Emerald Princess 19APR15 Transatlantic Houston/Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona/Athens

Hi All... Canadian traveling Houston to Barcelona... with my cruising buddy and we love cocktails! Who is on board?

Hi All... Canadian traveling Houston to Barcelona... with my cruising buddy and we love cocktails! Who is on board?

Hi Guys,

I think I am going too. May have to go alone since everyone I know can't get away at that time. I have to pay up today. Think I will stay in Barcelona until Wed May 13. I don't see any other us posting for this G&L Roll Call but surely there will be others show up at the Dorothy meetings!

Ike

Hi Ike, nice to meet you! ...and I hope you booked. I have travelled alone on transatlantics before and have never been bored. Lots of people to meet and things to do - other than eating and drinking! and yes - I'm sure the FOD will have more participants than this roll call (!) Barcelona is wonderful, a great city to explore. I'm going to Paris and Iceland post cruise and my buddy Keith is heading back to Toronto. Some people have to work :( Cheers Ian

Hi,

My partner Suzanne and I are on this cruise. We had a wonderful group on the Feb. cruise to the Mexican Riviera and are hoping to meet some other nice folks to have a cocktail with or share costs for shore excursions. See you all on the first FOB night in Houston.

Virginia

Hello Ian, Keith, Virginia and Suzanne,

I tried to find someone to go with me for a few days before deciding it would be relaxing to have some alone time. I have been to Barcelona a couple of times but I am staying over Saturday night. Sunday I meeting up with a 5 night tour of other areas of Spain. Travel by train and bus but all escorted before flying home from Madrid on cheap FF miles (which never happens to me :D). It is nice to be somewhat acquainted with a few people before our voyage. I have not booked any tours on the ship yet..may do mostly on my own and I know I am staying in Cadiz since my Barcelona tour will take me to Seville for a night or two. May go into Rome on the train without a tour since I have taken the tours there before. Yes, I hope we have a fun group for the FOD meetings.

I live a couple of hours south of Houston. I am flying up and one of my buds that owns a limo co says he is picking up from the airport (woo Hoo) taking me to breakfast and then on to Bayport.

See ya'll soon,

Ike

Welcome Virginia... look forward to meeting you and Suzanne and nice to see that you booked Ike. So glad that you both posted ~was starting to feel lonely on here!

40 days until we cruise!

I am not going to Seville on a tour since I am going to stay there two nights on another tour at the end of the cruise. Just saw on the other roll call that some are signing up with Pancho Tours in Cadiz. I went online and booked the free 2 hour walking tour with them for the 10am. Everyone just tips the guide at the end of the tour. I thought I could come back on board for lunch or stay in town for drinks and tapas!

Ike

Hopefuly there will be more FOD's on board......Looking forward to three weeks of sailing.....nothing beats being in the middle of the ocean....away from pressures of life....I am the quiet one....usually hiding somewhere on deck... a quiet out of the way place...in the sun... reading a book or doing Suduko.

Hello, it looks like we might be a small but mighty group! We are looking so forward to the cruise and meeting new people. I will look for the free walking tour as well. We are interested in taking the train into Rome but would like to go with someone to feel a bit safer. Suzanne teaches tai chi and we will be practicing most days for those who are interested in trying it. We will set time and place once we meet up. See you very soon. Virginia

How nice to see our little group growing. Welcome Ralph! I am somewhat reserved myself (at first) but certainly friendly and approachable. This is my second TA and had an absolute rejuvenating time then, made several wonderful friendships, guess I could go and on. Virginia, there will be quite a few of us going into Rome by train. There are several ships docking in Civitavecchia. Last time I went in to Rome I ran into people from our ship constantly! Rome was buzzing because the Pope quit just as I got there. I told everyone I scared him off! ha. I have done the Best of Rome tour too. It was expensive. But, worth every darn penny. Saw it all. Past all the lines, no waiting, and not being too religious myself, found the history and architecture explained to me inside the Vatican so interesting. Rome is all walkable and items of interest are close together. Wonderful to hear about the Tai Chi..I have experienced it a little. I plan to workout daily and would love to incorporate some enlightenment to Tai Chi. Yes, sign up online with Pancho..it is easy. I had a hard time with the country code. Finally put 44 and it took the reservation. They will will send you a confirmation right away.

