Fishboy1947

I would like to hear from someone who tried, not speculation.

i am not one to usually haggle. Many years ago I decided I would like to spend a month on a very high scale island in FL, I usually stayed a week. When I saw the prices it looked like I’d have to stay off island. I got the idea to send emails to 25 units that looked like places I’d like to stay, I told them what I could pay off island but I’d really like to stay on island. I made them an offer of 10% more than off island and about 25% less than on island prices. 15 responses were very negative, I didn’t hear from 5 but the other 5 said that that were interested. I made a deal with one and stayed there each year for the next 20 years.

You don’t know until you try

We have had family cruises, one with 21 and one with 12. Ages 11-72. Our cruises were on Princess and I can only say they were wonderful. Kids, parents and grandparents totally enjoyed them. One family had to be convinced to come and they still, 5 yrs later, rave about the trip.

Maybe not as much to do as on RCL but maybe that is part of the reason the trips were so good? Families had time together and interfamily.

Also did a trip of 3 grandkids and grandparents on Celebrity. It was also a wonderful experience and a wonderful trip.

Just a different perspective 

As someone looking forward to their first NCL cruise in June, this post hasn’t been a ringing endorsement of NCL. Seems like NCL sucks in many areas but be happy you’re on vacation. 

My prior 9 cruises on Princess & Celebrity have been great with minor problems. 

I expect that I’ll feel the same about my NCL cruise. Great itinerary on Escape with grandkids.

6 hours ago, mapleleaves said:

Since you don't specify I assume you're talking about a transfer between Venice airport and Venice cruiseport. This is only a 20 minute drive. A cab will cost 35-40E

Actually looking to go from Trieste to Piazzale Roma. Want to see if anyone has used this company and how this company is regarded

Has anyone used Treviso Car Service for Venice transfers from airport or cruise ports?

I searched with no results

On 8/27/2023 at 8:58 PM, klfrodo said:

I can absorb the loss of a $5000 missed cruise.

An unexpected $50 to $100k medical and evac back home would financially devastate me

That’s my approach. I use credit card for travel protection and GeoBlue for medical and evacuation. GeoBlue’s cost is pretty reasonable, especially if you’re under 70

From my experience on this tour the driver stayed with the van the whole time

When booking air with other cruise lines like, Princess or Celebrity, one of the advantages is that if airfares drop in price prior to final payment, you can reprice the airfare. Another is that you can cancel up to final payment with no cost. Additionally, at least with Princess, international flights are usually considerable cheaper than booking otherwise.

I contacted Premium Air and was told they wouldn’t talk to me, that my travel agent had to contact them.

Travel agent called and was told the cost of our chosen flights is $5,000 each. When I check on American Airlines site the cost is $1,950.

Delete

36 minutes ago, KeithJenner said:

It wasn’t the bartenders being lax, it is NCL policy. There are often signs at the bars on European sailings stating that the age for alcohol to be served is 18. The policy is stated on the NCL website.

When we booked, the drink package was removed for anyone under 21, soda given as replacement for one.

this is NCLs policy: On cruises embarking in a country where the legal drinking age is lower than 21 and where a young adult (age 18, 19 or 20) is not traveling with a parent or legal guardian, they will generally not be permitted to consume alcohol. There may be exceptions made to this restriction in areas of the world where local laws require and Norwegian Cruise Line concurs. Details on such exceptions can be obtained from the Guest Services Desk. No guest under age 18 may possess or consume alcohol at any time, while onboard or at our private destinations. No guest under age 21 may possess or consume alcohol at our private destinations. Any guest who goes ashore and consumes alcohol (whether under the supervision of a parent/guardian or not, is responsible for ensuring they consume responsibly and retain their ability to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations when they return to the ship. Parents/guardians are reminded they are responsible for the actions of their child/young adult at all times while on a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise. 
The young adult exception is parents can give permission for wine & beer

On 7/18/2023 at 10:39 PM, Liljo22 said:

How many days is the cruise that one drink package and one soda package gratuities comes to $600+?  Drink package is $21.80 per day and the soda package is $1.99 per day.  At $23.79 per day, that would be a 26 day cruise.

 

FYI..if that is what the booking is quoting you, once you get to the section to add guests, the system will see you have two guests under 21 and adjust the gratuities.  

Thank you, when I booked and listed ages the changes are just what you indicated. 10 day cruise @ $21 per day for 3= $600

Our grandchildren always enjoyed mocktails on cruises, cocktails with no alcohol. Is there a drink package for children under 21 that includes mocktails?

New to NCL and learning 

Sounds like we should turn down the unlimited free drinks and save the $600+. The adult is not a big drinker and Grandparents on cruise not parents

Just finished a Celebrity cruise with drinks included and the minors could drink any cocktails without alcohol, plus specialty coffees and water.  

I’ve looked through the posts but cannot find what drinks are included under the Free Drinks package if you are under 21. Are mocktails included? All regular $15 and under drinks but no alcohol?

Two of our three in the room are under 21

16 hours ago, marazul said:

There are many gondola stands along the canals.  You simply walk up to one and get on the next one. DO NOT PREBOOK A GONDOLA TOUR you will be overcharged.

 

The prices are set by the city government:  

80 euros for 30 minutes from 9 am to 7 pm

100 euros for 35 minutes from 7 pm to 3 am.

