IRMO12HD

I'll use this as a timeline and (sort of) live blog for my experiences using Space A travel as a means of getting back home (to Eastern Washington state) after a Transatlantic cruise.

First, a few notes:

I am retired so will be Cat VI.

My cruise takes place in mid April - early May, before the main PCS season begins and the (DODDS-Europe) school year ends, so (theoretically) I won't be competing with as many AD and Cat 2-5 travelers.

My cruise ends in Civitavecchia, Italy on a Sunday, with a port stop the day before in La Spezia, Italy, so I should be able to see and use the 72-hour schedules for the relevant terminals.

I have booked a refundable flight via Delta just in case I don't catch a hop, which gives me a way back (and, if they need it, a viable return ticket to show the Schengen authorities)

My  main concerns:

1.  Where, when and how I will get a Schengen stamp for my arrival in the Schengen area.  We have four port stops before reaching Civitavecchia, all in Schengen countries. They are: Portugal (Azores), Spain (Malaga, Cartagena), and Italy  My concern is that two of those four stops occur on a weekend, so I will have to find an office/agency that is open.

2.  I usually book travel in advance, but since I'm not sure where I'll try to catch a hop first, I'll have to "wing it" for either train or air travel to wherever I hope to fly out of.

3.  I'm still wrestling with what kind of luggage I'll bring; carryon only, or one suitcase and my trusty backpack.

Next up: what I have done (or am doing) to prepare.

I've sailed once on Norwegian at the discount rate -- owing to the low cost of the cruise itself (7 night Seward AK - Vancouver BC), it wasn't substantial, but was enough to pay for a couple of drinks aboard (I declined the beverage part of the Free at Sea).  I will say that I was impressed by the degree of detail they put into recognizing their military passengers.  Other discounts, a patch, a challenge coin, extensive welcome packet, a reception).  I was happy with my pre-cruise and my cruise experience.

So far my spreadsheet is developing a clearer picture (well, maybe -- it's Space A, after all!) of where my best chances of catching a hop back to the States after my TA cruise might be.  Definitely Ramstein is the best possibility, but the travel there from Rome is continuing to provide a few wrinkles.  In about two weeks I'll start sending out my emails to the different departure points, bearing in mind that the Navy Air Stations use a different signup period (up to 45 days in advance) from the Army and Air Force installations, which have a signup period of 60 days.

I appreciate your details!  I'll be on Odyssey in April for the Transatlantic, and will have six sea days in which to explore :-)

A little bit more than two months until I head across the Atlantic, and put (hopefully) the Space-A perk to the test.

I've been monitoring flights (scheduled and non-) and have a pretty good feel for what my options will be as far as catching a hop back to CONUS.  I still haven't resolved my concerns about how/when/where I can get a Schengen stamp in my passport -- will be checking in every port!

I still have my return ticket on Delta in case Space A doesn't work out -- but it's refundable, so I'm hoping!

23 minutes ago, alserrod said:

 

Hello:

 

First of all, a few small comments... but I think they are important in the context.
- Morocco is not Europe but Africa. It is not an opinion but simply a reality. It is not part of the European Union and to travel between Morocco and any EU country you must present a passport and have all customs control. Furthermore, for immigration reasons, it is a border that has a lot of control
- Berlin - Amsterdam is not a domestic flight. They are two different countries (yes it is a flight within the Schengen zone)
- Monaco (for Monte Carlo) is an independent country. It is not part of the Schengen area but has an agreement with France. Honestly, if your port of entry was Monaco I have no idea how customs formalities are carried out (be careful, you can only enter Monaco without entering France if you do it on a yacht through the port. Anywhere around it is already France)

 

I have been on cruises with stops outside the Schengen area twice and I had very few formalities. I don't know if it helps you since the departure and arrival were in the Schengen zone.

