Jetlagged787

Thanks Budget Queen. For 4 of us a cab would cost the same as the shuttle if it's 30 euro, but at least we can go early as I've also read that the shuttle doesnt start running till after 8 and we dock at 7. Whether or not this it is true I'm not sure...

 

It does seem like a quite a mission in Livorno, but we're going to go with the flow and do what we can in Florence in the time we have. The ship excursion to DIY in Florence with provided transport is $139 per person (outrageously silly price), so the train it is. A private transfer is still a 90 minute drive into Florence, with potential traffic headaches, so I would rather do the train. We've been to the Accademia and Uffizzi gallery, although many years ago, so will just do a walk through all the squares, cross the river and have a gelato and soak up the atmosphere. No stress...

Hi Cassicruiser. Any idea which train you will be headed for? They leave at 8.12, 8.52 then 9.12. We're going to Lucca and ours depart at 8.12, 8.31, 8.52 and 9.19. We would love to cab share if you like.

To confirm, we picked our car up right on the dock and returned to same. We hadn't booked the car, but saw them while walking off the ship.

 

We have walked out of the port, and directly into Livorno previously, so the rules must have changed....unless you are confusing this port with Civitavecchia!

Apparently, Livorno is a very large freight and passenger port that operates in two areas. One part is used by ferries and small cruise ships. Could that be where you docked previously?

The other part is used by freighters and the larger cruise ships and I understand that this is where the likes of Spirit and Epic dock. This particular part of the port is commercial and considered to be too dangerous for pedestrians, hence the requirement to use the shuttle.

hopefully op returns and updates the situation when they've finished cleaning the rest of the cabins in their area.

lol. :d

and I am one of those idiots that take his bait every :ptime: will I ever learn?

And others with you. Don't worry about it. There is always the 'Ignore' button which I used for this very person for the one and only time in my life!

great review, thanks!

I couldn't open the facebook link though, it tells me i don't have permission to access that page....

+1 :)

and what is up with your constant negative comments: It is totally unbeliev:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:able anyone would base their decision on what line to cruise on a dessert?

Ever heard of an Internet troll newmexicoNita? I think that we have the King of trolls here.

Hi memoryex, not a problem at all in Spain nor Belgium. I suppose you're not passing through Portugal in your travels? My supply is getting low.

When I read the OP I thought, seriously? Is this guy for real? Then I realised who it was. Enough said. Now where is that ignore button?

Totally agree with everything hawkeyetise is saying. I was pulled for a random check entering the US at MCO, so you never know when it is coming.

If you are doing nothing wrong, what is the problem with properly declaring what you have? Unless of course you are that person who, for whatever reason, has to be the first to leave the port or airport. Trust me, you will be there a lot longer than you would like if you are pulled out and found to have under declared, even if the items are not prohibited. The feeling on their part will be, well they have lied about that, so what else? Then there follows a total baggage check!

Yes, you can pick up cars at the end of the dock. I just saw them again last week. Verify directly with the vendors- however to make sure.

 

The "shuttle", is because you can NOT walk out of this port. Everyone without a tour pick up or car rental, will be taking the "shuttle" to outside the entry gate. You can NOT walk this.

Thanks.

You are far better off with a car and you wanting to include Lucca and Pisa. There is pay parking for Pisa, a lot across from the gate entrance that is not easy to see. It will be a congested area. I'd suggest having GPS, especially for the return, there are miles of dock gates, and ideal will be to have the car pick up and return on the dock. In Lucca, not that difficult to find street parking within walking distance to the Lucca gate.

Thanks but are you saying that they will deliver the car ship side? That would be great as it alleviates the shuttle problem. The best that I have found so far is Avis but that is outside the dock only.

That is a fantastic plan, if all goes to plan.....it is tight though, and any time delay could lead to "disaster". The shuttle only runs to and from town centre, from there you need a public bus to the train station and the same in reverse on way back. Best to get a taxi from train station back to port, it is worth every euro after a day touring and is much quicker.

 

Have you considered car hire? We did that in Livorno, with car pick up right on the pier and return to same. We drove to Lucca, Viareggio (on the coast) and then Pisa. We managed that comfortably, and the drive was straightforward! Doing it again, we would miss Viareggio as it seemed a bit run down and lacking in atmosphere.

Thanks for the advice Hamrag. I'll take a look at the car option.

