megs193

4 hours ago, kleibo said:

Ninja.  Just did the Oia & Thira yesterday.  Going to the old port first was perfect.  We got to OIA early and we’re able to get our pics without much trouble.  Go right to the dome pics as they back up quickly.  We also had time to shop and even had a drink overlooking the caldera 

 

we did a bit of shopping when we got back to Thira but we were on the cable car by 1 with only a 20 minute wait.  Friends waited an hour at 2 and it got up to 3 hours forcing many to walk down.  And yes. We had people miss the ship.  
 

the schedule said only 2 ships would be in port and 4 were in port - it was packed 

 

there was much more uphill walking than I realized and one woman fell coming back to the busses.  We also heard a woman fell on the stairs when they couldn’t wait any longer for the cable car 

Where do we go for the dome pics?  We booked a ship excursion and should get there early so I want to make sure we go to the best place for pics early.

34 minutes ago, jwlane said:

Do it.  You'll easily be off before 9.  Check out Welcome Pickups.

Thanks for the recommendation!  It looks like they offer exactly what I am looking for. 

43 minutes ago, steamboats said:

Usually you can simply walk off like in a US port. If your last port has been a Schengen community country you don´t even have a passport control and no customs either.

 

steamboats

Our last port will be Mykonos so it is.  We travel light and do the self disembark option. It says we dock at 5am but I know it takes awhile for them to start letting people off. Any idea if 7:30 would be too early to start the tour?  I would love to get to the Acropolis right when it opens. 

This is my families first European cruise. We will be disembarking in Athens. We pack light so we walk our luggage off. At US ports this usually means we are off the ship waiting for a taxi by 7am. Is the disembarkation process different in Europe?  Our flight is at 5:30pm so I would love to book a private tour guide with transportation to see the acropolis but I’m not sure what time to book for. Thanks!

Our flight home is at 5:30pm. We travel light and can walk our own bags off. Has anyone done this and gone to the acropolis?  It seems like there are places nearby where you can pay to store your luggage. I looked into cruise line tours as well but they were only 4 hours long including transportation to the airport and I would like to have a little more time in Athens. TIA!

24 minutes ago, euro cruiser said:

Uber in Italy is not the same set up as in the States.  They have outlawed the amateur driver with a private car model that is the basic Uber strategy.

 

Each individual city or area in Italy negotiates a contract with Uber to be a connection platform.  In Rome you are connected to a private car service, in Naples the connection is to regular taxis.

 

I don't know what the set up is in Messina.  I would risk it for the outbound (Messina to Taormina) trip but I'd be sure to have a backup in place for the return.

 

There are bus and train options as a backup.

Thanks!  I just looked up the trains and it seems like this is a good option for getting back to the cruise terminal if Uber isn’t an option back. 

Has anyone used Uber to get to and from Taormina when docked in Messina?  We are traveling as a family of four and we want to explore on our own but would also like more than 3 hours in Taormina. I searched on Uber and it was available now. I just don’t want to get to Taormina and not be able to get back to the cruise. Thanks!

We are taking a cruise to Greece next August when the temperature will likely be super hot. Would golf shorts and polo shirts be appropriate dinner attire for my husband and 2 sons?  We are traveling through Italy prior to the cruise and carrying our luggage all around so I am trying to pack as light as possible.

Do you happen to know if guest traveling in suites had the same priority access to tenders?  We are going to Santorini and Mykonos next year and are cruising in a suite. I want to be off as quickly as possible to minimize the crowds but also because it will be August and super hot in the afternoon. Thanks!

19 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Already sold out

Usually they show as sold out if something is sold out (like a shore excursion or a sushi making class). I have never seen these show up or show as sold out. Are they in the cruise planner under onboard activities?

I will be cruising on Quantum of the Seas in July. Does anyone know how many days out the reservations for things like ifly, North Star and the shows open up. We are 46 days out today and I have been checking periodically and haven’t seen anything. Thanks!

On 5/3/2023 at 2:28 PM, The Fun Researcher said:

If true, this is a huge tip!!!  Thank you!  My wife, son and I are Diamond but no-one else in our group of 16 is.  Those complimentary spots go fast, so it would be fantastic if I could take care of it once onboard ASAP.  We are all linked.

