waterlegs

Two questions: If a ship gets into port at 7am, what time can I expect to get off it? Do they let guests off straight away and does it take long? My other question is can I stay on board initially and get off later in the morning or is there just the one chance of disembarking?

Does muster drill take place immediately before sail away or about how much time in advance on day one?

Ok so as a pre newbie...first cruise in a few months, I totally get that newbies can stand out by their surprise and their habits and ignorance of cruise ships etc and give the seasoned cruisers a laugh. No problem with that. Part of how it goes.

I am wondering if there is a big deal with having newbies on board and why are they desperate not to be noticed as newbies? Have to say I am laughing myself silly at some of the rookie comments here and hoping I won't come out with some of those classics but the bag thing is a thing I don't see me getting around. I will for sure make lots of mistakes that make me stand out but what about it? I hope seasoned cruisers will be friendly all the same.

Women who carry their big purses around all day. You're at sea. You don't need anything in that bag.

 

I second the cruise card on a lanyard around the neck thing too. To me that's a sure sign someone is new to cruising.

So if you don't carry a bag about and dont have cruise card on a lanyard where do you carry it? Also where do you carry camera, pool gear etc?

Like many of you, I am trying to lose weight before my cruise in May. Forever losing and regaining but that's another story. I am following a plan and just wondering if anyone knows what ways food is prepared and cooked on the ships? Do they fry alot? Use oil? Butter in the vegetables etc? Are there any healthy choices?

We are going on our first Royal cruise in May. It will be just the second week of FOS doing the Med. Our deluxe drink package was included in the price of our cruise. We couldn't have refused it for a lesser price. It was deemed free. Although that means we have less to lose, it is the principle of it all and the intransparency of it. Fair enough I am not a big drinker and wouldn't have alcohol around the pool really. I would have a glass of wine at dinner some evenings and would enjoy some cocktails in bar at night. It is a port intensive cruise so no plans on getting hammered either as doing alot of the ports and not good in the mornings as it is. Only other thing I might drink would be rum or Baileys. I don't care what brands they use in the cocktails, so hopefully they will fall below the limit and just hope the wine isn't totally rank. Would ye advise ordering the mixers as a separate drink to spirits to make sure it all comes within the $12 limit?

First cruise coming up in May. Wondering if the MDR is only for evening meal or can you get breakfast and lunch there too or is Windjammer more for these smaller meals?

First cruise is in May and our TA gave us MTD and recommended that we reserve our times online for at least the first day or two. Easy enough on day one as reckon we will want an early night. After that I haven't a clue.

Is food in Sorrentos and Cafe Promenade free?

We were given MTD when we booked. As it is our first ever cruise I am clueless and wondering exactly how MTD differs from the other dining option?

All aboard time is typically 30 minutes before scheduled departure, could be more. The all aboard time will be posted in the daily cruise compass as well as at the gangway.

Thanks a million. That is great

Just wondering how much time in advance of leaving port does one have to be back on board usually? This is for Western Med cruise.

We stayed in Villefranche a few years ago and took the bus into Nice many days. From there we either visited Nice, the old town and flower market or transferred to a second bus that took us to Cannes or Antibes. A wonderful, inexpensive way to get around the area.

Hi. Can you remember which bus you took to Cannes or where you got it? Our ship tenders at villefranche and was hoping to get to nice and cannes in the day. Nothing specific I want to see, so just a brouse through both.

Is Marseilles a port stop or are you embarking there?

The port bus is convenient and free, but I don't think it runs every day.

The cruise lines run their own shuttles. They are expensive, but not as much as a taxi.

There is also the number 35 city bus, although it is a bit of a walk from the highway where the stop is back into the port.

It is our first port stop..

Hi, we just returned from Marseilles a few days ago. The port bus runs from 9 am - 5 pm. Since we left the ship at 7 am, we took the #35 city bus going into town, but on the way back, we did the port bus. It comes around every 30 minutes, and it is a large articulated bus so it can hold a lot of people and luggage. You can find the stop in town near Place de la Joliette. You will need to go through the white fence (there's a security guard there checking for room cards).

 

Here are the exact coordinates of the bus stop you can input onto Google Maps:

43.304835, 5.364811

Does it operate every day of the week? I seem to remember reading it doesn't run on a Monday, when our ship is in port.

How do you get to the city from the cruise port? We arrive on a Monday and from what I have read the shuttle doesn't run that day. Is taxi very expensive?

Without paying the crazy expensive ship shuttle, is there a shuttle that goes to the centre of Marseille from the cruise port? I will be arriving on a Monday. I have tried to search through a number of Marseille port websites without getting an informative answer. Our RCL ship arrives in port at 9am. I have heard about the no. 35 and no.55 from the port gate. Does the same fee cover those two buses and are they regular in both directions? Thanks.

Thanks killtheump

I have never heard of a RCL credit card...is it a new thing? Havent seen info on website. Is it like a regular credit card? Would love to know more about this please.

Newbie here. Just wondering at what point can I join the Crown and Anchor group; before or after my first cruise?

Yep, four of us are on that sailing. Would love to be able to visit Barcelona but don't have the time to do a night there. Our TA booked the transport from airport to ship for us so unless they let us check in and then wander off for a bit. I believe the port is near the city.

In Naples this year we did the 'Pompeil & Amalfi Coast by land and sea' tour

 

Highly recommended. Includes lunch and it was very interesting.

What type food did you get for lunch? I was thinking that I might prefer the amalfi coast on land but dont know. Thanks.

Can anyone recommend the ships shore excursions for ports of La Spezia and Naples? Some seem to be up to 11 hours long but ship is only docked for a total of 12 hours. Very undecided on which excursions to choose. How much time in advance of leaving port do you need to be back on the ship? Thanks in advance.

Thanks all. I am so confused about which excursion to choose. Our ship gets into La Spezia at 7am and leaves at 7pm. Some of the ship excursions are down as 11 hours. Does anyone know what time we would have to be back at the ship for if leaving at 7pm? I know it is two hours each way to Florence. Will definitely be booking the ships excursion. Is it quick and easy to walk around Florence, like the Ponte Vecchio and Piazza Michelangelo and the squares and markets? I am thinking ideally I don't want the excursion longer than nine hours but would like to briefly see Pisa as well, without climbing the tower. Just want to see the tower really while in that area of Italy. I am presuming if the cruise company advertises excursions that are up to 11 hours long then we would be back to ship in time.

Hi all. Our ship docks at Villefranche the day before the film festival starts in Cannes. I had hoped to visit Cannes and Nice that day at port. Will it be easy to access Cannes the day before the festival opens or will roads be closed etc?

Assuming that I can get into the town, I am wondering how far a walk from the town are the public beaches? I think all the main promenade ones are private.