mpffls

Enjoying your posts...

We leave in 8 days for a week in Rome and surrounding areas before we board the Silhouette for her TA!!!!

We are sooooo excited!!!!

Have fun....

trish

The Cabin Crawl on our cruise ends in a RS.

It has been requested that there be Champagne provided.

Does X have an extra charge for that? and what would be an appropriate tip for the Butler....

New to this....and have no idea how it is handled!

thanx... trish

Thanx for all of your responses....

As some of you noted I am not interested in taking anything on to drink - I simply want to transport it home!!

I understand that I could wait until the next day in Livorno and bring it on with no problem... but We will be going to Naples and on down the Amalfi Coast during our pre-cruise days and that is where Lemoncello originated. Will I be able to buy it in Livorno, or Cinque Terre where we will be going on day 1 of the cruise - who knows!

Well.... anyway I called X to get the Low-Down....

After speaking to a very rude young man who basically told me rules are rules, I spoke to a very nice young lady. She understood exactly what I was asking - and understood completely what I was trying to get clarification on. She checked with some higher-ups and said there was no problem "declaring" the liquor and X would hold it. Just like they would if it was a "port" and not Embarkation.

She laughed and said - "why would you want to bring it on anyway to consume - You have already purchased the Premium Drink Pkage?!"

So there you have it!

She also let me know this applies to ALL cruises, no mater where you begin and end!

Thanx..... now I will research something to carry it in!!

Oh and before you suggest I have it shipped.... we live in Texas and you can not ship alcohol internationally to a non business address in Texas and you must have an Import License! Already looked into having the wine I am planning on buying in Provence shipped - no suck luck!

take care .... trish

I suggest putting your own label on it......name, address, stateroom number, etc. so it's more likely to be returned to you.

VERY Good idea...thanx!

while the web page officially suggests they will toss it, experience says they will actually keep it for you until the last night....in fact, depending on the port, they might just let you take it to your room, but don't count on that.

 

The safest way to approach it is to point out the bottles...don't let them discover them...and ask them to hold them for you....be proactive. Generally, being nice helps.....

thanx - I was wondering if that would work - pointing out that I have them and asking how they would like for us to handle their safe transport across the pond!!!

We are doing a TA in Nov. that leaves from Civi.....

I know we are allowed to bring on a bottle of wine (maybe it is 2) when we board for consumption.....

But.... What if it is not wine...

We will be in Italy for the week preceding the cruise and plan to go down to the Amafi Coast....

I want to bring back some REAL Lemoncello ....

If it was a Port I could being it back and X would hold it until the last night - but how do I start the cruise with it?

I don't care if they hold it...but everything I have seen is that they will confiscate it and I will never see it again...

Any ideas....

thanx.... trish

Has anyone ever booked one on a TA?

We are on the Sillie TA 11/5 and have heard that the weather is usually wonderful for the crossing...

Does "wonderful" mean folks are by the pool... we have a LARGE OBC and have already booked our drink package... hoping to get the UDP but in case that does not work out.....

I checked the other day and ALL sea days are available...I will not book until we get on board... but just wondering if the weather is conducive to sun-bathing!!

Thanx trish

Tried to start new thread but could not. First I would like to know what is a Slot Pull? Something to do with slot machines?

Next, looking for mah jongg and/or canasta players. Seven days at sea is a long time, looking for activities.

Does anyone know if the ship has any mah jongg sets? Can bring own if necessary.

Looking forward to meeting everyone. First time on this ship.

A Slot Pull is where folks get together - poll their money and play a machine - at the end the winnings are divided.

The buy-in for this one is $15.

There are already many people playing Mah jong and one of the members is in charge of the list

There are other activities planned....

You need to go to the Roll Call and join....

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2126174

You will have some catching up to do....230pages and 4500+ posts

We are a very active group!

trish

We are 2 couples looking for 2 couples to share private 9 hour tour of Pisa/Florence using a company that I use for tours and transfers when in Italy. For 4 couples the cost is $159.00 per couple (Slightly more if only 1 couple joins us). I can provide more details if you are interested. This on Silhouette's trans-Atlantic cruise beginning 11/5/2016. Let me know ASAP.:)

Hi there.....

I see you a relatively new to CC

We are also on the TA and enjoying getting to know fellow passengers on our Roll Call

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2126174

Please join us on that page....and don't be intimidated by the 162 pages and over 3200 posts!!

You will have much better luck getting folks to join your tour - we have new folks all the time!!!

