Help with Mediterranean Cruise selection 2014

[mikechass]

I understand that the dates don't come out till the end of the month. What I was hoping for was some input as to what you found worked or didn't work with previous cruises.

I host a group. We usually have upwards of 30 people with us.

We are flying from Canada

What I was hoping to do was, fly over to Europe, stay a night or two, get on a 12 day cruise and then disembark, spend another night and then fly home.

We have ALWAYS done Caribbean cruises, flown in the day before, board the ship, then fly home the same day as we disembark. I know the flights are so much longer etc this time around so I wanted to have some down time before getting on and off the ship.

What would you "experts" suggest are good places to head to for first timers?

I want somewhere safe, obviously, easy enough to see, and would prefer docked ports if and where possible. As for the ship, we like the MDR, most of the entertainment and although we are younger ( 36-38) the group we take are very active. Basically, we like newer ships.

We just did Eclipse, have done Oasis and going on Allure this summer.

We have done Jewel of the Seas,Voyager of the seas, Millenium, Equinox, Princess Sapphire (which we didn't like at all) so we have tried several. It doesn't have to be BIG but we like newer ships. This is our 10th cruise, we tend to get repeaters who come year after year so they are seasoned as well.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks everyone.

I have gone to several threads and read up but the choices are so varied I was hoping to have a one stop shop so to speak!

 

Chass

[jomf]

If this is the majority of the groups first trip to Europe then I would stick with the most touristy destinations - Rome, Venice, Naples, Nice, Florence etc.

 

I would take a cruise out of say Rome, spending two days beforehand in Rome, then disembark in Venice, spending two days there as well if possible.

 

Your other choice would be to fly to London and take a cruise on The Eclise out of Southampton. But that would be a two week cruise, which might be too long for your group. That would also cut down on spending a day or two in London beforehand.

[roxievegas]

We took the celebrity Equinox out of Rome for 10 days. We went the first week of Dec 2011. It was the best vacation ever. We arrived two days in advance, went all over Rome and Vatican City. The Vatican is the best. The cruise ship was the nicest we had been on and we got a great price $899 for veranda. I have never seen the price that low, but we were going on the last ship of the season. The only thing about the trip we did not like was leaving out of Rome airport - very busy and very long to get through security. Flight is long also, but for that trip it was well worth it. Our stops were Italy, Malta, Greece and Turkey. Too many stops in Greece - need to see Athens, but other than that the other two stops were not worth stopping.

[hansolosmom]

The way we decided was:

First we looked at what ports we wanted to visit

Second was length of cruise we wanted more than 7 days

Third we looked at cruise options and deals

 

Originally we were going to leave from Bacelona, but then then we found out none of those cruises would give us more than a few hours in Rome, which was our main focus city, and Pompeii was another must visit. So then I started looking for cruises which left from either Rome or Venice, we came to the decision to do the Reflection which has an overnight in Istanbul.

 

We're leaving a couple days early flying into Venice and making our way down to Rome via Florence and Pisa which makes up for our cruise not stopping in those cities. Ideal, no, but we wanted to do it in 1 swoop since this will probably be our last hurrah before my oldest starts college and we won't be able to afford trips like this :D

[bengaltiger1]

I understand that the dates don't come out till the end of the month. What I was hoping for was some input as to what you found worked or didn't work with previous cruises.

I host a group. We usually have upwards of 30 people with us.

We are flying from Canada

What I was hoping to do was, fly over to Europe, stay a night or two, get on a 12 day cruise and then disembark, spend another night and then fly home.

We have ALWAYS done Caribbean cruises, flown in the day before, board the ship, then fly home the same day as we disembark. I know the flights are so much longer etc this time around so I wanted to have some down time before getting on and off the ship.

What would you "experts" suggest are good places to head to for first timers?

I want somewhere safe, obviously, easy enough to see, and would prefer docked ports if and where possible. As for the ship, we like the MDR, most of the entertainment and although we are younger ( 36-38) the group we take are very active. Basically, we like newer ships.

