debenson0723

Go to your Roll Call on this forum and also the Port of Italy forum. There are possibly people on your ship who are looking to share excursions/cabs or ubers. You can also check tour groups from Rome in Limo and Italy Tours.com who are looking for passengers to round out their tours, on your ship and others in port the same day. Much less expensive than ship excursions and reliable (their reputations depend on getting people back to the port on time). 

Good luck and enjoy your cruise!

20 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

You have experienced Gaudi...now meet Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the architect of Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, one of the most beautiful concert halls I have ever seen. Notice the use of mosaics, ceramics and stained glass windows to bring light and color into the venue.

The guide told us to look at the reflection on the windows of the apartment buildings across from the Palau de la Música Catalana.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The café is opened to the public.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am so happy that you went here.  I was going to suggest it but wasn't sure how much more time you had in Barcelona. It is truly one of the hidden gems and I loved every minute that I was there. You are seriously making me think I need to leave a few days earlier than planned for my Pearl cruise out of Venice and make a stop in Barcelona. Or scrap the Pearl altogether and do the Escape TA. Or maybe just quit my job and do both! Such bad influences on this board.

3 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Sail away weather. (subject to change, obviously) looking great from NYC....

 

 

SUNDAY, JUNE 16

Day

6/16

77°Hi

RealFeel® 86°

RealFeel Shade™ 76°

Mostly sunny and less humid

Max UV Index11 Extreme

WindW 4 mph

Wind Gusts13 mph

Probability of Precipitation10%

Probability of Thunderstorms1%

Precipitation0.00 in

Cloud Cover11%

I hope you are right about this. I personally feel it's a bit early to predict but even if it is somewhere close to this, I will be happy. One of the worst thunderstorms I have ever been in was in Manhattan in June and that's all I can think about, LOL.

5 hours ago, astera said:

I've basically narrowed down my flight options to two airports:

 

1. TSF (Treviso airport that serves as a 2nd airport for Venice)

2. LJU (Ljublana, Slovenia)

 

Does anyone have experience getting flights from either of these airports after disembarkation in Trieste? Did you make your own way there or booked a transfer through NCL?

Lots of experiences on the Port of Italy board on this forum. I have been looking myself and trying to decide my options but from Venice to Trieste. 

46 minutes ago, Ellis1138 said:

For Europe and a cruise, I would so NOT bring vitamin gummies at all. You could be denied boarding if they suspect CBD or THC. 

Have done it multiple times with no worries. Drug enforcement are looking for the 'big fish' smugglers (or legitimate illegal drugs) not Costco gummies. 

I wonder why you get so many emails that I don't...maybe because you are in the Haven?  I did my check in at 9pm on Saturday night and my edocs were ready at 11:10 (so about 2 hours later). I never got any emails at all. Or maybe it is something in your NCL settings?? No big deal, just curious.

Since the pandemic, I also don't print edocs anymore. Just a screenshot of the bar code is all I have needed to get inside the terminal. You don't need cell service or wi-fi for that so no worries there, and I can't deal with all the paper anymore. Same with hotel reservations, boarding passes, word/excel docs...everything in stored in one Travel folder on my phone/tablet and I can access anywhere. I know that's not for everyone but works for me.

If you do a search under BOGO, NCL air, etc you will find many, many threads on this topic; for, against and in between. Since the cruise isn't for quite a few months, there is no way to really guess how much it would be but $2800 is extremely high. I am guessing you are looking at Miami to Los Angeles...you could book two people yourself on Delta or Southwest for much less than that. I am looking at a cruise in November and airfare for me (solo traveler) is less than $800 round trip, flying to Venice and home from Rome. Also be aware that you do not get to pick your airline or flight times and you might not get something that is advantageous to your schedule. But you can add a deviation of 2 days on either end of the cruise (or both).

So I would try again on the website or give a call on Tuesday

6 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

You are hilarious @debenson0723 . No doubt it would be great fun to sail with you and @graphicguy, Doesn’t look good but keep trying. 
 

Oh I plan to keep trying up until the last possible minute. I will buy you a drink (as long as it's not over $15) and ice cream at Bailey's in Bermuda (not gelato but the best I can do). Or you could just @schmoopie17 us and show up at the Cavern Club bar on the Waterfront at 5:30. I promise I won't be mad for being surprised. 

Wonderful review...thanks so much for posting it. My first solo cruise was also on the Getaway, back when she was brand new. I was nervous too but now prefer to sail solo, most of the time. I met a couple of other solos on that cruise that I am still friends with to this day and see once or twice a year. So glad you had a great time and are back home safely. 

I have had this type of cabin twice and I love them. One was a Mexican Riviera cruise and there was almost no movement or waves crashing against the bow. But on my eastern caribbean cruise, it was another story. It was only the first night and half of the 2nd night, but the waves crashing was very loud. I think it bothered me most because I didn't know what it was the first night. I saw the Captain the 2nd day and asked him about it and that's when he told me it was the waves. He also assured me that once we got to our first port, it would not happen again, and it didn't, not even on the way back to Miami. 