 

1- Flight from Madrid to Athens. No passport control upon arrival (it is the European Union and Schengen zone, the strange thing is that they would have asked for it)

One of the stops was in Dubrovnik. Croatia (before it was part of the EU, and later the Schengen area). I had a passport and they didn't ask me for anything at the port. Best of all, there were some passengers who missed the boat and the agent helped them organize a flight so they could get on board two days later. They did not have any problems leaving the country (or entering Italy).

I returned with a Venice - Madrid flight in which there was, logically, no passport control either.

 

2- Departure and arrival from Barcelona (and logically only the documentation control requested by the shipping company)
One of the stops was Tunisia. There the police asked us to fill out a "visa" with our information. They checked (very quickly) that the information we had written matched the passport and stamped the passport and visa.

 

Upon leaving the boat, the police asked us for half of the visa (a small piece of cardboard) and to show our passport (just to see that we had it on us). They already had all the data on the possible passengers who could disembark.
Upon returning to the boat, the Tunisian police asked us for the other half of the visa. If the visas when entering and leaving coincided, then everything was perfect and no one had been left on the ground.
The closest thing to what appears in the Argo movie.

but I don't know if it can help you. I don't know, exactly, how travelers from another country enter the Schengen zone.

 

What is worth noting is that if your ship stops in Funchal, that is Portuguese territory and it would be your first entry into the European Union.

 

On flights within the Schengen area (includes the entire EU except Ireland and some nearby and not so close countries like Iceland) there is NO passport control.

 

It is possible that some country establishes controls (as is the case of Germany that you mentioned) but you can change countries so many times without controls.

 

 

I invite you to use Google Maps and see two curiosities about all this
- the first is to choose several international borders by road. Look on Google Maps as there are no customs of any kind in either of the two places.
- the second... look for the Schengen location. It is in the country of Luxembourg. Think about what their life would be like before the free movement treaty and why they chose that small town to name it.

 

 

 

Thank you!  Our first port stop in Schengen is Punta Delgado in the Azores.  According to what I can find about Schengen stamps, that's where I should get one.

52 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

When we travel from the USA to Europe, our Passports are normally stamped at our first port of entry.  If that place is NOT a Schengen country, our Passports are normally stamped at our first "Schengen" port of entry be it on a ship or at an airport.  That being said, 3 years ago we had problems because our Passports were never stamped (by anyone) despite having been in multiple European countries (including Spain and Monoco).  For some weird reason, it was never done.  We debarked our Seabourn cruise at Monte Carlo where there were no authorities and simply walked down the gangway onto the pier where we were met by our car/driver.  We drove to Nice (so crossed the border into France) where we spend a few days.  We than flew from Nice to Amsterdam where we changed to a flight which took us to Prague.  Again, nobody stamped our passports.  Very strange.

 

Three weeks later we flew from Prague to Munich where we were to catch our flight back to Newark.  Germany, unlike most Schengen countries, always has passport control (even on domestic flights such as our flight from Amsterdam).  The German official was very "unhappy" to not find any Schengen entry stamp.  It took about 15 minutes of explaining (and showing all kinds of supporting documents including cruise ship ticket, airline boarding passes, hotel receipts, etc. until the German official finally let us go (he did put a Schengen entry stamp into our Passport).  What made the experience so much "fun" was that his partner (who shared the same counter) was laughing and kept rolling his eyes (out of sight of his partner) as he watched the situation unfold.

 

Our experience with Europe is that both Germany and the UK will carefully follow their own procedures (which are strict) while most of the Schengen countries (other then Germany) are hit/miss on how they handle entrees.  

 

As to those who want Passport stamps (some travelers have this desire) it is also hit/miss if an official will do it when they do not deem it necessary.  My advice to any traveler is always print-out hard copies of documents (i.e. cruise tickets, airline reservations/boarding passes, etc) and have them with you (in a pocket or carry-on) just in case!  Border/immigration officials have respect for real documents, and much less respect for what comes out of one's mouth.

