bonsai3s

matj2000...got me laughing with the Strip Club comparison...our bank teller used it when we requested for a stack of dollar bills before our cruise. Our bank teller asked with smile, "Going to a strip club?"

We visited Capri recently on our own. Yes, the ferry and ticket booths are literally next door to the cruise terminal...about a 5-minute walk. There were 3 ships in Naples that day, so the queues were long and tickets for the early ferries sold out quickly. We were able to gef the 9:30am departure and 1:40pm return. Cost: €39.90/person. The ferry takes about an hour each way...there's a bar for drinks and coffee, snacks...and restrooms. Once in Capri, there were many options for tours available at the dock. We chose to take the cable car up to the top town square...walked around and soaked in the breathtaking views. Before leaving, we spent a relaxing time at a beach (mostly pebbles, but sandy closer to a hotel), only a couple of minutes walk from the ferry dock.

Yes, you can wear shorts in the MDR and specialty restaurants...no one will stop you. * I continue to bring nice slacks for one reason...we were once invited to a Captain's Table dinner...and genuinely hoping to be invited again, someday.

Just back from a Royal Caribbean cruise with stops in Santorini and Mykonos. We try to DIY at every port: * Santorini - tender to the island. You have 3 options to get up to Fira/Thira. 1. Ride a donkey. 2. Walk...a bit over 500 steps and avoid donkey dung. 3. Cable car...we chose this option...8 minutes, €6/person/each way. At Fira/Thira, we took the local bus to Oia, approxinately 30 minutes, €1.60/person/each way. Absolutely breathtaking views of the "blue domes". * At the dock, there is also an option to take a boat to Oia...bus up to Oia, then bus back to Fira...€30/person. * Mykonos - we had 2 options to get to town....walk (30 minutes) or take the "Sea Bus". We took ths Sea Bus, €2/person/each way, 10 minutes. Embraced getting lost around the narrow streets and alleys...ultimately making our way to the windmills.

Ken, It should be "much improved" by July 8.......E. * President's Cruise: June 24, 2022, Ovation. 😁

On our walk out the cruise terminal in Piraeus, 3 taxis stopped to offer rides to Athens...two of the drivers yelled out "€25!"...the last one "€20". The taxis that we saw can accommodate 4 people and the driver. * 3 in the back and 1 riding shotgun. * If two of you are the size of my younger brother, 6'2" - 250 lbs...it would be a tight fit.

Can confirm...wifi is strong. We are onboard the Odyssey of tbe Seas.

Dani, Hopefully the X80 bus will be operational by the time of your cruise. * We should be the ones thanking you. You have helped us many times and genuinely happy we can return the favor...heart.

Cellphone...Iphone 12 pro max...with a micro tripod.

Update... * We tested today, sea-day, in our cabin...internet was good...eMed was easy...all negative...woohoo!

Update: * Onboard the Odyssey of the Seas...last sea-day...disembarkation in Civitavecchia tomorrow. * 3:55pm...Woohoo!!! Just tested onboard using eMed...NEGATIVE results.

How much do you want to bet?

Yes, RCCL accepts the test. A number of passengers did exactly the same thing the past 2 sailings...test the day before, and at the hotel. (Wishing you negative results) Happy Sailing!

Just curious...how much is the Ultimate Dining Package?

drevil0208...what time do you have to be back? * Every advice given above are accurate...we've learned so much ourselves. Just waned to share our recent experience at Civitavecchia (Odyssey of the Seas.) * It has been a few years, but we've done the DIY from Civ to Rome a few times...I was confident, but a bit too ambitious. (St. Peter's - Castel D'Angelo - cross the Tiber River - Piazza Navona - Pantheon - Trevi Fountain - metro to the Collosseum - metro to Termini - Termini to Civitavecchia.) * Our first problem was: All passengers must be back at the cruise terminal before 3:00pm. With the one hour train going to Rome and another hour to get back...we didn't have much time. * Off the ship by 6:30am. Found the free shuttle to the gate. The shuttle did not leave until 7:00am...about a dozen passengers (some with luggages). * The free shuttle bus drop-off area was no where near the gate we remembered. The drop-off area was at least half a mile from tbe gate. It was difficult navigating/walking around the terminal. A couple of frustrated passengers, with luggages, decided to take a taxi. * We finally made to the Civitavecchia train station...got our BIRG tickets and was on the 7:44am train to Rome. * We got off the San Pietro (St. Peter) station...and about a 10 minute walk to St. Peter's Square. The queue/line to go through the security was extremely long...it wrapped around one side of the square...about an hour to get through. * We knew our plan was too ambitious...so we decided to spend our time at St. Peter's Basilica...catacombs, attended mass, went up the dome, and the bookstore...and lots of pictures. * Afraid to miss the ship, we walked back to the San Pietro Train Station and got on the 12:32pm train back to Civitavecchia. * We had a few more "hiccups" that were specific to our ship...but we did make it back onboard on time.