Be aware that you have to keep your curtains closed at night if you have the lights on, But you can't see anything out there in the dark anyway so that was not an issue. I would for sure take this cabin over an inside (and maybe even a balcony) if given the opportunity. 

I am sorry you had this experience. This hasn't happened to me at all when checking in. Since I have a 3 hour time difference from Miami, I was able to check in at 9pm last night. It took me 7 minutes, start to finish and I had my edocs at 11pm. I typed everything in and uploaded a photo saved to my desktop (same one I always use and sometimes they retake my photo and sometimes they don't). 

I think that maybe some issues have to do with the browser people are using. I use google chrome and have very few problems. I also clear my cache quite often (sometimes daily depending on what I am doing). 

The good news is, in 3 weeks at just about this time, we should be on board, having that first cocktail! I have a general idea of what I want to do each day in Bermuda (never been there), an idea of how much money I am going to take so now I just need to figure out what to pack. I know from your past 'lives' that you are a minimalist when it comes to packing but unfortunately, I am not. I am getting better but still have the 'but what if I need this' mentality, LOL. I am going to start my list today and see where it takes me....wish me luck!

I checked in this morning for my upcoming cruise.  Took me all of 7 minutes, photo (that I have used prior and is saved to my laptop) uploaded on first try and I had my edocs within 2 hours. Couldn't be easier or maybe I am just lucky (and really excited to be boarding in 3 weeks!).

Don't be sad...tomorrow is check in day for the Bermuda 6/16 cruise that will include myself and @graphicguy (aka The Fall Guy). And you don't need a passport for it!

Loved this review so much and can't wait to see your adventures in Barcelona. 

34 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Gosh! I've seen you and others say this so many times. I wish I was so frugal. I'd blow through that $100 onboard credit (if I received it) within minutes (ok, maybe two hours) of being onboard.

Whether it's Galaxy Pavilion, arcade, mini golf (looking at your, Pr1ma), massages, taxes on drink while in port, milkshakes, changed shore excursions, and Cruise Next, we typically get off the boat owing between $1,000 - $1,500. NCL definitely makes use of our "fresh" wallet! And that doesn't even count money we lose in the casino (have never walked off winning) or tips to staff on top of the onboard service charge. 

 

I really don't understand how people can get onboard and not spend a nickel or a dime! It's vacation! Let loose! Have fun! Make memories! 

 

Thanks...that's the first time anyone has called me frugal (and you wouldn't say that if you saw my purse collection, LOL). All of those things you mentioned are options...things you like to do that I don't necessarily need to do to have a great time. You like the Haven...I prefer to stay in steerage (shout out to @ChiefMateJRK) and cruise 2-3 times a year. Trust me, I have lots of fun and memories but I don't feel like I have to spend lots of money on board to do so. If I want a massage, I get a massage, if I want to spend the upcharge on a glass of Veuve, I do so. It all depends on the cruise, who I am with, where we are going...and I don't feel like I am being nickled and dimed when I am making those decisions. You (in general, not you personally) can spend as much or as little on a cruise as you want, and I have not found much difference in NCL and the other lines I have sailed when it comes to upcharges. 

4 minutes ago, thistimeplease said:

Just curious because on MSC after watching a video we did have to report to our muster station and have our cards scanned.  Is this different on NCL as I haven't sailed with them since before Covid?

You watch the video at the 21 day check in and then get your card scanned once on board. Some receive e-mails to rewatch the video prior to boarding but I haven't gotten one of those on my past 2 cruises.

51 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

I really like Elena and I’d love to see her move up to GM. She walks through the restaurants at night checking in with everybody.

I agree with this completely. Haven't seen her in quite a while but she is a favorite...always so gracious and kind.

45 minutes ago, stellarose33 said:

so I buy water from the bar or just bring a refillable cup?

I have gotten glasses of water from the bar and filled my cup in the buffet on every cruise line I have sailed (RCL, Carnival, Disney, Princess).  No need to buy water anywhere.

32 minutes ago, Floatyman said:

In my opinion the nickel and diming is excessive vs other cruise. Others on this thread appear to like it 

Could you explain where you spent all your nickels and dimes?  I typically leave the ship with close to a zero balance and have a hard time spending my $100 OBC. With dining, drinks and entertainment included, there's not much I need to spend money on while on board.

Please refresh my memory. We will be walking to the port, staying at a hotel on 49th Street the night before. What is the street at 12th Avenue that we cross to get inside the port for check in? Is it easy to get upstairs (ramp, elevator, etc.)? I know when we disembark we cross 52nd to get a car service but when embarking do we need to go up to 54th?  Thanks for your help.

Is it easy to get a minibus back to the port? We are only 2, maybe 3, so minibus would be the most economical (but not adverse to a taxi either). Will probably only spend an hour or two at most, just to say we did it. Thanks!

28 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

I want to take you back to Trieste to complete my pre-Escape escapades. 

