Hlitner

These days, the best Italian port for embarkation is Civitavecchia (Rome) although it is some distance from the airport (FCO) and Rome. Since Venice is no longer used as a cruise port (with the exception of a few very small ships) that port has become more of a hassle. And getting flights to/from FCO offers many more options. Hank

I have rented in Messina and also many other parts of Italy, where we have driven more than 10,000 miles over many years. Driving in Sicily is not really a problam, especially when you have a working smartphone with a working map program. But you would certainly want to have an itinerary. The last time we rented in Messina, DW and first drove to Castelmola, which was a very sleepy empty town (at that time) where we stopped for coffee, a view of Mt Etna (in the distance) and some browsing of a few local shops. We then drove down to Taormina where we spent most of the day before returning to Messina. Keep in mind that, technically, the driver should have a valid International Drivers Permit (available at any AAA location) although it is unlikely anyone will ask to see that document. Also beware that a majority of rental vehicles (in Italy) have a manual shift (stick shift). If you must have an automatic, make sure to reserve well in advance, and be prepared to pay extra. Hank

I love this topic and want to take it to a new level, which is whether one should even consider business or premium economy. Until DW and I were about 60, we had always flown in the the least expensive economy seats and always sought out the lowest cost airlines. But then we go lucky and were offered a terrific upgrade deal on a SAS flight (to Copenhagen) and discovered international business class. For the past 15 years, we have only flown business or (rarely) premium economy on longer international flights. In fact, we will no longer consider economy on longer flights across the Pacific, or overnight flights to Europe. Although this does cost us a lot of extra money, we now consider it an important part of our trip planning. To us, the air part of our trips (and we take many trips) is now part of the fun/joy of travel. Getting to the actual topic of the thread, when it comes to flying from North America to Asia/Australia/NZ, we primarily fly the better Asian airlines (Singapore, Cathy Pacific, Air China, Korean, JAL, etc). We consider the North American airlines (United, Delta, Air Canada, AA) as our carrier of last resort. The US airlines do get many things right, but they still do not measure up to many of the foreign carriers. We have an upcoming flight on United Polaris Class (to Europe) and perhaps this will be a game changer.. So what is the difference with the foreign carriers? While it can be difficult to put it all into a few paragraphs, they generally excel at the overall "package" from the moment we arrive at the airport until we depart the airport. When DW and I tried Delta One (from Narita to Detroit) we were excited to be on a very new (only 2 weeks old) A350 in their new semi-private business class seats. The seats were good (until DW's small door would not open) but the problem with that flight was best expressed by the chief flight attendant (who we had met on a previous Delta trip). Soon after we boarded I asked him, how is the food? His response was, the hardware (aircraft) is terrific, but the food is "typical Delta food." Anyone who has flown on Singapore Business Class will quickly understand the difference between Delta One, and Singapore Business. Fly Air China (not to be confused with China Air) and sip JW Blue, and you will quickly understand the difference from Delta One or Untied Polaris Fly Turkish Air, with its restaurant-like cart service (from an employee dressed in a chef's outfit) and one wonders why the US airlines do not spend a few extra dollars to upgrade all things cuisine. As to Sydney, if flying Premium Economy we would try to do it on Air New Zealand. Failing that, we would look to other foreign carriers (i.e. Quantas). Sorry Delta One, you may be one of the best US-based options, but you still need to make some improvements, once onboard. Hank

We had seen some of the posts about going to Baristas Aperitivo (in the evening) but quickly realized it was not for us! DW and I always spend 1-2 hours, pre-dinner, at a bar/lounge to enjoy drinks and socializing. On most ships (including Vista) the best social spot is at or near the bar. On Vista, there are two decent bars that usually draw a pre-dinner crowd (we tend to dine around 7:45) and both of those bars have bar seating and pre-dinner entertainment (one has a piano and the other usually has a small band). Baristas Aperitivo just does not provide that kind of bar atmosphere and we thought it felt "sterile." While we really liked Baristas, in the morning, and usually spent 1-2 hours there (every day) we never returned (a second time) in the evening. I should also mention that in the pre-dinner cocktail time, when we did check-out Baristas, it was either empty or had no more than 2-4 other customers. Hank

As has been posted, there are no beach front hotels in Miami. That would be, next door, Miami Beach, which is separated from Miami by Biscayne Bay. No issue with staying in Miami Beach, but reasonably priced hotels are often "reasonably priced" for a reason. I actually like parts of Miami Beach, but location does matter :). I suspect that for you, a hotel decision will await until you find the best air deal (into either FLL or MIA). Hank

Oh my! There are tons of options since just about every cruise line, you can name, has some transatlantic/repositioning cruises. We are not just talking about the mass market lines (RCI, Celebrity, NCL, etc) but also the higher end luxury lines such as Seabourn, Silversea, Regent, etc. A 2 bedroom suite is not a very common type of cabin (and very expensive when it does exist) but various connecting cabins and suites do exist on most ships. Hank

