CruisingMouse

I have found myself in this same position for next week with my twins aged 11. (3 of us). I will be getting off a cruise in Miami on the 11th. My flight is out of FLL at 5 pm. I don't have to long to kill but certainly don't want to be at the airport by 10 am. Was originally going to head to Bayside Market to kill some time, but am finding it difficult to get a shuttle from there to the airport as most of their permits are from the port only. Thought of the car rental idea, although no cheaper than a cab from what I gather around $80???. My issue is of course luggage at the market. So now I am thinking of heading up by shuttle to FLL and perhaps hitting a mall there or the beach for a few hours but AGAIN the luggage. Any suggestions anyone would be real helpful. At best I have roughly 4 hours, so not sure its worth a day pass?? Also does anyone know if the malls are open giving the 11th is a holiday? I have emailed them but no reply. HELP:confused:

I got married on 9/15/11 and was schedule to sail the 16th with a flight from Toronto to FLL. Everything was shut down here for flights to the US, it wasn't till 11:30 pm on my wedding night did we get the ok that our flight would leave at 6 am. Man was I in a panic for the honeymoon. Didn't know allot about cruising back then so don't even remember if we had insurance.

When we landed in FLL there were men everywhere with big huge guns..lol and the the security at the port was unreal.

Sure has calmed down since then...but what a sad sad disaster.

If I could find a reliable transfer company that can actually answer my emails, I would consider booking. This problem never happened in any other port we are booked in. Strange!

Hi, when are you traveling if I may ask I didn't see it in your signature?

I found private transfers from airport to port, from port to hotel and then hotel to airport for all 3 transfers for the 2 of us it was 125 Euros. Pay upon arrival! I'm not sure what he would charge for a stop at Sagrada Familia but it's worth asking.

I received excellent customer service from him, very efficient in replying to my emails (except a delay over night do to the time difference but always replied the next morning.)

Not sure if I can post the website on here can I?? Last time I tried posting a website it got wiped out. You are welcome to email me ak16@sympatico.ca

Good luck... Ann

Yikes!

 

On a long Med cruise the only time we had trouble was in front of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, when an old lady tried my husband's back pocket (nothing but kleenex there). Standard situation: lots of people, lots of distractions.

 

I appreciate the under-the-clothes or in-the-undies approach, but my question is: how do you get what you need out of those hiding places without the "wrong" person seeing where you have stashed the important stuff?

 

Thanks for any experiences!

Pretend you have an itch?? LOL go to the washroom and get the Euros you need. Not sure I was wondering the same thing as I look at the stash underpants online. 8 bucks a pair (US) but doesn't look like they ship to Canada

Moviegal any hints??

Not sure if they will accept a photocopy of a passport, so may consider it.

 

However, all I can say is that in all the times I have visited Spain (and it is many, the earliest in 1978) I have never been asked by an official for photo ID except for when trying to make a purchase at a theme park with a credit card!

 

I know there's always a first time, and understand the requirement, but I'll take my chance. I think the likely hood of being stopped by an official whilst visiting the sites of Barcelona are slim.

 

I am not advising against following the rules, but there is no way on this earth I am taking my passport out of the hotel safe until I board a ship. JMHO. My driving licence will be in my safe at home as I do not need it whilst in Barcelona.

I totally agree with no way on this earth I am taking my passport out of the hotel safe until I board a ship.

I wonder why that link states you do have to carry id when would you be asked for it, checking into the hotel? Renting a car/scooter? I can't imagine an official walking up to you on the street and asking to see your id? That would stick right out as a huge red flag if that happened to m me anyway.

I can't think of anywhere I am going to need it in Barcelona. once checked onto the ship and again for the hotel.

Now I know for the Coliseum in Rome they want to see the CC tickets were purchased with.

Thank you so much for all of this information. My upcoming cruise will be my very first trip to Europe ever, and as a girl who grew up in a very small town, I have been really worrying about pickpocketing and petty crime. I feel like now I am prepared (I've made myself aware of the popular scams and I know what to watch out for). That Bob Arno video is great because you can actually SEE the thieves in action.

 

Now I know I will travel safe, keep my guard up, and will not carry anything I can't afford to lose when I'm out walking around the city and taking public transportation.

 

I did buy a small PacSafe day bag to take on long excursions (again, I'm not going to put anything of value in there, just maps and what-not) and a plain, fake wedding band (I'm leaving my jewelry at home). I also have a moneybelt as a back-up.

