Adventures ahead

Your tour descriptions are helpful and much appreciated! Thanks!

Thanks again!

I see we are not on the same page. : ) As mentioned #638, we dock at noon until 8pm. Thanks for your patience in trying to help me figure out if we can DIY to Port de Soller and experience the tram (or even just Soller for a train ride) with such a late arrival.

Please excuse me, to be clear, from Port de Soller we would take a bus back to Soller, then a bus back to Palma?

Thank you! Should I pre-purchase tickets? If so, how far in advance would you suggest? Do we re-trace our steps to Soller, or is there a bus directly from Port de Sollar to Palma and near the ship?

Last Nov 2 we visited Valldemossa and Palma including a guided inside visit of the Cathedral. Both fantastic! Again this year we arrive on an NCL ship on Sat Oct 19 at noon that departs at 8pm. Is DIY doable to Soller and Port of Soller, say between 12:30pm and 5pm? If there was time, it would be fun to take the tram between the two. If yes for any of it, how so? If the information is still correct, I read a previous post you wrote on how to find the bus.

Sailing on Dawn in 12 days. Yesterday awarded a successful bid from inside cabin to BA balcony deck 9. Feeling lucky! Three days prior, after told that balconies were sold out, I put max bids on a balcony (and club balcony). Paid Cdn $516/pp less than if we'd purchased a balcony upgrade the week prior and much less than if we'd booked a balcony when we booked the cruise. I received a credit card alert about the charge and the upgrade email from NCL one minute later. We hadn't booked the inside cabin with the intent to upgrade later. Just decided to SEA what we could do!

Any recent experiences since the earthquake?

I disconnected and reconnected my wifi with good results.

NCL told me that when tours disappear, they're sold out. They reappear when there are cancellations so I suggest you check daily.

Thanks

Last summer we didn't bother with a European SIM card. Had wifi and used iMessage, FB messenger and FaceTime for a couple of 'emergencies'. Now also using What's App. After re-reading this, another eSim thread and other light research, I'm deciding the eSIM thing providing a second number on my iPhone may be above my 'tech'-scale. I don't want to mess anything up on my phone. I don't need to physically chat with family and friends back home by phone, only be reachable in case of emergency. I'm taking a vacation from them too and will connect to wifi daily in case something important comes up. For an upcoming cruise that's mainly in Spain (18 travel days), I'm leaning towards taking my older iPhone and buying a SIM card with data that works for European countries so it works if/when I need it for any reason. Maybe to call a taxi. OTOH, I may buy it and never use it! Therefore, I may be better off just activating Bell's Roam-Like-Home for a 'day' if needed, for example, if flights need rebooking. A friend bought a Vodafone S Prepaid SIM card from Amazon and activated it online before leaving for Spain for a land trip for three months. Worked great, can be topped up if needed.

I've seen cruise laundry tags on nice clothing in thrift stores. Makes me smile too.

Received our flights yesterday with 54 days to go. No direct flights exist so a single connection is great! Halifax - Toronto - Lisbon Barcelona - Montreal - Halifax All on Air Canada. Connection a bit tight in Toronto 1hr 17 min so fingers crossed no issues arise. So far, so pleased.

Have used SDT before. We're travelling late October. It's been a wait and see to reach minimum numbers for some of the ports. So far, it's working out. Communication has been excellent.

Rather than use an airport ATM, I've used a bank on Plaça Catalunya that's affiliated with my bank in Canada. Saved fees.

Sailing NCL for first time and on Dawn in October. Can you find out early on the cruise when shows will be in the Stardust Theatre? Do you need to reserve seats for it, or for any other entertainment venue? Do any charge a fee?

I know this thread is about renewals. For others reading here, I just spoke with CBSA about making a new (initial) application. Told that applications aren't handled in chronological order by US Homeland Security. Worst-case scenario is 20-22 months before application could be pulled, then step 2 would be set up an interview. Good luck with your renewals.

First-time NCL cruiser. Sailing in October. Can someone share recent Dailies from the Dawn?

Apparently concerts have been added. Our only option was a self-guided audio-tour that we thoroughly enjoyed and recommend.

I'd request one for boarding regardless of the port. The ramps can often be a very long walk! I requested wheelchair assistance for my husband when our agent booked the flights. I suppose it can be added to your flight reservation whenever you're able.

First-timer question... If your bid is accepted by NCL, are you automatically upgraded and credit card automatically charged without you being consulted if you want to accept the new location?

I fell short of suggesting missing Park Guell. Thought I might be admonished! It was interesting but not my favourite. As a second Gaudi 'fix' to Sagrada Familia, we thought Casa Batlló was a lot more fun and easier to get to. To us, the park felt like a make-believe land (without a guide). The Gothic Quarter felt real, so well worth the time spent there. I've done the Runner Bean tour twice and hope to do it again this fall. A little different each time with a different guide. I only suggest a route on the HOHO for a relatively quick overview, don't get off, time to sit and relax, learn from the English commentary. Food isn't a priority for us on a port day. For a quick snack at a café, try patatas bravas and a local drink. (BTW, don't lay your phone or camera down on a table. Don't fret. Just keep your bag in your lap.) Come back and tell us how your day went!

You're welcome! Agree with Marazul. Makes sense to do your most important first, then judge what you can do in the remaining time. We were in Barcelona for a week. A much different reality on a cruise ship day. I wouldn't use the HOHO bus as transportation to visit Sagrada Familia and Park Guell in a day, plus attempt to accomplish everything else on a long wish list. In my opinion, if taxis are plentiful, waiting for buses can waste precious time. Park Guell was unguided so it's easy to lose track of time. We skipped the trails and went directly into the Monumental Zone. Would be great to fit in at least one of the three loops on the HOHO bus for an overview of the city. Each route takes 2-2.5 hrs without getting off. If skipping one, I'd skip the one along the beach... even though I love beaches. BTW, we truly enjoyed the walking tour in the Gothic Quarter where we had a personal guide providing historical accounts of what we we saw. The tour would restrict your time as it only runs at certain hours. We also enjoyed Gaudi's Casa Battló, a short walk from Plaça Catalunya. It's a single crazy-amazing building and appealed to my sense of humour. Something for everything... tough choices to make. Truth is, it's all amazing! Enjoy!

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