We are onboard the Odyssey of the Seas...today is the last sea-day before we disembark in Civitavecchia tomorrow. We plan on using eMed today in our cabin...hoping the internet works well. * Yes, passengers on the Odyssey the past 3 weeks have sucessfully used eMed and results accepted for their flights back to the U.S.

You're welcome. Your strategy (post #12) is spot on. A number of us onboard tested yesterday using the free, non-proctored home test kits, that we brought with us......all negative. Today is a sea-day...hoping the internet will be ok during our proctored test in our cabin. I will let you know.

We were in Piraeus,Terminal B (Odyssey of the Seas), May 19, 2022. * About a dozen of us waited for the X80 bus. (Ticket booth and bus stop located just outside the cruise building.) * When the X80 bus failed to show up by 8:00am, we asked the military personnel standing nearby. They said it was NOT operating and they don't know when it will start. * Everyone left and we went to our contingency plan B...we walked outside the cruise terminal (about a 1/4 mile) and found 4 buses parked just outside the wall. We went up to each driver and politely asked if they were going to the METRO. * The 4th driver said "yes"...then we asked if we can buy bus tickets from him...he said: "You don't have to buy tickets for the bus...sit close to me and I'll tell you when we get to the Metro...buy your tickets there". (8:15am) * Less than 3 minutes, we were at the Piraeus Metro. We decided to buy the 24-hr ticket(€4.10/person)...Green line, Piraeus to Omonia, transferred to the Red line, Omonia to Acropolis (Akropoli). On the way back, we took the Metro at Monastriaki, Green line, that ended in PIraeus...no transfer necessary. * Across the street from the Metro, we took bus 843 back to the cruise terminal. What a wonderful but extremely windy day in Athens.

We are currently onboard the Odyssey of the Seas. Tomorrow will be our last sea day before arriving in Civitavecchia. We plan on using eMed to test tomorrow for our flight back from Rome back to the U.S. We asked the GSM, Guest Service Manager this EXACT question...what happens if we test positive? He said: * We will be transported and be quarantined at a designated hotel in Rome..paid for by Royal Caribbean. * If you booked your flights with Air2Sea, they will make all the arrangements for new flights. * If you had booked flights yourself, Royal Caribbean will pay up to $400 for change fees. *** Last week, a number of passengers that chose to test at the airport (FCO), before their flights, waited hours just to get their test because of long queues/lines. (An unconfirmed number of passenvers missed their flights.) Those who tested positive, had to find hotels on their own.

Yes, the boat/bus/bus (tender port to Oia back to Fira) was operating the past 2 weeks. * While standing in the queue for the cable car, a gentleman was recruiting passengers to take the boat to Oia, announcing "30€ per person".

Just sailed away from Santorini. At approximately 7:00am, Captain Pierre sadly announced that tenders to Santorini were cancelled...due to high winds and rough seas. Many passengers were disappointed...a few were angry...some decided to drink early...most gravitated to the tropical temperatures of the Solarium. At approximately 10:30am, we were in the Schooner Bar, standing room only, when many decided to play Trivia...when Captain Pierre cheerfully announced that tenders will begin immediately. The Schooner Bar erupted in elation, claps, and wild cheers. No one cared about trivia...just about everyone left. Ana, CD, announced that all those with ship sponsored tours were to meet in the Royal Theater...others were instructed to get tender tickets at 270...soon tender numbers were called. * Original sail-away was 6:00pm...it was moved to 9:00pm. Another truly spectacular day in Santorini. *** FionaMG...thank you for allowing me to share our experience...heart.

drjohn4...thank you very much for this information. Currently onboard the Odyssey and we will definitely be testing onboard on the last sea day and the day before disembarkation. Last Monday, many passengers reported missing their flights out of FCO (Rome), because of long queues/lines for the covid test...and an unverified number of people tested positive and had to get hotels in Rome.