marti0127

Mar915,

 

The cheapest way to get to Marseille would be to walk from the port to the exit of the port where there's a bus stop. The walk is about a mile and marked with a green painted line on the ground all the way to the exit. We referred to this as the green mile. Several other cruise lines are ported along the walk and several offer free shuttle buses to the port exit and city center if you're so inclined hint hint. The bus stop is right there outside the exit gate and the buses are every few minutes. I think it was about 2 Euros into the city center. There were also plenty of cabs at the port that you could take right from the ship to Marseilles but not sure how much it would cost.

 

I'd avoid the ferry the ship chartered. It was taking forever to load, they don't leave before it's full and the cost is outrageous.

Hello Smiley:

Thank you for the information you provided me before I went. Unfortunately, we missed our connection going to Barcelona due to weather condition in Florida and I missed my ghost tour in Barcelona I guess it will take placed when I go back in the future. I was able to follow your direction to go to Rome by train and I actually team with another family, but we cut it to short going back we almost missed the cruise since we took the train at 4:42 and we didn't get to Civitachea until 6:04 and we have to be in the boat at 6:30 it was very stressful but thanks God we made it. I really enjoyed my time over there even though we ended up taking some of the excursions from RCL and only took one on our own Rome. For Naples we teamed with another family and did a private excursion which it was pretty convenient and nice. Next cruise the Greek Islands possible next year. Thanks again.

Aida:)

If you start your journey tomorrow, it's too late to buy them online now through Rail Europe. They require 3 business days in advance. Don't worry though, you can buy them day of at the train station. You can wait in line and buy them via a ticket agent or buy them at a kiosk with a credit card. Sometimes there's lines and sometimes there's not. Give yourself a few extra minutes to buy tickets and still make the train you want.

 

Have a safe trip.

Oh:(

Thank you a bunch again, I guess I will have to do it at the terminal. I'm still stressing over this, hopefully next time I will establish my contacts sooner. Learning from this experience and with your help, everything will work out. :) I will keep you posted upon return.

Anything less than a suit and tie would have made me feel out of place and uncomfortable. Not sure how you feel about the dress code in the dining room on formal nights though? I'm the type that would never break the rules, as far as dress code is concerned on cruises or anywhere else for that matter, and would feel awkward doing so. It's your cruise, do whatever makes you feel happy but I wouldn't wear that on formal night if being underdressed makes you feel awkward or uncomfortable.

 

Have a safe trip.

Hello Smiley9713: A final question until I start my journey tomorrow, hopefully you will get this message before tomorrow. What would you advice to buy the train tickets before or at the terminal for Rome? Thanks again.

Hello Tidygirl; Do your plans to visit Rome hasn't change? Are you still riding the train and visiting the city on your own? Another traveler suggested another tour company and I'm going to check into that one in case you are interested? Let me know. This is the link in case you will like to check it out

http://www.smartcruisetours.com/index.php/visiting-rome/private-excursions?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=165&category_id=40

Marti0127,

 

You're going to have a blast. I'm already jealous and want to go back :). I didn't see Barcelona at night. I toured it the day I flew in and the day I got back from the cruise. 1 day on each side of the cruise during the day. I did the hop on hop off bus. It runs 9 am to 8 pm. Once it was done I went and ate. It gets dark around 9 30 over there.

Dear Smiley9713

I'm a little bit nervous because is just my husband and me doing the tour since I haven't talk to no one else. But something I remembered when I went to Madrid on 2007 it was how lively the city was at midnight, hopefully Barcelona will be the same. Considering that Friday is the 13th maybe there will be a good number of people doing this tour (I hope) I will let you know. After the cruise we actually are coming home hopefully we don't lose our flight since I got the 10:45am flight. keeping my fingers cross. :D

TO SMILEY9713:

Thank you so much for your advices, you are wonderful to take the time to answer everybody's concerns and questions. Actually, I bought the hop on and off for Saturday. I guess Friday I will do the same once I get there. Also I scheduled the Ghost tour for Friday the day we arrive at 9:30pm until 11:30pm, looking to the itinerary and the place we finish the tour we are 20min walking distance to our hotel or try to take transportation. How did you see the city that late at night? Aida

@TYDYGIRL: Thank you so much to offer to be with your family. We will love to be with you. We were planning to do what Smiley mentioned to get in the train and take it from there. We can meet in the ship and coordinate the time to go the train. I'm planning to buy the train tickets ahead of time with EuroRail. Please count me in to be in your family. Thanks again. Aida

Thank you so much for your information Smiley9713. Actually we are getting in Barcelona on Friday and embarking on Sunday to be able to explore a little the city. Actually I booked an excursion with RCL for Nice and Florence, but after what I read from your advice I will do Rome and Marseilles on our own. I already got Pompeii with another cruise critic group. I'm looking forward to have this wonderful experience.

Once again thanks a lot. :-)

Dining times are 6 30 and 9 pm for deck 3, Rembrandt dining room and 7 and 9 30 pm for deck 4 Michelangelo Dining Room, deck 5 is my time dining.

 

A surprise to me was the 21% VAT tax applied to everything purchased onboard other than food and beverage. Food and beverage has a 10% tax applied. It's a European cruise thing.

 

Booking process quite simple in Barcelona. At the port and on the ship within 10 minutes. Because this is a 2 port embark/disembark cruise it cuts down the wait times and lines dramatically.

 

Very port intensive cruise. Very easy to undercut the cruise line excursion prices by booking your own train tickets and doing the exact same excursions on your own. You also beat the crowds to the sites as the trains are much faster than the buses. Rail Europe does everything in English and can help with any train tickets you wish to purchase prior to flying to Europe. Used the trains in all of the ports. Very easy, cheap and time efficient.

 

Not many gamblers on this cruise. The casino is empty most nights. The weather has been amazing. Saturday Night Fever was excellent. The Zooks, a 1960's Beatles type band as the headliner was excellent as well. The ice skating show was great too.

 

Anything else you want to know, just ask.

Hello:

Thank you for the good information you provided. Based on what I read, your recommendation will be to do the excursion on your own? The train ride were very efficient and you didn't encounter any problem, right? How many people were in your party? In my case, is just my husband and me and I'm a little apprehensive on being by ourselves. Any suggestions, thank you in advance