knot knormal

We went from Messina to Taormina on our own last time there. Train then bus. Easy to do. Cruisemom42 is right, once the search function is up and running there are DETAILED maps and information on how to do it. Since our cruise does not dock until 10 AM and the first train I saw was around 12:20 PM, we decided to book a private tour. Be aware that Taormina closes for the afternoon...anywhere from 1-2 PM for 3-4 hours, another reason for the private tour. Taormina is quite lovely.

We are flying British Air from Rome to Gatwick, then train to Southampton. Will we have to go through customs/immigration at Gatwick? I've read BA is at North Terminal (correct?) and the train station is at the South Terminal (correct?). What is our most efficient way of getting our luggage, getting to the station and getting our prepaid tickets? We have two hours from touch down to train departure....did I cut it too close? Any help will be greatly appreciated!!!

Club

Just boarded SIL. Only Chief Engineer has changed. Now Yannis Chazandroulis

Who is the Captain's Clun hostess?

IMO nobody in Florida makes good crab cakes. OK, I'm prejudiced having lived in Baltimore, in fact our kids, who still live there, order restaurant crab cakes on dry ice and send them to us for Christmas presents. Barbara Jean's has good food, just would not recommend the crab cakes. PS I've lived in Jacksonville for 31 years.

Three months before our December cruise Celebrity changed the departure port from Miami to Ft Lauderdale. Since many of us had booked our return flights to Miami, I booked JR Shuttle to take us to Port Everglades. There were 8 people at 2 different Hampton Inns in Miami, 4 each. Our hotel was the first pick up at 11 AM, but no shuttle. I started calling first the dispatcher, then the van driver called me directly, he was always "5 minutes away". ONE AND A HALF hours later, 12:30 PM he showed up. He did not know there was a second pickup, and didn't even know that hotel's location. He called his office and they finally told him the other 4 were already picked up. When we got to Port Everglades he tried to charge us nearly three times what my contract specified (I had it with me). We told him we were paying no more. He said he would find a police officer to "arrest us". We found a very polite officer that listened to both sides, and after much discussion, told us to have a nice cruise and told the van driver to accept our original PP fare and to discuss with his management. As we walked away the van driver said "I hope your ship goes down".

We use JR Shuttle. The drivers are always very friendly and prompt. All of his vehicles are new and roomy. Beware of some of the companies. They will not tell you that they pack people into vans and pull a luggage trailer. Once, we were expected to sit in the back seat of a 15 passenger van - 4 adults in the row. It was 85 degrees and sooo claustrophobic, they were very rude when we told them we could go with them. JRshuttle has shuttle vans that have the very high ceilings that he uses for groups.

Do not use JR Shuttle. I booked a van for 8 people, 2 different pick up locations, 3 months before our December 7 sailing. We were going from Miami hotels to Port Everglades. I'm not going into all the difficulties, BUT they were an hour and a half late after repeated phone calls.."I'll be there in 5 minutes", they did not know about the 2nd pick-up nor where it was, after calling their office they said the other 4 had been picked up. When we got to the port the van driver tried to charge us almost 3 times what my contract said. He went to a police officer to "arrest us". After telling my side of the story and his repeated denials, the polite officer said for us to have a nice cruise and told the driver it looked like he needed to straighten this out with his management. The van driver then said to us "I hope your ship goes down".

Thanks ya'll.

seasidegal - couldn't resist. Thanks, that's the name of our oldest granddaughter. When I heard the proposed name I thought "she's either going to be a C & W singer or a NASCAR driver".

What is a sheltered balcony? Never heard the term before.

Sue is great, she was on our 11/6/12 Constellation cruise and soooo looking forward to seeing her on the 2/2/13 Reflection cruise. She was in the Elite lounge every night meeting and talking, really talking, to everyone.

Thanks, RMSeadog.

Who is the new CC on the Constellation? Cruising soon....Thanks!

I get home Wednesday and will try to find the contact information.

We also used Patsy Little, wonderful guide and very adaptable.

Thank you Dubrovniktravelady, if it is not raining I may try it.

I have a fear of heights, symtoms recently appeared. Can I walk the walls? There have been several fort walls I have tried, ie Malaga, and could not complete....I'd like to try but???????????? Your help would be appreciated.

I've been to Liverno twice and never, never, would a taxi take us to the train station. The last time there were 5 of us off the ship at 6:30 AM, prior to any ship's tour, and not one taxi would break ranks and take us. We had to wait till 7 AM and take the ship's shuttle out of the port (the shuttle doors opened at 7 - more than likely the departure time was 7:30 AM). My message - don't count on the taxi option.

We are leaving out of Ft L on 10/15 for a flight to Rome and back on a TransAtlantic arriving Ft. L on 11/1. Can you recommend a hotel/motel that provides:

1. Parking for 17 days

2. Transportation to Airport

3. Pick up at port

Or at least #1 and #2 above

Thank You