cruisemom42

I suspect anyone can have a one-off bad experience (or good experience) on just about any line. I like both Celebrity and Holland America (and other lines too). I don't expect them all to be alike -- each line has its own strengths and weaknesses. I've always found the X onboard experience as friendly as -- if not more friendly than -- HAL's. Officers on X are usually more social. Bar staff on X have always been very friendly and attentive, especially to this solo, which is nice. I don't really want or need someone to be super-friendly or to know my name (although it's nice); I just want good service. And I have to say that I haven't gotten great service in HAL's MDR on either of my most recent cruises. Celebrity has certainly gone through the mill in the last year as regards food. They cut things to the bone about 15 months ago (after coming back strong right after Covid) and I think that only now are they starting to build/add back. That said, I've never found HAL food to be particularly great or inspired. For want of a better word, I like 'fancy' dining and plain grilled/roasted proteins, rustic lasagna, fruist crisps and the like are not my dream menu. At any rate, it's always good to try something new once in a while, if only to confirm that your preferences like elsewhere.

Here's some food for thought. What makes you think that the outer surface of your cabin door is "yours"? I would consider it as part of a common area, just like the doors and hallways in condominiums. In my condo, we are not free to "decorate" the outer surface of our doors or leave any kind of mat outside or anything else that would distinguish one unit from another (other than the standard door number). Would you leave something that belongs to you in a common area and expect that it's going to be there when you get back? If you feel the need to decorate, perhaps better to do it inside your cabin where YOU can appreciate it, and no one will take it. If the goal is only to make your cabin distinguishable from others, I've never understood why a huge display is needed. Also: people are waaaay too quick to resort to fisticuffs. If you're going to get that passionate about it, leave it at home.

You had me at Sticky Toffee Pudding.... Has anyone had this? Does it taste like the "real deal" (if you're familiar with the real deal....)?

Yes.

I agree with this. The only question I'd ask is -- what email service/provider do you use? Some "play nicer" with emails from outside the US than others do. I learned this when I first started traveling a lot. I had an email account with bellsouth.net -- sometimes they just didn't deliver foreign emails to me. (They weren't in spam/junk; they just disappeared into thin air.) It was a problem with the Scavi office among others. Because of it I got myself a gmail account about 10 years ago. It is much better; fewer things tend to get sent to limbo.

This is not going to be a regularly-offered itinerary on any cruise line but VERY occasionally a line may offer it as a one-off. Holland America is offering one cruise this fall (Nov 2024) that is round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. It is 42 days. Remember that a good 14 of those days are needed just to get to/from Europe. The itinerary includes 4 ports in Italy (Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples, and Catania) but only one, Athens, in Greece. As of now it is also scheduled to visit ports in Egypt, Malta, Tunisia, and Morocco. Edited to add: I'm reminded by Hank's post above to add that the cruise is offered on one of HAL's oldest and smallest ships, Volendam.

I don't to Trastevere that often, there aren't so many Roman ruins in that part of town. 🤷‍♀️ But when I do go... If you haven't been to the two major basilicas (Santa Maria in Trastevere, Santa Cecilia in Trastevere), I highly recommend. Both are old and have mosaics from 10th-13th centuries. Of the two, Santa Cecilia is my favorite -- there is a beautiful sculpture of the saint. Also a beautiful crypt and Roman ruins beneath. It's sort of Trastevere's answer to San Clemente (e.g., levels of history) if you're familiar. I also love Dar Poeta for lunch, if you like pizza. It's a tiny place, with something like 10 tables inside. Get there before it opens or expect a wait.

Cute outfit. You look ready for another cruise. 😉 Hope you and Les had good results from your medical this week.

Lois, I am just catching up with posts, so sorry to hear that you BIL passed. My condolences to you and your sister. I've had an unexpectedly busy week with the windows/doors installation, tax prep and have not been feeling great due to spring allergies. Blaaahhhhh. 😔

Enjoy! I love celebrating my birthdays while traveling. Certainly makes it memorable. I remember the day I turned 45 I was in Egypt, walking through the Valley of the Dead and seeing the tombs there (a lifelong dream). My fellow tour mates said I had the widest grin all day....

I've been on 5 or 6 Med cruises in November, even as late as the last week of the month and never noticed more than a very few places closed in any destination including the Greek Isles. Of course, I wasn't looking for beach clubs at that time of year, they could very well be shut down by then. But shops, restaurants, etc. in town are, by and large, open for business.

