marazul

Yes, that's the official site. The only tickets you might want to get in advance are for Casa Battló. If you are interested in Modernist architecture, do not miss visiting the Hospital de San Pau. It is not a Gaudí work, but it is by his contemporary Lluis Domenech. https://www.introducingbarcelona.com/hospital-de-san-pau

@NCteacherlovescruising I have not taken either excursion but I have visited both cities. I would choose Bologna over Faena. Bologna has been in the news recently with its huge, leaning tower. It is also the seat of the oldest university of the Western world (around 1000 years). However, do not miss seeing the mosaics in Ravenna. At the very least, go to the Basilica of san Vitale to see the 5th Century mosaics. All sites are close together and easy to reach from the port. Search this board for details and google "Ravenna mosaics" for more info. They are magnificent and a top destination by themselves.

@alserrod Well, abuelos and a short port day complicate things... Here is a suggestion: Taxi to Riomaggiore. Explore the town going down to the port. Ferry to Vernazza. Everybody will enjoy the ride and you get the best views of the villages. Explore Vernazza. Pizza? Train to Manarola. Explore Manarola. Train to La Spezia.

Well, part of the family can stay on board and the other part can go sightseeing to all 5 villages. The part that stays on board could maybe go to Porto Venere for a couple of hours to enjoy a similar experience to Cinqueterre. Sometimes (often) it is best to split up so everyone enjoys what they want to do. Especially the kids who probably don't want to be taken on more sightseeing when they would rather be at the pool.

Is that an order of preference or the actual order you will be visit? Planning your visit in that order doesn't make sense because you will be backtracking. If you want to visit all five villages, you should start at the North end with Monterosso, then Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. You can take the train or ferry to Monterosso and then go back South to the other villages either by ferry or train or walking. Corniglia is not on the water, so you would have to take the train or walk there. Another possibility is to take the taxi to Riomaggiore and then the ferry to Monterosso and then back south. Seeing the villages from the water is not to be missed.

We really like thee Hera.

That works. Use the rest of your day to walk around Plaka and have dinner there. Get your tickets to the Acropolis for first admission the next morning.

There will be taxis at the port. You may have to wait if there are too many people waiting, but they keep coming. There will be taxis at the exits of the Acropolis. When you come out of the NAM, cross the street and flag down a taxi to go back in the "right" direction. Buy your tickets for the Acropolis on the official website. You can buy your ticket to NAM right at the museum. No need to prebook.

George's Taxi started out as one taxi driven by George Kokkotos. He became "famous" on various websites when he started giving tours to tourists (us among many). Over the years, his sons expanded the company into a full service transfer/tour company. George retired a few years ago, but his company is going strong. https://www.georgestaxi.com/worldfamous/

We were at that Quai with Seabourn just 5 or 6 years ago. That's why I said smaller ships dock there. Digue usually refers to smaller seawalls, but what they built is really a pier.

"Rade" means harbor. FTV means Fontvieille, the yacht harbor on the west side of Monaco. Maybe you will tender there. I just read the port's website. There is a long "semi-floating" pier (digue) where cruise ships dock in Port Hercule, the main port. So that's what they call the long pier at the port. Smaller cruise ships can dock inside the port. https://www.ports-monaco.com/les-croisieres/ There is the video on that page. Take a look.

If you are willing to do a private excursion, a tour to the Etruscan necropolis in Cerveteri and a visit to the Castello Odescalchi on the shores of Lake Bracciano are a great option. Cerveteri is closed on Mondays. The castle is open daily in the summer. Companies such as Rome cabs offer this option. https://www.romecabs.com/toursinitaly/rome-countryside-tours/

Yes, all taxis have a cc terminal. Ask before you get in because some might tell you it is out of order when you are ready to pay. This is rare.

Look at this thread: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2976917-transport-in-barcelona-taxi-metro-bus-etc-to-the-city-port-and-airport-all-information-and-questions/page/3/#comment-67049034

I checked out the Alexandra. It is indeed a Hilton and within steps of the Passeig de Gracia where two of Gaudi's masterpieces are: Casa Batllo and Casa Mila (La Pedrera). It is located on the Carrer de Mallorca, a cross street between Passeig de Gracia and Rambla de Catalunya. There are lots of good and reasonably priced restaurants in the area, especially along the Rambla de Catalunya. It looks very nice and the location is excellent. You will get a lot more sightseeing done in that area just by walking out the door. This would be important in the morning before you go to the port because you can go out for more sightseeing without worrying about check out or going back and forth to the Hampton Inn. The Hampton is really out of the way. The Alexandra would be great if you can get it with points. If you are using points+cash, you could look at one of the many non-Hilton hotels in that same area. There are many reasonably priced 2 and 3-star hotels around it. You might get it for less cash and save the points. Good luck. Here is the map of that area with all the hotels marked up: https://www.google.com/maps/search/Hotels/@41.3900169,2.1664427,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m4!2m3!5m2!5m1!1s2024-05-13?hl=en&entry=ttu

When you compare itineraries make sure you check how many hours are spent in each port. MSC is notorious for short stops, for example 4 hours in a port instead of 8 or 10. That really shortchanges your ability to do any meaningful sightseeing in that port.

I wasn't familiar with the name. I will look it up.

In Barcelona or Granada?

Why do you have to stay in a Hilton? If you are not using points, you can stay at lots of better located hotels for a more reasonable price. US chains generally do not have the best locations in most European cities, unless you look at their flagship prestige properties.

Yes, it is. You can email it, call them, or send it by WhatsApp.

If your anxiety is only for dropping of your luggage to start sightseeing, you can spend an extra 15 minutes in the taxi and drop off your luggage at a centrally located hotel. From the airport hotel you would still have to take a taxi and ride the extra 15 minutes to get to the sights. And then taxi back to the airport hotel instead of just walking back to the in-town hotel. Staying in town means that you will be able to walk in and out of the hotel as you please. This would be most useful the day you arrive. Barcelona (and all of Spain) stay up late. Dinnertime is from 9 pm on. Tapas time starts much earlier. The town is lively and there is much going on in the evenings. If you are staying in town, you can walk into your hotel for a little rest and then go out for tapas. If you stay near the airport, you would probably go back early and crash. Same next day. Taxi back and forth to go sightseeing. Then taxi to the pier. You would be missing out on sightseeing time and wasting money for transportation by staying out of town. Think about it. One taxi to the hotel and one taxi to the pier if you stay in town.

I so agree with you! The Costa del Sol is not the Caribbean. The very nice golf resort they are going to is not Sandals or the Club Med. I am afraid @BDEM might be disappointed with a boring and not really "beach" experience for their anniversary. But, what do we know... My best wishes to them for a wonderful day whatever they decide.

They are very easy to work with for a customized tour. Their set tours are suggestions for first time visitors. You have obviously done your research and have some preferences. They will accomodate you, put the sights in the most efficient itinerary and make suggestions.

https://guidedtoursmalta.com/

Book the tour anytime. There is no particular advantage. Since the SF is not near other tourist attractions like the Gothic Quarter, Passeig de Gracia, etc., I would go there first and then move on to the other areas. I am not sure about what you say about which facade to do. The entrance is through the Nativity facade and your guide will describe it. The exit is through the Passion facade.