dani negreanu

Amazing. Mine too 🌺

Nope. "Guarantees" don't agree with me ☹️

@A&L_Ont Second that, Andrew. The best itinerary ever -- 13 Days Scandinavia & Fjords Royal Caribbean Int. • Jewel of the Seas Amsterdam, Geiranger, Molde, Honningsvag, Tromso, Arctic Circle, Flaam, Alesund, Olden, Bergen, Amsterdam Beside, Helen and Marty are booked too 😉

.... and, speaking of all the cruises planned, another cabin on deck 8 bites the dust 😉 In the hope that we'll combine a visit to our son in Netherlands (which opens much more opportunities for flying across the pond, shortening it to less than 11 hours instead of 14 hours) and Bella 2 😁 Thanks to Ken, we've got my fav location 👍

Excellent news 😘 @Keksie + 1 @mets07 + 5 @Sea Dog + 6

Thank you and @marazul for the useful advices. I've tried searching the combo of LaSpezia+shuttle+train+station on Celebrity boards, and got "shuttle to the cruise terminal", public bus to the "train station" (be sure to buy tickets before boarding 😉) and walking time estimates between 20 and 25 mins.... I prefer to conserve "foot power" for meandering in Lucca, ideally will be a "willing" taxi to the train station.... It's a pity too that between 09.23 and 11.23 there are no "quick" trains to Lucca. The one at 10.23 would have been the best, allowing for the "unexpected" time of the shuttle, then walking or boarding a bus, and finally, buying a ticket. Sadly, the 10.23 and 11.23 arrive at the same time in Lucca. 2 additional questions, please -- 1) Shall I buy a ticket train before hand? 2) Is the ticket "dated and timed", or I can decide to return, for example, earlier or later? Thank you again, Dani

Thanks, that's what I fear..... I've looked at buses, but couldn't orientate myself where are the stations in report to the port, and then, at Lucca. The train seems a good option -- the one at 09.23, with a return at 14.30 😁 Thanks, I've googled it and it gave me the right site 😉

Thank you. So you suggest taking a taxi to the train station in La Spezia and travel from there? Are taxi drivers willing to do such a short trip?? My research shows that the old city of Lucca is walkable from the Lucca's train station.

We've been very lucky and visited Pisa, CT and Florence on many land trips. This time we'd like to see just Lucca. I'm only finding a "combo" of either Pisa/Lucca or with Firenze. How can we do it ourselves -- travel to Lucca, spend some 3-4 hours there and be back on time to port ? I've researched private transfers. Sadly, they run to 450-500 Euro. Thanks, Dani

Thank you, Graham. As usual, I think that I didn't explain myself correctly. Always aiming to make it short, it seems, but not clear enough ☹️. So, we've been to Florence and CT several times, "supported" the leaning tower of Pisa, spent time in Portofino, SML and Rapallo. Even just took a nice walk on the long street of shops in La Spezia, when we didn't feel like traveling far... BUT, I've heard marvelous things about Lucca, and this time we'd like to get there from La Spezia. Private transfers run around 450-500 Euro return, so I'm looking for the cheapest and quickest way to get there, spend 3-4 hours and be back on time 😉.

@ollienbertsmum I've seen your reply about Lucca on Italy's port of calls forum. Just started researching our next cruise's stop in La Spezia. We've been lucky to make several land trips to Italy, and the only city "missing" is Lucca. The "problem" is that all the tours "combine" Pisa & Lucca. How did you get to Lucca? Thanks 🌹

From my POV it is very simple -- you can "do" much more things when stopping in Barcelona. I didn't find the private transfer we took from Rome too long, expensive or bothersome, embarkation was a breeze and we had the whole ship for ourselves until the evening.

Glad to see you posting again on this thread. I think it is almost 2 years since your last post here 🌺

It worked. Wow, so much to choose from. I may be mistaken, since lastly we ate in NY in 2017 (before and after a "foliage" cruise), but it seems quite pricey? Are the portions large?

