kathleen21

@pkpon can anyone go to the sky lounge? Or is that a YC only place?

There’s a new link today on the USA website to fill out a form for the cruise assurance program. Entered the ship and booking details of the cruise I wanted to cancel for March 29. Got an email immediately with a reference number. Says I will get a FCC # by email within 2 weeks. I figure that still gives me time before the sail date to call if necessary. 
let’s hope this really works! It was much easier than I expected. 

The walk from the train station to the port entrance is a nice mile. Plenty of shops, cafes. Pull it up on google maps if you can, because we still managed to take a couple of wrong turns the first time we did it.
We did try walking to our ship once inside the port that first time. After all, we could see it and it was just. Right. There. But there turned out to be a lot of detours and security fences. Thankfully a bus driver from a different cruise line felt sorry for the group that had accumulated and drove us all to our ships.
After that, we have waited at the port entrance and now take the free cruise shop bus to the ship.

We did this in May 2019. You have to take the ships shuttle to the port entrance. In our case that was free. From there it is a mile walk to the train station. We pulled it up on google maps. Once at the train station you will need to buy tickets unless you booked online. I would recommend doing that. We didn’t, and couldn’t figure out the ticket machine so we had to wait for the relaxed teller at the ticket window to finally get our tickets. A sprint to the train, we waited maybe 5 minutes before it left for Rome. 
Our ship docked at 8am, we made the 0935 train. We stayed on until the second stop, then took the metro to the colosseum.
Coming back from Rome, we took the last train back -430pm, I think. Just made sure we got to the train station early enough. There were many places to eat or drink at that station. And clean bathrooms!

Where do I go to find the new policy? We still have 2 weeks, so I’m not rushing to wait on hold, but I want to tell the group so we can make plans. Thanks!

nevermind! I see it now on the home page😆

Curious. What is the benefit to prepayment of gratuities?

Hey Morepunk,

what did you end up doing on your Sunday in Ajaccio? We will be there next June on a Sunday and I’m trying to figure our day out. Msc Seaview from 12-7 pm if anyone else has any recommendations 😉 I’m hoping to figure out how to go on a hike into the hills...

thanks! 
Kathy

We’re back! Had a great time and would go again anytime! Ship was very clean, people were so nice and friendly, food and included drinks were good... there was never a problem communicating in English. We were in an inside cabin on deck 3. Comfortable in a camping cabin sort of way. It was functional if you used your under bed suitcase for extra storage. But honestly, we truly were too busy to hang out there much. The bars and outside decks called to us😉 

If anyone has questions let me know. I took some pictures of the ship and food, none of the menus. I have the dailies. We did Zumba and bingo in Spanish! What an experience!😁

Anyone out there going on this cruise? We are 4 sisters and daughters celebrating university graduations with a girls only cruise. 

Or if you aren’t going, but have been on the Sovereign, I would love to hear from you about your trip...any tips. 

Thanks!

( fun picture of my pilot graduate 😁)

Thank you for posting, especially the planners. I haven’t seen any of those posted before! 

We will be leaving out of Barcelona, spending the night before the cruise and site seeing the day of embarkation. The ship leaves at 1800. Travel agent recommends being at dock at 1600. I would love to time it so we spend as little time as possible in line waiting to board. (Wouldn’t everyone! 😁) I’m thinking 1400 might be a sweet spot. Any opinions? If it matters, we are on the Sovereign in May. Thanks!

Littlenige -

Thanks for coming back to post this! I just got approval for the time off from work to book this cruise for next May. 😁 l really love to be able to walk or jog the whole way around the ship, so that is a definite plus. Everything else we can deal with. I like wine more than mixed drinks, and I’m not too much of a wine snob either :')

Did you find the ship to be crowded? Any other places you would recommend if we were seeking out an area outside for conversation with our glass of wine?

We were on this ship when it was called the Pacific Dream, and I just checked a few pictures and yes, it looks like it has a jogging track.

