Smurf2017

1 minute ago, osuzanna said:

 

 

 

 

We are booked on the horizon for October 11 for a B2B ending in Trieste. this will be our first cruise with Pullmantur.

We're doing Athens to Triste in June so if there is anything in particular that you want to know, I'll be happy to check it out for you. 

1 minute ago, osuzanna said:

 

7 hours ago, MobyandDick said:

Hi Smurf2017, I am sure that checkin will be smooth for you, for both our cruises the checkin was not bad, staff is friendly, but it was not a relaxed smooth operation. Although the ship does not carry such large number of passengers, unlike RCCL or NCL big ships for example, the number of staff to accept your luggage, or staff providing you with relevant documents, provided bottle necks. I guess that the terminal also contributed to it, as when we left both times from Gran Canaria, the building was relative small and partly made-shift pavillion-tent, with not a logical routing. If you can checkin at home, you have access to relevant documents, including even the health form, so you could fill them in at ease at home. Combined with the advantadge that you have access to the pre-registration line, the checkin went more quickly. You will have a great time, enjoy!

Thanks. We're boarding tomorrow morning so I'll report back here afterwards. This is just a one night taster for us and an opportunity to check Zenith out carefully. The sister ship Horizon, is operating the new Israel, Egypt, Greece and Turkey itinerary on 2020 and that really appeals to us. 

@MobyandDick

Where did you board that you described as "hectic"? We're boarding in Lisbon and hoping for a smoother process there. 

For the benefit of anyone visiting this topic in the future, here is the answer as at April 2019.

On a 7 night cruise they block 200 €/USD depending on the location of the cruise.

On a one night cruise they do not block anything.

Hi coachlover. I don't think you should expect too much from Pullmantur as they seem to me to be a lot more basic than the larger lines. 

I have friends traveling on Zenith this week and on Friday we will be taking a one night cruise on Zenith from Lisbon to Vigo in Spain. I'll have a much better idea of the Pullmantur experience after that and will come back here to update you when we return. I'll try to get photos of bar and restaurant menus along with a daily sheet if they publish one. 

Hi Francot. Trains are always a good option in Italy. To get to Venice Mestre Station from the airport you will need to take a bus or taxi. Fares vary according to the class of travel and type of train. On average the total journey time from the airport, via Venice to Trieste is around 2 hrs 30.

There is a quicker and cheaper alternative by direct express coach from the airport to Trieste. Take a look at Flixbus here. Fares range from €5 to €23 depending on demand. The earlier you book, the cheaper the fares.

There is another company with one service a day at 5.45 pm with fares starting from €9.99. Again, book early for the chest fares. You can find them here.

Flixbus takes around 2 hours and Buscenter takes 2 hrs 25.

When we register a credit card at checkin/onboard how much do they block. We are only doing a one night cruise, so do you think it would be any less? I've tried emailing but of course there is no answer forthcoming!

TIA

16 hours ago, Slugsta said:

 

It might not, technically, be classed as 'monsoon' but Venice is subject to flooding. Acqua alta (high water) starts around October and continues until about January

 

Yup! Been caught in that myself though only ankle deep and that was in the spring. They say it's down to rising water levels and the city is slowly sinking. As you say, technically not a monsoon which, according to the Cambridge dictionary is, "the season of heavy rain during the summer in hot Asian countries."

On 3/16/2019 at 1:50 PM, evandbob said:

 

If doing a cruise that includes Venice, check when the monsoon season is - late September, early October. 

You're clearly very experienced travellers evanbob, but are you sure you even have the right continent here? I know that climate warning is making a mess of the weather, but I'm not aware of a monsoon season anywhere in Europe let alone Venice. Better warn those pesky Venetians to get the duck boards out!

Weren't they able to move the cameras too then?

Why am I not surprised. 

Or not... 

The time is now 7.05 yet they say it will start in 55 minutes. So 7pm where? Certainly not Southampton! 

