Hlitner

As one who still cruises both mass market lines and Seabourn I would advise the OP that the Colonnade is kind of like a small hybrid Lido. There is a buffet as well as a small menu with daily specials as well as some everyday items. The pool grill also has a small buffet as well as a small menu. The Colonnade has both indoor and outdoor areas, so depending on the weather you can make the be best choice for yourselves. I do not ever recall seeing a formal tea on embarkation days. That being said, you can go to Seabourn Square and get tea (there is also a small selection of snack items) anytime in the afternoon. Hank

Am surprised that Brucemuzz has not jumped in with his excellent information. It is a long way from Narita into Tokyo and with 4 persons/luggage you are going to need a small van. One option is to just go to the taxi stand and they should be able to get you an appropriate vehicle. There are numerous online sites where you can reserve private transit. Expect to pay more than $220 and it can be a long ride if traffic is heavy. I cannot recommend any specific site since we have not personally used any. On our recent flight to Tokyo we booked into Haneda :). Hank

Each of those places has their own currency. Where you can use a major credit card (generally Visa or MC) it is a good idea...especially if you have a card with no foreign exchange fees (i.e. CapitalOne, Chase Sapphire, etc). The best way to get cash is usually a bank ATM and it is helpful if your ATM/Debit card does not charge fees. Do notify your credit card companies and debit card bank of your trip. A few major credit cards such as American Express and Chase Sapphire no longer require travel notification, but many other cards still request notification. If you fail to notify them and use their card, it is possible that they will freeze or suspend your card until they can be sure it is you. Hank

Grrrr I hear and respect the opinions of letting Hertz fill it up. I hate doing that out of the principle. but the entire JFK thing is one major hassle :(. The fuel issue is just money. But my airline departs from T1 which is also a hassle since the Airtran station is closed. It seems like we have to go over to T8 and than deal with the hassles of a shuttle bus...with the added hassle of having a ton of luggage. It all makes me want to sing "New York New York!"

LOL so true. I think all of us were just so relieved to be traveling again :). We had not really thought about the climate issues in regard to travel until SLSD brought up the subject. Since we are retired and can vary our travel schedule it is just one more factor in our trip decisions. But for folks who must travel in the summer, they do have fewer options if they want to experience the wonderful Med. My gut tells me there is really no good solution, and the cruise lines will continue their Med cruises as long as folks book. I would expect the cruise industry to only be "reactive" rather than "proactive." If folks are willing to come they will continue to serve. Hank

I should have acknowledged your last post 🙂 Read and noted. The issue for us is how well we deal with the usual jetlag issues. Even though we fly business class, the flight is too short to allow for much sleep. If we can stay awake long enough to take the tram to Belam I think that the Berardo will be our priority with your suggestion of the Maritime Museum #2. The trick is to stay awake until dinner and than all should be fine :). Hank

Although we have not been to nearly as many ruins as Cruisemom (she must be truly "ruined") we have done our share all over the world. Ephesus remains atop our personal list of favorite ruins (which is why we have visited 4 times). And Ephesus is still a work in progress, so for those of us return every few years we usually get to see newly excavated sections (the Terrace Houses are an example). Although we try to advise by giving various options, for those who go to Kusadasi (or Ismir) for the first time, we strongly suggest visiting Ephesus and making it your priority. And we agree with Cruisemom (and plenty of others) that the best way to visit Ephesus is to book a a small group or private tour with any of several excellent local companies. Hank

We live in PV for part of the year and think the best shopping is when we get home (in the USA) and have easy access to online shopping :). In Puerto Vallarta we have bought some interesting art work (not to kind of junk you would find in Walmart). In fact, Puerto Vallarta has a very active art community with numerous galleries (many specializing in the work of Mexican artists), Huichol art, and some interesting artisans who sell their work at various places around the city. For those who want to buy typical Mexican souvenirs there are plenty of places (including the large flea market located near the Rio Cujale) that sell tons of that stuff. Just make sure it is truly made in Mexico and not imported from China or India :). Hank

And those folks would not be happy after walking around the open fields of Pompeii in a blazing sun and heat! But, when Seabourn had the Ovation cruising in the Greek Islands in the summer heat of 2021 (during the awful heat wave and fires) they did not alter course! The Celebrity Apex and one of the new Silverseas ships were also doing similar itineraries and did not alter their plans. Hank

We have been to Europe (including Rome) during previous heat waves and I cannot imagine cruise ships changing itineraries because of heat. But, it will sure have some impact on excursions (which are run by local companies). We were in Greece in August 2021 during their awful heat wave (temps well over 100f) and massive fires (with smoke over Athens). I do not recall any of the cruise lines changing their itineraries. During our working days we could only cruise in Europe during July-August. Since we are independent folks (seldom take excursions or tours in Europe) we would simply adapt our plans to the weather. ON a hot day we would often head towards a beach rather than a hot city :). I recall being in Naples during an awful heat wave and hearing the horror stories from folks who took pre booked excursions to Pompeii. On that very hot day we simply walked over to the nearby ferry terminal and hopped on a ferry to Ischia (where they had a nice sea breeze). Hank

