A Month To Go:)....more help questions please.

Greetings from exciting New York City!

Last night's concert at the Museum's sculpture garden was lovely, and very successful. It was packed! We dined at the Greek restaurant Molyvos, since this is a favorite. Today will be a busy day, with meetings, etc., but I need to find time to visit the American Girl store as my little one is having a birthday soon.

Great day to all Coolers!

I like the waist pack that you can wear under your pants or shorts waist band. It might not be slimming but you can stash larger amounts of cash in it. Rick Steves recommends it too. I have one by Pac Safe that has lasted forever and I wear it on the plane too.

Michelle

I fly out 2 weeks from tomorrow:D

You're in for a treat with Silversea embarkation. If for no other reason than the size of the ship it's very diffferent from the masses and madness of a big ship big terminal embarkation. Since you'll be arriving by taxi and not with a bus load of passengers there's a good chance you'll zip right through the check in process. Our first Silversea cruise was out of Barcelona and we had made our own arrangements. We used a limo service and arrived at the terminal with our traveling companions about noon. It was almost like we'd gone to the wrong terminal it was so quiet though we could clearly see the Wind tied up right next to the terminal. Once the driver stopped two or three porters descended on our van and after a quick check with the Silversea representative curbside our bags were gone in a flash. Check in is similar to any other cruise with the pretty typical giving them your credit card for your on board charges, picture taking for your boarding card/room key, and the checking and surrendering of your passport but just a lot fewer passengers. It all goes fast and you'll be on your way to the ship in no time with no sitting around waiting for a group number or color to be called. You'll be greeted at the end of the gangplank and they offer, actually almost insist, to carry your hand luggage up the gangplank for you. At the top of the gangplank you'll often be greeted by a senior staff member like the cruise director. It's then into the ship to be greeted by more senior staff, often offered a cool cloth, and a glass of champagne. It's not Holland America or Celebrity. :)

You're in for a treat with Silversea embarkation. If for no other reason than the size of the ship it's very diffferent from the masses and madness of a big ship big terminal embarkation. It's not Holland America or Celebrity. :)

Agree strongly with Randy's excellent summary based on our Silver Spirit boarding last month in Lisbon. Plus, our other boardings/sailing with Silversea. YES!! You will enjoy the difference!! Much easier and more fun to not have to fight the "crowds".

Just one small item of caution. Check and double-check your exact port docking location. In Lisbon, there was a little confusion as to the exact boarding location. I had checked and knew, but some others had a little difficulty. Hopefully, with Barcelona's better set-up and large number of cruise ships using that port, it should be fairly easy. I am hoping later today to post some added bathroom visuals and details that should be helpful for your upcoming Silver Spirit experience. Let us know any other questions and/or info needs.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 183,657 views for this posting.

You probably know this already but since it's a new ship for you, after you've dropped your carry on in your suite, after they've opened the cabins & you're escorted there by a helpful staff member (BTW, they'll show you how to operate the TV, safe, thermostat & the joys of your mini-bar, etc), it's always fun to go out & explore before starting to unpack. Find the observation bar, library, card room, etc. There is always something of interest. Undoubtedly there will be a "singles" get together with the hosts in the main bar listed in your daily bulletin after the drill & before dinner. You're in for such a treat & Randy is sooooo right about it not being HAL or Celebrity - even though they both have their charms (?). Live it up, sister & enjoy every moment.

Terry is quite correct with advice on the ships docking location....l have always boarded at the world trade center and this is where she normally ties up as she's small enough to fit in.

Randy has nailed the embarkation process spot on too....it's a doddle....just remember there are no official ships photographers on board SS so if you want picture memories from the start the crew will oblige....or even your fellow passengers.

😊

Thank you all for the replies:D...........I appreciate them. As for where the ship is docking? I have checked my cruise

documents and I called the gal at SS who booked for me (she is a long time friend) and right now it does not say

which pier. From what she has told me, most of the cab drivers know the area pretty well and I will just give the

name of the ship and I am guessing they will know where it is located.........I suppose I could ask the front desk

at the hotel about it.....

Lois, I think I had addressed your pier location question on another thread... be mindful that cab drivers will not know by name of ship... You will probably have a maritime agent's phone number in your documents and that can be helpful. However, as far as I have experienced, the Spirit usually berths at the World Trade Center pier.

Lois, I think I had addressed your pier location question on another thread... be mindful that cab drivers will not know by name of ship... You will probably have a maritime agent's phone number in your documents and that can be helpful. However, as far as I have experienced, the Spirit usually berths at the World Trade Center pier.

Sorry, guess I don't remember everything:eek:...........I will look at my documents again. A maritime agent, you mean

to call the Port of Barcelona? Maybe I misunderstanding.

I don't specifically remember where in my documents I found the information, but, rather than wait for the taxi to have the correct info, I would ask your SS rep (who is acting as your TA) to give you the agent's telephone number, or to call you the sail date morning with the information. If you call the port directly, be sure to do it through the front desk, unless you can speak Spanish. You will be fine!!

