Rick Steves on a Princess Cruise

[texasgirl29]

We just sailed on the Disney Magic's Mediterranean trip and used Rick's books for Barcelona and his Mediterranean cruise book. He recommended Can't Be Missed Tours in Rome and Naples/Pompeii/Sorrento.

 

We booked them online and the tours were great -- in fact, both of the tour guides are also used by Disney at about twice the price.

 

Hoping to go to Northern Europe in the next year or two on Princess -- looks like I might be needing that new book.

[Di Princess]

If you're referring the the binder, it's a "Guidebook Page Binder" for $2.99...remove the pages you want, insert in a protective binder cover & slide the plastic binder spine to create a lighter & smaller version of his guidebooks and you could even combine other books together up to 1/4" thick per binder.

 

http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=126&id=528

 

Thanks so much for this Link, Astro Flyer.

 

I ordered it today, and yesterday, I received my Rick Steves Ireland book from Amazon (very fast). Much less expensive on Amazon than on Europe Through the Back Door website. ;)

 

Donna I.

 

[ContemporaryTraveler]

One thing I found interesting with Rick Steves newest blog post is his choice to eat at the specialty restaurants on board. In one of the pictures it does look like he is eating breakfast at Sabatini's.

[monakayk]

Looks like Rick didn't get one of the larger balconies on the Caribe deck but the standard size.

 

:confused:Does anyone know if he has done a book about the Mediterranean while on a ship...like the one he held up for the Baltic countries while on a cruise? I would certainly be interested in that one. Hope he does some DVDs to sale while he cruise. I have all his other DVDs and love his down to Earth suggestions on travel.

 

Thanks to the OP for the link.

[monakayk]

We just sailed on the Disney Magic's Mediterranean trip and used Rick's books for Barcelona and his Mediterranean cruise book. He recommended Can't Be Missed Tours in Rome and Naples/Pompeii/Sorrento.

texasgirl29,

 

You answered my question before I asked it. I just read what you posted. I will have to go and look for that book. Thanks for the info.

[5326jan]

We did a number of land based, "backpack" style trips to Europe with our kids when they were teens. It was great experience and we saw some awesome sights, thanks to Rick Steves' Europe and Europe Through the Back Door. We went for three weeks each time and never had any reservations, only Eurail Passes. But I must admit, we stayed in some of Rick's recommended hotels with great trepidation! The kids, to this day... as adults, even call sketchy hotels "Rick hotels". :p We should have learned that hotels near the rail station, while convenient, aren't always family friendly. "Mom, why does that lady keep walking back and forth on the street?" :eek:

 

I want his job though, traveling and getting paid well for it... my kind of job!

 

I'm surprised to hear he uses "fowl" language... thought he would be a little classier than that.

[callmedeb]

If I had a camera crew with several vans, I could go through Europe with only a rucksack too! ;););)

 

Actually it's just him, his producer and a camera man. He did a behind the scene's special a few years ago.

 

Cheers,

 

Deb

[zahav1]

He shouldn't be discussing poultry in public.

 

Ha, not meant to be funny, typo. Yes he was foul and we walked out. There were many kids there.

[callmedeb]

Whan my Dad and I did the Med. we used his guidebook exclusivly. I find it well written, easy to understand and fun. I also enjoy his show on PBS. I don't find him too hokey, I appreciate the way he imparts information without speaking down to his viewers/readers.

 

Dad (75) and I (40) did independant exploring at every port using his advice. We had a wonderful time!

 

Cheers,

 

Deb

[Hulagirl]

Contemporary Traveler:

 

Yes, the picture definitely is Sabatini's during breakfast. I find that a bit interesting also since he is in a balcony cabin on deck 11. Maybe Princess considered him a "VIP" and they extended the breakfast option to him. That would be my guess.

 

Rick Steve's is from Edmond's, Washington and we have been to his travel agency there a few times. What is nice they have all his books that you can go and use. I haven't found the people there to be of great help, but it is a big agency. They have classes also.

 

He was very active in backing the passing of the legalization of marijuana here in Washington State last November. He has a very large home in Edmond's that over looks the water, so he definitely isn't frugal in his lifestyle at home. Well I do have to wonder if he still has the house after his divorce a few years ago.

 

An interesting man to say the least.

[fishin' musician]

I find that a bit interesting also since he is in a balcony cabin on deck 11.

 

He may be in a suite as the pic from deck 11 could have been taken by a photographer accompanying him... as snipped from his blog:

 

"My partner, Trish Feaster, is a better photographer than I am. And with Trish in charge of photos, I’m free to take notes. We both use a Sony Cybershot RX-100. Nearly all of the photos you’ll see in the next couple weeks of entries were taken by Trish. To enjoy her take on our travels and lots more great photos, see her blog at www.thetravelphile.com."

[ar1950]

He may be in a suite as the pic from deck 11 could have been taken by a photographer accompanying him... as snipped from his blog:

 

"My partner' date=' Trish Feaster, is a better photographer than I am. And with Trish in charge of photos, I’m free to take notes. We both use a Sony Cybershot RX-100. Nearly all of the photos you’ll see in the next couple weeks of entries were taken by Trish. To enjoy her take on our travels and lots more great photos, see her blog at www.thetravelphile.com."[/i']

 

Read this on Trish's blog posting:

 

"Thanks to a generous invitation from the ship’s hotel general manager Peter Hollinson, we repeatedly partook in breakfast in the dining area reserved for those staying in suites. Joy, one of about 800 Filipino crew members (there are about 1500 total crew members), always took splendid care of us."

