Brian V

I quite agree, I do not understand the idea of "extra cost" burgers and fries on a cruise ship. On our cruises on the Joy and the Encore I don't recall seeing a solitary soul in there👻 It seems that every other mainstream cruise line (even the older NCL ships) has a pool deck grill with burgers and dogs and fries that is complimentary, along with a bar so you can purchase a beer 🍺 The only place to get pizza was in the buffet (meh, have had worse) - or pay extra in the Italian restaurant 😞 so maybe a pizzeria / burger joint instead? My $0.02

Looking forward to hear how your packing dry run goes... I can see it being doable with no formal wear and a warm weather destination. We are reading the same stories, and as our outward flight connects through Pearson so we are seriously considering carry on only for our 7 day cruise out of Trieste...followed by 3 weeks in Italy😨 NCL so no formal wear required, warm weather so no heavy jackets...think it is possible:) Saving grace will be that we can book apartments with laundry facilities, or just use a lavanderia - they are nothing like the hovels we call laundromats, clean and well cared for mostly. We can acquire an extra bag to check for our return if need be as we connect through Frankfurt instead of YYC - the DW will need little convincing to "pick up a few things👗👠" in Italy, I can already hear the credit card weeping 🤑

I cannot for the life of me understand why $CDN or $US matters when it is a PERCENTAGE? It could be in Euros, or Yen, or...10% is 10% is 10% 🤪

LOL, now that you mention it...we do seem to say that a lot around here. Truth be told, I was born in Ontario but my folks fled west 59 years ago - guess you could call me a naturalized Albertan now 🤠

@Dirty Dog is not wrong, the people from The Rock (anywhere in the Maritimes really) are about the best you could every wish to meet. Friendly, polite, enthusiastic about everything, would share their last smoke with you if you asked 😉 Getting Screeched in - a must!🤪 For spending, your bank card will work in Canada just the same as at home - tap and go. If you want some actual cash, just think ATM instead of cashpoint - just avoid the "White Label / No Name" atm's, use the ones associated with the big 5 banks for the lowest fees.

That must be a very special "Private Cabin Show"??? 😲 Cannot say I have ever seen mention (let alone evidence) of anyone being charged for a main theatre show. Maybe a small upcharge for a "Dinner Show" that included drinks but $300...no.

I would book a balcony and an inside...on a different ship😁 Seriously, I agree with @BirdTravelson this one, 4 (pretty much) adults in 1 cabin is not gonna happen, especially if the parental units want a little private time...

If we are doing a specialty venue we tend to eat later than most - 7:30 or 8:00 and we like to take our time and dine like Italians...dinner should take 3 hours, right? 😉 We try to ensure the next morning is a sea day or a late port arrival so we can sleep in 🙂

Don't know about bball but on our cruise in February we watched the Superbowl in Spice H20 Talk about an experience 🙂 So yes, they do show major events where available...

Ah, guessing you fly in "Day of Cruise" - not really an option for your Commonwealth cousins from across the pond😎 23:00 of hustling suitcases and standing in lines from out front door to getting to the pier - first evening and likely second day on board are going to be a write off at that point😞 Not to mention what happens if our flight cancels or is seriously delayed 🤬 Going to guess NCL does NOT do a shuttle the day before?

That is our plan as well...only hangup could be - when does our flight actually arrive and how long to clear customs? I don't want to book too early and miss the bus or book too late and sit around the airport for 1 or 2 (or 3) extra hours...but I seem to recall from our last trip customs was pretty quick so 🤞

If it's anything like the Caeser's on the Joy and the Encore...meh 😞 Seriously, if they are not using Mott's Clamato and rimming the glass with celery salt, it's just not a Caeser...so any of you trying one on the ship and thinking "What's the fuss?", you need to come to Calgary (or any where in Canada) and try the real deal 🥂 It certainly played into our choice but it sounds like the shuttle bus picks you up right next to the main pier - perhaps the OP @ziggyukcan confirm? If so, a 5 minute walk in the morning 🙂

You have not seen the Sh^& Show that is Pearson I take it🥶 My wife and I are seriously trying for 2 carry ones for a 1 week Greece cruise out of Trieste plus 3 weeks post cruise in Italy. As long as we have enough for the cruise (NCL so no formal wear required 👍) my darling wife has no problems doing a little clothes shopping in Italy...I can smell the smoke off my Visa already🥺

Wise words...I had a single CC for years ("Why have more, you just spend more!") but almost got stranded a few years ago when my (at the time) only card got compromised and I was left with no way to pay for my hotel, or even the gas to drive home. Thankfully, had very understanding in-laws 🙂 Have a second card now, gets used for almost nothing but it is there...just in case...

Problem with that is, unless you live in the GTA and can fly direct, almost every flight to Europe from the ROC connects through YYZ...and those are the domestic flights being affected 😞 If I can get to Toronto getting to Venice doesn't seem to be a problem...yet😨 Starting to think KLM might be a better option for us...

Shame our Canadian providers can't (wont?) do the same - we get dinged $15.00 CDN PER DAY, believe it caps at $150.00 per month🤯 With that in mind, my first stop on arrival is a Vodafone store, their tourist plan is the bomb 🙂 and it does work throughout the EU - just remember that Switzerland (and now the UK) are NOT in the EU. I recall paying 5 Euro / day for roaming in Switzerland on our last trip. No idea if the same applies to the UK now or not. And yes, you will want to download and use WhatsApp, almost no one in Europe seems to use SMS. Many of the places you will stay use WhatsApp to confirm arrival times, etc.

Indeed, the bridge is quite easy to negotiate when dry - if it rains the glass panels turn into little skating rinks 😨 We stayed in Cannaregio on our last trip, had the tail end of a 24 hour pass for the vaporetto to get us to Piazzale Roma (to pick up rental car) but got off 1 stop too soon and had to cross the bridge...it was wet and rather treacherous 😞 No one died but every time I see that bridge I cannot help but think of the one Calatrava designed for my home town at a rather exorbitant cost😒