2Fltravelers

Hello 2FLtravelers,

 

 

 

Do you remember the name or the location of the store in which you had your espadrilles made - ?? We are in Barcelona in August and I think this is something I would be interested in.

 

 

 

Thanks!

See post 6. It's La Manual Alpargatera.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

2Fltravelers, thanks for sharing your tour plan. It gives me some good ideas. Where did you book your tapas tour through? What store should I look at for espadrilles?

I booked the tapas tour online. Email me at michelle at michellekain dot com and I'll send it to you. The espadrilles shop is the one pictured in a post below. You can also find them online.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I googled this...sounds like the place. I am definitely going to try to fit this into my time there.

 

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

Just make sure you are there before 1:30 pm or after 4:30 pm as they close for lunch. We missed them the first time so I made sure to get there in the morning. They do get busy.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Do you know what kind of special lunches?

My recollection is that they are lunches that you pay for.

Can u help ? First time Aqua class for me on eclipse Sep 28 .what are the main perks ? It's only my fourth cruise all with celebrity and Love them all . Is blu the best perk because I always do the restaurant package .so i am wasting money ??

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We generally cruise in Aqua because of dining in Blu. On all our cruises we make sure to eat in at least 3 specialty restaurants and on longer cruises we sometimes eat in more or the same ones 2 times. So IMHO, I think that a 5 night dining package on a 14 day cruise would be perfect. On our Equinox cruise in January we experienced some duplicate entrees on several nights so the specialty option worked for us.

I agree 100%, cruised on Princess Grand in April and will be happy to be back on Celebrity in October!

 

Sent from my SM-T350 using Forums mobile app

Cruised the Royal Princess and thereafter immediately booked Celebrity.

Like any big city you need to be aware of your surroundings. We duck into stores or cafes to look at maps and leave our valuables in the room safe or at the front desk safe deposit boxes.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Barcelona is a lovely city with so many things to do that it will be difficult to squeeze everything in 2 days. We have been there 3 times, the most recent in October 2015. In previous visits we have been to Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Casa Mila, La Bouqueria, Mont Juic, Bari Gothic, Las Ramblas, Catalan Concert Hall, etc.

Having seen much before, on this trip we walked the Bari Gothic after dropping our bags at the hotel (late am arrival). We followed the Rick Steves walking tour which is very interesting and easy. We had reserved a very good, unusual type tapas restaurant for that evening. The next day it rained but we walked the Ramblas, and then through the Born neighborhood checking out shops, cafes, etc. I bought 2 pair of espadrilles from a very famous store that makes them onsite to-order and very reasonably priced. We stopped in a wine shop recommended by our hotel so we could buy 2 bottles to bring onboard then we crossed into the waterfront area and had a seafood lunch overlooking the harbor. That evening we took an excellent walking tapas/wine tour that took us through for 4 different neighborhoods & restaurants/bars in 5 hours. This was a highlight of our visit.

We checked out of hour hotel the next morning , left our bags and took a taxi to the Picasso museum. We bought our tickets online for the morning of embarkation day which I recommend since the line is crazy long. We walked right in and spent about 90 minutes. We stopped for coffee and churro sat a nearby cafe and then a taxi to the hotel, got our bags and went to the harbor to embark around 1pm.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Earlier the better for Sagrada Familia and don't shortchange yourself with time to explore. After your visit, assuming that it is not raining, eat lunch nearby or buy some picnic lunch items and take a taxi to Parc Guell where you can enjoy your picnic in the park area that does not require an entrance ticket . After that, you can take your timed ticket into the ticket section. If that is you plan, then I would suggest timing your Parc Guell ticket for 1pm.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

We've been there 2x on a Thenford Grey tour of the island. They give a demonstration and there is ample time to purchase their products. I guess you could contact them directly and make separate arrangements and then take a taxi there from the port. It is about a 20-30 minute drive.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Thanks for the review. Your pros and cons are spot on. Having been on the Equinox 4 times, I am sorry that there has not been the same quality of after dinner entertainment. We found that disappointing ,too, but still love our Celebrity cruises.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Ditto. No embarkation or any lunch in Blu. Breakfast and dinners only.[emoji853]

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Love the Equinox. We have cruised on her 4 times including 2 TA's. Use Uber for your transport to and from the port. Until is spring, the Equinox always cruised in and out of Port Everglades so I can't recommend a hotel nearby the POM.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

We are one cruise away from Elite Plus so it's clear we prefer Celebrity and always enjoy our cruises. We love the ships, the service, the dining options and entertainment. We just love Blu! That all being said, we, too, have noticed some subtle changes in the past couple of years. Prices for specialty restaurants keep going up; the selection and quality of the wines and liquors in the classic beverage package have decreased; they no longer replenish water bottles after the first day in Aqua Class cabins; ; the musical groups around the ship are generally not as good; there is now 1 cabin attendant where there used to also be an assistant; there are less onboard, varied activities; no late night comedians on my last 2 cruises; no longer serve sushi in the Oceanview Cafe in the late afternoon.