The judgements are almost difficult to read. There is a wide spectrum of Autism. Just consider that, technically, Elon Musk, is autistic! From the news reports it sounds like this boy was able to set-up his "escape" online. Great that the police were able to track him down. Perhaps he will someday be the next Elon Musk :). Hank

Just do a faux booking (everything up to when you actually pay) and see what is included. We use some decent cruise agencies that always give us on board credit, in addition to any promotion offered by a cruise line. Hank

Speaking of plastics, most bottled water is full of microplastics. We now know that microplastics cross the blood/brain barrier and can be detected in the brain. Nobody has a good handle on the long term effects of microplastics, but one could rationally suppose that it is not good. Ironically, folks that have been long term users of bottled waters may have been doing themselves some harm. One recent study, done at the University of Rhode Island, found that microplastics caused behavioral changes in mice. Interesting stuff. Give me tap water, with chlorine or chloramine and you keep those microplastics :). Perhaps the best solution is to drink bottles of beer. Hank

That would be the perfect option

in one sense, you want your cake and eat it too :). Of course you want a convenient non-stop flight from near-home to Miami, but those are the very flights for which you will likely pay a premium As a general rule, when you try to save money you are going to get some inconvenience. A problem that complicates things is that you are also traveling in "spring break" season which causes more bookings and higher prices. Keep in mind that flying to Ft Lauderdale may be a very good option. An Uber should cost you about $45-$55 to get from FLL to most places in Miami and is about a 45 min ride. When we cruise out of Miami, we will often just fly-in to FLL and stay in Ft Lauderdale (which we prefer to Miami). On the morning of the cruise we grab an Uber from our hotel to the Port. As to hotels, I would suggest booking a hotel, now, with a fully refundable rate. As your trip becomes closer, you can look for better hotel options, but you will have the security of knowing that you have a reservation at a decent price. We have never found a great "bargain: hotel in the Miami area. You can get better prices (and some very nice hotels) near the airport, but that is not ideal if you want to be in a fun neighborhood. But just like with your air problem, you are talking spring break time and many hotels tend to increase their prices during that time of the year. Hank

When we had a later flight, SB offered an excursion that visited several spots around Barbados before dropping us at the airport in mid-afternoon. Other then that, a day room does make sense. I believe that some of the resorts, such as Sandals, does offer a "day pass" that would include use of their facilities. I am not a big fan of Sandals (Barbados) but that would be a decent option for the day, even if it cost a few hundred dollars. Their web site shows that a day pass is available for $260 which would include facilities, food, and drink. One could easily grab a taxi from the port to Sandals and later to the airport. Hank

Your Passport will get an entry stamp at your first Japan port of entry. You will also get another stamp at your exit port (or airport) from Japan. If your cruise leaves Japan (to go to Korea or Taiwan) and later returns to Japan you will receive a new entry stamp and later an exit stamp. The Japanese authorities are really into following their procedures. Hank

I did post some stuff, when we cruised that ship back in September. It is a luxury line with a ship (soon to be 2 ships) carrying about 900 passengers. What is interesting is that they have no main dining room, but 4 smaller restaurants (2 require reservations) plus a high-end lido buffet. They do things their own way, which is both a blessing and curse. They also tend to focus on shorter cruises (often 7-10 day) which is unusual for a luxury cruise line. They are in the process of expanding to 6 ships (all about 900 passengers). You can probably get a better feel by simply reading the CC blog for this line. Hank

We had very high hopes for the new Explora Journey cruise line, but having cruised for 18 days on EJ1, we think that line is still a "work in progress" and it will be some time (measured in years) until they get their act together. For those of us who expected EJ to be something like an entire YC ship, the actual product is quite different and somewhat unique in the cruise industry. We are a bit older than you, but still young at heart and quite adventurous with our travel. We have no desire to go back to AK on a larger ship, but really did enjoy our 14 day Alaskan cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn, where there are only about 450 passengers. AK is still a fabulous place to visit, and there is a lot to say for simply renting a car and going off on one's own. We drove to Denali (from Anchorage) and spent a few days in Healy where we rented a very nice cabin. Much different than being stuck in some kind of touristy "lodge" and going off on tours with 60 of your best friends :). By the way, our most interesting experience in Alaska happened while we were simply filling our car with gas, just outside of Healy. A large moose came walking up the road (stopped the light traffic) and we enjoyed the close-up view (although we were ready to jump in the car if he came too close). Despite several days hiking in Denali National Park (not something you do on a cruise tour) we saw very little wildlife other than birds. At one point, we did spot a bear which was far away on the side of a hill. DW joked that it was probably a "blow up bear" put there for the sake of bus tours. Hank

