anniversay/grad trip

Does anyone know the time it will take to drive to Cinque Terre from Livorno? We are planning on renting a car in Livorno and with the help of a GPS venturing out. Can we drive between towns? and how many towns would be reasonable to see in a 7am -7pm port day. My husband has driven in the Tuscan region before and he also very much enjoys it...Must be the Italian background lol

Cost for taxi vs train? just the 2 of us...if not too costly would opt for the taxi but since there is no cost sharing this time around, the train may be the only option financially.

We have used Catherine of Prestige Tours several times, and she is awesome. Cost is 350euro for the full day and she takes care of all the parking fees and tolls. Highly recommend her...

Are the shuttle buses run by the port authority or the individual cruise lines? We will be in Barcelona July 3rd and have been to Barcelona several times before so ideally we would just like to stroll along Las Ramblas and have Churros and coffee at one of our fav spots. Any idea of bus cost? can we pre purchase tickets?

Does anyone know who has done this, what the cost of a taxi would be from the cruise port in Dublin to the city centre (Trinity College or Grafton Street)

 

In Belfast to the Titanic exhibit? and then to the town centre?

Is anyone aware if the NCL (Star) offers a shuttle into the Dublin city centre?

For anyone that has done the Canary Isle cruise with stops in Madeira and Casablanca, are the main towns (markets) within walking distance from the cruise port? What would we expect to pay to get to Monte on Madeira?

Jefa's advice is great. We rented a car at the port on Lanzarote; excellent service from the local company. We drove immediately to Fire Mountain to beat the long lines that can form later. Passed the camel rides on the way but didn't stop. Jumped on the tour bus that had English narrative and really enjoyed seeing Timanfaya (Fire Mtn) with its craters. Then we drove around part of the island, seeing many wonderful things. The Canary Islands were absolutely wonderful. Pics are here: http://www.pbase.com/roothy123 - look for the Iberian Sojourn album which includes Lanzarote. Funchal and Granada are there, too.

 

In Funchal (also wonderful), we arranged a shorter version of the normal tour from Daniel of Madeira Taxi, going to Monte (crazy wicker basket toboggan rides (we passed on those, but did take a look), pretty church, opportunity to take cable car down to Funchal), plus went to Camara de Lobos (Churchill was famous visitor, home of fishing boats, dinky lighthouse, nice chapel, lots of restaurants, etc.), Cabo Girao glass platform overlook over land below) and Nun's Valley (mountains & views). We took the cable car down from Monte after the tour (good, but not something I would say you HAVE to do) and then I went to the Zona Velha (old city) in Funchal, which was very nice. There are at least 50 painted doors, tons of restaurants, a small but fun to photograph fort, etc. Enjoyable day, but a short one, as it often is on cruises.

 

If the "Grenada" is actually Granada, home of the Alhambra, we took a tour with others to see the Alhambra, pretty spectacular inside, although I thought the tour was a bit too long. It was also hot that day....forget the name of the tour company, but they used vans and picked about 16 of us at the port city (Motril for us) for transport to the Alhambra. If you look at Trip Advisor or perhaps just google Alhambra tours or look back in posts here, you'll find them. They did a good job. If you are porting in Motril there isn't a thing to do right there at the port, and few vendors for tours unless you've pre-booked. Some ships, however, port in another location that is farther from Granada but has more to do besides a long trip to Granada/Alhambra. I forget if the port is Malaga (nice city with plenty of things to explore) or what, but either location is good if you just want to go to the Alhambra, which IS quite famous.

 

Have not been to Santa Cruz de Tenerife (only Santa Cruz de la Palma, which can sometimes be confused with the SC on the island of Tenerife!) or Morocco.

Thank you for your response. We will be porting in Malaga I believe. I understand that Granada can get pretty cold at this time of year. What would you suggest on a day that the high is 12c? Do you have any links to the tour companies you used?

I live in Lanzarote, and you can pick up a taxi at the port which will show you the main attractions. You can also hire a car at the port too. The one place I would suggest you visit here are the Fire Mountains.

