StarToronto

Hello, anyone else on board?

Hi Mike, a very quiet roll call... see you at the FOD on Sunday! Ian

Hey Mike, Welcome! Glad to see someone else on this roll call. We like our cocktails etc, so the beverage package was an easy choice for us. Happy to hear that the FOD gathering will have more than 3 people! :) After the cruise, we are spending one day in Copenhagen, two days in Prague and three days in Dublin. We are flying back to Toronto nonstop on Air Transat ($226 taxes included!) Prices are low as 4 airlines are competing on the route this year. That crazy $130 fare is on WestJet with a long layover in St. John's, Newfoundland (crazy) ...but what a deal! We look forward to meeting you. Ian & Paul

Hi all... anyone else on board? anyone? Ian here traveling with my buddy Paul. We have a beverage package and we are excited!

Welcome Rob and Serge! Safe journey everyone.

Hi Virginia, I stayed at the Renaissance Barcelona two years ago when it first opened (rebranded) and it is a great hotel. Super comfy beds and the location could not be better near the Paseo de Gracia, loved it. Regarding your second cruise.. I have been on the NCL EPIC twice. It's a fun ship... you should get a posh pass (they only give out 10-15 on the first day) it allows you access to the uncrowded resort-style sundeck known as the Posh Beach Club (for Haven guests with it's own bar!) It's the best deal on the ship @70.00?! We can talk at the FOD. A suggestion (unless you really have to see Florence with all the crowds and time getting to and from), Instead take the train to the beautiful medieval walled city of Lucca and then a bus to Pisa and then back to Livorno by train. Pisa was more impessive than I imagined and well worth visiting. It was incredibly easy to do this and I was back in lots of time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucca

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g187899-i577-k5810976-Pisa_to_Lucca_by_bus-Pisa_Province_of_Pisa_Tuscany.html

Welcome Joseph! Look forward to meeting you and David. So happy our group is growing. We mostly avoid the ship excursions as well... (painful to wait in the theatre for tours to be called, wait for the bus, wait for the group!) Gibraltar, Sardinia and Monte Carlo are new ports for us and we are excited. I have sailed past Gibraltar 5 times and finally get to visit (and climb?) it this time. And what about those wild monkeys? Be warned!

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/11/gibraltar-barbary-macaques-deported-scottish-safari-park-blair-drummond

Anyone else waiting for a free stateroom upgrade from Princess? They should be calling soon! (just kidding)

Hi All~Top of the day to you. We have not decided about Rome, I have done it twice from port and it is a whirlwind by train, but can be fun. It is nice to see one or two sites, have a lovely lunch and watch all the Romans or you can cram in four or five sites and a pizza slice.(!) We may go to the countryside, or nearby the port but will let you know if we decide on whirlwind Rome by train. I can recommend a site for timetable and fares for Civitavecchia → Roma Ostiense or Roma Termini:

https://www. capitainetrain.com/search/

09:18 Civitavecchia

10:18 Roma Ostiense (Rome)

IC 501 (fast intercity train)

15:57 Roma Termini (Rome)

16:45 Civitavecchia

IC 518

These are the fast trains and 1st Class (reserved seat) is only 18 euros return. You can walk from the port entrance to the stazione ferroviaria in 5 mins.

Welcome Virginia... look forward to meeting you and Suzanne and nice to see that you booked Ike. So glad that you both posted ~was starting to feel lonely on here!

40 days until we cruise!

Hi Ike, nice to meet you! ...and I hope you booked. I have travelled alone on transatlantics before and have never been bored. Lots of people to meet and things to do - other than eating and drinking! and yes - I'm sure the FOD will have more participants than this roll call (!) Barcelona is wonderful, a great city to explore. I'm going to Paris and Iceland post cruise and my buddy Keith is heading back to Toronto. Some people have to work :( Cheers Ian

Hi All... Canadian traveling Houston to Barcelona... with my cruising buddy and we love cocktails! Who is on board?

Ian from Toronto, looking forward to meeting everyone. See you at cocktails!

Ian from Toronto... I'm in a B6 as well. My second EPIC transatlantic... I have a feeling that this one will be crazy gay and fun fun fun! I have many friends on board... Looking forward to many cocktails with you all! and ...Congrats on the Niagara Falls wedding!

Anyone on board? Ian from Toronto here.