DYB5801

For us, it has always been worth it. The food has always been plentiful and delicious, but the biggest value is in combining great food with great atmosphere. For my husband and I, this is a small treat where we truly pause and celebrate the fact that after much saving and planning, we got there! Being in a light filled dining room and looking across the ocean as we catch up on one-on-one time while our kids and extended family are at the pool, kids club or buffet is priceless.

There are 2 by the adult only pool and more in the family areas.

Thanks!

My husband and I will be sailing on the Wonder through Alaska next year and I am curious about how many hot tubs are available. We have sailed the Dream and Fantasy, but never the smaller ships. Not interested in the pools, but really enjoy the hot tubs when the air outside is "crisp".

Hi Sarah.

My husband and I are cruising Alaska on the Wonder in Sep. of 2018 to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We have previously sailed on the Dream and Fantasy. While excited to experience the views and wildlife in Alaska, we were a bit concerned about sailing on one of the smaller ships and sailing Disney without our kids. Your trip report has been incredible and has answered so many questions I have about this ship and itinerary. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

We will be staying at Hotel Continental on Las Rambles in June. Any specific suggestions in walking distance ointme hotel?

Ours was a 2:00 tour but we used Angel Tours.

Thank you.

Sue! So glad you are going to Barcelona. It´s my favorite city and I´m pretty much a Barcelona fanatic. I've researched it a lot because I fell in love with it. Here are my recommendations:

 

1. Ciudad Condal is a fantastic recommendation. If you walk up the Ramblas through Plaza Catalunya you'll hit eventually Ciudad Condal after two or three blocks as I remember.

 

2. Orio is a good place too...walk down Las Ramblas and make a left at KFC. Orio is on the right just before the big square. They have menus in English.

 

3. The restaurant at Le Meridien (across the street from your hotel) serves a delicious lunch meal. It's a few euros more than what you'll find on Las Ramblas, but the quality of the food is superior. They have a daily lunch menu for about 17 euros and the restaurant is really cool and quiet but you can still see all the people walking by on Las Ramblas.

 

If you want basic tapas that aren't too weird, here's my list from personal experience:

 

1. Patatas bravas. These are basically the Spanish french fry. They're usually served with an garlic-based sauce and sometimes a mild red sauce.

 

2. Croquetas. These are usually cheese or chicken mixtures rolled in bread crumbs and fried. They look like kind of like chicken nuggets. They are delicious.

 

3. Pimientos de padron. These are little green peppers that aren't spicy and are cooked in a little olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt. Delicious!

 

4. Pan con tomate. This is simply a slice of baguette style bread smeared with fresh tomato, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt.

 

5. Clara - This is a tasty little summer drink that's a mix of fizzy lemonade and beer. It's more of a local thing that I think you'll enjoy if you like beer. If not, try sangria with cava!

 

6. Pincho moruno (sometimes spelled pintxo moruno) - These little guys are marinated chunks of pork. So delicious, but people usually don't order them. Think of a thick pork chop diced into squares and seasoned with delicious spices.

 

7. Crema catalana - This is a classic dessert from Catalonia. It's similar to creme brulee but its different. Sometimes it will have a zesty lemon taste to it and other times it will taste more like vanilla.

 

 

I think you'll really enjoy Barcelona. I've done two tours there: one on the Hop-On Hop-Off red bus, which was great for getting an overview of the city and a bike tour at Barcelona Experience, a small company that has great prices and also does walking tours and driving tours. I recommend both of them...the HOHO is more for a general overview, and Barcelona Experience is more for getting an insider's view of the city.

Thank you for sharing this list. These all sound amazing and I am adding them to my list of things to look for when dining pre-cruise in Barcelona.

The best decision we ever made was to book an early morning tour for the Vatican. Our tour guide took us in before the Vatican was open to the public. He headed straight to the Sistine Chapel and we had a good 30 minutes in the Chapel before the hoards of tourists started pouring in. It was the most remarkable experience of our trip.

 

As far as the Coloseum is concerned it is very doable on your own. We used the Rick Steves' audio guide and it was fine. But don't stand in the long line to buy your ticket at the Coloseum. Cross the street to Palatine Hill and you will most likely not find a line.

May I asked who you booked the early morning Vatican tour through?