Mike NYC

Look forward to communicating with all my fellow Sailors.  

We did an tour from the pier across from the Market in Manous.  We were meet and escorted with an english speaking guide.  It was wonderful, an all day tour on a comfortable ferry for about 40 people.  They took us to swim with the dolphins, visit with a local tribe where we bought many handcrafts at reasonable prices.  Lunch was included which was great, an open self service buffet with a bountiful spread, LOTS to choose from!   You only paid for drinks/Beverage.  Also a short canopy walk on a raised walkway  and then to see where the Amazon River meets Rio Negro.  Not much walking basically on & off  the boat. Left at 8am got back about 4pm.  The Craft market is also great across the street from the pier at the market!  

My friend Claudia from Manous made the arrangements. I'll email her for the contact details. We also did another tour with the same company on an all day tour to visit  four sanctuaries about 2-4 hour away which was done in a van.  My email is gwhm@aol.com 

My cruise mate canceled on me I may not be able to go unless I find someone else to go with.  Too expensive as a single!  Michael

Thinking about going.  Just got back from a 21 day cruise that ended in Brazil.  The Amazon was Amazing!   

LOVE the Itinerary!  

Anyone else going?  

Meeting the indigenous Amazon Tribe

Tribe welcome Dance

Swimming with Fresh water dolphins in the Amazon and a short video with the Dolphins

MSC Fantasia 04 Nov. 2018 Transatlantic Italy to Brazil Post 9 Views 740

A LOT of people in the closet I guess.....LOL

661 people have viewed this thread.

But I'm the only person writing!

Where are all the other LGBT Sailors on Board?

Left PR went to Miami for a week, now in NYC for 2 week with my sister Annie, going back to Puerto Rico in another week. Still need to get our Brazilian Visa but have most of my luggage packed in here in NYC.

566 views but I'm the only person writing!. Where are all the other LGBT Sailors on Board?

Would like to make final tour arrangements for some great tours would prefer to have similar minded people get together and have fun.

Been reading many of the other MSC boards and MSC is Gay friendly will host a gathering for LGBT Community and a Cruise Critics get together IF we request and have enough people interested. Please get back to me on this. My email is gwhm@aol.com

Over 500 view and I'm the only one posting.

Paid for the cruise today, Air is booked and paid for, taken care from NYC to Milan and from Manous, Brazil to Puerto Rico via Miami. :halo:

Not sure when I will fly to NY from Puerto Rico, Annie needs to go see some doctors and will be there 3 weeks (I may go for a week to celebrate her birthday) in Sept and in Mid Oct 2 weeks before we go to Milan, I may arrive 3 days before we depart to Italy from PR.

Most of the hotels in Brazil booked, just need to do one for Rio and Santos. My sister refuses to go to Argentina so our dates are better defined, so we can book the hotels needed. :)

Still need to do our internal Brazil flights. Will do the paper work for an E-Visa this week, also need to get photo's done. :eek:

Will be staying an additional 3 weeks in Brazil, 3 days in Santos then 4 days in San Pablo, 4-5 days in Rio then a week in Manous. May do a 2 day Amazon River cruise before we fly back.

Been reading many of the other MSC boards and MSC is Gay friendly will host a gathering for LGT Community and a Cruise Critics IF we request and have enough people interested. Please get back to me on this.

463 Have viewed this Blog.... BUT NO ONE ELSE HAS POSTED.

Mike NYC started this CC webpage Apr 16, 2018 so far there are 3 post that I wrote and 248 viewed

I was looking at the statistics for the Cruise and very surprised not only on the number on our Blog but on all the MSC cruises in general.

So far we have now three post and 248 views, almost 10X more views than Post! I bet the 248 post have actually been the same 6-7 people checking once or twice a week since the page started BUT NO ONE ELSE HAS POSTED.

Most of the cruises we've taken have had 100+ pages months before we depart filled with people who want to know each other, give great reviews, advice, and offering to make ground tour arrangements at very discounted prices compared to the ship.

Looked up the different CC pages for MSC for the entire last year was so disappointing reading.

The biggest comment MADE was how little comments there are on all the different pages.

Every cruise I have taken has had a CC Gay Page, usually less then 30 post are written by 4-6 but read by 300+. At every CC FOD Meeting ABOUT 25 PEOPLE SHOW UP for the first meeting and sometimes another 10 show up for the second MEETING THAT DIDN'T GO TO THE FIRST.

ITINERARY OF THE CRUISE SHIP, PORTS AND MAP. IF A MAP IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PORT, THE LINK DOESN'T WORK, WAS MISSING SO WAS NOT INCLUDED. I ALSO HAVE GOOGLE MAPS THAT CAN NOT BE DOWNLOADED CUT NOR PASTED, BUT TOOK A PHOTO AND WILL BE POSTING THEM IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

Almost all the ports have a Hop on Hop off bus, is a great option for those who want to do a more organized independent tour on their own then go on a chip tour which is not necessarly better but costly.

