tdtanc

Disinfect cabin! The entire cabin.

11 hours ago, WallyNDiane said:

We stayed just off La Rambla. We started siteseeing at seven am and walked the old Gothic Quarter. We were able to go in and tour the old Barcelona Cathedral which we really enjoyed. We saw the old city gates as well as most of the major sites in that area. We arrived back at our hotel at ten fifteen. We then packed and checked out right before eleven. We caught a taxi to the port and we were on the ship just before noon. We ate lunch on the ship and hung out till one forty five when they announced that rooms were ready. So we were able to get almost three hours of siteseeing in on cruise day. Certainly taking just off La Rambla helped us to do that.

What hotel did you guys stay at? 

I actually instant messaged the TMB Barcelona Metro and they responded pretty quickly. They said they are two different networks and it won't work. Which is fine because I am planning on getting the T10 card anyway. I have also looked into sun transfers.com and this could be an option. Of note I am happy I discovered a 3Euro cruise port shuttle bus from the base of Las Ramblas at the Columbus monument that takes you to the cruise ship. So that will save a little money. It is a 5 minute walk from Drassanes metro station. 

Thank you for the advice!

Todd

2 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I almost caused the end of my marriage [just joking, but it was tense!] by trying to do what you are proposing.  The train from the airport to Sants was fine.  At that point we should have taken a taxi to the hotel.  Instead we took the Metro – which does not have elevators or escalators in many stations!  Dragging our luggage up and down multiple staircases [under the watchful eye of obvious pickpockets] was not a good way to start our trip!  Taxis are cheap, and remember not to tip (more than a round-up Euro).

You are so right! Before my travels start I am so ambitious in my will to go with the local public transportation and then I usually come to my senses! I mean I'm on vacation right!! Why should I worry about stairs and pick pockets. Your warning is definitely noted. I feel better knowing alteast I've done the research if I'm feeling adventurous. 

Thank you.

Ok. I did some more research and the TMB/Metro line is not part of the combinado cercanias. I guess this is what you were telling me. This can all be very confusing. The best option for me looks like getting a T10 card that can be shared between 2 people for 10.20 Euro.  This is good for 10 trips. 

Todd

Hey hkto...thanks for your response. 

Ok have the combinado cercanías code on my ticket. I am reading that you can collect and use your free transfer ticket four hours after arrival at the destination of the Long Distance-Ave train. Doesn't say anything about just getting to Pl catalunya so I assume this includes the entire metro system??

Todd

Thank you in advance for any insight.

Arriving Barcelona from Madrid Via Renfe. Pretty straight forward connecting to Metro? Stairs to navigate with 3 suitcase and 2 people. Need to get to Drassanes Metro station and walk about 3 minutes to Hotel Arc La Rambla. Apparently the metro connection is also part of my Renfe ticket so I will need to figure that part out at a kiosk I guess.

Todd

13 minutes ago, Sizzlechest said:

The safes are a joke. They can be opened very easily.

 

 

I always thought this was possible!!

Now I know it is.

Theres no other explanation other than the room steward I would think. Or perhaps maintenance who I believe has to be escorted into a room (but I'm just speculating on that). 

Now I have questions. You said it was locked in the safe. I don't doubt you think that but are you positive. When I lock stuff in our safe I'm totally OCD. Check it multiple times. Have the SO do it as well.

Now are you saying you locked it in there at the beginning and went to get it at the end and we're surprised it was gone? Whats the timeline? Once you get off the boat I would think your ability to investigate anyone of interest is out the window.

TD 

1 minute ago, Ashland said:

Nice...but we're not doing the same itinerary you are....we're doing:

Barcelona, Cannes, Florence, Rome, Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Valleta.

 

So excited about our ports...the new ones for us are Greece & Malta.

I booked this particular cruise in Feb 2018 and so glad I did as the pricing has skyrocketed !!!

that's great. We did greece on Jewel 2 years ago. Do you like wine tours...I can recommend a good one there.