 

Hank

Thanks for the background!  What you experienced in Germany is exactly what I'm trying to be proactive about.  Our first stop in the Schengen area will be Punta Delgado in the Azores, so theoretically that is my first port of entry into Schengen, and where/when I should get the stamp.  I just haven't been able to figure out who to check with to see if it will be possible.

Frankly, I'm not a "passport stamp collector," I just want to make sure that I grease the skids as much as possible.

Great advice on maintaining hard copies of my transportation documents; will definitely do that.

On 1/30/2024 at 2:32 AM, alserrod said:

DOCUMENTATION IN SPAIN

 

 

Depending on your nationality, you must carry a passport. Check with embassies if you also need a visa and how to obtain it.
If you are an EU citizen, your national identity card will be sufficient. In the case of minors, only with ID, official parental authorization is required. If parents accompany you, it is obviously not necessary. If the minor has a passport, nothing else is necessary.

 

>> About entry into Spain

 

In Spain, the borders with countries in the Schengen area and with the rest of the countries are different.

 

Whatever nationality you have, they will not ask you for documentation for a trip within the Schengen area. This includes road trips from Portugal or France and any air or boat travel from any Schengen country. You will see that they indicate the destinations in this area as if they were domestic flights and there is no cabin for passport control.

 

That is, it doesn't matter what your nationality is. If you are coming to Spain from France, Italy, Germany, Greece, Belgium,... (or if you are leaving Spain for these countries) they will NOT ask you for documentation. You will only need valid documentation that proves your identity for the airline, not for border control.

 

If you come from a country other than the Schengen zone, they will ask you for documentation upon arrival as in a regular passport control.

 

If I am a US Citizen on a ship originating in the US (Florida) and stopping in the Azores, Malaga, and Cartagena before heading to our final destinations in Italy, do you know if I can request a Schengen stamp in my passport at our first stop in the Schengen area?  This will simplify my subsequent travel plans after the cruise ends.  From what I understand, there probably won't be an opportunity to get it stamped in Civitavecchia.

 

>> Carry documentation with you

 

Spanish regulations require that you carry with you the documentation that allowed you to cross the border.

 

In other words.... you must carry your passport with you when you are in Spain.

 

Spanish citizens massively carry their documentation with them (an official card inside their wallet) for a historical reason. That makes it more difficult, in that case in which they require documentation, to try to explain why you don't have it.

16 hours ago, InsureMyTrip said:

Yes! Unlike other types of insurance, you can purchase a travel insurance plan for someone else.  All you need to purchase a policy for someone else is basic information about the travelers - like their age, gender, home address, and birthdates.

When you purchase a policy for someone else, you will need to ensure the traveler is the person listed on the policy. If they need to make a claim, they will need to provide proof of your payment for their prepaid, non-refundable trip costs. It will then be the traveler who is reimbursed for the claim, not the purchaser.
 

Thank you!

I am paying for my son and DIL's cruise to Alaska this fall.  If I purchase a travel insurance policy for them, or if they purchase it, will they be able to claim reimbursement if the trip is cancelled due to medical, etc?  That's what I want them to be able to do, but am not sure how it works if I pay for the cruise.

18 hours ago, ollienbertsmum said:

Thanks, you are not insulting my intelligence.  I am from Europe and have traveled to Asia, Africa and North America - but I don’t know the process of replacing a lost passport.   I will be looking it up before my next trip. 

Me, three!

Well, more than 3 years later I'm still asking the question -- has anyone used Space A to get to or from a cruise?  I'm hoping to test it out this spring after a TransAtlantic from Florida to Italy.  I'll post my results. 

@USN59-79, I think that if you're retired military, you and your spouse (assuming both of you have military IDs), can fly together as Category VI.  She could not, I believe, fly Space A on her own.

