Voyage 5510, help a newbie please

Hello, completely new here and I have been reading what must be 1000 posts by now, what a mine of information this place is!

I am looking to book my first cruise for next year and wanted opinions of anyone who might have done voyage 5510 previously (Barcelona to Rome 5 nights), although that is assuming it is not a new cruise for 2015.

Also generally speaking do you Silversea regulars book your own flights/transfers? £500 on top for the included option seems a lot when UK flights to European cities is usually less than £100.

Welcome to the board.

Re your travel. My suggestion is that you don't use their air travel but use your saving to book your own and allow an overnight stop in Barcelona the night before and Rome the night after to virtually remove all or most risks.

Open jaw tickets are normally more than your £100 but keep in mind that sometimes it is cheaper to book a return than a single so check that London to Barcelona return is cheaper than a single and simply don't show for the return. For Rome, if you try that trick ensure it is a return to London from Rome as not showing for the first leg normally means the whole ticket is cancelled. If you have BA miles or Avios you can book one ways very cheaply as it is in the Reward Flight Saver zone.

Enjoy your trip and post more posts. You new forum needs you!

:)

Thanks for the reply and the welcome!

I had not thought of looking at return flights as what I have seen so far is fairly cheap already (£46 to Barca and £73 from Rome) but that is a really good idea.

I had factored in a night in Barca so that we were not panicking about delays and even with that included plus taxi fares to the port it is still so much cheaper than the included option.

Thanks for the tips!

Thanks for the reply and the welcome!

I had not thought of looking at return flights as what I have seen so far is fairly cheap already (£46 to Barca and £73 from Rome) but that is a really good idea.

I had factored in a night in Barca so that we were not panicking about delays and even with that included plus taxi fares to the port it is still so much cheaper than the included option.

Thanks for the tips!

Hello,

If you're looking for a pre cruise night in Barcelona l would suggest Eurostars Marina Hotel which is right next door to where the ship normally docks. The porters will quite simply transport your luggage to the embarkation point.

Sophia :)

Hello, completely new here and I have been reading what must be 1000 posts by now, what a mine of information this place is! I am looking to book my first cruise for next year and wanted opinions of anyone who might have done voyage 5510 previously (Barcelona to Rome 5 nights), although that is assuming it is not a new cruise for 2015. Also generally speaking do you Silversea regulars book your own flights/transfers? £500 on top for the included option seems a lot when UK flights to European cities is usually less than £100.

Yes, welcome to these Boards. Lots of helpful, friendly people here. If you have not been to Barcelona, you are in for a super treat. Hopefully, you will have time for this great and charming city before . Many could options in southern France and then . . . the wonders of Italy. Have you been in these locations before?

Below on my live/blog is lots of info on Barcelona, Tuscany, Rome, southern France, etc. The ship and that experience are important, BUT, you don't want to miss these great areas of the Med. Let us know any questions for your many great off-ship opportunities. The bad news in the Med? Many of port stops have too many options. Can't do it during one port day, such as deciding between Florence versus one of many great potentials in Tuscany. Good luck!!

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 176,271 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

Am on the verge of booking! Have got #5510 on hold for a week just to finally make my mind up.

Thanks specialcruisegirl, unfortunately it looks like Eurostars Marina is booked up already but as the flight I plan to do is very late at night I think it's best to use an airport hotel and get a taxi the next day.

Would still be interested to hear from anyone who has done this particular cruise before, although on reading further through the boards it seems the shorter cruises are not very popular with folks here!

Am on the verge of booking! Have got #5510 on hold for a week just to finally make my mind up.

Thanks specialcruisegirl, unfortunately it looks like Eurostars Marina is booked up already but as the flight I plan to do is very late at night I think it's best to use an airport hotel and get a taxi the next day.

Would still be interested to hear from anyone who has done this particular cruise before, although on reading further through the boards it seems the shorter cruises are not very popular with folks here!

The shorter cruises are popular with people who do not know better:D

Oh no! I hope you mean that I will love the cruise so much that I will wish I had booked for longer? Unfortunately dates and timing mean I can't. Getting excited already and not even booked yet!

Oh no! I hope you mean that I will love the cruise so much that I will wish I had booked for longer? Unfortunately dates and timing mean I can't. Getting excited already and not even booked yet!

You will wish you had booked for longer! :)

Question re flight back from Rome to London.

Obviously I won't book anything too early in the day we disembark but wanted opinions re BA and Alitalia. Reviews on here say Alitalia are terrible, although I can't see any complaints in the last year. The options I have are a mid afternoon flight with BA or a later flight with Alitalia that gets us to the airport nearest to home so is better in that sense. Thought I would book the Alitalia lounge at T1 to wait for the later flight but that seems to have terrible reviews too! Anyone had recent experience of either? Still not booked the cruise yet!

Question re flight back from Rome to London.

Obviously I won't book anything too early in the day we disembark but wanted opinions re BA and Alitalia. Reviews on here say Alitalia are terrible, although I can't see any complaints in the last year. The options I have are a mid afternoon flight with BA or a later flight with Alitalia that gets us to the airport nearest to home so is better in that sense. Thought I would book the Alitalia lounge at T1 to wait for the later flight but that seems to have terrible reviews too! Anyone had recent experience of either? Still not booked the cruise yet!

May I suggest that with just a 2.5hr flight then the main consideration is more about the most convenient flight to your home presumably you are closer to Heathrow than Gatwick? I'd forget fretting about reviews as you get bad or good either way on any given day. All other things being equal BA is more likely the better flight option but I have a pathalogical hatred of LGW. And then there is the journey home.

