joanna111

I'll be on some b-2-bs on the Nieuw Amsterdam in the fall. Wanting to be prepared as to when the Gala Nights are.

We have a 7 night Barcelona to Rome with only one sea day which is the last day. Then a 7 night back to Barcelona with only one sea day which is the 3rd day. On the next-to-the-last night of that segment we're scheduled to be in port until 7:00. Then a 13 day TA from Barcelona to Ft. Lauderdale.

Should I expect two formal nights each on the 7 days and then 3 or 4 on the TA?

We will be in Civitavecchia on a Monday and only in port from 7 to 4 because it's a turnaround day. We've spent a lot of time in Rome on other trips so we're looking for something else. Problem is Monday is closing day for Tarquinia and I can't seem to find anything else. Any ideas?

I read the laundry threads but I couldn't find this:

Is there a difference -- other than price -- between the unlimited and the bag laundry? Are there things that the bag laundry doesn't cover?

Does anyone have the most recent prices? Our cruise will be out of Barcelona and the last leg will be transatlantic. I'm trying to do the math for 27 days. And what I've booked is two b2b cruises (not a collectors) with different booking numbers so I assume I could start or stop unlimited laundry when I switch from one cruise to another.

I'm sorry to see the change. My husband and I enjoy the formal nights and there's just no other place to have that experience. And, yes, part of that experience is everybody being dressed up. For me it's the difference between eating in a restaurant with a lovely view vs. one overlooking a gas station. The food might be the same but the experience is different. I would think anyone could understand that even if they don't feel the same way.

DH has always rented a tux -- takes care of the baggage problem for him and my stuff doesn't take up much room. But now I'd feel silly with him in a tux. So I'm leaning toward slacks and collared shirts for both of us. I mean. it's either formal or it's not. As others have said "suggested" vs "required" attire is silly. You can't have it both ways.

I will be on a multi-leg Nieuw Amsterdam sailing this fall. Can I change dining times on one of the embark/debark days if, for me, it's an ongoing cruise as in I do not have a new booking number for this leg? They'll have to reconfigure all the dining anyway since some people will be leaving and some people will be joining the cruise.

We have two weeks that are very port-intensive so we're gotten anytime dining. That way we can eat early or just grab a quick meal in the Lido so we can be up early the next morning. After the two weeks it becomes a TA and then we'd love to have late dining.

I figure you guys are more likely to know than if I call HAL.:)

Thanks for all the good info. Gibraltar is the most complicated port of our trip! And apparently we will start disembarking about an hour before sunrise.

I have read that the taxis don't get up quite as high as the cable car does. Do you know if that's true or if it would matter? And I'm thinking the cable car might not be too crowded. It's the last week in October and we're the only ship in port -- a mere 2100 of us.

How would you spend 6 hours in Gibraltar? We do want to see some of the main street. I understand that it looks very English -- to us Americans that's exotic!

Trying to work up a plan for our day in Gibraltar. I'd like to see the top of the rock, St. Michael's caves and the siege tunnels and then walk down part of main street. I'm trying to minimize walking to make a more efficient use of our limited time.

If we take a taxi to the cable car then it looks like there's a bit of a hike when we get to the top since the cave and the siege tunnels appear to be at opposite end of the rock. Can you walk to the siege tunnels? And then what would be the most efficient way to get down? Are there taxis at the top?

I'm not sure an organized tour would work for us because we probably wouldn't be ready to leave the tunnels or the cave when the tour was ready to move on.

I've read a lot of the Gibraltar threads and haven't come up with an answer.

Thanks.

We are on a B2B out of Barcelona in October. We have separate booking numbers for each cruise. After the first cruise will the ship give us back any wine we have purchased in ports? I have seen several people on CC say this has happened but I'm dubious. Wouldn't they know that we are staying on board for the next cruise?

I've discovered that the single supplement can be as low as 60%; i.e., you pay one full fare and 60% of the second fare. I've found this through trial and error plugging data into the HAL website. I found two b2b cruises at this rate but only for O/V. The balcony cost would have called for paying two full fares.

I'd go south to north because that way the scenery is getting more spectacular every day.