We just did Eclipse, have done Oasis and going on Allure this summer.

We have done Jewel of the Seas,Voyager of the seas, Millenium, Equinox, Princess Sapphire (which we didn't like at all) so we have tried several. It doesn't have to be BIG but we like newer ships. This is our 10th cruise, we tend to get repeaters who come year after year so they are seasoned as well.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks everyone.

I have gone to several threads and read up but the choices are so varied I was hoping to have a one stop shop so to speak!

 

Chass

 

We went on a 12 night Adriatic cruise last August. It was on Silhouette. We stayed in Venice prior to the cruise and then had a couple of nights in Rome post cruise. It was a fabulous experience. There were two tender ports on the cruise.

I felt completely safe in all the places we visited with the exception of Naples. Rome was fabulous. We love culture and history etc. So this was an ideal cruise for us. You could go to Florence, Sienna etc pre-cruise if you leave from Rome or Venice. It depends on how much time you have.

 

This year we are cruising the East Med in June. Staying in Rome for one night pre-cruise and then two nights post cruise in Venice (Plus one night on the ship in Venice).

[2theship]

With a few exceptions (Santorini and Cannes come to mind), most Mediterranean ports involve docking. Unlike the Caribbean, these are often "working" ports where lots of cargo ships arrive so the infrastructure is very established.

 

It's very advisable to arrive a few days early to allow everyone to adjust to the time change and to have a chance to visit your first destination at leisure. As you look at cruises, you might want to compare hotel costs in various cities because they can be very expensive. You may even have trouble finding a hotel in a city center that can accomodate all of you.

 

The bigger ships that we've sailed (or just considered) seem to start and end at one of three ports - Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia, actually) and Venice. They are all wonderful places that deserve exploration. Barcelona is probably the youngest and hippest of the three. But, Rome and Venice are so rich in culture and history that they're hard to pass up.

 

Also be aware that the true destination of many of the ports of call may be some distance from the dock. Rome is a good 90 minutes from the port of Civitavecchia; Florence is an hour from Livorno; Athens is a long way from Piraeus - you get the idea. There are many excellent providers for transportation in these ports but I'm more familiar with companies that handle small groups.

 

It's good you're a young crowd - a Mediterranean cruise is hard work. While you might have some beach opportunities but there's not much lazing about in any of these ports - it's off the ship early in the morning and be on the go all day.

[lydnsyd]

It would appear from the comments on my Roll Call that the air fares are really high to Europe this year so be prepared. A lot of people on the Roll call (from the U.S.A.) are paying approx $1400 - $1500 for their tickets.:(

 

Re choosing a cruise itinerary - I would thoroughly recommend that Vencie is in the itinerary ...it is spectacular sailing out:) one of my other favourites is Santorini.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Since you are out of Winnpeg, I would look at cruise out of Rome, Vence, or Barcelona, as air transat fly directly to those cities from Toronto,

Also Air Transat Holidays is a partner with Celebrity/ RCL/ Amazmara (sp)

With 30 people , they may be able to set up with hotel, cruise and flight for a good deal

I would spend the extra night at the start of the cruise and go straight from the ship to airport and home , if the cruise starts and end in the same port

 

Cruising the Med is go go go, you are busy with a port almost everyday and a lot to see

[TLCOhio]

Agree with most all of the earlier posts. Barcelona is a super charming city with the port handy to the docking area and main airport. Very close and nice. Rome, however, has ALL of the great things that it the wonderful, historic city it is. BUT, things are not as close and handy between the ship port, airport and main city. Plus, Rome is a larger and more confusing city to navigate than Barcelona. Pluses and minuses, yes, but both are so totally great. Figure out your priorities for what ports and cities you most want to see and do. Then see which cruises fits best and closest to those desires.

 

Below from my live/blog, you can see lots of details on many key port cities in the Med. Venice can also be a super city to start or end a cruise, allowing adding time to explore this excellent place.

 

THE REALITY?: No one port or cruise will do it "ALL" for this part of Europe. There are also the Greek Isles, Turkish Coast, add Spain options, Lisbon, Croatian Coast, etc., etc.

