Where to buy Christmas ornaments during the summer in the Mediterranean?

[snshn3]

I usually buy a Christmas ornament wherever we go on vacation, but sometimes it is hard to buy them if we go in the middle of the Summer as they are not available.
What can I use to substitute them and make my own or where to buy them (Barcelona, Nice, Florence/Pisa, Rome, Naples, Venice, Corfu, Croatia)?

Brilliance of the Seas, RCCL 6/17/05
Enchantment of the Seas, RCCL, 11/01
Tropicale, Carnival 08/99

[wwinfl91]

We were in some of the ports you are going to be in last summer and noticed several of the souvenir shops had Xmas ornaments available for sale even though our cruise was in July. I don't remember specific shops in any of the ports but maybe someone else can help you with specific shops to find them. But I do remember seeing them and commenting to my wife that I was a little surprised they would still be available. Her comment was that since Americans are over in Europe at different times of the year and many people want to get a special Xmas ornament that they can hang on the tree that celebrates their european cruise that the shop owners have evidently figured it out and decided to offer the ornaments year around.

Have a great next cruise.

HAL Noordam 3/97 West Carib
Hal Westerdam 12/97 East Carib
HAL Veendam 11/98 East Carib
Hal Zaandam 12/00 South Carib
HAL Veendam 10/01 Panama Canal
RCCL Enchantment 09/02 W.Carib
Costa Atlantica 12/02 E.Carib
HAL Noordam 03/03 S.Carib
Golden Princess 07/03 Med
Celebrity Zenith 12/03 W.Carib
HAL Maasdam 05/04 Canada

[snshn3]

thanks for letting me know that it is possible to get ornaments during this time of the year. I am looking forward to it!

Brilliance of the Seas, RCCL 6/17/05 - Mediterranean
Enchantment of the Seas, RCCL, 11/01 - Eastern Caribbean
Tropicale, Carnival 08/99 - Western Caribbean

[dperales]

snshn3
If you have time when you return please post where you found ornaments. We leave on the Brilliance on July 25!
Thanks
Donna

Brilliance of the Sea First time to Europe!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;07;25;19;00;00&timezone=GMT+0100[/img]

[RDMOREU]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] I've bought many 'non-ornaments' that are small enough to fit on our Christmas trees and that are somehow indicative of the location I was visiting. For instance, little Russian dolls, tiny Eiffel tower (I believe this was originally a key ring), small Gaudi figurine, etc. Remember, if you really want the round ornament look, you could always put your finds inside of the dividable plastic ornaments that are sold around Christmas.

[BJS]

I also purchase ornaments to bring back to our daughter. Some places have none but found this idea posted in another topic and thought it might work IF nothing else was available.<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>We use to buy key fobs in the various countries and taking them apart we would hang the remnants on our Christmas Tree.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
[B]snshn3 [/B]When you return would really appreciate a post where you found ornaments. We leave on Aug. 29th.

Future cruises:
May 04 Amsterdam
Sept. 04 Star Princess x 2
Jan. 05 Diamond Princess
July 05 Star Princess
Aug. 05 Star Pincess

Past cruises:
04 Dawn Princess x 2
03 Grand,Sun,Tahitian,
Royal Princess x 2,Island Princess
01 Ryndam x 2
00 Sky Princess
79 Sitmar's Fairwind

[snshn3]

I normally buy ornaments, not the balls because I coordinate those with my Christmas tree colors.

My cruise is not until June of NEXT year (2005), but I will post my findings.

Brilliance of the Seas, RCCL 6/17/05 - Mediterranean
Enchantment of the Seas, RCCL, 11/01 - Eastern Caribbean
Tropicale, Carnival 08/99 - Western Caribbean

[BJS]

Donna When you return would really appreciate a post where you found ornaments. We leave on Aug. 29th. Thanks.

