PelicanLvr

We did 5 days of private (just DW and me) tours with GTI on a non-cruise land trip there. Eventhough that was about 10 years ago, it remains perhaps the most interesting and broadening travel experiences we've had. We are Christian and GTI did a great Christian focused tour. Our guide was aware of the "large tour" bus schedules and we were kept away from them. Many sites were quiet. The guide knew many of the guards etc. and doors were opened for us that are usually closed. We had open discussions in the car between sites about all subjects and felt like we got an insight into so much. It's great to have the same guide for all 5 days and you really get to really know them and Israel. Yes, you will save a few dollars doing the crowded and slow-moving ship tours. But we saw so much more and Israel is so worth the small investment to get the most out of your visit.

Pana37 - Welcome to Cruise Critic and to cruising! I really don't see any problem here for you. Since this is your first cruise cruise you are not familiar with departure day "hurry up and get off" cruise line mentality. They want you off ASAP to get ready for the new passengers. Everyone is off the ship by 9:30....I mean everyone! Anyone who wants to be off earlier will be off well before that. Perhaps a better understanding of cruise disembarkation will help you. Prior postings here are correct, "walk-off" disembarkation (you carry all your luggage off) is the earliest. In our experience that is probably finished by 8am. Then the groups with luggage in the terminal start. Here's how it works: During the cruise you will get a form to fill out to get assigned a departure group. If you don't want to self-disembark, ask for an early time (like 8-8:30). You should be at the airport by 10ish. Noon flight should be no problem.....presuming no issues (which don't happen very often). X will be boarding the new passengers probably before 11am,,,,, you will be long-gone and at the airport by then especially if you ask for an early disembark group. So relax about disembarkation, X has it down to a science. It's a bit chaotic, but it happens very fast.

Thanks for all the info. We are returning home to NYC and the non-stop leaves at 12:15 pm. We booked that flight and deciding if we should book a car to be waiting for us.

We will be disembarking from Nautica in Barcelona in November. Does anyone know: What Terminal Nautica uses? How early can you self-disembark? - O arrival time says 8 am Are taxi's plentiful at the terminal? Thank you in advance for any info.

Clearly either is fine and appreciated. Interestingly, the crew would need Euros on shore on the OP's Med cruise.... but I presume the ship currency is USD (for their costs on the ship). I'm sure they this all figured out + the best way to convert it to their home currency.

If you are making your own arrangements at Iguazu, please consider Belmond's Hotel de Cataratas. It is inside the national park & right at the falls, so guests have access to the falls before & after the park is open. You literally are alone with the falls on the catwalks. Outstanding experience!

Doesn't sound like the OP got to Eagle Beach. We have been to Eagle Beach on cruises and actually rented an apartment there last winter. If you are looking for a beach day in Aruba, Eagle is the beach to go to! Very convenient cab ride from the port and a beautiful long beach with great sand. Chairs and umbrellas are available to rent (expensive - $55 US for 2 chairs +umbrella). It can be crowded mid-day (like 11am -2pm) so go after breakfast. Very easy to get a cab back to the ship from Eagle. Nice beach day!

Thank you to all for your helpful info.

Taking a port-intensive cruise in November from Barcelona. Interested in how Terrace works for dinner. Any description is appreciated. Thank you!

Very interesting news! Is there a link to the announcement for more details? X website still says "cruise only" not available for AQ.

HI to the OP (from a fellow-NYer) Been to all your ports and most several times. If I had a friend going who had not been to any of your ports I would tell them: 2 Best Beaches: Aruba - Go to Eagle Beach. Easy to get a cab and one of the great beaches in the Caribbean. Palm Beach is too crowded with the high-rise hotels there. Grand Cayman - 7 mile beach. Great beach. - BUT stingray City there is very cool and really worth going to. Maybe you could do both but try to do stingray city if that looks good to you. Both are long beautiful beaches with soft sand. Bonaire - World famous for the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. Book a trip (ship or private) - but do not miss the snorkeling there if that interests you. It really is better here. If you want to DIY get get a ferry ticket (very short ride) to Klein Bonaire (which you can easily see from the docked ship) and drift snorkel. Outstanding! - but no shade there. People seem to love the golf-cart thing too. Haven't done that yet. Curacao - Don't love this stop. Beaches are far from the port. Some rent a car...we just walk into town. Enjoy your trip