Hi, I found the number.....I will talk to the hotel and I bet they will let me use their phone.....my Spanish is hi, bye, how are you and where is the bathroom (basically);)......I am hoping the hotel front desk will help me.

I'm sure they will be very helpful! They can make the call for you, if you wish. I did this the first time out of Barcelona, since I previously had a scary experience in Civitaveccia, when I relied on the taxi driver... We hit all the piers until finding the correct one...and the driver was not a happy camper....

I'm confused now! I'm sure I posted the info previously the Spirit was starting from the World Trade Centre as posted on the Barcelona Port Authority web site.

http://content.portdebarcelona.cat/cntmng/d/d/workspace/SpacesStore/bf75f33d-9324-490a-8f04-58ab621548e0/en.17-08.pdf

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Lois, will you have internet access with you when you arrive? If you have, then in the (very) unlikely event the Spirit deviates from its planned point of embarkation at the World Trade Centre, you can use a website (or its app) marinetraffic.com to check on the day and it will show you exactly where she is before setting off. I use the app all the time for my stalking activities for Silver Wind so I know where my favourite is any given day. lol

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Hi Les, if my hotel has internet access then I will have it. I do not travel with any electronics (yes, I know most people do

but I don't).

Hi Les, if my hiotel has internet access then I will have it. I do not travel with any electronics (yes, I know most people do but I don't).

That's ok ... I know many people don't - just a suggestion so you can have checked and been 100% certain that Spirit is at S berth on the WTC.

That said, as you approach, you would be able to see her and if not there, the other terminals are just 5 minutes further and from your hotel location you would pass through the big roundabout outside the WTC and just continue on. Either way it really isn't something to be worried about, though I'd feel robbed if it didn't start from where it's booked. It's much nicer and very much more perdonal at the smaller terminal. The views are better too.

I expect you are buzzing with excitement now. (I would be!)

Yes, starting to get excited..........I fly out 2 weeks from today:D

Yes, starting to get excited..........I fly out 2 weeks from today:D

Hi Les, if my hotel has internet access then I will have it. I do not travel with any electronics (yes, I know most people do

but I don't).

Heck we're getting excited about our Spirit cruise and we're 112 days from flying to Rome. :) We'll be beside ourselves at two weeks out. :D

I honestly don't think you'll have any trouble getting to the ship. We used a limo service in Barcelona and we knew our driver was on top of it. He spoke excellent English and he'd picked us up at the airport a couple of days earlier so we were very comfortable with him getting us to the right terminal. Since you're going to use a taxi I'd ask the hotel concierge or front desk for assistance. With few exceptions I've found hotel staff in Europe to be extremely helpful.

Hi Randy, do you remember the name of the Limo service you used?

Hi Randy, do you remember the name of the Limo service you used?

We used Autos Vilar http://autosvilar.com/index.php?len=d4408643ccbd7e83d0c54f42e405d618 . That was based on recommendations on Cruise Critic and we were very happy with them. We had booked them to meet two couples at the airport. Our traveling companions were flying in from Maryland and we were coming from Texas but coordinated our arrivals to only be 20 minutes apart. We were delayed for almost two hours coming out of London Heathrow so the driver took our friends into the city and came back and got us. All that was done without coordination or contact so we were thrilled to see a driver standing there with our name on a sign. Even though we had booked it for one trip Auto Vilas did not charge us extra for making two trips. Two days later the same driver picked us up at our hotel and drove right to the terminal with no more information from us than the ship name.

Hi Randy, thanks for the information:)......I am going to email them and get a price for picking me up at the airport and

then taking me to the ship 2 days later.

Hi Randy, thanks for the information:)......I am going to email them and get a price for picking me up at the airport and

then taking me to the ship 2 days later.

I hope it works out. I realize not everybody wants to use private arrangements and many have no problem relying on public transportation from buses to trains to whatever. Mrs K, she who shall be obeyed :), works a high energy sometimes stressful job and the last thing she wants is stress on her vacation. It also doesn't help we aren't exactly light packers so the thought of dragging our copious amount of luggage through Venice or to the train station in Rome or wherever to get to or from a hotel/cruise terminal just doesn't sell well. Please understand I'm not at all criticizing those who like to do it themselves, been there done that.

When in Barcelona I recommend a visit to the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's creation. Take the time to go inside as well, it's magnificent.

I hope it works out. I realize not everybody wants to use private arrangements and many have no problem relying on public transportation from buses to trains to whatever. Mrs K, she who shall be obeyed :), works a high energy sometimes stressful job and the last thing she wants is stress on her vacation. It also doesn't help we aren't exactly light packers so the thought of dragging our copious amount of luggage through Venice or to the train station in Rome or wherever to get to or from a hotel/cruise terminal just doesn't sell well. Please understand I'm not at all criticizing those who like to do it themselves, been there done that.

Randy, how long did it take for you to receive a reply back?