itsanita

23 hours ago, alserrod said:

 

 

Any other question you could have, just write me. Where to go, how to move, where to visit on tapas, etc...

Thanks!  I do have a couple questions.

We will be there in November.  I will get advanced tickets for Sagada Familia, but will I need to do the same for Cas Batilo and La Pedrera?   It is hard to know what time will be convient ahead of time.  How are the crowds?   

And is it possible to eat at the Public Market,  Mercado de La Boqueria?   Or is everything just for purchase to take home with you?    We will be looking for a light meal that first day, and we are staying around the Las Ramblas/Placa de Catalunya area.   

We have been to Barcelona twice.   Thanks for the itinerary, it's been awhile and we will re visit some of the sights.

We are there 3 days pre cruise.   We still like the HOP on for our arrival day.  Works for us, nice overview of the ciity and keeps us awake and moving till early dinner and bed.   I guess I will just pick one, if they are similar.  

Our 2nd day we will explore the city, and our thrid day we will be going to Zaragoza via train for a day ( using zaragoza's info, thanks!).    

Thanks so much!  

In researching the HOP On Hop Off bus in Barcelona, I am finding there are a few different companies that do this in the city. 

Has anyone had any experence with them?  Is on better (on time, more frequent, better routes) than another.

We find on our fist day in a city, while trying to get rid of jet lag, these buses are great.  They give you a birds eye view of the city and keep you awake.  

I am about to book a tour at the Sagrada Família, and it is asking me which tower I want to go up.    The Tower on the Passion facade or the Tower on the Nativity facade.  Is one better than the other?   

29 minutes ago, seaera said:

Super helpful, thank you so much!  This is exactly what we are wanting to do.  😊

I went back and looked at our walking plan for Florence.   I copied it here.  It was a while ago, but maybe still helpful.  It was less than 2miles all totaled. 

We had early pickup…around 8am when ship docked. 

Quick stop at Leaning Tower of Pisa

Drove to Michelangelo Square overlooking Florence for a photo, awesome view

The Driver dropped us off at Accademia for 10:30am appointment to see David.   Allow around 30-45 minutes.

We walked Ricasolli to Duomo (10 minute walk), passing Medici Riccardi Palace..(we did not enter), shopping area, continue to Via Dei Pucci (on right) to see San Lorenzo street market. Back to Ricasoli to Duomo.

We happened to hit Mass at Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (Duomo).  It was “closed” for mass but they let us in to pray.  The mass was beautiful, in Italian with school children singing.   Then climbed Giotto’s Tower.  Check out Baptistery and Ghiberti’s bronze Doors in that area.

Then, facing Duomo turn right onto the pedestrian only street.. Via Dei Calzaiuloi. Walk towards Uffizi Museum (only a 5 minute walk)… We had lunch along this road. On the right is Orsanmichele Church ( walk around it and check out the statues).

Plazza Vecchio, the main civic center of Florence is here.  This is where David first stood. Walk past the replica of David into the FREE courtyard of the Plazzo Vecchio (city hall) and walk thru Loggia, the sculpture garden.

Walk down the left side of the courtyard from Plazzo Vecchio to the river passing the Uffizi.  We had bought tickets for this museum too, but after 5 minutes inside with the kids we left…would not attempt with kids. 

Once we hit the river, we walked to the right to the cross the Ponte Vecchio Bridge.  After crossing we went left into a less touristy area. Great views, little shops and artisans at work, shrines, spikes for candles, many eateries.

We crossed back over the river at the Ponte alle Grazie and walked to the Church of Santa Crocein.  Look for Star of David in church’s façade.  Many buried inside, including Michelangelo, Galileo, Machievelli, Dante’s graves.

Somewhere in this area we met the driver for our gelato and ride home.  I don’t have the name or location. 

9 hours ago, seaera said:

Do you mind sharing what company you used or how you booked your private taxi?  Definitely interested in doing this!  

We used https://www.tuscanybytaxi.it/    Just want to remind you that we hired just a taxi .....he was not a tour guide.   

He spoke some english, but we had already discssed by email where we wanted to go etc. 

When he picked us up at the ship, he collected half of the money, and said we would pay the other half when he delivered us to the ship.   We met him at the end of the day at an geloto stand (at his suggestion), so we had a treat for the ride back.  We gave ourselves plenty of time for the return drive.   And if you go, make sure you get your tickets for the Accademia to see David ahead of time so you don't wait in long lines.  

We have been to Barcelona several times and would like to do something outside of the city on this visit.   We will be there a couple days before our cruise. 

We are looking at a couple options:

Taking the train to Zaragoza on our own.

A tour to Pals/ La Costa Brava.

A tour to Besalu,  Rupit (Castle of Rupit), stopping in Tavertet before going back to Barcelona. 

A day tour to the Pyrenees Mountains, stop at Queralbs village, ending with a trip to the peak of this Pyrenees.

Any ideas and/or suggestions would be helpful.  Even if to eliminate a tour. 

We will be there in November and are trying to book something as well. 

Any help about locations, what to see, where not too go, would be very helpful.

Thanks, will do!

Trying to get some iformation on Tangier, but when I did a search of this board nothing came up.

Anyone with any suggestions on this port?

I will go ahead and google, but would love some input from those who have already visited.

Thanks 

Thanks for the info, I just got moved to select dining, and already made my dinner reservations!   DONE!

We have always used anytime dinning, but for our next cruise it was full and we are assigned the early dinning at 6pm. 

That is the time we are leaving most ports.  Must you be in the dinning room by 6pm?   Will they lock you out if you arrive late?   

And I read above that you can just go to 'anytime dining' even if you are assigned the early dining?  Is that always true?

