CRUIS4ME

We flew from US to Rome and transferred via taxi yesterday.   Two nights in Civitavecchia at Museum Guest House.   Non stop flight on United from IAD was just fine…only 8 Hrs…got us to Rome with our luggage.  Booked Romeincabs and they were waiting outside customs where we immediately walked with driver to the van.   Ride to Citi. was comfortable, 45 mins, and 140 Euro.    Booked Museum Guest House which is small but ever so clean, modern, air condition, and good location. (Not far.. across the gate at the fort).  Fredericko was the owner, gave a warm welcome, gave us the city map with full briefing and very available for questions.   Since we got here on Sunday…we walked around to find bearings and where to get Covid tests, etc.   Covid testing is quite easy and readily available at several pharmacies.   The one we walked to was about a five minute walk, go into pharmacy with ID, they fill out paperwork and we paid 15 Euro.   Went to a tent around the corner, had test taken and within ten minutes went back to pharmacy.   They gave us the results paper with negative clearly marked, stamped the paperwork (I guess to make it official) and signed it.   
We spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out the shuttle bus to ship routine.   There are green busses (city bus)  to take you to a white bus which is the official “ship shuttle bus”. There are only two places to get the white shuttle bus and several places to catch the green city bus.  One can walk through the port gate to a traffic circle where there is a city bus station to wait for the green bus.  It costs 3 euro to ride to the other end of town to catch the white shuttle bus.  We really reconned the routes and almost paid to ride the green busses just to understand how to make it all happen.  So it would have costed us 6 Euro to try the bus out and then another 6 Euro to ride the bus with bags tomorrow…12 Euro on this scenario.   What we figured is we didn’t want to schlep a large suitcase and on board bag over cobblestones, crossing at crosswalks dodging traffic, loading bags on one bus, off loading, and then loading bags on another bus.  We would arrive at the port terminal in a frenzy, sweaty, and irritable.   We arranged a taxi to pick us up at the hotel…there is another couple that will share the taxi…cost would be 15 Euro each couple.   That, to me, will be worth the convenience.  We go to the port tomorrow.   Thought I would post this while we were in hotel just to post something about the shuttle and Covid in Civitavecchia.   Hope it helps others to plan.   

We sort of just found the underground tour while walking around Naples and it was a fabulous tour.   Recommend it definitely.   We will do it again when we go back to Naples. We were amazed at the underground structures that were preRoman and how they used the underground for shelters during the two WWs, how through the ages Naples was built and rebuilt on top of ruins and even today they re uncovering more areas.  

Regarding Santorini and getting off the ship.   Those who have trips booked through RcCl are let off at a port so they can catch their arranged busses, etc.   then the rest of the ships continues to the old port. Near the cable car.    Is this what was done on your cruise?  Just want to clarify some of the things I have read….thx

1 hour ago, Rusty_lock said:

We need @mtm103 to come back and update us on the final outcome.

Oh but why need an update?   This thread has entertained me for several days…👍

For those with newer passports….have you looked at the graphics…absolutely beautiful engravings..tells a story of America…not only the presentation but the security elements are superior.   

Did you need reservations for entertainment? Did you book once on board?   Thx

Just made a reservation for Armando By the Pantheon.   Thanks for recommending…hope it is delicious!   

For those of us sailing from a European port, still waiting for update and hoping pretesting changes.   Right now, sailing from Italy requires a pretest no later than two days ahead.   
 

still proceeding like nothing has changed for our cruise of 30 August.    

I have a real cautiousness of personal security. So I never wear a lanyard around my neck.  On ship, I put it in a small purse with my camera as it serves as my credit card or room key so I take it with me. Besides, I don’t want to have competition with jewelry 😁

 On land I will put sea pass in the plastic covering in a lanyard and then loop the lanyard around my purse handle and tuck it into my purse then zip the purse.  It cannot be pick pocketed or dropped and is available for security on and off the ship. I also have looped the lanyard around a belt loop and put it into my front pocket  but it is fastened to my waist.    Sounds a bit crazy….my concern is identification security as well as accessibility for me to retrieve.  

