erby2283

We had an overnight in Venice. It was amazing to be able to experience the city at all hours. The only downside was that if you missed all the local transportation back to the port before 11 pm you had quite a bit of a walk. But we made sure to make it in time.

JC had a layover in Charlotte and didn't give me advance notice? 😜

I usually always get the refreshment package, especially if the ship I an sailing on has a Bionic Bar and I can just go and get my own drinks. 😛 But I do also factor in how many port days there are bc if it's port intensive and I won't be on the ship much, I know it's better to just pay per drink. I also watch prices like a hawk and if I can get it for a great price, I will get the package anyway - even on a port intensive cruise.

We toured with italytours.eu and saw all of those things (and paid extra to see the inside of the Colosseum - which I don't suggest if going during peak season bc by the time we got through security we had 20 minutes at most inside). There is another thread on here regarding the tour company and the many people recommending them. The tour of the Vatican lasted a couple hours and had a separate guide specific for the Vatican. We also spent 15/20 minutes our so at each of the Pantheon, Spanish steps, Trevi Fountian, etc. Rome is so hard because there is so much to see in a day! It is definitely a place I need to get back to and either embark or disembark from so I can explore more than just a day. I'll log in from my phone and try to post some pics from our tour.

The refreshment package has consistently been 10% off for my Icon cruise so I was hoping it would go down to 20% but alas it did not. The alcohol package went down to 20% and the soda and stream went down to 25%. Good thing I have 18 more months to stalk prices. Or maybe I should buy now at the 10% off with the way inflation has been going - I can always cancel and rebuy if it drops more.

We used them for 3 tours and never felt cramped. The one in Salerno felt more like a mini-bus but the others were BMW vans.

I was telling someone the other day that all the Royal app does it show me my upcoming cruise. I don't have an option to click on it, no three dots (that they suggested would be there) to select, nothing. So what good does the app do just to tell me I have a cruise?! I know I have a cruise. SMH. It would be helpful to make reservations, book excursions, book drink packages or at least check pricing, etc...but nope....just that I have a cruise.

Did all three. Still just a blue screen with my cruise info inside. But I appreciate your trying to help. Maybe my cruise is just too far out to do anything via the app and have to do everything online?

My Royal app just shows a box with my upcoming cruise. That's it. But when I log in online to Royal, I can purchase beverage packages, internet packages, excursion reservations, etc. With the app...nothing. Just a blue screen with a box with my "upcoming cruise description," dates, reservation # and guests,

Thanks for the update. Can we ever do anything with the cruise in the app or not until it's a certain number of days away? I still can't click on it - it just lists it.

Yup. I opened the app and saw my reservation but nothing would happen when I clicked on it. Went to computer and logged in and it said I had zero upcoming cruises.

Booked today! Three best friends sharing a standard balcony deck 12. Used my good friend/TA and price was less than $3500 total for all three of us. Biggest ship I have been on is Anthem (no Oasis class) so I am excited to see some new bells and whistles - booked for May 2024 so after spring break but before the kiddos are officially out of school.

Very sorry for your loss and thank you so much for thinking of others and sharing your experience. When I lost my mom, one of the complaints I constantly had was that no one (not even the attorney we hired) takes your hand and actually walks you through the legal process and how things work and what to expect next. You did that with this post and many who are considering this option will be very thankful for all your thorough information that will ease the burden on them.

Trying to figure this out myself as I am sharing a room with two lifelong girlfriends - one drinks a lot of beer, one enjoys her wine and occasional drink and me, I am a soda drinker and love a virgin drink but don't drink any alcohol. Since we're all sharing a cabin, if one or two buy the package, then the third has to buy it too. One has never sailed so she doesn't really know how much she would drink so the calculator is great bc I can send it to them and see if it's worth it for us all Majority rules I supposed.. 🙂

Maybe you’ll find the right one. Mine was just perfect. I double checked and looks like we paid 340 euro for 3 nights - this was back in 2019. Posted a few pics below. Totally understand about wanting a hotel though, especially traveling solo.

It's so disappointing they don't go to Venice anymore isn't it? (I understand their arguments just saying it's disappointing). When my mom died in 2017, I planned my first ever Mediterranean cruise and trip overseas because I decided life was too short to wait. Boy am I glad I did! I was away for 19 days, had an overnight cruise stop in Venice, and packed in so many different countries it was amazing. Then Covid hit - so I am forever grateful I took the plunge to go when I did.

Hello! We flew to Lisbon for three days following our cruise in Barcelona. Have you thought about possibly booking through VRBO or another type of vacation rental company? We found a fabulous one bedroom apt right on Rua Augusta and the cost was around $530 USD for all three nights. Just a thought. 🙂

In my case, it's just true. 😂

When I sailed on Anthem in Oct 2016, one of our ports we were supposed to go to Bermuda and found a letter in our stateroom upon arrival that our stop there was cancelled. I think they just gave us longer time in another port (but it was so long ago, I don't remember exactly).

Awww. They do look alike. She is beautiful. Sadly my baby passed in 2016 after getting his 4th cancer but I cantbear to change my picture. Then I got him tattooed on me so I still see him every day.

I got it on Amazon as well. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Z2AKO3G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Can you please adopt me? I can only cruise about once every 3-4 years and have only been overseas once. I am so jealous!

So if I enjoy hot weather, you don't think September would be too cool for me to do a Turkey/Greece trip? I keep checking the temps now and it's like high 70's low 80's during the days depending on the county (Haifa, Santorini, Crete).

When we went to Barcelona in 2019 we arrived around 8 am and went to the hotel - they had lockers to store our luggage until check-in. We just walked around taking in the sights of the city. We even took a boat ride, got some lunch, walked though the gothic section, took a ton of pictures...before I knew it, it was time to check in. Got unpacked (we also had 2 days prior to cruise), enjoyed the balcony of our hotel for a bit, walked around a bit more looking for a dinner spot (most seemed to offer the same thing on our section of Las Ramblas) and by 8 pm local time we were wiped out! We had a tour scheduled to pick us up early the next morning - but going to bed early got us on schedule for the rest of the trip. Wish I could say the same for returning to the states. After 19 days in Europe it took me a good 2 weeks to get back to our time zone....uuuggghhhhh.

We did Spain Day Tours - Montserrat and City Tour. We had shortened time at Montserrat but was adequate for us. Then, we booked Sagrada Familia for the morning of embarkation because I always have the itch to board WAY too early and I figured it would be a nice distraction to spend the morning there and then board in the early afternoon. Even in August Sagrada Familia was blazing hot and muggy but 10 am and my bf wanted out of there ASAP so it was a little disappointing for me bc I would have liked more time there. Maybe this could be an option for you. 🙂 Also agree with Hank - pickpockets are always watching you. I bought a really good over the should Travelon purse that has these anti-theft zippered pockets. Made me feel much more secure. https://www.amazon.com/Travelon-Anti-Theft-Classic-Crossbody-Black/dp/B01EAFEEN4/ref=sr_1_6?crid=27S0DYV8ZMRPS&keywords=over+the+shoulder+purse+with+lock&qid=1663691737&sprefix=over+the+should+purse+with+lock%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-6 Also bought something for my bf to carry his stuff in rather than his wallet - it connects to his belt loops but then hangs down inside the pants rather than out. You can never be too careful. Have a wonderful trip....and take me with you. 🙂