jmwg49

I love this information!   We are spending 5 days in Madrid after our cruise that ends in Barcelona.  I am wondering if Zaragoza is ok to explore on our own or finding a guide or tour is worthwhile.   We have no problem taking a train back and forth but would make it a day trip.   

Hello.  We just booked a week ago.  I’ve been busy looking at excursions and one in st Lucia needs more people if it will go.   It is with Joys Adventures.  We have done this before and it was amazing.   $120 pp from 8 am til 3.   Goes to the mud baths and various sites, then a lunch buffet at Joys home, then off to get on a boat to the pitons to snorkel and swim.   After this- we board a catamaran where we have an open bar while we sail down the coast back to the ship.  It is a fantastic day.   Check out the website at joysadventure.com

We love spending our evenings in the RFP when there is a great band / musicians.    Does anyone know who is there now- more specifically who will be there end August?

My response is based on my own experience.   Last year we sailed on the pride twice in Europe (Greek isles and Italy).   I purchased wine in several ports and brought it back on board without any question and never had it confiscated.   When sailing in the Caribbean- it is a different story.   

I have brought on wine at each port in Europe many times.   No issues 

We are thinking of booking a cruise visiting the British Isles.  Other cruise lines allow you to bring wine onboard after visiting a port.   Any experience with this with NCL?   Just wondering if the drinks package is worth it if you can bring on wine

We are new to RCCL but diamond on CCL.   Can you purchase buckets of beer or something similar?   Is there a savings in doing so?   Approximate cost?   The drink packages are crazy expensive!!   What is the average cost of a cocktail? Beer?    

I would never consider my Canadian dollars to be accepted anywhere but at home. When I travel to the states I have usd.   When I’m in the UK I have pounds and euro in Europe.   It is not only considerate it is what I believe is acceptable.    
 

Credit cards and debit cards are the way to go.   For small amounts; obviously cad is best.   Consider the person receiving your money!    They don’t want to have to go to the bank to exchange the money,   

Can you visit the mansions without pre purchased tickets.  Or is a “drive by” excursion enough.    Is there a tour company website anyone can recommend.  I haven’t really seen one

Help me with ideas!    We arrive at 6 am til 2 pm.   With tendering it doesn’t leave much time.   Ideas are welcome.   Doesn’t seem enough time to do an excursion with having to tender back probably by 1

Used for carnival a couple weeks ago.  No issue at all

Has anyone any experience with getting from cruise port in Le Havre to the train station and then into Paris to use hop on hop off bus.    Which train station in Paris is best?   Is this easy to do on your own    We have an excursion booked on Carnival to do Paris on your own; but I think this would be faster and more economical if we had some guidance from those that have done this.  

16 minutes ago, boone2 said:

We flew Air transat to Barcelona last month.  We did have to connect in Montreal.  We had no problems at the airport in Toronto but because of the connection we were at the airport earlier than a direct flight. (I believe it was around 3pm). We managed to get a very good price on club class going out so had a very comfy outgoing flight.  On return we had a 2 together seat with lots of leg room and that was fine for a daytime flight.  Because we passed through immigration in Montreal we had no issues with long lines but our flight was delayed half an hour because of holdups in Toronto 

enjoy Barcelona. We have been often. This was our second trip to Spain in 5 months. 

11 minutes ago, jmwg49 said:

Thanks so much for that!   You just made me breathe a sigh of relief.  I hope we have the same experience!    We love Barcelona too!!

One more question.    We are all fully vaxed and boosters.   Did you have to fill out the form from the Spanish government beforehand or what did you do in preparation.   I know we have to do a test three days before cruise which we will do upon arrival in Barcelona 

4 minutes ago, boone2 said:

We flew Air transat to Barcelona last month.  We did have to connect in Montreal.  We had no problems at the airport in Toronto but because of the connection we were at the airport earlier than a direct flight. (I believe it was around 3pm). We managed to get a very good price on club class going out so had a very comfy outgoing flight.  On return we had a 2 together seat with lots of leg room and that was fine for a daytime flight.  Because we passed through immigration in Montreal we had no issues with long lines but our flight was delayed half an hour because of holdups in Toronto 

enjoy Barcelona. We have been often. This was our second trip to Spain in 5 months. 

Thanks so much for that!   You just made me breathe a sigh of relief.  I hope we have the same experience!    We love Barcelona too!!

