Girr

Keep in mind the power cord can't be a surge protector.

As mentioned, succulents have replaced the fresh flower arrangement - even in the Heaven. Plus it's no longer offered to order flowers and fresh flowers are now banned from bringing on board - this doesn't make any sense.

It wasn't the hotel limiting a/c. The Spanish government puts limitations on what a termostat can be set at. I believe starting 9 Aug thru the end of November a/c has to be set no lower than 80. I know when we lived in Italy years ago we had similar limitations, but on heating! When we lived in Italy a/c (especially in the north) was unheard of. We quickly learned with the thick walls in the mornings we opened up all windows, cooled the house off as much as possible, but by 9:30 closed up all the windows, closed the drapes and lowered the shutters to keep in what cool there was.

Family Suites (w or w/o balcony), 2 Bedroom Family Suites, Owners Suites, and at least one of the bedrooms in the garden villa have separate showers. The Penthouse suites have a tub/shower combo.

In theory the forward deck 15 "Haven" sundeck is a smoking area - it's been several years, but I don't remember anything about the area. Being it's so far from the Haven unless they've put a swipe lock on this area I don't see how they're keeping it Haven only.

I've never had a cruise where the butler didn't come by the first day until this one, and it didn't get any better. We had to ask to have coffee, juice, etc. restocked after I tracked him down or left a note - never done automatically. Plus, I'm use to the butler picking up on my request and offering to repeat (little things like m&m, chips, etc). Every breakfast delivered was cold! Maybe I'm spoilt, but I'm use to the butler dropping by every day to see how things were going - nope. Yes, daily snacks were delivered. Day four the first butler dropped by (finally) but just to let me know he was going to the other side of the Heaven the next day, and we'd have a new butler (maybe someone complained?). Of course, he managed to show up the next morning for his tip. New butler did come by early that day, and fully restocked. Yes! Or so I thought. Four days later no barware, silverware, coffee, etc. left in cabin. At least breakfast wasn't cold with the second butler.

I'd recommend you go to Google Maps and determine, based on what you want to see and your comfort level in walking, if you want to be closer to the Borghese Gallery (.5 miles) or Trevi Fountain (1 mile). This hotel is a little too far away for me - I prefer something in the Trevi/Piazza Navona/Pantheon area. Also, to save you time there is a search function.

Hall traffic is also less in the aft or forward-facing penthouses, so I find them quieter than Haven "proper".

So, in Ohio how would you feel if someone tipped you in Euros? Please tip in the currency of the country you're visiting.

This^^^^ FBI data released this week reports here in San Antonio we had almost 13,000 violent crimes reported in 2022, and 231 fatal shootings (this isn't the total number of murders - only shootings!)

Civitavecchia Train Station | Port Mobility Civitavecchia You can request assistance at Civitavecchia, but as detailed on the website you need to request assistance beforehand. At Termini there is also assistance. With that said I'm adding the following based on DH's experience this last summer with his folding power wheelchair, and/or previous experience with the train. First, the train can be packed - remember, you and the majority of everyone else on your cruise will be heading into Rome within a limited time. Please book ahead on a train with reserved seats, and handicap seats! Be prepared - assistance may not show up, and you may have to lift your chair into the train (can be two steep steps). DH's chair is one of the new light weight chairs (48 lbs). While we didn't use the train out of Civitavecchia, we did use the train for travel between Florence-Venice-Rome and ended up having to load the chair ourselves several times. Luckily for me our GD (young, athletic) was traveling with us or else I don't think I would have gotten the chair onboard. Then once on-board finding a place to store was impossible - book one of the handicap seats as there will be room there. DH said if he had to spend a lot of time in Rome, he'd develop kidney issues from the cobblestones. 🤪 We were there for about two weeks, and he got to the point where he went without his chair as the bumping/jarring from the cobblestones was just too much for him. Plus, the crowds pretty much impede your progress - keep in mind during the summer the streets/sidewalks are packed. You might consider checking your roll call to see if there's anyone looking to join them on a private excursion to Rome. It will get you in close proximity to the sights with limited walking distances and can store your chair when not needed.

Daily Service Charge ($25 per person/per day) you're paying goes to room steward, wait staff, and "behind the scenes" (laundry, etc.) personnel. 20% gratuities added to FAS beverage goes to bartenders. 20% gratuities added to FAS specialty dinning goes to wait staff. So, in theory you do not need to tip additional to room steward, wait staff, or bartenders. However, if you receive great service, an additional tip isn't going to be rejected. Also, please fill out Hero Cards on the staff - no one really knows how the DSC is fully distributed, but Hero Cards do put them in line for bonuses. So back to tipping the Butler and Concierge. There isn't one right answer. Normally I tip the butler $10-$15 a day/per person. However, it really depends. My last cruise we had not one, but two, invisible butlers (they traded out mid-cruise). As we had breakfast delivered most morning but didn't ask for anything else I ended up tipping each one $100 (nine-day cruise for three) for a total of $200. For truly great service I do exceed $15 a day/per person plan. For the concierge I keep track of how many times I have them change reservations, book excursions, and escort on/off the ship and tip a minimum $5 per service. (I also tip the Haven staff who assist in getting us on/off ship at ports-about $10 per port for the family.) On the Epic in July the Haven staff (with the exception being the butlers) were rock stars. The money I had budgeted for the butler ended up going to our room steward, a waitress in the Haven (who absolutely made the cruise A+ for my husband), Haven maître de, and bartenders. Actually, we spent well over what we'd budgeted as the service was so fantastic. Added: on the subject of Haven waitstaff at our first meal we had a waitress who we immediately clicked with and requested to be seated in her section for the rest of our meals - our request was accommodated. Due to her schedule, she wasn't always available but for the most part she was.

