dmrrn73

Day 2 Oct 3rd. We landed in Rome at about 5pm. We got our bags fairly quickly then it took some time to figure out the Uber situation there. We were seeing signs directing us to an area across the street saying this was where to pick up the Uber. But my husband's phone kept thinking we were back home. We had 2 guys that work at the airport trying to help us figure it out but the language barrier was difficult. Finally I figured out how to fix it and we had an uber fairly quickly after that. The drive to our hotel was about 20-30 minutes. Check in was quick and painless. The front desk guy was great and he would be there every day we were there. Our room was in a different building across the street. It was a very nice and comfortable room with a good size bathroom and a great shower. I got a few pics It was a rain shower but I didn't get a pic of that part. I wish I had gotten pics of the bedroom part but I didn't before my Husband laid down on the bed right away and I thought we would get some later but never did. There was a small balcony. I took these the next day. We took a short nap then started looking around to see what to have for dinner. We decided to go check out the rooftop bar/restaurant and it turned out to be really nice. It wasn't too crowded. I had a cosmo and then Some spinach ravioli and my Husband had Lasagna. Both were really good. It was a gorgeous night. We went back to the room after dinner and hit the sack shortly afterwards. We were both pretty tired from all the travel. We had an early tour in the morning.

I tried editing the previous post to add pics but it took too long (tried 3 different ways to post them) and wouldn't let me edit anymore so I will add them here. This was my plate in the lounge, Broccoli cheddar soup (was really good I had 2 bowls) chicken and veggies in sauce. Quiche.

My husband and I went on this cruise to celebrate our 20th Anniversary (our actual anniversary was the 4th so I was glad the dates worked out.) We stayed in Rome for 2 nights before the cruise at the Hotel Smeraldo. It was recommended by a few people on here on the Rome Hotels thread. We flew Business class from Rochester, NY with stops at JFK, Paris then to Rome on Delta/Air France. The stops on the way home were London Heathrow and JFK on British Airways/Virgin Atlantic/Delta. We left on Monday October 2nd. I worked Saturday and Sunday, I work 16 hour Evening/Night shifts so I got out of Work Monday Morning at about 7:30 or so. I got home by 8:15 and in bed shortly after that. I woke up at about 3, I had done most of the packing on Friday when I had off and my husband did his over the weekend. I had a few last minute things to do (toiletries, etc) We left the house at about 4:30, Our flight was at 7:13. We got to the airport and were getting off the parking shuttle at the departure entrance when I realized we didn't have one of our bags. I ended up having to drive all the way back home to get it since I realized we left it in the guest bedroom. Luckily we don't live all that far from the Airport and it's a pretty small one. I got back to the airport just before 6. Thankfully there wasn't a line at bag check and security wasn't too bad either. The whole trip all our flights left pretty much on time. Business class was $$ but worth it for the extra space especially on the longer flights. We landed at JFK and had to get a shuttle bus to the next terminal and had to go through security again. Then because of the business class we were able to go in the Air France Lounge. There were some nice seating areas with charging stations and a little buffet set up with dinner/snacks. Then we boarded our flight to Paris. On the flight we had the individual compartments. They gave us a dinner and then before landing they gave us breakfast. I did take a few pics and I will attempt to post them here. Hopefully it works. <a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/rndmr2/a/62d32391-87e1-4735-b586-b31bcc310c9b/p/17bc308c-3004-4e0c-bbb3-24d6699bdb43?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank"><img src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ab48/rndmr2/20231002_222436.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" alt="20231002_222436"/></a> <a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/rndmr2/a/62d32391-87e1-4735-b586-b31bcc310c9b/p/4c3ec4fd-1f0e-4059-bb85-0e4ee7ee892d?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank"><img src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ab48/rndmr2/20231002_222444.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" alt="20231002_222444"/></a> <a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/rndmr2/a/62d32391-87e1-4735-b586-b31bcc310c9b/p/766b6ecb-bfc2-4720-85fe-73e6d8dff7af?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank"><img src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ab48/rndmr2/20231003_000631.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" alt="20231003_000631"/></a> <a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/rndmr2/a/62d32391-87e1-4735-b586-b31bcc310c9b/p/d44ec733-024b-4105-be6c-9d364e9f752e?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank"><img src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ab48/rndmr2/20231003_001455.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" alt="20231003_001455"/></a> <a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/rndmr2/a/62d32391-87e1-4735-b586-b31bcc310c9b/p/4d17d9ae-4f9c-4072-8643-8306fcc18af0?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank"><img src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ab48/rndmr2/20231003_015017.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" alt="20231003_015017"/></a> <a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/rndmr2/a/62d32391-87e1-4735-b586-b31bcc310c9b/p/73ca80aa-0594-4136-ab37-13ea21c1bca7?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank"><img src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ab48/rndmr2/20231003_020943.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" alt="20231003_020943"/></a> <a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/rndmr2/a/62d32391-87e1-4735-b586-b31bcc310c9b/p/4131f24a-06df-4e81-96b1-3f79418e24c5?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank"><img src="https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ab48/rndmr2/20231003_060738.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" alt="20231003_060738"/></a>