We will be on the Horizon next month and have a Grand Suite for the two of us. We think it is worth it as you get Waves Club Black benefits which among other things,include a private deck area for Grand and Royal Suite occupants only.

Thank you for the response. We are changing our plans and will probably end up in an outside room on the Sovereign. However your response is helping me plan the next cruise, which will be with my husband. I think the Waves benefits are definitely something we will be doing. Thanks!

My sister and daughter are looking at a Mediterranean cruise on the Horizon next spring. I have a few questions for anyone that has been on this ship.

- Is there a jogging deck?

- What is the gym like?

- Junior suite - opinions on 3 people in the room, preferred room location or deck, difference from a grand suite and if that is worth the increased cost.

Thank you!

anyone else taking this cruise this week?

How was it? I am looking at booking this cruise for next year, and there is just so little information available about the Monarch!

We are looking to cruise the Caribbean in April or May and are very interested in a Pullmantur itenerary out of Colon. Does anyone know if the end of April will still be spring break time? We would like to avoid those crowds.

Also, if we book junior suites on the Monarch does that get us into the Waves area? (and therefore it wouldn’t matter if the ship was crowded maybe?)

For our cruise in April I had to “buy” the water package - for free- by going in to my sailing and adding it. I remember it being towards the end of the beverage packages

English will be one of the major languages, just not the only one. ;) I say don’t worry! Plenty of people from the UK, Australia and New Zealand. You will have a great time!

Thank you for such a thoughtful, balanced review. There are some iteneraries that I am considering, mostly in the Mediterranean, and this helps me get the right mind set.

Now I’m off to read your other reviews

B2B2B! 7 days Baltics then 7 days Fjords then reposition to Med via Southampton Zeebrugge A Coruna Spain Lisbon Portugal and ending in Barcelona. Copenhagen 26 August to Barcelona 18 September 2018. 23 days onboard MSC Preziosa.

 

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Wow! What a grand adventure! You must be having a great time planning. Only 47 days to go. The Preziosa is another ship without too many reviews. So feel free to post a bit when you get back;) Have a great trip!

Kathy

We are from New Zealand and love our country but are cruising Baltics and Scandinavia for nearly a month in August 2018! It's great here though as we have fjords volcanos ski fields etc and no-one is more than about 1.5 to 2 hours away from the coast.

 

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The Baltic area is on my list too! That list is getting longer. This was the longest cruise we had ever been on, and I was surprised that we were not bored, or tired of “the same food choices” or anything negative, really. Now I feel much more comfortable about looking at longer trips. Is yours a back 2 back cruise?

Loved your review! I'm sad it's over. Thanks for putting so much effort into it and the great photos.Ken

Thanks, Ken! I want you to know that I read your Davinia review as part of my research, so thanks for all the port information! And that led me to Gambee’s reviews - which are also fun to read. Especially since it looks like we may have a Caribbean cruise coming up in the next year...

A great review and fabulous photos, thoroughly enjoyed the whole lot, thanks for sharing it so comprehensively...Kerri (us Aussies are a very friendly bunch ;p)

You are indeed! I’m looking forward to visiting your home land in a few years. Thanks for reading!

What a fantastic review of your trip and the Orchestra. I enjoyed it very much and want to thank you for taking the time and effort to publish this It has fuelled our excitement in anticipation of our 12 day cruise on Orchestra late Aug. But most importantly I am happy you enjoyed your trip with your DH

Thank you! I hope you have an opportunity to post a review and pictures of your trip. It sounds wonderful. Have a fantastic time!

Kathleen, I'm sorry your review is at an end! I have enjoyed it immensely and thank you for taking the time to write it and include so many photos as well as detailed information. It's nice to have a European cruise review on a very American orientated board.

Thank you so much for reading along and commenting. I’m only wishing the cruise was longer so I would have even more ports to discuss! Maybe someday we will do one of those month long cruises. Maybe in New Zealand!:D It’s on my list;)