kayjaypea42

In case anyone is considering the Amalfi Coast by Land and Sea tour from Royal Caribbean, I will caveat this by saying first, there are a lot of tour operators for this one, but the one I got (whose name I cannot remember) was terrible. He was sarcastic, talked about politics, and most importantly, didn't wait for everyone to get off the bus before walking away. Also, beyond what the tour operator was like (and not really the fault of the tour -- it did say strenuous (but then again, almost all of them said strenuous), we were a bit blindsided by how difficult parts of Pompeii were to someone with balance and/or sight issues. There are many spots where you have to walk on river rock with gaps between just big enough to twist your ankle on. I was fine; if I were alone, I probably wouldn't have even noticed, but I had my legally blind mother and 82-year-old grandmother with me. If I could do it over, I'd've skipped straight to Capri and spent the whole day there. Alas, live and learn!

I have been on three NCL ships(Pearl, Getaway, and Escape x2), and Prima will be the fourth in December. I have only been on Wonder of the Seas for RCCL, and that was for a European cruise, so that may be a contributing factor, but I too found that Wonder's nightlife was lacking. (I mean, I was fine with that; I was exhausted from the many strenuous excursions...) But I did note that as I walked around the ship at night, it seemed a bit dead. There were musicians in various venues, and there was a 70s party, but had I not been tired, I'd've been quite bored, which is shocking, actually. By comparison, there is no shortage of things to do on NCL! The comedians are fantastic, the cover bands are great, the parties in Spice H20 are amazing! AND NCL has some ships (I've been told) with non-smoking casinos, which makes it accessible to me. But aside from entertainment, I cruise for the water. Being able to enjoy the ocean on the ship is a big deal for me. While RCCL's Central Park, Boardwalk, and Royal Promenade are so cool, I prefer NCL's Waterfront. Being able to enjoy a drink while watching the ocean and/or a sunset, listening to the band playing in the inside version of the bar while sitting outside is so fun, and being a bit separated means that you can still chat while enjoying the music. The food is also better on NCL. There were a ton of times in Escape's MDR especially where I found the food to be as good or better than the specialty dining. (I discovered corn jalepeno chowder and fell in LOVE!) Royal's food was only ever OK. (That said, RCCL's is still significantly better than MSC's...now there's a line I won't drop cash on again any time soon!) Anyway, if the deal was right for RCCL, I'd do it again for sure! But NCL is so far still my first choice. (That said, I want to try Mardi Gras soon)

Hi all. I am considering Chankanaab for our excursion. But a few people in my party have some mobility issues where stairs getting in and out of the water would be challenging. Is there an area in the park where you can just walk into the water like a regular beach? How steep is the decline into the water? Thanks!!

What about LFK's snorkeling trips they offer? Does anyone have experience with that? I want an excellent snorkeling option, but I want to ensure that the rest of my party has an excellent beach experience. I'm also debating the two. While I know the snorkeling from the shore is great from Infinity Bay, I'm not convinced the beach experience is awesome. Peddlers constantly asking you to buy something is a little obnoxious. But does that happen on LFK too? Thanks!

Following. Sounds like a fun excursion! But in a similar vein: does anyone know of an independent tour operator who will do a similar tour? Thanks!

When we needed to take our test in Rome, we first tried using the Emed tests, but the Navica app kept saying that our tests were invalid (FYI, if that happens to anyone, just go directly to the emed website to test. Apparently, it's a bug with the Navica app.) So we went to plan B, which was to go to a pharmacy nearby. They took our tests after we filled in a form (The pharmacists were super-friendly and helpful in helping us translate the form) and then went next door for an espresso and maripozza (like a hoagie-shaped donut cut down the top and filled to the brim with fresh whipped cream...OMG...Do try to find one if you're in Rome! They're so goood!) We finished, got our negative results (20 Euros each), and that was that! Easy. No worries. Enjoy your trip! I went with RCCL (Wonder of the Seas) but it was the most amazing trip, and I know yours will be too! (Especially since you no longer have to test to fly back to the USA!)

Yes, what others have said, NCL's "Free at Sea" isn't really free, but it IS a better value than say RCCL. When I went on RCCL, I got one hell of a deal on the room, but if I wanted a liquor package too, that would have more than negated the deal by adding another $1500 for an adult family of 3. Add on the 2 or 3-night specialty dining package? I would have been priced out of a cruise. (We did a Mediterranean cruise on RCCL without the packages...for that kind of cruise, I didn't miss any of that because we were drinking and eating amazing food in port. I feel like I would have missed those packages with a Caribbean cruise.) With NCL, yes, it may look like the price is higher, but if you add in what they're offering to the price of other cruise lines, NCL is a downright bargain (usually... Prima and Viva are exceptions to that rule.)

