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The train to Pompeii and Sorrento is the private Circumvusia railway, a quaint suburban rattler operating from separate downstairs platforms at Napoli Centrale station . Exiting Napoli Centrale look on the left for signage directing you downstairs to the Circumvusia Railway . Runs every 30 minutes or more frequently. Alight at POMPEI SCAVI for the ruins at Pompei .

Beware for good reason this train is known as the PICK POCKET Express, so just be extra careful with wallets and purses .

The Cinque Terre is easily self done by train from La Spezia Centrale station .

With the CT you buy a Daily CT Pass at CT Tourist Office on main platform at La Spezia station. That gives you unlimited train travel for the day between La Spezia, and the 5 villages of the CT . Also admission to walking paths of CT, and use of CT shuttle bus between Corniglia station and Corniglia high above avoiding 350 stairs ! From La Spezia by train it is 10 minutes to the nearest village in Riomaggiore and 25 minutes to the furthest in Monterosso .

Trains run at a minimum 30 minute frequency, but not all trains stop at all stations.

From La Spezia the order of villages is Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso el Mare .

If pressed for time skip Monterosso and/or Corniglia .

All villages except Corniglia are also serviced by ferry departing from Portovenere . From La Spezia take Bus P from Stop P in Via Garabaldi near Corso Cavour at 25 and 55 minutes past the hour to reach Portovenere (30 minute trip).

Ferry times here : www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it/en

With the villages :

Riomaggiore has two halves . The waterfront half is accessed by walking through a pedestrian tunnel parallel to the rail line on the inland side back towards La Spezia. At the end of the tunnel go down the steps under the railway to reach the waterfront . Corniglia is high up on a hill. Either climb 350 zig zag stairs at the Vernazza end of the station or take the shuttle bus . Monterosso has two halves linked by a shared use pedestrian / road tunnel . Old Monterosso is the more interesting . Ferries arrive in old Monterosso, the train station and a spectacular swimming beach are in New Monterosso .

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You can easily do either Pisa or Lucca by train from Livorno. Look up train times here : http://www.eurail.com/plan-your-trip/eurail-timetable

Coming from Livorno whilst Pisa Rossore is the nearest station to the Leaning Tower, that station is one stop beyond Pisa Centrale. As such a change of trains is required at Pisa Centrale on most trains with poor connections often . From Pisa Centrale station take bus or taxi to the Field of Miracles. With the Leaning Tower be sure to pre book admissions on line through official LT website .

With Lucca, from the station out front is garden square . Leaving the station walk towards the Roman walls along the LHS side this garden piazza, then turn left and after 100m you find San Pedro gate into the old city . Lucca is just fabulous. Be sure to take in Piazza St Michele and its cathedral where Puccini was both a choir boy and organist . At the rear of this church the Puccini Museum. Also must sees Tower Guinigi and the Antifearo . Hire bikes and ride the 3 kms right around the tops of the old Roman walls still circling this Italian gem . Best dining in town at Buca San Antonio at the back of Piazzale San Michelle.

Either Pisa or Cinque Terre are easily self done by train from La Spezia Centrale station .

Alight at Pisa Rossore station for the leaning tower, but be sure to pre book admissions via LT website. (Pisa Rossore is one station before Pisa Centrale.) Check train times here : http://www.eurail.com/plan-your-trip/eurail-timetable

With the CT you buy a Daily CT Pass at CT Tourist Office on main platform at La Spezia station. That gives you unlimited train travel for the day between La Spezia, the 5 villages of the CT . Also admission to walking paths of CT, and use of CT shuttle bus between Corniglia station and Corniglia high above avoiding 350 stairs ! From La Spezia by train it is 10 minutes to the nearest village in Riomaggiore and 25 to the furthest in Monterosso .

Trains run at a minimum 30 minute frequency, but not all trains stop at all stations.

From La Spezia the order of villages is Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso el Mare .

If pressed for time skip Monterosso and/or Corniglia .

All villages except Corniglia are also serviced by ferry departing from Portovenere . From La Spezia take Bus P from Stop P in Via Garabaldi near Corso Cavour at 25 and 55 minutes past the hour to reach Portovenere (30 minute trip).

Ferry times here : http://www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it/en

With the villages :

Riomaggiore has two halves . The waterfront half is accessed by walking through a pedestrian tunnel parallel to the rail line on the inland side back towards La Spezia. At the end of the tunnel go down the steps under the railway to reach the waterfront . Corniglia is high up on a hill. Either climb 350 zig zag stairs at the Vernazza end of the station or take the shuttle bus . Monterosso has two halves linked by a shared use pedestrian / road tunnel . Old Monterosso is the more interesting . Ferries arrive in old Monterosso, the train station and a spectacular swimming beach are in New Monterosso .

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Tranquility Base. We are booked on Sun Princess to PNG in November next year and Princess have given us anytime dining. I must say I was most surprised as I notice the Sea Princess for our cruise to Hawaii next year only offers traditional dining.Also the last time we were on the Sea Princess a couple of years ago they only had traditional dining.