They only take a maximum of 6 passengers.  

 

Here is a map of the main gondola stations:

https://www.veniceingondola.com/gondole

 

Some operators offer a tour and gondola combination.  I think it is better to do them separately.  Here are the options:

https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?et=52926&psrc=widget&partner_id=374MR5Y&utm_medium=online_publisher&currency=EUR&q=Venezia&queryMatch=all&widget=activities&wid=add4c5af-5272-5c2d-aab2-5d775ae2b1b2&visitor_id=03ABB2D6E8094126AA20B5ED0517C3FD&visitor-id=03ABB2D6E8094126AA20B5ED0517C3FD&locale_autoredirect_optout=true

We took a gondola ride recently and asked the price upfront. The first gondolier was 20 euros higher than the second for the 35 minute ride. The second was a bigger operation and charged 80 euro for 35 minutes. We throughly enjoyed the ride

23 minutes ago, Miryam1234 said:

Where did you change your booked tickets into actual vaporetto tickets? Was the place easy to find?

In the airport. Wasn’t even looking for the machine and bumped into it. Entered the code and 5 individual passes came out

On 6/30/2023 at 8:52 PM, euro cruiser said:

Another option, not right at Termini but not far (1.9 km/one and a quarter miles) on foot is Piccolo Arancio:  Menù Primi e Zuppe | Piccolo Arancio | Piccolo Arancio

 

It's very near the Trevi Fountain, but it's a nice walk from Termini if you walk through Piazza Quirinale and down the stairs from there, rather than on the streets.

We ate there recently and highly recommend a reservation. It was very good

Celebrity provided a shuttle from Troncetta to Ravenna. Troncetta is at the end of the people mover, a monorail that begins in Piazzale Roma. 

Just returned from Venice and thought I’d pass on a couple things that we did.

Fondaco dei Tedeschi is a high end 4 story department store at the base of the Rialto Bridge. They offer free views from their rooftop. You have to book timed reservations on their website. We really enjoyed the view, some of our best pictures, and we enjoyed going through the store. A word of advice, you have to take the escalator to the fourth level to get to the roof. Not marked well.

We were only in Venice for less than two days, so we didn’t want to make too many time commitments. This made a trip to see glassblowing in Murano questionable. We booked $5 admission tickets with Original Murano Glass Co, payable on arrival. We took a vaporetti to Murano on our own and really enjoyed the brief demonstration. Also enjoyed one of our best lunches in Murano.

If you purchase your ACTV vaporetti tickets online in advance, I think 30 days, you save about 10%. Also anyone under 26 can get a 3 day pass for less than a regular 2 day pass.

We were a family of 5 adults. The cost of the bus from the airport to Piazzale Roma was $10 each. For $60 we booked an 8 person van transfer with City Airport Transfer. It was worth the small difference.

It was our first real visit to Venice and we took the advice to walk around, sometimes blindly. For our only full day we walked 16,950 steps, probably too much. I was tired for the rest of the 15 days trip when we did 12,000 steps most days.

27 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

Ask on the Ports of Call board for Italy as to where a bus would pick up.  I suspect it is either Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto.  Since there aren’t land taxis, it would be a water taxi.  EM

Tronchetto, People Mover from Piazzale Roma

Just returned from Italy and used italytours.eu for private tours of Amalfi Coast with Pompeii and Florence with Pisa.  Both drivers were very good. The vehicles were top notch. We found the company to be very professional in all of our dealings.
 

On the Amalfi tour the description was Views of Positano. But the traffic was ok and we got an early start so the driver took us down into Positano for an hour on our own. We also had free time in Sorrento which we thoroughly enjoyed and had one of our best meals. I did the Amalfi tour last October and found less traffic this time in June.

Our tours included guides in Pompeii and Florence. The guide in Florence, Elizabeth, was very good. We did not like the guide in Pompeii, do not have his name.

Our family of 5 recently stayed 2 nights in Hotel Olimpia just off Piazzale Roma in Venice.  The hotel is very convenient and reasonably priced. The rooms were modern and larger than expected. Their breakfast was very good. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. We would highly recommend.

We had 2 day vaporetti passes which we used extensively. The stations were close by and with steady service, we never had to look at schedules. The People Mover for our shuttle to Ravenna is right in Piazzale Roma.

Before the trip we questioned whether we should be more in the heart of Venice, but we are very happy with our decision.

We just returned from 2 nights in Rome after our cruise. We stayed at Albergo Santa Chiara which is very near the Pantheon. We completely enjoyed our stay. The hotel was convenient, modern inside, quiet, very comfortable and had a very good breakfast. It is moderately priced and would highly recommend

We just returned from Celebrity cruise out of Ravenna. We used their shuttle from Troncetto to Ravenna. Celebrity provided complementary shuttles all day from port to Ravenna on embarkation day. Celebrity also provided convenient complementary shuttles in Zadar & Dubrovnik Croatia.

we stayed near Piazzale Roma in Venice at Hotel Olimpia and were very satisfied. Very convenient for vaporetti service.

Flew from Philadelphia to Venice, landed 9:30 AM on June 20.  No problems, no indication of any strikes in Venice airport. Fast customs and baggage claim.