bugsy777

Try this website for a bus from Messina to Taormina:

I have not used this info and chose the ship's excursion because I had too little time.

I read that the bus ride can take up to 2 hours so one can go by bus and return by train which only took about 1/2 hour.

http://www.interbus.it/

I picked up the following info from the internet:

<<It’s much better to arrive in Taormina by bus since the bust station is located in town and the train station is shared with Giardini and located down on the coast. You would then be required to bus from the train station to town.

Messina’s port is very near the train station.

Buses leave Messina from P.zza Della Repubblica and arrive in*Taormina’s bus terminal on via Pirandello. Messina’s train station and buses leave from the same area and both are an easy walk (about 100 metres) from Messina’s port.

Unless your cruise ship docks at the "Rizzo" pier, you could be as much as a mile from the train station. It really depends on where your ship docks.

It’s much better to arrive in Taormina by bus since the bust station is located in town and the train station is shared with Giardini and located down on the coast. You would then be required to bus from the train station to town.>>

I hope that helps.

Sorry that was Euro 254

We used Rome Cab Co to take us from Civitavecchia to Rome which included the transfer as well as a 5 hour private tour of Rome. We were met timeously at the port and taken to all the major attractions of our choice as well as some not so well known by the majority of tourists, then were taken to the airport for our flight, all this for Euro 254. The service was excellent, I could not recommend them more!

WE booked Rome cabs (May 15 2016) for a private transfer from Airport to Civitavecchia for $69 they were excellent and the price is very reasonable. We also used them after our cruise, we were picked up at 9am taken to all of Rome's major attractions (we did not want to do the vatican) we were even taken to some not so well known places. The driver was entirely at our disposal, we saw everything we wanted to see and then were taken to the airport at about 3pm...all this for $254 They provided an excellent service and I highly recommend them.

Go to Taormina. And if you have an opportunity, a short visit to Castelmola (it is close to Taormina) is a nice addition for the views. How you accomplish this is the question. Most first time visitors will take a cruise line excursion (it is about a 40-50 min drive) although there are other options for a private tour, hiring a taxi, using the train, public bus, rental car, etc.

 

Hank

I vote Taormina too, its a wonderful place and do not miss the opportunity to eat a "real" delicious canoli :)

Thank you that was very helpul.

So if I understand correctly there is no limit of what you can eat and how much, should I want to eat 2 mains it would be ok? (not planning on that but you never know LOL)

Thanks, Are they like the MDR where you can order as much as you please? ie should I want many starters and perhaps skip the main, can one do that?

I have cruised before with other liners but have never been to the speciality dining restaurants. I like Italian or continental cuisine, which restaurant would you recommend on Reflection? I saw some menus posted...can one pick as much as one wants or is it strictly Starter, entree, desert?

Thanks for your input

Thank you all, can any one please estimate how many steps and for how long would I have to walk on cobblestone? I will then, closer to the time decide whether to cancel this excursion or not, I need all the info I can get. I am so afraid to hurt this knee a second time and not be able to do the Ephesus private tour which for me is the highlight of this cruise. Thanks again.

Hi, I booked a ships excursion for Santorini (Celebrity Reflection-18th May)

I have just injured a ligament in my knee and using crutches. Although I should have healed quite a bit by then, I am so worried that there may be a lot of walking in Santorini/Oia can anyone who has done this excursion tell me a little bit about it? apparently we are to use the cable car on the way back to the ship....Thank you

I vote No 1: Prague, a most beautiful and romantic city, if you possible I would pick going to No 2: Budapestl, I would leave out salzburg, good luck making up your mind !

Has anybody ever used this Company? Can you give me any information as to how reliable they are? I will be in Kusadasi on 22nd May and would like to use their services to go to Ephesus. I welcome any information. Thanks

Totally disagree and you are saying that Carnival entertainment is better than MSC well that's a BIG JOKE!

I never said Carnivals entertainment was better. I said MSC entertainment was great! and that the ship is beautiful. Carnival has more

choice.

Hello! We are planning our honeymoon for December and we are seriously considering cruising with MSC on the MSC Preziosa for the 7 night western Mediterranean cruise over Christmas.

 

We are a young couple in our mid twenties looking for the honeymoon of a lifetime. We have cruised Carnival and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere while on vacation with an assortment of activities to participate in.

 

Would you recommend cruising with MSC over carnival and RCI for the honeymoon?

 

Also, would you recommend this itinerary in December? I have traveled to Europe quite a bit but never on a cruise or for a week in December.

 

Does this ship in particular have activities on board that a couple in their 20s can enjoy?

Thanks!!

