crewza

Not mentioned is a local bus that'll take you into Santa Margherita for a few euros. The stop is at the top of the hill from the port itself and the schedule is posted there. You can buy tickets on the bus and the trip takes about 30 minutes. If you tender into Santa Margherita, tickets can be bought at the round tourist info kiosk 100 yds to the right of where the tender comes in

Whether for port or airport transfers I pay by credit card. Unlike in NYC, there is no tip line on the receipt to be signed. Methinks they don't expect it. Same for restaurants; no tip line. When in Rome..... As for taxis, since most don't accept credit cards, round up to the nearest euro unless you have exact change.

As for bellmen, porters, hotel maids, concierges that's up to you..

Just did that trip on May 15 . Livorno to Lucca with a stop in Pisa en route. Taxi at shipside costs 25 euros to train station so if you can find other pax to share that would be nice. Otherwise our ship provided free shuttle to center of town; same place to be picked up for return to port. From there you can take a bus for 2 euro to the train station but all that takes time so budget your schedule accordingly. By taxi we were able to make the 0852 train that also goes to Florence btw, got off at Pisa Centrale, changed trains and got off at Pisa S. Rossore, saw the Leaning Tower, got the train at Pisa Rossore, got off at Lucca, looked around, had lunch, came back the same way. Took the bus back from the station to town center, got on the shuttle back to port. 11 euros RT train lets you get off at Pisa either en route to, or on the way back from Lucca. Tickets availabe at the Livorno train station. They take credit cards. Don't forget to stamp your ticket BEFORE you board just in case the conductor may ask. The conductor never even asked to see our tickets.

FYI, booked SB Air RT to Europe this summer on AA at a discounted SB rate but was told by AA that mileage does not accrue and that AA was not responsible for helping to reroute should a problem arise. Any thoughts or experiences?

Thx for the info. And the pricing? Do we sign up in SB Square once aboard?

on the two, three and four hour plans, are the times continuous or in total?

thx

Thank you wineasmusic for your ongoing observations while on board Encore. Hope you made it safely back to Texas by now. To post, did you access the internet by phone, internet, wifi on board or in port? What plans were available on board ship, what was the cost and how was the speed? And while you were away did you use your cell phone for texting or calling? Just trying to anticipate our trip in the Med on Encore. Thanks for your help/

wineasmusic: how was the sushi dinner? fresh, frozen, counter seating or tables as well? and what was offered to your lovely wife? one last and most important: what's the process for booking a res, difficult, easy? arigato

Hope you're enjoying your cruise. Did they ever outfit a laundry room yet? There was some dissatisfaction with its absence on some initial reviews. Thanks