 

I guess it pays to have a little influence and fame.:cool:

[ContemporaryTraveler]

He may be in a suite as the pic from deck 11 could have been taken by a photographer accompanying him... as snipped from his blog:

 

"My partner' date=' Trish Feaster, is a better photographer than I am. And with Trish in charge of photos, I’m free to take notes. We both use a Sony Cybershot RX-100. Nearly all of the photos you’ll see in the next couple weeks of entries were taken by Trish. To enjoy her take on our travels and lots more great photos, see her blog at www.thetravelphile.com."[/i']

 

I think he was staying in the same cabin since Trish is his girlfriend. I know they have been together for a couple years now. He mentions her in some of his newspaper articles and on his Huffington Post column.

 

It definitely seems like he got the Princess VIP treatment.

[loma linda ca a & j]

I think he was staying in the same cabin since Trish is his girlfriend. I know they have been together for a couple years now. He mentions her in some of his newspaper articles and on his Huffington Post column.

 

It definitely seems like he got the Princess VIP treatment.

this is first time i heard rick was divorced -

don't know why it surprises me since so many people are;)

[caribill]

this is first time i heard rick was divorced -

don't know why it surprises me since so many people are;)

 

You mean you have to be divorced to have a girlfriend?

[Go-Bucks!]

It definitely seems like he got the Princess VIP treatment.

 

 

He's giving Princess good publicity, so . . . "he scratches their back, they scratch his." ;)

[rdsqrl]

You mean you have to be divorced to have a girlfriend?

I imagine that your wife could give you the definitive answer to your question . . .

[ContemporaryTraveler]

this is first time i heard rick was divorced -

don't know why it surprises me since so many people are;)

 

The first time I heard I was surprised as well. I remember when his wife appeared on some of his shows. On his website there is a biography that mentions he became divorced in March 2010.

[Crazy Gramps]

Just once I want him to go someplace and then do a show telling all his viewers " never come here. It's horrible"

 

Gramps

[5326jan]

Just once I want him to go someplace and then do a show telling all his viewers " never come here. It's horrible"

 

Gramps

 

He did say in one of his early books that "Bordeaux" (the city, not the wine) must be french for boring! :)

[tequilasunrise]

You mean you have to be divorced to have a girlfriend?

 

It helps if you had a wife first. ;)

 

I don't know about his marriage, but he and Trish do seem to be good together. They seem to really like to do the same things. I've been reading her blog also and IMHO she takes great photos with interesting subjects (I'm not an expert by any means, but I really like these).

 

I do wish they wouldn't be so judgemental about people who choose different things for their travel experiences from what Rick and Trish like. I can almost hear the roll off their upturned noses in the blogs when they talk about cruisers who use the casino, eat more than they do at home, take easy/touristy excursions or enjoy staying on an empty ship in port. While I don't do the first two myself (but have been guilty of staying on the ship in port and seeing cliche sights), there's really nothing wrong with someone enjoying his/her vacation in any way that makes him/her happy and doesn't disturb others. In no way does it impact my vacation if someone else spends all his time in the casino---unless it was my DH using the joint accounts!

 

But Rick's port guides are interesting and helpful, and I am glad to see him writing these. I have purchased the ones that are available and will buy this one too when it comes out.

[tequilasunrise]

Just once I want him to go someplace and then do a show telling all his viewers " never come here. It's horrible"

 

Gramps

 

Check out his five small principalities show. He says really only see these if you have seen everything else and have nothing better to do!:D

[DoulaAnn]

It helps if you had a wife first. ;)

 

I can almost hear the roll off their upturned noses in the blogs when they talk about cruisers who use the casino, eat more than they do at home, take easy/touristy excursions or enjoy staying on an empty ship in port.

 

But Rick's port guides are interesting and helpful, and I am glad to see him writing these. I have purchased the ones that are available and will buy this one too when it comes out.

 

I find it interesting that he would write about places to see, giving many of the cliched/touristy sites three triangles (must see). I am the only one in our travelling group this time who is going to see Pisa -- and I don't regret it for a minute. Don't plan to spend a lot of time there, but do want to see it.

 

Guess RS's positives outweigh his negatives.

 

Ann

[loma linda ca a & j]

I find it interesting that he would write about places to see, giving many of the cliched/touristy sites three triangles (must see). I am the only one in our travelling group this time who is going to see Pisa -- and I don't regret it for a minute. Don't plan to spend a lot of time there, but do want to see it.

 

Guess RS's positives outweigh his negatives.

 

Ann

jim & i - ann also - enjoyed several hours in pisa in 2008 -

think it was a princess bus which took us to & fro & left us

to wander on our own which allowed us to see & do what

we wanted in a leisurely manner !

[PescadoAmarillo]

Read this on Trish's blog posting:

 

"Thanks to a generous invitation from the ship’s hotel general manager Peter Hollinson, we repeatedly partook in breakfast in the dining area reserved for those staying in suites. Joy, one of about 800 Filipino crew members (there are about 1500 total crew members), always took splendid care of us."

 

I guess it pays to have a little influence and fame.:cool:

I know Joy (a guy, not a girl)! He's one of the best!