SpacemanSpiff

We went through FCO on a United flight to IAD (and beyond).  Other than being busy at the United counter, we found it to be basically pretty efficient.  We got there slightly over three hours early, checked the bags and worked our way through passport control, etc., and  had plenty of time for a coffee and croissant prior to boarding.  (Compare and contrast to IAD, where we got to passport control right at shift change and within minutes of two other large international flights -- thank goodness for Global Entry!  our line was about 25 people instead of the 600 or so in the regular line -- and it took a long time for the luggage to come through to be rebooked.)

We stayed at the Acropolis View Hotel a few weeks ago.  It's a very good hotel for a very good price.  It's not fancy, doesn't have a pool, the carpet in the lobby is a bit threadbare, and doesn't have a restaurant.  But they do have a bar (very reasonably priced) and breakfast is included.  And the roof has a glorious view of the Acropolis and the city.  We stayed for two nights for €275 total, and the hotel lives up to its name.  It also is about two blocks from the bus parking area for the Acropolis.

4 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

We're on the Viva shortly and are anxious to see how well it work. 

We were on the Viva a few weeks ago, and it worked very well.  Even did a couple of facetime calls.

7 hours ago, mapleleaves said:

be sure to have some coins; most public bathrooms require a euro coin.

Very true.  I bailed out a poor lady who hadn't bothered to have any euros on her at a bathroom; this was a payback from when I had the same thing happen to me in Istanbul two days before and a local bailed out my bladder. That bathroom had a card scanner, but it didn't recognize my card as valid.

8 hours ago, ExArkie said:

Also worth noting - apparently, no taxis in Athens take credit cards. If you plan to take a cab somewhere, it’ll have to be paid in euros.

We found a similar problem in Rome.  After the third time, we stopped asking.

11 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

And think of the alternative: people angered because NCL hasn't sent them the required video! People will always find a thing to complain about. (However, I agree that in this situation, it's a bit of overkill)

I haven't had any (I know, shut my mouth, that's the kiss of death).  I'm not complaining, just perplexed.  Clean living, maybe?

It'll be locked with the standard TSA locks (I know); suitcases do not have exterior pockets (hardshell).

Sorry, I couldn't find this via the search function.

I always put in an label inside the suitcase saying where we are going to be at, just in case the luggage doesn't make it with us on the flight.  I have my phone number on it and the name/address of the hotel we are at the first couple of days, but what phone number (or other means of contact) should I put down for NCL in case it shows up after the ship has sailed?

Thanks!

When we recently checked in (at the 21 day mark, right at midnight EDT), we weren't offered the priority embarkation, though I have heard of others on our sailing being offered it.  I wonder if it was because we had the earliest available arrival time?

14 hours ago, tomk3212 said:

@valleyvillage GREAT idea re: duct tape!!!  I'll have to try that!!!

Amazon sells 5 yard pocket sized (flat) batches of duct tape, ideal for cruise and travel packing and it takes up minimal space.  Don't leave home without it!

Dummy question about the one-price laundry bag.  Are you limited to one bag that day, or can you obtain a second bag and fill that also (at twice the price, of course)?

5 hours ago, amygutman said:

. 

2) They appear to be sailing in the Haven which is not what Ben and David usually do. It's a shame as it appears to be a very different Haven experience than on the other ships. It's really a terrible color scheme and decor - 1960s Ikea with poor lighting and dim spaces.

Considering there were multiple complaints by them about how the lighting was too bright in much of the ship, that's a rather interesting note.

1 hour ago, PATRLR said:

And most have some sort of water feature to help you stay cool.

 

Yep.  Water in those frozen fruity drinks. That's the ticket! 

2 hours ago, RVACruiser43 said:

#4 can be Velva then so we have Aqua Velva! 🙂 

Better than naming them "Hai" and "Karate"....🤣

45 minutes ago, TequilaKen said:

The Viva is on the move!!  Her first cruise has begun.

See you in 34 days!

Interesting that much of the southeastern US is still on a waitlist for the service.

Looks like Viva is on the move. The webcam shows a tug attached to a rope, and Marinetraffic has a route up to Trieste.

Slightly reviving the topic, since I'll be facing this in two weeks.

Is there a size limit (pixels/megabytes) for the picture?  I'm trying to have a couple of pix ready, but am afraid that they might be too big for the upload.

4 minutes ago, bluesea777 said:

 

https://www.ncl.com/shipcams/vivacam/fullsize.jpg

 

 

Thanks!  Mega excited now!  

9 minutes ago, bluesea777 said:

..... and the webcam becomes live ....

 

 

😁

How do you access the webcam?

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

Delivery of the Viva has been made, at least according to this story!

https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/shipbuilding-refurb-equipment/fincantieris-marghera-shipyard-delivers-norwegian-viva

2 hours ago, Steff79 said:

The carpet has the same triangles as the prima. 

Good. Then I'll know which direction to go.  (More importantly, my DW will know which way to go.  "Go away from the points to the elevators, go down six decks, turn right out of the elevator bank, and there's the Starbucks....")

Read this morning (on another social media site) that Viva will be delivered to NCL on August 4, and that it will leave the shipyard on August 9 for it's nearby August 10 departure.

Yippikaiyay..... etc. etc.