Chimamashouse

We purchased the 10 beers for $49 card on our TA on Jewel of the Seas last November. 

I don’t think the 10 drinks was offered but it would just be that we decided not to grab it since we just used OBC for drinks here and there. 

Anyone had had experience with any of the cards on Explorer of the Seas? That will be our next ship. We will have 8 consecutive sea days so I think there will be a lot of promos. 

I'm in a studio balcony next month and received $50. I think it's because my booking does not show any other discounts. However, I think that part was a mistake. They were trying to make my price the same as the person I am travelling with and when they did that, they didn't show any discount. My companion does have discounts on his booking. So I guess I just got lucky

Thanks for replying.

I saw that because they had to correct errors on my invoice they did the same thing with the fare my husband and I have. So perhaps we could qualify. We are cruising for 12 nights so that means $200.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We got ours on our Anthem cruise this past January (1/26/17). We booked under 30% off second guest and also got our Diamond Balcony Discount. I applied for it and they gave me the $200 OBC for the 12 night cruise.

I realize this is a super old thread, but just wondering if anyone has any recent stories about this? Is there occasional success?

I am glad the thread is proving to be useful.

 

 

 

One post a couple of pages back stated Uber is sometimes more expensive than a taxi in Italy.

 

 

 

Once you have made your flight arrangements you may find others on your role call on the same flight.

 

 

 

Have you checked on flights from Air2Sea? I have found their prices to be good for international travel--not, so much for domestic travel.

 

 

 

 

 

The last time we were in Europe we used the Verizon International plan. We did not need to unlock the phone or get any sim cards. They charge a certain amount per day [depends on country] and you can use your talk, text, data on one devise as if you are in the US. It gave me a lot of piece of mind, YMMV You may not need to use it every day.[ lodging may have internet, etc] You only pay for the day if you actually use it. We paid $5/day for Spain. However, some countries were $10.

For Canadians, this is also a possibility. I am with Virgin Mobile and they also have pay per day plans from $5-$10.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thank you to all of the posters for the great information you are sharing. I am sure I am not the only one taking notes. :D

Amen! We aren’t planning on spending any time in Rome. Straight from Venice to Civi. But information about Civi that has come up in here has been really helpful and I’m still taking notes for future time in Rome!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Is there a reason that you wish to stay near the airport (I assume FCO)? If it were I, I would book a hotel in Rome. However, if your heart is set on a hotel near FCO:

 

QC Termeroma Spa & Resort (about a mile from FCO & offers shuttle service)

 

Hilton Garden Inn (about the same distance also offers shuttle service)

 

Best Western Rome Airport (about a mile and a half with shuttle service)

 

 

 

Regarding transfers, the drive from FCO to Civitavecchia takes about an hour. There are many recommendations on this board for Rome in Limo (there are others as well).

 

A more affordable solution (assuming you can manage your own luggage) is the train. We have taken the train on both occasions that we cruised out of Civi but we stayed in Rome rather than at an airport hotel.

 

FCO has its own train station. You take the train to Rome & get off at Trastevere or Ostiense. From here, you change to the the train to Civitavecchia. This trip would take from 1h 45 mins - 2 hrs, cost approximately 13 euros per person and upon arrival in Civi, you can taxi the short distance to the port.

I can vouch for this info as well. Train from FCO to Rome is great and so is Train from Rome to Port. We took the train at around 9am on the departure date of the cruise and made it in stellar time. Very reliable. As long as you can manage your bags it’s a great option.

Also don’t forget to validate your ticket (as discussed earlier, you have to do it on the way to entering the train; if you get off the train to do it they can leave without you at a moment’s notice; and you can be fined if you don’t do it).

Once at the port, we walked briefly out of the train station and we just took a bus to the ship at the entrance of the port. That was 6 years ago, but if they still provide it and you can manage your bags, it was also only a couple EUROS each.

Also train from Rome to Civi is direct, no need to change trains.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I have gotten 3 estimates for the Northern Countryside tour and transfer.

 

 

 

At this point I need to confer with our travel partners before I reserve a tour. However, I am leaning toward the first one. They have very good reviews, respond in a timely fashion and are much cheaper than the other 2, especially the popular RomeinLimo.

 

 

 

The 3 Tour companies and their details are:

 

 

Iteritaly: from an email sent within 24 hours

 

 

 

The cost of the service requested is 290€, and includes the trip from Rome to Civitavecchiaport via Bracciano Lake and 2hrs to spend in any city in the Bracciano lake area. The driver will be English speaking and the service is always private with us. If you like to spend more time in the area won't be a problem and the cost for extra hrs is 50€/hr.

 

 

 

 

 

RomeCabs: from their website

 

 

 

This Roman Countryside Half Day Pre-Cruise Tour andTransfer combination offers our guests the unique option of spending the first half of their day enjoying the beautiful Roman countryside and then go straight to Civitavecchia Cruise Port to board your ship.

 

 

 

.You and your luggage will travel together and remain safely inside the vehicle under the care ofyour English speaking Driver while you sightsee so you have no worries but all the fun in the countryside!

 

 

 

.