It is just sheer laziness on the part of Princess Australia that Anytime Dining is NOT offered on Sun, Dawn & Sea Princess . All these vessels have two MDR and before being based in Australia one was used for Fixed time dining and the other for Anytime Dining . So the ships are already set up for it, but Princess Australia refuses to offer Anytime Dining on the three Sun class ships. Head Office in USA needs to be asking Princess Australia why no ATD on Sun, Dawn and Sea as it can and has been done on all these vessels before .

Caveat Emptor . The main players are AMA Waterways (APT), Scenic, and Avalon for Aussies . Evergreen is budget division of Scenic & Travel Marvel the budget division of APT.

Caveat Emptor . Beware of all the misleading advertising . Like fly free offers where the same crusie with another line is $ 1500 cheaper , all the first line has done is add in a wholesale air fare and then claims you fly free . There is no such thing as a free lunch .

We like Avalon, simple to understand price offerings; excellent product and great itineraries. ; and no single supplements on most European river cruises in 2017 .

With River cruises compared to ocean cruises, your grog is largely included plus virtually all shore excursions. With ocean cruises the hidden extra charges for specialty coffees, shore excursions, daily gratuity charges, and grog really do add up .

Caveat Emptor, the sail ships are much more expensive per passenger .

Would recommend Leonardo de Vinci hotel at FCO Airport . Excellent restaurant till late. Shuttle bus to and from International terminals . Book direct via Hotel website.

If you go on the private train between Napoli and Sorrento be alert. It is not called the Pickpocket Express for nothing . For the ruins at Pompei alight at the station named POMPEI SCAVI .

The smart way around the bean counters just go to MDR and order two scoops of icecream. Flavours vary daily .

Nothing on a cruise ship is free, inclusive YES but free definitely not.

Beijing to Melbourne is a bookable Princess cruise, so no call at Singapore for a dry docking .

A much more attractive destination from the same ferry terminal beside the cruise ship docks in Napoli is the excursion to Capri . You arrive at Marina Grande, where you can take an excursion to the Blue Grotto. Cable car or bus up the cliff face to Capri. Then take mini bus up to Anacapri . All this easily done in a day . Do a Google search for Napoli - Capri ferry schedules.

Take taxi to La Spezia Centrale station.

Weekdays La Spezia Dep 0923 Pisa Centrale Arr 1017 Seat Reservations Compulsory Change trains Pisa Centrale Dep 1032 Firenze SMN Arr 1132

Look up return train times here :

http://www.eurail.com/plan-your-trip/eurail-timetable

Book your return trip tickets and seat reservations in advance via Trenitalia website :

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ee13721bdd69a110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

This two for one nonsense is just American marketing bs, which is totally illegal in Australia.

It is supposed to mean that two of you cruise for the price of one BUT double the fare pp quoted as the reduced fare and no one in their right mind would pay the mythical original fare .

Just like the savings advertised / quoted on launch or brochure fares . That too is bs American marketing again outlawed in Australia. The moment the cruise bookings are opened there is some promo or reduced fare; so NO ONE actually ever pays the launch/brochure fare - so no one ever saves the claimed savings as no one ever paid the brochure/launch fare .

Again Caveat Emptor . Oceania must think us punters are stupid the daily rate for the same Stateroom category on cruises of the same length on the same vessel varies enormously . If it looks good value then go for it, if it looks like a rip off then take your business elsewhere . Oceania under NCL management have got too greedy and are price gouging the unsuspecting on many itineraies.

Just notified of an Australian circumnavigation on REGATTA early 2018 Sydney to Sydney .

Great vessel, great itinerary but CAVEAT EMPTOR .

Prices being asked are stratospheric , suggest wait till Oceania come to their senses .

Secondly despite having advised Oceania that this is the WORST time of the year to schedule this itinerary, the "whizz kids" in Miami have still persisted in scheduling an Australian circumnavigation WHEN 1. It is the cyclone season in Northern Waters and 2. The temperatures and humidity in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia at that time of the year are absolutely crippling ; like 35 C plus with very high humidity .

The time for Australian circumnavigations are between May and October when the northern temperatures are more agreeable .

FLY into Rome FCO take Leonardo Express from FCO into Roma Termini. Change trains 90 minutes by train to delightful ORVIETO . Spend couple days there , be sure to visit Hadrians Well very spectacular . Train back to Rome, change train to Civitavecchia .

Between your cruises we find Civitavecchia a very interesting coastal town . Good restaurants , and interesting shopping . If you need accommodation then suggest Hiotel Miramare near the railway station on the waterfront . Book direct with hotel via their website .

On return from cruise train into Roma, we like Hotel Campo de Fiori, great location . Then visit the very best Roman ruins at Ostia Antica . You get there by Metro train in the outskirts . Full details and how to get there by train on Ostia Antica official website .

PS: If you have a morning flight out of FCO we stay at Leonardo de Vinci Hotel at Airport . Shuttle to all International terminals, excellent property . Hope this helps .