I'd want any two 2 of: Hubbard glacier, College Fiord and glacier bay. Unfortunately, that leaves HAL out.

If you can go one way, Vancouver to Whittier, that would be great. I used frequent flyer miles home from Anchorage.

English-in-Spain,

What is the more scenic route from Alicante to Guadalest? We are thinking about renting a car for the day.

You'll get a better response if you post this on the roll call for your specific sailing. BTW, I couldn't get the link to work.

Startrain, how did you arrange transportation from the ship to Palau? I wrote to them and got a quote for a excursion on the Caprera One but all they said about transport was that they don't do it.

There is absolutely no reason that both cannot exist. But those who like this very old traditional just cannot see that both can be happy. I honestly do not care one way or the other if someone else is not dressed, frankly it is NOT my concern nor does it ruin the atmosphere.

I'm going to say, very gently, that (on formal night) it does affect the atmosphere and my enjoyment if men are not wearing at least coats and ties. Just as it would if I had a view of a gas station or if the tablecloth had holes or if the placemat were paper with ads printed on it. It decreases the ambiance of elegance that I so enjoy and is so rare to find.

On a 7 day port-intensive Med cruise last fall we didn't want to bother dressing up so we just ate in the Lido on formal night.

Tuxes are optional -- but. guys, you look so hot in them.;)

Just sent an email to the sailboat excursion that StartrainDD recommended -- thanks. Although it sounds a little too beachy for October 30th.

I would have been thrilled if HAL had chosen Malta. And I'd be happy if they had chosen one of the other Sardinia ports that sound more interesting.

But I should stop complaining and realize what this means to the people of Tunis.

I am disappointed especially with everything I read about Olbia, Sardinia. :mad:The most common advice for that port seems to be to just stay on the ship

Just got a notice from HAL that all stops at Tunis will be replaced by Sardinia. Sadly I have to say that's probably the right decision.

Thanks everone. I should have said it's Civitavecchia. It sounds like there may be excursions announced later on -- I'll come up with a diy plan B in case. Nice if we don't have to do the lifeboat drill again.

Okay, I may have my terms wrong because we've never taken two cruises in a row before. We'll be on the Nieuw Amsterdam for a 7 day cruise followed by a 20 day cruise with Civitavecchia being the end of the first one and the beginning of the second one. My question is: can we take shore excursions that day? Nothing shows on the website except for the private touring. Some of our fellow travelers will be on a 14day with Rome as the halfway point so I imagine that excursions are available to them...but not to us?

My husband usually rents a tux because it means less stuff to carry on and off the plane. So nice to get to the stateroom and find it waiting. Plus, he looks like Stephen Spielberg when he wears it.:)

I rely on Trip Advisor a lot. I choose the port I'm interested in and look for the list of attractions. Click on some of them and you will find people reviewing many excursion and guide outfits. It gives a much wider choice of options with much better descriptions than HAL has. You probably know this -- you can read reviews of the HAL excursions on the same page where you book them

We did not buy insurance in the early days when we took less expensive trips. We have good medical through Blue Cross so my main concern is needing to cancel due to illness. Since we have some chronic conditions we always make sure to get something that covers preexisting conditions. Look into that before you buy since there are guidelines -- like having to buy the policy within a very short time of the initial down payment.

We used frequent flyer points o get to Seattle and then took Amtrak to Vancouver and spent the pre-cruise night there. Had time for a HO-HO bus in the morning before boarding.

It can be overwhelming but familiarize yourself with the tram (Rick Steves shows pix of how to get the tickets, etc. They are super frequent and easy.) I would not miss the Blue Mosque and wandering around the Spice Market and the grand bazaar. And the Hagia Sophia which is very close to the Blue Mosque. Some of the pavements are very, very uneven so be careful. And be aware that the Mosques close 1/2 hour before prayer times.

We really preferred the Blue Mosque. It's in a more touristy section and very easy to get to on the tram. Suliman (sorry, can't spell) was in a less touristy area (which I prefer) but not as easy to get to as the Blue Mosque. Be aware that they close about 1/2 hour before each prayer time.