C Cruise Dude

2 minutes ago, Bases5 said:

I believe I read that it was $39 euro for a taxi in 2018. Is that still the price this year

Is there a luggage fee?

Are taxis easy to find @ BCN

How long is the trip?

Do you tip the drivers and if so how much?

Do most taxis take CC or is it cash only 

In 2016 I took a cab at the airport outside baggage claim.  It was about $35 Euros. No baggage fee to a hotel near the port. The trip in traffic was about 30 minutes.

Thanks for the input. I haven't been to MGM in years, they likely deleted my account.

Thank you Ma Bell.

I received a casino offer from Casino Royale and was told that it only applied to Royal Caribbean cruises. Does Celebrity have such a program? Thanks

Thank you, maryanne2.

Hello.

 

After reading so many bad reviews about Costa I was very wary about taking a cruise with them. I purchased a Baltic cruise on Costa Magica that left Stockholm on the 16th of June.

 

I am an experienced cruiser and this was my 14th cruise.

 

Happy to report that myself and four companions had a super time and no longer will be wary about booking Costa.

 

We chose this cruise for 3 reasons, ports of call, price and a decent price for our companion who was traveling alone.

 

I would rate the whole experience as very good but not excellent.

 

The only thing missing with Costa is free style dining which all the other lines now have.

 

So don't be afraid to try Costa.

 

Regards.

Thank you for your post. I have a few questions: I'm looking at a Transatlantic on Costa this fall. Was there any problem communicating with the crew, I'm from the US and don't speak Italian? Did you contact many Americans on the ship. I'm surprised that Costa didn't have select dining (Free Style), so were you assigned a table? I love the Conquest class ships (Valor), that's a plus. Thanks.

I'm not new to cruising nor have I ever had to study the contract before cruises, it's usually very simple. When I have always referred to gratuities (with all the cruise lines) I was only referring to the daily service charges and up until this situation it has always been understood by the sales staff that I have dealt with.

I can no way enter the sales persons mind and know exactly what she was thinking. I found her very helpful with my call and she corrected other matters with the sailing. I originally booked the cruise a year and a half before sailing. I didn't think that I had paid the service charges and wanted to have that done before the cruise to avoid the large bill.

I had forgotten that you can change the charges because I have never considered doing that on any cruise. The crew works hard and they deserve the gratuities but the charge is ridiculously high and I suspect that they are not going to receive the extra charges.

I will call NCL on Monday and let you know what they say. I was looking at transatlantics for NCL and the include free open bar so it's not just Sky.

I just wish that NCL would just add $15.00 a day to the cruise fare and eliminate the DSC sure would eliminate all the confusion.

They will not do this because it would then be counted and recorded as ordinary income. They say it is money collected for the cruise it is not considered to be ordinary income. NCL is not collecting and charging for the benefit of the crew it is for the benefit of the company.

Should I buy the water package before our cruise or wait until we are on board? It has been a while since we cruised with NCL, and I didn't realize that we can't even bring water aboard.

Thanks in advance!

Last year on the Star transatlantic, I purchased a case of water while on cruise (cheaper than one bottle at a time). It's a roll of the dice if it will be cheaper onboard. Good luck.

I recently sailed on the Sky and called NCL 3 days before sailing. I told the rep that I wanted to pre-pay my gratuities and she said that everything was paid. You could imagine my shock when on the last night of sailing I receive a bill with a $19.99 per person per day charge on my print out. I explained to the Guest services person the situation and he said that there was nothing he could. To be fair, I have not taken this up with customer service yet or reviewed my contract. I suggest paying the gratuities in advance and settle with NCL if there is a problem onboard. Make sure that they give you something showing them paid.

Where do you sign up for the glass blowing?

I was on Eclipse in April. If the Equinox has changed to the same company, just go the glass area and sign up. You will have a choice of glass objects to make and the price is based on the object (paper weight $50 or $60 and up).

I am currently scheduled for late dinning (and on a wait list for select dinning), the reason for my question. Thanks for the suggestion of requesting a solo group. I am on the roll call for my cruise.