 

I also bought these crazy Stash It Ware pocket underwear (I figure I can keep my cash down there because, Lord knows, I will KNOW if somebody is reaching their hands down my underpants). If you haven't heard of them, check them out (just search for sta****ware). They have undies for men and women.

LMAO this cracked me up as I had made the comment a few posts back about stashing it in my undies, glad to see I'm not the only crazy one and they make underpants for this reason...lol I will for sure check out that sight.

In Spain it is a legal requirement to carry some form of identification - this can be your passport or another form of photographic ID.

 

http://www.treatmentinspain.com/visitors/before-travel/

Thanks for the link, given all the info others has posted here i.e. not needing any form of ID while sightseeing in Barcelona. I wonder if they would except a photocopy of a passport while leaving the original secured in the hotel safe??

Cause given all the previous incidents I am now planning on not carrying anything more than I need too.

Thanks for all the warnings and advise sorry you had run into some trouble.

I will be extra extra cautious now in Barcelona but now will be nervous all the same. They are just soooooo clever and bold.

No, you quite likely won't feel a thing. They are quite skilled. They do this day in, day out. And keep in mind that you'll be walking down busy, crowded streets where you might easily get jostled by someone. Getting on a bus? Beware the person getting off that "accidentally" bumps into you. On the subway? Beware the person standing behind you that gently leans into you every time the speed increases or decreases.......you'll start to get the picture.

 

Please don't think every single person experiences these issues -- they don't; only a minority do. But to ensure you aren't one of the unlucky minority, don't take chances -- don't be an easy mark.

 

I can't say often enough that if you don't carry any unneeded valuables with you, and if you secure those that you DO carry (e.g., inside your clothing) you should be fine and you won't have to worry about a thing.

Wow a real eye opener. Thanks

Don't freak out. The crimes are crimes of opportunity and stealth, for the most part. If you put your valuables where a thief literally CANNOT get to them in any casual way, you'll be fine.

 

It was my own fault for carrying a bag (albeit a zipped, cross body bag) in Barcelona. I should've known better. But I thought I could outsmart them, what with all my travel experience.

 

Guess what, you cannot always account for every contingency and be 100% alert when traveling. At some point, your attention WILL wander, and if you're unlucky, like I was, your wallet will be gone.

 

On the other hand, if you wear a neck pouch, or a secret "pin in" pocket inside your pants, or any of the other options, you'll likely be fine.

 

Personally, I don't put faith in the PacSafe products. First, it's easy enough for thieves on scooters to snatch a bag -- in which case all your precautions avail you nothing. Second, I've read here and elsewhere that thieves are aware of these bags and know the specific areas where they are not reinforced.....

 

Men: putting your wallet in a front pocket is not secure. I know 3 colleagues from work who've had their wallets lifted in Europe this way within the last 12 months.

OMG ok right there..how does a mans wallet get lifted out of the front pocket?? You would have to see the person or feel them feeling you?? GRRR

Still weighing on my mind...another thought how safe are the hotels even with using the safe?

Also what about transportation I have arranged for a private shuttle from Airport to port and then from port to hotel and then back to airport. As I always have locks on my luggage is there anything else I should be cautious about?

WOW I am just speechless on what to say and ask! I never imagined it was this bad. Kind of sorry I have a day post cruise now in Barcelona, I was looking forward to seeing the sights and walking around and possibly hitting the beach.

Do you really suggest I leave my wedding rings at home?? I have never taken them off and I traveled alone last year with my young twin daughters in Paris I even walked the streets at night with them and never once felt we may be in danger...I don't even know If I can get them off without doing my finger in..lol Not to mention DH would wonder why I was leaving home without them especially when he wasn't coming this time..;)

Sounds like I definitely have to look into one of these purses/bags you all suggest. But I do have to ask how in the world can they be so bold as to steal from you if your purse/bag/wallet is on you??? I just can't wrap my head around it. I can see it if you put it down somewhere then yes, but to actually walk up to you and cut it or take something out really makes my head spin.

I read "Gang Wars on the Costas" by Wensley Clarkson, who wrote about the number of gangs in B/C who live by this thieving; he also said something which shocked me: 1 in 10 UK passports replaced world wide are in Barcelona!

I've read about cruises missed because of passports being taken; one man was in the middle of his cruise and was made to stay for a replacement, whilst his wife and children stayed on board, and sailed away in tears!

