MudderBear

Ok, hum. Well, I guess I'll wait till next year right before my cruise and I'll reach out to the hotel. I guess it won't matter if I use their shuttle (if it exists) or the train. Thanks for the heads up.

I looked into this, but it seems as though the whole thing ends at 12:30. I'm also booked at the Hilton for the next morning flight. It makes more sense to me to take the princess shuttle up to the FCO airport for $79 each, and then take The Hilton's free shuttle into Rome and back. Do you remember around what time you ended up at the FCO/Hilton Hotel area?

oh.........

Why would having it or not having the package effect the insurance?

Would like to book Alaska for 2025. When do you think it will open for booking?

I just booked an excursion (traveling next spring) and it automatically used up our $200 OBC and then charged the rest to our credit card.

Thank you Katmu. I don't see that yet for my May cruise, but I will keep my eyes open.

I spoke to Princess customer service today (Saturday). They said that their "hotel" people are off on the weekends and to call back on Monday. In the meantime, if someone here knows the answer, I'd appreciate it. If I disembark in Rome (next May) and Book one of Princess Hotels (Savoy, Radison Blu or Regency) they said that I would get a "free" transfer from cruise port to hotel. She wasn't sure about if the transfer from the hotel the next morning to the airport is also included. The hotel price through them is outrageous, but if it contains the transfers from the port to the hotel, and then from the hotel to the airport, well then, I can stomache that rate. Does anyone know? Thanks!

We will dock in Rome at 6:00am. I really can't get a flight back to the USA later that day without it taking us a million hours, so I decided we should spend the night in Rome. Since we've been to Rome before and we have an early morning flight out of FCO, I would like to book a hotel at the Hilton at the airport. This is where my question comes in. Is it crazy to book a Rome excursion with Princess for that day (Saturday) that we dock? They run about 8 hours and yes, they cost alot. From reading the description, it seems as though the bus takes you back to the cruise port later that afternoon. I figure I'd do the Princess Tour, get dropped off at the cruise terminal and then taxi up to the airport. Is this nuts? Or does Princess offer (and I couldn't find) any tour in Rome that actually takes you TO THE AIRPORT? At first I was thinking I'd get off the cruise ship and take their transfer up to the airport and hopefully check into my hotel. If not that, at least I can hopefully have them store my luggage and then we'd travel back into the City. But I'd rather NOT do that stuff on my own. As I get older, (and just really new to traveling in Europe), I'd rather shell out the money instead of trying to do things on my own. Any guidance would be appreciated.

I just booked the Iberostar through Booking.com. However, I don't think I actually get a hotel reservation number, just the Booking.com confirmation number. Has anyone booked a hotel through a third party (such as booking, expedia, etc.) and had a problem? I'm a little nervous.

Can someone please recommend hotels in Barcelona? We are coming in pre cruise in May. Princess hotel rooms were $$$$$$$

I did look, but there isn't much difference in price, etc., And actually, as far as the points, it was the same amount of points whether or not I included SAV into the mix...and trust me, I was willing to book that separately. But since there was no extra charge, I included SAV in my booking. I'm going to keep monitoring fights, etc, as using points I have the option to cancel and rebook.

Hello. I am the OP. Here's what I did. I went and booked straight through from my home airport SAV to BCN via EWR. On the return, I booked FCO to IAD to SAV. It's all on one booking. Yes, I paid through the nose (I used points). I went for the most direct flights, but most importantly, the least amount of hours....for example 11 hours vs. like 25 hours (each for going AND returning). Since I used miles, I have the option to make changes or cancel anytime I wish. I appreciate everyone's advice.

Thank you all for your assistance. It gives me alot to think about. Luckily, I have a good deal of time ahead of me to book, but I wanted to start doing research now. The prices are ridiculous. Ballpark figure of about $3000 for round trip in ECONOMY for a single senior. Then double that for my spouse. The 200,000 miles in my account aren't going very far either with the new prices. Ugh. I'll be paying more for my air than the two of us on the cruise.

I'm the OP. I don't have to include my home airport into the mix, as I CAN if need be book that separately round trip for the before and after leg of the trip, so that will only be IN the equation if it works to my benefit cost wise. I honestly don't think I can book United one way with miles (EWR to BCN) and then cash from FCO to EWR. Thank you to whomever posted that MUC is an easier airport to connect in. I will keep that in mind. It's just when I go to Kayak, I am finding flights (particularly in question TAP and Swiss Air) whose prices totally are below United. I really would love to use UA because I have alot of miles (points). Unfortunately, as I have about 220,000 points, I still need to lay out about $3 thousand to "buy" extra points. What's the use? For about 2 or 3 thousand dolllars more I can just save those points for my domestic vacations. As far as seasons, I would be traveling in mid May which is not a big demand travel period.

Just a little apprehensive about changing in Munich or Frankfort.. But anyone, regarding two separate "tickets". I might use United Miles points going out to BCN, so I really do need to have two separate bookings.

Hello. I usually fly United or American. Have only traveled to Europe once. We are doing a cruise from Barcelona to Rome next year. Both United and American's prices are sky high (sorry for the pun). I have time to book, but I am started to do research now. I'm wondering if flying on Lufthansa or Swiss Air or TAP might be better. I am willing to have two separate reservations. One way to BCN and one way back from FCO. To those experienced travelers out there, what suggestions can you offer? Since I have to actually book to my home airport after I arrive in the states, I am willing to book EWR, JFK, IAD or even Chicago. The one thing I want to avoid is changing planes in a foreign country from Rome. In other words, I want the flight to be direct from Rome to whatever airport in the USA. Would appreciate suggestions from more experienced travelers. Thank you very much!

Thank you. Do most hotels in general help you secure a car service?

Thinking of staying two extra nights in Rome to save on airfare back to USA. (rates are cheaper on Monday vs. Saturday). How would I get to the airport from the center of Rome? I'm thinking of using the Hotel Savoy, and have Princess book it for me (yes, I know I can probably book on my own but at least Princess will get me to the hotel from the ship). It looks as though the Hotel Savoy can arrange a car service for about $60 Euros. What do others do when they stay in Rome after their cruise. By the way, this would be in May of next year.

I cancelled a room not too long ago, and it showed as available about an hour later.

My trip is next year but the rates that appear on the Princess website seem pretty good. I'll have to figure out if those rates are going to change, and exactly what areas they are in. My main concern would be to near the Sagrada Familia.

Hello. Wondering if I book two nights prior to a Princess cruise at a hotel in Barcelona using Princess and using, obviously, one of their hotel choices, will they provide transportation FROM the airport once we arrive? And again, obviously, this would be two days prior to the start of the cruise. Thanks.

Will be debarking in Rome on a Princess Cruise. Want to spend one night in Italy, and then head to the airport the folllowing morning. Which "Princess Cruise" is the best as far as location to "be a tourist" and then "get to the airport". I'm thinking maybe the Best Western Royal Santina because it is right across from the train station (note, this will be for next spring 2024). The other hotels are Hilton Garden Inn Rome Claridge and then Hotel Savoy and finally The Regency Rome. Past experience and guidance would be wonderfully appreciated.

Thank you all for your advice! I actually LOVE to research hotels, but when it comes to international travel, I am not that savy and really need to rely on a TA or Princess.

For example, say we disembark in Rome and I book an extended stay hotel through Princess for a night or two after the cruise. If I buy a transfer, I'm assuming they will transfer me to the hotel. However, do they provide transportation from the hotel to the airport after the two nights I spend in the Rome hotel? I'm guessing not, but just wanted to double check.