Racer70

We’ll be on a Western Med cruise on the Oasis of the Seas in June 2024.

Several Pre & Post cruise nights in Barcelona hotels. Port stops in Mallorca, France & Italy.

What is the most common & inexpensive European Power Adapter I need? Mostly charging cell phones in hotels. What do you use?

TIA

5 hours ago, Woozisuzi said:

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been asked before.  I am sailing on RC Oasis of the Seas departing Barccelona 18th August.  19th we are in Mallorca.  Silly question incomming..... Is it possibly to just get of the cruise and walk into the city/beach/harbour area?  As it's our first day we want to take it at our own pace, might get off at 9, might get off at 12.  Just wandring if we are able to walk off and wander around the city or do we have to get transport from the port? Thank you!

We intend to do the same thing. We’ll be arriving on the Oasis on Monday, June 17 from 8 am - 4 pm. and it was recommended by Roger to visit Palma & the Mercat and just wander leisurely around town at own pace.

I keep hearing about a possible shortage of cabs. Has this issue been resolved & are cabs readily available at the cruise port & in Palma for the return trip back to the port?

Thanks.

We booked a tour with Italy Tours to visit Marseilles, Aix-en-Provence and Cassis during our in port.

I’m sure we’ll enjoy our time. Thanks.

On 1/9/2024 at 3:34 PM, hoopslover said:

With record number of travelers going to Europe I would wait a few days to hear from them.  Unless it is a private tour they have to check the ship, the date and see if a group has already been started for that particular excursion. If there isn't one they usually reply that they will start a group and let you know when the minimum reservations have occurred. I have only used them for shared excursions and I don't know what the procedure is for booking a private tour. 

It may also depend on when you are sailing. They may still be having staffing problems or lack of tour guides in all of their ports. There is a lot of follow up closer to your sailing once booked. Hope this helps.

We just booked two excursions with ItalyTours for our June 2024 sailing and will be booking two more with them.

They are responsive and have been in contact with me regarding my recent bookings, but they advised me they are very busy and to give them 2-5 days to receive confirmations of excursions.

If you haven’t received a reply about an excursion, I recommend following up after 2 days or so.

Hello - 1st time to Europe, veteran cruisers. We’ll be arriving in Marseille on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 on RCI’s Oasis of the Seas from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

It will be myself and my teenager. Looking for recommendations on things to do & see through a reputable local tour company that specializes in port excursions.

Thanks for advice & recommendations.
 

Hello,

First time to Europe, but veteran cruisers of many beach ports in the Caribbean, so I think we’re going to skip the beach in Mallorca and spend a nice leisurely day exploring and wandering around the city of Palma. We are 57 yrs. old and 15 yrs. old.

Like so many, we’ll be arriving on the Oasis of the Seas on Monday, June 17, 2024 and be in port from 8 am - 4 pm.

From what I’ve gathered in other posts, many shops & stores in Palma don’t open until 10:00 am?

Our idea would be to take a taxi from the cruise port around 9:00 am to Mercat Oliver (Central Market) and begin our day of exploring from there and return to the cruise port by 3:00 pm or so.

Questions:

Is a taxi the best or most convenient way?

Are taxis readily available outside the port?

Approximate cost & travel time to Mercat Oliver?

Do taxis take credit cards or is cash (Euros) preferred?

Do most shops, restaurants take credit cards?

Are taxis readily available in Palma for a return to the port?

Are pickpockets common in Palma?

Thanks for your responses and recommendations.

On 11/13/2023 at 1:20 PM, ndcruisin said:

We had a great time with Spain Day Tours in Palma. Our guide Gabriel was very passionate and knowledgeable about the area. 

The tour was very punctual, they were waiting for us as we got off of the ship and returned us to the ship on time as promised. We will use them again in the future. 

Which Palma excursion did you do? The half day or full day? We’ll be in Palma in June 2024 on RCI’s Oasis of the Seas from 8 am - 4:00 pm.

Did you enjoy the tour? Did you get to see the city and walk around on your own?

Thanks.

Pardon my ignorance, it appears that after reviewing sailing dates for the Oasis of the Seas, some RCI Western Med cruises begin in Barcelona, then when the Oasis ports in Rome 4 days later, new passengers embark and begin their 7 day cruise on her.

I’m new to this concept of embarkation from different ports mid cruise. Is this because Barcelona & Rome are very popular ports of embarkation & RCI can offer passengers more options from which to begin their cruises?

Does this mean that cruises sail half full for 4 days, then are at capacity when new passengers embark in Rome and the pattern just continues between Barcelona & Rome.

I understand that ships are on a continuous loop and never stop in order to make money.

Just wondering. Thanks in advance.
 

Hello - We’ve been on many cruises to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Alaska, Hawaii and New England/ Canada.
 

This year, we’re strongly considering a 7 day Western Med cruise on the Oasis of the Seas in June 2024.

It leaves out of Barcelona and ports in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Provence (Marseille), France, La Spezia (Florence/Pisa) Italy, Civitavecchia (Rome) Italy and Naples/Capri, Italy.

