Nebr.cruiser

Free parking on the street would be very difficult. We have used parking garages and fee lots. The fees weren't bad. Even then you will probably end of walking a ways to get to the main streets. That said, you really don't need a car to see Key West. It's very walkable and there are free or low cost trolleys, buses, etc. In our 70's, we have walked all over the town seeing the main sights and sometimes riding the trolley. If you are getting off a cruise ship, the dock is quite close to everything.

What is this tour? Independent or Celebrity? We aren't on until May. Also, wow do those menus look boring, especially since I really like beef.

Not Celebrity, but on Princess my husband's bag was lost somewhere between putting it out in the hall and pick up in luggage room. They did help us look, kept us until the last minute, when all bags were gone and gave us a free transfer to the airport. The bag was never found; presumably taken by mistake by a passenger. We did have it marked with quite unmistakable ribboons. Princess reimbursed us $250--for a bag and contents worth well over $1000,--which in our opinion was extremely poor.

We won't be on her until May, but looking forward to all your posts. The water in Venice people are walking through is crazy!

We don't take ship excursions unless there is little other choice due to logistics or other factors. We use the ports of call boards here for ideas, or google or sometimes just pick up a tour right off the ship. We did that in Amber Cove and had a very nice tour that took in the main sights. Some ports you can just get off and walk around the area or to nearby beaches. It takes some research and also experience in different ports.

Check out the Labor Day special Celebrity has right now, with up to 45% off on shore excursions. I have already saved $100 on an excursion we had booked. We got an email tailored to the cruise we have booked in May.

Thank you. I was sure the ship 'on your on tour' took us by boat to Oia, then up the hill, but why in the world can't they say that in the description!!! We have been to Santorini before, took cable car up and down, had a very nice independent tour that hit the main sights. But this time my sisters are with us and one especially wants to see Karmari (you are right on that) since she lived there way back in 72 or so. Even though it is showing that we will be the only ship in port, still wanting to avoid the cable car lines. I don't think the steps are an option for us due to age/fitness level of several of us.

I"d like to book the Oia on your own excursion which takes us to Oia, we spend time on our own there, then bus back to Fira and cable car ticket. But nowhere in the very undetailed description does it say how we get to Oia. I assume we go by boat to Oia and are bused to the top, but it just doesn't say anything about it. Does anyone know if this is the case? That's really the only reason we'd take this excursion, so that we don't have to stand in line for the cable car up to Fira. We are definitely not climbing or riding donkeys. Also, we plan on doing a private excursion once we get to Fira as we have a specific town we want to see since my sister lived there back in the (very long ago) day. Amari, I think.

The Hyatt looks great but the only room they had available was $550!! A little (lot) pricey for us,for barely more than 12 hours! There were rooms priced much cheaper, but apparently they are all gone. Thank you though!

We are cruising out of San Pedro in December. We have stayed at the Crown Plaza a couple of times, which was fine, but this time our flight gets in at 5:30 pm the day before sailing. Since getting luggage and transport to San Pedro will make a late hotel arrival, we are wondering if it would be simpler to stay at a LAX hotel and then transfer to the dock in the morning. Any recommendations for a decent hotel--don't need luxury? We have used Super Shuttle twice to the hotel--quite a long drive, and Uber last year (from the airport). That was day of the cruise, was pricey and still long, also getting to the Uber lot was a mess. We'd either Uber from hotel direct to the ship or possibly back to the airport and use Princess transfer to ship. We would want a hotel with free shuttles. If we had more time after our flight we'd definitely get closer to port, but it may be at least 7:30 or later, so not really time enough to do or see much.

We never buy plus or any drink package because we never, or rarely drink. Coffee, tea, water, juice at breakfast, usually some kinds of juices at lunch and on the lido deck are all included with your standard fare. Many people don't care much for the included coffee, but I'm fine with it. Pop is always extra, as is specialty (or better) coffee, orange juice outside of breakfast, and things like lemonade at lunch or dinner. I've never ordered ice tea at dinner but I *think* it's included. Bottled water is extra, but a reasonable price to buy a 12 pack.