Also, the inevitable ticket that always shows up 3 to 4 months later. Plus experience has taught me to always take out the full insurance! For the most part I never plan on renting a car in Italy, but it is always part of the backup plan.

If you'll read from the very beginning of this post you'll see there were two issues: 1) using her flatiron in Athens, and 2) flatiron being allowed on ship. It was not about the electricity on ship.

Google maps provides breakdown details on train and bus.

To me it's like having your driver's license with you when you drive - you only need it if you get stopped. You just never know...

In doing my research for this port I saw there is a free shuttle. I also found, per the city's website, the bus "isn't 100% reliable, and please call the day before." I further researched the free shuttle is almost a mile away (there's a utube video out there detailing the walk). Am I travelling with a family member who recently had major surgery, and walking a mile is not recommended? Yep! I for one am grateful there is an option, yes option, for the shuttle. I don't consider this nickel and diming at all. I'll also give NCL credit for the military discount - I don't see that being offered elsewhere.

First cruise the conceirge was nowhere to be found until day five when she delivered an invitation to the midnight chocolate buffet (alas no more), but as I'd foolishly booked all my excursion thru NCL and prebooked specialty dinning it was no big deal not having a conceirge around. A few cruises later a family member broke his foot. Concierge was so active in getting us a wheelchair, getting us on/off ship at port, making sure the crew was taking care of us, etc. I came to appreciate the concierge function. Now that we've done several cruises and learnes some of the ropes we seldom book excursions thru NCL. Without the concierge service you'll have a terrible time getting off the ship early. They set aside an elevator from the Haven, meet you there, and expedite you off the ship. Plus, they'll normally expedite you back on board in ports - if you have any tender ports you'll really come to appreciate (in Cannes it was hot and the line without concierge well exceeded thirty minutes). While we're very low maintenance we do find ourselves using the concierge to change dinner reservations while on board if needed and take advantage of seating in the theater. Personally, I wouldn't think of asking for an escort to dinner, but that just me. Also, if you have a problem with your butler the concierge is the person to see.

Then you'll have absolutely no problems! Car will drive you right to door, drop of bags, minimal security check, and right to check in.

The funny part, with a little due diligence, sometimes the Haven isn't that much more. Actually, I've sailed in DOSs for less money than two balcony cabins (especially after you add in beverage package) when travelling with extended family (parents, myself & one grandchild). For the money the 2-bedroom suites are also a fabulous deal. By no means was I born wealthy, and if you look up frugal in the dictionary, you'll probably find my picture, but when it comes to travelling the days of all of us crammed inside a small truck camper are long gone. We save up for our trips, and do a lot of research to get a "deal". Some people just don't do enough research, and yes as mentioned, love to complain.

The BIG difference between going from Civitavecchia, vice going to, is the crowd! When leaving from Rome the ship bound are dispersed throughout the morning. Whereas, you and your 4000+ fellow cruisers (plus all the additional ships in port) are all trying to get into town within a two hour window. Can be a mad house - starting with the shuttle (last time I used there was no queue). As already mentioned - get reserved seats. Then be prepared for limited luggage space. Trains are not designed for every passenger having 2+ bags.

This^^^^^ Upgrades/free cruise should be based on your cruise history. There needs to be an option for true upgrades.

Depends. I was on Epic this summer on a very port intensive cruise - seldom saw anyone else in Vibe. We used it after getting back on-board for drinks or sail-away. On the Epic Vibe does not have a hot tub - just bar and loungers. Looking down onto the swimming pool there were always loungers available. Can't speak about breakaway ships, but I know on the Epic the whole deck on the other side of Vibe is also set up with loungers (seldom dispersed) and a shower. On our 9-day cruise I never saw anyone in this area - I was using it for walking. On our cruise it would have been a complete waste of money - even Posh wasn't heavily utilized.

Absolutely agree - I just inserted my comment in the wrong box - I had meant to do on @graphicguy original comment. 😀

Plus, it's not just securing ports. They're scrambling to source provisions, excursions, pilots, fuel, airline seats. etc. Then add in the other 12 cruise lines all working/competing to do the same. This is not an easy one-step process.