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11 hours ago, Grandmaanne7 said:

Will do. 

Thanks!

The Celebrity Eclipse will make this stop on our cruise in March 2024. Would you please post an update after your trip to let us know how this excursion went? 

On 8/29/2022 at 3:58 PM, marazul said:

I had the hotel call them and reserve a table for us.  We emailed the concierge and he replied by the next day.  

I emailed my hotel, del Senato, and they responded that they would no longer deal with Armando because the restaurant would not answer the phone or reply to emails. I tried jumping on their online reservation system first thing in the morning a month before the date I wanted and a few spots were available but only 10;00pm for dinner and a few lunch spots. I made a lunch reservation though I'd much rather have dinner there. Oh well, good-luck.   

Carlmm and cruisemom42, you have both been most helpful! I checked coopculture for Domus Aurea tickets for our dates, mid October. The dates we will be in Rome were in grey, which I hope means they haven't been released to the public yet. I would like to avoid buying tickets from a tour company.

I like your idea, cruisemom42, of taking a bus to the furthest point on the Appian Way. It would save some backtracking if we started from the visitor center. I've looked at the park website and will have to study it some more. Unfortunately, my Rick Steves's book fell to pieces after our last trip. I'll check the bus routes; I was thinking taxi from where we're staying in the Pantheon area, but a taxi would certainly be cheaper.  

For these two sites,  Domus Aurea and Baths of Caracali, how far in advance do we need to reserve admission? We were hoping to reserve our time slot for the Domus Aurea but be more flexible about getting to the Baths and getting our admission tickets at the site if possible? 

We also want to visit the Via Appia Antica. E-bike seems to be the most popular way to see the park, but I'm not sure I can manage it. Any suggestions on walking tours or is this something we can easily do on our own? Also is the visitor center at the start of the Appian way open on Sundays? Any suggestions for the best way to visit this site would be much appreciated.

On 7/13/2022 at 8:17 PM, marazul said:

Go on their website to reserve. Usually, you can only reserve a month ahead of time.  If you have trouble,  you can ask  your hotel to make them for you.  

Thanks so much for the tip!

How early before our trip should I reserve my preferred restaurants, for example at Roscioli and Armando? 

Between reading cc, reviews, and individual cruise line websites I'm in information overload. We are considering the Amsterdam to Budapest route with Viking, Emerald, or Avalon. I know there are, perhaps, more highly rated lines that would offer exceptional excursions,  but these 3 seem to be more within our budget. We are in our 70's so I know Viking would be a good fit:-) But all things being relatively equal, I'm hoping to pick the line that might provide the better excursion experience (variety, smaller size, some active options). Any insight on the differences between these lines would be appreciated. Also, if anyone has a good TA resource for river cruising, please let me know (mayberrycl at gmail dot com). I usually research everything, book through the cruise line, then transfer our booking to a TA. Planning this river cruise versus our usual Ocean cruise is becoming a little overwhelming and I feel we could use the help of a knowledgeable agent. 

Thanks in advance for any tips or advice.

3 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

 

Just a reminder to keep checking rates even after you book something, especially this far out, as they do fluctuate.  The rates for the Del Senato for next fall, for example, have actually just come down from where they were a few weeks ago.   Good luck!

Good idea. Thanks for the tip!

Thank you both Cruisemom42 and Turtles06 for your advice. I clicked on Del Senato's special offers and the price they show would be fantastic, however, when you try to proceed with that offer, it shows a double room rate of $360 per night.  I will try emailing the hotels and if they don't offer anything satisfactory, I'll look at Hotel Navona. Thank you again!

On 11/29/2019 at 8:10 AM, cruisemom42 said:

I stayed at the Del Senato this time (great late November rate) and I have to say that it is as good as I've always experienced it and truly feels like my home away from home. All of the staff at the front desk are super. It didn't hurt that I had a "room with a view" either!

