CruisingFox27

No difference for a 14 night or two 7 night cruises, you'll need to disembark for the customs and immigration zero count.

No. Small bottle of water or pop would be acceptable but not a bottle of alcohol.

Country. Apologies, late night typing 🙈

You were going to ask your wife anyway, right? So, they've just cut out the middle man... straight to executive level for a decision, as my DH would say 😂

It depends on which county you're booking from.

Yes, there is a Diamond Dinner in the specialty restaurant. The ships have a specialty restaurant, just not several of them like the newer ships.

If you want flexibility in your dining time and to not share a table, the only experience that accommodates is Aurea. Both Bella and Fantastica are fixed times and shared tables are the luck of the draw.

I've purchased from the jewellery store and only ever paid using the cruise card, which has generated points. If the transaction didn't go on your cruise card it is unlikely to generate points. You could email the Voyagers Club admin to see if they could address the points absence.

We sailed from Malaga, doing the West Mediterranean and North Africa. Revisited a few places we'd not properly explored previously due to closure or illness, Portofino and Marseille and new ones in Morocco. Really lovely.

Yes to the Diamond dinner. I can't recall where we had it on Orchestra but had a fabulous meal at the Kaito Sushi restaurant on Lirica just.

We've recently sailed on Lirica and have previously sailed on Orchestra. The ships are kept very nicely, they're not as glitzy as the newer ships but have a more intimate feel.

To eat at anytime you need to book the Aurea or Yacht Club level of experience. A few times when we've booked Aurea, we've been asked if we'd like to share a table, if a table for 2 wasn't immediately available but we've always said we'd wait for a table for 2.

No difference. I've taken mine in both hand and checked baggage on various occasions.

It will be small, we've used the spa on a sister ship and on the next up size of ship. Its pleasant with a sauna, steam room, relaxation area and whirlpools but that's all. They are not like the thermal area on the newer ships. Try YouTube for videos on sister ships, that may help.

The wines aren't awful. It's it the nicest I've ever tasted, no but perfectly drinkable. Admittedly, I am no wine connoisseur and certainly no wine snob but I've made a lot of effort to try them in recent years and it's been fine 🙂 🍷🥂

I've taken straighteners on every cruise we've sailed without issues.

Just on board, daily, as it's subject to availability in the area. If it is full with Aurea guests, they won't sell additional spaces to non Aurea guests. So, it is a gamble if there will be availability on your chosen sailing. Also, they usually have a discounted rate for use after 3pm.

We were on Lirica early April. I've seen it on most ships previously though.

Sometimes 3 dining times, sometimes 2. Our most recent sailing had 2, 6.30pm and 9pm. I've seen 5.30pm, 7.30pm and 9.30pm. Or various combinations. It largely depends on the ship, capacity and region. Only Aurea has Anytime dining.

Usually, you can pay per day to access the solarium. It was €20 per day on our last sailing. Google informs me that is approx $23. Although, the access is subject to availability.

For Fantastica the breakfast and the delivery is free*. For all other room service items, you pay for the food but the delivery is free. On our sailing last week ( not Seaside) we had a card with a QR code in the cabin which linked to the room service menu. *One additional note about breakfast, I believe on US sailings there's a choice of hot and cold food. And the hot breakfast items may be charged. I've only ordered coffee and cold items, which were free.

We've just sailed to Malaga, Barcelona, Marseille and Genoa. The average temperature was 70 - 75F. Which as a UK resident, that's most definitely shorts and sun wear weather. We did note lots of people still in coats though. I'd always prefer capri trousers and having a wrap when visiting a city, as you may need to cover up in places or if there's a sea breeze. Generally the temperature in May will increase but it obviously depends on what you're acclimatised too.

We've just returned our first Fantastica experience cruise, we've previously been Aurea or YC. We'll be returning to Aurea next time. We thought we'd try it given the reduction in benefits of the Aurea experience but, we'll not choose Fantastica again.

We booked through a TA but could still access the email option. I'd give it a couple of days and try again. Or contact your TA.

Is there a button which says 'email tickets'? I had a similar screen with no apparent option to check in and the web check in tab did nothing. However, when I selected email tickets, it did.