 5 November cruise to the Canaries. You'll just have to persuade my boss that I must have another two weeks paid hols.

luci

so sorry, the answers no

Plus methinks the wife might object

at Andy making a quick about turn.
luci