Iconic Western Mediterranean/Cancelled overnight in Barcelona!

[Peregrina651]

After speaking with a Viking rep today it seems that this change is very likely only for the July 15 sailing. It's some sort of port authority issue. Luckily we are flying into Barcelona 2 days early.

 

Did you find out what by what time you have to be on board? Probably you will have to be checked in two hours before departure. IMHO, plan on storing your luggage at your hotel until you head to the ship, aiming to push off check in for as long as possible. That way, you will have all morning and some of the afternoon dedicated to touring. Trying to embark and then do some touring is just time wasted going to and fro. Leave a couple of places near to the hotel for embarkation day touring.

[A&D Cruising]

Did you find out what by what time you have to be on board? Probably you will have to be checked in two hours before departure. IMHO, plan on storing your luggage at your hotel until you head to the ship, aiming to push off check in for as long as possible. That way, you will have all morning and some of the afternoon dedicated to touring. Trying to embark and then do some touring is just time wasted going to and fro. Leave a couple of places near to the hotel for embarkation day touring.

 

That's a plan we are considering. As part of our pre-cruise stay made through our TA we have pre-arranged transportation to ship. We need to check how flexible that timing is. We've also heard that we should get on board early to make arrangements for specialty dining and deal with changing times for excursions if our desired times are sold out.

[Peregrina651]

That's a plan we are considering. As part of our pre-cruise stay made through our TA we have pre-arranged transportation to ship. We need to check how flexible that timing is. We've also heard that we should get on board early to make arrangements for specialty dining and deal with changing times for excursions if our desired times are sold out.

 

Yes, but boarding doesn't begin until 11 am and it will take a while to deal with specialty restaurants and the shorex desk, such that basically, you will not get any touring done on embarkation day (if touring on embarkation day is part of the plan).

[A&D Cruising]

Ask away! There are a number of us who have done this itinerary and are happy to answer questions.

 

How easy is it to get back and forth from the ship in Marseilles & St Tropez in case we have to do afternoon excursions and must meet at the ship for the start of the tour? Are there shuttles that run throughout the day? I understand it's walkable in Sete and Monte Carlo.

 

Thanks for any info you can impart.

[trinicruisegyal]

How easy is it to get back and forth from the ship in Marseilles & St Tropez in case we have to do afternoon excursions and must meet at the ship for the start of the tour? Are there shuttles that run throughout the day? I understand it's walkable in Sete and Monte Carlo.

 

Thanks for any info you can impart.

 

On our cruise at the start of the year the following applied:

Marseille was not walkable, there were shuttles all through the day. We did the included tour in the morning, returned to the ship for lunch, we used the shuttle to go to and from the city center where we took the train to Aix-en-Provence in the afternoon and were back in time for dinner.

 

St. Tropez was our only Tender Port, it was walkable once one was ashore. You could opt to meet your excursion shore side, at least one could in the afternoon, you merely needed to confirm the shore side meeting time for your excursion. Once again we did a morning excursion, returned for lunch and then went back ashore to explore further, the tender was full on both legs of our trip ashore in the morning, but was virtually empty in the afternoon. We were back onboard by 4PM to prep for NYE, so maybe the later tenders were as busy as they were in the morning.