Rare A Tucson Guy Posted August 16, 2023 #1 Share Posted August 16, 2023 (edited) This post was recognized by LauraS! "And another from A TUCSON GUY! Thank you for generously sharing your time at sea with everyone at Cruise Critic! When you return, please consider submitting it to the site for publication as well: Click: Write a Review" A Tucson Guy was awarded the badge '"Live from...."' and 5 points. We are boarding the Nova this Monday and I will try to share some of our experiences with this new ship. If anybody else is on the same cruise, please feel free to chime in. I will TRY and answer any questions, time permitting. We fly out this Friday morning. We used SS business air and I am pleased so far with the routing. We fly Tucson, AZ to Dallas/Fort Worth to Philadelphia and then direct to Venice. I am so glad we aren't going through Heathrow as that is always a challenge. We booked through SS two nights pre-cruise at the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice and we have not stayed there before and it looks lovely. We are having dinner at La Dame on the first night and I will report on the dinner and was it worth the $320 per couple. Time to finish up some business and check our packing. Bon Voyage!! Edited August 16, 2023 by A Tucson Guy 5 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted August 16, 2023 #2 Share Posted August 16, 2023 9 minutes ago, A Tucson Guy said: Hilton Molino Stucky Venice It is lovely, and the location on Guidecca Island makes it quiet and tourist-free. But that location also means you need to add time to get to the main island for every thing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdnycruiser Posted August 16, 2023 #3 Share Posted August 16, 2023 Enjoy the trip ! I’m sure everything will go smoothly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare A Tucson Guy Posted August 16, 2023 Author #4 Share Posted August 16, 2023 17 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said: It is lovely, and the location on Guidecca Island makes it quiet and tourist-free. But that location also means you need to add time to get to the main island for every thing. Thank you. We have been to Venice before and have seen all the tourist hot spots and crowds so this trip we will just walk around and take in the sights. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougburns Posted August 16, 2023 #5 Share Posted August 16, 2023 Tucson Guy; Would appreciate it if you could check when you get aboard as to if the Head of Housekeeping is Karthik Thangavelu. Your butler will know. He's a good friend of ours and he's supposed to be in that position. I've tried to e-mail him several times, but gotten no response. Don't know if he's changed his e-mail or not. Thanks in advance. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare A Tucson Guy Posted August 16, 2023 Author #6 Share Posted August 16, 2023 19 minutes ago, dougburns said: Tucson Guy; Would appreciate it if you could check when you get aboard as to if the Head of Housekeeping is Karthik Thangavelu. Your butler will know. He's a good friend of ours and he's supposed to be in that position. I've tried to e-mail him several times, but gotten no response. Don't know if he's changed his e-mail or not. Thanks in advance. Can do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare RachelG Posted August 16, 2023 #7 Share Posted August 16, 2023 If you walk to the right when you go out of the Hilton, there are some very nice restaurants right on the canal. The hotel restaurant is also quite good, and the breakfast buffet is wonderful, or at least it was pre-covid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare A Tucson Guy Posted August 16, 2023 Author #8 Share Posted August 16, 2023 55 minutes ago, RachelG said: If you walk to the right when you go out of the Hilton, there are some very nice restaurants right on the canal. The hotel restaurant is also quite good, and the breakfast buffet is wonderful, or at least it was pre-covid. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare A Tucson Guy Posted August 16, 2023 Author #9 Share Posted August 16, 2023 57 minutes ago, RachelG said: If you walk to the right when you go out of the Hilton, there are some very nice restaurants right on the canal. The hotel restaurant is also quite good, and the breakfast buffet is wonderful, or at least it was pre-covid. One night we have a dinner ressie at Trattoria Ai Cacciatori 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare RachelG Posted August 17, 2023 #10 Share Posted August 17, 2023 5 hours ago, A Tucson Guy said: One night we have a dinner ressie at Trattoria Ai Cacciatori Good choice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted August 17, 2023 #11 Share Posted August 17, 2023 Have a fabulous trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare A Tucson Guy Posted August 17, 2023 Author #12 Share Posted August 17, 2023 Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lookingtocruise42 Posted August 18, 2023 #13 Share Posted August 18, 2023 On 8/16/2023 at 9:51 AM, A Tucson Guy said: We are boarding the Nova this Monday and I will try to share some of our experiences with this new ship. If anybody else is on the same cruise, please feel free to chime in. I will TRY and answer any questions, time permitting. We fly out this Friday morning. We used SS business air and I am pleased so far with the routing. We fly Tucson, AZ to Dallas/Fort Worth to Philadelphia and then direct to Venice. I am so glad we aren't going through Heathrow as that is always a challenge. We booked through SS two nights pre-cruise at the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice and we have not stayed there before and it looks lovely. We are having dinner at La Dame on the first night and I will report on the dinner and was it worth the $320 per couple. Time to finish up some business and check our packing. Bon Voyage!! Can you take a video of the room if it is not a room type that videos already exist for? (I'm really looking for a video from someone in an Otium suite!