blubelle57

I wonder how it works really giving a boarding time because there are people travelling in on the day who may not be arriving until later than their specified time as well as people who may be coming off early morning flights who won’t want to hang around until 3 in the afternoon before they can board. Last year we were in a hotel overnight and had to checkout by 12 so we made our way to the ship about 12.30 and got to board without any problems. Everyone we spoke to had different boarding times but we all got checked in without any hassle. There was a small queue but it was very efficient.

We went to the Mystery dinner on Indy last month. The show was great, we really enjoyed it. The food was on a par with Chops, better than the usual Giovanni's fare. Everyone on our table loved it and would go again. Of course, the cast on Liberty will be different.....

That's good to know we're doing this on our upcoming cruise on Indy and really looking forward to it glad you enjoyed it!

We did a Colosseum underground tour with Walks of Italy. Fantastic. Highly recommend. Not sure of the start times, but you can check your dates:

 

https://www.walksofitaly.com/rome-tours/colosseum-underground-tours

Thanks just had a look at this but unfortunately only time they have available on our date is 2pm which is too late for us :( I'll keep checking though in case other times become available.

We just turned up on the day and joined the next tour. The tour returns to the main entrance where it starts, but we wanted to walk down to the town afterwards, so after the tour ended the guide took us back through part of the tunnel network to an exit lower down the Rock.

I'll need to remember this because that would be handy as we intend to head down to the town afterwards time permitting. Thanks.

Thanks JB and Tony for all your help and advice we'll head straight there on the day. May visit the Moorish Castle too depending how our timing works out. Loved your video thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the info do you know if we can just turn up on the day then and pay at the entrance? I'm just concerned that if there are loads of people on prebooked tours we won't get in :confused:

We're hoping to visit WW2 tunnels but I'm finding it hard to get much information. We don't want to do a tour as such as we just want to visit the tunnels then do a bit of shopping. What I'd like to know is can you prebook a guided tour of the tunnels only? Any info greatly appreciated thanks.

That's great thanks for the info. I'm obviously too early but at least I know now that we should be able to book a later time closer to our visit.

Hi all, hoping to book this for September but all the tours seem to start at either 8.30 or 9.00 am which is too early for us travelling into Rome. Question is does anyone know if later tours become available as they fill up? I've looked at dates in March and there seem to be late morning tours available for then. Tried emailing asking one of the companies selling tours but they just gave me a list of alternative Colosseum tours! Any help appreciated thanks.

That's great thanks I knew the information would be there somewhere!

We're cruising on Independence of the Seas 14 nights Med in September and I wonder if anyone can tell me how many formal nights we're likely to have? Thanks.

We're just back from our first Celebrity cruise on Reflection. Previouly sailed twice with RCCL. Didn't find that many differences between them. Ship is beautiful, staff great and food great but we would say the same about both our previous experiences with RCCL. For us we enjoyed entertainment a bit more on RCCL and also felt people were more polite. We met lots of really nice people on all our cruises this one incluced but were disappointed with how many rude people we encountered on Reflection - maybe we were just unlucky this time. Still had a wonderful time and would sail Celebrity again. We went to shows in the theatre several times and always got a seat no problem.

Thanks for your review glad you enjoyed your cruise. Its great that you've taken the time to share your experiences.

My friend refused for years to cruise because of the very same fears and several years ago was convinced to try a Thomsons cruise. Her husband booked them on a back to back so they were aboard for 14 nights. I feared it would be too long for her especially as it was her first cruise. She came home and went straight to the TA to book again for the following year. She couldn't believe how much she'd enjoyed it. They have cruised every year since then! Thomsons ships aren't anywhere like the size of NCL so I'm sure you'll love it - you probably won't even realise you're sailing half the time ;)

I always enjoy my balcony. I have never cruised without out one. First place I visit in the morning, and last place I visit at night. I have even been known to wake up in the middle of the night, sneak out onto the balcony for a few moments, then hop back into bed. I keep my curtains open at night :eek:, and wake up several times a night to a beautiful ocean view. Also, can get some great early morning pictures of a sun rise if sailing in the right direction, while still wearing my pj's. Enjoy breakfast and lunch on the balcony on sea days. Enjoy watching the ship arrive or a a port. Having a balcony view of the ocean helps ease the pain of packing for the trip home .

