Rysyonok

It all depends on where your hotel is as city might be too broad of an area. Like @VMax1700 had linked, there are buses, metro, trains. The airport is barely 3 miles from the city center: there's nowhere for the high-speed train to fit as the city is so close. That's Barcelona, because... ...just to clarify, you aren't one of unlucky souls with boarding in Tarragona, are you?

If you're flying the same airline all along, yes. Watch out for "hacker fares", plain speak for several separate legs booked "together". You're on your own there with lugging the bags to the next plain. Oh, and going through security and customs.

Monday, as always 🙂

I will admit never going through a TA just to avoid headaches like this, even if it means missing some incentives. I'd send TA an e-mail recapping estimate of current incentives' cost for the cruise and try to get their positive response saying they will cover them. And how.

The 84.99 option is just for Chops. Looks like RCCL IT really did it this time. Cheap Hooked, Pricey Chops, and Wonderland at 2/3 of cost of 2021 🙂

And what a delicious error it is. Now, how to explain to the missus where our UDP went, and why are we eating seafood the whole cruise. 😅

Yes, they do, unless one is on a deadhead sailing (Bermuda). About half the comedy shows are after 10, so they are easy to get. But yes, reservations of those are typically once per sailing per type. A comedian may do a family and an adult version, and those are treated as different: you can book each one if you're fast. Some comedy shows are done in nightclubs. Those are guaranteed to get packed. Some, in the main theatre. Those are easier to get to.

I must have mis-read your post. If TA is the one paying the gratuities, you can count on them being added at the very last second possible. Same loan principle, but in reverse. Oh, do have everything in writing. 🙂

I do not believe you get to choose a restaurant. When you get a package, you pick a time - I imagine you picked 5:30. Here's the thing, that's not an actual restaurant, it's a time slot: a restaurant is yet to be assigned. Do not stress. This is normal. The instant you get on board, beeline to a specialty restaurant. When I say "beeline", that's exactly that, no adoring artwork, no pictures, etc. Beeline to a specialty restaurant that's not in use. Examples: - Wonderland - Izumi Do avoid Jaime's or Chops, they are going to be occupied. As soon as you make it to a restaurant, tell them immediately that you want to make reservations. Have a copy of your check-in documents handy (you do not have your sea pass card just yet) and proof of dining package purchase printed out. Remember, 500 other people are going to be trying to do the same, so speed matters. Do have your desired timeslots already picked out. How? Check Cruise Planner 4 days before sailing date and see which timeslots are open for booking. 🙂 Yes, yes, you're on vacation, but that first hour onboard makes for an amazing sailing if spent properly 🙂

It's a nice service, but a pointless one. You're simply having to carry towels for a longer distance. And there's always a checkout station by the gangway. Oh, and for those celebrating free towels and towel clips. As much as I'm on your side when it comes to chair hogging, I do have to point out the hundreds of small cameras all over the ship. That's before we discuss contagious skin conditions...

Royal's site --> Manage My Cruise up top. Personally, I do not prepay gratuities. Why lock in your money 90+ days out if you don't have to? Your TA might only be suggesting it to bump up their cut. A guess, not a fact.

So, there are two kinds of premium coffee. There are lattes and such, available at every dining option ($3-$6). But there are also alcohol-based ones, usually found at dinner and in specialty restaurants ($10-$16). As @CntPAcruiser suggested, Royal App is your best source. It is not going to show you everything, maybe 15% of what's available, but it's more than anything else. Hint: App tends to show drinks unique to that venue.

It always manages to work out in the end. Shore exes are a major source of cruise line income, so eventual quality control will take place. But once upon a time a shore ex is actually right and the ship's itinerary isn't. That's when I recommend checking (googling) "cruise port schedule" for the official docking time.

Hoping anyone was able to use Marseilles port shuttle in 2022. Any mentions of it appear to be gone from the port website.

Hopefully you had a great trip 🙂 What is this free cruise shuttle that you're mentioning, and where does it go?

I imagine you're talking about T3 tram line. But isn't it in itself quite a distance from where ships dock? Seems like both subway lines and all three trams are a hike away.

225. Not the 180-207 range people had been quoting but it's something. 🙂

2nd and 2nd to last on a 7-nighter. On longer journeys, look for a day in the middle when your Royal app shows lunch availability for specialty restaurants even if the ship is in port.

It does say "end". What is ETIAS The rules of travel to Europe have changed. Starting end 2023, some 1.4 billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries are required to have a travel authorisation to enter most European countries. https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/what-etias_en

Same here! It's like they had finally received a major shipment! I believe they had been out of stock since March at least.

Each bar is stocked individually every night based on the manager's skill and attention to details. I was on a sailing where I asked for a beverage, and it wasn't available - I had to go to another bar that night. But guess what magic happened every night from that point on in the original location... 🙂

Excursions tend to get posted in waves - first, a placeholder, then the real ones. It does eventually sync. As for anyone with a 8:30am booking would have had theirs cancelled.

P.S. Also, don't forget, it's very easy to self-inflict an account reset. Anytime you don't specifically log out but just close your browser, you lock yourself (and RCCL) out of your profile for up to 45 minutes. Fortunately, it always comes back.

1. If you're really lucky to be on a sailing where Solarium Bistro is open for dinner, definitely try that. It's an underpraised location, and they will happily assist with custom orders, even ones not on the menu 🙂 2. Izumi. Their sushi rolls are unmatched on land (my opinion, others' mileage may vary). And the fact that they are extremely willing to help out with takeout meals removes all stress from juggling evening shows. Just grab-and-fridge. 3. Jamie's for Tiramisu. A perfect 9pm wrap-down snack.

Dining: You can't book 2 reservations within 2 hours of each other, but a 530pm dinner and an 830pm dinner will be okay. I've even succeeded with double stacking a 12pm lunch with a 1:45pm one. Certain shows can only be seen once per cruise. You can still show up for the second run; as long as there are available seats and it's 15 minutes prior to the curtain, you may be allowed inside.