The very best is the Falklands, if you actually port there. We were lucky enough to make it and enjoyed a fabulous day with an independent tour. Be prepared for probably the roughest ride of your life to get to the King penguins. We also took a tour to see the penguin colonies in Puerto Madryn. That was very nice too, seeing a lot of the smaller penguins.

I am quite sure that we did go to the 'big bazaar. I really don't remember that much for hills, yes, some. It was definitely not on the water front, as the spice market its. I still don't consider it difficult, but thanks for the additional info, as the hills may be an issue for some. We spent most of the day wandering around, taking our time and resting at times.

We walked from the ship over the bridge and to the Spice Market and Bazaar. It wasn't bad at all. Loved walking over the bridge. This was in 2012, so take that into consideration. Our first day there we had an excursion that did all the major sights, such as the Blue Mosque, etc.

Eleven years ago we did walk to town. It was much as described above and I wouldn't do it again. Not that far or hard except that much of the way had no sidewalk, so we had to walk along the edge of a busy and curvy/hilly road. Definitely not doing it at now, at 78 (although I could) when we arrive next May. Not worth it with the traffic, etc.

We rarely book ship excursions due to many of the reasons already stated: price, size of group, often poor logistics. Due to time or tender concerns we used only Princess excursions on last winter's cruise from Sydney to Port Douglas and back. All ports were tendered and there just weren't many private excursions that worked with our time in port. The Princess tours we did were fine, not large group. On that trip we also did a New Zealand cruise with RCL and had no ship excursions. Our private tours were all great. Most ship tours we have been on were not our cup of tea. One to the Embero village with Princess on a Panama Canal partial cruise was very good though. We booked it because, again, it was hard to find a private tour due to logistics.

We haven't cruised on any one ship many times, but several Princess ships twice, as well as a couple of the S class of Celebrity, the NCL Getaway and the Navigator of the Seas, all twice. Itinerary is the most important for us, followed by price. We've never been on a ship we hated, although our one cruise on Holland America was our least liked.

I've seen the green flash at least 4 times, three on cruises, one in Hawaii. So neat. I have seen flying fish, but not on any recent cruises. I've never heard that they migrate, but maybe?

Like everyone else says, you just have to do the math, being honest about what you will or can drink. For us, it makes no sense, even factoring in the gratuities and wifi (which we get for half price, being elite anyway). We also get a one-time mini bar set up. Last cruise, we changed it for water and pop and didn't even drink all the pop. We very seldom drink and have never once bought pop, specialty coffee, smoothies, etc. on a cruise, so unless there is some big special, or some travel agent is including some of this 'free' of charge, just makes no sense to get it and then go out of our way to be sure we get value from it. We will be sailing with Celebrity in May and for the first time will have a drink package (plus wifi and grats), and are taking the deal because strangely, the price was higher if we opted out of those options. I guess it will be nice to have a few beverages, but I don't really care. Price was excellent for the cruise, and lots of OBC as well.

The thing is, I don't want a whole meal at Alfredo's. Probably just a piece or two of pizza after an excursion or a snack. Plus, it's still just another extra charge restaurant. But, thanks for the correction. I think I was so mad at the 'nominal' charge that I just didn't read the whole thing. And then to try to make it sound like it's some great added benefit!

We got it. What a joke! $14.95 (nominal charge, according to them) ha!) for a couple of slices of pizza at Alfredos'! This is getting ridiculous.

We've never made reservations with Anytime dining and have usually little to no wait. However, we do almost always eat at about 8. If you want to eat earlier, there might be a wait, or a need for a reservation. If you don't get to your reservation (a few minutes late is probably ok), then surely you would lose it and just do walk-in. If you know you won't make the reservation, then inform the dining room, so that opens up a table for others.

It's possible; I really don't know. Many things may have changed, since we did this itinerary, especially with Covid. Also, our Chris was not an especially young man, probably late 50's?

Agree. And many other desserts.

Before I opted out, (because of age), I used to get called at least once a year; my husband maybe only once. I never had to serve, cases were either settled out of court or jury picked before they got to me. But, big inconvenience as the county seat is about 35 miles away, in the few cases I had to actually go.