erby2283

Thanks everyone. I will take all these suggestions and check them out. 
 

and btw, at least you got the brand right (Pepsi, not Coke). 😘 But I’ll also settle for virgin pina coladas or pain killers. 

Loving this (as always).  How long was your flight to Istanbul.  When did you book this trip (I may have missed reading this). 

As always, worst part is leaving the fur babies. 

On 8/12/2023 at 11:11 AM, olemissreb said:

Has anyone gotten a day pass at the Sonesta Maho Beach to watch the planes?  I believe their beach is near the Driftwood Bar on the North (?) side.  I realize we wouldn't be as close as the Sunset Bar, but it is all-inclusive and we would still get to see the planes.  Going to print the Sunset Bar menu though to really do a cost analysis and see if it's a good deal.

Thanks for posting about this.  What did you decide? So many reviews said reservations aren't needed and you can just pay at the desk but I'd be nervous they didn't have enough room. 

On 8/1/2023 at 12:36 PM, TTEllis said:

There's no way whatsoever to spend all day on a cruise visit to St. Thomas and not drink.

Unless you're like me and have never had an alcoholic drink ever. 😜

Heading to St. Thomas with two best friends in May to celebrate our 50th birthdays. We've all been there before and had tours of the island and have visit Secret Harbour, Coki, Magen's Bay, etc. I do think we all agree on a beach day (we are there 7-3), maybe grab lunch, a little shopping and back to the ship.  What beach would you recommend - even if we've been there before? Only two ships in port that day - but we're on Icon and that holds over 7k passengers so I'm sure it will still feel crowded.  Is there an all-inclusive somewhere to try? I heard there was a new one (on St. John maybe) but for the hours we are there it wouldn't work for us.

I'm gonna need you to adopt me. I love reading your reviews. I haven't sailed since 2019 and am itching to go back to the Mediterranean. I only require a minimal allowance and love dogs. 🙂

2 minutes ago, Scoup said:

We will fly into Rome pre cruise. Is one night hotel stay enough or should we do two?  We have been to Rome before, but there is always something more to do! Our first port on our cruise is Naples and we are planning an action packed day in Capri that starts early on day 1 of the cruise. Thoughts? 

If your schedule and pocketbook allow it, I would do two pre-cruise.  When I went to Barcelona, we arrived around 9 am (too early to check in to hotel but was able to drop off luggage). Walked around, went back to check in, back out to walk around some more, had dinner and was in bed by 8pm.  Got a good nights sleep and then was ready for the next day - but I was really tired that day.  We took a tour on Day 2 and then cruise started on Day 3.  

The tip I got, and it worked for me, was not to sleep on Day 1. Stay up as long as you can.  Your body will adjust that first night.  Now coming home was a different question....I kept getting up at 4 am for like 3 weeks.   Have a great time! 

I've done both types of seating in the past.

For our upcoming Icon cruise (a girls cruise), we chose to go Early Dining due to the fact that one in our group has a gluten allergy and we thought it best to have the same server and someone to work through her meals each night (and the night before), and two, due to size of the ship, we thought it best to have a guaranteed place to eat every night.  We can always make other arrangements once reservations open up but thought it best to lock something in now. 

Sailing Icon in May and while I have been to St. Thomas a few times, I've always docked at Havensight.  Any places I need to check out or tips?

I saw them but they're looking for the unsuspecting ones.  I also cam prepared with a purse that had locks and RFID  similar to one like this: https://www.amazon.com/Travelon-Anti-theft-Signature-Quilted-Pouch/dp/B0792NSNNZ/ref=sr_1_23?crid=3UK8B5YLX9MAA&keywords=travelon+purse&qid=1689184553&sprefix=travelon+purse%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-23

My boyfriend used one like this. His belt loop goes through it and then it tucks inside the pants. https://www.amazon.com/Shacke-Hidden-Travel-Wallet-Blocker/dp/B00Z2AKO3G/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3C8W06FOVPN4I&keywords=safety+wallet+that+loops+through+belt&qid=1689184740&sprefix=safety+wallet+that+loops+through+belt%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

3 hours ago, jlandz09 said:

Same here. Just booked it two days ago, but was debating between it and the pure Amalfi tour. Would be interested to know if the traffic was an anomaly or typical. Also would like to hear from others if this was similar to their own experience. Definitely would like more out of Positano than just an overlook.

The traffic is normal. I too really wanted to see Positano but tempered my hope with the fact that they almost always never make it there. But they do state in their emails that Positano is usually only a view from the road so I knew that going in. Traffic between Pompei and Sorrento was the worst of it. But we had a wonderful lunch in Sorrento and beautiful scenery. 
 

My advice to anyone wanting to see  Positano is to book an excursion that specifically goes directly there. 

Yay! Happy to hear some other people saved some money today too. 

9 minutes ago, Jerseygirl1416 said:

These days it’s about as good as it gets not including a Black Friday sale. Pre pandemic it’s not a good price. In fact all the planner prices are ridiculous IMO especially the beverage packages, sale or no sale they’re usually about the same inflated price.

I agree.   I just checked what I paid for the refreshment package back in 2019 (on my last cruise) - it was a 12 day cruise and I paid $240.72.  Today I paid $247.66 for a 7 day. 

