yippiolguis

Thank you all for your answers! 

Hello Everyone! May 8th my soon to be husband and I will be doarding Wonder of the Seas for our honeymoon! is going to be his second cruise and my...I don't know, a lot, but I'm super excited to meet this new ship in our new life. 

I've seen that RC does not have anything special for honeymooners, but in your esperience, do they give honeymoon couples any special treats or perks.

My state on Crown&Anchord is Platinum, I don't knwo either if that could make a difference (I remember lasts cruises I went on, i got a voucher with some coupons such as a complimentary dinner on Johny Rockets).

So...do you think will get anything special?

Thanks!

I'd say there's no cigarretes on the cruise shops, but I thing I saw people buying cigarretes on the bars. Anyway I have no clue of price. Sorry

aliciawag -

There is mention of Siglo performing Rock etc at various times.

Is this an individual/band?

Any good?

Thanks

Blues

P.S. I've placed a link to your report onto our Roll Call. Very informative. Thank you.

I'd say they performed almost everyday on the Cavern, but I can't tell you about, I had no time for them! anyway I highly recomend you the Epic Beatles and Howl at the Moon. AMAZING

Hi. Was your shuttle provided by Norwegian? When I called them about a shuttle, the person I spoke with didn't know anything about it ( from the Norwegian Epic).

We are trying to get from the port to the city center of Livorno, to catch the Tuscany Bus to Florence.

Thanks.

Floridagal07

I'm not sure if its provided by NCL or the port, the fact is that is the only way to get out of the port(I didn't saw option to go walking to the city)

Sorry for coming on this old thread. Someone has more info about the library on Epic? do you know if they have a selection of books in other languages?(spanish). thank you

They are really strict, first time there I was 15, as you daughter and was wearing a polo t-shirt and nor very short shorts. Luckyly and misteriously I had a tank top on my bagthat I had to put on and cover my legs to my knees. If you feel that the dress code is going to be too much for summer, just take something in your bags to cover when they ask you to. My mom was in long pants and a not very oppened tshirt and they let her into vatican but not into ths chapels inside, she was wearing something like this but with short sleeves. (https://sc02.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1uDIzJVXXXXXwXVXXq6xXFXXX4.jpg).

I've done it, obviously is not the most confortable way but is easy and cheap. There are lots of trains going to civitaveccia. Is true that the train will be full of other cruisers. I do not remember if there is any place to leave the suitcases but i prefer to have them by my side just in case. To go up and leave the train as I said, there are lots of cruisers you'll find yourself helping or being helped to take them up and down to the train stairs.

Once in civitavechia I think now they've change where you take the bus to your ship. But before that it was a 10-15 minute walk. Depending of the kind of weels of the suitcase you can walk or take a cab(never done it, but I suppose there are cabs).

For disembarkation day I'd recomend a shuttle, car...

As far as I'm concerned, I've got no issues answering questions about tipping on a cruise ship, but what I don't understand is why folks have to say how it is done where they live or that they disagree with the system, because neither has any impact on tipping on a cruise ship.

It has to do, as long as maybe one person gives 100$ to the butler believing it is a very good tip while maybe the reality is that the salary is based on tips and thats a small amount. Also others may want to understand why they pay 15% gratuities when asking for a bottle of beer on the bar with no service for a table.

I do not see whats bad on disagreeing with the system, people can have their own thoughts.

I apologize for that I thought that it was a valid question.

 

I have thought that some people really need the tip to get a decent income but it seems like that's not correct.

 

Now I know that tipping is based on service and not on salary so I can tip according to that.

I think its a valid question. I just made a quick google about Sweden tipping and looks kind of similar as here in Spain. We do not have to tip at all, not tipping is not rude or something that needs to be explained. The guy that brings my pizza or my supermarket order does not expect a tip, or even at bars or restaurants. We tip if we want or had a very good service, and never based on percentages; Maybe I go for dinner, the receipt is 48€ and I just leave the 50€ bill, and thats totally fine(or also leaving nothing)

OK, you tip based on service, but everyone should understand that in different countries there's a different tipping culture. And is ok for people to want to know how to do it on a cruise.

