Girr

Depends-we don't know the number in your group and amount of luggage. We were a group of three, with two large bags, three carry-ons, and a portable electric wheelchair-came to 155 euros. Did not require children seats. I'd shop around to several companies and get an equivalent cost from all of them. Also, if you're travelling soon I'll toss in there's been a shortage of cars available, so they may be adjusting their prices to what the market will bear. I believe the set fare taxi cost from FCO to port is 120 euros, so that would be more economical if you fit in one taxi. However, (1) not guaranteed driver has permit to enter port, and (2) line for a cab currently taking longer than normal. (Oops, sorry didn't catch the part where you're going port to airport. Disregard the taxi information above about taxis. There will be no taxis waiting at the port not already booked. We still paid 155 euros for port to airport.)

I’d say all private car services will drop you off at your ship; however this isn’t always the case with taxis. As mentioned above drivers are required to have a permit to enter the port area. Not all taxi drivers will have this permit. All the private transport companies mentioned often here will (should) have permits. If you go with another company, I’d ask them if their drivers have permits. I used RomeHabiCabs twice last month (from apartment in Centro to port, and then port to FCO). Dropped off, and picked up right at ship. Excellent service, on time, and responsive in a timely manner. Price is dependent upon number of passengers and luggage, but most companies websites have calculators to determine cost.

I meant to add a friend recommended Hotel Cavelletto e Dode Orseolo, but I'd already booked an apartment. While I was in Venice I walked by it often, and it does have a private water dock. It has great access to St Mark's Square (less than five-minute walk all flat with no bridges), and the Rialto Bridge about eight minutes. However, beyond that I know nothing firsthand about the hotel, thus hesitant to recommend. I checked several different hotel booking sights, and it has between 8 to 8.2 score on reviews. I noticed it doesn't have much availability, but for central Venice the prices are not bad.

When we sailed this July it was reserved for a large group from Israel. and closed to the public.\

Here's one of the threads on the subject (were several). Besides taking away butlers and concierge, the decision was also made to redesignate the forward OS suites on deck 10 to DOS. While eventually they changed the inane decision to not remove butlers and concierge, they did continue with the DOS versus OS decision. The change in categories increased the price of deck 10 cabin to closer mirror the price of the H2 DOS on deck 15 - not even a fair comparison. IMO it was purely a revenue generating change. Having stayed in both deck 9 and deck 10 owner suites though I can attest there is a difference in square footage in both interior (larger living room) and balcony. It does not have the hot tub like deck 15's DOS.

Then here's an option with just USB slots, and six foot cord. It's found at that big on-line store. I'll just say though I always find something I need to plug in and the dual one comes in very handy.

Carole, I also can't provide hotel recommendations, but I'll share with you what I learned from last month's trip in Venice with DH who has mobility issues. (We stayed in an apartment, thus the reason I'm not recommending a hotel.) First, as already mentioned elevators are rare so I'd book as soon as possible but you don't need to panic (yet). You mentioned staying on the canal, but what are the locations your 80-year-old wants to visit. Most Grand Canal hotels require you to back track/cross bridges to get to St. Marks, Rialto, Guggenheim. etc. If the Rialto bridge is something they want to see find a hotel in that area, or if it's St. Marks that area - or as central as possible if it's all the sights. I did a lot of google map going over the routes from point A to point B to determine where there were bridges (yes, it's detailed on their maps). Then (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) most of the bridges aren't the big ones like at Rialto or Ponte degli Scalzi in the central area of Venice. As long as we did a "leisurely" stroll we managed bridges fine and avoided major ones. I know we had it down to only one small bridge to St. Marks! Plus, as long as you're centrally located most of the primary attractions aren't that far apart, Now, back to hotels. I highly recommend looking for one that has a dock for a water taxi, and splurge/treat yourselves to a water taxi. Call the hotel to verify water taxis do dock there (I mention this as the apartment we rented had pictures of their private water entry, only to find out it wasn't available - ugh, ugh, ugh). I'd start with one of the major hotel search web sites, and narrow down options by filtering for elevator, and then using their map to narrow down on a neighborhood. A different option would be Hilton's Molino Stucky. It's off island on Giudecca Island, but often recommended here on CC, and you can use Hilton points. The downside is you'll have to take the shuttle back and forth, and the shuttle is no longer free.

You'll always find one of these in my suitcase, along with an international adapter. It solves the lack of outlets no matter where I'm traveling. It's not a surge protector so you'll have no problem on the ship.

Turo is worldwide, but for the most part only larger cities. I tried doing to mock booking for Harstad, but all the days I put in showed cars not available. Also, feuilletine is made from thin sweetened crepes. That cake looks out of this world.

Turo is the one I'm familiar with; however, I'm not sure if it's going to be available in these smaller ports.

The reason for different categories on jewel class owners suite goes back to pre-Covid when the decision was made to remove butler and concierge services from certain suites. Then Covid and all of a sudden that plan was discarded. Having stayed in multiple owner suites on jewel ships I will add it’s not just the front balcony being larger, the cabin sizes also vary.

While initially this looks horrible, lately I've been using the long Atlanta layover more often when booking my air travel. Normally, you have a later start out of Europe so I don't have to be at the airport by o'dark thirty. Then after already having a layover in Amsterdam by the time I get to Atlanta I'm spent. I reserve a hotel with a shuttle, get a good nights sleep, and then start again the next morning. When I get home to the next day I don't have my normal jet lag.

Unless it's been recently changed on the Jewel class ships if you're in a non-Haven suite you will have butler, concierge, priority embark/disembark, etc.; however, the non-Haven suites do not have access to the actual Haven. Considering how the Haven on the Jewel class ships don't have a restaurant, lounge, bar, etc. it's really not big deal not staying in the Haven IMO. I'm not sure how it works on the Prima.

