NEW ADDRESS...Innovative Travel Planner

Wanted to relay this information that Alex Kuncio our travel agent has a NEW ADDRESS:

4570 Campus Drive, Suite 52
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Same phone number 949/756-3223
Same email Bookit1@earthlink.net

Venice's City Square ....by Jim

Just wanted to let you know that Jim has forwarded some information on one of our Ports of Call, Venice. The article comes from Los Angeles Times Italy: Exploring sun-splashed Venice's city squares by Susan Spano, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer.

The article highlights the following city squares below but also has a lot of other side details and information of the area. Grazie Jim!

CAMPO SANTA MARIA FORMOSA, CASTELLO

CAMPO SAN ZACCARIA, CASTELLO

CAMPO SAN BARNABA, DORSODURO

Villefranche-sur-Mer area map

Here is a map of our first port of call, and a link to the port review for Villefranche.


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We arrive at the yellow arrow. Monaco/Monte Carlo is east (right) at the aqua arrow. Nice is west (left) at the blue arrow. Nice is a couple of miles away. The train from Villefranche actually cuts through the mountain to reach Nice.

Eze (green) and St. Paul d'Vence (fuschia) are two popular destinations for tours in the area. Cannes is a green arrow off to the left (west) past Antibes.

These maps are great if you zoom out to see the overview of the area or zoom in for the details. Also, here is a web site, Real Travel, with lots of maps. The link will take you to a map similar to this one of the area, but it also links to maps of the specific destinations, like Nice.

P.S. Here is a link to another Villefranche map that is even better since it appears to be the official city map.

Diana's 10 PRE-CRUISE TIPS & HINTS

1. Add our Cruise Blog as Favorite or Bookmark
Roger & Diana’s Med Cruise Blog is our main source of communication with our cruisers. So if you would like some additional details and information that will enhance your cruise travel, you really do want to check this link regularly. Make life easier and sign up for “subscribe via email” for inbox delivery of new posting articles. Also don’t forget to add the Celebrity Cruise website as another favorite.

2. Cruise Critic and Celebrity Connection
Wanna add more fun to your cruise? How about adding a “free” activity while on the cruise? Do you like to learn about cruising and share your experiences? Do you like getting invited to a private party with others who love to cruise? Be sure you get involve and visit the links below and follow the various pages to get yourself signed up. If you need help, get in touch with either Kay or Diana. Looking forward to seeing you at the party…
Cruise Critic and Celebrity Connection Homepage link:
Cruise Critic and Celebrity Connection Party FAQ link:

3. Do your homework

Know what you want to do & see, study the ports, get out there and surf the net, visit the bookstore, talk to others who have traveled there before you or join one of the study groups. The more you plan and prepare the more you will see and do.

4. Connect with your buddy

Share the preparation with your cabin mate, initiate/join a study group, commit to communicating about the pre & post cruise and most important stay connected with your travel agent (Alex) and follow-through.

5. Don’t delay
There could be up to 2,034 passengers onboard the Celebrity Summit if the ship is at full capacity. So waiting to the last minute is not always the best for signing up for those must-do excursions and activities. Don’t procrastinate, you may loose out!

6. Read the fine print

In the back of the 2008 Celebrity’s Europe & Transatlantic Brochure there are a number of guideline and information to help in your planning and preparation. Be sure to read it. Also your Celebrity Cruise Line website can assist you with most questions you have. Still can’t find an answer to your question? Contact Alex at Innovative Travel Planner or email Diana at our cruise blog link on the side bar so we can help you.

7. Organize, Plan & Pack Lightly

Did you check your airline flight regulations for luggage? Because that is where it all begins. Renting formal wear on the cruise website for the guys and mixing and matching colors for the woman is what is going to keep your luggage at the required limit. Otherwise, bring more money because you will be paying for it!

8. Sign Up on MY CELEBRITY on-line

If you haven’t checked out the Celebrity Cruise Website, you need to do so. Alex has forwarded your Booking/Reservation Number which will allow you to update and/or complete you’re

MY CELEBRITY account. IMPORTANT, you will need to do this as you will have access to book on line prior to your cruise.

9. Check & Double check your travel/cruise documents

Assuming that you are current on your cruise payment, Alex should be receiving the cruise documents about 20-50days prior to sailing. Because we are lucky to have such a professional and conscientious agent, Alex will organize and double check each of our cruise documents prior to sending them to us. Now here it is, once you get your documents YOU NEED TO CHECK THEM IMMEDIATELY. There will be instructions and details of all your documents should be accurate and reflect what you had signed up for. If not, contact Alex IMMEDIATELY so she can take care of your problem. If you wait till the very last minute…you just might miss the plane, the boat and yes the fun! So don’t delay!

10. Open, Be flexible, have fun & enjoy the ride

The best made plans can even have flaws or unexpected circumstances. With security, rules, regulations and just a lot of people…relax and don’t fight it. You’re a traveler and a visitor, so acknowledge that we’re not at home and your adventure begins once you step out that door. Also remember this simple lesson that your mother taught you when company comes over or you’re out visiting a friend’s home, be polite, courteous and smile. You will not be alone or you can be alone…the choice is yours…but, whatever your cruise travel brings, remember half the fun is enjoying the ride to get there.