The times for the Portovenere bus P and ferries are the current times as at early August, 2016 . Unfortunately the Italians have a habit of altering train, ferry and bus timetables at the drop of a hat . So check schedules as soon as you hit the area. Train times between La Spezia and Monterosso (CT) you get from Cinque Terre Tourist Offices at La Spezia, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso stations .

Ferry schedules La Spezia - Portovenere - Riomaggiore - Manarola - Vernazza - Monterosso you can check as links below :

NB: Corniglia is up on the hill top with the train station 350 steps below !!! Ferries do NOT call at Corniglia .

If you buy a CT Daily Pass at the aforementioned CT Tourist Offices at any station between La Spezia and Monterosso then that Pass allows 1. Access to the walking trails of the CT . 2. Unlimited train travel between La Spezia and the 5 villages of the CT for that day . 3. Use of the shuttle bus between Corniglia station at sea level, and Corniglia village high up on the hill . Do NOT forget to validate your Daily CT Pass in the station validating machine before making your first train journey .

These are the ferry times till 4 September, 2016 Originating/terminating at La Spezia .

http://www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it/polopoly_fs/1.3094781.1464966137!/httpFile/file.pdf

Then from early September, 2016 the ferry service is advertised as originating at Portovenere and operating to this timetable . :

http://www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it/polopoly_fs/1.2813593.1461144357!/httpFile/file.pdf

Suggest you check latest ferry tt before you leave home .

Dont stress out too much re the pecking order and advance reservations.

Once on board any spare space in the Specialty Restaurants can be booked by anyone on a no holds barred basis at a dais inside the Terrace Cafe at breakfast or lunch, on a day to day basis. So you can book space on the day you want to dine specialty subject to space being available .

You will probably have to share, but that happens in MDR too, there is a limit to how many tables for two cruise lines can provide in the floor space .

Dont dismiss Portovenere a lovely town in itself on the Gulf of Poets .

Option A. From La Spezia take Bus P from Stop P in Via Garabaldi (near Corso Cavour) to Portovenere, a 30 minute trip . Bus departures at 25 and 55 minutes past the hour . Then ferry from Portovenere on quayside at 0945, 1100 and 1240 to CT and Monterosso . Look for the blue and white striped pill box .

Option B. Take the ferry from La Spezia at 0915, 1000 or 1210 to CT and Monterosso calling at Portovenere, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza and Monterosso . (Like an aquatic bus service, very brief stops to pick up and set down pax at each stop .)

Return by ferry departing Monterosso at 1430 terminating Portovenere then bus P to La Spezia, or ferries from Monterosso at 1500, 1600 or 1700 all to both Portovenere and La Spezia .

Alternatively return from Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola or Riomaggiore by train to La Spezia Centrale.

Train timetables at CT Tourist Offices in all CT train stations and La spezia Centrale station .

Notes : 1. If pushed for time then forget Corniglia and Monterosso .

2. Monterosso has two halves OLD and NEW joined by a shared use pedestrian/road tunnel . Ferries arrive on the headland in OLD Monterosso, BUT the railway station is on the beachfront in NEW Monterosso .

Great video clip from a previous contributor to cruise Critic :

Oceania is great cruise line.

1. The Terrace is a great quiet place to dine at night if you just want something light .

2. TOSCANA is a bit of a dissapointment . It is not truly an Italian specialty restaurant, rather Oceania's view of what they think a specilaty Italian restaurant would be like . Silly gimmicks like a trolley with 30 different types of vinegars and olive oils. Also genuine Italian dishes such as rack of Colorado lamb and New York Cheesecake . Sabatinis on Princess baots does Italian much better .

3. POLO GRILL - Excellent but the portion sizes are humungus !!!!

On the R class boats the Concierge cabins are identical size wise to verandahs, and you never see the Concierge so just an absolute RIP OFF .

Forget Firenze, and that weird lake - do Rome properly.

Not mentioned in your ideas Roman musts:

Piazza Navona (Berninis three great fountains) , the Pantheon, Castel de St Angelo, Roman ruins at Ostia Antica, the Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese .

Dont get too stressed as to how many specialty reservations you are entitled to . In reality there is a podium inside Terrace Cafe at breakfast and lunch and you can book any spare space on a daily basis once on board , irrespective of the pecking order.

Many passengers do not use their quota in the specialty restaurants as frankly Toscana leaves a lot to be desired . Toscana is not a genuine Italian restaurant rather what Oceania thinks an Italian restaurant might be like . The menu contains traditional Italian dishes like Colorado rack of lamb & New York Cheesecake !!!!! Princess does a much better Italian specialty restaurant in Sabatinis .

With Oceania however the POLO Grill is excellent albeit the meat portions are far too large for normal eaters .

Both ferry and train timetables between Naples and Sorrento are available on the Internet . Simply do a Google search for Circumvusia railway and Ferry schedule Napoli - Sorrento .

My pick is magical Lucca 90 minutes by train from Firenze SMN station . Magical within the original Roman walls , Puccinni Museum, Tower Luinigi, the round town square Antefearo . Hire ride bikes 2km right around the top of the original roman walls circling this Tuscan gem .