CynBeth

Last summer we left from Barcelona and ended in Rome which is actually Civitavecchia. We came in a few days early to tour Barcelona and after the cruise took the train to Rome to get our train to Venice where we spent a few nights and then took the train back to Rome for time there. I don’t know if you have to travel certain dates and if it has to be that ship and if there are certain ports you have to do but I see a one way for the end of June into the beginning of July that looks pretty good.

I agree with the others come in a few days early. For our cruise last July that was out of Barcelona our flight left the US an hour or 2 late which seems to be the trend for us the last 3 or 4 years no matter if we have flown domestic or international and it has been on different airlines. When we landed in Barcelona the passport control was packed. They started telling people to go in lines for other countries and we were lucky when the employee started dividing the lines up differently we were the first ones he pulled to do that or we could have been there a very long time.

Our first ever cruise years ago was Alaska. We did Vancouver to Seward and there was one rough night sometime during that week. We did not actually get sick but my other family members felt it a little in their stomachs. Since then we always wear the patches behind the ear. Sometimes if there is a port where the ship has to anchor and you take a tender to a dock the ocean or sea can be rocky. This can happen anywhere we were on a Mediterranean cruise last summer and experienced it.

Our first cruise with RC was Alaska on Radiance from Vancouver. We had one bad night with rocking where we heard others got sick but luckily we were ok. For every cruise since then we always wear the prescription ear patch.

When we were on our Mediterranean cruise last July there was an issue with the tenders at one of the ports so they were not able to use as many it took longer to get off of the ship. We were not on an excursion. For the return we got in the line in plenty of time to make sure we were back.

I have family members with food allergies and when we call to make the cruise reservation it gets noted on there. We are always told when we board to go to the MDR to discuss what they can prepare for them that first night and then every night after that at the end of dinner they come around with the next night’s menu and put the order in.

On our Med cruise in July most people were very casual.

We were on Enchantment in July and did not notice any issues we had an amazing week in the Mediterranean.

I would fly in at least a few days before if not longer. It seems just about any time we have flown since 2018 either just in the US or overseas our flights have been delayed leaving by 2-3 hours or so for mechanical issues so landed later than expected. Another possibility that could impact your Italy travels would be a strike. They have different kinds such as airport, train, taxi, etc. When we were on our Med cruise in July we left out of Barcelona and ended in Civi. Afterwards we then spent time in Venice and Rome. The day we were supposed to come home from FCO there was an airport strike. Luckily we heard of the possibility before we went so added days at the kennel for the dog and I let my manager know there was this chance I might miss a few extra days. We kept hoping it would not happen so did not change our flight and by the time we got the e-mail on Thursday that the Saturday flight was cancelled we could not find another non stop flight until Tuesday.

For our Med cruise in July we never got it the day before and were not asked questions at the port.

We just did a Med cruise out of Barcelona in July on a different ship. What are your ports and is it round trip back to Barcelona or one way?

For my cruise in July I got an e-mail at 30 days before with the cruise documents and on the last page was a luggage tag. I had to make a few copies.

No we don’t lock our luggage.

We had a different experience with numbers 8 and 10. For our recent Med cruise on Enchantment we preordered the package for 10 pictures and got the option for print or digital. I have family members with food allergies and on our first cruise to Alaska on Radiance many years ago we were told as soon as we got on the ship to go to the MDR and talk to the person at the desk to see what they could prepare for dinner that first night. After that the other nights at the end of the meal were brought menus for the next night to figure out what could be done. We have been on 4 cruises over the years and they have done a great job and the head waiter has stopped by every night.

I constantly go on this and another cruise message board whether we are planning a cruise or not. I love learning new things and helping others. We have been on 4 with Royal. The Radiance was the ship for our first ever cruise on to Alaska. We next did a Western Caribbean on Allure and it went to Haiti, Jamaica, and Cozumel. We also did Bahamas I believe on Majesty to Coco Cay, Nassau, and Key West. Last month were on Enchantment out of Barcelona to Rome. The ports were Marseille, Villefranche, Genoa, Portofino, and Livorno