Baseball fan

I just did this. I shared a taxi with some friends going to terminal 2 and I went to terminal 3. It cost us around $15. It was much quicker to walk outside the terminal as the taxis are lined up. Very quick. There were 4 ships in port that day and it wasn't as crowded at the airport as I expected (even with the AA cancelled flights due to weather in Dallas).

Highly recommend a taxi.

Dena

CABIN #: 1287

DECK #: 10

CLASS: C3

AREA: Port/Aft

BED NEAR: Bath

QUIET?: Very

BALCONY VIEW:

BALCONY SIZE: Standard

WIND A PROBLEM?: No

SOOT A PROBLEM?: N/A

PROBLEMS/COMMENTS:

Awesome cabin. Toward the back so a bit of a walk from the central stairs. I was ok with that as I wanted the excercise (I think I took the elevators twice). 3 flights up to the buffet, 2 to the pool, and 5 down to Cafe Al Bacio. Even if it was cool out, the balcony was protected from the wind. I loved this cabin.

Need to delete

You'd better confirm this. We booked a 1A cabin and when guarantee balcony cabins came up (saving us $1,000), we switched to the balcony guarantee. They told us upfront we would lose the drink package.

 

We didn't mind losing it; we weren't going to get our money's worth out of it, anyway, and would rather save cash upfront.

 

I think these promos are a good incentive to book early (and at a higher price). I don't know of many people who scored $799/pp balcony cabins AND a free drink package.

 

Think of it as shopping at a discount store. You can either get a full price $100 sweater for $50 with a 50% off coupon, or you can get it weeks later on "clearance" for $49.99, but the sale coupon doesn't apply. In the end, it pretty much all equals out!

 

Book early, get a good promotion and a great cabin location. OR, wait til much later, and snag whatever is available at a much lower price. You can't get your choice of cabins at a deeply discounted price AND a drink package. They'd go out of business if they did it that way!

I also knowingly lost the perk. My cruise dropped $600 right before final payment. Due to the new price and the perk no longer offered, I gave up my $300 s/b credit. I am a shareholder so I am getting $250 on board. I am not a big drinker so was very happy with the savings. I too wanted the cash:)

Dena

Dena I'm staying at the Hotel Lloret next Saturday and will be coming back to give a full review.:)

 

No hotel is perfect and the reviews on Tripadvisor are mostly positive about this hotel.

 

I'm like you, only staying for 1 night precruise and after a nap, will be out and about

 

I booked ours on booking.com and you hold it and pay when you get there. We reserved 2 rooms with breakfast, for 190 euros, tax included.

 

So excited and can't wait to fly out next week.:D

So what do you think? I switched from the Continental as the Lloret is cheaper. Plus I get more space and a Ramblas view. I read reviews on tripadvisor so it should be fine.

I leave soon.

Thanks, Dena

I've stayed at Hotel Continental twice. It is less than €100 and a few doors down from Placa Catalunya. Yes it is very pink but the location is great. You can take the aerobus from the airport to Placa catalunya for around €6. A cab to the port is about 15-20 euros. A less expensive option is to walk from the hotel to the Columbus statue. And then take the port bus.

This year I am staying across las Ramblas from the continental at Hotel Lloret. It has great reviews on tripadvisor and is a bit less expensive. If only there one night, I would stay in the city.

Dena

I have Marriott points to use and was thinking of booking The Renaissance., I know the the hotel Continental has an excellent location and rooms over look Las ramblas. comparing the rooms and the reviews it appears the Renaissance has the edge?

 

Thoughts and suggestions? Which would you recommend for one night pre cruise

 

Thanks

I've stayed at the Continental (twice). It is very pink....think pepto-bismol pink. And quirky. However, the location is great.

This month I am trying Hotel Lloret. It is across the Ramblas from the Continental. They were slightly cheaper, and I get a ramblas view.

IMO, when you have a short stay, I stay in places based on location. I don't want to spend time getting there. If you don't need anything fancy, and can handle the pink, you will be fine with the Continental.

Dena

Am wondering how early I can pre-purchase tickets for the following:

 

Rome Colosseum

Vatican Museum

Florence Accademia

Pisa- to climb tower

 

thx

I called the Accademia directly to make a reservation. There is an extra charge (approx €4) but we didn't pay ahead. Bypassed the line and paid when we picked up our tickets. Worked perfectly.

