We are sailing 2/4/01 with another couple. Worried about the smoking. Is one side of the ship designated for smokers and the other for non smokers. How about the Dining Room-Lounges-Pool etc. Husband gets headaches from too much smoke. We sailed on Costa years ago. How many passangers did the togas? We did and had a ball but our friends are a little leery. How fast was disembarkation? We have a 10:25am Delta flight to catch. Did they have anyone at the pier to check your bags. Can't wait to see the ship and get away from this cold snowy weather. Going a day early. Staying Amerisuites in Fort Lauderdale. Anyone stayed there?
Michele... I'll be sailing on 2/4 as well... with a large group. Sailed the Atlantica on November 26th, 2000. She's a great ship and you should have a super cruise.
Like most ships, she is divided into smoking and non-smoking sides (non is Starboard side). The dining room has a small closed off area near the entrance for smokers. You won't notice it in the rest of the dining room at all.
On the Nov 26th sailing, lots of people participated in the toga night events... almost half the passengers, I would guess. Not all members of families, etc., participated, so you might do it while your friends do not.
You can arrange for on board check in with Delta on the ship and there are baggage check in trucks at the pier. 10:25 is a bit early for a flight. The first passengers will come off (assuming no passenger delays) between 8:30 and 9am... which is really tight for you. Be sure to visit the Information Desk on board early in the voyage. Show them your air tickets and request an early embarkation color. There should be no problem arranging this. I suspect you'll be best taking collecting your bags in the customs baggage hall after disembarking and taking them with you, by cab, directly to the airport.
P.S. Amerisuites is quite nice hotel. Nearby is the Bimini Boat Yard restaurant... nice place to have dinner. Also nearby is "Joe's BelAire"... a New York style diner that is a "hangout" for lots of folks in the shipping/cruise/port business. It looks a little rough around the edges but offers the best breakfast in town... and is quite reasonable. It is NOT a tourist joint... but filled with locals who enjoy good food in plain surroundings at reasonable prices.
...and Ernie, donīt forget their free local shuttle service brings you direct to the pier ! It works !!!
But what about this Costa shark... "Squok" is this a toy, what we can buy or only for the Costa brochures ???
Was on the Atlantica early Dec. A beautiful ship; we had a wonderful cruise. Smokers are most annoying in the casino but otherwise we had no problems--if the smoker lit up at a cocktail lounge/bar--we moved (and glared). Togas: about 60-70% wore them I would guess, but changed to casual after dinner from what we observed. We drove to pier and parked so we had no problems (we live in FL). We were treated exceptionally well by room staff, dining staff, etc. Overall--a relaxed cruising experience...you will have a wonderful time.
Don't have all the answers but I'll do my best. Did New year's on Atlantica.
So far as flight back you'll just make it. Delta has a check in counter on board the ship at 7:00 am, and your luggage goes direct too the plane once checked in.
Disembarkation was fast compared to others. First off around 9:00, anjd there are buses direct to airport
Toga party. 50% wore togas our cruise and it certainly was fun. More togas on previous costa ships. Cruise Director took some credit fro that.
Smoking was widespread on the ship, perhaps the European way. Certainly in the public rooms though I didn't watch that carefully. In the large buffet,lots of people smoked but there may have been designated areas. Don't consider this definitive.
I guess you shouldn't go into bars and nightclubs if smoking is offensive to you, glaring at people is a little silly isn't it. There is usually more non-smoking areas than smoking and smokers are really confined to places likes nightclubs and casinos so leave those poor addicted people alone.
Ernie, if one is in the sectioned off smoking area of the DR, do you miss out on the fun in the DR eg. on toga night? also, we are staying pre cruise at the Embassy Suites, are there any shops, restaurants etc. nearby? thanx, jean
You WILL miss a lot... it is the worst. As an ex-smoker, I can tell you that I always recommend that you get seated in the non-smoking areas... then excuse yourself and go out of the restaurant for a smoke when you need it.
Ernie
jeanuk wrote:
>
> Ernie, if one is in the sectioned off smoking area of the DR,
> do you miss out on the fun in the DR eg. on toga night? also,
> we are staying pre cruise at the Embassy Suites, are there
> any shops, restaurants etc. nearby? thanx, jean
THERE IS SMOKING ALMOST ANYWHERE ON THE SHIP ,EXCEPT DINING ROOM FOR DINNER AND THE THEATERS. PEOPLE CAN SMOKE ANYWHERE THEY WISH NO ONE SAYS A WORD TO THEM.JUST GOT OFF ON 1/28/01
Smoking generally, in those public areas where it is permitted, is on the Port side of the ship. Do some on board violate these norms? Sure. Do they on other ships? Sure. When any ship has a large group on board from countries where smoking is more in vogue than it is here, it can become annoying to non smokers. I don't think it is a particular problem on this ship.
Concerns on Atlantica
brings you direct to the pier ! It works !!!
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