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare spinnaker2 Posted August 18, 2023 #14 Share Posted August 18, 2023 (edited) Lunch or dinner at Trattoria da'a Marisa is lovely. Cannaregio 652 Calle canna Venezia No menu. You eat what they made for lunch. mostly locals. Off the beaten path. Edited August 18, 2023 by spinnaker2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare A Tucson Guy Posted August 19, 2023 Author #15 Share Posted August 19, 2023 19 hours ago, spinnaker2 said: Lunch or dinner at Trattoria da'a Marisa is lovely. Cannaregio 652 Calle canna Venezia No menu. You eat what they made for lunch. mostly locals. Off the beaten path. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare A Tucson Guy Posted August 19, 2023 Author #16 Share Posted August 19, 2023 Just landed in Venice and checked into the Hilton Molino Stuckey with all luggage. It is a lovely hotel and we will check out Giudecca Island and dinner at Trattoria Ai Cacciator. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ronrick1943 Posted August 20, 2023 #17 Share Posted August 20, 2023 On 8/18/2023 at 11:34 AM, Lookingtocruise42 said: Can you take a video of the room if it is not a room type that videos already exist for? (I'm really looking for a video from someone in an Otium suite!) We’re booked in that suite, but not until December from Lima. We tried to book it from Cartagena but couldn’t do the add on so we’re in a different suite until Lima when we move to the suite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ronrick1943 Posted August 20, 2023 #18 Share Posted August 20, 2023 Have a great trip and cruise, looking forward to your personal experience on the Nova. I kind of excited and really looking forward to boarding her in December. Looking forward to reading more of your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lookingtocruise42 Posted August 20, 2023 #19 Share Posted August 20, 2023 49 minutes ago, ronrick1943 said: We’re booked in that suite, but not until December from Lima. We tried to book it from Cartagena but couldn’t do the add on so we’re in a different suite until Lima when we move to the suite. It’s odd, some sailings that is the most expensive suite, and some there is a different suite that seems the most expensive. we are doing it in May for Alaska as we thought looking at the glaciers on that huge balcony in a hot tub could be a lot of fun. does having the more expensive room types on SS usually make it easier to assure you can get in to activities/dining/spa/etc? I know on most lines it does, but I have not seen anything reflecting that with SS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ronrick1943 Posted August 21, 2023 #20 Share Posted August 21, 2023 6 hours ago, Lookingtocruise42 said: It’s odd, some sailings that is the most expensive suite, and some there is a different suite that seems the most expensive. we are doing it in May for Alaska as we thought looking at the glaciers on that huge balcony in a hot tub could be a lot of fun. does having the more expensive room types on SS usually make it easier to assure you can get in to activities/dining/spa/etc? I know on most lines it does, but I have not seen anything reflecting that with SS People say it doesn’t make a different - but in reality it does. Just ask your Butler, they can help a lot when you’re in a bigger suite. The maitre’d always ask for your suite number, why do you think they do that. We’ve never had to wait for a table and always got a nice spot in the dining room. We’ve also when we ask have never not gotten into a restaurant we wanted to eat at—we always make the request early in the day. If someone has something booked, they won’t move them-nor should they. But when possible they will get you what you ask for………. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 21, 2023 #21 Share Posted August 21, 2023 They also ask for the suite number so they can see your name. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Dolcevita Diva Posted August 21, 2023 #22 Share Posted August 21, 2023 16 minutes ago, Lois R said: They also ask for the suite number so they can see your name. And any notes about dietary preferences. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare drron29 Posted August 21, 2023 #23 Share Posted August 21, 2023 And that you are not a stowaway.😉😉🤣 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare A Tucson Guy Posted August 21, 2023 Author #24 Share Posted August 21, 2023 Getting ready to board shortly. I will say that we thought the Hilton Molina Stuckey hotel was fabulous. Great rooms and breakfast. The location is on Giudecca island and much less crowded. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 21, 2023 #25 Share Posted August 21, 2023 6 hours ago, A Tucson Guy said: Getting ready to board shortly. I will say that we thought the Hilton Molina Stuckey hotel was fabulous. Great rooms and breakfast. The location is on Giudecca island and much less crowded. Hi, I believe it is about 2:45pm now in Venice and I am guessing you are on board this new ship. I hope she is even more beautiful in person for you.😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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