Thanks....Dh "read" something....but protocol still says 2 days....2 days it is!

DH told me the precovid testing out of Civtavecchia has changed from 2 days to now 3 days…..but I haven’t heard nor seen anything.  Health protocols on RCCL still say 2 days.   Anyone else seen or read any changes?   Thx

So helpful!   Good to know about Crete HoHo and shuttle.   Ugh regarding Santorini…m hoping it’s not the nightmare I expect…I also need to check about D+ Obtaining priority tender tickets.  This will be first cruise since obtaining new level and we haven’t tendered for a long time.   Do we need to make reservations for the entertainment once on board.  I am use to the oasis class reservations that we can get online but that doesn’t look like an option for Odyssey .

Thanks again for the continued review.  We are going on the 11 day cruise….we do go to Santorini and Crete.  I may have to reconsider a tour in santorini as we are renting a car now.  But there are six shops in port!   Ouch.   And we didn’t book anything for Crete so I think with a short day, we also will stick to the do it yourself day.   Your review of the ships activities and entertainment is great insight as I haven’t heard or read anything regarding that on the Odyssey.   

Thanks for the review.  We are sailing the end of August.   Did you get an antigen test in Civit?   If so, any feedback on that?   Thx

We are cruising on Odyssey the end of August.  Most of the port reviews are outdated…before COVID and the ship is new.  Therefore, your review and info would surely help with regard to hearing recent experience.   Even piecemeal tidbits are appreciated.   

Thanks for clarifying…much help!👍

I have always used dollars/cash in the casino slots, etc. On Odyssey out of Rome and question came up bout using Euros in the casino vs bank card vs charge to stateroom and then pay at the end of the cruise with your credit card.   Perhaps someone with casino experience can enlighten.

If taking cash for casino, take dollars As Euro cash won’t work in slots?  If taking Euros, customer service can change into dollars but at what exchange rate?  And if charging casino play to room, will credit card bill reflect a cash withdrawal vs regular charge?   

Where did you hire the car?  We are in Civitavecchia and have a day to go to Orvietto...or a day when we are in Rome.   We are looking at a train..but the price you listed is very reasonable.  thanks

7 hours ago, 2ferfun said:

Thanks for the good replies...seems like a tux might be overkill.  If everyone dressed like ComicCon I would definitely be happy to bust out a Star Trek uniform.  🙂

 

Probably just going to go with a sport coat.   Thanks all!

If you have a tux and want to wear it, dust it off, and take it…wear it proudly!  

On 5/18/2022 at 12:14 PM, Citrons said:

Great to hear your test is negative. Mine were negative Monday/Tuesday and this morning. It wasnt until a retest this afternoon it started to appear positive. I knew from the sore throat on Sunday that i kept retesting since my mam had the same sore throat and tested positive.

 

I was disappointed a bit by Mykonos. It was nice of course but thought Little Venice was overrated and drinks overpriced. It was a nice couple of hours there but glad i never went there for a long period of time.

 

Santorini is my fav - I spent 6 weeks on holiday there last summer.

 

Rhodes I enjoyed going back as i spent 2 weeks there in 2005. However i felt rushed as the people i was with could not walk very far and were too obssessed with shopping. I like @FionaMG photos of her tour. Also her Ephesus photos look great and pity i didnt see that either.

 

Chania i was there in 2017 for a week and glad to revisit. Very short day since we had to be aboard before 2.30pm. Again @FionaMGhad nice photos and she got to see so much in what was little time in Crete. Nice that we waited 45mins for the final couple to arrive onto the ship.

 

Naples i was glad to see because i didnt get to see it in 2017 when i went to Sorrento/Capri/Pompei

 

Overall i was glad i had been on holidays to most of these locations before the cruise (the only places i had not been to was Naples city,Mykonos and Kusadasi) so it felt like I had no rush and it was more to relive happy memories from previous holidays. However I wonder what it would be like to visit them for the 1st time on the cruise? Would it be a rush?Stressful trying to see so much in such little time?