I don't remember any comments about this hotel in the past, but I can speak to the location as being excellent. It is right next door to the wonderful Sina Palazzo Sant'Angelo where I stayed for 5 days in 2017. You are just steps from a dock that has both a Vaporetto stop and a stop for Alilaguna (a cheaper way to get to/from airport than a water taxi, depending on how many are in your party). You can't overestimate the value of having a hotel so close to the drop off and not having to cross any bridges with luggage. The area is convenient to the Rialto bridge and area, where there are a lot of restaurants, and it is an easy walk to the Piazza San Marco (although if you are coming home in the dark prepare to take a wrong turn somewhere, it's inevitable in Venice. If there is one tiny niggle about the area it would be the lack of really good restaurants in the immediate vicinity, but Venice is small and you can easily find something within 15-minute walk.

There's really nothing else to see/do near Katakolon except Olympia, and it's not terribly far by taxi. In the past there thave also been bus tours at the dock for purchase.

And if you do post there, you might want to state that in your post so the Mods don't move it here.

My flight was at 6:25 pm. The taxi dropped us off around 3:00 pm at Haneda. Two of us had flights at around this time, I believe others had a later time. The taxi tour would have been amenable to extending the tour longer if desired.

Exactly what I was going to recommend. This would most closely match the OP's given criteria -- although other posts have asked some good questions about what else they might consider.

Azamara offers 2 "Croatia Intensive" itineraries. One is for 7 days and one for 10 days. 7-Day Itinerary (no overnights but stays in port until 10pm in Split and until 8pm in Sibenik) 10-Day Itinerary (still 5 ports in Croatia and no overnights but ship stays until 10pm in Dubrovnik and you also get a couple of Greek isles).

If you are thinking Spain vs. Greek isles I'd pick Greek Isles. The Greek Isles are so iconic, plus if you do Italy and Greece you get a bit of East Med (Greece) and a bit of west Med (Italy). Both are historic (although in the Greek Isles people tend to go more ga-ga for the natural beauty, beaches, etc.)

There are two elevators, located at the corners of the building on the side facing Via Panicale. I also seem to remember an escalator in the center.

Many thanks for your great live-from thread. I haven't chimed in a lot but I've been following you guys as you floated around the warm waters of the Pacific. 🏆🏆🏆 Wow, what a nice endorsement. Unfortunately one thing I've learned from following along is that this cruise wouldn't be a great fit for me. 😭 When you first set off I had visions of booking it next year or the following one. I really appreciate this thread because it helped me see that -- wonderful as it is -- it wouldn't be my cup of tea at all.

In the last 12 months or so, I've watched with increasing dismay some of the questionable practices launched by the cruise industry under the umbrella of greater profitability. Personally, I've thought for years that the cruise contract gives cruise lines way too much latitude at the expense of customer rights. I'm no lawyer -- but have heard it opined by others who are -- that some of those clauses really should be challenged as there are such things as consumer rights and protections. However, as long as people keep booking and the lines sail full, I very much doubt there is any likelihood we'll see change. As a solo passenger, welcome to my world. Some cruise lines (not HAL, at least not in my experience) won't even let solos book cabins on certain cruises -- not even at a full supplement. Some won't let solos book Guarantee cabins. Others, like Celebrity are aggressively making solos feel unwelcome in other ways -- such as charging way ABOVE 200% supplement if they want to book. As an example, a good (on CC) friend who's sailed Celebrity solo for years wanted to book a cruise later this spring on X. For a cabin that was listed as $1099 per person, double occupany, she was quoted a rate of $5500 for a solo....

What are your plans for next year? I also have the Japan bug and didn't feel the itch got scratched fully last April. 😉

I can't remember whether HAL offered a tour + transfer. If they did, I believe it was to Tokyo (where I've already visited several times) so I didn't pay attention. However, someone on the roll call arranged a taxi tour that took us to several spots in Kamakura, a really delightful place with a lot of temples and shrines to visit. (It was once Japan's capital, before Kyoto.) Most people know about the giant Buddha statue but there is a lot more to see. Of course, we were all flying out of Haneda, and Kamakura is close by. It may be different if you're flying from Narita.

I post often on the Ports of Call forum (along with some other really knowledgeable people) -- you might try looking under the Mediterranean ports sections for answers to some of your questions, no doubt. Or ask them there. I have been to Olympia from Katakolon three times. Once on a ship tour, once on the little local train (which unfortunately has a rather unpredictable schedule) and once via taxi. Yes, there are definitely taxis and even a bus I think to take you to Olympia. It's not a long drive, about 20 minutes. There aren't an unlimited supply of taxis though, so if you want one I would suggest not dallying on the ship too long. The site is great and it does have some English signage but it would be a better experience if you bring some written descriptions with you, e.g., a guidebook or something online. Don't miss the nice little museum onsite. It has one of the only remaining statues in the world said to be sculpted by the Greek master, Praxiteles.

I agree with Capriccio. Additionally, I've actually sailed a very similar itinerary on Constellation and enjoyed it very much. It's a slightly smaller ship, so doesn't have quite as many onboard bells and whistles but on an intensive itinerary it offers plenty to do. And it just has a very companionable, cozy feel.