8 hours ago, davecttr said:

Indeed, the insurance companies can be nasty in their attempts to refuse a claim. I remember the story from years ago about a man who had taken out mortgage insurance and had to claim after developing a unexpected heart condition. The insurance company rejected the claim because he had not told them about his fathers hereditary kidney condition. He had not told them because he did not know about the condition and his father had never told him and was actually dead!. the story was eventually aired on the local BBC TV news programme, after which the insurance company changed their mind and paid the claim.

Wow! And thanks for that. Who would ever think that we should notify hereditary conditions. Now I have to rethink my declarations. 

8 hours ago, davecttr said:

Let me qualify that. here in the UK you should always tell your insurer about any pre existing medical conditions. They may agree to provide cover for them at an extra charge or give you cover but not for that specific medical issue. I have pre existing conditions that are covered for only a few pounds a year addition to the premium.

I was trying to generalise Dave in order to get the point across to the OP not to rely on insurance unless it specifically covers that condition. I totally agree with what you say and cannot stress highly enough to any Brits how important it is not to hide any pre-existing conditions. In the event of a claim, the insurance companies will look for any excuse not to pay. Before they will authorise a clinic or hospital to give treatment, they first contact the GP for a copy of the medical record. Any discrepancy between that and what had been declared at the time the policy was taken out is enough to decline a claim. 

Perhaps it's different your side of the pond, but in the UK insurance rarely covers pre-existing conditions. You should check before relying on insurance to cover your costs. 

19 minutes ago, sidari said:

Ah right, the one I remember looking at was for Cuba.

Thanks for the thought. 

38 minutes ago, sidari said:

Forgot to ask where you are sailing ? I recall looking at a cruise that offered three free tours.

It's Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island, Muscat, Khasab and back to Dubai. 

It would be great if these tours are actually included. 

2 hours ago, sidari said:

Smurf ... I am guessing you booked before November 12th ? which means you will get the Classic package as it was with the drinks that were included, if you have 3 free tours don`t knock it, print out the page and take it with you.

Yes Sidari. We booked at the Future Cruise desk last February. I'm certainly planning to print off the page showing the three tours but don't hold out much hope of actually getting them! It will be a bonus if it happens. 

29 minutes ago, Quantum cruiser said:

Doing the same cruise in march. Also booked the allegrissimo (classic)  package of 26  euro p/day

Wondering which drinks are going to be included and how they will indicate this on the bar list

This is part of the bar list on Preziosa in 2015. Everything without an asterix was included then so this means everything on this list that's more than 6 euro's (almost everything!) is excluded of the new easy package which costs 3 euros more??

Thanks Quantum. We're on Splendida in January. We planned to book a Bella but they were offering an upgrade to Fantastica at the time we booked, which was very reasonably priced and included a Classic drinks package. I cannot remember the upgrade price so cannot put a price on the drinks package. 

After weeks with no access, I was finally able to login to my MSC account recently and now it states I also have three excursions included that have never been mentioned before. They are really in such a mess. I cannot imagine we will ever be in a hurry to book with MSC again. 

Thanks Ziggy and Sidari. It's all very confusing and not looking at all good at the moment. 

Sidari, you mentioned a drink limit of $6 for the Caribbean and €6 for Europe. 

Do you have any idea of the price for Dubai please? All the information going around at the moment seems to be for the  Caribbean and Europe. 

Sidari, 

Do you by any chance have old menus for the Dubai area? We have a Classic package and will be on Splendida in January. 

What happens if you have already booked and paid for the Classic package? I wonder which of the new packages do you get moved to. 

Nope. Still not working for me. 

Going in through my MSC account shows only the previous booking. Going in with my booking reference gives, "Booking number and/or name is not recognized, please check and try again." 

I doubt it will do any good, but I have emailed them along the lines of how on earth do they expect to make any money when we cannot book a cruise, let alone add on any extras.