bcnvcanada

Has anyone traveled thru FCO (Rome) T-3 since the fire?

Are you able to get to the trains into Rome?

Where does one collect cases on arrival from

Canada or the U.S ?

Any info of how it has effected your travel or

how to plan for it, would be most welcomed.

We can rebook our flights to another city

in Italy. Suggestions most welcomed.

Off times cruise lines tell private tours to wait until their

booked tours are off and thru customs, however, if you

just join on the back of a tour going off the ship, you can

get thru customs quickly. All of our group, 11 vans load

did this in July of last year. We all went off with different

tour groups and were off with a half hour. Second day is

faster and no long lines. Private tours are the way to go,

so much more touring, no long lines, and wonderful

guides and not hours in controlled shopping. Our guide took us to one

shop, and we said we weren't interested, and that was that.

We found for the junky touristy things that the shop at the

port was the best. No venders on streets, near sites as

it was in the past.

I have cruised on the Diamond several times, when it was from Tokyo, and found the entertainment to be okay. Since it was mostly Japanese group, the

cruise director, spoke Japanese, and then English. Music for our cruise was mostly classical so language wasn't an issue. Others were acts of jugglers, and things like that. Sing a longs in English were popular as well as some

in Japanese. Your cruise should be a mix of Aussie, English speakers and some

Asians from several countries. We love these cruises and hope that you have wonderful time. Try the Lido has it had several Asian specialties. We loved the fresh made noodles and noodle bowls.

Try the green tea soft serve it is wonderful.

FYI Alaska is having warmer temps this year. Yesterday in Anchorage

one could were shorts. Suggest you use Weather Underground a couple

of days before you go and check out the weather. But the advise of others

layers is your best bet. Have a great cruise.

For your information, there was a problem near PV on May 5 and all Canadians and Americans we advised to save away. Will also mess up all West Coast

cruises this fall. After reading your Disney experience, I don't think we

could do this cruise line. Thanks again for your world reports. We know that it

takes a lot of time and money, but for those of us who are land bound, we really enjoy reading your adventures daily. Safe travels home and again thanks.

Since you can walk off early, I would suggest a taxi. With Princess you have to

wait until the bus fills up. Fort Lauderdale port can be a mess with customs

so the earlier you walk off the better. Taxis are right outside cost will be under 20usd.

Suggest that you try MSC, their full suites have seperate area for check in, buter, seperate lift to uper deck where all suites also priviate dinning area and pool. You are taken down lift to get off in a private area, at the time you wish. It might be more to your liking than Princess

Does any one know which bus to the train station 4 or 9 and if there is

a tabacco stand nearby to purchase tickects from? We are going to

go to Paestum. We tried a couple of tour companies but they would have

to come from Naples and would charge for this.

We too were in a suite aft on the Crown on this cruise. A couple of things to note. First the drill first day, was scheduled for 3:15, but do to late arrivals a flight from Canada, about 70 pax would miss it so captain, made a change to 4:00pm. Ship wide anouncement made at 3:00pm. As to where things are located, when you check in you are given a map of the ship. The crown grill was a disapointment as several items listed on the menu were not avalible. Service was good. Sabatini's for breakfast was

a waste, as their coffee machine expresso was not working. Service was slow. We went once. The layout of the suite was okay, our cabin steward was outstanding. Our landry came back daily before 4:00pm.

We recieved daily menu from the MDR night before. Things we found that were off, the room could have used a deeper cleaning. As for Astoria, we did this on our own, did for pubs, tasting a fleet in each. Easy walk from the ship. We also felt that they night life was dull and the acts old.

But the cruise had an overnight in SanFrancisco and late night in Victoria, which was wonderful. Overall a good cruise. Most travel was in the 800.

Cut off for the most traveled party was 260. Understand that it was a cruise with a lot of first time cruisers.

Is public transit easy to get from the docked area. We do not

know much about this port other than the Americans landed there

in World War II. Any help would be wonderful.

the movies under the stars screen will be completely replaced.

the system will be ungraded, same system as the royal and

regal have. though no movies on demand like the diamond,

contracted workers were getting on the ship as we were getting

off. they will be stayed in cabins on plaza deck. hopefully they

will replaced the old carpet that doesn't match. it looked like some

was like the diamond and sapphire that went through drydock last

year and this spring. most of the work will be required work, though.

really felt sorry for the crew, because of the pay issue, no tips, which

is a large part of there pay for two weeks.

Please to assist, where on the princess web site

do you need to find out number to get the money.