All the www sites for the port have lots of good information but do not allow you to copy or cut, so keep a pad on hand when viewing the site. Most of them have good links to further explore other options.

Date Port Arrive Depart

Sun, Nov 4 Genoa, Italy 6:00pm

https://www.whatsinport.com/Genoa.htm

https://www.city-discovery.com/docs/..._Route-Map.jpg

Mon, Nov 5 Marseille, France 8:00am 6:00pm

https://www.whatsinport.com/Marseilles.htm

http://ontheworldmap.com/france/city...ctions-map.jpg

Tue, Nov 6 Barcelona, Spain 9:00am 6:00pm

https://www.whatsinport.com/Barcelona.htm

http://ontheworldmap.com/spain/city/...seeing-map.jpg

Wed, Nov 7 Palma de Mallorca, Spain 8:00am 6:00pm

https://www.whatsinport.com/Palma-de-Majorca.htm

https://www.planetware.com/content/v...llorca-map.jpg

Thu, Nov 8 Cartagena, Spain 8:00am 6:00pm

https://www.whatsinport.com/Cartagena.htm

Fri, Nov 9 Malaga, Spain 7:00am 6:00pm

https://www.whatsinport.com/Malaga.htm

https://www.planetware.com/content/v...malaga-map.jpg

Sat, Nov 10 Casablanca, Morocco 8:00am 10:00pm

https://www.whatsinport.com/Monaco.html

http://www.justmaps.org/maps/images/...lanca-map3.gif

Sun, Nov 11 At Sea

Mon, Nov 12 Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands 8:00am 6:00pm

https://www.whatsinport.com/Arrecife-Lanzarote.htm

http://www.lanzaroteinformation.com/...e_Centre_2.png

Tue, Nov 13 Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands 7:00am 4:00pm https://www.whatsinport.com/Santa-Cruz-tenerife.Htmhttps://www.planetware.com/content/v...nerife-map.jpg

Wed, Nov 14 At Sea

Thu, Nov 15 At Sea

Fri, Nov 16 At Sea

Sat, Nov 17 At Sea

Sun, Nov 18 At Sea

Mon, Nov 19 Salvador, Brazil 1:00pm 9:00pm

https://www.whatsinport.com/Salvador-de-Bahia.htm

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/so...ador-da-bahia/

Tue, Nov 20 Ilheus, Brazil 8:00am 6:00pm

https://www.whatsinport.com/Ilheus.htm

Wed, Nov 21 At Sea

Thu, Nov 22 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 8:00am

Fri, Nov 23 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 6:00pm

https://www.whatsinport.com/Rio-de-Janeiro.htm

https://www.planetware.com/content/v...aneiro-map.jpg

Sat, Nov 24 Santos Disembark 06:00

https://www.whatsinport.com/Santos.htm

https://www.planetware.com/content/v...santos-map.jpg

I'm booked and hope other FRIENDS will be taking the crossing too! ;p

;pI'll be traveling with my sister, we usually take 1-2 cruises together a year. We'll be flying to Italy from NYC

230+ days before we leave Been to most of the Ports write if you need info.

Visa needed for Brazil, not a problem just get it from the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate or the WWW good for 2 years and less then $100 unless you use the WWW and go to a Visa Provider to get the visa, cheaper if you go directly (in person) to a Brazilian Embassy or Consulate but no everyone has one nearby! First go to the www to see EXACTLY what you need to have before you go to apply. Get it about 30 days before you leave takes 3-4 days but can take a week. If anyone is going to Argentina a visa will also be needed go to the www and read what you need

FAJARDO, Puerto Rico......

After Hurricane Irma passed by......13 days POWERLESS..... at 3 pm this afternoon. POWER was turned back on!

Just got electricity, phone working (BUT THE WIRELESS PHONES NEED A CHARGE) Cable, INTERNET on & off, almost 2 hours off! Still on & off!

Did 2 loads of Laundry, Cleaned the refrigerator, filled more bottles of water to put in the freezer to make ice, just in case! Hope Hurricane Maria goes away............

But the reality it's heading our way, Hurricane Maria is now a category 5 with winds over 160 MPH, God Help anything crossing it's path! It has picked up power and speed and may reach Puerto Rico Wednesday night, sooner than expected!

Thank you Bo1953 for your note, Yes I go plan to be there!

I WILL SURVIVE! Otherwise I won't make the 2 cruise I've booked!

Here in Fajardo, Puerto Rico/ Hurricane Irma has left me with No Power, No Electricity, No Phone, No Internet for the last 13 days.