 

I stayed at and recommend The Modernist Hotel in Trieste. It is a boutique hotel in the heart of the city, about a mile from the Trieste train station and about half a mile from where the Escape docked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I earlier mentioned, there are two cruise terminals in Trieste that I am aware of and they are not close to each other. On Thursday embarkation day, the Escape docked across the street from the Savoia Excelsior Palace Hotel and the Viva docked somewhere else.

 

There is a restaurant at The Modernist Hotel  that serves fusion cuisine. 

 

What a fabulous hotel! And very reasonable for the night I want to stay there in October...it's at the top of my list. I was originally going to stay in Murano for my 2 nights in the Venice area but now I think I will head to Trieste the afternoon before the cruise. I can't thank you enough for all the information you are providing.

Head on over to the Florida departures board and you will find many recommendations. 

3 hours ago, dmwnc1959 said:

The final thoughts on OP's experiences are the ones that will stay with them. I'm definitely like her, not wanting to drop an enormous amount of money and come away completely dissatisfied and regretting my choices. 
 

In the past week I've joined a couple of Facebook pages specifically dedicated to the Norwegian Jade. I am keeping my ear close to the ground with updates on every sailing. 

While I agree with you on final thoughts being the ones that stay with you, remember that everyone has a different experience based on their likes, dislikes and expectations. I did not care for my cruise on the Prima and swore I would never go on that class of ship again, but was on the Viva as soon as it got to the US and had a wonderful time (with many of the same crew as on Prima). 

And probably the worst thing you can do is follow groups on FB...many, many inexperienced cruisers who do nothing but complain because they didn't know what to expect and had unrealistic expectations. Your cruise is still many months away and things can and will change on the Jade and other ships (who could have predicted that when I stepped off the Encore in March 2020 it would not be possible to get on another ship for almost 18 months?). 

@YVRteacher you write the best reviews on this board and I am sorry this cruise was not up to your standards, which is what all of us expect from NCL. I hope your Princess cruises are better...I have a friend who sails both but prefers NCL overall for his needs, especially as a solo traveler. Can't wait to read about your upcoming adventures!

3 hours ago, tommccabe79 said:

@graphicguy We will be on the 6/16 sailing and also staying in an HI room. Very much looking forward to the trip. Perhaps we'll bump into you at the Haven bar! 

 

Come join our Roll Call and sign up for the Meet & Greet. It's been pretty quiet and we could use the company.  Hope to see you on board!

2 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Before I get too far ahead and plunge into this port intensive sailing review, I want to take you guys back to Mestre and Trieste for a moment.

 

To recap, on Sunday I disembarked from the Prima in Southampton and stayed one night at the Moxy Southampton. On Monday I took the National Express coach from Southampton to Heathrow Airport; flew British Airways from Heathrow to Venice; took the city bus from Venice Airport to Mestre Train Station; then walked across the street from the train station to the Best Western Plus Hotel Bologna in Mestre. On Tuesday, I took the train from Mestre Train Station to Venezia Santa Lucia to visit Venice for a day.

 

Then on Wednesday, I took the two hour train ride from Mestre to Trieste so that I would not have to stress on embarkation day (Thursday). This turned out to be one of my rare smarter decisions, as I found out that many of my fellow passengers on the Escape took the same scheduled Frecciarossa 9707 train to Trieste on Thursday morning and were delayed over three hours due to track conditions affected by inclement weather. Following their predicament on social media was harrowing, but it appears they arrived in time to board the ship. As it turned out, the ship’s departure was delayed for one hour in order to wait for 65 passengers stuck in a traffic jam from the airport due to an accident on the road.

 

Back in February, I used the Trenitalia app to book the Frecciarossa 9707 high speed train departing Venezia Mestre at 10:11am and arriving Trieste Centrale at 12:05pm. In Business Class you can select your own seat and there is room to store luggage. The ticket price was €13.90.

 

When I said there is room to store luggage I meant this…

 

 

All of the large luggage racks were taken (all 4 of them) so I had to be creative. There were not many riders in my carriage so I eventually moved my luggage across the aisle from me.

 

 

You receive a small snack in Business Class.

 

 

There were restrooms on the train but get into the habit of bringing your own tissues/toilet paper when traveling because you never know…

 

When we arrived in Trieste, there were no taxis waiting in a queue as you would expect at a train station. I crossed the street and walked across the plaza to a cafe in case I needed assistance. I had read that Ubers might be difficult in Trieste so I downloaded two apps: appTaxi and itTaxi. I first tried booking on appTaxi but no taxis were available. Then I used itTaxi and the taxi arrived in less than 5 minutes. The quick taxi ride to my hotel was €8.

 

While on the subject of taxis in Trieste, I strongly recommend downloading those taxi apps because taxis were hard to come by in Trieste. Even then, I had difficulty booking a taxi on embarkation day, as both the Escape and the Viva were in town, though docked at different ports.. I eventually asked my hotel to book a taxi for me, and it took them about 20 minutes just to get through to someone. 

 

I was prepared to walk to the port from the hotel...half a mile on flat streets is a cinch However, dragging that big wheeler and carrying a heavy backpack was not my idea of a vacation.

 

Thank you so much for this detailed post. I am going to clip and post it to my notes for my (hopeful) cruise in November.