 

Since Venice could be one of your key stops, you might look at this earlier posting that I did on the Italy board that shows many options and visual potentials for this city that is so great for "walking around", personally sampling the great history and architecture. This posting has now had over 19,012 views and I appreciate those who have dropped by and tuned in. Don’t be shy in sharing any questions or comments.

Venice: Loving It & Why??!!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

 

Super loved Dubrovnik!!! See more details and lots of great visual samples/examples at this link. Have had over 12,840 views on this posting and appreciate those who have tuned-in and dropped by.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439227

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 122,758 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

 

Don’t miss the sail-in and/or sail-out for Venice. This was our view from the top of the ship as we approached the historic center of Venice. On a beautiful day, as we enjoyed, this is so spectacular!!!:

 

 

 

In Dubrovnik, we started with a local cab driver who gave us a “panoramic tour”, including crossing this unique bridge near the main cruise ship docking area. Then we drove up and up through narrow twisting roads to the high point overlooking Dubrovnik and near the cable car high station. From this point, we could also see part of Bosnia and and Montenegro. The “super star” view was down below with this angle of the harbor and walled city. Beautiful!!!:

 

 

 

This is the dramatic front view of St. Peter’s and the Square with the beautiful sky over this historic setting on June 10, 2011, during our visit and doing the Scavi tour under the Vatican in Rome. This dramatic Cathedral is the world's largest!:

 

 

 

As we walked from St. Peter’s, we crossed the Tiberi River and saw this view of Castel Sant’Angelo. This castle has great history, starting as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian in 139 AD. It later provided security for Popes in times of attack.:

 

 

 

Tuscany's Lucca has so many cute and interesting shops. Here is one example that we enjoyed so much. It is the Antico Caffe Dei Simo at Via Fillungo 58. Its origins date back to 1846 and has seen famed artists such as Verdi and Puccini pass through its doors.:

 

 

 

Overlooking Positano along the Amalfi Coast, this is the view as we dined, family-style for lunch, at La Tagliata during our private tour for our small group through RomeInLimo. The views here were super and the sun came out in strong force as we enjoyed our three-course lunch with local wine and drinks. Their website is http://www.latagliata.com.:

 

[Bruin Steve]

I understand that the dates don't come out till the end of the month. What I was hoping for was some input as to what you found worked or didn't work with previous cruises.

I host a group. We usually have upwards of 30 people with us.

We are flying from Canada

What I was hoping to do was, fly over to Europe, stay a night or two, get on a 12 day cruise and then disembark, spend another night and then fly home.

We have ALWAYS done Caribbean cruises, flown in the day before, board the ship, then fly home the same day as we disembark. I know the flights are so much longer etc this time around so I wanted to have some down time before getting on and off the ship.

What would you "experts" suggest are good places to head to for first timers?

I want somewhere safe, obviously, easy enough to see, and would prefer docked ports if and where possible. As for the ship, we like the MDR, most of the entertainment and although we are younger ( 36-38) the group we take are very active. Basically, we like newer ships.

We just did Eclipse, have done Oasis and going on Allure this summer.

We have done Jewel of the Seas,Voyager of the seas, Millenium, Equinox, Princess Sapphire (which we didn't like at all) so we have tried several. It doesn't have to be BIG but we like newer ships. This is our 10th cruise, we tend to get repeaters who come year after year so they are seasoned as well.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks everyone.

I have gone to several threads and read up but the choices are so varied I was hoping to have a one stop shop so to speak!

 

Chass

 

I'm one of those who have done A LOT of European cruises--I seem to do about one every summer of late...

 

You really cannot choose anything until the schedules come out...however, in general:

 

For Europe, I really like the Celebrity Solstice class...So, wait and see what the schedules will be for Solstice, Eclipse, Equinox, Silhouette, Reflection...