Look forward to cruising with you.....

trish

Back in the day of Grand Cruising, ships welcomed pets in the higher classes. Even as late as the 60s, when I took my fist cruise, ships were equipped with kennels.

I have 2 Large yellow labs....the male has always traveled with us, car trips, and has stayed in some of the finest hotels in the country. He is the perfect gentleman! I know if we ever were to take him on a plane he would be perfect! Folks are astonished at behavior!

Our female....not so much....she is a 9yr old Puppy and will never be anything else! We try to make her feel better by saying she is going to the Spa...in reality - she is going to jail! when we travel.

All of that said I am confident I could order a vest for the good one and because of his behavior and breed no one would ever question it. I love him - but the fact is he is no a service dog.. and I think those folks that skirt the system are wrong.....I also understand not wanting to put your pet in cargo - I would never do that - but there are alternatives.

The Grand days of cruising with your pets are long gone, along with Steamer Trunks, traveling with a household staff and Steerage!

Downton Abby anyone?

trish

Loving your review!...photos and videos!

We are taking our 1st X cruise next Nov when the Silhouette back to FLL - counting the days....we are so excited!!!

Thank you....trish

Thanx for the feed-back on the jeans... been a long time since I was in Europe, and wanted t make sure we did the correct thing!!!!

trish

Great info - thanx!

We are on a TA in Nov on Celebrity....spending a week in Italy before - I am pretty comfortable about what I will take - especially after reading this thread but need to dress DH.

He is a jeans kind of guy - real jeans - plain old levis! He will probably fly in jeans - but while we are in Italy, Provence, Barcelona, and Mallorca should he ditch the jeans and go for Khakis and Chinos? He wears button-downs with his jeans and sweaters....no sweatshirts thank goodness.

The real battle will be convincing him to take his Trench Coat and not just a jacket!

Thanx .... Trish

Doing a Mediterranean and TA in Nov.....HOPE DH is not the only one in tux!!!!!

Good question!

Is there anything on your reservation that indicates luggage allowance? or who you check in with?

Thank you.....

We check in with AA.....(BA does not fly to SAT, we pick them up at DFW)

BA lists their allowance but in the fine print it says

"Different checked baggage charges and restrictions may apply on other airlines. Please see the operating airline's website for information."

with a link to AA....

After deciphering the explination...it appears that AA and BA have the same restrictions

I guess things would be different if that were not the case.....

After our TA we will fly United from FLL to SAT - their restrictions are more restrictive than BA and AA....but we will deal.....

thanx again - trish

In reading thru the posts it is mentioned several times not to worry - OPer is in AA on all flights.....

Well that triggered a question I have.....

This not about carry on...this is a checked question

We are booked on BA for our TA next fall (SAT-FCO)

The 1st leg is AA SAT-DFW from there is all BA metal

BA international (Business) allows for 3 checked bags - never thought I should be concerned till I read this thread..... Will I have to adhere to AA Domestic restrictions on checked luggage on the 1st leg.....?

I am assuming that since this was booked thru BA that their rules are the ones we follow.....

I know this sounds like a dumb question...and please be kind with your response.....

thanx, trish

I have always booked my own flights, but looking into Choice air for prices for a Med cruise next fall. When you look at Choice air it asks you date of cruise... and then shows you prices for that date. Can you use choice air but fly over several days before you cruise without booking hotel and all through them? Thanks for any advice... Flights will be from Florida to BCN

Yes you can put in any date that is before your sail date.... and any date after the date of the close of your cruise. And you do not have to book hotels.

Hope this makes sense...

trish

I would Love to see a photo of your cat purse!

 

When you buy off ebay can you tell me how confident you feel that you are getting an authentic bag. I've considered it but am afraid of being ripped off. Could you name your reliable ebay Seller for us? Thanks!!!!

I used to sell on EBAY (had 3 stores) and they are VERY Strict on an item's authenticity. Especially items that are known to have copies!!!

I once listed an item and in the description used the phrase "Chanel Style" Jacket.....whew............RED FLAGS EVERYWHERE!!!! they froze everything until I removed the word Chanel............

I would be careful, as you would when ever you order something.... but know that EBAY is also very vigilant

trish

I am Very "Old School" no white after Labor Day and all the rest of the rules that most think are silly!!!

Velvet is to be worn only from Nov 1 - Feb 29.....

With that in mind....on your cruise I am assuming you will wear it on the 1st formal night - which is usually the 1st full day at sea.....technically you are not in the Caribbean, unless you sail from Miami/ Fll....