😉 I've showed DH all the "wife-enabled stove" and "husband-enabled dinner" discussion 😉 He immediately went to one of his many notebooks, where for years he's describing his inventions, and showed me this -- a shelved fridge, on every shelf a barcoded meal. "Invented" in 2000. (Hoping that I understood the mechanics ☹️....) When you approach your home, you choose a meal and then push a code on your mobile. A rotating arm moves the shelf to the microwave door, opens it, pushes it inside and the microwave heats it according to the barcode... The fridge is connected also to a computer (a two-ways communication???), which will alert you when it's time to replace one of the meals...

Mark @h20skibum + 1 (((( ))))

I was wondering about this new "feature" too.....☹️

Angry at the hopeless and volatile situation in our country, which made them decide to try to live elsewhere. [ We're from the generation which needs a stable work place / steady income and not "playing it by the ear" with 2 small kids.]

May be in 4-5 years time... Let's see if they settle there. He's a lawyer and she's a SW. Both need the language to work. For the moment, DS2 will work for his law office, they're OK with him working from abroad. With the rent they'll have from their apt. here, supposedly they'll make do, until DIL will find some work... DIL is leaving here loving parents, one brother with 3 kids and one sister. They're a very close knit family and it is very hard on both parts. I plan to visit, hopefully DH will "break down" too and agree to fly to visit them. For the moment, he's very very angry...

and GS2 with his cheeky smile -- DH found an intriguing insect -- it was so shiny, he was sure it is a lost jewel And some more pics of this beautiful resort. Sigh.

True to the "tradition", DS2 took his wife and eldest son on a catamaran sailing -- GS1 spending quality time with the amazing uncle -- Enjoying a pancake -- Checking his balance "White night", where it is recommended to wear white, honoring the kitchen's staff. Reminds me of the last day of a cruise....

We're back from our dream family vacation at Club Med Palmiye, Turkey, with a bitter-sweet feeling. Sweet --- A year ago our boys asked for a vacation "down the memory lane".... To make a very long story short, it is usual here, after a long and stressful army service, to save some money after the discharge (there are several incentive places of work for discharged soldiers -- gas stations, agriculture, building, working with elderly) and tour the world, mostly South America, India, the Far East. The boys took pity on their mom, who after 4 years of sleepless nights while they've done their combat service, was not psychological ready for several months of additional stress, and looked to combine "seeing the world" without unnecessary worries for me. Both being sea scouts in their youth, they've found a job instructing water sports at Club Med Palmiye, Turkey. DS1 worked there for 2 years, and DS2 for several months, until he completed his training as security man at our embassies, first in Cairo, and then, as a kind of "compensation" for the "difficult environment", back to the "roots" -- Brussels. They asked to spend our next family vacation where it all started, and to show the spouse and the kids this marvelous place. DS1 has made life long friendships with people all over the world while working there. Bitter -- We knew before traveling that DS2 and his family will leave us in order to seek a better and less stressful life in Netherlands. August 3rd 😢 We tried to make the most of us being together as a family and bond more with the grandkids. We succeeded. I have a big hole in my heart, and DH is plain shattered. The club is very big (I've timed, walking very quickly, 10 mins from our rooms to the reception...), well maintained, with extensive gardening, which DH couldn't stop photographing. Some examples --

+ 1 😢 😢 😢

We were too. We booked based on this forum's recommendations and, following our stay, continue to recommend it. BUT, it has become hugely popular with cruisers lately, and, twice already I've tried to book it, only to find it "not available for your dates"... Instead, we're giving H10 Catalunya Plaza a try 😉

Slowly catching up... Happy belated birthdays to Patti, aka @Coralc and Debbie, aka @Sunshine3601 @Sea Dog, @h20skibum and @FromSea2ShiningSea - hope Linda and you'll all be better soon. @helen haywood - Minnie -- get well and best wishes for a negative result @Lionesss -- Zoey is a doll, and me thinks she takes after Brandon's colors 😉 @Jimbo -- your renovation was well worth the long delay. Simply beautiful. @singinalot -- thanks for sharing your wonderful WE and pics. Glad to see you posting again, and sharing Norris's review too. @Ozark_Kid -- Glad you're surrounded by a very supporting family and community. Priceless. @aussielozzie18 -- Thank you for sharing all those amazing pictures and videos. Always a feast to the eyes. @bobmacliberty - Happy belated birthday to your oldest daughter. Hang in there until Micheline is back 😉 @Momof3gurlz -- enjoy your time with the "visiting" family and look at the half full glass 😘