grnrab

Pakrbakr

Were you at any time offered the experience more package gratis while making your reservation? If so you might have some recourse as I explain here with my own situation. Sometimes phone better than e-mail.

In early December 2017 I made my reservation by phone for a 2018 cruise, I was offered either the EM package or credit towards airfare using Choice Air for no additional charge on top of the current pricing promotion they were running at that time by the AZ reservation agent . I accepted the former, however as I started receiving my account statements there was nothing on it that indicated I was granted what I thought I had accepted. Right around the time of final payment I engaged customer service at least three times by PHONE. First time I was told the offer was only good through November 2017 and probably wasn't valid when I made my reservation in early December. Second time I was told they needed to actually research the phone call itself (remember they are recorded!) and they would get back to me in 7-10 business days. When that didn't happen I called a third time, re-explained the situation to a new rep, asking where they were on the research and the promise to get back to me that was unfulfilled. The rep couldn't help me but did see the chain of conversations and promises made to reconnect with me. At that point I escalated and asked to speak with a CS supervisor. I was told they did indeed finish the research and it indicated an offer was made, but that CS had to await the Revenue Dept.'s clearance as CS could not automatically add the code to my account. After all this I did finally get what I thought I had accepted and made final payment. Best of luck.

What port(s) are you referencing please so folks can help you?

Your cell carrier may offer something called international roaming. With ATT its offered pay by the day. You call cust svc, turn it on and only pay for the day(s) you make a call, receive a call or need to access internet, other wise no charge for that day. Then you just shut it off when you get home. much cheaper rates per minute voice and data than without roaming

hmkr

Just scroll down a bit in this sub-forum. There is a recent thread labelled Barcelona Hotel Recommendation? which will offer you many suggestions. Additionally just search this forum using similar key words and you'll find other past threads on the topic. Barcelona very easy to get around via public transportation and cabs and not very expensive. The few hotels I've seen that are really in or adjacent to the port area are very expensive probably because of their waterfront properties. Away will always be cheaper. City center never more than 15-20 minutes away from the port. Perhaps others can help with airbnb recommendations but so will their own website reviews and even search this forum again.

Try looking into Katarina Lines. Many different boats and itineraries to check out leaving from different ports, not always their home base in Opatija. Some boats more modern styled than others that are more like trawlers - handle the number of cruisers you are looking at. Many reviews about these people on TA etc. Easy to use website and english speaking on phone. We only joined in a shore excursion they were sponsoring in one port we visited along the coast.

Hello

I have always recommended the Catalonia Hotels and Resorts chain - reasonable, most are updated with nice little extras, pool or rooftop lounging areas and are typically off noisy streets which can be an issue in BCN. My personal favorites are Magdalenes, Catederal in Gothic section and their location up near Placa Catalunya. They have about 7-8 hotels in Barcelona. Have also stayed at Silken hotels on business as well.

There is a big shopping mall directly across from Hotel ( Les Glories) on Diagonal in Barcelona - lots of quick food options there for breakfast including a Carrefour - big French based super mercado. Mc Donalds too apparently.

Have you looked at Pancho Tours or Viator.com - All have similar tours but also may be full because of circumstances such as many other ships in port or......

Most cruise ships leave from an area adjacent to piazalle roma and the Santa Lucia train station. Can't say whether you can use VeniceLink the way you want to get to the cruise terminals from a given location/vapo stop in Venice. We suggest just taking the appropriate vaporetto back towards SL/Ferrovia. You have two choices: get off at SL/Ferrovia and walk to the far left of the station as you look at it and you will see a footbridge over the canal to the edge of the large outdoor parking lot - walk through it to the back right and you will start seeing signs for People Mover; or you can go one more stop on your Vapo, go under the highway, to that parking lot - again back right look for people mover signs. Cost is 1.5 E - easy to use ticket machines. Get off at first stop Marritima - yes there will be a little walking once off the people mover. If your boat leaves from San Basilio terminal, that's in a different location but still very accessible by vaporetto. We had to go to San Basilio so we simply had to transfer to a different vaporetto line at Santa Lucia stop. Check the signboards on the vapo floating piers there - there are about four different vaporetto piers in that general vicinity. The maps for the vaporetto lines easy to find on internet.

Investigate choices in the Cannaregio area which begins basically at the train station on the north western half of the city, the main entry point for busses, trains, cars to Venice after the causeway where motor vehicle traffic ends. We stayed at Ca Vendramin di Santa Fosca and two doors down is smaller La Mia Casa. Large large superior doubles. Many hotels in former residences/palazzos have rooms that are very spacious. but also expect to pay primo prices above $250/nt during peak season incl breakfast. Also investigated B&B Al Palazetto but seems constantly booked. CV leaves you near the grand canal and a key vaparetto route - closest stop is at Ca D'Oro easily walkable from CV. Many restaurants/stores/mini-markets along the Strada Nova and vicinity - this is a main walkway across Cannaregio (changes names a couple times). Can walk it practically from from the train station all the way to the connecting streets to Piazza San Marcos. Bring your best walking shoes.

thanks both Campolady and Londontowner

Campolady & LondonTowner - Slightly off topic, but isn't Granada a bit far driving time from Almeria, whether one goes through the desert and around the SN that way or taking the coast road past the polyethelene forest, then up from Motril - two plus hours? thanks

You might have posted this to Italy, France and Greece port sections of this board as well for other opinions.

