erby2283

Hi everyone - wanted to jump in on the conversation and introduce myself. When I booked my May Icon cruise last November, I said I wanted to lose about 30 pounds. I had just had my hip replaced (at 48) and was just able to get back into walking and exercising. Here we are a year later and I've lost....oh....about 3 lbs.... smh. I go the gym and work out 2-3 times a week for the last 3 months - lost nada. Was swimming before that - lost nada. Not gonna lie, as an Italian, I am a carb junkie. I did well on low carb a few years ago but I am so darn picky that it's just not sustainable for me. I get tired of eating the same thing and as picky as I am - it's not much. I also drink a lot of diet soda so I'm sure that doesn't help. Still not going to give up and hope to be able to lose some weight before May - I still have time...but then again the holidays are coming up.

I agree - love your google sheets! I usually use trip it but I love your google sheets! I searched through their templates but didn't see any I liked as much as yours...but couldn't find the one you used either...

There is a tour company called Sandra's (something - google sandras tour santorini) that offers tours that bypass the cable cars in both directions. However, someone on our cruise boards recently did her tour and said the beginning of the tour was pure chaos - not being able to find the guide, and people walking around aimlessly not knowing where to go. So it cut into their tour time. She sent an email to the tour company and the tour company replied that she is trying to work on the situation. Hopefully we get some better reviews in the next few months. Is chaos during the beginning of a tour better than a 2+ hours wait at the cable car? That is the question.

When I cruise in 2019, we were advised that tender tickets would be passed out an hour before we docked (I think that would have made it 6 am). But I needed to be on the first tender to make a private excursion, so we were the first ones in line at 5 am and given a ticket close to 6. Then went back to the room and finished getting ready until they started calling for for Tender Ticket #1!

Glad she responded - she has 10 months to get it fixed - well 9 I guess so I can make my decision....lol

I’m right there with ya. Been before and can’t find anything so really want to do. Plus we leave at 3pm so it doesn’t leave much time to venture to St John.

My only concern is that two other ships arrive an hour before us and three more of us arrive at 8. So I would already be worried the line to the cable car would be getting long from these other two ships arriving before us. Also, if it’s just some random person organizing the sticky notes for tender tickets, do people really listen to that person? I mean what’s to keep some people from saying that they’re not going to take your number or follow the numbering system bc you’re not affiliated with the ship?

Thanks for taking the time to write up your synopsis. I was still weighing the Carnival excursions versus Sandra's but if a tour company can't even respond, I doubt they really care about their customer service. There is a guy on our sailing who is a TA and selling tours that he is putting together and I'm just shocked at the prices he is charging. He advised about a private tour in Santorini which bypasses the cable cars but the price - $179 each - and most of his tours are like 4-6 hours. I guess I'll just stick to my Carnival Cruise excursion - even though we may have to head back way earlier than we'd want, I'm not interested in dealing with the fiasco of Sandra's Tours - unless I read more posts between now and Sept that things have improved! I can find other private tours way more affordable than what the cruise line and this guy is offering and they have great reviews! On my one previous trip to the Mediterranean, we were lucky to have an overnight in Venice. It was great to enjoy Venice in the day and night - and to just wander with no plans. I LOVED Venice and wish we were going back this time but it's not meant to be.

No worries - I have the same opinion as mentioned earlier - you do you and I'll do me. Unless we have worked for a cruise line, I don't think we can so for sure where their salary comes from. Maybe they're guaranteed a rate and the cruise line hopes the auto-tips cover those salaries and if not, they pitch in the rest???? Who knows for sure? I personally leave the auto-tips on and prefer to tip my steward, and dining staff additionally according to service. It's the cruise lines being greedy, not their staff who leave their families for months at time - many work for weeks at a time without a day off. So if a little extra money can help and I have it, more than happy to do it. I'm never one to push my ideals and values on others - it's just what I choose to do. 🙂

"As a way to reward our crew members for their outstanding service, gratuities are shared among dining, bar & culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to enhance the cruise experience."

