1st time Med Mariner May 16

[mwebb]

Sailing Mariner May 16th 12 night mediterannean first time w/ 19 y.o daughter. (Have often cruised carribean, but lots of questions for this trip).

1) Age demographics on ship- daughter worried there wont be others her age?

2) 12 night menues? Theme nights?

3) Level of formality in MDR in comparison to caribbean cruises?

4) Size of safe to store lap top??

5) Cost of internet packages?

6) Free Wifi locations close to ports (Rome, Messina, Naples, Athens, Rhodes, Crete

Istanbul???

7) Able to excahnge USD $ for Euros or Turkish Lira on ship?

8) We port in Istanbul overnight. Is a Visa required? (Conflicting accounts on Port of Call)

9) Able to bring (or smuggle) any water, soda and/or beverages on board from ports?

10) How early can we disembark as we have a 12 flight & airline says be at airport 3

hours before. How to avoid the reported chaos at disembark and find our driver?

11) Any differences in recommended packing?

12) Entertainment??

13) Other advice??

[sameness]

Having done a few of these cruises last year -

1 - Dont worry, there is usually a good mix

2 - Cant remember, but Windjammer does do theme nights

3 - Standard RCL formality

4 - Ive stayed in Holiday Inns and travelodges and not worried about not having a safe.

5 - Expensive as per usual

6 - Rome(Chivi) - nothing; Messina - nothing, Naples - slow connection in cafe inside terminal, Athens - slow wifi in terminal, Rhodes - walk into the old city (5min)plenty of cafes, Crete - nothing, Istanbul - walking distance.

 

My opinion is dont bother, there are so many things to see and do rather than sit on a laptop which you can do at home. You paid to see these ports, not to use their wifi :)

7 - Yes, Euros are accepted in all ports.

8 - Nope, if worried check with your local embassy/embassy website

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1046.html?action=/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_952.html

There is one exception: If you are arriving by cruise ship for a day trip to Turkey, you do not require a visa as long as you are not staying on shore overnight.

You are staying on the ship overnight :)

9 - NO

10 - Early departure is around 7am IIRC

11 - Do your usual

12 - Production shows - Gallery of Dreams/Center Stage

Gallery is one of my favourite shows, yes it was previously terrible on the Liberty but was revamped tremendously.

Center Stage is a great showcase for the ships musicians