TinaSwizzle

we're doing one balcony, one promenade with our two teenage girls this Summer. £300 more expensive than a cabin for 4 - no brainer in my head. The more bathroom space the better right?

I've always brought mine! Granted between the wind and the Caribbean humidity I may as well have left it home but hope, as they say, springs eternal.

Ha ha, this is me too, plus salty sea air :-(

Yes this is true. But one has to adapt to the local culture.

 

As an American I find it funny that we are criticized for being ethnocentric but so many visitors to America often take no steps to learn our culture or they just refuse to adapt to it. Specifically as a Floridian I see it constantly. South Americans, Europeans, Asians. Very few as a percentage adapt to our way when visiting. Perhaps they just don’t care. Hard to say.

There's tons about the US service culture which I love - the friendliness, the helpfulness, the willingness to adapt. The bill issue is the only one I have. And I even don't wince at the service charge! ;-)

Please don't take this as a criticism of a nation, it's just me as a European agreeing with a previous comment.

I'm sure that our "no re-fills" policy is just as annoying to you :-)

One thing I forgot to mention and don't think anyone else has.... in some European countries it is considered rude for the waiter to bring your bill before you ask for it, whereas here in the states it's common for the waiter (or waitress) to either ask if you're ready for it, or to just leave it on the table when it appears that you are finished. If you wait for either in Europe, you may find yourself waiting a long time, all while silently seething about the "horrible service" because "no one will bring the bill." Just remember that if that happens they are actually being the opposite of rude, and waiting for YOU to specfically ask for the bill. So, when you're ready, ask for it and save yourself the aggravation of assuming the waiter is ignoring you. ;)

The comment about the bill being presented is so true! I find this very uncomfortable when we're travelling in the US - it's as if they are telling you it's time to go rather than you as the paying customer telling that staff that you're ready to leave!

And yes, Amex is not readily accepted in Europe but MasterCard and Visa are.

And as for Neopolitan pizza??? There is nothing on earth tastes like this!!!

I use my phone on flight mode for an alarm clock, and save a little space in my suitcase.

 

Also, be sure that if you take any sort of multi-socket electrical device, it doesn’t have a surge protector. Those can cause fires on shipboard, so are not allowed. Also, extension cords are often not allowed. If you need one for something like a CPAP machine, the ship can supply one, especially if you let them know in advance.

 

I usually take a magnet or two for pinning invitations and excursion tickets to the wall. Usually the walls are steel, and will hold a magnet, but not always. At least magnets are small and don’t take up much room if not needed.

(y)

I've been scouring the boards only today for what essentials are needed for a cruise which I might not take on holiday usually. So far my list includes:

Battery alarm clock

Pop up hamper for laundry

Extension cords / multi socket leads

Towel clips (also for shower curtains / balcony curtains)

Lanyards

Waterproof phone cases

I already take zip locks everywhere!

Any other hints and tips - we're cruising with RCI so if there are any specifics to this line, it would be good to know about these especially.

Thanks

Hi. We're first time cruisers with kids aged 11 and 6. We're booked on the TUI Highlights of the Med in May. We don't want to do any tours as such as the kids will get bored but we want to go and see places so just wanted some advice on how best to travel to each destination. My instinct is to travel ourselves but would like to know the cheapest and easiest way to do this. This is our itinerary and initial thinking:

 

Corsica - just hang around near port

Civitavecchia - take the TUI transport to Rome as its too risky to travel so far independent - cost would be £130.

Livorno - take train to Pisa then on to Florence - is this achievable ? we definitely want to have a few hours in Florence - not as bothered about Pisa

St Raphael - take train to Monte Carlo

Barcelona - make our own way to Nou Camp etc

 

would really appreciate any advice

Hi,

We're doing Mediterranean Beaches with RCI in August and have a couple of the same ports.

For Barcelona we're using Barcelona Day Tours who get rave reviews on here for a half day tour at 59 per person. Maximum of `2 people, minimum of 4. They're dropping us at the Camp Nou afterwards as this is on the children's "must do" list. then we'll make our own way back to the ship - taxi / Uber.

We're struggling too for Ajacco - I'm not sure the children will be over enthused as most of the tourist attractions seem to be themed around Napolean - not a period in history which excites them (or me) very much. So we were of the same mind as you - port / town / find a beach / or even try to do some of the more popular activities on the ship which might be overcrowded on sea days.

Interested to see what everyone else suggests as none of our plans are fixed in stone :-)

I'm from the UK and the weather in the Med in May is lovely for younger children, warm enough to swim (although the sea might be a little chilly in May having not had the benefit of a summer of sunshine on it yet) but not so hot that lethargy sets in! It can be the rainiest month of the Summer also so don't necessarily expect wall to wall sunshine. Before the children were of school age we spent a few holidays in Mallorca in May.