37 minutes ago, abpplh said:

Is $18.99 / person per day good price for internet for 8 night cruise?  Dining is still not listed for Our Odyssey cruise 12/23-31/2023

I would book it at that price.  You can always cancel it and rebook and if it becomes cheaper.  I booked ours today at $20.99 per day (for one device). 

11 minutes ago, The Scurvy Pirate said:

This morning Chops + one was down to $74.99 (first time in over a year it had been lower) .  All the individual restaurants were higher (10% off v. 15% off).  Went back this afternoon and Chops + one was back to $84.99 and the individual restaurants still higher... mighty quick sale....

 

Mighty quick sale is right - when I posted this, the 3-night dining package $93.99 and I was considering purchasing it.  It's now at $127.99 (but says "up to 40% off"). The Unlimited dining package is $243 (says 50% off).

1 minute ago, firefly333 said:

I'd checked earlier and saw this so checked booking direct meals again.

 

Had been 15% off for weeks and weeks. Today's big sale 10% off, every date I have the cost is UP today. 

Bummer...  I always wonder how they decide which sailings get a sale on these items and at what times.  We are just over a year for our Icon sailing. 

Just now, Itchy&Scratchy said:

don't look at the percentages. Look at the final $ value only. 🙂

 Thank you for adding that tip when searching.  I paid $280 in March and booked it today for $247. I'll take it. 

I was really mad with myself that I didn't buy the refreshment package before Royal raised their fees back in March so I bit the bullet and purchased it for my May 2024 Icon cruise at 10% discount.  But, thanks to the inner stalker in me, I noticed it today for 20% off.

Beverage package is buy one get one 50% off (I don't drink alcohol so not sure if the price is great but the daily price reflecting discount is $81.99) and there were dining package and internet discounts as well.  Just wanted to let you know in case your sailing is having a sale as well.

In 2019 we booked with mtours.me and had a wonderful day.  We booked the Perast - Budva - Kotor tour. They were four of us and I think the price was 70 euro per person. It was a lovely day with amazing views.  I would have liked more time at the end to actually visit Kotor Old Town - that's my only complaint.  You could probably ask them to revise to tour a bit to allow my time in Old Town if you preferred. We stopped and had a big lunch as a group and we all chipped in and bought our guide lunch as well.  To me, the highlight of Kotor is the view sailing in and sailing out.  I was out on deck the whole time.  Simply amazing.

My email said the description of the tour was as follows:

08:00 – 08:20 Short ride towards Perast
08:20 – 09:45 Boat to the island of Our Lady of the Rocks, church, museum visits and free time in Perast
09:45 – 10:45 Panoramic driving to Budva, photo stop above Jaz beach
10:45 – 11:45 Walking tour of Budva old town, and some free time
11:45 – 12:15 Driving to St. Stefan (Aman Resorts); photo break
12:15 – 13:00 Driving back to Kotor via Trojica hill, photo break
13:00 – 14:00 Kotor old town walking tour

Price includes:

• Pickup from the port/hotel and drop-off
• Guiding services (licensed English speaking guide)
• Private transportation with a modern car or minivan (parking and fuel costs)
• Taxi boat to the island Our Lady of the Rocks and back
• Entrance fees for Our Lady of the Rocks museum
• Ferry boat fee
• Panoramic photo stops along the way (Jaz beach, Sveti Stefan, Trojica hill above Kotor bay)
• Tourist taxes and maps for the old town of Kotor

Some pictures from that day.

I know Venice is high on your priority list (it would be for me too if I was lucky enough to get back that way).  However, just wanted to offer another tip.  When thinking about airfare, please do consider flying to or from Bologna rather than Venice. Even if it's just one way.  The price difference may be well worth it than if you flew into Venice. You could always fly into Bologna and then stay in Venice for a day or two post cruise and then fly home from Venice?! Or try vice-versa.  

May want to check with Celebrity.  Had a cruise friend book a May 2023 Norwegian Fjords from Southampton cruise with them today and it was $799 GBP for a Veranda. Great price for booking so close to sailing.   

Have you checked airfare?  When I do mock bookings, I generally find cheaper rates flying into Bologna than Venice.

6 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

We booked the Icon for March.  Booked immediately when booking opened.  Price has increased by over 20% for our suite-  

Same.- except ours has doubled in price (in May 2024).

We had a 10:25 flight from Barcelona to Lisbon (for a few days post cruise).  We carried our stuff off the ship and took a taxi to the pier and don't recall having any issues.  I believe we were off the ship by 7:30 and at the airport by 8.

16 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

I could not agree more on Kotor.  And, you got to Venice prior to the cruise ship ban -- awesome!  

And before Covid! So sad you can’t sail in anymore. Glad I did a FB live and have video to look back on it as we sailed into the canal. Now I’ll have to choose a cruise that embarks in Ravenna and spens a day or two in Venice first. 

Just remember that's their holiday season and airfare and cruises tend to be more expensive.  Many will also say it's too hot...but I live in the south and love 90's and high humidity so Aug in Barcelona didn't bother me. 🙂 

You can find some really good deals if you can wait until Sept.