My DH and I will be on the westbound portion; I'll be interested to see how the card room in the "Windjammer Annex" will look.  I also wonder if there's a place to do jigsaw puzzles.  On Voyager's TA from Copenhagen to Boston, the puzzles were in one of the alcoves.  Very busy place, with two puzzles going at a time

2 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

My experience with the 3 night package is the courtesy reservation isn't a real reservation it is just a placeholder.  When you board go straight to a specialty restaurant and get it sorted.  Also, you may want to confirm your bogo at that time since reports indicate some ships are holding the line on using it day 1 and 2.  

Thanks for the advice -- I will definitely check as soon as we board.  

I've been reading all of the comments, and definitely appreciate all of you registering your thoughts and preferences!  We're booked on Serenade for the Westbound Panama Canal (Miami-Los Angeles) and this time I booked the 3-night dining package for both of us.  This will be our first cruise as D+, so I'm new to the BOGO deal, but will be researching it.  Under the 3-Night package, I booked dinner for the second day, but recognize that we won't find out where it is until we board.  I personally love Izumi, and we've never eaten at Chops or Giovanni's Table, so I'm inclined to accept the reservation if it's for Izumi or Giovanni's Table, or change it if it's for Chops.  Then, we can figure out where to use our other two "nights" from the dining package, and where to use the BOGO.

DBP on Serenade Panama Canal cruise in November is at $57.99/day with the Senior Savings Sale.

I was on Norwegian Jewel for her 28 Aug - 4 Sep Seward-Vancouver sailing.  I rode the NCL Shore Excursion train from Anchorage to Seward on the day of embarkation, and heard one or two people coughing.  As a result, I tried to maintain distance from those I heard or saw exhibiting cold-like symptoms.  I was in an interior cabin (solo), used the stairs as much as possible, and stayed away from crowds in the buffet.  Walked outside on the Promenade rather than taking interior routes.  Didn't use a mask (until I boarded the Amtrak bus from Vancouver - Seattle), but did wash my hands a lot, used hand sanitizer.  Despite numerous accounts of people contracting COVID, I tested myself the day of disembarkation and the day after I returned home, and tested negative.  I was irritated by the number of people who were coughing without covering their mouth, and did my best to avoid them.  Had I experienced those symptoms, I would have, without a doubt, contacted the Medical Center.  

Chapter 1A: Cabin 9589

I haven’t been in an interior cabin on NCL, but I feel that this cabin was different in a couple of respects, some pro and some con.

The bed (or beds, as I asked my steward to separate them — I like having the room) is perpendicular to the entry, rather than parallel.  I like this layout, as it puts the bed in line with the ship, rather than across it.

its location, while sandwiched between Decks 8 and 10, proved to be a little “noisesome” as the closet/bathroom end, and the side opposite the entry bordered a crew area, as well as the space above it.  Not intolerable, but I did hear some noises around 0’dark-30 (I.e., 4:30 am), and took a minute or two to go back to sleep.

The floor and hallway location were ideal to me.  Just around the corner to stairs and elevators. One deck down to my fave O’Sheehans and two decks down to the Promenade, my ice supply in the Bliss Lounge, and Azura MDR and Chin Chin.

OK, I’m back.  True to form, this has turned out to be a cruise review, rather than any kind of live blog because, well, I didn’t get the unlimited Internet package.  But, that’s all right because now I can relate my pros and cons, my successes and not-so-successes, and things I would urge a friend to do and look for.

Chapter 1:  Norwegian Jewel — the ship, my cabin, and dining

The ship:  I really like the size of the Jewel and her amenities.  Most of the kids I saw onboard seemed to enjoy themselves and managed to have fun without negatively impacting others.  The Sun deck (forward, Deck 13) have great views, shielding from the wind, and air exchangers that kept me warm on the foggy days. 
 

Another favorite quiet, shielded spot was a little niche forward on both sides of Deck 7 on the Promenade, just forward of these  large wrapped boxes:

My favorite restaurant: definitely O’Sheehan’s.  Food (and drink) 24/7 and the food was consistently good.  The hostesses were kind to me as a solo, and did their best to find me comfortably located tables, sometimes by the window and sometimes near it.

