Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Just returned from 7 day cruise in MED have PLENTY OF ANSWERS

In responce to Val first- Been trying to get back to you but Fodors was having trouble. We did not take the ship tour to Barcelona because we disembarked there and we got a hotel and stayed two more days sight seeing. What was great was the two decker bus that brings you to some great attractions and you may get off at any given point and get on. You cannot get to town from port. As far as Monte Carlo goes we anchored out and had to take a tendor into town, then we had anouther hour bus ride to the Casino. We were very disappointed in the casino because they just gave you a taste of the casino. The grand part was closed to tourists.
Have a great time.

Kim- Congradulations we celebrated our 30th anniversery on our cruise. We were a little disappointed in Visions (second sailing and many kinks to iron out) Food was plentiful but not gormet. Ship very glitzy(sp). Crew was great. Spanish dominated our cruise 80%25 we were told. The crew however spoke both languages. The captain spoke no spanish. Announcements were made in both languages. We would classify the ship as above average. Very friendly, average age I would say is 50ish. Very few families with small kids. Women were always well dressed. Skirts and blouses with a scarf seemed to be the uniform or nice dress slacks. Hardly did we ever see jeans or sloppy tees. We had two formal nights (tux) my husband owns one so he brought it but a nice dark suit is well in order. One sport jacket night. When they say casual for dinner it means pretty dresses and men will collared shirts. As far as sight seeing goes, we hit a port every day and we only took two ship tours, Rome & Monte Carlo. The rest of them we did on our own. It can get real tireing doing all the tours and making it back to the ship and then get dressed for dinner. While I am thinking of it, make sure when you book your cruise tell your agent what seating you prefer (second is the best and dis the most popular). The first night we were put at a table for 4 and had nothing in common with our table mates and we asked to be moved which was almost impossible however the next night we got lucky and they moved us to a table for 8 and had a ball. Re: the people you are seated with are there all week long.

Make sure you follow a map when touring my husband who speaks italian very well thought he was smart and asked directions in italain in Rome and we were given the wrong directions and almost missed the ship. We were reported as missing by our guide who finally found us. They thought the gypsys got us. The guides do there jubs well and make sure no one is left behind.

We had trouble converting dollars into what ever currency we were using that day. Make sure you ask how many dollars before buying anything. Get your money on the ship, better exchange. Make sure when you get change after buying something you get paper back and not coins because you cannot exchange coins back into dollars. Not sure I covered everything but fire away with any more questions and I'll be around to help you. Have a great day. CJ