 

Thank you for your response Jefa. What type of weather can we expect in mid February? What should we expect to pay a taxi driver to visit Fire mountain and then some local shopping and back to the port?

We currently have booked a suite (Aft facing PH Suite) on the Spirit for a Canary Isles cruise next month. Can anyone who may have stayed in this cat tell me if there is a bar set up included?

Just booked a last minute cruise out of Barcelona to the following ports:

 

Casablanca, Morocco

Funchai, Madeira

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Lanzarote

Grenada

 

We generally book as far as a year out, with plenty of time for planning the ports DIY. We are not partial to the ship escorted tours as we find there is usually a lot of time spent waiting on people rather than seeing the intended sights. Having said that, I am looking for direction as to what to do in these ports. We generally like to see the main attraction, do a bit of local shopping and then head to a cafe for local delicacies.

 

Any help that can be offered would be most appreciated.

Most of the wineries will ship your wine for you. Several people on our wine tour had cases sent to their respective homes all over North America, so I can't imagine the cost would be that high. The wines themselves were anywhere from 10-16euros per bottle so I can't imagine the cost to ship it would be more than the wine itself. If you go online to Tuscan Wineries there are several that have email addresses that you could ask the question of average cost to ship.

I have booked a wine tour with lunch included that is rated highly on trip advisor for this August. The tour company is Rome Cabs The cost of the tour is 550euros for up to 8 people (so fairly reasonable if you share with other cc members on your sailing as we are doing) Here are the details:

 

 

 

From Livorno Port: Your English speaking driver will meet you next to your ship holding a sign with your name at 8:00 AM, and your day will begin with a relaxing drive through the Tuscan countryside to your first destination, Monteriggioni

 

Tour TripSan GimignanoMonteriggioniWine Tasting in Chianti with LunchTimeDuration: Full Day

DepartureDeparture from: Livorno

 

Monteriggioni (Tuscany)

 

Nestled in the heart of Tuscany, Monteriggioni fulfills one’s imagination of what a Medieval walled village would be like. Perfectly preserved, when you set foot through its entrance gate you find yourself stepping back in time to early 13th century when the Sienese built this hamlet as a strategic military fortress on the border of their arch enemy, Florence. The roughly circular shape of the town actually follows the natural contours of the elevated ground upon which it was built. The fortified walls total 570 meters in length with 14 towers and 2 gates: one facing Florence and the other facing Rome.

 

Monteriggioni was so prominent at one time that the great Tuscan poet Dante Alighieri referenced to Monteriggioni’s 14 towers in his famous Divine Comedy. ( BTW translated from Italian into English by John Ciardi, must be a distant relative there are so few Ciardis out there.)

 

Historic Renaissance buildings once owned by local aristocracy and a Romanesque church with a simple facade dominate the lovely square. A pedestrian-only zone, the village is perfect for a stroll exploring the charming streets, gardens and small businesses of the town.

 

 

San Gimignano, Tuscany (Italy)

 

From here you will head to your next Tuscan destination, San Gimignano: the impressive hilltop town informally nicknamed “the Medieval Manhattan” for the many towers that define its distinctive and unforgettable skyline. It is also fondly known as “San Gimignano of the beautiful towers” (San Gimignano delle belle Torri). Today only 13 towers stand, a significant decrease from the original 72 that centuries ago graced its skyline.

 

San Gimignano is a distinctive Medieval town whose historic center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its main square, Piazza della Cisterna, is a special treat for all visitors offering a taste of what the town has to offer. A beautiful well on whose steps crowds gather to admire the beauty that surrounds them is the focal point of the square. The square is encircled by eclectic Medieval buildings from various eras, imposing Romanesque and Gothic Palazzi (palaces), and lofty towers. Some of Tuscany’s best gelato shops are located in this square, as well as cafes, ceramic shops, local boutiques and enotecas where you can purchase the famous Vernaccia wine of San Gimignano that has been produced since the 13th century and enjoyed by Italy’s most illustrious among which were Lorenzo the Magnificent, Dante Alighieri and Michelangelo Buonarroti.