]There is free movement of goods once they have been legally imported into the EU. Not all of the food on board has been cleared for entry into the EU (because it's not meant to leave the ship' date=' except in passengers' bellies).

[/b']

It's true that most European countries are not very strict about enforcing rules about what individual travelers bring in. Not because there is "no problem", but because they have to allocate their resources to higher priority problems.

 

Europe is divided into two zones. In one zone they say "I know it's not right, but I will do it anyway, unless they make it very difficult". In the other zone they say "I know it's not right, so I won't do it, even if they make it very easy". If you take the metro you can tell which zone you are in…

Really? I though maybe cereals or other paked things may come from outside EU, but as long as the ship is in Europe all the other food would have passed all controls and are legally imported.

About the enforcing and the kind of people in Europe I agree, but is not only about individuals, also authorities and people in charge of enforcing rules, and about that I think there is not big difference between EU and US in fact, in my experience Americans care a lot when you enter their country, but when you are leaving seems like they do not care very much.

"Technically" you need to follow the laws and rules of the ship. "You" don't get to make the rules. "You" have to follow them.

Also I was not talking about breaking the law, I assumed the food on the ship was "legal" and as my cruise is not leaving Europe I'd have the same rights as if I travel on my own car.

While I see no problem with people taking food out of the dining areas on cruise ships, I do see issues with taking non-packaged foods on and off the ships in ports. The rules and laws about that are there for good reasons to avoid transporting plants, animals, and diseases to other areas where they become detrimental to that areas native plants and animals.

That was just my experience, and about my upcoming cruise, if I'm stopped I won't do it, but as long as is just Europe, its a free movement of goods space, so tecnically, and legally there should be no problem.

Thanks for all the answers!!

@Dumplynn I was also thinking about take a container, I've done it other times but have not used it. But as I'm cruising in july and it will be hot as hell maybe I'll use it to take some grapes, or small but strong food for the excursions. I have really low blood pressure and have the ability to faint in the worst moments and that small things are allways useful.

About that I've read recently that is not allowed, well...I'll try I don't know if they will take it away from me when getting off to the ports, but have done it without any problem in Caribbean cruises. Well, just one time when getting back to the ship they stopped my backpack because there was a banana(from the ship) on it, but no big deal. Other example, while on Israel I bough on Jerusalem some huge beautiful promegrenates and got them to the ship without any problem, I also had them not hidden in my stateroom till I ate them(pd, they were not as tasty as our spanish ones)

We were on the Epic a couple of weeks ago and observed people taking food from the buffet back to their rooms. We didn't see any signs to the contrary. Personally, I don't want to eat in my room, but hey, you're on vacation....so take the food if that's what you want to do.

Yeah, is just preferences. Sometimes I like to take something to eat on the balcony while getting ready for dinner whatching the sunset for example.

Which cruise line stopped you taking buffet food to go? I will make a note not to book through them

 

 

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Now I'm doubting if was my las one on RCI or the one on Celebrity. Sometimes in the afternoon or just after lunch I like to take a small salad(plenty of carrot, go get tanned xD) with me to eat it on the lounges one deck up to the pool but I was stopped at the entrance of the buffet.

I think it was on Celebrity, as long as right now I'm having a picture myself my mind on the Liberty guest services line with a smal bowl of white chocolache chips and a young kid looking at them as if I was carrying gold( I shared with him :D).

Kind of off topic on my own topic, but on that liberty of the seas cruise there were very nice people on the snack/coffe place on the promenade. First day, before going to sleep I went there to make myself a chocolate milk(colacao), but milk was cold. So I asked the ladies if they had hot milk and they made it foamy and hot for me with the expresso machines they have for the noncomplimentary coffe, and told me to ask them for that every night :D

Buffet no problems, just get what you want and leave. O'Sheehans you'll need to order as though sitting in and simply take it away when it's brought. They won't plate it up 'to go'.

