Barcelona SOS Mediterranean Greek Isle Cruise w/Paris and Copenhagen Review

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Wonderful review! We have this cruise targeted in the future so am following along.:)

[DreaAST]

Great review and pics! The Euoprean cruises have been my favorites so far and I'm enjoying the pics!

[crvng4mr]

Wonderful review! We have this cruise targeted in the future so am following along.:)

Thank you Sunny! You are going to have an amazing time.

[crvng4mr]

Great review and pics! The Euoprean cruises have been my favorites so far and I'm enjoying the pics!

Thanks DreaAst! Those reviews are what made me take this trip so I completely get it.

[crvng4mr]

Wow, this wound up being a long post on Rome!

 

Back to our regularly scheduled program....we left off in Vatican City leaving St. Peter's Basilica.

 

Luigi, our tour guide, took us back to meet our RIL drivers in a different location and guess who was there waiting with them......dundddddun......our missing tourist. Yay! So we didn't need to make an offering that day and we used the facilities, I got my Vatican stamp and off we went back to the ship.

 

Of course we had to stop for gelato.:D But because I was so busy counting money to pay the driver's my kids and I did not part take this time so no pictures of that.:( It poured just during that moment of gelato heaven and I took it as a sign that the gods were displeased we didn't get any.

 

We were back on board the ship and getting ready for our evening and nightly routine. This night was Disco night, but as we all know there was no extra space in the carry on for such foolishness:(. We enjoyed our typical evening and looked forward to 2 sea days to relax. Tonight we would set our clocks 1 hour ahead.

[kirian]

Your photos of Rome are stunning!!!! I also wanted to say thanks for sharing the info on The Pieta. I had no idea that was Michaelangelo's reasoning..... very interesting!

 

Wow, this wound up being a long post on Rome!

 

Of course we had to stop for gelato.:D But because I was so busy counting money to pay the driver's my kids and I did not part take this time so no pictures of that.:( It poured just during that moment of gelato heaven and I took it as a sign that the gods were displeased we didn't get any.

 

 

LOLOLOL :D

 

Keep up the great work on the review. I think your next stage is where your cruise starts differing in itinerary than mine, so I am very much looking forward to what's next!

 

BTW - I expect my Rome post(s) on my review to be VERY long as well :eek::D

[crvng4mr]

We all slept in the first sea day! Ciera woke up about 11 and rushed to windjammer to grab some breakfast. Cai and I slept even longer. Totally missed the meet and greet at 10:30. and because I changed rooms I never received the information for it and forgot to ask the others on the tours. I was really disappointed about that.

 

I left the cabin about 11:45 to have lunch in Reflections (aptly named as the kids and I would discuss our day at dinner every evening). Lunch in Reflections is quite good. They have an amazing salad station with many choices and someone makes the salad for you. It was also nice that I was able to sit with some other cruisers and chat up our experiences so far.

 

I will say, unfortunately that was it for me after lunch I went back to the cabin to relax on the balcony and write in my journal and then took a long siesta. ( I did happen to catch some of the rehearsal for Jack and His Magic Beans in the Centrum) I didn't wake up until 5:30 and had to rush to get to dinner on time as it was formal night. We continued with our normal routine of visiting the Art Gallery and was able to get 2 seats to watch the Aerial show of Jack and His Magic Beans. It was a entertaining show that lasted about 15 minutes. Then we found our way back to the Safari Club and they had Karaoke going on.

 

We had a really good time listening to everyone and some were just plain awesome! Luckily it was a contest and on the last sea day those chosen by the audience perform for the title. So those of you who love Karaoke be on the lookout for it on your ship! The Safari Club was full to capacity too! the last singer sang Bennie and the Jets. Ciera and I love this song from the movie 27 Dresses, I know it was done before the movie but it always reminds us of a particular scene in the movie, and he included everyone to sing towards the end. He was really good and I was hoping he would do the same song on the last day. To find out you will have to follow me to our last sea day!

 

So of course we headed to Park Café for our late night snack and then off to bed.

[crvng4mr]

The next morning was a little better as I was up about 9:15 and Ciera and I headed to have breakfast in the MDR before it closed. This was our first breakfast experience in the MDR on this trip. My daughter liked Windjammer better but I thought it was okay. The Windjammer does have the fact that you can sit outback, which is really relaxing and nice.

 

We decided to explore the ship and take pictures so I could share with you all and of course Cai went on to find his friends and play basketball. We found the Cinema, the movie I watched earlier on was shown in the Tropical theater and not the Cinema. Then as we were walking through the pub we noticed they had darts and decided to play best out of 3. I won!!!! Haha! We passed all the crowded spots on deck at the pools and stopped to talk with a few new friends and then headed past the Schooner Bar to the pool tables, which happened to be empty. Every time we passed them before they were occupied and someone was waiting so this was my chance. Ciera wanted no part of it. I think it was because I beat her in darts so she went back to the room and I started a game by myself. about 4 minutes later to my surprise my son walks over to play with me. he saw his sister and she told him where I was and what I was doing so he decided to join me.

 

We played a full game and he won and then we headed to the pub and played darts until his friends past by. Oh, well what could I do but say go on and go with your friends. We had a nice mother son time and I appreciated it. It was time for lunch now anyway so I headed back to the MDR. Lunch of course was enjoyable and I sat with some new friends from our tours.