 

San Gimigano’s history is as rich as its beauty, and spans across 2 millennia to 3rd century BC when it was once an Etruscan settlement. Later on during the Roman Republic it is said that two noble brothers by the name of Muzio and Silvio fled Rome to this region and built two castles: Muccio and Silvia. Castle Silvia was renamed San Gimignano in 450 AD when Bishop Geminianus intervened to spare the castle from imminent destruction by Atilla the Hun’s followers. A church was dedicated to the Bishop who later was canonized into sainthood, and a village began to grow around the church and flourished into a developed city heavily involved in the trade of agricultural products such as Vernaccia wine and saffron. Due to its location along Via Francigena, during the Middle Ages San Gimignano became a rest stop for pilgrims who traveled to and from the Vatican.

 

With trade came wealth and well-to-do families of merchants and moneylenders erected towers to establish their economical power. At their peak during the 14th century, 72 towers were erected - the higher the tower, the greater the power. Although other cities such as Florence had towers erected, centuries of war and urban development have more than decimated them. It is astonishing that so many towers have remained erect and so well preserved in San Gimignano.

 

 

Chanti, Tuscany (Italy)

 

 

From here you will head to the glorious region of Chianti to Renaissance farm estate Villa le Corti for lunch at their traditional Osteria del Principe and sample the silky olive oil and delicious wine produced at the winery from grapes grown on their 120 acre vineyard on your visit to the winery. (*** see "please note" section below for prices***)

 

The elegant 17th century Renaissance Tuscany villa with romantic gardens belongs to the Corsini family whose lineage reaches as far back as 1427 when the villa, a fortified tower at that time, was owned by the Corsini family. With much care and dedication, the current Corsini family members have ensured the Villa and the farm estate continue to prosper and produce elegant wines and organic olive oil.

 

This marks the end of your Tuscany and Chianti tour. From here you will enjoy a countryside drive back to your accommodation in Florence or Port of Livorno.

Thank you for choosing Stefano Rome Tours for your day tours and shore excursions. We look forward to showing your our beautiful Italy!

Please Note Please note

 

 

* Winery Tour, Lunch, Wine Tasting (3 wines) and Olive Oil tasting is 35 Euros per person.

Advanced reservations by us for the winery are required, cancellations must be made at least 7 days in advance. Payment for wine tour and lunch must be made by customer to the winery on the date of the tour.

__

Specify the port. The island isn't very big but getting from one part to another can take a lot of time.

 

As I mentioned in my initial post...I'm not sure which port we dock at? Not sure where to get that info?

Our cruise line (NCL) offered a shuttle into the Old Town (as I believe most of them do for $12USD pp). Once you get off the bus it is about a 3-5 min walk to the kiosk that sells the petit train tickets (it also departs and returns to there) The train ride itself takes about 20mins to get to Notre Dame and you can spend as much time there as you want as the trains are quite frequent. The cost of the train 2 years ago was 7euro pp and across the street from the drop off point are several little cafes to enjoy a glass of wine or a coffee looking over the fishing area. Not a lot to do in Marseille imho but worth getting off the ship to explore.

Just finalizing each port for our upcoming Med cruise and Corsica has me stumped...I'm not sure which port we dock at (we are on the Royal Caribbean Seranade of the Seas) Aug 27th sailing, if anyone has that info....

 

Any suggestions for this port of call? (not beach people)

Would it be possible to give me step by step instructions on how to get to the elevator to get to Valetta from the cruise terminal? My husband has some mobility issues (knee problems) but it sounds like an easy walk?

For anyone who has done this....without buses. What is the easiest way to get to the hydrofoil to get to the Isle of Capri? Cost? Does anyone know of any transfer companies or is it an easy cab ride? We'd rather not wait around for buses. What is the cost of the Hydrofoil? and I think I read somewhere that there is a cable car involved once off the ferry? We are in port for a full day and just want to go to The main town. Any info would be appreciated.

