KINGBOBOFTHENORTH

I just priced-through a November date on the MAS website doing the 50% rate on the Islander. The online price quoted was $229 per person + $109.70 per person taxes/fees for a total of $338.70 pp. Total for 2 would be $677.40. Not great but not too bad either. But no mention of a fuel surcharge. Is this something they spring on you once onboard, added to your shipboard account?

There is a port bus that takes you from the ship to just outside the port gate. From there it's about a 10 minute walk to the Civitavecchia train station. Last time I was there they had a couple ticket machines to buy the tickets to Rome Termini plus a ticket window. The train was absolutely packed; all seats taken and me, wife and son had to stand in one of the vestibules. Make sure you have your wallet in a front pocket and your hand on the wallet. A woman with a purse should keep it clutched tightly to her chest.

We sailed out of Southampton this past December and prices were in EUR.

About 25 minutes, a few minutes less on Saturdays & Sunday mornings.

In 2021 when we over-nighted in Dubai, the casino did not open.

Seriously, for one roundtrip between the airport & Port Canaveral, just bring some 1 dollar bills or a roll of quarters and pull off into the Cash lanes. The transponder would just be a hassle. However, those "2 days before the cruise" concerns me because other than I-4, every expressway around Orlando is a toll road so you're bound to run into more tolls.

I agree! I've been on 1 Costa ship and 1 Carnival ship that had that same disco design with the dance floor being downstairs and a couple of overlooks above it. Can't wait to see it on Margaritaville at Sea! (Of course it's all about the DJ.)

No, the shipboard account gets closed on the day one disembarks the ship. There are no further service charges/gratuities added.

To provide another price point, please be aware that a train from Paris St Lazare to Le Havre is only $18-$25 per person one way. A taxi from the Le Havre station to the port is another €10.

I'm skeptical about what the NCL rep told you. Just recently in Cape Town NCL told us that their cruise transportation would meet us in Baggage Claim but in reality it was after Baggage Claim in an area of the terminal where one went after retrieving their baggage. The same might be at CDG. Baggage Claim itself might be in a secure area you can't get to but neither can the NCL rep. The NCL rep would be standing inside the terminal where everyone comes out of the secure area. This is also typically friends & family await arriving passengers along with taxi and limo drivers. You might want to post something over on FlyerTalk and ask people familiar with CDG arrivals. I'd do that before paying $600 for a taxi ride to LaHavre.

Not only that, but they're advertising BOGO as low as $149 for the first, second goes free, on their new Islander ship. But when you look at the various lead prices, there's nothing even close to that price. I guess they've yet to realize they've got thousands of cabins to sell and the ship is sailing relatively soon. They better quit playing games.

Yes, but not the same issue you had. But last January I had flights booked by NCL Air where the first flight on Delta did not show up on Delta's website or in their computer. I called NCL Air several times and they promised everything would be ok. On the morning of the flight, still no Delta flight and NCL Air finally took me seriously. After they talked to Delta and confirmed no reservation, NCL Air rebooked me THAT DAY on American. So if NCL Air blows you off with your concerns, make sure they document your call to them in their Notes. Then when you finally get your Air confirmation, if it's wrong, there will be a record of you informing them of their error. Hopefully it will be right though.

I've upgraded from an Inside to a Balcony at the Reception desk upon boarding. So it can be done at any point if there are cabins available.

If you booked directly with NCL, try to get this fixed NOW before they book your airline reservations. Call NCL's Air Department at 866-625-1163. If you booked with a travel agent or on-line cruise agency, you'll need to call them.

For what it's worth, none of that stuff is actually made in the Bahamas. They want you to think it is but it's all imported from Asia. IMO, just go to the Straw Market and you'll find the same stuff and you can negotiate the price.

And while Princess, Celebrity and RCI will charge a single passenger 2X the price, MSC will often charge a single traveler somewhere between 1X (no single supplement) to 1.5 the price, a much better deal than the others.

While I've never booked Air with MSC (because MSC doesn't sell Air in the U.S. market), I've purchased Air through NCL and Princess. The airfare portion of your package is typically booked around 60 days before sailing. Thus, you won't likely receive your flight information until sometime in April. At that time you'll see what airlines you're on and look up other information.* If you have a travel agent, the info will likely be sent to them who will then forward it to you. Your Agent should have explained all of this to you. * The flight information sent to you should include airline(s) Record Locators/Confirmation numbers. Once you have it/them, you can go to that airline(s) website and input the number and review further information including seat selection, baggage allowances, etc.

Yes, you just need to determine which terminal you want to be picked-up/dropped-off at.

Word of Advice: Don't admit to anything.

LOL

While there are no restaurants near the Auto Train terminal itself, everyone will drive in their cars on SR46 toward I-4 and as you approach the Interstate, indeed "every fast food place in the world has a location" in that stretch of road.

I don't think you can count on a weekly schedule with MSC. There will probably be one Gala night (less than formal Formal night), a White Night, a Sunshine Party (70's/80's) Night. MSC is not like P&O and will be much more casual.

Our disembarkation at Southampton last month off Euribia was scheduled for 7:30am for those able to "Self-Assist" in getting off (carry all your own belongings off). And by 7:30am, we were getting off. We took a taxi to the National Express bus terminal (10 minutes away) and then a bus to London-Heathrow. They also had bus service to central London for those going there. If you're interested in the bus, you can see their prices and schedule here: https://www.nationalexpress.com/en

I recommend that you Google "Cape Canaveral, Florida" and then click on the little map that pops-up and then zoom-in a couple times. Hotels in that town will then appear and you can then research hotel names and prices. I've stayed at the TownPlace Suites by Marriott and it was very nice but not particularly cheap. The Residence Inn in nearby as well and same as above. There is a hotel called Radisson Resort at the Port that is usually cheaper and clean, but the decor is dated. All these hotels are close to the cruise terminals (but not walking distance). 2025 hotel prices may not be posted yet since most reservation systems only book about 11 months into the future.

My Auto Train ride from Lorton to Sanford arrived over 17 hours late. First a freight train ahead of us derailed and blocked both tracks. Once that was fixed we proceeded further but then the train crew timed-out so we had to wait for a replacement crew. Then that crew timed-out eventually too and we had to await a 3rd crew. The train itself was fun and since we were in a sleeper, we had plenty of room and were well-fed. I'm sure this is highly unusual but if you arrive a day late, you're driving directly to the port on the day of sailing. I'd recommend you just fly down on an airline that has more than one daily flight. Save the Auto Train adventure for when you don't have to be somewhere at a particular time.