 

My recommendation is to fly in AT LEAST two nights early, more if you can and depending on what embarkation port... Everyone will have to get ready for a very large difference in time zones, fatigue, lack of sleep on the plane, etc. The extra days are also a hedge against flight delays, missed connections and lost luggage...and you really do want at least a little time to tour the embarkation port...and at least a night after--again depending on where...

 

For anyone who hasn't traveled much in Europe, almost all of the Mediterranean ports are pretty cool...hard to go wrong, no matter which itinerary...

 

As to embarkation/disembarkation cities, my preference is to find a cruise that starts in one port and ends in another...Gives you a little variety on those pre- and post-cruise stays...We have started or ended European cruises in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Dover, Southampton, Barcelona, Rome, Venice and Istanbul...I would recommend almost ANY of them...though my first recommendation for you would be the Mediterranean, so you are really looking at Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Athens and Istanbul as the most common starting and ending ports...

 

Each of them have their own pluses and minuses...

Rome presents some issues inasmuch as the port is a considerable distance out of town in Civitavecchia and the airport is a fair drive out of central Rome as well...But, with a group of 30, you can probably charter a bus...Otherwise, Rome is really cool--and requires several days if you can do it...to do it right...

 

Venice is a great port for sailaway...and a very unique and wonderful town...Beware, though, that hotels can get a bit pricey...

 

Some have issues with Athens due to recent unrest...

 

Istanbul is incredible and very unique...hotel prices are not bad (recommend staying in the Sultanahmet District to be walking distance from everything and for some reasonable prices--unless you want to stay in the 4 star Four Seasons)...

 

Barcelona has lots of cruises starting and/or ending there...and is a GREAT town to just relax and enjoy...Get a hotel very near the Placa Catalunya for the utmost in convenience (and a very short taxi ride to the ship)...lots of nice and affordable choices in this area...and the town can be very relaxing...and a lot of fun...

 

The ship itself becomes somewhat less important than in the Caribbean since the itineraries tend to be very port-intensive...long port hours, few at sea days...But it is nice to have a comfortable and relaxing ship--why I like Celebrity for this--less crowded but still lots of fun things for the evenings and sea days...

 

As to individual ports, the Med offers a wide range...

Obviously, ports like Rome and Athens and Istanbul offer a lot of sightseeing--ancient ruins, historical sites, etc. Other ports are smaller and more compact and offer different challenges...

 

Here are a few of my quick notes on various ports:

 

Barcelona: Visit the Gaudi sites--including the Sagrada Familia (uncredible unfinished cathedral) and Parc Guell (a very weird city park)...stroll down Las Ramblas...wander through the Barri Gotic (Old City)...

 

Cannes/Nice/Monte Carlo: Lots of different choices--some medeival hill towns in the area (Eze, St. Paul de Vence, etc.), the Casino and Palace in Monte Carlo/Monaco...

 

Livorno: Head to Florence...or Pisa...or Lucca...or San Gimignano...Art and Architecture in Renaissance Florence, Wineries in Tuscany, etc.

 

Rome: A lot of sites: Vatican, Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, etc.

 

Naples/Amalfi/Sorrento: Go tour the Ruins of Pompeii or Herculaneum...or take a drive down the Amalfi Coast for the small towns and views...

 

Venice: Tour the Doges Palace, take a Vaporetto ride down the Grand Canal...and just wander the city...

 

Dubrovnik: "Walk the Walls" of the old city--incredible views--you pay IIRC 10 euros admission and climb up on the city walls...

 

Kotor: Another Walled Medeival city--the walls a bit steeper and harder to climb, but cool...Nearby Budva ius a great beach towns--and also another walled city...

 

Corfu: Nice little island with lots of nice beaches and cool main twon dominated by two old Venetian fortresses...

 

Athens: Tour the Acropolis and sites in town...or take a tour to the Pelopennese and visit old ruins at Mycenae and Epidaurus and elsewhere...

 

Santorini: Incredible little volcanic island with main town up a cliff on the rim of the caldera...

 

Mykonos: For me, mostly a beach and relaxation stop...nice little town to wander and shop...

