Questions from a first timer - Cruise and NCL

[dmacleod]

My wife and I just booked our first ever cruise. We are going to be doing 10 days in the Greek Isles next June. There are a few things I'm wondering about. First, when should we expect to see shore excursions show up for our cruise? The ones that come up now look like they just include ports remaining this year, so a number of our stops show nothing. I'm also wondering how much cash we should plan on bringing? Will we be fine depending on our Visa? We are only planning on doing NCL scheduled excursions. Lastly, when I booked, the gentleman strongly suggested I call back closer to cruise time and book a hotel in Venice with the plan of getting in a day early. How necessary do folks feel like this is? I don't know how much this would add to the price, but I'm definitly not looking to add any expense I don't need to at this point. Any info from more experienced cruisers is appreciated.

[GeezerCouple]

25 minutes ago, dmacleod said:

My wife and I just booked our first ever cruise. We are going to be doing 10 days in the Greek Isles next June. There are a few things I'm wondering about. First, when should we expect to see shore excursions show up for our cruise? The ones that come up now look like they just include ports remaining this year, so a number of our stops show nothing. I'm also wondering how much cash we should plan on bringing? Will we be fine depending on our Visa? We are only planning on doing NCL scheduled excursions. Lastly, when I booked, the gentleman strongly suggested I call back closer to cruise time and book a hotel in Venice with the plan of getting in a day early. How necessary do folks feel like this is? I don't know how much this would add to the price, but I'm definitly not looking to add any expense I don't need to at this point. Any info from more experienced cruisers is appreciated.

 

 

Welcome to CruiseCritic!

 

I'd strongly recommend that you plan to arrive the day before, in case of travel delays.  That ship will be sailing with you... or without you.

 

You can probably find a less expensive hotel on the mainland rather than in Venice proper.  It's a very short train ride across the water the next day.

 

However, if you've never been to Venice and you aren't sure whether you'll be getting back, I'd also suggest that you think carefully about whether - once you are there - that you might want to spend a bit more time there... at least 2 nights so that you have the full day to explore and at least get a feel for the island.  It's a unique place.  And you can hit a couple of "touristy" places as well.  Anyway, just consider that.

But don't risk missing the ship!

(We would always arrive at least 2 nights in advance if we needed to be someplace after a long flight.  And that's before all of the weird travel delays due to Covid and all the supply chain delays, etc.)

 

Enjoy your cruise!  It should be terrific!

 

ETA:  Far in advance, book a refundable hotel rate.  You can look for lower non-refundable rates later, when things look more certain.

GC

Edited June 30, 2022 by GeezerCouple

[casofilia]

@dmacleod

 

My wife and I just booked our first ever cruise. We are going to be doing 10 days in the Greek Isles next June.    What is the itinerary?

There are a few things I'm wondering about. First, when should we expect to see shore excursions show up for our cruise?      Probably towards the end of the current summer season so that NCL can re-negotiate where necessary.

The ones that come up now look like they just include ports remaining this year, so a number of our stops show nothing.   That would be expected in light of the above.   Many people write reports on shorex and hand to shorex staff on board; they along with personal reports from shorex staff ( you will often see a shorex staff member on a shorex taking their own notes) have to be built into any renegotiations.

I'm also wondering how much cash we should plan on bringing?   It will depend on how much you intend to spend when on your shorex; souvenirs; drinks, nibbles (remember you are not supposed to take food or drink {except water" off the ship going ashore.   If you are spending ashore carry €uros as UDS will not be accepted everywhere especially in small places.   If you are carrying UDS, small denominations (all change will be in local currency); clean and unwritten, non crumpled.

Will we be fine depending on our Visa?   Yes but make sure you have one that does NOT incur an exchange/overseas fee every time you use it.   You will be better off having excess foreign currency to use on your next trip, to return to your bank, to sell to friends who are cruising to the same region next year.

We are only planning on doing NCL scheduled excursions.  That is all we do but we are OLD and understand that we are paying more than those who arrange their own.   One other thing I suggest is that you try to do shorex that includes a local meal.   More expensive than buying a beer and sandwich at a lunchtime stop but FAR more interesting and enjoyable especially as you will be on a table where you meet new people,

Lastly, when I booked, the gentleman strongly suggested I call back closer to cruise time and book a hotel in Venice with the plan of getting in a day early.  How certain that when you cruise that the ship will actually leave Venice; at present embark/debark is from Trieste.

How necessary do folks feel like this is?   As soon as possible book your hotel.   We are on a cruise in November from Athens where people are either having trouble finding a hotel with room or are paying over the odds, there is something on that weekend!!

We NEVER plan to arrive at an embark port on the embarkation day too much can go wrong!!!  One day minimum; two days better.

I don't know how much this would add to the price, but I'm definitly not looking to add any expense I don't need to at this point.   I always say you get what you pay for  so make the most of your holiday, hang the expense!!

Any info from more experienced cruisers is appreciated.