I stayed at the Sheraton near Fisherman's Wharf. I think it was around $150 but that was off season.

PacSafe is the more well known brand but Magellans makes their own too. I haven't used them but have heard good things from friends.

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I stayed at Hotel Arlecchino. It is one small bridge from piazzle Roma. We took the bus from the airport and walked to the ship (and used the people mover). Great hotel....

I have stayed at the Continental twice and it is fine for my stay next month. However, I just came across the Hotel Lloret Ramblas and was thinking of moving there. Has anyone stayed at both hotels and can give me a comparison. They appear to be across from each other on the Ramblas. The Lloret is slightly less expensive and I could get a Ramblas view (which I like). The reivews on TripAdvisor are pretty good for the Lloret.

I am only there for one night pre-cruise.

Thoughts?

Thanks

Dena

I have stayed at the Sheraton near fisherman's wharf. Great location. Cable car stop is about 2 blocks away. So is the wharf and awesome seafood.

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I went to that same TIM store in May to buy a data SIM for my iPad Mini. Very helpful staff (my Mini was brand new and I was unfamiliar with changing SIMs). It was so much fun to be able to use my Mini to send photos to friends on the fly, use Google Translate, GPS, anywhere, anytime with the data service!

 

May I ask - where did you buy your unlocked 5S????? I'm surprised that you got one so soon after it's release...

I believe the US is the only country with mobile phones that are locked. But the cost of the phone is supplemented so we don't generally pay as much for the phone when we purchase it but we are locked into a 2 year agreement with that company.

I just realized that as a Select Captains Club member I already receive priority boarding so that is not really a true benefit...especially if a significant portion of the ship are Select or Elite members. As you said...the non-priority line may be shorter.

I've done a aft cabin on RCCL and loved it. I am booked on equinox next month in a CC. The price was about the same but I wanted the extra point toward elite (I too am select).

Dena

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I am on your same cruise. I will have enough euros to get to my hotel. However there are ATM machines at the airport (not sure which terminal you arrive at but they both show banks past baggage claim). Also if taking a taxi make sure you print out the address of the hotel (I use my confirmation).

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We used Italy Limousine for multiple stops in Rome. My mom has mobility issues so she did not get off in every stop. She had been to many of the ports but she picked the things she wanted to see again. Our drivers were great and spent time with her while we were running to see something. Josephine was very helpful in planning what we could do from our wish list.

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Not really thrilled with this but since I have a large shipboard credit to use, I will wait until I board.

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I know this won't help the OP, but to others reading this: I always put a luggage tag that has our cell phone number, ship name a& sailing date, and the names and dates of any pre or post cruise hotels. If our luggage ever get's misplaced then I want to make it easy for someone to reconnect it to us.

 

I've read the suggestion to put some of this info inside your bag, and we sometimes do that as well, but I don't think that really does much as I doubt anyone searches through the contents of lost luggage, other than thieves, until after it is sold at an unclaimed items auction.

I do the exact same thing. I also put the info in the luggage(usually right on top) in case the tags on the outside disappear.

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Has anyone tried Travel Bound Free Walking Tours? They leave from an area and at a time that would accommodate us better so I plan on trying them. Thanks.

I did find their website and was thinking of trying them in Nov, if I can get a late checkout. I did see great reviews online .

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Going to Barcelona in 2 weeks. About how much do you tip? 5 to 10 euros?

We tipped 10€ each.

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I'm not sure if this is considered an upgrade if a higher level cabin (e.g. balcony) became cheaper than the price you paid for a lower level cabin (e.g. inside) due to a price drop after final payment due date.

I consider it one although not one the cruise line gave me. We watched pricing last year for our RCCL cruise. Booked an E2. Went to a JS about a month after final payment. With less than a month to go, moved to a GS. Can happen by watching pricing and calling X or your TA.

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We did the Old City Tour in November. It was a pretty big group and she kept a good pace....but there were stops along the way. I wanted to do one this year but they don't operate on the one day I have...

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It is a full day but well worth it. When we went you could still climb it. It was very hot and dusty...

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We did this tour with the cruise line. We loved it. We took a boat to the mainland in Riviera Maya. Had to walk a few blocks to the bus, and off we went. There was a stop to use the bathroom (same on the way back). It is a very long day. We were almost the last ones back but I didn't have to worry since it was a ship excursion. We were too nervous to do it on our own.

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