Proper dress and Barcelona embarkation?

[JackieB]

I know the answers must exist here somewhere, but I know that when I get on a cruise ship in Miami or FLL, I know what to expect. Here are a few questions that I have about Europe:

 

Barcelona airport to cruise ship dock: What do I say to the cab driver about where I want to go? (La Brilliance de la seas, por favor?) Or, is there a specific pier I should ask for?.

 

Vatican and / or other museums and cathedrals: can men wear sneakers? sandals w/out socks? shorts? what is the dress code at Monte Carlo casino?

No cameras? where do you put yours while there?

 

So many questions...

 

Thanks, Jack.

[cberge]

I know the answers must exist here somewhere, but I know that when I get on a cruise ship in Miami or FLL, I know what to expect. Here are a few questions that I have about Europe:

 

Barcelona airport to cruise ship dock: What do I say to the cab driver about where I want to go? (La Brilliance de la seas, por favor?) Or, is there a specific pier I should ask for?.

 

Vatican and / or other museums and cathedrals: can men wear sneakers? sandals w/out socks? shorts? what is the dress code at Monte Carlo casino?

No cameras? where do you put yours while there?

 

So many questions...

 

Thanks, Jack.

 

Just tell the driver you want to go to the port,and give him the name of the ship.If you have other info re your cruise you can mentioned that to him...they know the drill.

You cannot wear shorts in most churches and especially the Vatican.Shoes are not a problem.Museums are ok for shorts.

Dress code for The Casino in MC is quite strict..jacket and pants and at night tie(or at least it used to be),and you will need your passport. If,on the other hand you go to the American Casino which is to the left of the MC Casino you can go as dressed..very casual and no passport required.You can check your camera in the front or if small enough just put it in your pocket.

Others may have some other info as well.

[Bruin Steve]

I'd tell the driver...We need to go to the port to get on the ship "Brilliance of the Seas"...There is a decent chance the driver understands English...but ask him before you take off in the cab...If he doesn't understand English, someone at the taxi station at the Airport can translate for you...

 

The Vatican is pretty strict on dress code...I got kicked out one time for wearing a tank top...T-shirts, sneakers are okay though...it's a "covered up" thing, not a "formal" thing...My advice is to go to a Target or similar store and buy a pair of "wind pants"...they cost like $10 to $12 and are made out of nylon with an elastic waist band and have elastic around the ankles with zippers about 12 inches up each side...Since they're thin nylon, they roll up into practically nothing...I kept a pair in my knapsack that I carried everywhere...and I toured wearing shorts...When I got to the Vatican (or, theoretically, anywhere else that required long pants), I'd whip them out an put them on over my shorts - takes like 10 seconds...and I was all set...When leaving the church, just pull them off and back in the knapsack...

 

Other churches seem to be hit-and-miss...We went into San Sebastian on the Piazza Navona in shorts after watching several others do the same...nobody got kicked out.

 

The Casino at Monte Carlo requires coat and tie and charges an admission charge...but you don't need a coat/tie...and you don't have to pay the fee to gamble in the slot machines in the first room...the dress code and charge only count as you venture farther into the casino...

 

Any place with a restriction on cameras has a "check" system...

 

Good luck and have fun...

[JackieB]

Thank you Steve and Karen. One last question: If you're going to the MC casino as an example, and you're going on a ship's tour, do they tell you of the dress requirements before you go? Or, are you on your own to find out as we are doing here on the boards?

 

Thanks,

Jack

[DEL67]

We did have a little difficulty with our taxi driver in Barcelona understanding where we wanted to go; however, that was two years ago and the port where the large cruise ships now dock was fairly new. In addition, like many cab drivers in Barcelona, he choose not to understand my poor Spanish. Finally I showed the him where the port was on the map. After that we did not have a problem.

 

We did not go to Monte Carlo. When going to the Vatican, churches, etc. I wore Capris, sneakers and usually a short sleeve shirt which was acceptable. The couple of days I was wearing a sleeveless top, I brought along a blouse to go over it.

[Bruin Steve]

If you're going to the MC casino as an example, and you're going on a ship's tour, do they tell you of the dress requirements before you go? Or, are you on your own to find out as we are doing here on the boards?

I seem to recall there were lots of subtle reminders as to dress code...For example, in the Celebrity website shore excursion section and in the printed material, they have this quip:

>>Note: Entrance to Grand Casino is not included in this tour. Guests wishing to visit the Grand Casino on their own must have a photo ID, admission fee (in local currency: 10 Euros) and be properly dressed. Time permitting; you will have approximately 30 minutes of leisure time in Nice, 30 minutes in Eze, and 1 hour in Monaco/Monte Carlo.<<

 

Of course, what we noted was that, on our tour, not many people were dressed for the casino. With only an hour on one's own in Monte Carlo, it's kind of hard to find the time to actually go into the casino, find an appropriate table, start gambling and have to quickly excuse one's self...Besides, it was quite hot and who wants to wear a coat in hot weather?

 

Also note that, unlike Vegas, The Casino de Monte Carlo does not operate universally for 24 hours a day...The "Private rooms" don't open until 4 pm..."American Games" don't start until 5 pm...

 

See the official site:

 

http://www.casinomontecarlo.com/en/

 

Certain areas, like the slots, are open earlier and do not require a jacket nor an admission charge...So, really plan for what time you'll be there and what you'll actually have time to do...

 

I have now visited three times and have never had time or desire to do much more than play the slots...

[rasyad]

I know the answers must exist here somewhere, but I know that when I get on a cruise ship in Miami or FLL, I know what to expect. Here are a few questions that I have about Europe:

 

Barcelona airport to cruise ship dock: What do I say to the cab driver about where I want to go? (La Brilliance de la seas, por favor?) Or, is there a specific pier I should ask for?.

 

Vatican and / or other museums and cathedrals: can men wear sneakers? sandals w/out socks? shorts? what is the dress code at Monte Carlo casino?

No cameras? where do you put yours while there?

 

So many questions...

 

Thanks, Jack.

 

 

Hi Jackie,

 

I'm Spanish.. in case your cab driver does not understand English, or your Spanish is not up-to-date write this down and show it to him:

"Llevenos al puerto, por favor. Nuestro barco es el Brillance of the Seas y esta atracado alli".

 

Which means "Take us to the harbour, please. Our ship Brillance of the Seas is docked there".

 

Enjoy your trip.

[JackieB]

Dear Rasyad,

 

Muchas gracias!

 

Jack