We're doing RCI in the Med in August with our now 14 y/o and 12 y/o and although we have 8 ports in 9 days, with sailing days before and afterwards, we're focusing our main sightseeing on Gibraltar, Barcelona, Palma, Cadiz and Ajaccio and planning to do lazy beach / nominal touring in Cartegena, Villefranche, and Malaga.

I agree that to try and do each port in any depth would be madness with the "eye rolling" and low boredom thresholds of teens / children!!

So we're planning to keep the sightseeing to the mornings when the temperature is lower, chill over a late lunch or at the beach while the locals siesta and then we need to be back on the ship by 5 / 6 pm most evenings.

We chose RCI because of the range of activities on board which will suit our children and because my husband teaches and so we're tied to school holiday times :-(

In Barcelona: Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, Casa Milà... nearly everybody likes these, including teens... the plasticity of the Modernist movement is very eye-catching... here feed them these videos: Casa Batlló: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/htZf2 or this one from the Sagrada Família: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/muA2f

 

For the sporty one, aside from Camp Nou, you also have the Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc, where the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1992 Olympics were held. Many don't know that Barcelona had already been a candidate in the 1924 and the 1936 Olympics and that the stadium had been built in 1929 precisely for this later bid. Next, to the stadium there's the Olympic Museum (http://www.museuolimpicbcn.cat/esp/home.asp). Also, for a more active activity, you could look at a sailing sortie, or a kayak lesson... https://www.velabarcelona.com/en/poliwin/familia/2

 

A crazy idea if at least one of you two (the adults, that is) know how to roller skate... every Friday night, the Roller Barcelona Association (https://www.timeout.cat/barcelona/ca/esports/com-i-on-patinar-a-barcelona) convokes all those that like to roller skate to have a fun session skating in group thru the streets of the city, it's free (you can rent the skates if you don't have them) and it's only required that you manage the basics of skating so you're not delaying the group too much. Sometimes as much as 300 get together...

The teachers of the Barcelona Roller Skate Club act as coordinators sheltering the group from pedestrians and traffic and helping those that stay lagged. This'd certainly be an unforgettable experience for your sporty one, if she knows how to roller skate that is, but she needs to be accompanied by an adult, of course. And you have to be prepared to stay up late. If you're (seriously) interested I can try to find out the particulars for you.

 

For the fashionista, just "drop" her in Portal de l'Àngel, off Plaça Catalunya... that area is full of trendy shops in the likes of Zara, Desigual, Mango and the lot. It's affordable fashion so won't break your bank. She can spend "literally" a whole day just in those few streets as there are hundreds of shops. The main two streets you should focus on are: https://www.scribblemaps.com/maps/view/ForFashionistaTeens/BCNTeensFash albeit in the contiguous streets you'll keep finding more shops. There are other areas in the city, but I thought this one would probably suit you best. Then, just for window watching, you can all go up to Passeig de Gràcia and check the expensive stores there.

 

Other stuff they both will certainly like: the Font Màgica (http://infocatalonia.eu/w/54XRj) -albeit you need to check schedules, it's not on every day-, a treat at Caelum in the Old City (http://bakingbites.com/2011/11/caelum-barcelona-spain/), the Aquarium (http://infocatalonia.eu/w/JldcR) and/or the Zoo (http://infocatalonia.eu/w/WzJfn), the Chocolate Museum (http://infocatalonia.eu/w/pr3jJ), the Tibidabo Fair (https://www.tibidabo.cat/en/home)...

 

It's difficult to list "just a few things" as the city offers a lot... I hope this might help.

 

Enric

Wow, thank you so much for your response! I really appreciate the time and effort which you have gone to.

I'm making enquiries about a half day tour with Barcelona City Tours following reviews on here but maybe I should just book you!! The tour will hopefully include the main tourist attractions Parc Guell, Sagrada Família, Olympic Stadium etc but maybe in the afternoon I could send my husband and our sporty teen to Camp Nou and explore the shopping district with our elder daughter.

We are in Barcelona on a Friday but will need to be back on board by 6 so we'll have to skip the roller skating this time but it does sound fantastic. Maybe I should bring the idea to Manchester... ;)

And thank you for the book recommendation. Now I'm just thinking that a few hours in Barcelona won't be nearly enough and that we'll need a long weekend break another time.

Hi,

We're sailing in the Western Med in August with our two tween / teen girls - 14 and 12 (or almost 15 and almost 13 by the time we leave).

I know that there wont be a spare moment while we're on board but I'm starting to think about shore excursions. We'll visit Gibraltar, Malaga, Cadiz, Barcelona, Palma, Villefrance, Corsica, Cartegena.

There are only so many churches and monuments they will endure before the inevitable cries of "I'm bored, can we not just go back and swim?".

Any ideas for particular attractions or excursions which might appeal to teens in particular? One is super sporty and is getting very excited about seeing Camp Nou in Barcelona and the other is a real fashionista.

Any input welcomed :D

Thanks!

As a complete newbie to cruising, planning our first time, is ABP generally the preferred parking provider for Southampton or are there any other recommendations?

TIA x