cruzfool

We just returned from our TA on Voyager and we were so lucky that the weather for our Azores stop was perfect. We booked the scenic drive to crater lakes tour booked thru RCCL and it was a typical large bus tour with too many people and not enough time. We did it for security reasons as we'd never been there before and didn't know what to expect. We go again next year & will book a tour thru a local company. ps there were many tour/taxi guys waiting right at the port so even if you book nothing, you should find someone to take you around without the company of 6 large tour busses. Also whale watching & fishing charter boats available right at the port. we had time in the am to walk the town, visit the farmers market, and get a feel for the island. just lovely.

We have used spaindaytours and Italy tours (sister company) for many tours over the past few years and they have been 98% excellent, with rude and disrespectful passengers being the only reason for the -2%. we choose them over ships tours due to the limited number of passengers and the ability to see and do more in the same time, & without the hassle of the extra hour the cruise line adds waiting around in the theater for the tour to get going. In Lisbon for Cascais and Sintra tours & airport transfers we used outingportugal who provided us with100% excellent service for private tours

Krazy Lobster is my best bet - Mauricio the friendly owner and all of the excellent staff always get my vote for any port visit to Costa Maya. Beware of the latest taxi scam at the port entrance is to try and sell you on another location for $15 pp, telling guests that Krazy Lobster is full or that you MUST have a reservation. This is never true, Krazy Lobster will always have enough space for you. 100%.

for me personally, I agree and wouldn't dream of not being prepared, looking at maps etc. but judging by the number of people we heard this from on our sailings last year plus RCCL's continued marketing of Ravenna as being Venice is ridiculous. It isn't like other European places where the port is listed for the city, like, Civitevecchia, (Rome), Piraeus (Athens), as those are the ports for those cities, but Ravenna is not and never will be the port for Venice.

Last year, we flew into Bologna and planned to take the train to Ravenna a few days prior to our cruise, however torrential rain flooded the area with lots of damage to infrastructure, including railway tracks and needless to say, no trains to Ravenna. Lucky for us we were a few days early & as we stood hopeless at the ticket machine, I happened to catch sight of a Celebrity Cruises bus outside the railway station and they kindly let us hitch a ride to the port where their ship was leaving from also a few days before our RCCL ship. We then got a taxi to Ravenna where we stayed at a lovely airbnb. Having a plan is awesome, having a back up is best. We took the RCLL bus from Ravenna to Venice on the return. Sold on board, very reasonable, very easy and prompt.

YES THIS!!!! I was so vocal about RCCL's continued misleading advertising, I cannot believe they've not been sued by any one of the many folks who wake up in Venice to "get a cab" to the ship, only to find out its 3 hours away. We heard so many nightmare stories last year.

For sure, there are a limited number of taxis in Ravenna, and as the other poster mentioned, it is a beautiful city, with nothing to do at the port. I second the suggestion to take the cruise line bus transfer, usually 15-20E pp, then buy one of the multi-site tickets for entrance to see the painted churches. Stunning.

here's some info based on my experience? each credit card issuer has a bank affiliate and the ATM machines are marked accordingly. I'm not talking convenience stores, airport or small bank ATM's, I'm talking Main Street banks. On the machine it will clearly show you what their affiliation is. These are the machines we use for all our currency withdrawals when traveling overseas unless in a country serviced by ALLpoint which offers free withdrawals at those other locations. I bank with a bank that offers free ATM transactions so no fees, but even if there are fees, its still typically less than bureau de change type locations or god forbid, airport or hotel currency conversion places. just be careful if on a busy street to guard your pin and keep an eye out for cookie loos...we will try to use one thats in a bank lobby or entrance. then hubs and I split up the cash between us...hope this helps a little bit?

Typically, electing to charge in "native" currency without conversion is better as your credit card bank will offer better exchange rates when they do the conversion...sometimes its only a small amount, but it all adds up over time....also why its better to get money from a Main Street bank ATM overseas rather than an exchange facility🙂

Curious for a solo cruiser, how does the D+ BOGO work please?

just saw they are now monetizing pickle ball on board the wonder....adding sign up for instructor led class at additional cost.