Requesting Info on Transfers from Heathrow to Harwich

[cyndi]

We will be coming from Eastern Europe to London when we take the Baltic cruise on the Jewel of the Seas in August 2005. We have arranged our own air but will need transfers from Heathrow to Harwich.

When you meet the RCI rep at the airport is your luggage taken care of from that point all the way to the pier at Harwich? Is the transfer by bus or train? We will be arriving in London the night before and will have to arrange to meet the agent for the transfer back at the airport the morning of the cruise.

Any information as to what we can expect in regards to the transfer between Heathrow and Harwich would be appreciated. We considered using public transportation but decided against it when considering the amount of "luggage handling" that would be involved.

Happy cruising!

Cyndi...

When are you going in August? We're also taking a Baltic cruise in August...maybe we're on the same sailing?!

We're staying in London for 3 nights prior to the cruise and are supposed to have an RCI rep meet us at our hotel on the sailing date.

[cyndi]

We will be on the Aug 7th sailing of the Jewel of the Seas.

Are you staying at a hotel arranged by RCI? Are your transfers between the hotel and Harwich included in the cost of staying at the hotel? Or are they separate? Is the transportation between the airport and the hotel your responsibility or is it provided by RCI?

We were going to stay at a hotel near the airport but if logistically it seems better to book everything through RCI, then we will do that instead.

Thanks for responding. Questions regarding European cruises don't usually get that many reponses.

[Pootersdad]

We were on the Jewel OTS transatlantic crossing in September.

We were in England for a week prior to the cruise. We were actually in Windsor, which is about 7 miles from Heathrow. Our TA arranged for us to use the RCI transfers, but instead of going all the way into London to Victoria coach station to get the bus, we were able to go back to Heathrow and pick up the bus there. We went to the arrival area, which is after immigration/baggage claim/customs. We had our luggage with us. There were several RCI agents waiting, and we identified ourselves, said we were going to Harwich with them. They took our luggage, gave us a colored sticker (to identify which departure time we had), and took us to our bus. The next time we saw our luggage was when it arrived at our cabin.

Hi Cyndi...

How great! We’re on the same sailing!!! August 7th!!!

Yes, out hotel arrangements were done through RCI via our travel agent. So all our transfers (airport to hotel and hotel to ship) are included. My travel agent looked for hotels separate from RCI but the cost was minimal and the hotel she got us is wonderful! Right in Westminster!!! Then on the day of the sailing, RCI is supposed to pick us up from the hotel and take us to the ship.

BTW...what are your plans for St. Petersburg? Are you going to take a tour with RCI or through a private company like Red October or Denrus?

Glad to link up with you...

Jodi

BTW Cyndi...

Join our Roll Call at CruiseCritic.com...

The direct link is: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...31211&posted=1