rdt10

Planning for our first cruise out of Southampton. Looking at possibly staying at Premiere Inn County Hall and taking the train from Waterloo to Southampton. Like the frequency of trains and relatively short travel time. Will be traveling on a Saturday if that matters.

How difficult will the train be for 2 people with 2 carry-ons and 2 checked size bags? We've done a train from Rome before and found it difficult to find a place to safely store the large bags. Trying to decide if the National Express bus would be better with the luggage and should look at a different hotel. We will be 70 when we travel, but no mobility issues.

Also, are 1st class tickets on the train worth the extra cost?

Thanks for the input. Sounds like it will not be as complicated as I thought. I looked at the national express website for times from Southampton Coach Station Harbour Parade (I think that is correct for the cruise port) to Heathrow. Would the 7:45am be too early for getting off the ship and to the bus pickup? There is also a 9:45am bus. Does the bus pick up near the terminal?

Since we are flying to Rome and not the U.S., would security/customs be easier and how early before the flight would we need to arrive at the airport?

Thanks. Rick

Looking at a Grand Suite on the Voyager of the Seas for a Greek cruise next year. Have 1570 on hold. Usually sail Celebrity and not familiar with Voyager or the Grand Suite. No junior suites showing and this is for an anniversary cruise so looking at a suite instead of a balcony cabin. Concerned about noise from the pool deck.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks. Rick

Have a Celebrity cruise out of Southampton that returns on May 25, 2025 (Sunday), scheduled docking of 6:00am, and want to get to Rome to pick up another cruise departing Civitavecchia the next day. Trying to see how difficult this would be before I book the cruise from Civi. Never sailed out of Southampton before.

I  have read that some regional air carriers can be very difficult with baggage. We will be traveling with 2 carryon's and one or two large bags to be checked.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks. Rick

Thanks for all of the input. We booked the 8 night cruise. Would have liked to go to Flam, but will enjoy the ports on the longer cruise.

Thanks for the comments. Still leaning toward the May 17, 8 day cruise because of the extra ports. Torn on Flam since it will not be available going forward.

Is the train pretty much it to do in Flam or are there other things? Is the sail into Flam the main reason to book it.

Thanks. Rick

Looking at two Celebrity Apex cruises to Norway next year. Would appreciate any suggestions between the two. Leaning toward the May 17 cruise with the extra night, but wasn't sure if Flam on the May 10th cruise would make it the better of the two. We have cruised Europe several times, but never to Norway. Also, would May be too early for Norway? Thanks for any help you might give.

May 10, 2025, 7 nights

 ·  Southampton, England

·  Nordfjordeid, Norway

·  Flam, Norway

·  Geiranger, Norway

·  Bruges, (Zeebrugge)

·  Southampton, England

May 17, 2025, 8 nights

·  Southampton, England

·  Bruges, (Zeebrugge)

·  Olden, Norway

·  Geiranger, Norway

·  Alesund, Norway

·  Bergen, Norway

·  Southampton, England

We did an early entry tour of the Vatican Museum in 2017 with Rome with Marisa. We did it the morning of embarkation as it started around 7:30 am. It worked out great. The museum was essentially empty compared to the normal shoulder to shoulder crowds. We then had Rome Cabs pick us up at our hotel around noon and take us to the ship. Marisa was great to work with.

We did a Dunrobin Castle tour a few years ago with Gavin at Invergordon Tours and really enjoyed it. He has Loch Ness tours on his website.

We have bought several inlaid wood boxes in Sorrento from GS Gargiulo Inlaid, Via Fuoro, 33, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy, https://www.gargiuloinlaid.it/. Small father and son shop. We make a point of stopping there when we are in Sorrento. Very friendly, good quality and reasonable prices. We bring several home for ourselves and for gifts.

We stayed at Hotel Santa Maria Novella a few years ago and would recommend it. Walking distance to train station and not far from the sites.

We have stayed at Hotel Jazz several times in Barcelona. Good location and reasonably priced. 

FYI, Barcelona Airport can be terrible. Very slow to get checked in and through security. Plan to get there early.

I've done a day trip from Rome to Florence on the train, which is about half the distance as Venice. Lots to do in Florence and most things are walkable from the train station. Venice would be too far for a day trip for me.

We used Marissa in 2018 for an early entry tour of the Vatican for me and my daughter-in-law. She told us how to make the reservation with the Vatican and we met her at 7:15 am at the Museum entrance. We could enter early with her as our guide. I don't recall the entry fee being much different, if any, from the regular entry ticket. Have been to the Vatican museum several times and this was by far the best. Marissa is very knowledgeable and there were only a few others in the Museum. We were able to sit in the Sistine chapel and marvel at its beauty without the wall to wall people you normally find. Highly recommend Marissa and the early entry.