Have Water and Cellphone now working! THANK GOD!

Hurricane Irma has left me with Np Power, no electricity, No Phone, No Internet for the last 13 days. Have Water and Cellphone THANK GOD!

Airline to Rome Italy from San Juan -JFK- Rome tickets were gotten, flying time almost 15 hours with almost 4 hour layover in NYC. We will spend only a day at the port before getting on the ship to the Greek Islands.

Plans to begin a week earlier in Venice, then going Siena, and Pisa on our way to the Ship before borading the first cruise did not work out.

As of now Meeting friends visiting Rome when we get back from the first cruise before boarding the Cross Atlantic Cruise back to San Juan.

There are a few other sailors that are also doing the same 2 cruises!

Airline to Rome Italy from San Juan -JFK- Rome tickets were gotten, flying time almost 15 hours with almost 4 hour layover in NYC. We will spend only a day at the port before getting on the ship. Plans to begin a week earlier in Venice, work our way to the Ship did not work out. As of now Meeting friends visiting Rome when we get back before boarding the Cross Atlantic Cruise back to San Juan.

Annie will be doing Independent tours I will not. Plan on going to Pompeii on the train, the Greek Islands will also be done independently, been there before. Athens may take a bus from Port , easier then getting on the train, did it before or go to the Temple of Poseidon by train. Malta will most likely go to Medina by bus, Annie will be doing a tour. May do a tour in Sicily, or stay in town. Went ona tour one last year that was amazing to the Volcano in the morning, lunch at a vineyard with assorted wines to taste a vineyard garden tour and taking a slow ride along the coast which was beautiful, an amazing journey and a stop in a small town Taramis.

Hi Sailors, :D

Anyone else on Board, Welcome Aboard! I've been searching for this thread but it never was made so I just created it.

NCL Norwegian Spirit October 22,- Nov 2, 2017

12 Day/11 nights departing RT Civitavecchia, Italy

Date Port Arrive Depart

01 Sunday, October 22 Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy 5:00pm

02 Monday, October 23 At Sea

03 Tuesday, October 24 Crete (Heraklion), Greece 1:00pm 8:00pm

04 Wednesday, October 25 Rhodes, Greece 9:00am 5:00pm

05 Thursday, October 26 Athens (Piraeus), Greece 9:00am 7:00pm

06 Friday, October 27 Mykonos, Greece 8:00am 5:00am

07 Saturday, October 28 Santorini, Greece 8:00am 5:00pm

08 Sunday, October 29 At Sea

09 Monday, October 30 Valletta, Malta 8:00am 5:00pm

10 Tuesday, October 31 Messina, Sicily, Italy 8:00am 6:00pm

11 Wednesday, November 1 Naples (Capri), Italy 7:00am 7:00pm

12 Thursday, November 2 Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy 6:00am

Hi Sailors,

Anyone else on Board, Welcome Aboard! I've been searching for this thread but it never was made so I just created it.

NCL Norwegian Spirit October 22,- Nov 2, 2017

12 Day/11 nights departing RT Civitavecchia, Italy

Date Port Arrive Depart

01 Sunday, October 22 Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy 5:00pm

02 Monday, October 23 At Sea

03 Tuesday, October 24 Crete (Heraklion), Greece 1:00pm 8:00pm

04 Wednesday, October 25 Rhodes, Greece 9:00am 5:00pm

05 Thursday, October 26 Athens (Piraeus), Greece 9:00am 7:00pm

06 Friday, October 27 Mykonos, Greece 8:00am 5:00am

07 Saturday, October 28 Santorini, Greece 8:00am 5:00pm

08 Sunday, October 29 At Sea

09 Monday, October 30 Valletta, Malta 8:00am 5:00pm

10 Tuesday, October 31 Messina, Sicily, Italy 8:00am 6:00pm

11 Wednesday, November 1 Naples (Capri), Italy 7:00am 7:00pm

12 Thursday, November 2 Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy 6:00am

Annie just booked an additional cruise today. We are Born & raised in NYC retired and have homes in NYC & Puerto Rico. Annie takes care of our Dad. Live most of the time by El Yunque rainforest. Great to be retired grow my Orchids and Exotic Plants in a tropical setting!

We already booked the TransAtlantic Reposting Cruise 2 months ago. It will take us from Rome back home to Puerto Rico, so I can buy lots of Wine and other goodies that would be impossible to take on a plane

We were going to do B2B Mediterranean Cruise or a Venice-Greek Island Cruise but really liked the itinerary offered by NCL Spirit better.