.....and if that is the case, just keep in mind what the fine hotels in South Florida would do in the winter months.....keep their AC turned down as low as it would go so that ladies would be comfortable in their furs!

As a true lady we can always make the rules work in our favor.....

trish

Thanx all......

So.....What is they say about the best laid plans.....

Hours of investigations.....

I had no idea I could go on Choice Air this early to get an idea of $$$$

Seems American (and I know not the best at Business Class, but not a smashed in Economy) has great prices on Choice...with good connections!

If I had just started there.....

Oh well.....

Thanx for all y'alls help!

trish

Seems like 100 yrs ago we were on RCCL Navigator of the Seas out of Florida, with 2 Formal nights.

DH wore a Tux , had he not he would have been out of place!

Things have changed...and most of our recent cruises have been on Carnival out of Galveston.... and we are lucky if we see a tie on Formal night!

I have been seeing that folks are more Formal on Mediterranean/ TA cruises....

We are booked on Celebrity November 2016 TA..... with 3 Formal nights.....

Tux?

Suit?

Sport Coat and Tie?

I am thinking Sport Coat will be the norm on most evenings...add a tie for some specialty restaurants....and Tux for Formal....

Thoughts................

Thanx Trish!!!

Two thoughts on this:

 

-DH really should be trying to consolidate his miles into one program per airline alliance (Star Alliance, SkyTeam, OneWorld), a thought for future travel;

-Have you fully explored credit card bonuses? I would be looking at what program he has the most miles in, then check to see what credit cards he can get associated with that program; you could end up with enough points for one-way business class tickets to FCO.

 

 

 

I've never flown Condor, but a Google search did show up this review: http://www.airlinereporter.com/2014/10/flight-review-checking-condor-airlines-business-class-frankfurt/

 

You should also search Youtube, as there are plenty of flight reviews posted there.

OMGosh....soooooo glad you posted this...I have looked everywhere for something.....

Looks good to me...... more and more of a "No Brainer"!!!!

From what I understand Choice Air does Condor also...so I will check their cost of Business Class....

Thank you again.....very informative review....

trish

Two thoughts on this:

 

-DH really should be trying to consolidate his miles into one program per airline alliance (Star Alliance, SkyTeam, OneWorld), a thought for future travel;

-Have you fully explored credit card bonuses? I would be looking at what program he has the most miles in, then check to see what credit cards he can get associated with that program; you could end up with enough points for one-way business class tickets to FCO.

 

I initially began on the "mile option" especially because I found out on these boards that purchasing miles was very cost effective - especially for 1 ways. However in the last several weeks when checking mile amounts required things have changed.... the market is volatile.. and with the lag time of purchased miles hitting the account I am not willing to chance it! As I said in the original post...the mile thing has been covered.

 

And do not get me started on flying the same airline.....preaching to that choir for over 20 yrs.... luckily ( or not so ) he rarely travels now!

 

 

I've never flown Condor, but a Google search did show up this review: http://www.airlinereporter.com/2014/10/flight-review-checking-condor-airlines-business-class-frankfurt/

 

You should also search Youtube, as there are plenty of flight reviews posted there.

Thanx for the links will check them out!

trish

I have no idea what business class is like on Condor, BUT if it is even half of what business generally is on other airlines, then it would be a fair step above Delta's Comfort+. With DL Comfort+, all you really get is a couple inches of additional legroom (biz usually has more) and a tiny bit of extra seat recline (biz usually has more). Again, I know nothing about Condor biz class specifically, and you don't say how the price of the two options compares, just don't be thinking that DL C+ is something akin to biz (it's not!) and thus worth taking a crazy out-of-the-way routing to choose it over biz class on another airline.

Thank you....very informative!!!

From what I can see on their website, Condor's Business Class has a dedicated cabin...like the old days with a curtain....slightly wider seats that fully recline now...2 checked bags...free drinks... meals....lounge privileges (if your airport has one).....

As far as price.....Condor allows for 1 way fares thru their website....comes in less than $1300....and can be as low as $1000!...from Austin. This has been based on random dates I have chosen...we will have to see when I put in our real date!

Of course this price is way less than Delta's website....but was hoping Choice Air would lower the price considerably!

So.....with your info...Condor is looking pretty good.... now if I could find someone that has flown Condor Business recently.... there are a couple of posts but they are several yrs old!!!

Thanx again.....trish