#2 and a close second is Chin Chin.  The servers were so good-natured and kind, and I found the food and the portion sizes just right.

Chapter 1A to come: my cabin:  Interior Cabin 9589

Some pictures to go with our no-Hubbard day…

Had to get to Juneau for a usable cell signal.  My primary gripe with internet on this cruise is that for some unknown reason, I have to log in just to get on the WiFi. Even though I can log off in a couple of seconds, it still docks my account a full minute. Not earth shattering, but annoying. 
At any rate, to catch up …

Tuesday

Hubbard Halted

Well, the glacier didn’t halt, but we did!  I tried breakfast in the Tsars Palace dining room. Beautiful surroundings, tasty avocado and egg wrap, and awful coffee!  Tried two different batches, with one undrinkable and one marginal.  Explored the ship and found some favorite places watch the world go by, went to a really nice military reception (well done, NCL!).  Then I made my way up forward on Deck 8 to the viewing area for Hubbard Glacier. We sailed out of mostly cloudy but still visible skies into fog that grew denser and denser. While we waited our turn. Norwegian Sun came out — taking with her the remnants of clear skies. Shortly thereafter Captain Stefan announced that we wouldn’t be able to go closer to the glacier due to ice floe size and current variations. So. No glacier today, but we’ll head up Tracy Arm Fjord on Wednesday and hopefully see Sawyer Glacier.  Teppanyaki for dinner — so good!

Catching up on my blog

I can blame my lack of continuity on:

1. Lack of connectivity 
2. Lack of cell coverage
3. Rain
4. Long lines
5. Repeat.

Ok, enough griping.  I’m now onboard, settled in, with two meals and one sleep under my belt.

Here are my lessons learned so far — and some tips (of the advice type).

1. Best deal in Anchorage as a “Senior” is public transportation. $2.50 for a day pass got me several trips each day between the airport, my AirBnB, and downtown Anchorage. HOWEVER, service stops at 7-7:30 on weekend nights. That’s how I know that an Uber is more expensive ($16)
2. The shore excursion for the train to/from Seward is a good price with the Free At Sea $50 credit, but bring snacks!  Water and ice are free, but food is pretty spendy. Oh, and the only place to store carryon baggage is under the dinette-style seats — about the same size as under seat storage on an airplane.  And, you’re just as likely to be riding facing backwards as forwards
3. Embarkation took place in the rain and I didn’t feel like NCL was very proactive in getting people out of it. The train got in about 5:45 and we got out car by car, with the cars closest to the terminal getting out first. OK, but by the time our car the last car, farthest away from the terminal) got off, there was a line outside the terminal, with people standing in the rain … and half the building was empty for the Haven guests — all 10-12 of them.  Really poor space management.
4. Plenty of plugs! My interior cabin has 4 110v outlets, about 5 USB, and 1 European (double round prong). I brought my own extension cord (10 foot) so don’t know if they would have had one to loan me for my CPAP.  A gallon of distilled water was in my cabin as I requested)
5. Chin chin was awesome for my first meal aboard. Light but filling.
6. Getting on the WiFi (for just using the NCL app was super difficult for my iPhone yesterday and my iPad today.
7. IMessage does work once you’re on the WiFi

More later!  Got to conserve minutes and bandwidth

Whoops.  Need to work on my photo insertion skills.  Here is the side that was blown away

Great view of Mount St Helens. Usually our flight path takes us north of Rainier, so this was a nice sight. 

Exit row 17 — total of two seats taken; no one in 17 DEF!

I put an AirTag in my checked bag.  I like being able to reassure myself that it’s on the plane with me.  I have 2 days worth of clothes in my backpack just in case …

Here are some pictures from my originating airport. Care to guess where it is?