Live from the 05/25 Liberty of the Seas Western Mediterannean

[amandac]

Was the pool ever emptied? I'm wondering if the day we board (Rome), we will be able to use it. We are planning on getting on by 12 or 1.

[Smiley4]

No the pools weren't empty. They were full and open. We sat up there on the pool deck a few times while we ate ice cream comes from the machine up there. Adults weren't getting in much but the kids didn't seem to care. The hot tubs stayed busy most of the time.

[Biscuit1970]

Do you know what currency you have to use for your on board account if paying in cash? thanks

[Stay_calm_and_vacation]

Yes it was. It went live just after we set sail. Not used too often on this trip though, because of temps mainly in the 60's.

 

 

Thanks! With so much touring to do, we figured that might be the best shot for some short lines. I would imagine our one sea day will be packed.

 

 

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[chuklehead07]

In Rome, we took the train from the Civitavecchia port to the Roma St Pietro station. Then it's a short walk to the Vatican and Sistine chapel, Trevi fountain and Spanish steps. We then took a cab to the Colisseum. Everything is real close and the train cost 9 euros each way. MUCH cheaper than the cruise option. We pre booked everything through Rail Europe prior to departure. We bought 2nd class tickets so they weren't train specific. You could take any train that day so if you decided to leave later, start earlier etc it wasn't a problem.

 

In Rome, train time each way about 45 minutes, I'd see what I discussed before, in La Spezia I'd go to the tower in Pisa and visit the various onsite museums then train back to cinque terra. Easily doable in a day. Pre book your climbing tickets if you wish to climb the tower, 18 floors, 188 steps. Train tickets each way were 7 euros and the train took an hour and 20 minutes. In Villefrance, I'd recommend taking the train to Monaco, train time 15 minutes, and seeing the palace, the changing of the guard and the famous Monte Carlo Casino and all the high dollar cars parked in the area. Train each way was 7 euros. We got off in Marseilles but didn't do anything specific so no recommendation there. In Naples, we're scheduled to train to Pompeii then hike the volcano, train time 30 minutes and 7 euros.

 

This cruise is in port 5 consecutive days. Marseilles is 9 am to 6 30 pm and the other 4 are 7 am to 7 pm. Be back by 6 30. Show times are adjusted for the later dining times. We ordered the room service breakfast each morning and checked the 6 30 am to 7 am block, the first option available, and that was our wake up call and we were off the ship by 7 30 each morning.

Thanks for all the info. For the train from La Spezia to Pisa, which time did you book and how far is the train station from the harbor? How long is enough time to spend in Pisa? Thank you!

[Cheggs]

thanks so much for all your information. We are doing this same cruise starting from Rome on 3 July. I just have a couple of other questions -

a) You mention paying 21% vat on top off all purchases except Food and Beverages - so - does that mean on the duty free shopping etc? Last time (Allure to Caribbean) we got great deals on watches....but adding 21% - maybe not so much!

b) We have prebooked drinks packages for hubby and I, but not for the kids as I wanted to first see how many sodas they drink and whether it is worth the package or not - do you remember the approximate cost of a soda - and I presume 10% vat plus 15% gratuity is added to that?

c) I know you did Pisa on your own -but we are looking at doing the Pisa and Beach Shore excursion with RCI - ANY idea which beach club they use? I am battling to get that answer and there are some great reviews of some and some NOT SO GREAT reviews of others!

d) I have only been able to pre-book the ice show - are all the other shows only available to book once onboard?

 

thanks again! HUGE Help!

[Cheggs]

sorry - one more question....I have read elsewhere about a $25 laundry special that you can use during the cruise - $25 for a whole bag of laundry - was this available on Liberty? thanks

[Clarea]

sorry - one more question....I have read elsewhere about a $25 laundry special that you can use during the cruise - $25 for a whole bag of laundry - was this available on Liberty? thanks

The bag is $30 now, and is available on all ships. Sometimes if the itinerary is short, it may not be offered. However, if you ask the stateroom attendant, they will usually be able to get you a bag.

[Cheggs]

Thanks Bob, is it a decent size bag? Hoping I can get quite a bit of the kids (especially) stuff washed and possibly a couple of my and hubby's clothes.

[Smiley4]

Cheggs and Chuklehead07 and stay clam and vacation,

 

Lol, no it's a tiny bag for laundry and it's 30 bucks unless you have a c and a coupon that might save you up to 5 bucks. I'd guestimate 18 inches high by 12 inches wide and plastic. It doesn't hold much.

 

We took the 7 35 am train from La Spezia to The Pisa Centrale stop. Don't get off at the Pisa stop before that. It's much less scenic to the tower. It got in at 8 44 am. It was 12 Dollars US, via Rail Europe. Then you can either cab or walk to the tower. 15 minute walk through a bunch of shops. We were at the tower by 9 or 9 15 and we walked. 2 hours is plenty for Pisa. We went in two museums and climbed the tower in that time and took the requisite photo of trying to straighten up the tower. We beat all the crowds and were heading back while the cruise line buses were arriving and there were many from the various lines. We had plenty of time to head to Florence as well via the train. You will easily make the beach. You could even do it easily on your own. I do not know which ones they used. I pre booked the ice show as well. That was the only one that I could pre book. I think only the Oasis class and probably Quantum class ships allow pre booking of all the shows.