I think that MSC needs to be viewed as two different products, the Yacht Club and everything else. The YC is a fine product, has decent cabins (generally small suites), OK cuisine, outstanding service, and provides a very private spacious section of the ship. Once outside the YC, it is a CarnivalRCI kind of product where one can generally find their niche depending on their budget. We only cruise in the YC, but will also spend significant time outside the YC taking advantage of all the ship has to offer. As one who cruises on many different lines (ranging from mass market to luxury lines) I do think that cruisers need to understand that, most of the time, if you want really high quality on a ship you are going to pay for it. A $120 per passenger day on MSC, is going to be a completely different experience than at $375 per person/day YC cruise. While many folks are simply looking for a lower price cruise, others demand the quality/service found in the YC. One issue we have seen with some MSC reviews/comments is that some folks try to equate the YC with the various experiences outside the YC. Big mistake as it is two different products and each will have their fans. By the way, I will mention our complaint with MSC. We primarily use the line for 2-3 week Caribbean cruises (Yacht Club only). When it comes to Europe (and the rest of the world) we cruise on lines that have longer cruises. But in the Caribbean, we think that MSC's itineraries leave a lot to be desired (both the ports and hours in the ports) which has pushed us away from booking any future voyages. We also would like to see MSC do some longer (at least 14 day) itineraries in the Caribbean/Central America. I am not talking about back to back 7 day cruises, but a true 14+ day cruise. Hank

We have talked about this topic on the Port of Call/Asia board, although the most recent issue has been getting between Haneda and Yokohama. Moving between Tokyo (almost anywhere in that huge city) and Yokohama can be done via rail (i.e. train, metro). Depending on your placement in Tokyo, you many need none to 3 changes. Having a Suica Card, or setting-up digital Suica on your phone makes using public transit as easy as scanning your phone/card at entrances/exits. However, if moving between a Tokyo hotel and Yokohama, when you have luggage, is a different issue. If you are planning on a pre-cruise stay at a Yokohama hotel (we really like Yokohama) you can either spend the big bucks (over $100) to take a taxi, or ship your luggage ahead and use the metro. Shipping luggage, in Japan, is very common since it is difficult to take luggage on public transit. Sending luggage between a Tokyo and Yokohama hotel will generally happen overnight and the cost is quite reasonable (should be less than $50 per piece). Hotels will handle the shipping (including filling out the forms) and if you ship the day before you check-out, your luggage should be waiting for you in your next hotel. My advice to the OP, is that if you simply going from a Tokyo Hotel to one of the ports in Yokohama, use a taxi. Most do take credit cards (ask before you enter the taxi) and your Tokyo hotel can easily get you a taxi. Although it is not inexpensive, it is worth the money for those not familiar with using public transit and navigating the huge Japanese stations. Keep in mind that Tokyo Station and Shinjuku Station are among the largest on earth, and just walking through those places can involve a real hike (over 1/2 mile). Signage is good (and it is pretty easy to find help if you get lost), but this is best done by folks used to moving around large cities. Hank Hank

Ouch. Rocky and expensive?

Not an issue. We will be cruising from Tokyo to Vancouver. But if one does buy a round trip on Turkish Air, and its business class, I believe that Turkish Air will pay for two nights in a 5^ hotel (in Istanbul) if a person wants the stopover. The procedure is a bit complicated so its best to call Turkish Air if one wants that deal. Hank

How do you categorize, "pre-paid gratuities" which is part of packages on most of the mass market lines? Or 18% added on to alternative restaurant prices, drink prices, etc. Do you think that is appreciation for services rendered?

If you plan on only going to a single village by train (i.e. Riomaggiore) than two single tickets make the most sense. But if you plan on 2 or more villages we think an all day ticket is a better buy. And keep in mind that the all-day ticket (Cinque Terre Card) does include a few other items (besides train fare). I also suggest, that if you are going during the high season, you consider purchasing a Cinque Terre card, online, since that avoids having to wait in the queue at the La Spezia train station. When we last visited, in April, the queue to buy a ticket was about 30 minutes...and this was not high season. Hank

For me it is a no-brainer, although others may disagree. But Cinque Terre (even with the overcrowding) would be our suggestion. If you ever take a cruise that gives you a port day in Livorno, you can easily combine Pisa with a visit to Lucca or even a short visit to Florence. If Pisa is really the place you must go, then you can combine it with a visit to Lucca. But you would need a rental car, or private tour to pull it off. Hank

It is not really a practical day trip as they are in opposite directions. Cinque Terre will easily take the entire day (you are not likely to see all 5 villages even in a full day). It is about an hour drive, south, from La Spezia to Pisa, which does not even consider the time to park and walk to the Field of Miracles. La Spezia to Riomaggiore (and the other 4 villages) are to the north. Hank

We will be on the Encore, but about a month before you board. Hank

We learned about the wonder of T-Mobile, while on a HAL Prinsendam cruise off the coast of Stromboli, Italy, A group of entertainers was in the Crows Nest (bar) late one night and they were all using their phones. I asked them if they got free Internet on the ship and they explained that they were using a land-based cell (about 10 miles distant). They told me they all had T-Mobile and it worked just about everywhere. When I got home, we switched our cell provider from ATT to T-Mobile and have happily used it all over the world. Hank