 

Kusadasi: Visit Ephesus and other ancient ruins...Ephesus is incredible...lots to see...

 

Istanbul: Mosques, old churches, strange bazaars, neat underground cistern, Topkapi Palace..."where worlds collide"...

 

Malta: Really cool Crusader island...forts, churches, more...some ancient sites as well

 

Sicily: Old hill twon of Taormina and adventures on the Volcano of Mt. Etna...

 

I've also done tours that have stopped in Haifa, Ashdod, Port Said, Alexandria, Tunisia, Crete, Cyprus, Rhodes and more...All sorts of ancient sites...and modern sites...to explore...

 

The key to most of these is getting a mixture of Art, Architecture, Archaeology, History and Culture...

 

If you want to do a lot of touring and sightseeing, there is plenty...Want to do a lot of hiking and exploring, there is lots of that as well...The difficult part will be the choices...

 

Good luck...

[mikechass]

Thanks SOOOOOOO much!!!

This is so wonderful.

There is sooo much to read here.

 

I'm taking notes like there's no tomorrow!

 

As usual you are a wealth of info.

Again, thanks very very much.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

With Air transat you can fly into one city and fly out of another without getting hosed

One time flying into Venice for a cruise, on AT, same-day, the flight was delayed , with so many people on the cruise , they held the cruise for the plane, there was about 3 bus load of people taking the cruise

With Rouge starting up this summer , they may have good prices for flights

[Waihekean]

Since you are out of Winnpeg, I would look at cruise out of Rome, Vence, or Barcelona, as air transat fly directly to those cities from Toronto,

Also Air Transat Holidays is a partner with Celebrity/ RCL/ Amazmara (sp)

With 30 people , they may be able to set up with hotel, cruise and flight for a good deal

I would spend the extra night at the start of the cruise and go straight from the ship to airport and home , if the cruise starts and end in the same port

 

That would be my suggestion also to go staight home and put an extra day at the front. A great itinerary is to start from Venice, stay there at least 3 days. Everything is very accessible and buy a vaporetta pass, so the first days when you are getting over jet lag, you can just sit and "glide" through the canals.:D Sailaway from there is just spectacular.

 

Alternatives are either Rome (3 days pref.) or Barcelona (2 days is ok).

 

Re cruise: maybe you can have everyone submitting a wish list of two most wanted ports and take it from there. Santorini/Oia is stunning, Istanbul great, Athens history etc. Also look for a cruise that has some sea days to relax a bit.

 

Plus go and see a cruise TA/Consultant I agree with a group of 30 you should be able to get a good combined deal.

Also look into the 1,2,3 promotion of Celebrity, as you could choose the alco bev package and upgrade to premium for 11.50 per day and take the 300 OBC if you have OV or higher.

[mikechass]

Thanks again everyone.

We usually get a pretty good group rate with the cruise company, but the 123 promo is a great idea!

I hadn't even thought of that!!

We don't drink but many of our group do.

Although we are younger, the group tends to be much older then us.

Most people are in their late 60's or early 70's.

They kinda like just booking so they don't mind to much that we make all the decisions.

Its part of the fun I guess.

So, before the cruise is more important then after the cruise for days there to get settled.

I know Turkey is somewhere that is HIGH on everyone's list.

I want Venice and Barcelona personally, so this should all be good.

Thanks again everyone

Soooo appreciate it.

Chass

[Redtravel]

European cruises are nice. If you want to see a specific place, pick a cruise that includes it. Check dates, cruise fares, and airfares. Sometimes, for some unknown reason a cruise and airfare fit together......great ports, good air connections, inexpensive fares, and convenient dates. If you can be flexible, you may be able to save money. Airfares and cruise fares can vary. It is also a good idea to plan to arrive a day or two early. That gives you time to adjust to the time and an opportunity to enjoy the city. I have cruised from and to may places. Barcelona is my favorite. Airport is close to the city/dock. Many cruises dock a long way from the airports. That can make cruising from/to them costly. I have also sailed in /out of London, Copenhagen, Rome, Venice, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Stockholm, and Rouen (Paris). All of them are nice places to explore.

