marazul

16 hours ago, MarEll1 said:

I will try it again and put in HAL and Princess. I’d love a review by someone who has done it. 
Maybe google shows different results to different people? 🤷‍♀️

10 hours ago, edinburgher said:

Perhaps searches in different countries produce different results but that I do not know.

 

Maybe you could try cross posting your question on the forum for the cruise line which you will be sailing?  More chance of someone seeing it there who has taken it. 😀

I was curious and took a look. I find the same results as  @edinburgher:

https://www.princess.com/ports-excursions/kusadasi-turkey-for-ephesus-excursions/discovery-exclusive-biblical-ephesus-virgin-mary-shrine-and-private-mass/

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/cruise-destinations/mediterranean-europe-cruises/europe-mediterranean-ports/ku1/23328

1 hour ago, itsanita said:

 will we need to make reservations at that time of year for Casa Batllo and La Pedrera?  It's hard to make a schedule that is so dependent on exact times.   So just curious if November might be easier to just buy tickets when we are ready to visit them.

Not really.  You might have a short line for tickets at that time of the year.

5 minutes ago, desibee said:

The hotel is just a minute away from the Paral-lel metro station.  As for luggage, we would probably have one roller bag plus another duffle/carry-on each.

Doable. Be careful

 Good luck. 

18 minutes ago, desibee said:

Has anyone here taken the train from the airport to Passeig de gracia and then the metro to their hotel?

 

It seems like this would be a lot cheaper than taking a taxi, I am just worried about logistics such as hauling luggage on the metro and avoiding pickpockets.

How much luggage are you talking about and how far do you think you have to walk or ride on the metro with it?  If a lot, the taxi fare could be the best 25-30€ you ever spent.

Also check H10 Urquinaona Plaza.

All very near each other in a great area.

2 hours ago, little britain said:

Dozens of cabs at the port. No need to waste time looking for your pre booked driver amongst the throng. Get in cab and go. 

I think the OP is looking for a tour of Athens on the way to the airport. In that case it is best to book a transfer that includes a tour. 

4 hours ago, SoBaycruiser said:

I’ve read this multiple times about being on deck for sail-in.  Any reason why this is better than sail out?  

You are heading into the harbour and viewing all the towns around it. They also go in slower than going out so you have more time to admire the dramatic setting.

4 hours ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

Do they require reservations?

Yes.

36 minutes ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

Can someone recommend something near Albergo del Senato, besides Armando Al Pantheon?  We still have one night open. Really two of you count the day trip to Tuscany, which is 7:30-7:30. I just assume we’ll be too tired to fuss with reservations and will most likely grab something on our way back to our hotel or near our drop off point. 

Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina.

For your Tuscany tour evening, walk across the Piazza from the hotel and eat at L'Antica Salumeria for great porchetta sandwiches.

It's a bad deal. You can find private guided excursions in most ports for a lot less.

28 minutes ago, Wishing on a star said:

Has anyone been able to do this?

Can you even know if this is possible before booking?

This all seems so confusing with Delta.

Thanks for any help or info!

Go to the Delta website and look at the "Miles+cash" options.

5 minutes ago, Racer70 said:

5 minutes ago, Racer70 said:

Are airport officials really looking at bank statements? Is this an easy process once you land in Barcelona?

 

No, unless they decide to pick on you for some reason. Don't worry about it.

10 hours ago, erby2283 said:

Can you please answer something for me.  When I click on Individuals, then Full Experience, and go to Underground Levels and Arena - at the bottom there's what appears to be an Italian flag or something to signify that the Italian language is on this tour. Am I understanding this correctly?  There is no other Individual Underground Tour except that one and wasn't sure if I was allowed to purchase it or if that symbol was to signify only Italians could purchase it something?

 

https://ticketing.colosseo.it/en/eventi/full-experience-sotterranei-e-arena/

 

Also, I know it's been said they release tickets for the next day around midnight Italy time, but I checked earlier today and they were only showing tickets through 5/22 on the calendar and now, at 10pm EST, the calendar is still only showing 5/22 even though it's past midnight in Italy. So I'm really curious when they release the next day of tickets.  I usually check a few times a week at different times and since I go to bed around midnight EST, I never seem to catch when that time is. 