We are sailing on the Serenade of the Seas Aug27-Sept 5th/14 and am wondering what you liked or disliked about this ship. We have sailed the Med 3 times before, most recently on the NCL Epic and although I am not drawn to larger ships (i have sailed the Oasis, the Epic as well as Celebrity Summit, Ruby Princess to name a few) but I'm wondering if the Serenade might be a little too small?

Firstly is it a similar ship and also is it a similar cabin?

Different ships in the med doing similar itineraries can vary substantially in price.

 

It is only when you run the price through and do a mock booking you can actually see where the half off is.

 

I actually called RCI and had them price it for me. It is the same# of days, but the ship that we have booked is Serenade of the seas and the one that is being offered with the same itinerary next year is Vision of the Seas, which looks to be a similar ship. Also both were the same cabin Midship, ocean view.

I am currently booked for an upcoming Med cruise this August and told my DS about the promo that is going on, as she is planning to do a similar itinerary next summer with her family. I told her that now would be the time to book, as the BOGO promo would be a great incentive to book this far out. When I called RCI i was told that the prices that are published online are already discounted to include the 50% off fare for the 2nd person. I fail to see where the promo is??? The "normal" price I booked at for this summer is nearly $300pp less than the "promo" price for next year at the same time. I would imagine that the price would increase for next year due to inflation etc etc. Which would account for the $300pp difference, so where is the "special" pricing? I would hazard a guess that once the promo is over you could probably book this cruise at around the same cost...Am I missing something? I realize that you cannot predict what will happen in the cruise industry, prices may fall drastically due to economy etc or they may rise drastically but, RCI is holding your deposit of over $1000 (for 4 people) for 18 months and offering no real incentive IMHO.

I booked my upcoming cruise in CDN $$$ and called to prepay my gratuities, buy a soda card and buy some OBC. The Princess rep advised me to just purchase OBC and have the grate come out of that, as the OBC and soda cards would be in CDN funds and for some reason (she wasn't even sure why) the grats were charged in USD. I checked my cc after pymt and sure enough everything was billed in CDN funds. Her thought for this (not sure if it was fact or not) was that the Princess corp. changes the % every quarter (CDN to USD) and because our dollar has declined so rapidly they are still offering the at par rate pre-slump. I would imagine if the CDN dollar doesn't rebound, this will not last much longer.

I posted this in another area with no reply...so I'm hoping some seasoned cruises that take advantage of perks will be able to help...

 

We are planning to book a Med cruise (balcony cabin) for this summer but, usually wait until a promo comes out that involves some sort of on board credit. The 3rd or 4th person promo would not apply to us, as we will be just DH and I. My question is, from anyones experiences, would it generally be beneficial for us to take advantage of the promo thats currently offered...balcony for the same price as an outside? If I remember correctly when I was "browsing" before we decided we were gonna book, the price for a balcony cabin is the same price it is now??? I'm a little confused...What exactly is the promo if the price remains the same? Should I wait till after the promo runs out (March 31st I believe) and hope the balcony cabin price stays the same and possibly a promo that would apply to us (on board credit, free grats etc) comes out? I's kinda a gamble I guess...help!

[quote name='AKman2495']OK, Princess gives you two options to start. First, you can always put cash into a machine. But, as others have noted, you can only cash out into your cruise card.

To do that you have to put in your card and set up a bank account with a pin #.

Say you play-you create your account and put in $50. You win $500!! you press cash out and the $500 goes onto your card.

Now, here is where it gets interesting. You can leave that $500 on your card and play off it, or you can go to the cashier and cash out. If you cash to, the bank account is still there for later cash outs.

Princess now gives you the option of credit by charging a bet to you onboard account. There are a number of steps to this so it can't happen accidentally.

If you want to play only in cash, put the cash in and when you are done, immediately cash out from your card.[/QUOTE]

Thank you, that explains it very clearly.

I've heard that some cruise lines have changes to use your sea pass only in the casino? Is that the case for the Ruby as well? I hope not....I generally take a predetermined amount with me to the casino and once it's gone thats it. Way to easy to overspend on your sea pass.