Tin can

Thank you for that, Padua looks absolutely wonderful. I'm going to have to try and fit a night there post cruise as well.

Thats good to know that the service is punctual and changing in Ferrara was simple. Did you stop a night in Ravenna or go straight to the port?

I agree, for Royal this seems very cheap but as also confirmed above I have seen $10 dollars stated a few times now. Maybe it is subsidised as I understand it used to be provided free by the port.

Indeed, there was a programme on TV here (UK) recently though about Venice and how it is really struggling with the number of day visitors. I can't recall exactly but think it stated that sometimes it can be as many as 150,000 per day which is considerably more than live or stay there overnight in hotels. The head of tourism chap who was interviewed basically saying it is good people want to come and visit and spend money but that they simply couldn't cope.

There has previously been a free cruise shuttle that departs from near Ravenna station provided by the Port that was stopped during Covid. It has been discussed in the Royal Caribbean board that Royal have very recently been providing its own station-port shuttle for $10 each way if I recall correctly.

There is a train to Ravenna which is what we are doing, 2.5 hours from Venice with a change in Bologna or Ferrara. Prices are reasonable and seems more fun than a 2.5 hour bus ride but we do have 3 days before we cruise for a stay in Venice and a night in Ravenna to make this work and be a part of the holiday. I wouldn't be doing this on the morning of the cruise but I'm actually looking forward to the train and seeing a bit of Italy.

We were in a Junior Suite on Anthem a couple of weeks ago in a JS and the shampoo etc was branded (can't remember the name) but different from previous JS in that they were in re-fillable bottles. Maybe due to single use plastic or supply chain issues.

Big risk in my opinion taking your passport around Europe to the main tourist sites and having travelled all over Europe during the last 30 years never been asked to produce it on demand once. You have to do what you are comfortable with but you have a big problem getting back to the States for example if that goes missing. Would you even be able to continue your cruise in Europe without a passport if it got lost or stolen?

Thank you for the reply much appreciated, we have done the full Orlando thing previously with a main holiday from the UK but never been to this area of Florida before so will spend a few hours having a look around I think. The Royal Caribbean shuttle drops and collects at Ron Jons so I'm assuming that there is some sort of 'arrangement' between the two of them.

We were thinking of a combination of the Royal Caribbean Cocao beach shuttle and then the no. 9 bus and visiting Ron Jons, lunch at Cocoa pier with some beach time and then Golf N Gator for a couple of hours as it sounds fun for our son. Would you not recommend doing this? We are from the UK so it would seem a shame to stay on the ship. (OP sorry to hijack the thread)

Didn’t enjoy Anthem in 2015 in her maiden year from Southampton but really enjoyed it a few weeks ago. One of our best cruises and our new favourite ship 👍

Thank you, do I book the cruise through Casino Royale. Sorry if this is a silly question but its all a bit new to me.

A bit of advice please. I was issued an instant cruise rewards certificate for $100 after our last cruise and have no idea how to redeem it. I have gone on to the rewards website but it sends me to what looks like a self booking request page for an actual cruise. I've never had one of these before so no idea what to do, I'm about to book another cruise so do I apply it afterwards? Thanks 🙂

I have read elsewhere that the Explorer is going into dry dock the end of Jan 23 to March 23 and sailings have been cancelled for about six weeks. Would anyone know what this is for, seems too long for maintenance so was wondering if she is maybe getting part of the amplification that was cancelled.