suejerrytx

We used Barcelona day tour on Friday  August 4th.  They picked up our group of 5 and all our luggage from the cruise terminal port.  We then had a four hour tour of the city with several stops including La Sagrada Familia.  We had time to get out and walk around several of the stops.  Our driver was very knowledgable and did an excellent job driving.  I have used them in the past for other tours and would recommend them.  The tour after leaving the port is a great way to spend time before your hotel is ready for check in.

22 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Interesting. Both Marriott and Intercontinental have extended the “book by” deadline to keep your points intact.

I scrambled to use Marriott timeshare options this year as i thought they would expire at the end of this year.  Then after I used them they extended them again.  Oh well - I had two great trip tp Hawaii - April and August

56 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Interesting. Both Marriott and Intercontinental have extended the “book by” deadline to keep your points intact.

I scrambled to use Marriott timeshare options this year as i thought they would expire at the end of this year.  Then after I used them they extended them again.  Oh well - I had two great trip tp Hawaii - April and August

7 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

There’s a great (extended journey) cruise in late October - Barcelona to Rome. Following it is another good extended journey - Rome to Miami.

 

In any case, it is unreasonable to think that any cruiseline is considering your (or my) OTHER travel plans as they plan their future.

I use scopolamine for motion sickness - not sure i could handle a repositioning cruise.  I would love to do one but don't think I could handle the wave action.  Already a little concerned about going around the cape of South America  

58 minutes ago, marieps said:

Having to sail by Dec 31, 2022 is not a very long window considering we and many others have 2022 travel plans mapped out already.  I wish they would give until one year from original sail date.  If, in fact, they reinstate an FCC offer.

I agree- we are already booked for travel every month except October and December.

Son called this morning.  He said he threw up all night.  Thinks he has the flu (not COVID - he has natural immunity from having COVID three months ago.). Said his co-worker got sick this past week.  Needs a Doctors note to cancel his room for NYE so he can get a refund.  Told him to go the Urgent Care - he will need to actually see a medical doctor to get a note.

Keep hoping flu/omicron blows thru fast.

Doesn’t give you confidence when the CDC now says false positives are high for the PCR test and it is required for travel.  

On 12/28/2021 at 8:04 AM, AlexCherie said:

Thank you. 

We haven't been on an O ship yet, and waffled on this longer "Grand Cruise" at more dollars. Ultimately we picked a 10 day Caribbean trip in January - not particularly less expensive on cost per day, but airfare and shorter term put us onboard at $7K instead of $15K. 

AAR, when we board I'll be considering going anyway and doing two O trips in one year. For us, that would be a ridiculous amount ... and I'll tell you why. I think the 2023 trip will be easily another 25-35% more. I don't think there will ever be a better time to take that particular itinerary and I will never spend $1,000 a night for my wife and I to vacation. That is simply obscene.

I can't even believe I'm thinking about it ... the two trips would be more, combined, than I've spent in over 120 nights of cabin expense on Celebrity, Holland America. I am so, so excited for this next trip.

But I'll say this, that itinerary is a great one. One of the best by any cruise line, anywhere in the world, at an incredible time of the year to do what we like to do ... walk around old cities. Your fears about bubble excursions stand out.

Cheers, and thanks again for the response.

We have done one Carnival cruise to see if we could stand being on a cruise ship.  We did well and have now made several other trips.  Two with Paul Gauguin to the South Pacific and three on Oceania (Alaska, New Zealand, Norway).  The food really is amazing on Oceania.  We have two booked for this year - January 28 -Prismatic Patagonia -17 days and then April 4- Barcelona to Barcelona.  It has been stressful trying to make sure we have all the paperwork done (and I am pretty technically competent).  We also have a 2023 cruise booked with Oceania and are waitlisted for a suite.  It the prices increase 25 percent which they may with inflation we may stick with our reserved cabin.

I just feel for everyone affected and trying to manage credits.  I use a spreadsheet and still have to double check expiration dates.

anyway- good luck on your travels and hope to see you in April on the Barcelona cruise.

We are on the Barcelona to Rome and then back to Barcelona.  We have tried two bookings that go to the Canaries and both were canceled.  I sure hope this one goes.  We have booked extra days in Barcelona before the cruise.  I hope Spain isn’t in lockdown.