 

 

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Thanks, specially for the O'sheerans, I was afraid someone tell me, hey sit there to eat your food!

Hello eveyone, I'm wondering about policy or posibility to take away the food on the ship. Buffet, O'Sheeran... Can I ask for my food, ot take my food and just walk away with it?

Like take my breakfast from the buffet and go to H2O and eat it there, or to my room...I do not ask about MDR because I guess that is a no. But on some other cruiselines I was not alowed to take my delicious salad from the buffet outside and I don't want to get embarrased again.

Thank you!

An even though it's on the kids menu, adults can order off it too.

 

Don

I was just gonna ask that!

So I can go 12 in the nigh to O'sheerans on my pijamas and say," give me that kids mac&cheese!!!!(please and thank you)" ?

EU-only cruise, no duty free. :( And VAT collected on gift shop purchases, etc. throughout the cruise, is that right?

That happened to me on my last cruise from Barcelona. When cruising I usually happily bough cigarretes at great price on duty free but I was told that IVA (VAT) had to be paid for everything sold on the ship. They told me it was because leaving from Barcelona.

But, foreign people can get the taxes back at the end of the trip, I think at the airports and with receipts. I do not know if that applies to non-spanish people or just to prople outside European Union(most probably).

So maybe is an interesting thing to know to some people, to get their 21% of VAT back.

Edit: I guess is just for non EU people, and still I'm not sure if it can work for you, but here is the official info: http://www.agenciatributaria.es/AEAT.internet/en_gb/Inicio/Aduanas_e_Impuestos_Especiales/Folletos_informativos/Folleto_Devolucion_IVA_en_regimen_de_viajeros/Folleto_Devolucion_IVA_en_regimen_de_viajeros.shtml

As you plan to use it for walking with them on excursions I'd try to find something that is very comfortable. I'm from Spain so I cannot tell you were to find the shoes, but I think something like this could work. Not high heel but not totally flat(wich at least for me is unconfortable for long walking), and also stylish so you can wear it with more formal clothing.

About the materials, as you don't use suede or leather I'd choose fabric, fake leather will make you sweet and blisters.

https://www.uterque.com/es/calzado/sandalias-tac%C3%B3n-medio/sandalia-tac%C3%B3n-metalizado-c1771021p7742456.html?color=040&listId=parrilla_footwear%2Fmedium_heel_sandal&listPosition=7

As you travel in october maybe you do not want sandals, in that case I'd take the same idea but in close shoes, something like this

https://www.uterque.com/es/calzado/sandalias-tac%C3%B3n-medio/sandalia-tac%C3%B3n-metalizado-c1771021p7742456.html?color=040&listId=parrilla_footwear%2Fmedium_heel_sandal&listPosition=7

What about empty bottles?(reusable or regular plastic ones) I always have water with me, I'd like to have my container for excursions!

I'm very tolerant, and I know anyone can have a mistake and drop something, but If I see people trowing things on purpose...maybe I throw them the garbage back to their balcony...

Had the same last summer on Mediterranean cruise. Biggest issue is that you have 8 levels of balconies directly above you looking down on you. In the morning the balcony would be littered with trash, lemon/lime peels, straws, fruit etc. dropped from above. It wasn't horrible, but I wouldn't choose it if I had a choice.

 

 

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Thank you! The lack of privacy is maybe why I'm trying to find pros of this balcony, but TRASH? really people are that rude? I hope m upper neighbours are more polite, but I would definitely complain about that!

How about the wind?

I got assigned my GTY balcony on EPIC, and is uncovered 9286 so is almost on the back.

I'm not complaining(I know that this can happen with GTY), but is my first time iwith one of this balonies, so:

Has anyone experienced this? Can you give me pros and cons? Is it specially windy on there comparing to regular balconies?

Thank you!

Anyone off the Epic lately? just for updated areas too. Thank you