How did you link your account with other people?  We are traveling with my parents and my sister’s family and my parents are the only ones who are diamond. Thanks!

My son and I are supposed to leave on a cruise on Friday. My husband tested positive for covid today. I have had a headache and a scratchy throat but I tested negative this morning. I slept next to my husband last night so I am fairly certain I will eventually test positive. Do I need a positive test to cancel and get a refund?  The cruise was only $600 for the 2 of us so I didn’t bother to get insurance for it. If I am denied boarding from the health questionnaire, do they refund the cruise fair?

6 hours ago, mscinmia said:

Just curious are you on the 4 night or 3 night?  If you are on the 3 night you will debark at T18 which has facial recognition.  But the 4 night MAY debark at T19 which is face to face ( no facial) and that is where the lines build.  If at T19, I would plan to self assist and get off early.  T18, take your time....

 

We are on the 3 night so that is good to hear. I took my other son on a 3 night cruise last year and loved how easy it was to get off the ship with the facial recognition. 

I recently read an article that mentioned you could sign the waivers in advance and save time. I looked in the website and the app and couldn’t find anything.  Has anyone pre-signed the waivers?  I know you need a waiver for the flow rider and ice skating but do you need a waiver for the slides?  

2 hours ago, George C said:

Everyone will be asked to leave at 9 :30 at the latest, that’s when we leave unless we have an early flight .

I see that breakfast ends at 8am. If you are seated by then can you enjoy a leisurely breakfast until 9:30 or do they need you out before then?

My son and I are going on Liberty of the Seas in less than 2 weeks and I keep hearing stories of how bad the lines to get off the ship are. We are staying in Florida at a hotel on the beach so we don’t have to rush to get anywhere. Is it better to walk off our luggage early or wait until most people have left the ship?  If we waited until the end, any idea about what time that would be?  Thanks!

I wanted to make sure my 11 year old would get to order whatever he wanted off the adult menu so I was able to call and they charged me the adult price for the unlimited dining plan. I did have one restaurant where I had to explain to them that I paid the adult price so he could order off the regular menu but it wasn’t a problem once I explained that to them. 

5 minutes ago, Sun Lover said:

Thanks so much for the suggestions.  For people who have been there, what area did you like best and which section do you think was most convenient?  I'd appreciate any tips you could give me.  

 If you are looking at the map, there is a stretch of beach to the left of the beach club. We went there our last time in cococay and really liked it because it was convenient to the pool and nice and quiet.  For lunch we went to snack shack and had a chicken sandwich and funnel cake which were both good. There is also a large buffet in the middle of the island but there were fly’s everywhere so I definitely recommend snack shack over the buffet. 

I am sailing on Liberty of the Seas which I don’t believe has a freestyle machine. Are there any other soda options other than coke, Diet Coke and sprite?  Is Powerade offered anywhere?  TIA!

I only drink martini’s and wine so I only know the price of those. After gratuity my martini was $15. The wine varies but I would say the average was $13-15.

How easy or hard is it to switch devices if I only buy the internet package for one device?  My son and I both do Duolingo daily and don’t want to lose our streak so I would need to switch the internet from my phone to his for about 10 minutes a day. Thanks!

2 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

NO reservations at all on Liberty. Only possibility of reservations need are for the Ice Show,  those you make onboard but reports are now saying even those are no longer needed. 

Thanks!  Was it hard to get into the shows?  Do you know if there is a separate line for The Key section?

My son and I are taking a 3 night cruise on Liberty of the Seas. I know we can’t make entertainment reservations in advance but do we need to make them when we get on the ship?  I feel like I read somewhere recently that the 3 night cruises don’t do reservations. 

My son and I have purchased The Key for our upcoming cruise. I was on the fence but finally decided it was worth the $60 upcharge we paid compared to getting a 2 device internet package (I need to be able to text him because I know he will want to walk around on his own).

 The perks that made it worth the money for me was lunch in chops (I hate boarding day in the windjammer), the ability to drop off our carry-on luggage (we are light packers and only bring a carry-on so I don’t have to walk up and down the hallways looking for my luggage and stressing out), and the private hours at the activities (this is a sold out cruise and the activities are a priority for my son).

I can see how it wouldn’t be worth it for people sailing 4 to a cabin or not interested in the activities but I do think it can be worth it in some cases.