[TLCOhio]

I know Turkey is somewhere that is HIGH on everyone's list. I want Venice and Barcelona personally, so this should all be good. Thanks again everyone. Soooo appreciate it. Chass

 

YES!! There are good reasons that Turkey is high on people's lists. Istanbul is awesome with so much unique history, charm, food, character, etc. Plus a location like Ephesus is wonderful. You are correct in having good reasons to want to do Venice and Barcelona. All very good. As I noted earlier, one cruise in the Med cannot do it "ALL". Too much good stuff and too many great options in this region. Below are more of my visuals and details to back up why these are very good to consider.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 122,858 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

 

Here was our first view of Istanbul in 2006 from our just-docking cruise ship as we smelled the sweet blend of this historic Turkish city. YES, you could really smell how “special” is this unique city with so much culture, charm and interest! Istanbul has so much variety, history, culture, architecture, people, food, charm, etc. It’s the total experience here that is so amazing.:

 

 

 

Istanbul’s famed Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmed Mosque. It is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was built from 1609 to 1616. It is still used as a mosque and is one of Istanbul's most popular tourist attraction. The design is the culmination of two centuries of both Ottoman mosque and Byzantine church development. It incorporates some Byzantine elements of the neighboring Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture. It is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period. The architect aimed for overwhelming size, majesty and splendour. It has six minarets along with eight smaller domes and one main large dome.:

 

 

 

Looking downhill towards the library and other ruins from when Ephesus, along the Turkish Coast, was Rome's capital of Asia Minor. The history here is real and totally amazing! This Library of Celsus was built in honor of a Roman Senator and completed in 135 AD by his son, a Roman Consul and powerful official. The library was built to store 12,000 scrolls and to serve as a tomb for his father. The interior of the library and all its books were destroyed by fire in an earthquake in 262 AD. Only the facade survived, but was later destroyed by another earthquake. In a restoration during the 1960's and 1970's, the front was restored and serves as a key example of Roman public architecture.:

 

 

 

Here’s a sampling of the narrow, flowered street in Mykonos in the Greek Isles with its many shops. The streets were made so narrow in order to fend off pirate attackers. It is an island with lots of history and legend dating back thousands of years, including connections to ancient Greek mythology. Ionians settled on Mykonos in the early part of the 11th century BC. As Delos developed as a sacred center, Mykonos was under the influences of the different people, including Phoenicians, Macedonians and Athenians. With the rise of Alexander the Great, the fate of Mykonos became a commercial center for agriculture and maritime trade. Mykonos flourished with enormous wealth during Roman occupation during the reign of Augustus Caesar. During the Middle Ages, Mykonos fell under the Venetians and later were victimized by the Saracens and latter the Turks. Starting in the 1950’s, its unique architecture, seclusion and hospitality have made it a haven for the rich and famous.:

 

[jo-b]

If Turkey is high on the list there are a number of itineraries that sail from Rome or Venice to Istanbul which would be great places to have a few days pre and post cruise.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

This would be a great cruise

http://www.celebritycruises.com/search/searchResultsVacationItinerary.do?packageid=SI12M338&dest=EUROP&shipCode=SI

[cpl100]

We went on a 12 night Adriatic cruise last August. It was on Silhouette. We stayed in Venice prior to the cruise and then had a couple of nights in Rome post cruise. It was a fabulous experience. There were two tender ports on the cruise.

I felt completely safe in all the places we visited with the exception of Naples. Rome was fabulous. We love culture and history etc. So this was an ideal cruise for us. You could go to Florence, Sienna etc pre-cruise if you leave from Rome or Venice. It depends on how much time you have.

 

This year we are cruising the East Med in June. Staying in Rome for one night pre-cruise and then two nights post cruise in Venice (Plus one night on the ship in Venice).

It sounds like you did something similar to what we are doing in May. We are arriving 3 days earlier than the cruise in Venice. Then we will take the train to Rome and stay for four days post-cruise. Glad to see you must have thought it was a good idea since you are reversing the plan this year.

