ciaradowlingwx

Googled most of it :-) and some of Rick Steve's books are really good - got his Med cruise ports one on kindle. Weather in Venice is going to be dry Saturday 8th, well so far it's OK and not as humid - we both visited Venice previously and I remember the crowds or people - just total chaos - it was September too.

A lot of folk don't like Venice at all - I didn't mind last time but I'm older and grumpier now, so maybe it will unnerve me, still I spent a day in O'Hare once with wifi and my mac, on my own! I like the idea of the baggage deposit and just making them most of the last port of call! My belated Mum was my tour guide last time - so maybe there's sentimental value in the Bridge of Sighs for me and a few sighs!!

see you Saturday for sure, let you get on with the packing!

C

You're a mine of information, Ciara! :D

 

We've been to Venice a few times, now, and wouldn't be able to direct you to St Mark's Square (although we have made our way around the place a couple of times :rolleyes:).

 

It's certainly something to consider. I'll wait 'til I see the weather before making a decision - Venice in the rain is not very pleasant.

 

Hope to see you next Saturday morning. :cool:

You can get the peoplemover to Piazzale Roma and there's a Baggage Deposit spot right beside the station - "Deposito Bagagli is located on the West side of Piazzale Roma next to Pullman Bar"

Then you just walk over to your left - there's the ACTV vaporetto where you can get a ticket into Venice (take Line 2 - Line 1 is the workhorse route) - it's 7 euro each - or 20 e for a day ticket (available from HelloVenezia or the kiosk in the middle of the square). After a great day in Venice you can get the vaperetto back to Piazzale Roma collect your bag and get the airport buses (the oranges ones in the middle of the square) - you can buy your ticket at their kiosk or office. There's some handy maps online of Piazzale Roma - show you were everything is. We plan on using the vaporette to get from St Marks to the Academia to Rialto - this is all theory - I can't say I've done this but I have researched it like I did for Barcelona last time, and it seems to work really well for us!

Dont' forget the adapters, and remember PMT - passport money tickets - you can get the rest on yer way around! There's some good cruise packing lists on Pinterest - I found a magnet handy to stick up the day's itinerary (the cabin walls are magnetic) and a highlighter!

C

Delighted to hear the tickets have arrived - now you can focus on other things.

 

I've just come from upstairs, where I was trying to get a start on the packing. I usually have it done by now, or at least have everything sorted on the bed in the spare room. Just can't decide what to bring (or leave behind LOL!).

 

I'm curious about your plans for Venice. What do you plan to do with your luggage for the day? I'm wondering if MSC will do an excursion ending at the airport - I think I'd consider it. Otherwise, we'll just take the transfer and hang out at the airport. It's a long day, for sure, but we've done it a few times before and survived it. :rolleyes: Plenty of stuff downloaded on the iPad to watch as well as a few books to keep us occupied.

They've arrived - much to the amusement of my colleagues here who were sort of gobsmacked at the fact I had no flight vouchers yet! Yes, Joe and I will be there after all. We're taking Wexford bus up - it's leaving Redmond Square at 1:30 am and at the Coach Park at 4 am - but we're staying over on the way back as we're not into Dublin until 1 am. Like yourselves, we're just used to doing that, habit really.

Well BeamAFar, I'm not from Wexford either but from Roscommon, came down here a good few years ago - so grew up on the banks of the Shannon - Joe is a native though so he can fly the flag for us !

Thanks for the tip on the taxi at Dubrovnik - it's worth considering. Isn't it interesting how people get something different from a cruise, like the hungry sightseeing lots, the glimpse about and the relax onboard and the beauty of each. Well hope you have yer white and 70s theme wear sorted - where are those flares ! We're trying to get our meal changed to the second sitting.

Let me know how you get on with the tour

C

I'm afraid I don't 'do' FB, Ciara, but I'll keep an eye out for you, either at the airport or at the shuttle bus in Venice.

We're travelling up from Wexford, too (though we're both Dubs, just to let you know :D). We're parking the car in the Clayton Hotel (where we always park) and using their shuttle to the airport.

You certainly have the trip well planned. We've been to most of the ports a few times now, the exception being Sarande, which is the port we have an MSC excursion booked for. The ship is the destination for us this time.

I've booked with your TA before and didn't have any problems with tickets. I hope you get it resolved today; you need time to check them over to ensure everything's in order. I remember we had a similar situation with another TA (they specialise in tours; we did Lake Garda pre-cruise with a stay in Venice post-cruise). We were 5 days out before we got the tickets - it was frustrating (to say the least!). Best of luck.

About Dubrovnik ... last time we were there the taxis were charging €15 each way to the town. Better value than the shuttle and more flexible around timings, too.