Future cruises:
May 04 Amsterdam
Sept. 04 Star Princess x 2
Jan. 05 Diamond Princess
July 05 Star Princess
Aug. 05 Star Pincess

Past cruises:
04 Dawn Princess x 2
03 Grand,Sun,Tahitian,
Royal Princess x 2,Island Princess
01 Ryndam x 2
00 Sky Princess
79 Sitmar's Fairwind

[Lynn&Wayne]

I too collect Christmas ornaments from all the places we have travelled. I have found some 'key chains' work very well, and are more reminiscent of locations visited, than are some of the ornaments. I find more and more souvenir stores are stocking Christmas ornaments. If I don't see any on the shelf, I ask, and sometimes they're tucked away in some corner - but they still have them. We're travelling to Europe next week, so I'll keep my eyes peeled and let you know.

Lynn & Wayne

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;5;17;17;0;00&timezone=GMT+0000[/img]
Prinsendam May 17 - Can Hardly Wait!

[Tania]

Some shops in Venice offer Murano glass ornaments.

I purchased a Santa Claus in a gondola ornament on our last trip.

Diamond Princess 03/04
Sun Princess 12/03
Grand Princess 12/02
Royal Princess 08/02
Ocean Princess 08/01
Pacific Princess 12/00
Carla C. 03/83

[RDMOREU]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] Tania - We got the exact same thing Santa last time we were in Venice; also, a Christmas tree w/red balls and little lighted candles on the tips. Murano glass 'candies' are all over the place and we've used those on our tree, too. And, basically, I just kept my eyes opened and looked in shop windows - that's how I found some milliefiori (sp) glass globes we use as ornaments.

[BJS]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Some shops in Venice offer Murano glass ornaments.I purchased a Santa Claus in a gondola ornament on our last trip.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>If I might ask - approximately how much does something like that cost? (don't want sticker shock)

Future cruises:
5/04 HAL-Amsterdam-Alaska
9/04 Star Princess-Med.x2 Venice to Barcelona/ Barcelona to Rome
11/04 Dawn Princess-Southern Caribbean
Jan. 05 Diamond Princess-Mexican Riviera
July 05 Star Princess-Baltics
Aug. 05 Star Princess-Baltics
Past cruises:
04 Dawn Princess- Southern Caribbean x2
03 Grand Princess-W.Caribbean
03 Sun Princess -Mexico
03-Tahitian Princess-Tahiti/ Cook Islands
03 Royal Princess-x2 British Isles & Norwegian Fjords/ Iceland
03 Island Princess-Panama Canal
01 HAL Ryndam x 2-S. America San Diego to Valpariso/ & around Cape Horn to Rio
00 Sky Princess-China/Orient
79 Sitmar's Fairwind- Caribbean/Panama Canal

[Tania]

To be frank, I don't remember but it was less than the Pikachu on a gondola that my daughter bought at $20 Canadian. Hope that helps.

We also brought back an empty mini bottle of Vino Santo from Siena; it had the straw wrapping. Makes a nice ornament!

In Egypt, some kids were selling small camels. People were buying those for ornaments as well.

I bought small ceramic jugs in both Athens and MOnaco for the tree but they've proven a little heavy although I still use them.

Diamond Princess 03/04
Sun Princess 12/03
Grand Princess 12/02
Royal Princess 08/02
Ocean Princess 08/01
Pacific Princess 12/00
Carla C. 03/83

[BJS]

[B]Tania[/B] Yes, just the answer I was looking for. Thank you.

Future cruises:
5/04 HAL-Amsterdam-Alaska
9/04 Star Princess-Med.x2 Venice to Barcelona/ Barcelona to Rome
11/04 Dawn Princess-Southern Caribbean
Jan. 05 Diamond Princess-Mexican Riviera
July 05 Star Princess-Baltics
Aug. 05 Star Princess-Baltics
Past cruises:
04 Dawn Princess- Southern Caribbean x2
03 Grand Princess-W.Caribbean
03 Sun Princess -Mexico
03-Tahitian Princess-Tahiti/ Cook Islands
03 Royal Princess-x2 British Isles & Norwegian Fjords/ Iceland
03 Island Princess-Panama Canal
01 HAL Ryndam x 2-S. America San Diego to Valpariso/ & around Cape Horn to Rio
00 Sky Princess-China/Orient
79 Sitmar's Fairwind- Caribbean/Panama Canal