Two things going on in this thread. We will leave the cost factors and use of miles to Flyertalker and other experts. But the issue of connection times (my pet peeve) is very important and can be the difference between an enjoyable trip and getting to your ship and a miserable day and missing your cruise. These days, agreeing to tight connections is just dumb! When changing at LHR, one must be very careful. If your incoming and outgoing flights are in the same terminal, that is a good thing (although Terminal 5 is huge). But if you need to change terminals (this just happened to us when we had to go from T5 to T3) the process can be very lengthy (even 2 hours might not be enough). In the past 2 years we have found ourselves running for flights (delayed arrivals causing connection issues) and, at times, having to deal with anxiety and delayed baggage (because of tight connections). We now try to always fly Business Class (on international flights) and make sure we have lounge access. Longer connection times can be boring, but it can avoid some major issues. Hank

Ever since I was pretty young, I would dream about walking from the Boulangerie to my home with a baguette under my arm (I know its silly but true). A few years ago, DW and I rented a flat in St Remy de Provence for a couple of weeks. The first day, I walked into town and to a boulangerie and purchased some croissants (which we needed for breakfast) and a baguette (which we did not need) and walked "home" with that loaf under my arm :). Dream fulfilled...and the bread was still warm. There is something special about bread in France (and some other parts of Europe). The only thing close has been when buying fresh bread or bagels (at a bagel factory) in NYC. Or course being NYC there is no way I would put a baguette under my arm as somebody would likely mug me for the bread :). Hank

ROFL. For us, we will continue to grab our expresso at other locations :). It is an "Italian thing" that most Italians (especially men) will grab an expresso at various espresso bars and do it standing up at the bar! It is "tradition" but also avoids any Coperta or other fee involved in sitting down. We have been in cafes where an espresso at the bar is about 2-3 Euros and that same drink, served at a table, would be 5 or 6 Euros (or even more in some places). Hank

We once met a lovely lady, on a HAL cruise, who was a very experienced traveler/cruiser. During lunch, the subject of Venice was discussed and she mentioned that she loves to sit outdoors at Cafe Florian and "people watch." When we mentioned about that place (and some others in St Marks Square) is a rip-off, she laughed and admitted that their pricing was ridiculous and somewhat of a con. But she also said that despite this problem, she still loved the place :). I guess that many experienced travelers will, sometimes, do things and go places despite know better. DW and I once did the Blue Grotto trek (on Capri) even though we knew it was a complete tourist trap and akin to the local welfare program for all involved in that operation. We did it, knew we had been ripped off, and enjoyed the experience :). From that point I advised folks here on CC that the Blue Grotto is one of those "tourist traps" that you just have to do....ONCE. Perhaps the Cafe Florian also fits into that mold. Hank

Just hope that our "fan club" status also finds a home with Explora Journeys.

My message to the OP is that no matter what you do or wear, anyone (who cares) will quickly identify you as a "tourist." Just wear the footwear that you find most comfortable and do not concern yourself with looking "touristy." Since you are on a cruise and going to cruise ports and other "touristy" places you will find that there are an awful lot of other "touristy" folks. That being said, DW and I have spent many hours sitting at European outdoor cafes enjoying food/drink and having fun "people watching." DW prides herself on being able to often identify where folks are from by what they wear and how they act. It has almost become a hobby. We have been to Europe dozens of times, and we feel blessed that we have the ability to be "tourists" on a routine basis. In fact, trying to blend-in can cause more problems. Walk into a store in France, dressed and looking like a French person, and say Bonjour" just like the locals. You will likely be met with a quick response, in French, and then you can look bewildered and say something like "do you speak English?" Hank

It is normal not to ever hear anything, other than that auto generated e-mail. Eventually, it should show in your online account. I will walk you through the exact steps. 1. Go to the Princess website 2. Logon using your account/Password) (if you have not created an account you should do it although you can use your booking # to login). 3. If you have an account just click on My Account and find your upcoming cruise 4. Click on "Manage this Booking." On the upper right of the screen you should than click on "Payments." Now you just scroll down towards the bottom and you should see "Credits" and the item would be called "Shareholder Benefits." If it is there I suggest printing out the screen and taking it on your cruise (in case something goes wrong and you do not get the credit). Otherwise, you should bring along a hard copy of your e-mailed (or faxed) request for the shareholders credit along with the supporting evidence showing you own the CCL stock. If you do not see the credit in your onboard account by the 2nd day of the cruise, head to the Guest Relations desk with your documentation and ask them to get you the credit :). Hank