 

Cost for 4: 350 euro

 

Pick up time will be 9AM at your accommodation in Rome.

 

 

 

.Duration of the tour:4 hours

 

 

 

Transport to Port of Civitavecchia is included.

 

 

 

 

 

Rome in Limo: from an email answered in 15 minutes

 

 

 

In terms of your start time,please keep in mind that from Rome to Bracchiano is approx an hour and then to the port is approx another hr. The total price of your transfer from Rome to Civitavecchia Port, for 4 people in a Mercedes Minivan will be 170euros.

 

 

 

 

 

Adding an additional stop in Lake Bracciano, with a transfer to the port for 4 people in a Mercedes Minivan will be 400 euros. Included in this price you will receive 8 hours of touring time that can be customized to only be the time you request)

 

 

 

 

 

**Price includes an English speaking driver for all ofour driving tours and shore excursions. Lecture tour guides are an additional cost.

 

 

 

**Price does not include lunch, gratuities or entrance fees to the sites.

 

 

 

** Wedo not guarantee English speaking drivers for our Transfer services. (With the exceptionof Transfers included in our Tours)

 

 

 

NOTE: Your credit card details are only requested to hold the reservation andit will not be charged. You are required to pay in cash Euros at the endof each service.

 

 

 

**Taxesare included in the rates.

Interesting RomeinLimo doesn’t guarantee an english transfer driver? I like to be able to talk to the driver about local culture and interesting facts. That would make me choose one of the other two.

Although it says for tours yes english but for transfers no english? So does that mean you do get an english driver because you are also booking tour time?

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

My cruise does dock at Naples but I still won't get to visit Pompeii. We'll be there on one of the three days of the year that it's closed.

The Amalfi Coast is still beautiful. Check it out.

Naples has great Limoncello and Gelato.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I have another unusual question. Has anyone done a golf cart tour in Rome? I came across these as I was researching. DH loves the idea and wants to do at least one of these. I would be OK with one, but I think walking gives us a flavor of the city. [we plan to stay in a central hotel] However, I agree that this would conserve our energy, particularly on the last day when we have visited the nearby locales. . . . and will be pretty tired from all the touring.

 

 

 

They get great reviews on Trip Advisor. They use the side streets and alleys to get around and can get into places most tours can not travel.

 

 

 

Has anyone done one of these?

Making mental notes here, Dragon and I are on the same Jewel TA. Maybe I will do a review as well.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I could not agree more.

 

 

 

 

 

If our ship would stop in Naples I would LOVE to visit Pompeii. However, visiting Pompeii from Rome would take a whole day--and almost half of it would be in travel. We have decided it is a better use of our scarce time to see Rome and save Pompeii for another trip. { I am going to throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain] :D

Yeah we went on our first cruise (which was a Med cruise) that was Rome-Rome and stopped in Naples. We did Pompéi for a better part of the day and then into Naples/Amalfi Coast for shopping and Pizza!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

First thank you for starting this thread - I will be following any advice given.

 

 

 

We will be starting our cruise from Rome. We have nearly two years to research and plan and I am always searching for ideas.

 

 

 

We plan on going to Ostia post cruise and also spending the night at a hotel airport before our early morning flight home.

 

 

 

My DH is the one that wants to stop at any and all churches. Me, I love the history. We cruised Italy in 2015 and I have been wanting to go back since then.

 

 

 

You mentioned Pompeii - I really enjoyed my time there, the others thought it was ok but that was their thoughts on the Forum in Rome also. I am wired differently then they are because I could envision the whole whole thing. A lot of that is because I love the history but I read Rick Steves and he brings it to life if that makes sense.

 

 

 

Anyway I will definitely be following this thread.

I would not miss Pompéi. Anyone who finds it boring is probably not interested in history or doesn’t like to bring things to life themselves.

We spent several hours there on an excursion.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Advertised in the Day 4 Compass.

 

But thought I saw it on a sign at the Pool Bar before that. Certainly ask!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

That’s where we also saw it on our last cruise! Thanks for letting me know

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Does anyone else find it odd that we will be porting in St. Maarten yet Celebrity (Royal company) is still cancelling port calls there into January???

We are porting in Saint Thomas but have Saint Maartin switched our for Martinique on Grandeur, boarding Saturday.

Yes there was a different piano player then. JR started recently, I think the 9 day cruise right before us. If he's there give it a try, our group ages ranged from 29 to 65 yo and we all had a great time every night.

 

When we were on Anthem last year the piano player(s) - might have been 2 of them. Reminded me of old vaudeville types playing 40s and 50s music. They had an older crowd but packed every night....ugh, not our type at all. Just walked past on our way somewhere else.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

You’ve peaked my interest to go and see JR. On my past 4 sailing I found the piano players to be more like comedians and I was bored. I like music, real music.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks great idea!

We have tipped in euros as well. Especially on transatlantic when we had them left once we got back to NA.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Wow fantastic! You couldn't pick a better ship and itinerary.

 

If you have any questions, just ask. I saved the compass everyday, so I can go back and look too.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

What day was the drink card advertised in the compass?

