mapleleaves

Merchant fees and booking fees are high so it's reasonable for a small independent hotel or guesthouse to offer a discount if you book direct and pay cash. If I was happy with the hotel's location, price, amenities, and reviews, I wouldn't be put off by a cash only policy. They're saving money by not paying fees to the credit card company or a booking fee to a 3rd party. And they're sharing those savings with me ! win win

Visit your library and borrow a couple of travel books on Italy....Rick Steves,.Lonely Planet, Fodors, Frommers, Insight Guide, There are many to choose from. Nearly every town has a website to help promote tourism and local vendors. Google something like 'Genoa Tourist Information' to find it. Do similar for Palermo. Visitgenoa.it

When I was in Italy this past May, 2 hotels offered a discount if I paid in cash, but it was not a requirement. It saved me 50E so I was happy to run to the bank machine and get the cash.

There are a couple of options noted in this thread:

And be sure to check your watch so that you're on the same time zone as the ship !

I suggest loading whatsapp on your phones. The airport will have free wifi so you can text each other about your location. This will be important if the 2nd flight is delayed by an hour or two. We did this at Heathrow when I arrived 4 hrs after my friend. This gave her the freedom to wander around, shop, and sit down at a restaurant. When I got thru Passport Control, I texted her to say "I'm here. Where are you?" She texted back " I'm at Fornum and Mason having bfast". Very easy for me and she didn't have a miserable wait.

I took the train to Trieste and used FlixBus on the return to Venice. Both were about 20E but they don't sound like an option for you. I don't have any experience with these companies but their names have come up in past threads about transportation to Trieste. Google them for more info..... GoOpti, VQ Travels ( 450E) , Treviso Car Service, NCC VIM Transfer, Blacklane Car Service.

the boats don't do a return trip; it's just one-way. . Google Santorini Port to see how many ships will be in port with you, plus their arrival/departure times, and # of pax. That information will help gauge the situation but it's not a guarantee. ie our ship (2800 pax) arrived at 1:30pm and the only other ship (2700) was 7am-4pm. I assumed the other ship's pax would have gone to Fira hours earlier so there would be no line for us at the cabl car. WRONG! We stood 2 hrs. The other ship left at 4, so there was NO ONE in line when we returned to the ship around 6:30 or so.

The water taxi cooperative shows 74E for the fare from Moilna Stucky to Venice cruise pier. Explore Venice Water Taxi Rates - Consorzio Motoscafi Venezia

I was always intrigued by the notion of a TA. Sounds so much nicer than being crammed on a jet for 10hrs to Europe, plus it avoids the 8hr jet lag. But on my last cruise ( Sept 2022), we missed a port due to stormy weather. This happened to follow our scheduled sea day so we had 2 sea days in a row. OMG, I thought I'd lose my mind. I don't do artsy craftsy stuff, or bingo, or trivia. There's no way I could handle a TA. But it's definitely an individual thing. I just know it's not for me.

which port ? Some are trickier than others. ie on NCL Gem last Sept, the tickets were available the day prior at 8am. We got there at 7 and there was already a line) Pax with priority status and NCL excursions will be off first

The following is from the Azamara website. It says the last pick up is at noon at Tronchetto. (and FYI, the PeopleMover is now 1.5 E) Pier Terminal : Port of Chioggia Address: Via Isola Saloni, 30015 Chioggia VE Phone: 39 041 491199 c/o Azienda Speciale per il Porto di Chioggia della Camera di Commercio di Venezia Website: https://www.chioggiaterminalcrociere.it/ Airport: Venice Airport Address: Viale Galileo Galilei, 30,30173 Venezia (VE) City Pickup Tronchetto Last People Mover Station Guests will be met by an escort no later than 12:00 PM. Pickup times are subject to change

The People Mover (monorail) would be a much easier option and it's inexpensive; only 1.2E or 1.5E for a 5 minute ride.

I should have added ...the common place to board is at the Piazzale Roma. Then the 1st stop is the cruise port, and the 2nd and final stop is Tronchetto. Where will you be coming from .... will you have overnighted at a hotel in Venice?

The first stop is the Marittima cruise dock, the 2nd is Tronchetto parking lot. I don't know about Azamara, but most cruiselines have been using Tronchetto as their pickup point.

I don't know about Crystal but with MSC the check in process is handled at the Venice Terminal; you can't choose to show up at the ship in Marghera. Call Crystal. Or ask on the Crystal forum. Good luck.

which cruiseline ? If you're being directed to the Venice Cruise Terminal you will probably check in there, but then will be bused or ferried to your ship.

IIRC there are only 3 helicopter companies in Juneau. Northstar Trekking, Coastal, and Temsco. Contact them to see when their season begins. Usually the end of May is when things start to ramp up. And most glacier activities end by mid Aug due to snow melt. A great resource for you to check is the virtual visitor guide provided by Juneau Visitor Information. Pg 74 Juneau Virtual Visitor's Guide | Attractions & Things To Do (traveljuneau.com)

Lots of people complained last summer about the train from Venice to Trieste, but I haven't heard any complaints this summer. Perhaps more carriages were added? I chose to avoid the Regional train out of Venice. I boarded a Frecce train in Mestre instead; Business class, reserved seat, and even got a free coffee and biscuit. 18E. Less than 12 people in our carriage. It was great ! Keep in mind that it's about a 15 minute walk from the train station to the pier.

Your "Oia and Thira" tour sounds like the basic NCL tour I tried to book, $75. I think the tours sell out quickly because it's well known that Santorini is a mess and a tour guarantees a visit to Oia. Sorry to say, but having 2 ships dock ahead of you by one hour is not a good sign. I'd book a tour. If you want to try DIY, I think the boat that leaves from the tender dock is a good option,. Even it sits there for an hr waiting for additional pax, you know it will eventually get you to Oia, plus you will also have a bus seat back to Thira. It was only 25 or 30E. Good luck !

Definitely take a ships tour ! Preferably one that doesn't require you to make your own way back from Fira via the cable car. (I've only read of one such excursion and it was Celebrity). I tried to take a simple tour that went to Oia then Fira, but it was sold out. (in hindsight I should have taken the Spanish speaking version when it was available; at least we would have seen Oia.) This was my experience Sept 28, 2022: Our ship arrived at 1:30pm and the only other ship arrived at 7am. We lined up early and got tender #4, expecting a quick trip on the cable car, then bus or taxi to Oia. Wrong! We stood in line for 2 hrs. Got to Fira at 4pm and spent an hr there. Didn't see any cabs and we just missed the bus to Oia. With that, we decided not to risk going to Oia in case we got stranded there, given the crowds. Had a drink at one of the many bars along the edge, then headed back to the ship to watch the sunset. No line at all for the cable car. My travel companion couldn't do stairs, up or down, so that wasn't an option. We could have taken the boat tho ... it sat there for an hr waiting for more pax. Again, in hindsight, wish I had. Best of luck to you !

Good price for a 2hr journey ! (Ah, so Canada; I assumed Ontario, Calif. I grew up in Orillia. )

BTW, it's about a 15 minute walk from the bus station to the cruise pier. Flat, easy to do.

We took the train to Trieste and used Flix for the return trip. We weren't sure if we wanted to go to Venice or the airport so we waited on buying the tickets. The tickets were 9E when I first looked but buying the day of travel, we had to pay 25E. So if your plans are firm, buy now!

If you prefer to stay in Civi, this link may be helpful.