We intend flying in a full day prior to the cruise and flying out the day after the cruise.

If you’ve been on this cruise itinerary before or sailed out of Barcelona or visited any of these ports, please let me know your thoughts and experiences of Western Med cruise & itinerary.

Also, please advise of the following:

Did you use a travel agent to book airfare, cruise, hotels, transfers etc?

Hotels in Barcelona after arrival?

Transfers to hotel & cruise port?

Differences between a European cruise & Caribbean cruise?

Are the majority of the passengers European?

Did you exchange US $ to Euros when you landed?

Was the language barrier difficult in Spain getting to hotel & cruse port.

Thank you for your information, recommendations and tips.

For our upcoming June 23 sailing on The Mariner of the Seas, the cost was $139 pp for the water thrill park.

It has been priced anywhere from $140-$150 for the last few months.

36 minutes ago, gluecksbaer said:

I thought I saw a package like that earlier but when I couldn't find it I figured I misremembered.  Where would it usually be?  If it's not currently under either beverages or internet does that mean it sold out or something?

That combo deal isn’t offered all the time. Like everything with RCI, you just have to check daily & see if they’re offering it. I’m sure it has everything to do with RCI’s algorithms & bean counters.

“Insisting” was a poor choice of words on my part. I should’ve said my daughter is recommending or suggesting we buy an internet package for use on the ship.

Of course we’ll be enjoying all the ship and our port excursions have to offer & there will be time limits on internet usage.

I too enjoy unplugging from the world while cruising. However, I will need internet for some work purposes & other issues that may arise while on the cruise.

That being said, I just purchased the Voom internet package for the length of the cruise for one device, so we can take turns using internet when needed. 

How many of you will or have purchased the weekly internet package for your cruise?

Do you purchase it for each member of your family if they are age appropriate?

I’m cruising at the end of June with my 14 yr. old. She’s insisting I get her the internet package so she can stay in touch with friends etc.

Currently I can purchase it for $16.99/day per person. As I recall, you can also purchase internet time on the ship & pay for a block of time if you wish.

What do you do regarding internet/WiFi on the ship?

If you contact special needs at: “special_needs@rccl.com”,

they was will provide you with an extension cord for your CPAP machine.

Sailing June 2023 and our price for the soda package has stayed at $8.99 per day. I’ve seen nothing lower & I check each day.

For my June 2023 RCL cruise, the current price for Thrill Water Park @Cococay is $133.99 pp. 

It’s bounced from $149.99 to $133.99 over the last few weeks.

We booked the morning sailing with Jolly Pirate in late June. Looking forward to it.

The current price on my RCL trip planner for “Thrillwater Park” tickets at CocoCay is $133.99 per person.

We’ll be arriving on June 30 on the Mariner of the Seas. The Adventure of the Seas will also be there at the same time. 

Ticket prices for admission to Thrill Water Park @Coco Cay for our June 2023 cruise are currently $140 pp. Yikes!!

Do these admission prices ever drop or go on sale?

Of course we realize other parts of RCL’s private island are “complimentary”.

15 hours ago, Spurschick said:

The other issue you have to contend with is time zones. Some ships do not change the ships time when moving time zones 

 

Aruba is one hour ahead of EST so if the the ship does not change time then 8am arrival ship time is already 9am local time.

We sail to Aruba in June, and I’ve been informed that daylight savings time will be in effect, so ship time & local time will be the same at the time of our sailing.

That’s one less thing not to worry about.

What snorkeling tour company do you like and or recommend? We’ll be in Aruba in late June 2023 on RCL’s Mariner of the Seas.

It appears most of the boat tours take you to similar spots: Malmok, Boca Catalina Reefs & the German ship wreck, SS Antilla.

it seems the German ship wreck is in deeper water & sometimes the water can be rough or choppy.

Jolly Pirate with its “rope swing” & Octopus Sailing Charters seem to be popular.

Any recommendations are appreciated.

So from what I’m hearing, when daylight savings time begins in March, ship time & local time in Aruba & Curaçao will be the same time.

Is this correct?

We sail to Aruba & Curaçao in June, so  this won’t be an issue of concern.
 

Typically, when a RCL itinerary says, “Arrival @8:00 am” at a port of call, does that mean the ship is clear and ready for passengers to go ashore?

We’re considering a port excursion in Aruba that begins @9:00 am & we must take a taxi to the excursion.

TIA

If and when cruises start back up, would you feel safe flying commercial airlines? What would it take for you and your family to safely board a commercial airline to get to your cruise embarkation city or your vacation city between June - September 2020?

Have you cancelled your airline reservations?

Are you waiting for cruise & airline reservations to be cancelled?

Are you going to wait and see how it plays out as deadlines come closer?

25 minutes ago, bjtravelnews said:

For those of you who were unable to port in Bar Harbor, did your cruise go to a different port or did you just spend an extra day at sea?  Thanks all!

 

Sea day