69RoadRunner

None of the items on the menu labeled spicy were even remotely spicy. They tasted like whatever ingredient that was supposed to make it spicy was left out completely.

We did a cruise of Norway in 2019 with 2 teens and many older family members on Princess where the average age of cruisers was "deceased". Two in our group had mobility issues and wanted to see Norway and this worked great. We did different excursions with my son and I hiking to glaciers and kayaking in a fjord while the seniors did bus trips with minimal walking. It was the most beautiful place I've ever been. I have limited time in Greece but if you prefer beaches, I would assume that's a better option, but if you're just going to a beach, there are cheaper ways to do that.

Not sad at all. We had a great time. Phones enhanced our experience. If you prefer no phone, that's fine, too.

This is all true. I've enjoyed trips when I was a scoutmaster where we completely unplugged, but a cruise with the family is not one that would work well for us. If others have success, that's great. We're all on our own vacations.

Oops! I didn't mean to put this in the rumors section. Can a mod move it over to the proper place? Thanks!

Make sure your phone is in airplane mode and then turn on WiFi. Turn off international data roaming on ship, too. If you have the cell connection on it will connect to the on ship cell service which is VERY expensive. I forgot and got a text from AT&T about cruise ship plans. I had the whole family shut it off quickly. We had used the AT&T international day pass in port, which is reasonable at $10/day for the first phone and $5/day for the rest for unlimited data, calls and text. I got my AT&T bill and we do have some text and data charges for the time we connected to the ship's cell service. It's not horrible, but if we had failed to do so, the a la carte charges are insane. The monthly cruise ship packages are still very expensive per line. I really wish there was a way block the ship cell access without having to do it manually and still be able to use the international day pass in port.

We just got back from a Rome to Rome cruise. I actually didn't realize that there were others doing Barcelona until we were on board. I booked excursions and shows ahead of time on the web site and made changes on board on the app. It was nice boarding so quickly. It was weird that RC wasn't offering transfers to/from the ship online. I booked a transfer to the airport which worked out well when Italy had a rail strike that day.

Yes, in the early 80s my dad had someone try to steal his wallet on the subway. My dad grabbed the thief's hand just in time.

I'm sure this applies many other places, too. We stayed in Rome a couple days before our Med cruise. The day we arrived our room wasn't ready, so we wandered around Rome. Someone took a pocketbook out of my wife's bag. It had our passports and nothing else in it. Because of that, the thief tossed it. We were VERY fortunate that someone walked up to us with it and our passports. From then on, we kept valuables in money belts. If you have a bag, keep it in front of you. Our guide at Pisa lived in Pisa and pointed out several teenage girls who are known pickpockets. They only get a slap on the wrist if caught and are back out stealing the same day is what she told us. The girls dress and act like tourists.

Perhaps I wasn't looking in the right place, but I never found transfer info for our recent Med cruise, Rome to Rome. We decided while on the ship to book a transfer to the airport from the ship. It was expensive, but was a good decision because Italy had a rail strike the day we disembarked. To get to the ship, there was a metro stop outside the entrance to our hotel (Hotel Napoleon). One stop to Termini station where we got a train to Civitavecchia. That train is one of the longest walks inside the train station. Once off the train at the port station, it's a 6 euro (cash only) shuttle to the ship. Just tell the shuttle drivers you're going to Royal Caribbean. You can do the reverse to get to the airport. You'll just change trains in Termini to get the one that takes you to the airport. I used the Trenitalia app to book our trains.

Keep in mind there's a nationwide rail strike starting today in Italy.

We just got word that there will be a rail strike in Italy tomorrow. Plan accordingly.

I don't recall. We took the train and then a shuttle bus. We told the shuttle bus driver we were going to RC. Check to see if the taxi can go straight to the ship or if you have to use the 6 euro shuttles.

Pretty sure it will be the Chicken of the Seas.

Government in action. Sorry to hear this is your only option. You'll probably have much better luck there as I would expect they have dedicated people for passports whereas the post office it's a secondary duty. I got passport renewals for both my kids after my daughter turned 16 so that she won't have to do it in person next time and we did it all at the post office including the pictures.