Yep, you're on the 7 ish (am) flight out of Dublin Saturday morning - so we'll see ye at the Gates if we get our tickets - we're travelling from Wexford

We didn't go direct but actually went with ClickAndGo who we used for other holidays. I rang Friday and they basically did nothing until today but assure me the tickets will be sent later on.

I'm sorry to hear they mixed up yer excursion vouchers - we didn't book any directly with MSC so I've no experience of that. Yes, important to get them looked after as the tour you do want could book out. Alternatively, I do recommend cruiseexursions.com which we booked the Olympia tour with - and then look for a refund on to your cruise card. There are other suggestions too up there online. I booked a few tours for Venice on the last day too through Get your Guide - a skip the line for St Marks (it's free if you don't skip the line) and direct booking with the Doge Palace. I attempted to book a walking tour of Bari and a tour of Athens but neither materialised, cruiseexursions.com did refund the Athens one. We'll just take the train. There's a cruise shuttle bus for 14 euro return to the old city of Dubrovnik - a bit pricey as per person but we don't have much time there so might be a good time saver. Mykonos is walkable - checked weather and it'll be gorgeous there so nice for strolling and getting some R&R, Sarande -there's public buses going to the places of interest - they are cheap but there's only one an hour! I heard hitch hiking is quite safe there if really stuck. Bari, there's a little train but really just somewhere you can stroll around by yourself with a map - lots of place closed on a sunday - the Basilica and Castle are the main sites, there's a beach 3 kms away you could get a taxi too either. There's excursions to Aborello but to be honest we're travelling thru the night to get aboard Saturday so sunday we'll be truly taking the Sabbath - and taking it handy. I'm not going for the wifi onboard or the spa, the balcony is our treat, we're in a cabin on the 10 th deck Carducci (don't want to send my cabin room # to the world here) ! We're also taking the transfer bus to the port so we might see you in the queue for it .... can FB me - Ciara dowling (wx) Thanks for taking an interest in our plight! See you soon - this time next week we'll be in Mykonos (hopefully!)

Crikey! We're on the same cruise (flying from Dublin, too, so will probably be on the same flight). When I didn't see the tickets by Friday 17th I contacted them and received the tickets the following Monday.

 

However, we've received the wrong vouchers for an excursion we've booked, so I'm waiting to receive the correct ones.

 

Have you emailed mscdirect@msccruises.co.uk? (I'm assuming you booked direct?)

Hi there, yes, it's true - I had to literally get tough on the phone and email earlier - giving them until tomorrow morning and then I'll be speaking legal!

Takes the joy out of the trip really

C

I came across stuff in that regard Will insist on this info when I ring tomo I have emailed them since which will hopefully serve as a wake up call Say it’s down to cheap seats on the flight I noted something re a MSC customer taking BA flight n similar treatment Aer Lingus n BA are joint operators Cheap seats come later in the day - ya get what ya pay for!

Be proactive here and pressure them about airline seat assignments as well as the tix in general. Depending on your itinerary, Aer Lingus may not automatically assign seats (and may charge for assignments prior to your arrival at the airport) - Not what one wants when trying to get to a cruise embarkation port.

Yep going thru agent n they confessed that MSC hadn’t delivered as yet Will ring them again in the morn n check my spam just Incase Thks C

Interested in any other details/tips you might have

Ciara

We are just back from sailing the same itinerary on MSC Poesia. Ask me anything. I will have a detailed trip report in a few days.

 

Bari - docked - we walked from the Port to the Old Town, wandered round and walked back to the ship for a late lunch,

Katakolon - docked - booked a guided tour with Katakolon Express to Olympia - they had 2 buses of MSC guests the day we went (no sign of the train)

Mykonos - tender - walked round the lovey maze of white streets, saw the windmills, had simple Greek meal and gelato for the children

Athens - docked - booked private tour with PGT (no 1 rated for Tours in Athens on Trip Advisor) - well worth the money

Sarande - tender - couldn't find either a MSC shore excursion or a private tour that appealed to us so we sort of made it a sea day and spent most of the day on the ship

Dubrovnik - docked - (I read sometimes this is a tender port which would be great because you would be taken straight to the Old Harbour which is next to the 2nd entrance to the City Walls) - took taxi from dock to Pile Gate, walked the walls, then wandered the streets, lunch, more wandering then taxi back to dock.

Hi there, we're also boarding on Sept 1st, coming from Dublin and travelling thru the night - we did the west last year with MSC and enjoyed it - does what it says on the tin - and found it above board (scuse the pun) - Haven't got any fly cruise details as yet but hopefully we'll see ye there, Joe and Ciara

We are due to cruise from Venice on Saturday 1st Sept 2018 but still not received our e-tickets for the Aer Lingus flight from Dublin or cruise documents. Is this normal practice for MSC? I did contact their representatives last friday and they assured me they would be sent out shortly but nothing as yet...