Do these tips not also pay for the "behind the scenes" crew that you don't see or wouldn't necessarily think to tip? Like the laundry crew, or buffet staff? Just a serious question.

Absolutely not true - I booked Nov 2022 and price for our balcony on deck 12 was $1045 (3 adults to the cabin - room total was $3135 for all of us). All about demand the timing. We pretty much did too - and am so glad we did. Probably the only time we'll get to sail her.

I could be wrong but I also believe I read that Carnival also has no scheduled stops in Santorini in 2025 either.

Loved your pics today! My grandfather was born in Sicily - in a little fishing town called Licata. In fact, I've been researching on dual Italian citizenship but it's proving a little complicated and I don't feel like forking out money for an attorney to handle it...lol. Last time I cruised Europe, we sailed the Strait of Messina and I swore I'd make it to Sicily next time to honor my grandpa so I'm very excited for our stop in Messina next year. ❤️ In fact, last time, while sailing the Strait of Messina, there was a yellow butterfly that appeared and was flying all around me - yes, I believe in signs.

If you're a Game of Thrones fan, there are some wonderful tours in Split from when they filmed there. Plenty to see around port too. 36 degrees here in Charlotte this morning - I'd say that's a heatwave...lol

I'm sorry - it's still tough even when for the best. I'm three years out of a 12 year relationship and we're much better friends than bf/gf. Hard at first but definitely for the best. I wish you a future of happiness and much travel. I'm sure you'll find the person for you. Thanks. I'm kind of a stalker when planning. Had researched all different airports we could fly into and take the train to FCO if needed, etc. Taking the trains around town and even to port still scare me a little but I'm sure we'll figure it out.

I did feel like I scored yesterday with roundtrip non-stop airfare to FCO (main cabin) for $913! Premium economy is $350 extra (each way) but that $700 would pay for most, if not all of my excursions right now so it's hard to fork that out just for seats.

Oh no....I hope this is just for a vacation and not a relationship change...or if it is, I hope it's what you wanted. But yes, I am ready! Love your reviews.....and your planning.

Thank you - We asked Italytours if they would skip Sorrento and they said they would only do it if we booked a private tour @ 209EU each. I still have 11 months to make plans so we'll see 🙂 I'll check out Carmine though - thank you.

Thank you - perhaps in your review to Sandra you should let her know that there could be a good market for her with good word of mouth her on CC but after what you experienced, many are now scared to use her touring company - perhaps others are daring enough to book between now and next Sept when I cruise and we'll hear better reviews. Again, appreciate the feed back and hope you are enjoying the beautiful, yet busy, itinerary!

So overall, was the frustration worth the not having to deal with the cable cars? That is the question - and that is what tour operators like Sandra should understand - people are willing to spend the money for her tour knowing that it allows them to bypass the cable car mess but they have to get their act together. They should at this point. Overall did you feel you had enough time in port? How long did you get to spend in Oia and Fira? And what time did you get back to the ship in relation to when you leave port?

American. Booked directly with them. Paid extra for seats on the way home so we could get bulkhead - but it’s just main cabin. We could upgrade for $700 each to premium economy but that $700 will pay for all my exucursions. 😘

Looks like you are having some great weather! I had a very busy itinerary on my 2019 cruise in the Mediterranean - 12 nights and 9 ports - most days we docked at 7 so I had to get up by 5-5:30 most days. I was so exhausted I was asleep most nights by 9! oh - ps - flights finally opened up for our Sept 2024 cruise (same itinerary you’re doing now) and got non-stop roundtrip out of CLT to FCO for less than a grand! Stalking pays off. 🤣🤣🤣😳😳

You're welcome. This was actually the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. 🙂

I was always in awe when I walked into the different Basilica's in Rome. The shear size and height of the ceilings in not something that can be captured in a picture. Let me see if I can find one I took on my last cruise with someone standing in the picture at the bottom - it gives somewhat of a reference. Edit: yes, I had the pictures on my phone still. The size is just mind blowing when you’re there.