RD64

Also…nothing beats Mackinac Island fudge. Truly a great gift to receive.

Thank you for your review - I go down to the Soo Locks (Canadian side) to watch the Octantis sail by every chance I can. It is a view I never get tired of.

Yes that is the one I am looking at as well - thankfully I won’t have the same transportation issues as I have relatives in Trieste, with the majority of my relatives about an hour away. I plan on staying until the 28th or 29th. Air Canada’s seasonal direct flights to Toronto end on one of those days.

Also - once you get to the boarding gate / lounge try to find a seat away from the windows.The sun comes in, and you will feel like an ant under a magnifying glass. Take some time to check out the shops - wine, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, chocolates, and if it is in the fall - panettone brands that you can’t get in Canada. One last thing - if nothing has changed you will get to experience taking a bus to the plane. Not to many sky bridges here. From the arrival side, nothing says you have arrived in Venice quite like walking down the stairs of the plane and hopping on the bus to take you to the terminal. Is this the October Rome to Trieste cruise? I am looking at this one also.

Keata and Kazu Marco Polo airport has always been a zoo - so do try to get there earlier. I am going to make the assumption that you are flying AC direct to either Toronto or Montreal. Please note that as you enter the terminal building do not go up to the departure level for check-in. The check in for Air Canada is on the ground floor. As you walk in turn to the right and keep walking. I believe check in still starts around 10 AM. Not sure what the situation is for Transat.

Finding clothes in Italy can be a struggle. I am six foot four and about 185 pounds. My Italian relatives have no problem telling me that I am overweight. Many, many times I have walked in to smaller stores and been told flat out in Italian, that they have nothing that fits me. I am considered XL.

MSC Opera from Lauderdale in March 2006. This was the second year the Opera sailed from FLL.

Cash plain and simple - and in US dollars.

Just order the drink and don’t worry about the taxes.

You can afford the cruise - I am sure you can afford to buy the water on board.

While inconvenient, please also look at this as an opportunity. After a transatlantic on the previous Rotterdam - ending in Rotterdam we took the train from Rotterdam Central Station direct to Schipol. My face was glued to the window as we passed through the Dutch countryside - fields, animals, windmills. It was an unexpected treat.

Loreto - I agree - I thought I was the only person that did this.

Agreed - totally miss the Veendam.

Agreed - nothing beats a Caesar, but it does depend on the type of Clamato juice used. Motts (a Canadian standard) is a good go to, but I have been told that there are some brands from British Columbia which are better.

Bloody Mary no - but a Bloody Caesar definitely.

A 60 person brawl would definitely be considered a unique experience.

Also just studying the map that was posted - go to PAM - a local grocery store - and pick up some regional wines, Prosecco, or Birra Moretti to take onboard - corkage be damned.

Yes Trieste is very walkable and beautiful. You will never find a cruise port so c3ntrally located within a city. Check in - go to your cabin - leave the ship - turn right and go for a walk down the Main Street down to the old fish market where all of the sailboats ar3 moored. Cross the street and walk up the other side of the street - make a point of going to a Piazza UNITA d’Italia - the largest piazza in Italy -stop for an Aperol Spritz or three. Continue on to the Canale Grande ( or it may be first). Trieste is truly an undiscovered Italian gem - perhaps I am biased because I have relatives that live there, but please spend an hour and explore. You will not be disappointed.

They may claim it is - but you would think that the Brazilian conglomerate that owns TH would be able to offer us a decent cup of coffee. The line ups are huge - and I may sound like a coffee snob, but I will do a hard pass on TH coffee even if it is offerred at a work function.

To add to the confusion the check in for Air Canada (VCE to Toronto and I assume Montreal - is also on the ground floor.

Obviously this will involve additional $$$$ spent, and you will always have those people who say they can do without anything as long as it keeps cruise costs at a bare minimum.

I totally agree - ten years ago on the NA in the Med - as an example we had Spanish Flamenco dancers one night and a pair of Roma violinists another night, and the theatre was packed.

Please go to Tim Horton’s for the Internet but please avoid the coffee at all costs - unless you prefer to drink dirty dish water.

Just pay for the cabin you truly want and avoid the disappointment of the upgrade game.