Presumably as you are not concerned about your outward and return being at the same airport you won't be driving. If so then the Alitalia lounge should just become a blur if you can drink.

Hi UKCruiseJeff, thanks for the reply. I have been looking at your lunches on the cooler thread, very nice indeed.

Alitalia actually gets me back to LCY which is perfect for me. The BA goes back to dreaded LGW! However it is 3 hours earlier and I find at the end of a trip I just want to get home. Swings and roundabouts....And yes I am not driving as I never learnt! I made the decision some years ago so I would never have to suffer a wine free evening being the designated driver!

Thanks for your kind words re my lunch pics. I am a sad person being obsessed with lunch ... but there you go! Please join us there for a chat! :)

I'd make it an easy choice. Unless you are going to book a car for the trip back to FCO and be opportunistic, and say fit a visit to Ostia Antica for a couple of hours before you need to be at the airport, I'd grab the earlier flight.

If you haven't been to Ostia, google it and don't miss the opportunity if it is possible.

Jeff

Question re flight back from Rome to London.

Obviously I won't book anything too early in the day we disembark but wanted opinions re BA and Alitalia. Reviews on here say Alitalia are terrible, although I can't see any complaints in the last year. The options I have are a mid afternoon flight with BA or a later flight with Alitalia that gets us to the airport nearest to home so is better in that sense. Thought I would book the Alitalia lounge at T1 to wait for the later flight but that seems to have terrible reviews too! Anyone had recent experience of either? Still not booked the cruise yet!

The ship docks in the port of Civitavecchia which is a good hours drive from the airport.

Silversea will normally offer coach transport (for a fee) directly from the ship to the airport which usually departs from the port at around 11am.

As they really do like you to vacate your suite by 8.30 am l would say the easiest option is to take the earlier flight.

Sophia :)

Also, if you think you are going to catch a taxi to the airport, precook a transfer via your TA. There are usually very few taxis hanging around.

The more we travel, the more we choose the simplest options. We have had zero problems with Alitalia..actually we have had great luck with their transatlantic business class flights. My "free" advice would be take the most convenient flight offered..best schedule with the easiest transfers and the destination airport closest to home. Sometimes simple is best! Have a wonderful cruise.

Hi - seeing you are from the UK you may wish to reflect on the financial protection you receive by booking with the cruise operator v independently.

My understanding is that if you book flights with the operator it becomes a 'package' meaning that if something goes wrong with the flight that causes you to miss the cruise the entire 'package' is refunded'.

If you book the flight independently you do not benefit from this protection.

Sometimes travel agents package these things themselves, under their own ATOL license, to give the protection.

A well known example of this protection being needed was the Iceland ash cloud a few years back. We were affected by this and couldn't get to a Seabourn cruise in the Med. On this occasion we had booked the flights with Seabourn and eventually received a full refund of the cruise/flights. Many independent travellers didn't and lost all their money.

I guess it's down to one's attitude to risk.

Thanks Sophia, as I had planned independent flights it hadn't occurred to me that we could book the Silversea transfer, doh!

Had already looked at private transfer leaving at a set time (early) which is why I was umming and ahhing over the later Alitalia flight and lounge.

machotspur - what you say was exactly my concern re booking my own flights but TA says insurance will cover any missed departure. Also asked specialist cruise insurance company and they said the same (will grill them intensively before actually buying policy as I hate insurance companies, they wriggle out of everything).

OMG as the kids say - have finally booked!!

OMG as the kids say - have finally booked!!

Well done.

Just a word in your ear. Be a bit more inquisitive and precise about your insurance cover. Work out exactly what you would want to do if you missed joining your cruise and check your insurance covers it.

We once had a lightening strike by BA and had two buy the two last tickets on Turkish Airlines on the day to get to the ship at Istanbul. It cost nearly £2k. Thankfully BA reimbursed, but the insurance claim might have been problematic. They often pay minimal amounts ie for "inconvenience" or delay compensation only for each 24 hours or something.

You will love it. Have a great time!

The ship docks in the port of Civitavecchia which is a good hours drive from the airport.

Silversea will normally offer coach transport (for a fee) directly from the ship to the airport which usually departs from the port at around 11am.

 

As they really do like you to vacate your suite by 8.30 am l would say the easiest option is to take the earlier flight.

 

Sophia :)

In relation to the above post does anyone have a rough idea of how much Silversea charge for ship to airport transfers and are these popular/oversubscribed? Was hoping to use smart cruise tours but their shuttle doesn't seem to be operating on the day I need.

In relation to the above post does anyone have a rough idea of how much Silversea charge for ship to airport transfers and are these popular/oversubscribed? Was hoping to use smart cruise tours but their shuttle doesn't seem to be operating on the day I need.

If l recall correctly I paid $60 for this last November. They are popular but the most convenient and Silversea will provide two coaches if demand necessitates.

A private cab transfer will cost in the region of €125.

Sophia :)

We always do our own transfers via our TA and have found that they're cheaper and more convenient in that once you find your driver (usually easier as they hold up a placard with your name ) you go straight away. You don't have to wait for the last person to come through. You also usually arrive before the rush from the coach for embarkation. To be fair to SS they work very hard to make embarkation easy and stress free.

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If l recall correctly I paid $60 for this last November. They are popular but the most convenient and Silversea will provide two coaches if demand necessitates.

 

A private cab transfer will cost in the region of €125.

 

Sophia :)

For information - Just had a reply from Silversea and they confirmed price of £69 each with a departure of 9-9.30am.