Despite all of this, we continue to cruise with Celebrity because we love the ships, enjoy dining in Blu, find the crew to be exceptional, and unlike another cruise line we were on, they seem to genuinely care if there is a problem and do their best to solve it-we don't hear " NO" to our concerns/requests.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

We are booked for our October cruise. They were great in Aruba.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

30-45 min drive depending on day of the week and traffic on I-95. If you are departing on a Saturday or Sunday (assuming there is no major event like Ultra in downtown Miami near the port). Staci or Uber should be around $40-45.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Early June is quite hot for Shark Valley unless you are there very early in the AM. I doubt you would see any real wildlife at any other time. Vizcaya is beautiful but again, that is something I would do first thing in the morning when they open. Much of the site is outdoors and walking but the water views and property are beautiful.

For a similar view, the Perez Museum of Art is right on the bay downtown and is really nice with great views of the bay and Miami Beach. The new science museum just opened next door. Both of them would be a good idea on a very hot and /or rainy afternoon. The Wynwood area north of downtown is known for its art galleries and outdoor art and has some wonderful restaurants with local flavor. Little Havana along SW 8th Street will give you a taste of Cuban culture in Miami. It is busy on the weekends, especially Saturday night. Same goes for Wynwood. For Art Deco head over to Miami Beach for South Beach. Park the car a few blocks west (near Washington Avenue) and walk along Ocean Drive from around 5th street north for a few blocks. I recommend this on late Sunday afternoon when the beachgoers leave. South Beach is crazy busy on Saturday nights and parking is difficult and traffic absurd, even in the summer months.

Hope this helps you plan your time in Miami.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

would you mind sharing the amount of the obc?

$100 pp for rebooking.

We were booked on the 2/14/18 Koningsdam and received a letter from HAL about 2 weeks ago ( I am the agent, too) that the cruise was cancelled. There was no other explanation given. We were offered one of the other sailings and an additional OBC for the trouble. Considering this was my first HAL cruise I was not happy.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

What to do with luggage is one of the biggest problems confronting cruise passengers. I don't know if RCCL has the luggage valet service or if they ever did. I know that Celebrity did at one time but don't know the status of the program. If so, you can arrange for your luggage to be brought to the airport and then take an Uber from the port ($5) to the water taxi stop under the 17th street bridge and spend the day on that getting off at Las Olas or another point on the intracoastal northern route for lunch, shopping, browsing and then head back to the same stop and catch an Uber from there to the airport. There sometimes are Groupons for reduced fare tickets. It is otherwise pricey (around $30pp unlimited for the day) but it is a lot cheaper than renting a car and dealing with parking, driving in ridiculous Fort Lauderdale traffic sometimes and picking up and returning the car.

The water taxi is a great way to see Fort Lauderdale from the water and it's a relaxing way to end a vacation.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

They did silent disco at the martini bar and outside Quasar on the Equinox in late January. It did not appear to disrupt the martini bar and was later in the evening.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

SHIP: Equinox

CABIN #: 1568

DECK #: 11

CLASS: AQ1

AREA: between forward and mid-ship elevators Starboard

BED NEAR: Balcony

QUIET?: Mostly. Occasional noise from towel carts rolling in the Solarium above in the early morning. We had cabin 1558 last time and did not hear the carts. Must be because this cabin is further toward mid-ship where the towels are replenished.

BALCONY VIEW: totally unobstructed to forward and aft but support poles for upper deck staggered along all cabins in the area.

BALCONY SIZE: standard . 2 chairs and ottomans with table

WIND A PROBLEM?: No

SOOT A PROBLEM?: No

PROBLEMS/COMMENTS: as mentioned above. There is no crew door or storage closet nearby. I did a graph of the entire starboard side on Deck 11 of the location of all crew doors/closets and bed locations for anyone interested.

I checked out the pictures. Very nice. I wish that 5049 is available but I guess we'll wait list it. Do you know where the extra 16 square ft comes from? The other cabins are 185 vs. 201 for this one.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Please let me know if anyone has any info on cabins 5048 and 5050 on Deck 5 port. We booked these today but are trying to decide if these cabins are too far forward. We like the extra large balcony on a 11- day Caribbean cruise but I am uncertain if these are the best V class verandahs. Any input would be most appreciated. Thanks.

I was on the same 10 day Equinox cruise. We live in Florida so we do not usually sit anywhere near the pool but in the solarium. But on this cruise were were with friends from NY so we decided to join them on one day (they only wanted to sit outside one day). We were just amazed and annoyed at the degree of hogging. They found 2 lounges on the Solstice Deck (way above the pool area). From the time they arrived and we met them until just before we left (3 hours in total) there were 8 lounges that remained totally unoccupied but had stuff (a book and towel) for the duration. Only one couple came back after 2.5 hours (they had saved the large cushioned loungers) and thanked the person next to them for "saving" their chairs. And I did not see one crew member going around enforcing the 30 minute rule either. Perhaps if it was better enforced it would be less prevalent.

All of this reminds me of our Renaissance cruise many years ago. As the server was going around the Sky Lounge at sail away with trays of hors d'oeuvres, a group of 3 couples traveling together emptied the entire tray before they could be offered to anyone else. On the second go around, she walked by them again and they just took the whole tray out of her hands. The 3rd time she walked in the other direction.

Like the chair hogs, some people are inconsiderate and have no class. People do what they do if they think they can get away with it. The crew needs to do a better job of enforcing the cruise lines own rules. Only with behavior modification the hogging abate.

Sent from my iPad using Forums