Booked Symphony of the Seas - new to cruising

[FloridaAnn & Co]

This is a good website showing what is near to the ports and transport options. whatsinport/[/QUOTE]

Really helpful- Thanks for sharing.

[SquishTheWhale]

Out of your ports Palma is the one I am most familiar with. It's super easy to do on your own, you can just get off and walk around the city. It's also fairly easy to get the bus to Palma Nova beach area if you wanted to.

[sparklegirl]

we have just booked the same cruse for 30th april. I am so excited as its my first one!

[miked1e]

Originally Posted by sparklegirl

we have just booked the same cruse for 30th april. I am so excited as its my first one!

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Just to make people aware (if not already), currently some decent offers on the drinks packages for sailings through end of May 2023.

Current offer ends tmrw Wednesday 20th July (sure there are then plenty more)...

log in to booking to see pre-cruise savings!

[jas72]

Originally Posted by bronny

We are departing Barcelona so will spend a few days there pre cruise, then Palma, Marseilles, La Spezia, Civitavecchia and Naples. I would like to visit Pompeii and ideally Florence if affordable. I was hoping to hop the train from Marseille to Aix en Provence and would also like to do Rome on our own as we don’t want a tour.

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Just off a cruise that went to Naples. We took at taxi to Pompeii. Just to note when you get out of the port there are some very very aggressive taxi drivers who will try to get you into their cabs. They are complete liars and will quote you double the price for a cab when you say no they start swearing at you, not a pleasant experience.

Once past them you will face a 2nd group who will offer a more reasonable price of €100 for return tip with a 2 hour window where they will wait for you. We took this option, every driver we talked to only offered this. The actual cab fare is around 36€ each way according to many sites, however good luck getting a cab for this price.

The area around Naples dock is a dirty filthy dive so unless you are getting at taxi somewhere else don't bother even getting off.

[danisleigh]

Originally Posted by miked1e

Just to make people aware (if not already), currently some decent offers on the drinks packages for sailings through end of May 2023.

Current offer ends tmrw Wednesday 20th July (sure there are then plenty more)...

log in to booking to see pre-cruise savings!

See more...

I am not sailing until sept 2023 and the drinks packages are really expensive, what deals are you getting for your dates?

[miked1e]

Originally Posted by danisleigh

I am not sailing until sept 2023 and the drinks packages are really expensive, what deals are you getting for your dates?

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Prices range from around 25%-40% off on-board prices (apparently).

So Deluxe drinks package is GB£ 66.44 pppn instead of GB£ 88.59.

Refreshment package is GB£ 23.69 pppn instead of GB£ 33.84.

Classic Soda is GB£ 9.40 pppn instead of GB£ 13.44.

Packs of water of 40% off cruise price.

Hope this helps!

[miked1e]

Originally Posted by jas72

Just off a cruise that went to Naples. We took at taxi to Pompeii. Just to note when you get out of the port there are some very very aggressive taxi drivers who will try to get you into their cabs. They are complete liars and will quote you double the price for a cab when you say no they start swearing at you, not a pleasant experience.

Once past them you will face a 2nd group who will offer a more reasonable price of €100 for return tip with a 2 hour window where they will wait for you. We took this option, every driver we talked to only offered this. The actual cab fare is around 36€ each way according to many sites, however good luck getting a cab for this price.

The area around Naples dock is a dirty filthy dive so unless you are getting at taxi somewhere else don't bother even getting off.

See more...

Thanks for the info about Naples.

Did you do the 7 night West Med cruise departing Barcelona?

If so, do you have any information about the excursions please?

Whilst I don't mind doing things on my own (and we would if it was just the 2 of us), with 2 young children I am wanting to utilise the excursions and have everything planned instead of facing the cabs or public transport to get to some of the places!

Thanks in advance.

[Stitchesmumanddad]

Originally Posted by miked1e

Thanks for the info about Naples.

Did you do the 7 night West Med cruise departing Barcelona?

If so, do you have any information about the excursions please?

Whilst I don't mind doing things on my own (and we would if it was just the 2 of us), with 2 young children I am wanting to utilise the excursions and have everything planned instead of facing the cabs or public transport to get to some of the places!

Thanks in advance.

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I travel mainly solo and I pay for cruise excursions for safety, getting back to the ship etc and- as said above the drivers in Naples are lunatics.

[danisleigh]

Originally Posted by miked1e

Prices range from around 25%-40% off on-board prices (apparently).

So Deluxe drinks package is GB£ 66.44 pppn instead of GB£ 88.59.

Refreshment package is GB£ 23.69 pppn instead of GB£ 33.84.

Classic Soda is GB£ 9.40 pppn instead of GB£ 13.44.

Packs of water of 40% off cruise price.

Hope this helps!

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I think I can get the soda package for around that price now but the deluxe is £70 per day. The refreshment is cheaper though so will hang on and look at that. Thanks!