FLCruiser97

13 minutes ago, silkismom said:

Hummmm, wonder if we can take up a collection to keep them on a ship semi-permanently?

OH Yea! I'm sure they would love that. I know I would....

2 minutes ago, gabbygrrl said:

As someone else mentioned, the decorations come out overnight. I sailed a few years back and woke up to a completely different ship! 🎅

I know..Right! Kinda like Disney. Overnight from one holiday to the next.

2 minutes ago, Stockjock said:

Here's a direct link to the Vatican's Ticket Office.  It's probably cheaper than going through a 3rd party. You will see the Happy Hour tours referenced, but candidly, not sure if they're still doing them, or if there's a suspension due to covid.  When we went, I think they only did it 1 or 2 nights per week, so you'd have to check the schedule.

Have fun!
https://tickets.museivaticani.va/home

Thanks, I'll check it out. Got loads of time till next Oct but it doesn't hurt to start checking now. 

17 minutes ago, Stockjock said:

The Spanish Steps area was very nice area to stay in.  There's also a Happy Hour at the Vatican that many aren't aware of.  Not too expensive and you can tour the Vatican at night, when it's less crowded.  Price of admission to the Happy Hour also includes some wine and snacks.  Let me know if you need help with this.

Thanks Stockjock. You have been very helpful. Happy hour at the Vatican sounds nice. We also were thinking about a walking food tour. 

10 minutes ago, Stockjock said:

Yes, we stayed 3-4 nights next to the Spanish Steps.  Taxi from FCO to the Hotel (fixed rate, as I recall) and private transfer from the hotel to the port and then from the port to FCO (with the aforementioned issues).

I strongly recommend that you spend some time in Rome.  It's a gorgeous city.  So many amazing things to see.  So much good food.  If your health and stamina permits, recommend doing a comprehensive walking tour.  History around every corner.  But...you will do a lot of walking, so wear comfortable shoes.  Colosseum tour was also worthwhile, but the highlight was the walking tour.  Sore feet and 100% worth it.

Yes, we are doing a TA Oct 2022 and wanted to go in 4 days pre-cruise. I was in Rome 15 yrs ago so I know much has changed regarding pricing.  I stayed near the Vatican but wanted somewhere closer to the center of town this time. More sights to see and more walkable. 

1 minute ago, dabear said:

Thanks Stockjock for the floater advice. Our 2/9 Millennium cruise itinerary also was change with Bimini substituted fro Key West. My limited research came to the same conclusion of nothing there but some beaches & overpriced beer & chairs . I didn't see the "floater warning".

dabear...we HAVE been warned..LOL

13 minutes ago, Stockjock said:

I did a cruise to/from "Rome" 5 years ago.  We had arranged the same private transfer to the port and then from the port to the FCO airport.

The transfer from the hotel to the port was perfect.

However, when the ship arrived, there was a delay in getting off.  We got off at our earliest opportunity, but the driver couldn't wait for us, so we ended up hanging out with our bags on a hot day for hours, with calls back and forth to the transportation company.

If I was to do it again, I'd compare taxi prices to private transfer prices and if remotely close, do a taxi do avoid what we went through.  If there's a big price differential, then I'd consider the private transfer.  But if there is a delay, it is possible that you have the hassle that we did.

Did you stay in Rome or just go from port to plane? Just wanted to inquire where you stayed while in Rome.

7 minutes ago, Stockjock said:

I did a cruise to/from "Rome" 5 years ago.  We had arranged the same private transfer to the port and then from the port to the FCO airport.

The transfer from the hotel to the port was perfect.

However, when the ship arrived, there was a delay in getting off.  We got off at our earliest opportunity, but the driver couldn't wait for us, so we ended up hanging out with our bags on a hot day for hours, with calls back and forth to the transportation company.

If I was to do it again, I'd compare taxi prices to private transfer prices and if remotely close, do a taxi do avoid what we went through.  If there's a big price differential, then I'd consider the private transfer.  But if there is a delay, it is possible that you have the hassle that we did.

Stockjock, we are on the "same page" today all around. 

Just now, Stockjock said:

Be sure to be on the alert for floaters! :0)

Got it!!!!

Thanks Stockjock. It is a fairly new cruise port. I know Virgin Voyages has a seperate beach club there that they just started using but I think it is on the opposite side of the island. I will check out some sites online but after what you found, I don't think I will be going in the ocean...LOL

1 minute ago, DCPIV said:

I had been told they weren't mailing them out any longer, but then I received some in the mail a couple weeks ago (the day after I got home from that particular sailing 🤣).

 

Yesterday, I discovered that you can go to the "Manage My Reservation" on the website and then click on "Before you Board."  If you are close enough to your sailing (i.e., documents are available) there may very well be a button near the bottom of the page for "Mail Me Luggage Tags."  If you are sailing in December, it still might be too early.

 

I went ahead and filled it out for my November sailing.  We'll see what happens.

Click on the "edocs", scroll through that document and towards the end, there is a tag that can be printed. 

Do they have UBER in Rome? and would it be too expensive from airport to town?

8 minutes ago, Alakegirl said:

Which company was this?

did you pre-book?

what was the price?

I'm interested in that too. Have a TA next Oct.

Our sailing -25 Nov- Key West port was cancelled and replaced with Bimini. We are the type of cruisers that really don't care what port we go to as long as we can explore with an excursion or two. X is not offering any  shore excursions in Bimini so we are kinda bummed there. We haven't been to Bimini so really don't know what to expect.

Printing them off your reservation is the same tag. The only difference is the guest name is printed on the mailed tags. Just as easy to print them and faster. IMO

Love al Bacio coffees. 

I have been on a Thanksgiving sailing where the Christmas decor comes out on Black Friday. We are on the Millie on Thanksgiving 25 Nov-29 Nov. According to the posted link, we won't be able to enjoy the  Christmas decor as the decorating begins after we dock.

On 10/20/2021 at 2:12 AM, abbydancer said:

By the way, the sundries on the Equinox are hidden.  If you go into the liquor section, along the back wall (on the right if you enter from the hallway by the casino) there are two closed cabinets.  All the sundries are there.  They aren't locked so you can open them up and buy what you need.  

 

Maybe this is something everyone knows.   I didn't. 

Was on EQ last month and I just thought that the sundries were very sparse. I did not know about the hidden cabinet. Now I know. Thanks abbydancer.

I saw this question asked somewhere on the forum. I think under "cabin selection tips" or something like that. We normally sail on port side in the Caribbean but we are doing a TA westbound and decided that starboard might be better.

I had a FCC timeline question for my TA and she said that they are/or will be extending expiration dates most likely to accomodate rebookings. 

55 minutes ago, kaprin02 said:

The FAQs state that on this cruise, you’ll get benefits of your new level on the day you earn it (you don’t have to wait until your next cruise). 😉

NEXT CRUISE!!??....who would want to cruise after 274 days on a ship. I love cruising but I might be done with cruising for a while after that.

The laundry hot water is a real thing! My jeans came back 2 sizes too small. Next time dry clean those items. Regarding the paper laundry bags, we were just on the EQ last month and the laundry bags were cloth so no chance of ripping. 

One quick tip on the laundry....if you roll the items, you can get more in the small bag they have (if it's a pay by the bag) It usually comes back in 2 bags.

We are on a TA Oct 2022 Rome-TPA and there are some ports that do not have excursions at this time offered. They could be working on them or just may not be offered. Best to wait till closer to sailing to see for sure. 

Other lines make you show your sea pass to get pool towels. On Celeb you do not have to do that.