Last cruise was Oct 5th to 12th Roundtrip from Rome on the Symphony of the Seas. Our 20th Anniversary. Last one before this was Aug 2018 to Alaska on Star Princess (our 15th). We have been doing them every 5 years. But we might be breaking the pattern because we have tentative plans for a Bermuda Cruise on NCL in May with My SIL and her Hubby.

Thanks for the review, I enjoyed reading about your trip. We are tentatively planning a Cruise to Bermuda in May on the Joy. I have been to Bermuda a few times and love it but haven't been since about 2008. The only NCL cruise I have been on is the Gem in 2013. That one was basically good but service wise not as good as I had heard NCL and the Gem specifically were. Turns out our cruise was largely all brand new crew so that explained things. Question- the caves, I have been but it has been like 23 years. Was it a lot of steps or were they just ramps/bridges?

We just got back from a 7 night Mediterranean cruise round trip from Rome that went to Naples, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Marseilles and La Spezia. We went from Oct 5th to 12th. It was the smoothest cruise I have ever been on, the water was so calm, we barely felt any movement.

If it comes down to it, they will put tags on when you check your luggage on the pier. I had seen the tags in my account but was not by a printer at the time and then ended up completely forgetting until we were on the way to the port in our hired car. They had a guy at a table with blank tags that he put on the bags when we got on.

Plus it shows how many posts a person has. This is the OP's 1st post... so definitely has to set a record for longest Lurk, LOL

Carnival (3) Celebrity (5, all Bermuda) American Hawaii Cruises (1) Princess (2) Royal Caribbean (2, 2nd one coming in just over a week!!) Norwegian (1)

Great Review and pics! Norwegian Fjords (Norway in general) has long been a bucket list trip for me. Hoping to do it soon.

Ohh no! I'm so sorry.

15!!

37 days!!

We have always traditionally used ship tours just for the convenience. On our Alaska cruise in 2018 we did about 50/50 ship vs private. It was weird though, a few of the private tours we saw were actually more expensive than the ship tour.

Celebrity Zenith 3x

I have been on multiple cruises to Bermuda (all but 1 on Celebrity) out of both NYC and Philly (I don't think they do cruises from there anymore) and as a whole they are my favorites. But the one in 1999 on the Zenith (Gosh I Miss that ship, cruised on her 3 times) was the best of the bunch. Probably because it was with my 2 friends vs with my Parents. I did love traveling with the parents but it was something different with the friends. It was also only my 2nd time traveling without them and there was a freedom to it, lol. We met some great people, we got along well with most of our dinner tablemates, we had a great dining staff, we even had some interaction with the waiter and busboy at the next table (the 2 waiters were good friends). Plus of course all the amazing food and overall service on Celebrity and Bermuda itself is an awesome place.

Yes! the Baked Alaska Parade was always fun. I also miss the Cherries Jubilee with the flames

All too true

Cold fruit soups

sorry duplicate post

OMG who says that ?!? Nice review, I read and enjoyed your Symphony review as well, we are booked on a Mediterranean cruise on her for our 20th anniversary in October PS I am originally from Philly too. Left the area in 2002 but still have family there so I get back to visit here and there.

We did a one way out of Vancouver to Whittier then a 4 night land tour through Princess in August 2018. We were on the Star Princess. It was kind of an older ship but definitely not exactly small. It was a great trip. Definitely recommend doing a few days on land if you can.

Definitely, and the first time I actually ate and liked them they were made by my sister in law who is a great cook (LOL same with scallops, she made the first scallops that I even wanted to try)

HATED Brussels sprouts as a kid. My mother and sister liked them but my dad, my 2 brothers and I didn't. I LOVE them now. Actually, a lot of things I wouldn't go near as a kid I love now- Shrimp, scallops., other fish like salmon.

I booked this tour for our October cruise and just in the last few days received an email that the tour operator notified them that for "operational reasons" the tour had to be discontinued. They gave me a refund and then a 15% discount towards booking something else for that port. I don't know if it was just for our cruise or totally discontinued.