European and US passports sell for thousands of €€€€- I never remove mine from the safe unless told to- Dubrovnik is one spot, and Amsterdam, where we had to show them.

Jo.

Like everything else our Canadian ones are worth anything...lol

Wow this is all so hard to believe.

I understand everything you say, I was just reporting why it is probably so prevalent due to the lack of deterrent.

 

We've travelled to Barcelona many times without incident, but it is by being vigilant as you describe.

 

I have been extra vigilant ever since having my backpack cut and ripped off my shoulders as I exited a taxi outside my hotel on arrival from Madrid airport many years ago.

 

My bank card was used within 20 minutes but not in an ATM, but in a store where the police suspect no goods were purchased, but cash given instead by the shopkeeper in league with the robbers.

 

I appreciate that it happens in many cities around the world, but the incidence is so high here that I would not want any unsuspecting visitors arriving to board one of the many cruise ships that dock in Bacelona to fall victim to this crime.

 

As the old proverb states, "Forewarned is forearmed"

HOLY CRAP..lol will have to keep my Euros in my undies then..lmao

Geez what they heck would they do to a women's bag/purse then.

May have to find some pepper spray before I leave.

And I do thank you Peter for the heads up..we may have crime around the world but NOT like that!! You can safely walk on our streets, yes being cautious but not to that extent. You could even read a map or ask directions.

i think the officers are making themselves look even more culpable. At what point do second or third in command decide that in the event that a distracted captain without his reading glasses crashes a ship into a rock and puts a gash in the ship that will most certainly sink the ship decide to override the orders of the captain and make a common sense decision for themselves? They simply should have refused to lie.

I can just imagine the judges thoughts when he asks the other officers if they knew the ship was sinking and they answer: "oh yes, there is no doubt that the ship was sinking and sinking fast, but i was told to lie so i just told the coast guard that everything was fine." judge:"what did you suppose was going to happen the the crew and passengers onboard?" second in command: "well, the safety of the crew and passengers was the responsibility of the captain, sir. It was not my job to worry about their safety. I did my job honorably because i followed the captain's orders exactly. The accident was not my fault."

obviously this is just speculation on my part, of course, but their argument doesn't fly with me. They didn't crash the ship, but clearly took no actions to prevent the crash or save the passengers once the disaster unfolded.

The crusing industry and most certainly costa cruiselines needs to have a policy in place where the safety of the ship and the passengers becomes more important than following the orders of an errant captain in extreme cases such as this one.

love it!!

Surely you don't expect the captain to be wearing an old man's glasses when he is entertaining a 25 year old young thing....

Well I wouldn't expect him to be wearing anything while trying to make on a 25 yr old!

However since it was stated in the report, that "he couldn't see" I was curious as to the location of his cabin, as surely the Prosecutors would point the fact out the he or someone he ordered to could have gone and quickly retrieved them.

But I now understand how he "slipped and fell" into the life boat..he couldn't see :rolleyes:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9120600/Costa-Concordia-captain-not-wearing-his-glasses-at-time-of-collision.html

Would his cabin not be located beside the bridge that he could have gone and got them rather quickly??

The count is now at 8 found today, according to bbc uk.

Have any of the reports said where they were found?

TLCOhio... Yes indeed, she was a lovely lovely ship. It's so sad.

 

Anyone have a link to the webcam to watch what's going on at the Concordia?

http://www.giglionews.it/2010022440919/webcam/isola-del-giglio/webcam-giglio-porto-panoramica.html

The Captain sent an eMail to another captain weeks before saying he could get closer.

 

The woman was on the bridge with him.

 

The Captain was busy talking on the phone.

 

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/concordia-passengers-experts-dissect-cruise-ship-disaster-080213433.html

Thanks for the link, they are airing a special tonight at 9 going to watch it!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9056642/Costa-Concordia-Moldovan-dancer-says-she-was-in-love-with-Captain-Schettino.html

Wonder what the wifey has to say now about her upstanding hubby!!

I can't see a thing - it is dark out there.

That link was posted earlier today, when it was daylight, look at the picture above, that is what the link was about, the ship breaking open.

That is so dishearten to watch! She will start taking in more water no and sink.

Check out top, mid-ship.

 

http://www.giglionews.it/2010022440919/webcam/isola-del-giglio/webcam-giglio-porto-panoramica.html

Darn, it looks like it is cracking or splitting in the middle today!!