Gourmet Gal

Better to book in local currency. If you book in USD, you’ll pay a local bank conversion fee. Always pay in local currency and let your credit card company do the conversion.

It’s not unusual for the bowtie icon to show up fairly close to the sail date but in time to pack. Also, I believe the dress code on Nova and Ray includes formal-optional so not as strict as the rest of the fleet. There are rumors that it will roll out to the rest but no word on timing.

The cruise consultant informed me that the master suite next door is already booked and they don’t need that adjacent cabin. I’ve never heard of anyone being bumped from a cabin for that reason on SS…does that happen often? Seems like SS gets paid for all the space either way. Why would they do that?

We just booked 7080 on Nova. We like that it’s between stateroom floors, is aft, not high and close to the launderette. The only negative is that it adjoins to the suite next door. Can anyone comment on the potential for noise in adjoining cabins vs non-adjoining?

I recall we had a private guide in the Sistine Chapel and when we arrived in the packed chamber he took us directly to the AC vent in the floor near the center. Hopefully your guide can do the same!

You’ll have to go to the Scavi Office website. There are no other resellers of tickets and you must purchase them yourself. Marisa cannot do this for you and only official Scavi tour guides will conduct the tours.

What has been excavated is a Roman street, multiple necropolises, the original church built upon the spot where Peter was crucified. You will also see his tomb and a glimpse of what is believed to be his bones. That is the Scavi tour. It is extremely limited in the number of people allowed per day and well worth the trouble of booking.

St. Peter’s is a must and if you have time you should consider the Scavi tour and the Sistine Chapel. There is an ancient Roman street and necropolis under the Basilica as well as St Peter’s tomb. The Scavi tour must be booked in advance directly through the Excavations Office in advance and one must be appropriately attired. The Scavi tour is the most fascinating thing I’ve ever done in Rome and I’m neither Catholic nor religious. It would also be a shame to be in Rome for 5 days and not see The Pieta. Metro or taxi will work.

That’s odd. I just did a search on Trip Advisor and there are numerous hotels in the Centro Storico area under $500. The advantage of Trip Advisor is that you can read hundreds of reviews on any property rather than just random recommendations here. You could also have your TA do the legwork and they may be able to offer you some perks.

Same here. I just booked a March 2026 excursion!

I haven’t done this extension but have utilized Kensington for a multi week tour of the country. They are fantastic, especially in Japan. They will greet you at the airport, transfer you to hotel, guide you on private tours, take you to the train door for transfer to the next city. If there is a train change someone will meet your train and escort you to the next train. Luggage is shipped ahead to your next hotel and in the next city all the service is repeated. All this, including hotels, trains for probably less than SS. They will take you directly to the ship at the end. All this is a private tour and you can decide exactly what you want included. Highly recommend them. Their guides are excellent.

Drinks and port talk before dinner followed usually by a piano player and dancing. Possibly a special performance or presentation from a local group.

I’m not even kidding. I always sleep with earplugs in any hotel and airplane. And I sleep so much better with than without. It’s not just street noise - the room itself has a/c, heating, plumbing, hallway noise that is disruptive.

Just booked an aft facing suite for a great Japan itinerary. The SS rep said the aft suites have been extremely popular and book quickly.

Just wondering why reading music from a computer screen is a bad thing?

Ear plugs.

Thanks for the reply. And on rough days how did you find the motion in general in the aft. Much worse than midship?

That’s interesting. Has anyone else experienced this? We’re considering an aft suite on Nova for a Japan cruise. We enjoyed our aft cabin on another cruise line years ago but then we didn’t have rough seas. Is it much worse than mid-ship in heavy seas?

We use Rome in Limo in Italy for transfers. Excellent but don’t really know about pricing. I’ve been warned about sketchy cabbies though. Your hotel can always arrange transfers for you and will usually be the most expensive option.

Same here. Interested in the Japan itineraries for 2026. So far only the Sojourn World cruise is published.

Ostia Antica is great and you may not feel you must see Pompei after a good tour there.

Ritz Carlton and the upcoming Four Seasons ships but they are so small they will not be a major competitor for a while if ever. Some might say Crystal but I’ve never considered them as being in the same category as SS or SB.

That’s a scramble but could be done…with the connection though, realistically, how early could you arrive in Firenze and how awake will you be? I don’t usually plan anything my first day in Europe.

Certainly and believe me, I know how to treat service people and how to utilize a butler. Our more recent experience is all the more unsatisfying after years of lovely service on SS. It seems post-Covid service has not been as polished but is it also due to growing pains with the rapid addition of new ships? There are only so many experienced staff to go around. I used to compare SS with Four Seasons. We are frequent guests at FS all over the world and it’s so obvious that they have an incredible training program and a very systematic method for hiring the right people. SS seems to be slipping from their previous stamdards.

Neither Trevi Fountain nor Spanish Steps are places where you would spend more than 15 minutes each. Honestly if I had only 5 days I would do Florence/Tuscany or Rome, especially since you’re heading on down the coast. Which cruise will you be joining?