I wonder if using the service elevator is a conceirge decision. I've never thought about it before, but I know on some ships they reserve one of the elevators for Haven, yet on others it's the service elevator. Either way, I'll take it! 😀

As already mentioned there isn’t a Haven Spa, but some ships have one or two rooms off the gym for spa treatments.

As you've already mentioned the balcony is on the side, so the wind issue isn't really an issue. I've not stayed in the forward Haven balcony, but have stayed multiple times in the DOS suites which are forward on smaller/older ships. The DOS have balconies in the front and side, and yes, on sea days the forward balcony doesn't get much use. However, never had a problem using the side balcony. Overall, love the location. The things to consider though is you're not in the Haven "proper". You still have all Haven benefit (butler, concierge, restaurant, gym, etc.). I find myself not using the Haven very much when I'm in a suite outside the Haven. This is in part, as you've already mentioned, these suites are much larger. Also, keep in mind there is more ship movement the further forward you go.

Yes! It's so wonderful when walking out into the terminal seeing that individual holding up a sign with my name knowing the ship is my next stop. No dragging bags, waiting for trains/shuttles, dealing with gypsies, trying to find someplace to store my bag, etc.! As you mentioned after the long flight I really enjoy sitting back and leaving it all to the driver.

Besides the various options described above there's also human variables to be considered. Years ago, I always schlepped my bag from the terminal to the train station (very easy as the train station is connected with the terminal and good signage) and headed to Civitavecchia. The changing of trains in Ostiense (by the way you don't need to go all the way to Termini) was easy. And I didn't even get upset arriving in Civitavecchia to normally find out it was arriving on one of the tracks furthest out (which back then meant hauling your bags down and then back upstairs - now there is an elevator!). Then finally, I dragged my bag to the shuttle buses. It was, as mentioned above "easy" and cost effective. However, that was twenty years ago, traveling on a very tight budget, and often by myself. I'm older now, and thankfully my budget goes a little further. Yes, it will only cost around 25 euros each taking public transport, but you need to consider if this is your best option? How much luggage do you have? Is it heavy? Some of the older trains have two steep stairs to access, and you need to get your luggage on/off. The days of porters are long gone (if you have mobility issues assistance can be arranged sometimes). What's your stress level? Are you travelling with children? If there are children are there strollers, and who's hauling their luggage? This is also a consideration if you're traveling with someone who can't take care of their luggage. You're going to be the porter, and keep in mind the train is going to depart on time. If you're on the regional train it won't have assigned seating and can be standing room only (okay mid-day isn't so bad). Are you comfortable leaving your luggage out of line of sight (common on the regional trains)? Also, with no assigned seating not only your luggage may be out of sight, but also your travelling companion(s)! How comfortable are you with public transport? I just sailed out of Civitavecchia last month with DH and GD. Yes, it would have cost us less than 75 euros taking public transport, but it was a no brainer to book private transport which ran twice that amount knowing my parties' limitations. We booked with Rome Habi Cabs and the 150 euros was money well spent.

Spain does allow banks to charge ATM fees as a head up. Just about all are charging 5+ euros, plus then your bank will also charge a fee. Unless the exchange rate is really bad you might as well pull out enough to cover more than your initial expenses at the airport.

It's been several years, but I've booked Ephesus Shuttle multiples times. Always had wonderful tours. There never was pressure to "add on" stops not wanted (rug factories!), and they adapted the tour to our time.

I used RomeHabiCabs last month, and highly recommend. They were really good in communicating timely and were prompt. I used them from Rome centro to the port, and upon return port to FCO.

20% on $109 comes to $21.80 a day or about the same as two drinks per day, so at least in my case it makes sense. However, based on the number of passengers in your cabin (remember if one elects the package all must take) and what they drink the math may not add up.

The dailies just have the date and the port. No mention of the day of the cruise.

On the subject of traveling with your own scoter/wheelchair I'll warn you Delta airlines in Rome was horrible! Even with all the documentation it was a real pain and took over an hour to get it cleared. They were insisting on both batteries being removed (an all most impossible act). The paperwork clearly states the chair and batteries are FAA certified. We had a supervisor insisting the batteries had to be removed. I had to get a senior member of security to come down and agree to boarding the chair. It all worked out, but leave extra time at the airport. Then when we arrived in Atlanta the chair wasn't at the gate. No biggie we thought as there was a wheelchair attendant, and we just went to luggage thinking it would be there. Nope. About thirty minutes later, they located it and told us they would forward it on to our next flight. I was really surprised when it was at our finally destination.

Well, you got me thinking, so I started digging. I did find the source, Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italy's culture minister; however, while this project has been mentioned in multiple Italian newspapers, and magazines (including the Smithsonian's) you're absolutely correct nothing can be found making this official. Plus, I don't see how this happens in 2024. I sure hope this isn't just a pipe dream. At least there's still the once a week train/bus direct service (well, starting this Sunday). Italy's culture minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano, announced on the TV show Che Tempo Che Fa that Italy has a plan to build a route for a high-speed train that goes directly to Pompeii from Rome or Fiumicino. The tracks and train will cost more than 35 million euros. Plans for the train help tourists who want to go to Pompeii and do not have many days in Italy. Currently, to go to Pompeii from Rome, it takes more than two hours for a journey of 240 kilometers and a change in Naples, and also a regional train that has many stops before arriving in Naples. With the new route, tourists can go directly to Pompeii without making changes and in less time than now. Sangiuliani said there will be a new stop built near Pompeii. Construction will begin shortly and the project will be finished in 2024. The route will not have stops in coastal villages to reduce the length of the journey. There will also be the possibility to reach Herculaneum, Oplontis and Stabiae. Pompeii is the ancient city that was destroyed during the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in 79 AD.