Babydrum - Have been to Petra on an overnight land tour, not a cruise. The O tour description seems to cover what you need to see. Also Petra is a couple of hours drive from the port and you are in Jordan. We also do alot of DIY shore excursions, but this is not the place for that. I think it would be smart to use the ship tour. Petra is one of those once in a lifetime sites that even a less-than-perfect guide will not spoil. Worry less about the tour reviews here because Petra "speaks for itself". Suggest you take an hour pre-trip to watch a video and/or read-up about Petra to understand more about it before seeing it. We find we get so much more out of seeing significant world sites by knowing a bit in advance. Enjoy Petra, it's spectacular! Even better than the pictures!

Agreed! Why be herded like cattle with ship transfers. If you walk off with your luggage you will probably be in the airport waiting area by 9am If you get off and claim luggage you will probably be at the airport & waiting around by 10am. So simple in FLL.

BERLIN: Download the free Rick Steves Berlin walking tour from his app. It will give you a great overview in the limited time you will have there.

Two names to check into further: Romeinlimo - Highly rated on these boards for private tours from all Italian ports. We used them in Livorno. Walks of Italy - Has ability to get you into sites after hours or sites closed to the general admission public. We have done their "pristine Sistine" tour which is access to the Sistine Chapel before the Vatican Museum opens. Also did after-hours at St. Marks in Venice and access to the "floor" and gladiator areas of the Coliseum. All outstanding experiences. Enjoy planning.

Highly recommend "Walks of Italy" for "special" access to major sites in Rome. Have done several of their walk-tours in Venice and Rome and all have been outstanding. They have permission to get you into areas not open to the general-admission public. If you can make their tour times work with the bus schedule, it would be a good move. There are a few other special-access companies recommended on these boards that you might also check out.

Romeinlimo is also excellent. We used them (just for 2 people) for a full-day private countryside tour out of Livorno. They are highly recommended on these boards.

??? We have used romeinlimo (frequently recommended on these boards) and they are excellent.

We live about 25 miles from JFK. The local quality transportation company is: Delux Transportation Port Washington NY Just call in advance (easier than the website) and book with flight info. Reliable....not cheap....but reliable.

If you have insurance questions, you should call one of the travel insurance agencies like "insuremytrip". They can best explain your insurance options.

About to book one of these large-balcony rooms. They look great. Are there any drawbacks like: Crew service area to avoid? Noise from the theater below? Replies are much appreciated. Thank you!

These staterooms look great! Thanks for all the useful info Are there any drawbacks? Any crew work areas (across the hall) near them? Any noise from the theater below? Thank you

Thank you so much for posting the Exciting Deals link. Glad to see it's back!

I see it's March 2024. Can you change dates? The itinerary change is a big downgrade. If you haven't been to Bonaire, it's so worth a visit. Great snorkeling and from these boards I hear the golf carts are lots of fun. Aruba has excellent beaches.....Curacao - we weren't impressed. Frankly IMHO, C is the least of the ABCs.

We have also used Guided Tours Israel (GTI) and it is outstanding! One of our greatest travel experiences ever. Also, Make arrangements to get off on Day 3 and spend 2 nights on land. Rejoin ship on day 5. Let GTI do an itinerary based on your interests but I would imagine it will be a day in Galilee and 2 days in Jerusalem. Very doable. Don't waste time valuable tour time going back and forth to the port & ship each day. Remember Israel is very small. While there I was told it is the size of New Jersey. You can get around very quickly. With a fast-moving small group or private tour from GTI (or similar company) you can see all the highlights in 3 full (long) days. But so worth it.....no matter what your religion. Please don't use large ship tours. They move at the speed of the slowest participant. You will see so much less. Our GTI guide timed our sites to avoid many of the large groups ... that's how to see Israel.