TheHawk1

I used Costco last time. Shoppers is gouging compared to the others.

I've read elsewhere that when you purchase your tickets online in advance, from either of the two main ferry operators, all you receive is an email confirmation. Then you have to still line up at the port booth on the day of your trip to show your email and get your actual ticket... was that not your experience?

Sure if you want to pay more than twice the price to Royal for that peace of mind. Their excursion is also an all day affair, so unless you want to spend that much time on the island, you're stuck. Still think it's easier and cheaper to purchase tickets yourself at the port.

Amen. Was on the Symphony in early 2020 when you could still book all your shows on the cruise planner in advance and it was such a breeze. For my upcoming Sept cruise on Wonder, I have to wait until I'm actually on the ship to use the dumb app, which is not what I want to be doing on my first day of vacation.

The only other reasonable option is the 7:58 regional train. We're on Wonder of the Seas, which arrives at 7:00, but most people have reported the gangway doesn't open until 7:30. With such a big ship and large crowds, I would be panicky about getting off the ship in time and making it to the train station in under 30 mins.

No, I can make the 8:44 regional train which gets in to Ostiense at 9:36, assuming it's on time. The Civi express train arrives at Ostiense at 10:10 and the Frecce train arrives at Ternini at 10:03. So those two are about the same in terms of timing and have the benefit of a seat (and air conditioning I'm assuming?) compared to the regional train. I wasn't sure that the half hour earlier start in Rome was worth the inconvenience of standing on a crowded train?

I'm also looking at the Frecce 9:16 train to get into Rome for a day of touring. When you mention one of the pluses is that it uses the main trackhead, does that mean it's easier to transfer from these trains to the Termini metro stop? Trying to figure out how long it will take me to get to the Colosseo metro station for Colosseum tours after getting off the train at 10:03.

In my case I wasn’t commenting about weight but the size of the bag. On a trip this past April home from Fort Lauderdale, the AC agent told me my bag was too “wide” because of items packed in the outer pockets, even though it is an official carry on sized bag. I had to remove items at the ticket counter and put them in my checked bag or be forced to check both. Needless to say I was not impressed and will be avoiding Rouge in the future.

There is a big difference between AC and AC Rouge, which is the one that flies YYZ - FLL route. They generally enforce putting your carry on bag in the baggage sizer before they will give you your ticket. AC are usually more relaxed, but the Rouge group are not generous with bags that are overstuffed and will tell you to take things out or check it.

On the contrary, I'm a firm believer in it's your vacation, do what you want. I was just finding the superior attitude of one side of this particular debate to be a bit much.

Perhaps the "carry on only" contingent could stop being so smug? With all the "look at me, I just walk off the plane with my one suitcase and I'm good to go" attitude. Sorry, but I wouldn't want to be the one sitting next to the person on the plane on their way home from a vacation where they've been wearing the same clothes (and underwear) for one week straight.

Exactly, I think the island is designed well enough that you can make your own "Perfect Day" experience. You wouldn't catch me anywhere near the main pool or water slide areas that are mobbed with kids. But there are lots of quieter beach areas where you can relax and do your own thing, if you're willing to find them.

We had this port stop on Symphony in late Feb. 2020, just before everything shut down. It was the best private island experience I've had and beats Labadee by a mile. South Beach was the nicest part of the island. Since it's further away from the pier, fewer people tend to trek all that way, making it quieter.

The other useful travel hack I've heard of lately, for couples traveling together, is each pack half your clothes in the other person's checked bag. Then if the airline loses one of your two bags, at least you will both have 50% of your wardrobe for your cruise. Better than having nothing or having to purchase all replacements.

Finally someone who made some sense on this thread. I was beginning to tire of all the one-upmanship about who can travel with the least clothing. Not for me, thanks.

It seems like we have the same tour plans 😄 I'm also waiting to book my official Colosseum tix one month before. I have that planned for the morning and the Vatican in the afternoon and at a much better price than I originally saw with various tour groups. I know others have said it's a lot to cram into one day, but that's all the time I have in Rome, so want to make the most of it. Thanks again to others for their advice.

You're welcome. I will be there in September, so not sure if it's busier than October? Also, by the time our ship docks and we take the train in, it isn't possible to make one of the early admission tours that Marazul has suggested. But I still have an English guided tour already booked for the Museums and Sistine Chapel and then will tour the Basilica afterwards as per Cruisemom's suggestion.

RCI offers two excursions to Aix, the 6 hour on your own trip you mentioned and a 4 1/2 hour trip with guided tour. The guided excursion is slightly more expensive, but less time, presumably because it's just a tour of the highlights and then back on the bus? I was planning to just walk around the old port in Marseilles after the Aix tour drops us off. Seems easier than paying for someone to take you there? However, an itinerary like that would not include the scenic road trip to Cassis.

You can purchase guided tour tickets directly from the Vatican site. I'm wondering how that compares to tour companies that offer Skip the Line tours, i.e. do these tour groups (City Wonders, Walks of Italy, etc.) actually get through security and in the doors faster than the "official" tours conducted by Vatican staff?

Well, if my legs are cool but I'm still sweating with the jacket on, then the situation hasn't improved. Sorry, deal's off.

Done. I'm fine with that (well maybe not the blazer part). It's not like I was suggesting gym shorts or jean cut-offs as acceptable. Now if the rest of the fashion police on this thread could be as flexible, we'll all get along just fine 😄

Please stop conflating this issue by saying flip flops and shorts in the same sentence. The OP started this (overly) long discussion about people wearing shorts in the MDR, that was it. Six pages in, we're still talking about a clothing choice that has 12 inches less material than what some people consider to be the only acceptable article of clothing for men below the waist when dining. But very few comments here have supported the wearing of flip flops in the MDR, myself included.

Oooh, people I don’t know and will never see again talking about me behind my back. Yes, that will surely get someone to cave into peer pressure and follow the dress “code”. Are you sure you haven’t confused a cruise ship MDR with a high school cafeteria?

You mentioned Catholic Churches as examples of places that have dress codes. I just used the most famous one in my response.

The question was about the destination. Which place has more to see and do after the ferry ride?