Wine Tour in Santorini-Santorini Wine Adventure Tours | Santorini Wine Tours | Santorini Cooking cla….webloc

14 hours ago, Ashland said:

So it actually is "depending" on some sailing factor's whether D+ will be able to use it.

We'll (D+) be on the May 18th cruise and it really doesn't matter to us either way.

We will be getting on the day you get off.....May 30th. Barceonla to Venice as well?

Todd

Hope everyone is well. So still unclear if I will be able to use the Concierge lounge as a Diamond Plus on Vision May 30th Barcelona to Venice and return. Anyone with any insight or is it pinnacle dependent? I do like the idea of using the some enchanted lounge or schooner bar outside the diamond lounge for the nightly happy hour! 

Thanks in advance

Todd

Thats great. Thank you. The winery has transportation so that's a good thing. They get great reviews on trip advisor. 

TD

http://www.levignediraito.com/eng/

Great advice and thank you for making me think about the train option. Just an FYI we want to get back at or around lunch time because we want to go to the winery close to Salerno called LeVigne di Raito. We want a tour and lunch. They get great reviews on trip advisor. 

Thank you

Here is their link just for an fyi

Welcome to Le Vigne di Raito - Le Vigne di Raito.webloc

Good evening cruise critic peeps. Hope you all are well.

Got a quick question or any advice. Ship gets into Salerno at 7am. Want to get to pompeii and back by 12:30. Gonna do this by Taxi. Anyone have a recommendation for a car service or just simply walk off the ship and hail a taxi? Cost to get to pompei?

Thanks in advance

T$

On 3/18/2018 at 9:04 PM, pmmaurer said:

 

Great blog, love you pictures. How far out did you book your reservation.

Patty this tour looks good

Todd

I can't speak to the Vision but we just got off the Epic this morning in Barcelona. The ship arrived at 5am and a lot of people were off the ship prior to 5:30. It was a breeze getting through the cruise terminal to outside where there are lots of taxis waiting. And it's about 20-30 minutes from the port to the airport.

 

 

 

However, when we arrived at the Barcelona airport, it was crazy. We were on Air Canada along with about 1000 other people waiting in line. This was about 8:30am. The agents did not open their stations until exactly 2 hours prior to our air departure time. I was hoping that the people at the end of the lines didn't have an early flight to catch. Our flight to the states via Toronto left at 11:45am and we did have plenty of time. But, we had wheelchair assistance at the airport so fortunately did not have to wait in long lines to get through the checkpoints.

Thanks for this information. This does actually give me hope for a 10:30am flight. Especially if I use miles to fly first class and possibly utilize the expedited lines at the airport.

TD

Wow - I wouldn't like to risk it! Although most run to schedule, there is no guarantee your ship will dock exactly on time then you have to travel to the airport and queues at Barcelona can be horrendous.

Thats kind of what I'm hearing as well. I am leaning towards 12pm departure in light of all of this.

Thank you.

Todd

Come on peeps help me out please.

TD

What is everyones recent experience with debarkation time in Barcelona after a cruise? On a cruise with Vision and it arrives 6am on a Tuesday (so it states).

Safe to make a 10:30am flight to the states?

Todd

Yeah....becoming Diamond plus has not been that glamorous so far! Go for pinnacle or try celebrity?

Todd

Thanks in advance for all the info.

Going on Harmony 18 August. Just got off Mariner and it was my first Diamond plus cruise but there was some confusion, at least on my part, as to what lounge I could use. I was under the impression I could use the suite lounge but that was not the case. Used the diamond lounge and it was fine.

What lounge(s) will I have access to on Harmony? Any other perks?

Thank you

Todd

Hey punkin....which cruise line are you taking out of new zealand? You got a great price for your airfare!

I'm looking at Ovation March 30th.

Todd

Thanks Diane. I will check out Qantas premium economy. Have 400k delta sky points so trying to use those. Guess I am just being spoiled trying to get those BC seats Maybe BC flying to Sydney and premium economy coming back??

Todd