 

Any suggestions?

[bengaltiger1]

It sounds like you did something similar to what we are doing in May. We are arriving 3 days earlier than the cruise in Venice. Then we will take the train to Rome and stay for four days post-cruise. Glad to see you must have thought it was a good idea since you are reversing the plan this year.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Rome:- get the Roma Pass it is worth it.

 

http://www.romapass.it/?l=en

 

There is this one too:-

 

http://www.romeandvaticanpass.com/what-you-get/how-it-works.html

 

 

You will eliminate some of the queues. There were lengthy queues at the Colosseum. From there we walked to the Forum. Really those two sites are a day in themselves to look at and absorb everything. We walked everywhere in Rome and felt totally safe. We stayed at a hotel near to the Piazza Del Popolo. It was extremely warm so May is probably a much better time to go.

 

We booked our tour of the Vatican through there web site. Again you could spend a day going round the Vatican, the gardens and St Peters.

 

The major attractions are definitely worth seeing. We are goign to the Baths of Caracalla this time as we are limited for time. We are staying in a hotel next to the Pantheon, which is an amazing building.

 

I have been to Firenze (Florence) Again that is definitely worth a visit as is Sienna. Uffizi Gallery - book ahead for that. Check out trip advisor for places to eat. When I was in Florence last year some nights we didn't need to buy dinner because the bars have tapas for free when you are buying a drink.

 

I don't want you to get the wrong impression about Naples. It was the trip to and from the ship that I didn't like. I thought it was a dirty place. We did go to Herculaneum, but will go to Pompei this time. We are fortunate that there is an exhibition of artifacts etc from Herculaneum and Pompei at the British Museum shortly and we will go to London before our cruise to see that.

 

As were were only in Venice overnight we saw the main attractions. St Marks square etc.

 

Pamela

[FortyNinerLiz]

We went on a 12 night Adriatic cruise last August. It was on Silhouette. We stayed in Venice prior to the cruise and then had a couple of nights in Rome post cruise. It was a fabulous experience. There were two tender ports on the cruise.

I felt completely safe in all the places we visited with the exception of Naples. Rome was fabulous. We love culture and history etc. So this was an ideal cruise for us. You could go to Florence, Sienna etc pre-cruise if you leave from Rome or Venice. It depends on how much time you have.

 

This year we are cruising the East Med in June. Staying in Rome for one night pre-cruise and then two nights post cruise in Venice (Plus one night on the ship in Venice).

 

This is a great itinerary! You have nailed it!!! We have done 2 very lengthy BtoBs and what you suggest is perfect!!

[TIMETOGOAGAIN]

I'm one of those who have done A LOT of European cruises--I seem to do about one every summer of late...

 

You really cannot choose anything until the schedules come out...however, in general:

 

For Europe, I really like the Celebrity Solstice class...So, wait and see what the schedules will be for Solstice, Eclipse, Equinox, Silhouette, Reflection...

 

Good luck...

 

Thank you so much for sharing! This is so helpful!

[TIMETOGOAGAIN]

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

As always, love the pics!! Thanks Terry for taking me back!

[midwestchick]

We took the celebrity Equinox out of Rome for 10 days. We went the first week of Dec 2011. It was the best vacation ever. We arrived two days in advance, went all over Rome and Vatican City. The Vatican is the best. The cruise ship was the nicest we had been on and we got a great price $899 for veranda. I have never seen the price that low, but we were going on the last ship of the season. The only thing about the trip we did not like was leaving out of Rome airport - very busy and very long to get through security. Flight is long also, but for that trip it was well worth it. Our stops were Italy, Malta, Greece and Turkey. Too many stops in Greece - need to see Athens, but other than that the other two stops were not worth stopping.

 

 

We flew out of Rome last September and found just the opposite.:confused: It was actually very smooth compared to O'Hare airport. We allowed much more time than needed so spent a lot of time browsing and purchasing from the duty free shops....have to love the duty free limincollo. :D