chachabell

Tonia -- I think the RV books are for Jackie and Tony. Better bring them with you.

Jerry and Betty -- We arrive in Barcelona at the same time. Wonder if we are on the same flight. 5:40 pm Delta 94 out of JFK, Seat assignments 36 A&B

Thanks. Can't wait for this Med cruise -- we've been planning it too long!

Paula -- Hope to be in the hotel reception room when you arrive. You've seen our picture, so you should be able to spot us. Looks like we are departing about the same time tomorrow. Have a safe trip.......until Barcelona!

Thanks, and you, too! See you in Barcelona. We are still planning to share the water taxi to the airport with you for our return trip home.

We get picked up at 12:30 tomorrow for our trip to the airport.

Tonia -- See you soon. It's chilly here on the east coast. But it looks like it will be beautiful while we are in Barcelona.

Yes, I saw the review and wrote to Claudio about it with the link. I was quite disturbed by the comments. This is what Claudio responded, "About the complains referred to Roberto, I don't know what the problem was. I planned to be myself the driver-guide for this party of 8 on October 9th. The day before, a worker broke down one glass of my vehicle and I couldn't arrange the service from Civitavecchia so I was forced to shift to Roberto, however He assisted several of my clients and I never received any complains. About the payment at the Vatican, usually I pay the Agency at the end of each month. Maybe the guide on October 9th accepted money from clients at the end of the tour intended as tip. I confirm the service for your party of 8 from Livorno with Fabrizio, for your party of 10 from Civitavecchia with licensed guide Natascia, for your party of 2 ( up to 6) from Naples with Mariano. Your guide at Pompeii will be an archeologist." In a second email I confirmed that we pay the archeologist directly for Pompeii. Hopefully, this problem was a fluke.

We just put our absentee ballots in the mail, too! Wasn't sure we'd get them in time but they came yesterday. Oh! We're so ready for this trip. Just notified the neighbor that picks up our local paper from our driveway that we will be away.

We're ready except putting our clothes in the suitcases, and closing up shop here at the house Wed morning before we are picked up for our trip to the airport. Our pins are in my travel purse. Let's get on with the show!

Gail -- Glad you are have such a great time! Reminder to those who have lights, etc., on timers. We will go off daylight savings time early in our trip. Change the timers before you leave.

We've been stacking up toiletries, cameras, reading material, pillows, medicine, mp3 players, etc. -- but no clothing until next week, right before we leave.

I believe it applies to all banks/credit cards. They are so afraid of fraud that they do not hesitate to place a hold on your account for any unusual activity. And, certainly in most cases, charges being made in Europe and unusualy high $$ amounts would trigger a flag on your account. I've already notified my bank (Bank of America) and my credit card.

Then Piazzale Roma should be very walkable.

Check out the pier map: http://www.vtp.it/pages/comeRaggiungerci/crociere.jsp?n=0 Looks like we're close to Piazzale Roma. According to the port website the Millennium docks at either #18 or #109 which are across from each other. The TA I spoke of was on the Brillance of the Sea, which docks at the same place.

Jackie -- According to the TA that originally recommended La Villa on the dark side, "The ship will also tell you that you'll have a very long and complicated walk to get the local vaperetto service -- WRONG! The Vaporetto station at Piazza Roma is a 5-10 min walk from the ship and is very easy to use. Buy a Venice Card for 17 Euro and you'll have unlimited use of the public transport and toilets. The number 82 vaporetto goes all the way down the Grand Canal and has a stop right at San Marco. The trip takes 40 mins or so, but you get a nice tour of the Grand Canal. " But we are going to by a 24-hr Valporetto for 10.5 eur, because I don't think we need the Venice Card. Also, need to be careful to take the #82 in the right direction -- go the wrong way and you are not going down the grand canal.

We are taking our laptop so that we can transfer our digital pictures to the computer. Good back up. Also, we will be able to use it for the internet in Barcelona and Venice hotels. During the cruise, I doubt we will take the time to log on unless we see an internet cafe in one of the ports that we are doing on our own. We do not plan to take the ship's shuttle in Venice. It goes to San Marcos Sq. We plan on walking to P. Roma and taking the Vaporetto down the grand canal. After we disembark, since our hotel is near San Marcos Sq, we will explore that part of Venice.

We know from experience not to request our mail hold until the day of our last mail delivery. PO has been known to stop it too soon. But then we have a rural mail box and our carrier drives along to deliver the mail. I've already stopped our newspaper online though. This seems to work well.

Tonia -- Back in June I questioned Claudio about any changes to our schedule in Pisa and Florence and he replied, "I confirm the Museums opened on November 1st. There is no change in scheduled programs." We are supposed to go to the leather markets so think we should be OK.

Paula -- We'd heard about snow in Chicago and Michigan -- but I just saw a report about Buffalo on the evening news. Wow! You really got socked. Just goes to show that when planning travel there is so much to think about .

I think that would be fine. All of us should be there. I think there are 12 of us. Will try to find out how many will fit per taxi (with all of our luggage).

We also seem to need 3 pieces of checked luggage, one of which is a rolling duffel bag when we take longer cruises with extra days at either end. We weigh them at home and make sure they are 45 lbs max.

For those of us staying at the Locanda Orseolo in Venice, I emailed them to get the latest on the water taxi situation at the pier. Tis is their reply, "fortunately for you and for us the water taxis had > the chance to go > back to the pear, so is easier for you to reach the Hotel once you > get off the cruise, it means that you don't have to > go to Piazzale Roma! "Just remind to get on board in a cab of VENEZIA TAXI 'cause all the taxi drivers of this company knows where we are!" Once we are onboard we can plan the logistics so that we can share a couple of taxis.

Sea days for us on this trip will have to be relaxing, very relaxing to recharge for the next port. Reading, T-Pool/hot tub, and other low key activities. No bingo or casinos for us.

Simon is very personable and friendly. A true showman -- sings, dances, very funny, great personality and his Old McDonald skit shouldn't be missed! On the SA cruise he came to the CC party and answered lots of questions. His father used to be a Cruise Director and his brother substitutes as one on Celebrity. His wife is a Celebrity dancer. He is just one of Celebrity's BEST CDs.