On the ship we are on, the cc rep said 42 for 75 and

53 for the 100. One of us is on the 41 cruise and the other

is on their 51 cruise. Thanks for the replies, and where

we can find out the info.

We would truly like to thank you for writing this blog on Hal board.

We look forward to your daily notes, thanks for taking us along.

We have enjoyed your side trips and have taken notes of some of the hotels.. Thanks, especially for the wonder pictures of Pagan, Myanmar. We loved seeing

the countryside, since we were there in 1986. They brought back so many

wonderful times. Again, safe travels, and we will be awaiting your next adventure. mb

I would suggest walk off if you can handle your cases. Taxis are

quickly gone. We find that there are usually many cruise ships

in port. It depends where you are parked, some are a km about away

from the coach station, and if you have wheeles you can easily walk it.

The earlier the better, if you need a taxi. There were be a lot of people

going to coach station, and train station. The shuttle they people on the board

thinking about is the cruise lines shuttle to either an airport or to a stop

in London. If I remember right it cost was about 79 usd. Your taxi, if you can

get one is less than 5 pounds for a load, and then your cost of National Coach, or the train.

We know that you have several more days left on

this world cruise, but we want to thank you for

taking the time to post your travels. We have

enjoyed them and taking some notes to use

when we visit some of the ports. We have

enjoyed hearing about the perks from the

Presidents Club. We do hope that you

will post -possible when you return home

your impressions of your cruise to the west coast.

We will interesting in hearing your thoughts. Again,

have a enjoyable cruise across the Atlantic.

Safe travels and will be awaiting your reports. We have enjoyed

your post. Again thanks.

First there are many cruise line in the Med- Princess being just one of these.

Ports are usually booked several years in advance, so many are filled.

You have to work around this to find an empty slot. In 2013 we were scheduled to call a Tunnis, which we unable to do, election unrest, we

went to Naples and docked at the ferry terminal. Last year we

went to Elba Island off of Italy. Since we don't think we will make it this

year, we are flying into Rome a week early and will fly down for an overnighter. This was something we wanted to do, so we will.

Diamond and Regal, think that they might add Crown in May and Island, this month. Will be interesting to see it they do.

We recently order one hamburger and one veg burger, along with soap, and ice cream. What we got was hot, though not quite right. Two sirloin steaks, soup and the ice cream. The steak was very good and very warm. Since one

of us does not eat meat, the second was not eaten. Before we ate, we recalled

room service, and the said sorry and would make another order. This order could

not be reused, so why steak was eaten. We were in a full suite at the time.

We have been able to go to MP three times. The first was with Princess, and the last two have been on our own. With Princess the first time, the hotels were good. We used Condor travel, and they were excellent.

We did pick our hotel including a nite at the hotel at the site, which goes

by a new name now. We also took the H B. train the last two times and it

was worth it. Our cost the last two times was about 40 per cent cheaper than Princess and we had a car, driver, and guide for the two of us.

As for the attitude sickness, check with your doctor, there are meds that can help. Also, we have used the native cure, the cocca tea, does help.

In a full suite we have always been asked our choice for dinning, and

as for special resturants, we do call on the first day d i n e and book for as well as chef table. So far they have been very helpful. We don't use full room service, though wish that we could book a special resturant, pay and have the meal sent up. We would be glad to pay extra over the cover charge for this. We do nice like the balcony meals they have.

Last year in the terminal one could purchase tours. Also there are

drivers outside terminal they put people together for tours. They do

cost about what the tours on the ship are, good news, they are smaller groups.

However, if you know where you want to go it is easy to do by public transportation. Check the board here for directions. Guides can be

hired at the sites you go to.

You will find an updated ship, with lovely Japanese baths. The food in the Lido is great. Do try the diferent types of noodles, sometimes four oftered at lunch. Usually there is a man making them there. Also the salad for breakfast and is a real treat. The food we found was high quality and the fruits and veggies the best. However, the best of is the GREEN TEA swirl for the ice cream place. Answere to your questions they do make

milk shake there also. All of us were hooked on the green tea swirl by the end of the cruise.

Our thoughts go out to all who have lost their lives in germanwings plane.

May the rest in peace.

We do this several times a year, but with Cathy. It is a long

walk to the security check and thendown, the lift, and back up some

times. The fastest we have ever done it is close to 30 minutes.

Before you land have the cabin people get someonee

at the gate to assit you. They can take you through the

personal line of the security check and know how to get you to

the gate on time. Don't know about United, but Cathy does

give you a hotel room at the airport if you miss the last

flight of the day. The hotel is in the airport.