Ahhh, we love overnights. To complicate your planning, I will toss out an idea. Have you considered spending the night in Florence? The advantage is you can relax (that first day) without thinking about the return trip. It also allows you to spend the entire day in Florence, go to a hotel to relax, and than head out for an evening in town and a nice dinner. You also get the following morning to do more things in Florence before heading back to the ship. DW and I first went to Florence on a port day. We returned on several more port days and found the city enjoyable. Than one year, while on an extended driving trip we decided to spend a few nights in Florence (at the Hotel David where they have free parking) and use it as a base for some day trips. It was during that multi-day stay that we fell in love with Florence. I think it was an early evening stroll along the Arno...but perhaps it was going out to dinner and walking some of the streets when they were not packed with day trippers. Hank

The price will be "too crazy." But such is life :). Hank

Others have addressed the Florence issue. DW and I have often taken the train, but getting to and from the Livorno train station is always an issue! Most cruise lines do nothing to make it easy since they want you to buy their overpriced excursions. It is a darn shame. My only friendly warning is that if you do use the train, get back to Livorno at least a couple of hours early just in case it takes a while to find a taxi back to the port. Hank

We have been to Venice many times (on both cruises and independent land trips) and I would call the Cafe Florian and Harry's Bar among the biggest "tourist traps" in the entire city! That being said, the tourists keep coming, the tourists keep paying the ridiculous prices, and those two places continue to exist. I am sure there are many happy cruisers/cruisers who boast to their friends when they paid $15 for a double expresso (at Cafe Florian) or $25 for a cocktail (at Harry's). Not our style, but some truly love it :). I will confess to never having dined at Harry's so we would leave it to others to tell you what a "good deal" it is to have lunch or dinner at that famous establishment. By the way, before you sit down at Cafe Florian (or any other place in or near St Marks Square) you might want to take a close look at their menu (especially if there is any small print on the bottom). While prices may only seem moderately outrageous, they may be enhanced by a "coperto" or cover charge, an "entertainment charge," and perhaps other charges/fees that have been invented since our last visit. DW and I truly love Italy (we have driven all over the country) and despite being pretty saavy travelers, even we have been burned in some places :). The last time it happened to me was at an obscure coffee shop near the Borghese gardens (Rome) when I paid about $12 for a simple expresso. My reaction was to laugh, say to DW "they got us," pay the bill, and move on. Hank

You ask a terrific question and the answer is a bit complex, Cruise lines are businesses and are about making a profit. Most lines (not all) use a third party to operate their shore excursion program. The excursions are purchased from local tour companies. Everyone makes a profit, so the third-party company marks up the cost, and then the cost is marked up even more so that the cruise line gets their cut. That is called capitalism. But when an excursion takes you to a leather factory, pottery factory, anything factory, various stores, etc. they are generally not doing it to be nice. In some cases, the tour company may own part of all of the "factory" or get a very nice kick-back for bringing excursion groups to the business, Some of us think that the term "tourist trap" is a much too mild term. So, the next question is are you going to get a good deal on a quality product at those places? Maybe yes, maybe no. We think the answer is generally no but you really have to look at the specific case. Hank

There may be many of us who would like to put "Explora Journeys" far behind us...but are locked-in with non-refundable fares. That leaves us at the mercy of EJ (at least until they cancel) with no rights, no official information, and growing doubts that these EJ folks have any clue as to what it takes to operate a luxury product. As a reminder (if they are reading) it all starts with good customer service/communication before the cruise! It has oft been said that first impressions are important and lasting, and the EJ folks have done their best to give many of us a very bad first impression. Hank

Perhaps a question is why you need valuables at the beach. Most of us do take our phones, but most folks do not steal phones because they are often useless to other than their owners. There is no need to take a wallet, money, credit cards, or jewelry ashore at Ocean Cay. So what is left? Hank

The OP is speaking my language :). We love to plan and do this kind of trip. But the OP does not give us enough info. What kind of budget do we have, what months are OK, and just how long are you willing to stay in Europe. So, for example, if we wanted to do this in 2024 here is one quick idea. The Oceania Insignia has an excellent 27 night itinerary (Aug 5 2024) from Copenhagen to NYC. One could simply use one of the Queen Mary 2 cruises (from NYC) to get to Europe, have some fun traveling in Europe, and make your way to Copenhagen for the return cruise. And that is just one idea out of many, Another more common option is to take one of the spring repositioning cruises (generally from Florida) to Europe, spend some time in Europe, and than make your way to either Hamburg or Southampton and catch the QM2 back to NYC. There are many options and its just a matter of time, money, and your spirit of adventure. Hank