We were staying at the Albergo del Senato. There is a taxi stand next to the Pantheon which we used to get to the museum.

We have used Rome Cabs for transfers to  and from the ship several times. They meet you at the ship, which regular taxis can't.

We stayed at the Ambassade in 2018. Very nice hotel and location. Lots to do near the hotel and there is a tram stop within walking distance. We did a cab from the airport and to the port.  Either walked or used the tram to get around otherwise. The windows are not very sound proof so had some noise. Would stay there again.

The tram goes directly to Centrale Station which made it easy to do a trip to Zannes Schans on the train to see the windmills. Worth a trip.

Florence is great as a day trip or overnight. We've done both. You can do a lot in a day, but it is really nice to walk around Florence in the evening with things lit up and the crowds gone. Take the train. The station is walking distance to the Florence center.

On 12/6/2021 at 5:47 PM, uscgmom said:

Looking for Florence hotel recommendations for pre-cruise.

Thanks!

Hotel Santa Maria Novella. Close to train station and walking distance to main Florence sights. Very nice hotel. We had a room overlooking the Piazza, which was very nice.

9 hours ago, edinburgher said:

We actually liked SM a lot  more than we did Portofino and would have preferred more time there.  Portofino is really tiny and and an hour might be all that would be needed there..

Agree. Portofino is also very expensive.

In the past we would self disembark at 7:00 and meet a prearranged car and driver (Rome Cabs). I recall an extra fee for pickup prior to 7:30. We were comfortable with flights out of FCO at 11:00 or later. Don't know how the Covid situation has impacted the time to get checked in and through security at FCO.

Even if the ship is scheduled for 5:00am arrival, I don't remember being cleared to leave the ship until around to 7:00.

8 hours ago, BVILady said:

Having quite some luggage for a long cruise the people mover does not look like an option to me. Is there a possibility to get from Santa Chiara to the cruise dock by taxi? Thanks in advance.

There is a taxi stand at Piazzale Roma. I thought it was around 20 Euro for the taxi as we took our luggage to the taxi stand rather than have the hotel call a porter. 

We prefer a taxi over the people mover with lots of luggage. Also it is a long walk from where the people mover drops off by the port to the ship. They say there is a free shuttle to the ship, but we have never seen it.

We did a before hours tour of the Vatican museum with Marisa of Rome with Marisa. We were there almost alone the whole time. Other times I've been there during regular hours it was shoulder to shoulder. Marisa was excellent and very reasonably priced. She does other tours of Rome too.

Rome is very easy to see on your own. Many sites are within walking distance which would allow stops along the way.

1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said:

If you are most interested in Florence, I would HIGHLY recommend just doing it on your own via the high-speed train. It's about 90 minutes by high speed train (by far the fastest way and the least expensive).  If it is a daytrip, you won't have the hassle of luggage, and there are no changes of train en route, so it is the perfect opportunity to learn about taking the trains...

 

We have done this a couple of times and it is very easy. Trains are frequent and most sites are walking distance from the train station. Our first time we did a half day walking tour in the morning to get the highlights and orient us to the town. Excellent day trip from Rome.

5 hours ago, birdiebill said:

We have booked the Del Senato for three nights pre-cruise.  Would it be better to book something like Romecabs.com rather than try to find a taxi with enough room for us and our luggage?  Can a private car from Romecabs take us right to the Del Senato?  We hope Covid is controlled so we can take this trip.

 

Del Senato is our favorite hotel in Rome. We've used Romecabs from the airport and to the port. They drop off and pick up at the door. Recommend both.

We have stayed at the Olimpia, AC Hotel (Marriott), and Papadopoli. All near Piazzale Roma with the bus/taxi stand and the people mover. Would recommend all of them. Papadopoli is very nice but can be expensive. AC Hotel is only a few years old and modern. Olimpia is more traditional with wonderful staff.

For a first trip, the Mediterranean offers a good sampling of Europe. We prefer a cruise that starts and ends in different cities, allowing a few days before and after to better explore those cities. Rome to Barcelona or opposite is a good route. The Greek isles are also very nice and most of the sites are close to Port. Many sites on a med. cruise are some distance from the port such as Rome and Florence which are 1 1/2 hours or more from the port.

The Rick Steve's guides are very helpful. Also check out the port of calls forum for DIY help and recommended tour operators.

We prefer the spring and fall for the med. The summer months can be hot and very crowded.