NCL Norwegian Spirit October 22,- Nov 2, 2017 12 Day/11 nights departing RT Civitavecchia, Italy

Date Port Arrive Depart

01 Sunday, October 22 Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy 5:00pm

02 Monday, October 23 At Sea

03 Tuesday, October 24 Crete (Heraklion), Greece 1:00pm 8:00pm

04 Wednesday, October 25 Rhodes, Greece 9:00am 5:00pm

05 Thursday, October 26 Athens (Piraeus), Greece 9:00am 7:00pm

06 Friday, October 27 Mykonos, Greece 8:00am 5:00am

07 Saturday, October 28 Santorini, Greece 8:00am 5:00pm

08 Sunday, October 29 At Sea

09 Monday, October 30 Valletta, Malta 8:00am 5:00pm

10 Tuesday, October 31 Messina, Sicily, Italy 8:00am 6:00pm

11 Wednesday, November 1 Naples (Capri), Italy 7:00am 7:00pm

12 Thursday, November 2 Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy 6:00am,

Been to Italy 5 times before, and all the ports, really have enjoyed ourselves, all are wonderful!

Last fall we went to Rome/Vatican for 6 days then took the NCL Star from Rome to Dubai on a 21 day cruise, then stay in Dubai 4 extra days revisited all the Greek and Italian (ports except for Malta) this cruise will be going to. Been to Malta before on the NCL Gem Transatlantic and Mediterranean B2B cruise in 2008.

We have not finally decided if we will get to Rome a day or 2 early or the same morning as the cruise departs. The other option is to arrive a 4 days early, visit Venice then meet the ship in Civitavecchia. We will probably go to Pisa, Lucca they are nice, easy to get to and explore the 4 days in between the Cruises. We'll let you know what we decided.

Using the Train in Italy is easy all the major cities have connections to Civitavecchia, depending where you're coming from you may have to connect in Rome Termini station. There are express trains from Civitavecchia to Florence or Siena in less then 3 hours, 2.5 hours to Pisa and Venice a little more then 4 hours. Local trains are about 1.5 hours longer but at half the cost. Many Buses are also direct and cheaper then the train, often the terminals are next door to each other. BAD bus connections from most places to Civitavecchia, no buses from Airport to the port but easy by train, you can take express or local trains (Cheaper) and transfer, avoiding going to Termini.

Annie booked the Cruise today. Next look up Airfare, not certain if I'll be leaving from PR or NYC, to Venice. Makes the trip easier and I don't have to shleep my luggage from NYC in Aug back to Puerto Rico. The real advantage is getting a better flight at less cost otherwise it will be 3 changes in planes and 16 hours if I leave from PR vs 8 hours direct flight from NYC. Checked I can get a $350 one way fare with one stop or $800 for a nonstop.

Been to all the ports, Valencia is a GEM! Outstanding city with modern architecture had a Riverbed that went dry 100's of years ago became a upscale Avenue with Parks, Concert Halls, Gardens and Bridges that are outstanding. Good food too! Cathedral is nice and the city is easy to navigate, good train connections and buses.

May book Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas Transatlantic Rome to San Juan Puerto Rico on Nov 6th with my sister, who I often take a cruise with. We have 2 different cruises we're thinking of, this one is winning so far.

Live in PR so it's just one way air to Italy. May start landing to Venice, then go to Florence, Siena and maybe Pisa for a day and maybe Rome for a day. Been to all the cities before. Plan on touring an extra 10 days before the cruise. This will be the 6th cruise I've taken from Civitavecchia, an easy train ride from Rome. Been to Italy many times. Was there last year we spent a week in Rome then took a 21 day cruise on Rome to Dubai and stay 4 days in Dubai.

May book Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas Transatlantic Rome to San Juan Puerto Rico on Nov 6th with my sister, who I often take a cruise with. We have 2 different cruises we're thinking of, this one is winning so far.

Live in PR so it's just one way air to Italy. May start landing to Venice, then go to Florence, Siena and maybe Pisa for a day and maybe Rome for a day. Been to all the cities before. Plan on touring an extra 10 days before the cruise. This will be the 6th cruise I've taken from Civitavecchia, an easy train ride from Rome. Been to Italy many times. Was there last year we spent a week in Rome then took a 21 day cruise on Rome to Dubai and stay 4 days in Dubai.

I'm in PR now moving from NYC to PR. Done the same trip a few times, use the cruise to bring my things down cheaper then mailing or using movers to bring down about 6 suitcases. May take this cruise solo or a friend may go with me or the earlier cruise leaving on the 18th.

May exit the ship in PR but not certain yet. Haven't finished packing nor storing what I'm leaving behind for another cruise to bring down.

Been on the NCL Gem before, took 2 cruises did a Back to Back doing the Mediterranean and a Trans Atlantic back home to NYC that was wonderful!

Just got back from a 3 week Cruise from Rome to Dubai on the NCL Spirit.

Anyone have plans on getting dressed up or How about getting together?