gddo

1 hour ago, fraj1 said:

Hi - just wondering if you have done this yet? Looking to do the same in June! Good to hear of all went well!

We are not going until July so maybe you'll have to update me...😁

Thank you.  That is helpful.  We will probably just do that then.  It seems we are in the same position as you were--going in July with kids 😊

4 minutes ago, MeHeartCruising said:

I would just pay the 6 euros/person and ride the bus from your ship directly to the train station.  I rode it the other direction and it was great to be taken door-to-door, so to speak.

It's always not much when you are just paying for yourself or you and only one other, but when you have 4 people like we do, those small costs start to add up.  Worst case scenario, how long of a wait is it to ride this shuttle at most?

Also, the most southern pier is 10 and 13th is the furthest away.  I calculated it out on Google maps.  In terms of distance, if you are pier 10 or 11, it's closer to walk directly instead of going to Largo della Pace.  

So back to my original question... If I have to take the free shuttle, how long is the longest you think it would take to get on the shuttle?  I know it's like a 15 min ride and then I'd walk to the train station which is another 20 min walk or so.

Actually, the Port Mobility just informed me that the stop at Molo del Bicchiere will no longer be available this summer since Bramante parking will be permanently closed in July.  So everyone needs to go to Largo della Place.

Also, according to the website Shuttles | Port Mobility Civitavecchia, it says that I can take the free shuttle bus to Molo del Bicchiere which will be closer for us to walk to the train station.  And getting on the ship, I can get on at the same stop (Molo del Bicchiere) instead of going to Largo della Pace. This is regardless of which pier we are docked at.  It seems the only people that need to go to Largo della Pace are the people who want to catch a bus to the train station. Does that sound right? 

7 minutes ago, euro cruiser said:

Is this the end of your cruise or a port day?

 

Also, where will you be headed to?

 

You may not need to buy the train ticket in advance.

end of the cruise

We need to get to Roma Termini.  I'm just worried because there will be 4 cruise ships there that day.  

Ok, thank you!  I'm just trying to decide for what time I should book my train ticket.  Can I safely assume, then, that if I do have to take a shuttle, I shouldn't have to wait long?

From what I understand, you have to take the free port shuttle to Largo della Pace once you get off the cruise ship.  How long of a wait is it if everyone is getting off at the same time?

Got it.  Thanks!!!

Thanks, euro cruise!

So Google maps works pretty well for this area then?  Because other areas of Italy are better navigated with Moovit, but I was having difficulty with it.  Can I pay with credit card on the bus?  Or is it cash only?  Or do I have to buy the tickets somewhere else first?

Does anyone know how exactly to catch a bus or train once we get off the cruise in Giardini to get to Taormina?  Cost? Convenience?  

I have the exact same question.  If someone could answer, that would be great!  Actually, I'll just start a new topic and ask the question again. 

Does anyone know where the Oosterdam docks in Marseille?  Is it MPCC or Joliette?  How reliable is the free shuttle that takes you to town?  Are there other more reliable but inexpensive alternatives in case the free shuttle isn't running?

I wonder if it's free for Holland America still.  It seems like things have changed recently, but I need someone to confirm cost and drop off location.

So back to the original question...

Is the shuttle from Livorno port to town free?  How does it work?  What has been your experience?  TIA

Does anyone know if you can have laundry done on the day you board?  If so, when will it be done?  

1 hour ago, gddo said:

No, but I think it might be too early as I don't leave until July.

Actually, I was initially looking on the app and couldn't find it.  I logged into the website and found it:  unlimited for $147

5 hours ago, crystalspin said:

Hi gddo!

Did you find the amount for unlimited laundry in your booking pages?

 

We are on a 14-day transAtlantic starting in Barcelona, which should have the same price as entirely within the Mediterranean... BUT, strangely, HAL is only giving me the price for the total of the two preceeding cruises and the TA! It's a B2B2B but with three booking numbers...

No, but I think it might be too early as I don't leave until July.

4 minutes ago, jclinard said:

I have never been paid on any of my claims.  I've only gotten denial letters.

 

I tell people not to use Travel Guard because of my experience.  But I urge anybody to not just take my word for it.  Look up reviews with the BBB.  Never take recommendations from people who are very happy with how quickly they cashed the premium check but have never made a claim.  Ask for a policy before buying.  Try using their e-mail to make a query about it (on one policy I made ten requests; they couldn't be bothered to reply).

 

 

Good to know

26 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

So as not to swamp this thread with "travel insurance" issues, take a look at the travel insurance section of CC:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/499-cruisetravel-insurance/

 

But to answer your question, we always get travel insurance through a broker, TripInsuranceStore.com - and the insurer we've used has been Travel Insured.  They are the ones who "pay".

TIS will help with claims if needed, but part of the value of buying through them (no extra charge for using them) is that they should be able to help one select the most appropriate coverage.

 

I wish we did NOT have such "good luck" (!??) with their claims process.  But given that we have had several claims, they turned out to be very good.  And TIS helped us select them for *our* needs.  Note that they may *not* be the best for your specific needs...

 

GC

Thanks so much!  I think that's what I'll do then, especially since they can help me select the best one for my circumstances.

Ok, thank you.

Has anyone had to make any travel insurance claims?  If so, which companies were easy, no hassle?  Are there any companies that were difficult to deal with in terms of claims?  Thanks!

1 hour ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

If nothing opens up at "final payment" deadline, just keep a lookout at any of the eclipse cruises of interest to you.

 

There are times when people cancel later because... they must... family illness or whatever.  

We've been on both sides of that:  cancelling a cruise (twice!) at very last minute (less than 2 weeks) due to medical emergencies, and also grabbing a dynamite suite at a sweet ( 🙂 ) deal, probably because someone else needed to cancel at almost the last minute.  The time we grabbed something, it was a few weeks from sailing date.

 

We had travel insurance, so at least we got fully reimbursed.

But the cruiseline did collect twice, even if the "second" time was probably more of a bargain due to the very last minute timing.

 

For something like an eclipse cruise, people will probably try very hard *not* to cancel, but there are times one just cannot avoid it.

 

Good luck!

 

We made plans several months ago to head to a "land based" eclipse experience.  *Everything* at that location is now totally sold out, and at many other good locations, too.

The airline with non-stop service there (which was part of the reason to choose *there* vs. elsewhere)?  They recently cancelled that non-stop flight.  😡

Sigh.

 

We'd much rather be on a cruise, but that wasn't going to work for us next spring, unfortunately.  That would be awesome... IF the ship can find a way to chase the clear sky...

 

GC

I know this is off topic, but I'm just curious which travel insurance you had?

Are you going on a 14 day?  I heard that the price may be less per day if it's a longer cruise.