Cruisemom42,

We stayed at 9 Hotel Cesari the fall of 2018 at your recommendation and loved it! We're going back to Rome this coming fall (October 2020) and wanted to book it again, but the rates seem out-of-sight (over 360 US per night). We just checked the Del Senato and it is showing about the same price per night. As you said, Rome is becoming more crowded and, perhaps, there is no longer shoulder season prices.

In your opinion, are these the prices we should expect to pay for a hotel in this general location; which I admit is just about the perfect base from which to explore Rome?  Guess we're hoping maybe it's too early to book and prices will come down a bit:-)

We took the Roman Guy tour of the Colosseum Underground in September. We also had to give our full names and DOB. We carried copies of our passports with no problem. You didn't ask, but we were not overly impressed with this tour. You will see the reconstructed elevator and little else. In our opinion, it was not worth the extra cost. 

For Messina, Sicily you should check out Filippo at http://www.sicily-best-tour.com.  We took his  "Tour 2 - Etna Taormina" just a few weeks ago. Filippo was quick to respond to emails and very personable. The drive to Etna was actually quite long and I wouldn't do it again, but that wasn't Filippo's fault (DH likes to visit volcanoes anywhere we go). 

That is good to hear. We'll look for your review and this company when we arrive in Santorini.

I've read about some issues getting the independent transfer by boat to Oia after docking in Santorini. If we opt to take the cable car up to the top, will there be taxis or other tour operators willing to take us on a tour of the island without a prior reservation? I know we can take the bus to Oia, but my DH is not keen on buses.

Aloha,

Yes, Leialoha and I have been assigned to the February cruise. See you there!

 

Aloha No,

Tiki Dave

(Of Elua)

www.facebook.com/eluamusic

www.facebook.com/tikidavemusic

Both February cruises?

Thanks!

I appreciate everyone's opinions. I have made inquiries to PK Travel and Welcome Pickups. My concern with going the pre-arranged pick up route is that I don't know how long we'll want to stay in the area before heading back to the port. I'm still leaning toward using taxis for the flexibility. Thanks cruisemom42 for suggesting asking the Athens' board on Tripadvisor for the best places to find a taxi in the Plaka area. I always forget to check the forums on Tripadvisor; the forums are a wealth of information.

It shouldn't be a problem. Most of the time you don't hail a taxi on the street, though. Where will you be ending the day? I've asked a museum or a hotel to call a taxi for me sometimes. Or if you are near a Metro station, they often wait in front...

We'll probably end up in the Plaka area after seeing the sites, so leaving from there. I do have a little fear in the back of my mind that we'd have difficulty finding a taxi to take use back to the ship and get stranded in Athens.

Thank you for your assurances that we'll be able to catch a taxi at the port. I assume it will be no problem finding a taxi to take us back to the port when we're ready. This will also help me convince my DH that this is the way to do Athens.

I am vacillating between getting a taxi at the port to take us to the Acropolis, walking to other nearby sites, then finding a taxi after roaming Plaka to go back to the port, or booking a private 8-hour tour with George's Taxi. How easy is it to get a taxi to take us from the port to Athens? I know there will be a taxi line outside the port terminal; however, one poster said he had difficulty finding a taxi to take them into Athens as the drivers all wanted to give tours. The other option is a tour with George's Taxi, but I' wonder whether this option would offer much more than a DIY day? Looking for opinions/suggestions (except for the bus or HOHO, which my husband refuses to take). This will be our first time to Athens.

Nice review, thank you.

We are also staying at the Anchorage Grand Hotel before catching the train to Whittier. Good to hear it was satisfactory. Is the train station close enough to walk to or did you take a taxi?

We are considering Above and Beyond's guided kayak trip on Mendenhall lake (4.5 hr) in Juneau or Southeast Sea Kayaks' tour of Orcas Cove (4 hr) in Ketchikan. Both are very similar in price. Any thoughts? I think this is the first year Above and Beyond is offering a guided kayak trip. Thank you.