GreenFamily

My parents used to live in Rome. It happens often and it’s spontaneous.

Are you traveling from the US? If so, you will be too miserable from jet lag to make the additional travel worth the risk of complications cruise day, such as a missing your alarm or a train strike. Your flight could be delayed. Anything can happen. You have two days at the end of your trip to hit the highlights. Stay near the port.

Make sure your tour includes the inside of the La Sagrada Familia. It can’t be missed. It requires advanced reservations. Perhaps a hop on hop off bus would work for your group.

I booked my first cruise on the Viva so I would follow this as well.

Watch Mary Beard’s documentaries on Rome, free on Amazon Prime. I believe her 2nd episode covers Hadrian’s villa. It’s so interesting.

I was going to suggest Orvieto. You could add Civita di Bagnoregio on this trip as well.

My favorite thing about foreign travel is ambiance. It’s fun to immerse yourself in another culture, explore the villages, hear the language and enjoy the food. I’m so excited for my first cruise to immerse myself in cruise culture and that includes those horrendous tours. It’s a whole new world.

The gym looks small for 3000 passengers. It’s too bad the Prima doesn’t have a jogging track. Hopefully, staff can unlock the gym early since there aren’t any cabins below.

Thank you for your pictures and port reviews.

What’s wrong with P&O? Isn’t it a lot like Celebrity?

Is this a permanent drop in price or a short term sale?

NCL cruises for summer 2024 have been a steady price at “40% off.” Now they are 50% off. Is this a short term sale or is this adjustment the new base price? How do you know when it’s an actual sale?

They aren’t on it during the tender? I would consider this cabin if it’s discounted.

I understand the concept of the Magic Carpet, but what is a magic carpet suite? Does this mean your IV cabin experience will be interrupted when the MC moves up and down? Would you have strangers peering into your room?

How do you know when the new summer 2024 itineraries will be posted? Do you have to check their website every day? Do loyal customers get advance notice and opportunities to book early?

Cruise lines did not get any covid relief, that I know of, because they are incorporated in foreign countries like Malta. I wonder if Americans will choose land vacations in Europe since the euro is losing its value. I expect fuel shortages are going to be a problem for most industries.

Also, always check that your medicines are still with your hand luggage after it’s gone through security. We had an off brand epipen removed by TSA, and didn’t notice until we arrived in Florida. Fortunately, we were able to pick up a new one at the pharmacy,

I guess it depends on the country. It’s fine in the mediterranean. It’s probably illegal in the Caribbean, New Zealand, and Hawaii.

Also, I’m sure the cruise will allow you to to take a packaged lunch off the ship in this special circumstance. Make sure to contact the access desk before the cruise.

If it’s safe, let him do a speed or hill workout while at one or two of the ports. Then enjoy the sights a little later in the morning.

If you want to get excited for your Istanbul cruise, I highly recommend the movie The Water Diviner with a young Russel Crowe. It is a story about a man searching for the bodies of his three sons who were killed in the battle at Gallipoli. A good portion of this movie takes place in Istanbul. The sights, culture, music, etc are stunning. if you like this movie, you will also enjoy Gallipoli, staring Mel Gibson when he was still a teenager. It’s also very moving. It doesn’t take place in Istanbul. However, i think it would be fun to look for the monument recognizing the battle of Gallipoli as you approach the Dardanelles Strait. Apparently, it’s lit up at night.

I don’t believe the average person knows this. I didn’t until I read these boards. For example, I had no idea that NCL skips Mykonos 10% of the time due to weather. A simple Google search of Mykonos weather doesn’t mention high winds. That’s a big deal to someone who saves two years for a Greek cruise.

A half day in Nassau and an evening stop in San Juan is not really a plan B. If the cruise stayed overnight in Nassau, perhaps it would have been ok.

The OP did have a crappy vacation. He’s entitled to feel that way. It’s not a shock to NCL that ships need to be rerouted during hurricane season. NCL should have a plan B, or get rid of their Caribbean itineraries during this time.

I wasn’t interested in the Palma cruise port until I saw this thread and started researching it more. The Catedral Basilica de Santa Maria looks beautiful. Thank you for the suggestion. I saw a video of a walking tour of Valldemossa, and Chopin’s house. It looks like a pretty medieval town.