BVILady

so am I and they don't mind. And the almost 5 month is actually enough for me. We will be gone 2 month July/August, then I am leaving Dec. 20th for the World Cruise, returning middle of May. I think I will enjoy some home-time after that.

if you consider a World Cruise only a cruise where you actually see everything, it might be difficult to achieve. There are only so many places you can visit in the average 120-150 day World Cruises. Royal Caribbean 278 (?) might offer most places. I am booked on 2 Costa Cruises. The itinerary 2024 might be more what you will consider a World Cruise, since it actually goes around the World. 2023 covers Africa, South America, East coast of the US, India, Middle East and plenty of places in Europe but not Australia and Asia or Northern Europe. It will take quite a few cruises to cover all the places you might want to see. On the 2024 cruise I booked the smaller ports in the Pacific, South Korea and Sri Lanka will be new to me and I will enjoy returning to all other ports even all the more familiar European destinations. My 2023 cruise, some might consider just a Grand Voyage, I have not seen the ports in Africa and off Africa, like Mauritius yet, neither India or the other Middle East ports besides Haifa. Also the islands off Portugal will be new to me. I suggest just pick what interests you most. So Royal Caribbean might be your best bet if you don't mind 9 month on one voyage.

I have been on Costa several times and am not a Party Animal as Dancer Bob seems to be and have never been disturbed by people partying, so it looks like Costa is catering for everyone - 😂🤣😂I am a 73 year old boring early riser, ready to conquer the world bright eyed and bushy-tailed. Usually I am also booked not close to any bar or theater anyhow.

sorry booked on both and problems with both, did ask on MSC also.

Is MSC check-in only open at a certain date before departure?

Was going to add my passport information on web-check in but do not get through, tells me to contact my Agent. Have booked with icruise and e-mails to my agents are returned, have tried all kind of other e-mail-combination I could come up with unsuccessfully. Will never book through an agency again. Is MSC check-in only open at a certain date before departure? By the way I am not alone with problems with an agency. my friend booked a World Cruise and her agent is not working at the agency any longer and she is getting no promised answers back for questions asked by phone.

Just checking, have not found any updates on that ridiculous rule. Last update I see is from Dec. 5th, 2021. If I did miss anything can you kindly provide a link? Thanks in advance.

We have cruised both. The only difference I do see is that you will have many different Nationalities on the ship, not only all English speaking guests. It has never been a problem for us and we have made friends from all around the World. It might only make it difficult to get tours with other cruisers on this forum booked, not many are on cruise critic. Check the role call but it is still a long time off. I am also booked on the 2024 World Cruise as well as the 2023. Costa does have 15 excursions included in their World Cruise and as far as I can see they are good value, like Petra in Jordan was an included tour in 2022, which had been cancelled due to covid and is now in 2023. All excursions offered are good value for the money, have seen an excursion I booked for less then $ 100 with Costa discussed on an all inclusive upscale cruise line at $ 299.00 extra cost. The only thing I would have liked is the self service Laundromat at Princess but Costa has laundry-specials at the World Cruise for E 19.99 for 25 pieces, so I will just need to do some hand-washing for small items. I feel food quality is the same as Princess and HAL. Being a solo cruiser on both World Cruises I do definitely enjoy the cost. Actually I had looked into HAL's Grand Voyage to Africa when I found the 2023 Costa World Cruise featuring Africa and for about $ 5000 more Costa will also take me around South America and around the world. At the end of the day the bottom line is important to me and having priced solo-fares on some up-scale lines I will be able to make 2 World cruises for the price of one, without penny-pinching. You will need to fly to Europe to get on board. That has never been a problem to me even now at 73 😄, but that is just me. Hope to meet you onboard

Any tips how to book a rapid antigen test in Lisbon airport, one website did not have AA listed as departing airline, ticket states American Airlines and the next website did not list airport as location. Our flight departs at 11.25 am and testing at the airport will get us all the way home.

can you provide me with a link to book the appointment at the airport please. Going to travel to Portugal and want to make sure test is accepted for entry-approval.

I am like you. Have not been on a World Cruise before but various longer cruises. Was very successful previously with tours arranged by fellow cruisers or on my own. Had an incredible Anchor Wat trip arranged by a fellow cruiser at less then 1/3 of the ships tour and better service. I do usually check online on various sites what the best places are to visit and then pick what I want to do and if the ship-excursion offers what I want at an acceptable price I will book with them. Have been twice in Manila and would most probably have never gotten back to the ship if I would have been on my own, but one reason for that is that I want to see as much as possible being lucky to be in that place. I start planning and researching from the day I book and it is part of the fun. Right now I am booked on two World Cruises with Costa and they have high quality excursions at reasonable prices, if not even included, so at the moment so far I will only do 2 ports on my own. I do watch cruisers in my home country aimlessly walk around, believe me strolling through the parking lots in Road Town is no way to enjoy our beautiful island. Have fun planning.

for Barcelona, have not found anything for Trieste yet. https://creu-blanca.es/en/noticia-interior/180/centros-y-horarios-de-pruebas-covid-19.html