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Update: im writing this on the free wifi in the car service as we return from our trip to Paris. As mentioned before I’ve been but my teenage boys haven’t, and today’s shore excursion day exceeded our expectations. it felt like the longest day ever sightseeing, anything but short or waste of time. It was a really great decision and have no regrets taking the long drive in and back. You have to spend weeks not hours to see this magical city, BUT if you only have a few hours, and you have never been here before, or don’t know when you will be able to come again DO NOT HESITATE to see Paris for the day, seeing is experiencing IMO and my boys who really had no interest in coming are already talking about next time…. we used Mika taxi Le Havre and they were fantastic start to finish. 4 passengers it was $200 more to do a private car than the ships shore excursion worth every cent.

Bit of a background. We are doing Prima departing out of Southampton 1st of Oct. We have a few days pre cruise in the UK and the weather looks like it might be on the cooler/possible rain side, so will pack accordingly for sight seeing in those conditions. Our cruise then travels down to Portugal and Spain where the temps expect to be slightly warmer than UK, but Since It is a 12 day cruise I am struggling to figure out what to pack? We enjoy dining in the MDR however all our past cruises have been summer on the Mediterranean and Nice shorts and Nice sundresses etc Some polo tshirts etc and it was easy to pack lots of "dressy outfits" that take up little space. My kids were younger and just wore what I gave them... 😆 However now traveling in more cooler climate, I am alittle worried on what/how to pack. I have teenage boys who LIVE in hoodies and track pants and football (soccer) jerseys, getting them to wear "proper" clothing is a punish and is basically limited to the occasional church trip for weddings or baptisms, so I will need to update their wardrobes before we travel!! My question is How "dressed up" does the MDR get on the Prima? I have read that jeans are ok. But in terms of jackets/sweatshirts etc or football jerseys for that matter... I feel really lost. Please throw your suggestions at me!

Thank you for this information! we are getting ready for our upcoming 12night cruise. Just wondering how many days into the cruise was it when you received the bag? Im definitely going to need to do more than 1 load traveling with 2 teenagers 😆 but good to know a rough idea of pricing! thank you!

Darren We are going to Newcastle for 2nights pre cruise, as my husband is a NEWCASTLE United die hard fan (not many of them in australia lol) can't wati to visit your city!

Great way of looking at things. A sample of something is better than not seeing it at all! Life is about taking the opportunities that we get, even just to "see" a city is better than never seeing IMO

I might have a look into that too 😊

I have been to Paris but my kids haven't. I've tried to fit it in pre cruise and its not possible. Atm Im considering the long trek on the cruise "Paris on you own" tour just for them to see the Eiffel Tower. Definitely going to look into the Batobus option as I do remember the HOHO being full and not being able to get on etc I know we come on CC for advice but Everyone is quick to jump on the "dont waste your time" train. Sometimes its good to be able to get that kind of advice and most times Ive followed that advice of the fellow experienced cruisers on this forum. HOWEVER, respectfully, every circumstance is different for everybody! For example Europe is far from Australia and ywe have to take the moments when we can!!! My kids will be in the later high school years and Its not easy to take 1 month off to visit Europe each year. (very far and bloody expensive for us) Its been 6 years since I went to the Amalfi coast on a shore excursion to see pompeii/positano/amalfi/sorrento lots of advice was "not to bother" "too rushed" "you spend more time stuck in traffic" etc etc and it was one of the most magical days of my life being able to see that postcard view of positano....who knows when I will visit again?! No regrets. (and yes we spent more time in the bus than at the sights) so is the 6 hour return bus worth it for a photo or the chance to see the Eiffel tower? only you can answer that and if like me its your only option then YES! 😊

Hank could you let me know the drive from Le Havre to D-Day beaches was it easy?

great information John, I prefer tours, my husband LOVES to drive in foreign countries 😬 (it was almost a divorce when I made him take a private tour around Amalfi rather than drive it 😅) Still to this day he wont let me forget it! This is interesting as we are going to be in le havre and he asked me to drive to Omaha beach I declined but to be honest your post has me questioning if he is onto something? Although I still would like a guided tour of the area

That’s what I originally thought!!! Boat docks 7-9pm however The shore ex is approximately 9 hours 6 hours of that is “travel” they allow for delays and traffic etc. at most it’s 3 hours in the city Paris and it’s just not the same as arriving 9 am on a train and spending a whole day and departing late evening. You would have time for sight seeing a museum tour and even a dinner? Compared with the 3 hour shore excursion

Thank you so much for the advice. Atm we are waiting on a few other "things" that will determine our movements in the UK pre cruise, (dates of football games). It is approx the same price via rail and the shore ex. However the limited time on the shore excursion is playing on my mind. I have thought about it alot of the past few weeks and I think I am willing to give up one of my days in the UK (reluctantly) to do the visit to Paris via Eurostar and spend a good FULL day not just 2 hours in the city. (although that is still not enough I know). But this option also frees up the shore ex to do D Day landing etc and my husband would love to do that.

I second this! We are going in October.

Waiting on your part 3 review!! 🙂 The last MSC cruise i went on had that odor in the cabin hallways. It wasn't overly powerful however it was "there" and super noticeable when we first Embarked... maybe we grew immune to the smell the longer the cruise went ??😆 because it wasn't as noticeable after a couple of days

Great review ☺️

From what I've read the galaxy pass does allow for 3 swipes then a 3 minute rest. So essentially 3 players can race at the same time. Sounds like they don't discourage pass sharing. I have 2 kids and I probably will just purchase 1 pass to share. I have't seen any information about the speed way pass yet. Could you let me know where you saw that?