The tickets for Individuals are admission only, no tours. So the Italian flag is the one they use since there is only one kind and no one will be guiding you. If admission only is what you want (or can'tget a guided tour), buy it.

You have to click on Guided Tours to get one. There you will find different flags for different languages. 

And I have no idea what is happening with the release times. It used to be midnight Rome time, but it seems to be a bit random now.

10 minutes ago, DaMom said:

I see these kinds of listings on a lot of our ship excursions "When visiting sacred sites wear conservative attire. Clothing should cover the shoulders and knees. Shorts are not permitted." I am planning to wear mostly longer dresses and skirts - I feel set for what to wear. Recognizing that there is sometimes a double standard for what men and women are permitted to wear - would a statement like I listed also refer to men, and mean that they should be wearing long pants in "sacred sites"? We're going at the peak of summer.... (not that that would matter to anyone, just that long pants will be a hard sell to DH...) 

That's what it means. Men should wear long pants  but who knows whether different places will enforce it. He could wear "convertible" pants with detachable legs. For example, 

https://www.columbia.com/p/mens-silver-ridge-utility-convertible-pants-2012961.html

@alrose251

https://www.greecetravel.com/ for lots of info including hotels.

https://en.aegeanair.com/ for flights to Santorini

@cruisegal415

The Domus Aurea (Nero's palace) is great.  It includes one of the best virtual reality experiences I have seen.  The entrance is right across the road from the Colosseo.  It is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.  You must book tickets on the colosseo.it website.

50 minutes ago, euro cruiser said:

 

Lol, we had a similar experience on that road years ago, but in our case it was fog.  We suddenly could not see more than a few feet in front of the car, on a narrow winding road with farm animals using it as a causeway.  It was an interesting ride, to say the least.  We did not need to turn around, but the trip took two or three times longer than we expected.  Fortunately it was not a port day so our only issue was returning the rental car late.

That road sure gets you.  We got stuck a few cars behind a tour bus that broke down going around one of the hairpin bends.  It took a while for help to get there.  Eventually, we made it to Pompeii. We decided to go back to Amalfi by way of Salerno. Had enough of that road for one day!

On 5/19/2024 at 2:46 PM, marazul said:

Steve- we took the Seabourn tour to Dali's house and a winery. It was very good. Afterwards, we walked around Palamos.

@thatbloominplace

The excursionis to Dali's wife's house in Púbol, not to his house in Cadaqués. It is very close to Palamós.

They could also check in at the Sofitel at the Athens airport.  But those flights are a terrible idea for all the reasons mentioned above.  Fly in a day or two earlier at a reasonable hour.

Hank - I  can confirm that that is where Seabourn docks.

6 minutes ago, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

I'm sure that's what the paid Tapas Tour we are doing this, but I guess it would be easy enough to just do it on our own vs paying a guide if we want to.

Correct. Make sure one of the tapas is "jamón ibérico de bellota" or "jamón pata negra." Look them up. You will see the whole hams hanging over the bar.

6 minutes ago, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

Thank you, I will look into these now!

Order a glass of vermouth, sherry or wine and a tapa or two. Move on to another bar and do the same. That is the "tapeo" - go from one tapas bar to another. Just sample a couple and end up for more of a meal at one you like.

@FamilyAtSea.travel

A great area for tapas is the neighborhood around the Santa Maria del Mar church. Another good area is Barceloneta.

2 hours ago, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

We have two evenings in Barcelona and I'd like to make sure we make the most of them.

 

Currently we have the two dinners below booked:

 

• Cocina Hermanos Torres - Three Michelin stars but very mixed reviews...has anybody had dinner here to confirm whether it is worth $1k+ for dinner for two?
• Tapas Tour + Flamenco - I know Barcelona isn't known for their Flamenco and this is definitely not a fine dining experience, but we love tapas and would like to take in a tourist experience, so this seems like a good option.

 

If anybody has any input on these options or some alternatives we should consider, I would appreciate it.

 

Thank you in advance!!

As for the "Tapas Tour and Flamenco" - skip it. 

Alternatives to the first one (and second one):

2 hours ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

Would something like these work?

 

Yes