 

At some point Ciera and I went to the casino and played the penny machine. She lost her $3 (beginner's luck) and I won $11 and cashed out quickly, lol. It then became the joke, as I would say to my son "I won at the casino". I will say that there is so much to do aboard, especially on a sea day that I could not do everything I wanted. The entire trip I never got the chance to use the solarium pool. early afternoon they showed Captain Phillips in the Tropical Theatre and that was good but a little odd to show on a cruise.

 

As usual I headed back to the room to relax on the balcony and write in my journal. I forgot to mention on the 3rd day of the cruise I asked our room attendant for a lounger and when we returned from dinner later on that night it was on the balcony waiting for me. *sidenote* The chairs on the balcony were such a bad height for viewing the ocean. When we sat in them the railing was at eye level, no bueno. So I was happy to have the lounger and enjoyed it immensely.

 

It was time for dinner before I knew it. I think it was at this point that we realized the dessert was better in the Windjammer than in the MDR. It seemed like we weren't the only ones. there was quite a bit going on that evening. we watched the Thriller performance by fellow guests (really good) and then Bar Flair, which these bartenders were definitely a impressive bunch. Tonight was also Rock n Roll attire.

[crvng4mr]

 

 

 

 

 

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[crvng4mr]

 

My pool shark

 

 

 

If these meatballs are on your appetizer menu order 3. They were Devine and I wish I had some right now.

 

[crvng4mr]

 

 

One of the comedy shows (mime)

 

 

 

[crvng4mr]

Up next.......Athens!

[crvng4mr]

Your photos of Rome are stunning!!!! I also wanted to say thanks for sharing the info on The Pieta. I had no idea that was Michaelangelo's reasoning..... very interesting!

 

 

 

LOLOLOL :D

 

Keep up the great work on the review. I think your next stage is where your cruise starts differing in itinerary than mine, so I am very much looking forward to what's next!

 

BTW - I expect my Rome post(s) on my review to be VERY long as well :eek::D

Thank you! I thought it made you really think about his entire process and the kids loved it.

 

I am so looking forward to your Rome! And the ports after. Now we have to go back and cruise each other's ports, lol.

[Kreuzfahrtneuling]

I'm in LOVE with your pictures...either your picture taking skills rock or you have an amazing camera....or probably a bit of both! Had to steel the sunset picture for my current wallpaper :). Which camera did you use? The colours and the different shades of light are so brilliant...Do you give picture taking lessons:)? If not -- you should.

 

Stef

[crvng4mr]

I'm in LOVE with your pictures...either your picture taking skills rock or you have an amazing camera....or probably a bit of both! Had to steel the sunset picture for my current wallpaper :). Which camera did you use? The colours and the different shades of light are so brilliant...Do you give picture taking lessons:)? If not -- you should.

 

Stef

 

Thank you Stef! It is definitely the camera! I love taking pictures and bought myself a Canon DSLR Rebel SL1 last December for Christmas and I love it. I did take a photo tour a few months back when I was in New Orleans but I really need to take a class. I forgot some of the technical stuff already but I'm trying.

 

Haha! Any picture you want , no problems.

[crvng4mr]

Athens up next!!!!!

[crvng4mr]

Oh Athens, how I love thee. I savor every morsel of gyro, spanakopita and greek salad that I can among the many ruins of your land. Oh Athens, how I love thee.

 

Well, duh of course we wake up and we are in the Port of Piraeus or rather Athens!!!!!! Normal morning routine in effect again and today's group consists of 14 and we are on one minibus.

 

We were met at the port by Dimitrios from PK Travel (pretty good looking too if you ask me. I tend to notice these things.). Starting out of port he gave us great info on Athens and was quite humorous as well. Did you know that Athens instituted a driving law that cars with even or odd license plate numbers could only drive into the city on different days. Well what do you think the Athenians did? They bought another car with license plates opposite to what they had so they could drive in everyday, lol. This is some of the info that was provided outside of your good old "important" information.

 

As usual we go over the outline of expectations for that day and discussed any changes. I will say that we only paid 26 euros each for this private full day tour. The least expensive of any of our tours but one of the most perfect ones. Then we head to the Acropolis to beat the heat but more importantly the crowds.

 

A few of us headed first to climb the slippery marble steps to where John the Baptist spoke to the people of Athens and then headed up to the Acropolis passing by the amphitheater. *sidenote* Children are free under 18 and the ticket you purchase at the Acropolis is good for 5 other ruins in Athens as well. It does not cover the new Acropolis museum which is at another location. Truly an amazing sight to see from the top as you can see all of Athens! The kids were already done at this point. They were tired, Ciera wasn't feeling well with a severely soar throat, and Cai was well a 12 year old who is now at his millionth ruin in 7 days. I practically had to drag them up there and take a picture so I left them seated at the beginning and enjoyed the rest on my own.

 

I am so glad we went here first because as we were leaving the masses had just entered and I mean masses. It was also getting quite hot from the blazing sun. I have Vitiligo and so far had been very careful with hats, scarves and finding shade but I could feel I had a bit too much already. How would I fare the rest of the day? You'll just have to read on to see.

 

Pictures for this section up next!

[crvng4mr]

 

 

 

 

 

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[crvng4mr]