When in Livorno, we hired a taxi for the day.  Not a tour guide, just a taxi/cab.  It was waiting for us when the ship docked and took us first to Pisa for a short stop.  It was early am and very few people there.  Kids loved it.   

The taxi then took us to Florence and just dropped us off.  We had made reservations to see "David", so we walked right in without a wait.  Again, kids thought that was really "cool".  We then just wandered around Florence, very walkable, stopping at some sites we had already decided on pre-cruise.   We had lunch, ice cream and our taxi was waiting for us at the meet up stop.  We arrived back at the ship with time to spare.   It was one of the favorite stops for us and and the kids.  Very relaxed and Florence is beautiful.  

So do some research, and depinding on what you want to experice, don't eliminate the stop due to the distance.  

2 minutes ago, marazul said:

Yes, but it is very tight in Palma. The train gets back at 3. You would have more time in Palma if you took a bus or taxi back around 1 pm. Or if you took a bus or taxi to Soller at 9 or earlier and took the 12:15 train back to Palma. There is no benefit in doing the train round trip. Take a look at the "pinned" thread on Mallorca at the top of this forum.

Thanks, did not think of just doing the train one way.   That way we could head to Soller when we get off the ship, returning on the 12:15 train.  Lots more time in Palma that way.  

When I checked the website for the train, it will only take reservationns 7 days in advance.   My concern now is it will be sold out way before that with a cruise ship in port.   

I will check out the thread you suggested.  

We will be 1st time visitors, arriving at 8 and leaving at 6....which means all aboard around 5.

After reading all the info on this port I am hesitant to book an excersion, as there would be very little time left to visit Palma.  But at the same time, the train to Soller sounds wonderful. 

I am wondering if we can buy our own round trip tickets for the train to Soller.     https://trendesoller.com/eng/index   

The 1010 to Soller and the 2pm train back to Palma.  This would give us a couple hours in Soller and then a couple hours back to enjoy Palma.   

Is this doable?  

We get off out ship in Lisbon this November and are planning a couple nights there before flying home.   First time in the city and would like suggestions on where to stay...at least what area to stay in.  We will not have a car and would like too be able to experience/enjoy an area that is safe and walkable.

And any opinions about what not too miss in that short 2 day time period would also be appriciated.

Thanks

On 4/11/2024 at 11:12 PM, Ricks said:

Leaving out of Lisbon at the end of November for a transatlantic, looking for hotel idea’s.

We are coming in a few days before.

Thanks for your help

We are looking for hotels ideas as well.   At least the best location for 1st time visitors. 

18 hours ago, alaskancruzr said:

Lisbon has an excellent metro system with a station near the cruise port. We took hoho tours to get an overview and to locate metro stops near places that interested us.  We spent a month in Lisbon visiting Sintra, Cascais, Obidos and other places by train or tram.  No car needed and so much to see!  There is plenty to see inexpensively and on your own.  You can get tuk tuk tours also and customize them.

We will be staying in Lisbon for a couple days after our cruise.  Can you recommend a hotel?  Or at least an area that would be good for 1st time visitors?  

On 3/18/2024 at 4:46 PM, bigmoose7563 said:

We are on Allure May 31st and the shows opened up today to be reserved.

Do you make the reservations online?  Or do you need to do it thru the app?

And were you notified by email that reservations were open?  Or did you have to just keep checking?

Thanks for your help

On 3/14/2024 at 2:39 PM, easyqueasy said:

I’ve cruised both ships and I enjoyed Allure more. It is an impressive ship. Lots to do and see, lots of seatings around the ship. The exercise track on a separate dedicated deck so you’re not using same area as others is great. And there are two separate Flowriders for surfers and boogie boarders and that’s a huge plus. Mama Mia and the Aqua show were also fantastic. I enjoyed the outdoor movie by the pool on Mariner more as the seating for it on Allure was odd and lots of activity and people not caring that they’re loud and talking at the seats even though they’re not watching the movie. But Mariner is good, just not as good in my opinion.

Those of you that know the Allure well.... 

My cousin and I (both ladies in our 60's) are going on her for a 3 day girls trip.  We choose the anytime dinning.   We love being active.  Can you give me any advice on where to eat that is complimentary, what we should not miss. 

Any hints that will help us get the most out of our 3 days?  We plan to stay on board at Nausau, as we have been there many times.  Will there be things to do when in port?

Thanks for any help you can give us.   

On 1/5/2024 at 6:27 PM, Ashland said:

Check rates for Hampton Inn & Suites in Elizabeth NJ. We just stayed there in October and it worked out great.

Do you know if they provide long term parking for a car while on the cruise?  

We will be there in June.  Is there a beach close to where the ships dock?

Thanks for the dinning suggetions!!

I have a couple of quetions.

Can anyone tell me the times of the 'early' and 'late' seatings for dinner.

And we are a group of about 20.  Any idea if we would be able to hire a large 'party' bus for an entire day that would take us around the island, stopping at beaches etc?

Thanks for your help.

I wish Celebrity would have addressed this issue on their website question and answer.  I'm sure people beside myself sent in a 'sticky note' about the Elite/Elite Plus drink benefits.  Many people are having dinner between 5-7, so Celebrity's benefit is almost useless since you can't use in the dinning rooms.   And the menu is very limited.

I just got off RC and was surprised by their drink benefits for Diamond and above.  We got 4 drinks, added to our sea card every 24 hours.  They could be used anywhere on the ship, including the dining rooms.  No set menu, any drink $14 or less.  You just handed over your sea pass and the receipt was $0 and indicated that this was drink 1 out of 4.   So easy and a true benefit.  

Too bad I like Celebrity Cruise Line better☺️