There is a local bus, but the service does not start that early. 6a, that I recall? There is no need to purchase train tickets ahead. With a 6am port time, if you just make the effort to get off the ship when it clears, you won't have any problem finding a cab share. Multiple people are going to the train station. I was just there last week and same situation. I've driven to Lucca, nice to have a car, with a long port day, you can easily add a stop in Pisa.

Thanks. Our plan is the 9.19 to Lucca to have a look around there for 3 hours or so. Then the 1.42 pm train back as far as Pisa S. Rossore as it is the nearest to the Tower. Then check out the Tower and take a walk down into the centre and get the 4.32 back to Livorno. We should be back in the centre ready for a shuttle at 5.15 - 5.30.

I understand the locally run shuttle is €5 return if you catch it from the port. Do you know if they do a one way ticket to get back to the port?

We are looking for the quickest way to get from the ship to Livorno station but preferably not by taxi, unless anyone wants to join us! And yes, I will be mentioning it on our role call thanks.

There is a lot of good info on this thread but it is a year or more out of date now.

Can anyone who has been to Livorno recently on NCL please advise what the current situation is. Do NCL still operate shuttles to both the town and the station? What is the cost? Is there still a shuttle promoted by the town themselves and cost?

We dock at 6 a.m. and would like to catch the 9.19 to Lucca if that is possible.

Thanks in advance for any help.

All listed on the post #7:

 

 

 

The change will definitely not affect you if you prepay, shouldn't anyway as the changes usually come in effect on the first cruise departing on or after the announced date which is April 1, 2017.

NCL have said nothing. Even an employee of the TA concerned has not heard the news. Check the date folks. Is this just another employee at thecsameTA having an early joke?

 

Not too sure I want to book an excursion that starts at 9 am Atlantic Time....because my body will be @ 8 am Eastern.

 

If only 1 hour time difference will upset you, don't ever cross the Atlantic. :D My forum name isn't what it is without good reason!

What an interesting post. FWIW, in my opinion your child should be far more concerned about what is fed to the animals than the way they are treated before or during their slaughter but, from what you say, he is already there. Enjoy your cruise and prepare your son for the vegetarian option by the sounds of it.

To those of you that consider Halal and Kosher to be humane. There are children possibly reading this thread so I will not go into details, but I suggest that you do some research. Just because they say a prayer over the animal before it is dispatched, doesn't make it humane.

I would be interested if lovetheships has ever visited Europe. We have got farm land you know!

ozscotart, thanks for your detailed and interesting post. It is good that in the UK at least, farming methods seem to be constantly improving as far as animal husbandry are concerned. What I would give for some decent organic, free range meat in Portugal.

Thanks for that hawkeyetise. I've been Googling for info but you beat me to it!"

Just to add to the misery, as I am sure you will know from your location, we have been suffering a series of ATC strikes in France recently. Now the Italian ATC have announced a strike for 20 March. I hope that doesn't mess with anybody's plans.

Once again....I bet it is nothing to do with the ear. An ear swab, otherwise known as a cotton swab, was used to collect a sample from the normal locations in the throat or nose.

Sorry ray98. That is not what I understood from your reply it I get it now.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

As I will be visiting Livorno on my next cruise, I would be interested to know more as I am sure would many others. Is it possible for you to post your pictures or at least give us a little more information please?

I think it is obvious they are describing that an 'ear swab' was used to take a sample instead of a swab actually stuck into the ear.

I am not medically qualified so do wonder how a sample taken from the ear can check for flu!

During my last years at work for a tour operator, part of my remit was to assist holidaymakers who had the misfortune to fall ill on holiday. You would not believe the unnecessary tests and procedures that I witnessed being added to invoices when the hospital or clinic knew that an insurance company would be picking up the bill. This sounds like another to me.

Thanks Number34. Have a great cruise. :)

Speaking for myself, I value your contribution to the forum greatly KJ and I'm sure that others do too. I look forward to any information that you can post regarding your next trip on Spirit. We are off on May 18.

Have an amazing cruise.

Wonderful, if you do one I'll definitely be following along. Have a wonderful cruise and keep the ship nice for us :D

I'll drink to that... right now... not a UBP in sight! :beer-toast:

Guess what. Access to my home page in Portugal returned this afternoon but when I try to search for a cruise I get, "Page under construction." Seriously? A school kid could make a better job of constructing a website, but this is supposed to be a multi-million dollar, multi-national company.

Frustration and unbelievable don't begin to cover my feelings at the moment.