Thanks for posting…I am enjoying this thread with the Civit. Port info and island info. Needed current information especially getting to the ship with transfers.  Regarding Chania….we are only there for about six hours.  Would love to take a snorkel or beach break as it our last stop.  RCCL has not posted any excursions for Santorini or Crete as of today. Wondering if you noticed that there were any possibilities of beach or boat once we docked?  Have looked at online sources, but thought I would ask here.   Thx

Posting this article as it is describing some new travel protocol guidance for Italy and Greece just in time for summer….  Hope link works…

https://www.wsls.com/business/2022/05/01/italy-greece-relax-covid-restrictions-before-tourism-season/

Just returned from Barbados on 14 night cruise on the Grandeur.   There were several hoops we jumped through as we went from through American Airlines, getting into Barbados, and at the port terminal.    
we used Verifly app and it worked at the American Airlines desk at the airport….we loaded pictures, vaccination records, Covid  results, passports, etc.  
 

We uploaded and filled out BIMSafe.  Again adding vaccination records, passports, photos, and Covid test results as well as immigration form.    Bimsafe…ie Barbados government…requires  this info at the airport terminal once we landed and before going  though their customs.  
 

RCCL sent us a form about a week before cruise which we filled out electronically which was required at the port.   Again, uploading the info as required.   This hoop gave us an appointment at the port for an antigen test AND a reservation number. The paper copy was especially handy at this point.

We made copies of QR codes, reservation numbers , etc etc.  At each stage, the paper copies seemed, for us, to be handier and more convenient to get through the various checkpoints.   So my suggestion is electronic copies on cell and paper copies  in a travel  binder.

The one other lesson we learned was, at the time, we were required a PCR test…nasalphenogeal.   We had the correct test done but the paperwork had it written as a nasal swab….Barbados wanted the word nasalphenogeal …. When they rejected our test results, good news was they gave us…and many other passengers..a free nsalaphenogeal swab test.   So, if they require a specific test done by a specific medical professional vs home test kit….then make sure you get specifically what they want written in the documents.

And, if I may, exiting Barbados at their air terminal was horrendously disorganized and chaotic.   Allow five hours for check in and to go through their one man security desk.   If it takes less, then it’s a win!   Hope this helps.  

Every 

Just completed the 14 day on Grandeur cruise in and of Barbados.   Feb 19th they wanted…Barbados that is….. PCR test…nasalphenogeal.   We flew in one day ahead and had the test new day before flying.   Hen we got to Barbados, they did not accept our test as the paper work had written “nasal swab” not nasalphenogeal swab.    Good news, Barbados had free tests at air terminal.   Took about an hour and a half of waiting, testing, getting results.  To get onto the ship, at the port, there was another free antigen test….another short wait, nasal swab, etc….but all went fine.

I understand Barbados now accepts an antigen test.   I think my message is….pay close real close attention to the wording…who should do tests (medical professional versus at home test, etc)….and ensure paperwork is exact as requirements state.   American Airlines accepted all records using Verifly, but Barbados authorities and those checking at the time we entered had a slight problem with our paperwork.   Good news is, it all worked out, had a great cruise, and wish you the same.   

Just got off Grandeur.  I asked the cabin attendant for a tea kettle…a hot pot kettle which he was able to get for me.   I  brought my own decaf tea bags, used two small bottles of water, heated the water, and let tea steep in the pot.   When it was room temp, poured the tea back one water bottle and stored fridge.   It’s kept up with the routine for the cruise.     I liked the other suggestion of brewing sun tea on the balcony……suppose that would would work well using tea bag in bottled water for sun tea then pour over ice…..

Agree with most, ship tea is too strong and bitter.  

There are passport issuing offices that you can make an appointment to get in a day.  Recommend you look at State Department passport site (travel.state.gov) and look into this…or apply via mail for one.   I would pay for the expedited  service as each office has different turn around time based on workload, applications, etc.