 

There isn't duty free shopping onboard like there is in the caribbean. You won't see that sign with the VAT(value added tax). What value you ask? I have no idea. Maybe value to their pockets :). You'll notice it on all your receipts as You buy things onboard. You'll end up buying more in port as it's cheaper. Great shopping in Naples near de Michaele pizza place. Everything was cheap and you could negotiate anything you wanted. No VAT there. A soda was about 2.80 with fees and gratuity. Yes 10 pct VAT and 15 pct gratuity were onboard.

[IWantToCruiseWithYou]

I was on the same cruise. We were a family group of 7 and booked private shore excursions at each port. If you feel uncomfortable exploring on your own then I highly recommend doing private shore excursions. You can see so much more than you can on the ship's shore excursions because tour buses aren't allowed in certain areas and you have to do significantly more walking. Private guides have special licenses so they can get you up close. Plus it is less expensive. Some tour companies offers share a tour ( such as RomeInLimo & TourGuideNaples) where you can sign up to share a tour with others ( usual maximum is 8 people). We were always back to port on time . These tour companies reputations depend on getting you back by boarding time and they are diligent in controlling your time in each area visited during your particular tour. ALSO.....get to the ENCORE show at least 30 minutes prior to showtime even if you have reservations. I made reservations the first day they made them available online and still had to standup in the back of Studio B. There were a lot of angry people that night. They weren't even checking to see if people had reservations and let anyone in.

 

 

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Edited June 11, 2014 by IWantToCruiseWithYou
Grammatical errors

[Cheggs]

Thanks! I have made private tour reservations in Rome as well as in Capri - and will just taxi to Sagrada Familia in Barcelona; do train ourselves to Monaco (probably leave kids on board for these two) but I didn't (yet) find anything private that would allow the Pisa and beach -but may well just do it ourselves! Do they add the 21% VAT if we book any shore excursions onboard?? I will do some further investigations before deciding on the tour... if it was just hubby and I, it would be EASY to do all the trains etc on our own.....but rushing off and walking too much with a 7 and 8 yr old doesn't always work out!!! looking forward to this trip - just like to be prepared!!

[Smiley4]

Cheggs,

 

Take the kids to Monaco. The views are breathtaking, some of the best in the world, the cars and yachts you will see are worth more than our houses, and the changing of the guard ceremony at the palace is unforgettable. If it's nice weather, you won't regret it.

[Motorman23]

I am a diamond member living in Florida. I have cruised a ton of times. This is the first European cruise I've done. It was a lot dressier than any other cruise I've been on. I think Europeans put a higher premium on that than we do. I wore a suit both formal nights. I saw 1 inappropriately dressed person combined throughout both formal nights. That shocked me more than anything.

so..... will I be out of place with dark dockers and a long sleeved oxford shirt for formal night?

[Smiley4]

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.

[Motorman23]

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.

 

Thanks for the advice.

 

Mike

[marti0127]

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.

[Smiley4]

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.

[marti0127]

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.

[tidygirl]

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

 

No so far still planning on going on our own (we've been vacationing this week so computer time is limited) My husband thinks it's kind of foolish to pay for a tour when you are basically paying for transportation, all the admission cost are additional and your tour guide can't go in with you. Unless we could find something that the tour included admission to the Vatican and Colisseum we are also wanting to see the Pantheon, Trevi Steps and the fountain. As we are paying for 6 we want to keep cost down but see what we want to see! I've only had the chance to look at the Euro Rail one time and hadn't got it figured out. May have you private message me sometime

Edited June 12, 2014 by tidygirl

[mar915]

Thanks so much, you have answered so many questions. We leave on July 2 for London for 3 days and then will stay 2 nights in Barcelona after the cruise.

 

One question about bus vs train to Monte Carlo. Do you have any idea how many stairs for the train station. Trying to decide between the two since my mom would have trouble with more than 20 stairs at one time. I have heard the bus is a nicer view since the train is underground. Also how long does it take to get to Monte Carlo on the bus? And did you take the buses around Monte Carlo to get to the palace and other places.

 

I am excited this is our first cruise as a Diamond member!

 

Thanks again

[tidygirl]

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.

So sorry I thought you realized we are going in Sept and I didn't realize you were going now! I hope you have a good trip and give an update when you get back!

[Smiley4]

Mar915,

 

Marseilles was a tender port so after getting to port via the tender, it was a short walk to the train station or you can cab it for 5 Euros. The train to Monaco took about 15 minutes and wasn't scenic but was too short a trip to matter. The scenery is actually once you arrive in Monaco. The train station in Monaco is 14 stories below ground, so steps aren't an option. You take the elevator up to the street level then catch the hop on hop off bus which is just about a block from the train station or you can cab it. The scenery is amazing in Monaco. See the famous Monaco castle, watch the changing of the guard ceremony daily at 11 55 am Barcelona time, see the famous Monte Carlo casino(no need to pay to go in), see the views from the overlooking areas into the Harbor and the houses, ridiculously expensive cars and yachts below. It's an amazing port and one of my most favorite ever.

 

I took the train to Monte Carlo and not the bus but I'm guessing the bus would take about 20 minutes. Not much different from the train. Yes, I took the hop on hop off bus around Monaco. It was cheap, clean, quick and efficient.

[Smiley4]

I stand corrected. Marseilles wasn't a tender port. Nice was. Take everything from the above post as for Nice, not Marseilles.

[mj]

What time did the ship begin disembarkation? Is self assist available like in the Caribbean? Thanks.