Does Celebrity seat solo cruisers together on TA's? Thanks. :)

Sky Lounge or Library even the lobby near the elevators.

We just ordered and received our tickets to use public transportation in Dublin. For a set price you can use the Bus or Tram system all over town. Not sure if the buses go to the Cruise Terminals but its a great way to get around town if you are spending more than a day in Dublin.

 

We are staying at a hotel where the tram has a stop and we can easily get further into downtown and pretty much everyever.

 

The website is: leapcard.ie

 

It costs 10Euro fro a day card/person and 19Euro for 3 days.

 

There are other cards for use getting between and in major Ireland cities also.

 

Den

Great idea, thanks.

We are on that cruise too. Come join the roll call. Under 18 is not allowed in the solarium pool.

Penney, unfortunately I'm not going to be able to join you, I have Reflection booked for a TA in the Fall.

Our first TA in April 2014 was one of our favourite cruises. It was with RCL and the time changed at 12noon every time it was needed. Got confusing for some things but not a problem.

Odd to change the time at noon. My first TA was Harmony of the Seas in 2016 and the Captain said that it was the smoothest crossing of his career. On both of my TA's I notice a significant number of children on the ship, that's why I asked about the solarium. Thanks everyone.

It will get cooler as you sail north.

You will have at least x 5 23hr days.

Seas are unpredictable.

Just curious, do the children on board end up in the adult solarium as the weather gets colder? Thanks for the response Silkroad.

Are you considering a southern crossing, from Florida to Europe? Solstice class ship?

Celebrity Eclipse from Florida. The 23 hour days are the only drawbacks that I see for eastbound, thanks Jackie. I love turning the clocks back on westbound.

I just put a hold on an eastbound transatlantic. I have taken two westbound and had great weather on both except for a day or so of coolness as we left Rome (November '17). My question to those who have taken the eastbound in the Spring, what was the seas and the weather like? Thanks

 

We’re lucky to have caught the last show, as this was our first cruise on a ship with the glass show (previously on Reflection and Summit twice each).

Me too. Very sad! I really enjoyed the show.

I thought the poster was going to say Celebrity has now started using RCs Washy Washy song. :eek:

LOL, I've only heard washy washy on NCL. :D

Anyone,,,,,

Mexican

Yes and the Cajun would be good too. A 24 hour deli like those on some Carnival ships would be nice as well. :hearteyes:

Clarification. I find being on the ship, at sea, very soothing. It is great to look out the window, cabin, buffet, anywhere on the ship and see nothing but ocean. I love the sound of the ship sailing through the water and the sight of the ship's wake at the rear. It's great to do laps on the promenade deck and experience the fresh air and again see nothing but water and an occasional rainbow.

I hate being on the ship in port. Someone pointed out that there are fewer activities while in port. Last TA we stopped in Barcelona and due to local protest returned to the ship early. I could not wait to return to sea (boring experience). The proposed cruise would likely only appeal to those that have that perspective. When I first started cruising I chose cruises only based on ports that interest me. I now choose TA's that have the most days and the most sea days (fewer ports).

Hoopster95, interesting that you should mention new cruisers. On my first Royal cruise out of New Jersey, I met a woman on the ship who was on her first cruise. She was bored that we were on our second sea day enroute to Puerto Rico. I suggested to her that she might prefer the cruises out of Puerto Rico because they only have one sea day, the rest are ports.

I had one once on Navigator. It seemed larger because of the window and I liked the window seat - a nice place to relax and people watch.

My experience exactly and I was impressed how insulated the window was for noise.

I voted, "no", not on a 7 nt. cruise. I'm a big fan of sea days on longer cruises and TA's, but I want to get off the ship and do something on a shorter cruise.

Thank you, mek. I'm in Michigan right now with lots of snow. I would love to take a 7 day or more cruise in the caribbean but I don't want all those (really any) ports. I just want the ship (sailing) experience. I'm booked on a TA in the Fall but I would like to cruise now. Your input is appreciated.