wannabedonna

Only 5 days to go!

Thanks for all the helpful tips everyone.

Internet and time permitting I hope to post some comments/photos on the voyage but don't expect Terry in Ohio quality or professionalism!

Fingers crossed none of our dinner reservations seem to have been moved or wait listed as yet, will find out when on board....

hello, saw the comment 'it's very difficult to find a taxi in Monte Carlo' (and remembered from my last trip that it is not exactly a pedestrian friendly place) so wondered if the experts have any advice.

I want to get to the Thermes Marins spa when I am on the Spirit in May. I am guessing the Spirit will dock at the Nouvelle Digue (have not been here by ship before) therefore thought I could get the bateau bus across the harbour as the spa looks almost directly opposite on boulevard Louis II.

So question is:

is it walkable (can see only the Spirit is due in that day so assume the bateau will run and not be too crowded? Also think I can remember a lift from the harbour road?) or should I ask the concierge on board to arrange a taxi to take me door to door (nice and simple but not much fun and it won't stretch my legs)?

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.

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.

OMG as the kids say - have finally booked!!

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).

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!

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!

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!

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!

So glad I never booked with them. I never got further than my first telephone enquiry with them which was appalling. Asked girl for quote with air and with eurostar. She said it would take her at least an hour and that she was in the office on her own and her manager would not be pleased with her. Said goodbye and thought ' well you just lost a potential customer who was about to spend 5k with you! '. It didn't end there though. 2 days later she rang asking to speak to a Mr (I am a Ms) about a quote she did for him (the one she was too busy to do) and was HE ready to book! I pretended to take her number and put the phone down!

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, 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.