Agreed.

When we were on in May, she only had about 4k people. It was an awesome trip! Glad to hear yours was great too!

I plan on trying an Alien Brain Aneurysm on the Prima in December! I've seen the drink before but never tried it. But with the liquor package, why not??

Ooooh! What is that?? Sounds amazing just by the title!

I absolutely love the Escape! I've gone on Escape, Getaway, and Pearl. What I love about each is the Spice H20, or the aft buffet area on Pearl. For that reason, I am hesitant to go on Encore; I feel like I'd really miss the SpiceH2O area. But I'm fixin' to go on Pearl in December, and that MIIIIIGHT just usurp Escape as my favorite! (We shall see!)

Hi all! So I'm really asking about Prima, but I know damned well that I won't have an answer to that yet, but how about on Encore? First, how does Galaxy Pavilion work? Is it like a punch card or a day pass or just a la carte? If there's some sort of package, when/how would I go about getting that? I wonder when they'll have pricing available, too... Thanks!

The rule is 10 days after testing positive (officially by an Italian administrator) or until you test negative. For me, I stayed an additional 5 days after the cruise until I tested negative.

Yes, we all got it on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, too. My grandmother and mother tested negative the day before we disembarked to fly home to the US (it was a Med cruise), but I tested positive. (So here I am, still in Italy waiting for my time to be up to go back home....) I also feel like there was a major outbreak on the ship that happened off the ship... There was lots of sneezing and some coughing onboard.

If it weren't for the fact that you can fly within the US without a test and you can travel by foot into the US without a test, I might have agreed with you in theory. But this rule does nothing. The USA is the only country who hasn't lifted that requirement in North America or Western Europe. The only thing the rule DOES do is prevent people from getting home to get the support they need.

I saw Vodafone offering tourist plans in shops here. And when you use the Verizon pass, it connects using Vodafone.

Hi all. I tested positive for Covid in a Rome airport despite feeling fine. Here's what happens: 1.) You are escorted to a covid-positive area to await the results of a second test (to make sure it wasn't a false positive) 2.) You have the option to make arrangements for yourself or they have a choice for you. But you have to arrange it before you leave the airport and you have to tell them where you'll be. 3.) For Americans, you have to stay 10 days from when symptoms started or from the time of the test if you're asymptomatic. If after that time you are still Covid positive, you need to see a doctor to get a certificate of recovery. 4.) My TA advised me to not mention my C-positive result to the hotel staff, but I wear a mask everywhere. (And I have to leave the room; there's no room service. Also, this was the only hotel we could find on short notice). So notes: - GET TRAVEL INSURANCE - Have an idea of a location to go to or at least minimal requirements in a venue before you go abroad, and if it applies to you, take your work computer just in case - Perhaps consider bypassing the US test requirements entirely by flying into either Canada or Mexico and crossing the border by land. And THEN flying home. Had I known how this would have turned out, it would have been cheaper and easier to just do that. Rant: The US is ridiculous in still requiring the test. We are the only North American or European country to do so! The test is pointless, especially with the loophole mentioned above! What purpose does it serve?? Does it keep Covid out of the country? No! Does it keep Covid off airplanes? No! (Despite negative tests, my grandmother and mother had full-blown Covid when they got home...(Of the Omicron variety, not the dead in two weeks variety (I hope, OMG.), but they were able to fly (Thank God! Trust me, this would have been SO MUCH WORSE if they couldn't go home), so it's not like there was no Covid on that aircraft!) All it does is keep US citizens from going home to recover where they can ACTUALLY isolate. I'm sorry. I'm just pissed off at the stupidity. I want to go home so I can support my family and be with my dog! I've had enough cappuccinos and pasta. I want to go home.

Hi all! So we will be in Barcelona on a Sunday as a regular excursion. (I embark in Rome.) I booked a guided tour through Sagrada Familia for their 10:30AM slot, directly after mass there. I then plan to do Park Guell. Do you reckon I'll have time to do much else? Would the Hop-on-Hop-Off bus make sense for me for that day? (The ship leaves at 6:00pm) What would you recommend and how should I go about getting from Sagrada to Park Guell? (I know that there are tours that include both, but the times wouldn't work out with mass included.) Cab? Bus? (Regular or hop-on bus?) What other suggestions for that day do you have? I'd be happy to hear all advice! Thanks!