We've only cruised twice - once with balcony once inside - definitely preferred balcony. I never thought to leave curtains open at night other than a tiny bit so we can see daylight creep in. I'm going to try this -I'm up and down all night so I might as well enjoy the beautiful view and sunrise. Thanks for the tip :D

I just wrap a towel round me and head straight back to cabin. As long as you're not dripping water why worry - you're on holiday. After all we're all in the same boat ;)

They certainly did fly by it was our first cruise and we had a wonderful time on the Brilliance. We're trying out Celebrity this year - Greek isles - hope we'll enjoy it as much!

We cruised on the Freedom last month with out 18 month old and had our City Mini with us and it fit through our cabin door perfectly fine. We also had no problems going down the hallways or anything. In Grand Cayman, we kept our son in the stroller to get on and off the tender with no problems. We didn't do any excursions in any port, so I'm if no help there. We did use a Frogg Toggs cooling towel and it seemed to help some. We used it both in the stroller as well as in our Tula carrier.

So happy to see you have a little boy now we met you both on the Brilliance when you were on your honeymoon happy memories.

Mary :)

Yes, the ship excursions drop you in Fira because that way they don't need to move the ship back to original starting point of the excursion to pick people up. So, yes, you're options are to cable car or donkey trail back down. I chose donkey trail and had no problems with it. It was quite nice to leisurely walk down as long as you're comfortable being near donkeys and the occasional donkey residue on the trail (which I had no problem avoiding). It is a stone/pavement type trail with very widely spaced steps. It is not dirt/gravel.

 

Here is a link to my Santorini pictures. If you look at the last 8 pictures or so, you can get an idea of what you face by taking the donkey trail.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rickchapman/sets/72157631722811018/

Thanks your photos are great can't wait to take some of our own! Yes the donkey trail doesn't look too bad - think we'll go with that option.

Thanks for taking the time to give us your review. Glad you had a wonderful time. I'm getting more and more excited about ours now :D

To avoid the cable car, donkeys or walking up 330 steps from the quayside to Fira, simply take one of your ships shore excursions. The tenders for ships shore excursions go to another point where buses have access to the quayside.

The ships excursions that I've looked at seem to drop off in Fira and you still have to make your way down by either cable car or donkey trail. I don't want to do the cable car so think I'm going to have to navigate the steps down :eek:

19 days to go until we set sail on Celebrity Reflection! So excited!!!:)

Where have all the photo reviews gone! Loved reading them a couple of months but it's all gone so quiet!

We're on Reflection in September and I'm like you keep looking for photos. Read some mixed reviews recently but I'm going with the positives :D I know we will have a great cruise! Post some pics when you get back if you can and have a great time!

Thanks for the tour we're on our first Celebrity cruise on Reflection in September and the excitement is building :D

On both cruiselines, if you prepay gratuities, or if you leave the daily service charge on your account, then there is nothing else to do. The wait team and housekeeping will know that you have paid your gratuities. They will know who removed the gratuities charge from their onboard account, and who has already paid.

Thanks that seems a much better system. Glad to hear Royal Caribbean have the same policy now.

That is a great decision. I like the pre-paid because it removes one more potentially stressful situation from sailing ahead of time. If I choose, I can tip additionally to whoever I want - at my discretion and timing.

 

It was one thing I hated about RCCL. I am not sure if they do it anymore, but on the final night you received envelopes with vouchers for each person you had to tip (Stateroom steward, Waiter, Assistant Waiter - and an optional one for the Maitre D). Then you were to hand these to the people - which was very awkward at dinner.[/quote

 

This is our first Celebrity cruise previously RCCL. We have prepaid our gratuities but I'm assuming from your post we will not have to hand out envelopes on the last night. On our previous cruises we put something extra in with the vouchers. Whats the system on Celebrity?