We are travelling to Barcelona on Air Transat on May 25.    Has anyone had any issue with long check in times; security etc?    Trying to plan appropriately and organize limo to Pearson.   
 

we are getting excited yet a bit nervous with all protocols etc.   

We are flying to Barcelona in May.  I am really confused about requirements to fly and then when to do the video test while in Spain.    So, help me here!  We take our box of freebie tests (rapid response) with us and do a video call to do the test a couple days before?

6 hours ago, Sailing12Away said:

The rules about how soon you can book things have been a bit fluid lately. I'm sailing on the Star in May and still can't pre-book any of my dining choices. So it all depends on your sailing, ship, category of room you booked, status level etc - but generally speaking, yes, as soon as you can make a reservation for dining you should. There will be some time slots available the day you get on board, but if you have your heart on a particular restaurant or time slot - do it as soon as you can.

 

Regarding the main dining room or other free restaurants, it all depends on the size of your group and when you want to dine. When we travel as a group of 2, we've never had a problem just showing up anywhere and getting a seat within 2 minutes. If you're a larger group size and want to go at a prime time - always better to try and make arrangements before hand to minimize your wait. In 2023 we're traveling as a large group of 6 plus additional friends that are traveling as well. So once we decide on a few meals we'll all do together I plan on having the concierge help with those reservations so there's no issue.

 

And yes - there is a dress code in some of the dining venues. Maybe what some people consider to be 'normal' attire to them already fits that code so they don't think there's a code. But we've been turned away from Le Bistro and the fancier main dining room when hubby forgot to change out of his shorts. T-shirt was fine, but shorts were not. And the rule for some reason only applies to the men.... go figure.

 

Regarding what places are 'worth it' - look at the menus. Figure out what you would want to try at each place and see what it would cost out of pocket. There's no rule that says you can't go to all 5 places and use your free credit at the 2 most expensive ones and pay out of pocket for the pre-fix ones. When you get there, you can tell them to use your credit or not. For example, we tried Q last year and enjoyed it, but wouldn't waste a dining credit on it going forward. Instead we would probably split a meal and pay out of pocket, and save that dining credit for a more expensive venue.

 

Prior to Covid I remember having to reserve seats for some of the shows on the Epic. But post-Covid we haven't had that issue yet at all. Again, if your account on NCL's website says you can make a reservation, then just do it to be safe.

Thank you so much for your post!   I will watch for when booking opens for our specialty dining credits!   We are excited to try something "new to us" and different!  🙂   

Thanks for the information!  We will be on the Breakaway in October of 2022.  

I hope to take advantage of a couple of the specialty places, especially interested in the teppanyaki and the ? bistro?  french 

We will be taking our first cruise on NCL (diamond on CCL) and I just want some information!!

We have "free at sea" and have 2 specialty restaurants we can visit.   How does this work?  Do we pre-book from home or do we have to wait til we get onboard?  

Any opinions on what is "worth it" for dining?

Do the "free" restaurants require a reservation too?  and shows etc?  

I just don't want to be disappointed when we get onboard and not be prepared!

Any help is appreciated!

3 minutes ago, maluhia87 said:

Weird, it should look like this

Nope!!!   Maybe it is a gradual roll out ??

9 minutes ago, maluhia87 said:

Cruise must be paid in full.  Once that happens there should be an option to use OBC for excursions. 

not for me!  fully paid and still requiring a credit card to book!

I thought i read on here somewhere that Carnival was giving an option to pay for excursions pre cruise using obc?   If so, does it automatically offer this at the time of booking an excursion?  I don't seem to see this option when I am looking for my upcoming May cruise

We will be in Zeebruge and we are interested in going to Ghent, as we have been to Brugges and want to see more of the country!   Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas of an excursion from the port area.   There is one with the cruiseline, but hoping for a smaller group if possible.    Or, does any one have experience in going there on your own via train or taxi?   

We are travelling on the Sapphire Princess, arriving in Southampton on September 14.   We are planning on a few days in Paris post-cruise.   I am finding all the information for getting to Paris very confusing! 

What is the best and most economical way to get to Paris?   I understand we have to get back to London, to St. Pancras Station to get the train to Paris.  We have not booked the Eurostar yet, but hope to get to Paris at least early evening.    Should we consider a private transfer from Southampton directly to St.Pancras station?   I really don't want to be dragging luggage around on the streets/subways etc.  Is there a direct bus/train from Southampton to LOndon St. Pancras?  or at least into London where we could get an Uber or taxi?

Just wondering if anyone knows of a 'promo code' for Hotel Current in LB?