Option 4 and 2 sound the most interesting to me. Obviously four gets you Greek isles, small villages, lots of sun, lots of history- especially Dubrovnik, Heraklion. Corfu nice, like Cannes. Venice is terrific, good airport and if you go and come from there, add some days. #2 sounds good too. Coastal France/No. Italy - La Spezia puts you near the Cinqueterre - a must excursion on your own or with guided tour. Haven't been to Ajaccio but Corsica will feel off the beaten track. Genoa - the weakest stop imho but I'm sure there are things to do there or nearby. Love Barcelona. Be aware Cittavechhia not real close to Rome,its the jumping off point for it on cruises. Mallorca nice island to make up for the cities on #2. So you got some bigger cities with #2, not bad, just depends on what your family wants. With both options also depends on where you fly into and out of, It would be nice if you didn't have two different cities coming and going, but sometimes you can't control that. Venice and BCN are better connected airports.

Looks good, have not stayed there - have you checked all the different places where you can read visitor reviews - trip advisor, bookings.com, hotels.com, google maps etc. The street as I recall is quieter than Passeig de Gracia. In Barcelona I usually stay in hotels from the Catalonia Hotels and Resorts chain -"Cathedral" or "Magdalanes" or 'Plaza de Cataluyna' - business or leisure

Just about any winery will ship back to your home (that's what we did) and even some very small places have websites from which you can order once back home as well. Take a few bottles to enjoy on board , a few maybe in your checked luggage - ship the rest. You don't want to deal with checking boxed cases on each of your flights.

I prefer the Catalonia Hotel & Resorts chain. They have several hotels in Barcelona - all very nice and some off of congested noisy streets. I like either their Cathedral or Magdalanes locations. They also have one just above Placa Cataluyna. Try to pick a neighborhood after scanning a map and other sites that can tell you about BCN neighborhoods like trip advisor or bookings.com, then filter for hotels in those areas, then read the comments by hotel over the last year or so - those are filterable as well - couples, families, special needs etc. BCN very easy to get around by public transportation and by foot.

Suizo leaves you very close to Picasso Museum and is great for walking around El Born district ( many restaurants by foot) as well as the Cathedral and Las Ramblas heading the other direction.

My preference are the hotels run by the Catalonia hotel and resorts chain. They have two hotels near the barcelona cathedral that are both on non-busy streets. The also have a hotel just above Placa de Cataluyna. Several folks also recommend Hotel Lleo just adjacent to the Placa towards Universitat metro. Also recommended is Hotel St. Moritz above the Placa on a less busy street. I tend to prefer less busy areas off busy streets. Suizo could be noisy because its on very busy Via Leitana, but it's set back a block.

If you want medium/large yachts and sailboats with maybe 50-80 passengers check out Katarina Lines, a croatian firm. They can hit just about every interesting island and port. We did a shore excursion once with some of their folks out of Split. We were on an Azamara ship,the "Journey" - we highly recommend Azamara, 700 passenger max, considered a premium/luxury line. Depends on time of year they have itineraries in that area.

Hi there cruisewithhanya

I went to MSC's website and was able to find which terminal they use in Lisbon - turn out its Santa Apolonia. Check out this web address (https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Portugal/Lisbon.aspx). Just scroll down to the section labelled 'Reach the Port" and it has little tabs that tell you how to get to the listed port. I gather you can find out just about any of your terminals by checking out the destinations tab from their main menu bar and scrolling down to the "reach the port" section on each one. If you feel comfortable with something like google maps you can research the terminal locations relative to the central parts of town you are visiting. Just type in the name of the terminal rather than a street address.

The street address they gave you by phone looks like it should have been rua caiscais, 32 in postal code 1300-20 Lisbon. That address puts it near the other two terminals in town Conde de Obeidos and Alcantara which are adjacent to each other essentially and a bit more northwest of Santa Apolonia. All are easy to get to central parts of Lisbon by cab or metro subway. Again I'd even send an email to MSC to verify your terminals vis what their websites say.

Hotels - I'm staying at Bessa Hotel in September a little north of Avenida Palace mentioned by FlyingScotSailor. Lots of good advice on sites like tripadvisor or any of the booking sites that have reviews.

Yes - good advice from Soapbox . Try looking into hotels on the near south bank area of the Thames e.g. London Bridge , Southwark, Bermondsey, Borough tube stations - all nice areas. A bit cheaper than central london but connect well back to sightseeing. Tube line for Bermondsey, transfer at Canary Wharf for Greenwich port. Easy to get

Hi:

This question is for Bonnie. I tried calling customer service and honestly they could not explain or clarify much. When one goes to the actual web page, bottom for the above Cruise leaving Venice on June 5, it mentions the azamazing event as taking place on June 7th in HVAR after arriving that evening - to the venderama niteclub. However the Land Discoveries brochure (and its hyperlinks) as well as the actual shore excursion booking page indicates the event (a cello recital) is actually in Split, the evening of June 6th at 9:45 pm. If one checks the itinerarry, Journey does not even arrive in Split until 9:30p that night which means there is literally only 15 minutes to get over to the mestrovic gallery (the venue). Customer service on the phone indicated it was only 10 mins walking to the gallery from port. This just doesnt seem to make sense as possibly several fellow passengers would all be heading in the same direction - transporation nightmare. Customer service really couldnt unravel further saying to check with excursion desk upon boarding. Can you provide any further insight?