HTH; willing to answer questions if you have others

 

Mike

casofilia @ xtra . co . nz  (No Gaps)

[casofilia]

@dmacleod

 

I have just looked at possible embark ports for Venice cruises June 2023.   The Gem is using Ravenna for the 9th and  19th June cruises.

 

Like Trieste Ravenna is a long way from Venice.

 

All three are shown on https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ravenna,+Province+of+Ravenna,+Italy/@44.4960035,12.9650658,8.05z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x477df9505a24da17:0x2a74a33c9c54a776!8m2!3d44.4183598!4d12.2035294

 

HTH

 

Mike

[complawyer]

from what  i currently understand "venice" per se is no longer allowing cruise ships to dock there. if you check your reservation, it might say trieste whick is now the juping off point from the venice cruises. also, i think trieste is about an hour + from venice.

 

most cruise web sites suggest (recommend) that you plan to arrive at least 1 day prior to embarkation, especially since venice is absolutely beautiful and amazing. you's be doing yourself a massive disservice not exploring for at least a day or 2.  

 

if there currently not many excursions showing up, dont worry. as time progresses, more and more will be added. you'll have plenty of time to pick and choose.

 

the costs of the excursions, will show up on your final bill and be charged to any credit card you gave when you first got on board.,

 

we did a b2b from venice a few years ago, and even our cabdriver refused to take u.s. dollars.

 

i suggest you convert the currency to euros at least a few days before you leave the states. for 10 days, i would probably want to bring round 500-750 euros. while you say you are not looking to add any unnecessary expense, consider a night or 2 as a necessary expense. worth so much more than the possibility of something going wrong, not getting to the port on time and missing the ship

[hallux]

I'm going to echo the others  - especially as it relates to Venice, I would absolutely book to arrive in Venice at LEAST 1 day in advance, I'd consider 2 or 3 so I could see the sights of a place I probably won't get back to again.  Considering the port situation the other posted, you may consider multiple hotels - book one close to Venice for the day you arrive, then another for the night before embarkation closer to the port you actually leave from.  That makes touring Venice easier, then less stress on embarkation day.

 

If you're doing a round trip, maybe book 2 days on each end to tour Venice.

 

from a pure timing standpoint - absolutely book to arrive a day before the cruise.

[RocketMan275]

You might want to bring two credit cards.  From different issuers in case there is an issue with one card, ie stolen, lost, etc.

[BubMunkeyBles]

Definitely go in the day prior. Too much can go wrong with flights and that's an expensive trip to miss days due to delayed flights. You can always stay in Mestre for cheaper than Venice city centre. 

[weltek]

Great advice from everyone above. 

For currency exchange when traveling abroad, we don't do it ahead of time, as our bank charges a fee and it's another task to add when I'm already busy preparing for vacation. We:
-Make sure our bank knows we are traveling, dates, and that we'll be using our debit card
-Make a withdrawal at the airport and that will be in local currency. A good thing to do while killing time ahead of baggage claim.
-Make regular withdrawals along the trip at bank ATMs when wandering cities.

We always bring some USDs in case something happens with our debit card, so we can have currency exchange as a back up strategy. The fees for currency exchange in other countries are usually a fair amount higher than a foreign ATM fee.

We usually have $100/day cash planned for Caribbean & Mexico cruises, but we do sightseeing on our own and it's often just a cab ride somewhere and drinks/snacks we cover with cash. Because ship days we often don't spend more than $40 in cash (casino-we prefer to budget with cash, and issue a few cash tips), we have extra to roll over into port days. You could probably comfortably get away with less than $100/day, because even if you have solo time in ports, you'll probably be in bigger cities where you can use a credit card if needed. Even if a meal is included, you'll want to consider tipping tour operators, have money for a drink or snack. Not worth using a credit card if you stop for a cappuccino, grab a coke in a convenience store, etc. 

If you take the advice here and arrive a day or two early (I'd do two for Europe), obviously your cash needs might be higher then. Most cabs or public transport will accept credit cards, but I always like to be prepared with enough cash to cover a few cab rides because I've had drivers ask for cash or tell me their machine is down. I don't want to fight with a cab driver in an unfamiliar city.

Edited June 30, 2022 by weltek

[dmacleod]

Thanks for the great information everyone. I will definitely take your advice. This cruise does leave from Revenna, but the first stop the next day is in Venice, so coming in a day early, coupled with the ship day there, should give us a decent amount of time to experience the city.

[Ready to Sail!]

Certainly at the least a full day for Venice.  We've been to Venice twice. Once by train on our own and the second arriving on cruise from Greece.  The first time we spent 3 days. The second we just arrived and caught a shuttle to go to Ljubljana, Sovenia.  We wished we had also planned an extra day for the second time. When visiting anywhere in the world I always think I may not ever return so take advantage of being there.  You can never see and experience enough of Italy as far as I'm concerned!

 

I alway think that if I have spent the money on a cruise and the flights, whats a few more hundred to visit a place a will probably never get back to.  And lastly, but I think important.  You will have jet lag and not feel great for a day or two and why start a cruise that way.