I’m planning on asking at the first bar that opens but just incase, I was wondering.

I’ve mulled around the idea of a drink package for the hubby but decided to buy him a new iPad instead and just buy maybe 2 drink cards. We spend all day in the ports so I don’t think we could make the package worth it.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Sorry I'm a few days behind. Yesterday the Internet was spotty and today I was busy shopping in the morning and an excursion in St. Kitts this afternoon.

 

We had a great time. Had to take a taxi to the shopping area because we didn't dock at the main pier because our schedule was swapped. The taxis cost $2 p/p. The shopping had all the regular stores. Not too much pushing of tours but it was still there. On the way back to the ship, our taxi driver told us not too much business for tours from the Grandeur. She sounded disappointed.

 

In the Schooner with JR at the piano and Nenad taking care of us...great music and good drinks, what's better than that.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

What St.Kitts excursion did you do and where was the meeting point?

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Really enjoying this live report. We’re an hour away from Baltimore, but DH doesn’t want to sail on such a small ship. He loves Anthem and Oasis class.

 

We went to Martinique in April 2016. We just walked around the pier area, down as far as the fort. The vendor tents there had no problem accepting USD! And they all spoke English!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

That is so reassuring for our call to port in 3 weeks. Thanks for posting.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We're so tired of the hassle, expense, and aggravation of flying so our preferred vacation is to cruise anyway. We're lucky that it's very convenient for us to drive to NYC, Bayonne, Brooklyn, etc. 1 to 1.5 hrs, which gives us a lot of options. Baltimore is only a 4 hr drive and Boston is only 3 hrs away, if we want to try that at some point.

 

So glad our cruise was cancelled by RCL which gave us a chance to book this one. Will certainly cruise on Grandeur again. It's ironic because after 2 days we said we prefer the variety of options on Anthem but we have grown to love the beauty of this ship and will certainly come back.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I know this is a bit off topic...but what are some of the variety of options Anthem has?

I’m the person who is sometimes overwhelmed by too many options.

But I did love the amount of options we had on Navigator, Mariner and Liberty in comparison with the one time we were on Vision.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

That’s really sad about the captain. Will be sure to keep an eye out and be friendly. Where is he from?

Also thanks for the pics. Those cheddar sticks are to die for! Will be ordering several helpings!!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Seaborne Odyssey sailed into Havensight on St. Thomas today, first ship in. Grandeur visits 11/22 for first time.

 

Evie

I’m on it and so excited :)

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

As others have said very easy arriving at the port, dropping off luggage, parking and short walk. We arrived the day before and stayed in the White Marsh area. We had a 20 min drive, arriving at 10:15 and stepped on the ship at 11 am. Windjammer opened at 11:15 and rooms at 1 pm. Easiest ever!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Wow that sounds great. We are staying at the BW ELKRIDGE. We are hoping to shuttle in for around 10am as well. I guess smaller ship makes faster boarding. Normally takes us about 2 hours. Or maybe they have good staff and have improved the process.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks!! Cheese buffet sounds great!

 

I always order the cheese plate at dessert and bring to my room for snacking. That’s why sometimes I go to the dining room at lunch. The wait is always minimal and they always have nice fresh feta and Parmesan to go on made to order salads. I don’t know if Grandeur has it but the other 4 ships of varying classes I’ve been on did.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Well I mean the cheese buffet would be great if they had it lol

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

The buffet has all the usual offerings...hot dishes that change daily, hamburgers, hot dogs, sautéed onions, sautéed mushrooms, and fries, which quite honestly very good. A different carved meat everyday, yesterday was turkey so I made my own sandwich on focaccia bread, yum. Pizza of the frozen type but ok, pasta with different sauces and the usual make your own salads. To me the cold cuts look funky, definitely not Boars Head, lol. Great breads and rolls but the meat salads don't look good to me. Runny chicken salad, fish salad...yuk, what's that's? Pork salad one day,huh? Today vegetable salad that looked like creamed spinach. Anthem had really good tuna, chicken, egg salads, etc. and a cheese tray, to die for. Today they were offering made to order dessert crepes in the buffet.

 

All the usual buffet offerings for breakfast and made to order eggs and omelettes. I was looking for lox to have on a bagel with cream cheese. Asked someone and he goes to a drawer behind the counter and serves you....worked for me, but don't tell anyone because I don't want them to stop. Hot cereals, cold cereals, muesli, toppings, even some Asian foods like fried rice. There's a gluten free counter too, and egg beaters and egg whites, scrambled.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Thanks!! Cheese buffet sounds great!

I always order the cheese plate at dessert and bring to my room for snacking. That’s why sometimes I go to the dining room at lunch. The wait is always minimal and they always have nice fresh feta and Parmesan to go on made to order salads. I don’t know if Grandeur has it but the other 4 ships of varying classes I’ve been on did.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Yes, I enjoy the food pictures. I enjoy all of your posts.

Any highlights from buffet?

We have similar habits. We do buffet for breakfast and lunch. Park cafe or room service for lunch. Sometimes we do check out the dining room if the menu looks good. I like to check it out in advance.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums