perakcruiser

8 hours ago, markwfpb said:

Looking for general advice on which airport(s) are best for embark/debark (proximity to port), ports that are "don't bother" at least for first timers, that kind of thing. 

All places in Europe have excellent public transport, you don´t need to think about this. Just decide by price. 

First decision: Western or Eastern Med? Or both with two cruises after you made the long trip to the other side of the atlantic ocean. 

Most important: Avoid the hot season in Europe. The week before and after Easter, the Pentecost week and the long summer holiday from mid June to beginning of September. 

7 hours ago, dasi11 said:

Aquafina, Dasani, and other brands of purified water are fine but I can't find any listed in the drink menu's  Please if anyone can check for me what brand of  purified water do they offer on the ship? 

Depends on the route. Usually it is a Nestle brand, but it changes from time to time. 

1 hour ago, wynkys said:

I am booked on a short 3-night repositioning voyage in a couple of months time.

I am travelling solo in the Yacht Club and would appreciate advice as to which

staff members I should tip and what amount would be typical for each for such

a short time.

The Australians I know don´t tip, just like the Asians and Europeans do not tip. You can do whatever you want, nobody expects anything. And everybody is happy about your tip no matter how high or low. The nationalities you would insult by trying to tip them are not working on cruise ships 😄 

3 hours ago, Nikita4 said:

Most of the people will board in Venice, so there are not of excursions.

Was not the case at our last Eastern Med cruise. I expect a lot of people boarding at the other places. We board at Bari this time.

3 hours ago, bob10173 said:

One tour is $89 and the other $151 and they sound the same. Lack of info. I am sure they aren't the same.

Definitely not. The 151 includes the Doge's Palace. The entrance fee there is very expensive, that is why the difference is so high. 

27 minutes ago, alserrod said:

This is... can a MSC employee cash his money in the bank (and ask it to be refunded)?. I am not sure but if he could... it should be in local currency, isn't it?

He cannot, only local currency for cast transactions. But in all these countries there are myriads of moneychangers who change EUR and USD to local currency with excellent rates. Only Sing Dollar is even better. British pounds are worse, but not a rate disaster. GBP are used by MSC and all Caribbean cruises that do not start in USA have EUR as currency. 

49 minutes ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

Most times we don't know the day before. How can we handle that with notifying the waiter? If we are exhausted from a day at the beach or something we may just opt for the buffet.

Sure, that is the norm. Before one also did not know the menu of the next day, so how to know if opting for MDR or buffet? Now with the app and the menu for the whole week this has changed, so a few times I could tell the waiter. Which he appreciated. 

20 minutes ago, cruisebeachgirl703 said:

Disappointing that sailing on an Italian cruise line unable to get a glass of pinot grigio. 

Well, even more disappointing is the Pinot Grigio from the Easy package 😄 

12 hours ago, noshoobie said:

I forgot how expensive Bermuda was. It was $60 for two beach loungers and an umbrella. At Tobacco Bay we got mozzarella sticks and fries for $19. The 10 ounce can of beers were $9.

How crazy is this!!! Thanks for the warning if we ever go there. I will leave the wallet on the ship and tell the family I "forgot" it. 

Even more crazy is that a MSC ship runs out of Pinot Grigio 😄

1 hour ago, Mark_T said:

... because for cruises that have the UK as their home port it is not legal to add a mandatory gratuity to the bar prices, so most lines use different prices for those cruises which already include the 15% and adjust package inclusions accordingly.

It is also not legal in many other European countries. But it is legal outside territorial waters. 

2 hours ago, epanchenko said:

I disagree about having to tell the restaurant you are not coming.  No one told me when they didn't show up.  You may at the last minute not feel like eating in the MDR, for instance.  It is your vacation, you shouldn't feel like you have to be worried about your tablemates. 

You are right. Actually there is absolutely no need to tell anyone you are not coming the next day. But one can make the life of the waiter a little bit more easy if telling him that you will not be here next evening. 

4 hours ago, Eglesbrech said:

Anyone know if the 15% is added to drinks prices on ex U.K. cruises or is this already included in the list price for drinks?

The 15% are added on all cruises, no matter where the cruise starts. Technically it is illegal when the ships are in ports or sailing in some "European" territorial waters (12 sea miles zone), but so far nobody has sued the cruise lines for this 😄 

More please 🙂

13 hours ago, valandemmy said:

would you recommend MSC for this type of cruise?

MSC is the obvious choice in the Med as they suit all people. Which maybe can be said about Costa also, have a look at them too. And if you speak other languages there are much more options, especially for food focused people. From your self description I guess MSC is the best product for you three.

About the route,I highly recommended to consider the Eastern Med cruises from MSC. 

16 hours ago, bob10173 said:

The translation thing worked great. Thanks. We would like to do a MSC excursion but the description on line lacks a lot of info. Will wait until we board.

What information do you miss? Looks like only 3 excursions available.

On 11/5/2023 at 11:42 AM, Anastas617 said:

By the way: Is it a European thing to not have washcloths in hotels? I'm not being a wise guy, but honestly asking. I went to two hotels in England and one in Spain this year and none of them had washcloths. Ireland is the only other place in Europe I have had a hotel (so far), but that was a few years back and I don't recall.

Washcloths disappeared from the hotels around the world for many years already. I don´t remember having them seen in any hotel in Europe, Asia or Australia for a long time. 

Tips according to CC boards: 5 USD per drink

Tips according to reality: 0 USD per drink 😄

With exceptions like our wonderful YC "reporter" Morpheus.

2 hours ago, cublet said:

First 'freshly brewed' will be the Infinity Bar on deck 5 that opens at 6.00.

The buffet is much closer for him. The excellent Italian espresso machines are the same everywhere. I think the bar there opens also very early. 

4 hours ago, adamtoonarmy said:

14172 so mid-aft starboard

Excellent location. Good choice (or luck) 🙂 

Depends on the location of your cabin. There are lots of coffee places on Virtuosa. 

4 minutes ago, cheeseheads4ever said:

We are tossing around trying MSC just for a change.Ive read reviews years ago and they were horrific. It seems hit or miss. Wondering if they have improved?

MSC has not improved, but the reviews you read are from horrific people not from a horrific cruise line. 

Switching between MSC and Celebrity since 2011, both know how to do their business very good. Both are not perfect. But both can be recommended 100 percent. MDR food is better at Celebrity, must be obviously with the price gap. 

6 hours ago, bob10173 said:

Thanks. I think I will just take the shuttle to the Venice cruise terminal  and do my own thing once I get to Venice. Good plan?

That is what we will do in three weeks time 🙂 

Probably Vaporetto line 2 and then walk around the canals. 

2 hours ago, bob10173 said:

From what I am reading from this post. I am better off just getting off the ship in Marghera

I am not sure if you are allowed to leave at Marghera, I think you have to go Venice cruise terminal with a MSC bus or boat. But things change, maybe now you can disembark (but not embark) at Marghera. 

5 hours ago, alserrod said:

I would recommend you to walk to those unknown canals

I could not agree more. 

9 hours ago, alserrod said:

but no one who hopes to go to a unique city in the world should believe that things are cheap.

Actually I did not have this impression. Cheap Cappuccino, cheap pizza and lunch menus, the last time we stayed in a hotel (in Venice,not Mestre!) ten years ago it was also way under 100 euros. The hotel maybe have changed, but I am pretty sure the coffee and the pizza are still very affordable. Of cause you can sit down at Marco and pay 20 euros for the music and 10 for the coffee😄 

9 hours ago, alserrod said:

- I consider the vapporeto a means of transportation. A way to get from San Marco to Piazzale Roma. The two times I took it it turned out to be line 1 and from so many stops, starts and stops I ended up dizzy.

You need to take line 2. 

And to complete your list:
- CRUISE SHIP

Nothing, nothing (!), beats the smooth ride on MSC Poesia or Armonia through the Cuidecca canal. I am so happy that I did this two times and on the other hand very sad that they have forbidden the cruise ships. 

Thanks! 

3 hours ago, trfccruiser said:

and they mentioned the walk above Kotor  which we planned to do was closed due to the stone steps being wet

3 hours ago, trfccruiser said:

By then the sun came out and after lunch we climbed the stone steps to the little chapel. It’s a challenging climb, 400 odd steps , but it’s so worth it for the views.

Is this the same walk? We will be there in a few weeks and I am planning right now. 

And does the "Surf&Turf" restaurant still exist on Armonia?