We have just returned from a med cruise on the Divina (left 20th May from Barcelona)

The ship is absolutely beautiful and the shows are great, that is where it stops. (oh! the beds are comfy:))

We have been on 3 Carnival cruises 1 RC and 1 cunard now MSC. Carnival wins hands down, we will never use MSC again!

MSC on their med cruises have passengers embarking and disembarking at each port and this leaves you with the feeling of a hop on hop off ship.

The food is cafeteria at best with the same food being dished out day after day in the buffet - the dining room is a little bit better but no great variety.

We also had a wine package which you cannot choose the wines so we landed up with 3 wines we did not like.

Their coffee was undrinkable, so I was pleased that we bought a coffee cuddle and could have some almost decent coffees...

Their pasta was not good either, for an Italian ship it is unforgivable.

Our experience was that they have a LOT to learn from Carnival - the cruise director is non existent and if you did not make extensive plans prior to boarding do not expect to be told anything about the ports you will be seeing.

They only give you the expected temperature....obviously they want you to go on their excursions which I must say were not bad.

Disembarkation was a riot with people almost coming to blows as they were so dis-organised and late!. Hoards of people all converging into 1 lane and since they were late some poor people were desperate to get off due to a flight so pushing and shoving was the order of the day...not a pleasant experience.

The Med port are great, but December might not have good weather, check the December weather on the internet I think you will get a lot of rain.

We enjoyed the F1 and the 4D movies but the water slide was not functional in December you would not use it anyway!

Do not expect the entertainment you get on Carnival...I was quite bored the day we stayed in port (Civitavecchia) as it was raining.

Having said all that, think carefully what you actually want, I would recommend that you consider another line.

Good luck.

I disembarked in Barcelona the day before yesterday, was on the MSC Splendida. We docked at 9am but our information newsletter for disembarking stated that we had to vacate cabin by 8am. It also advised that there was a section that we could leave our luggage until we disembarked.

 

We only had one hand luggage sized suitcase as the rest was taken during the night. There was also a small area for luggage at the entrance to the MDR where we had a leisurely breakfast then had a last wander around and waited about 20 - 30 mins before disembarking. We were off the ship by 9.45am, we were in the 2nd last group to disembark but it was quick.

Could you estimate what is the latest time one could disembark?

I would like to stay on until 10,30 11am would that be possible?

BTW would you know the earliest one can embark?

Thanks

Thank you both so much!

I intend to do just that! leave the luggage in the cabin, let the stewart know, have breakfast, hang around for most of the people to disembark and self assist maybe at 10am since we can only check in at a hotel around noon.

Thanks for the reply.

I was under the impression that you have to have breakfast prior to vacating your cabin and thought this was extreme...If I read you correctly you vacate first and then go to breakfast, that makes sense but what else can you do to kill time? If we dock at 9am passengers will only get off after 9.30 I hope one is not forced to hang around in a designated place.

Divina is docking at 9am 27th May in Barcelona.

We intend to self help, so at what time would be the latest that we must vacate our stateroom? Breakfast I would imagine will be hectic, could we go as late as possible? perhaps 9am or later?

Thanks

What would be the earliest time for embarkation ?

The departure is schedules for 18.00

Thanks

We are booked on the Divina leaving Barcelona on 20th May.

I would like to know if one can choose which dining room to go to, and if someone can recommend one. I read on this board the the Villa Rossa is not as crowded, is that correct?

Thanks

How do you feel about having your money/ credit card in the pockets of your shorts, the ones near the knees, they would have to unbutton it and would it not be noticable since it is so low??? and would you not feel it?

hey Bugsy

 

We just finished a Med cruise in November 2014 and our time was 6.pm and 8.30pm.

Oh dear, it changes all the time, so one can't plan properly!!:confused:

6 pm first seating is far too early, on the other hand 9 or 9.30pm is far too late!

Then someone will tell me I can always go to the buffet...yes but the wine package can ONLY BE CONSUMED in the MDR :mad:

Aug 2014 on the Greek Islands, the early seating was 7PM and the late was 9:30PM. Hope it helps!

Yes thank you very much, now I know which seating to choose there were many conflicting times. 7pm is perfect!:)

That's why I asked about the dates. In fact, we don't even know if the OP is talking about this year or 2016. They mentioned Heraklion, but as far as I can tell, NCL doesn't go there, so it sounds like maybe they are considering a couple of different itineraries.

Hi, You are correct We are considering at this stage. We plan to return home by the 8th April 2015, therefore it would not be the Orthodox Easter. My concern is how busy the ports would be during that time. If it is school holidays it may make port days a little hectic?? am I right?