Photo provided by Flickr: Kasaa

Hello, hello…Are You There in Europe? By Karen V

For some of us, we just can’t be disconnected from our family, friends and places of work (if you still work). And of course, there are good reasons…like the Davises will be hearing news of grandchild #2 while away on our cruise or you found the perfect trattoria in Italy for mangia. Many of you are aware that only certain cell phones and certain companies can provide service overseas. AT&T is one company who uses GSM technology for their cellular service and that matches what is used in Europe. With the addition of a sim chip and an unlocked phone, those of you using AT&T should be able to make calls and reach each other when we are on our cruise. If you have AT&T and wish to take your cell phone overseas, contact a customer service representative to get more information on how to upgrade your phone.

Verizon also has an opportunity which allows their users to continue to communicate when in Europe using their current cellular number, but with a different phone. To do this does require a little work on your part, but Verizon also has it set up and packaged as simply as possible. Here’s the scoop.

Call Verizon at 1-800-711-8300 and speak with one of their well-informed representatives. For a quick overview, Verizon has a Global Traveler plan which provides a compatible phone, shipping and handling of the phone to your home, the return back to Verizon plus a choice of a calling plan which allows for reduced rates when calling home or within Europe.

This is a temporary type plan because the phone is sent to you on loan and the calling plan is only for the period you are loaned and using the phone. There is no charge for the loaner phone, you just pay shipping of $9.99 which includes arrival to your door and the return of the phone. The calling plan is in addition to your current calling plan and these charges are certainly not like those most of us have these days…that is to say virtually free, but they are not really too bad (considering the price of gas?).

What you get with Global Traveler for $9.99:
* A GSM compatible cell phone mailed to you approximately 3-4 days before departure.
* Return shipping label for return of phone in same box received (keep the box and packaging).
* Pre-programming to transfer your CURRENT cell number to the loaner phone. This means family and friends here can call you on your same cell number and they will not be charged for the call, nor have to figure out how to find the right country code, etc. Of course, YOU pay, so you may want to warn folks not to call just to chat.

How it works:
* Once you receive the phone, review the information provided carefully. There are several steps you must follow before and after you travel. For example, the phone must be returned within 30 days, or a charge of $199 will be assessed to your account.
* You can automatically transfer your “Contact” list to this loaner phone. Check the instructions provided for how to do this.
* You activate the phone a couple of days before departure after the Contact list is transferred (if desired) and your current phone will go out of service temporarily.
* You now use the loaner phone just as if it was your regular phone.
* Once in Europoe you will automatically fall into the calling plan rates that you have selected. There are 2 plans basically…roughly $1.29 per minute in all of our countries or a Value Pack plan which is $2.53 for the 2 weeks plus $0.99 per minute for calls made/received. The one exception is Croatia, which is about $0.50 more per minute on either plan. PLEASE review this information with the customer rep carefully as it does get confusing, especially regarding making and receiving calls to/from Europe and to/from the U.S.
* The phone will work on the Celebrity Summit as well, so family can reach you there on your same cell number and your friends on the cruise can find you (?). Those charges are a standard $2.49 per minute on the ship, not your regular rate or Traveler plan rate, so be careful of this option. How this works is that Celebrity has Verizon antennas on board which allow you to receive/make calls. When we get about 3 miles from port, the local antennas take over and your calls are routed through the system in that country (did you care?).
* When you return, you call Verizon again to let them know to turn off your loaner phone and reactivate your regular phone.
* Your next Verizon billing will contain all the charges for this service. DON’T FORGET, until you call them to tell them you’re back, you will be charged the European rates for calls made/received. Get back on your regular calling plan right away!!

Again, this is a very broad overview of the Verizon services. They will be happy to provide you great detail when you call. AT&T has their own calling plans and sim chips programs, so be sure you understand those programs before you subscribe. If you do not use one of these two carriers, call your current representative and ask them if they recommend a company for celluar phone service in European.

You can also check the Internet for cellular phones in Europe to see a wide array of companies that provide services on a loan type basis. There are also prepaid phones from cellular stores in most cities in Europe or at the airport. These rates are a little steeper, but the phone is a throwaway in the end. Your hotel concierge can point you in the right direction if you are arriving a few days before the cruise.

By the way, Verizon phones and your current calling plan are compatible with Mexico, so there is no need to exchange phones when traveling there. I hope this info provided a little bit of insight for you. Since this is a very personal decision, it’s important for you to check this out carefully before you commit to taking your phone to Europe. You can always be reached on the ship if there is an emergency (or vice versa). That information will be provided by Celebrity when you receive your cruise documents. Bon Voyage, Ciao, Adios and See you Aboard!!

Photo provided by FlickrJonJon2k

Naples area map

Sometimes it is just hard to imagine where we will be docking in relation to where the various tours and excursions will take us. Here is a map showing the layout of the Bay of Naples. We are docking in Naples (at the top of the bay). On this map I have marked some possible destinations: the first town south of Naples is Herculaneum, then Pompeii. The green blob in the middle of the map is the Mt. Vesuvius park. Sorrento is on the point at the bottom of the bay and then the Amalfi coast starts. The purple pin at the bottom is Positano. See this earlier post for discussion of the possible excursions in this port.

Note: I added a yellow arrow for Ravello, mentioned by Robin, here, as being a place for lunch on the tour she arranged.


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