Ike

Hi All~Top of the day to you. We have not decided about Rome, I have done it twice from port and it is a whirlwind by train, but can be fun. It is nice to see one or two sites, have a lovely lunch and watch all the Romans or you can cram in four or five sites and a pizza slice.(!) We may go to the countryside, or nearby the port but will let you know if we decide on whirlwind Rome by train. I can recommend a site for timetable and fares for Civitavecchia → Roma Ostiense or Roma Termini:

https://www. capitainetrain.com/search/

09:18 Civitavecchia

10:18 Roma Ostiense (Rome)

IC 501 (fast intercity train)

15:57 Roma Termini (Rome)

16:45 Civitavecchia

IC 518

These are the fast trains and 1st Class (reserved seat) is only 18 euros return. You can walk from the port entrance to the stazione ferroviaria in 5 mins.

The more I thought about being possibly in a packed train, I decided on reserving a first class seat. Only 9 euro each way. 9:18 departure and 4:07 return. Time to walk around, maybe a wine or lunch and an easy return.

Ike

Hi all, I finally found this roll call. I am Joseph and will be traveling with my husband David. Will be doing most ports on our own and have done Rome, Monte Carlo and Barcelona several times. Do want to climb the rock in Gibralter and possibly train to Eze from Monaco. We will most likely sign up for the walking tour in Cadiz.

Well just wanted to say hello and will look forward to meeting everyone onboard. Looks like a very nice group so far!

Joseph

Welcome Joseph! Look forward to meeting you and David. So happy our group is growing. We mostly avoid the ship excursions as well... (painful to wait in the theatre for tours to be called, wait for the bus, wait for the group!) Gibraltar, Sardinia and Monte Carlo are new ports for us and we are excited. I have sailed past Gibraltar 5 times and finally get to visit (and climb?) it this time. And what about those wild monkeys? Be warned!

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/11/gibraltar-barbary-macaques-deported-scottish-safari-park-blair-drummond

Anyone else waiting for a free stateroom upgrade from Princess? They should be calling soon! (just kidding)

Hoping someone can help us with self tour suggestions. I am trying to get the Tom's Port Guide that is mentioned in the other roll call. We hate going on the ship tours and much prefer to strike out on our own or others we meet at FOD.

I just made reservations on NCL for another 7 day cruise from Barcelona on May 10 to Naples, Rome, Florence, Cannes, Palma. If anyone has done this route, please give us some tips. I made a reservation for Renaissance Barcelona. Anyone else staying there?

See everyone soon!

Virginia

Hi Virginia, I stayed at the Renaissance Barcelona two years ago when it first opened (rebranded) and it is a great hotel. Super comfy beds and the location could not be better near the Paseo de Gracia, loved it. Regarding your second cruise.. I have been on the NCL EPIC twice. It's a fun ship... you should get a posh pass (they only give out 10-15 on the first day) it allows you access to the uncrowded resort-style sundeck known as the Posh Beach Club (for Haven guests with it's own bar!) It's the best deal on the ship @70.00?! We can talk at the FOD. A suggestion (unless you really have to see Florence with all the crowds and time getting to and from), Instead take the train to the beautiful medieval walled city of Lucca and then a bus to Pisa and then back to Livorno by train. Pisa was more impessive than I imagined and well worth visiting. It was incredibly easy to do this and I was back in lots of time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucca

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g187899-i577-k5810976-Pisa_to_Lucca_by_bus-Pisa_Province_of_Pisa_Tuscany.html

Started laying out clothes last night and making my lists. Count down has begun. Can't wait to meet everyone in person. Safe travels to all. Virginia

Hello,

My name is Rob and my husband Serge and I will be on this cruise with 4 other friends. We've been on 2 other Mediterranean cruises. We are very excited to do another one and meet all of you! For those leaving early, safe travels to you!

Thanks,

Welcome Rob and Serge! Safe journey everyone.

Hi everyone,

My partner and I will be on the 14-day Med cruise starting on June 6th along with 6 other friends. We look forward to meeting everyone!

Serge