Review of Greek Isle cruise Oct 2015 (Pictures Inc)

[tidygirl]

Splendour of the Seas Oct. 3-9, 2015

I am not a writer by any means, but would like to give a trip report of our Greek Isle cruise out of Venice.

We are a family of 6- DH (49) Me (49) son (26) DD's (28 and the other turned 24 while cruising) SIL (25)

I am a budget traveler so that we can go on vacations with our family spending the kids inheritance one trip at a time :)

We drove from Pa up to Toronto Canada about a 4 hour drive instead of our normal 2 hour trip to Pittsburgh, but after a tip from my tax preparer she told me to check international flights from there as she found they were cheaper. I took her advice and checked it out, tickets were $500 pp cheaper well worth the drive. (happy dance)

Tip for those flying out of Toronto we allowed ourselves 3 hours to get checked in, we spent half an hour at ticket booth as the agent had issues getting my hubby and sons tickets sorted out as the boy is named after his dad, but with JR on the end. We then had to go through customs and security. We arrived at our gate at 10:50 with our flight leaving at 11:40 not much time to spare.

We had a 5 hour layover in Philadelphia and had considered going to see the Liberty Bell as we have never seen it, but after talking to a guy at the information desk he said to allow 3 hours to go and get back, plus time to go through security. As we needed time to eat and not sure how long it would take to come back through security we chose not to chance it.

We arrived in Venice at 9:00 in the morning. We bought tickets for the atvo bus for 8 euro pp and it takes you right to the train station and Venice with no stops.

I found an apartment on Trip Advisor that was 3 bedrooms 2 baths that could sleep 7 for sure maybe 8 for a much more reasonable price than I could find for 2 triple hotel rooms. (Any questions on this place or want to see pictures let me know)

The lady met us where she said she would and walked with us to the apartment. We were very happy with what we had rented (as I am always fearful you will get to your destination and they won't be there or the place does NOT look like the pictures!) it was very clean and she even had stuff like cell phone chargers with the euro plugs, toiletries if you needed and other items. I would definitely stay there again if we are ever in Venice and need a place to stay!

Spent the remaining part of the day wandering and getting lost in Venice. We saw many of the main sites, but did not go into Doges Palace.

Edited October 14, 2015 by tidygirl

[landtraveler]

Hi,

Im not quite sure how to use the cruise critic links as I just joined and will be going on our first BIG ship cruise with my husband in Sept 2016. I think you answered my question which I alter found out I asked on the wrong forum...doesnt matter. My husband and i prefer to do our own thing rather than excursions or group tours which involve a bus and 40 people. We are sailing out of Rome and going to Sicily, Athens, Mykonos, Santorini and Kudasaki. Did you have those port stops? Did you do visit the place son you own or book a tour. Any advice will b greatly appreciated. We are in our 60s, active and can follow a map and guidebook well. Not afraid of public transportation. My biggest concern is making it back to the ship on time.

Thanks,

Maria

[tidygirl]

We did Athens on our own and in Mykonos took the ferry over to Delos Island it was super easy to do we paid 25€ pp versus $89;for the ships excursion.

I'm waiting for help to post pictures and hope to post more of my review.

Check on Tripadvisor about the ports and see what interest you to get you started.

I'm happy to give you any more info or details you may want!

We did a stop in Rome last year if you are planning on doing the Vatican or coliseum make sure you buy tickets ahead of time! (Unless you Like to wait in lines :)

I did a review last October "our families viewpoint of our Med cruise" telling h I would we did public transportation to and from the port.

[landtraveler]

Thanks. Will look for your Greek Isle review. Im still trying to figure out this website. Obviously you cruise a lot, we are more of the land traveler. We fly in, rent a car and head into the countryside. We have done Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica and bunch of others. Before w get on the cruise we will doing the Amalfi Coast and be back in Rome on the day the ship sails. We have done all the sites in Rome but love spending time in the city and the little lesser known neighborhoods.

Thanks again for your help. Will reach out with more questions as they crop up. I have time yet and a few trips to do before we actually head to Italy. We will be in Belize in February and Peru in May.

Maria

[tidygirl]

ONE of the easier bridges to take luggage over

[img

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[tidygirl]

I was going to splurge on a Gondola ride for 80 for all 6 of us, but when we passed them I was in search of a toilet (which by the way are hard to find and cost 1,50€

Directions to the toilets

 

When we came back through later it was raining so we decide it wasn't worth riding in the rain! I thought the gondola drivers? would maybe talk to the people in the boat explaining things, but we saw a couple of them texting not talking while paddling!

 

We found a pizza place on a side street that we bought a HUGE pizza for 24 which had 8 slices 1 slice filled most of us up!

 

[tidygirl]

Saturday- Day to board the ship we had considered walking around some, but we were happy with what we seen the day before so we went ahead and headed to the ship. We walked to the bus station and caught the People mover for 1,50 pp which gets you closer to the port area, but be warned if you have difficulties walking of hauling your own luggage you may want to find another option as we had to go to gate 110 which is close to a half a mile walk.

Check in was quick and we were on board quickly, headed to the Windjammer for lunch. Then time to check out our rooms! Now we have had inside rooms for all but 1 of our 13 cruises and have had 4 of us in a room. (Call me crazy but I am a budget traveler! )

 

 

No shelves in the closet, no medicine cabinet behind the mirror, not much storage space at all. We unpacked 2 large suitcases, left one on the chair/small couch. and put the other in the closet. The room was very cosy, but besides showering and sleeping we were seldom in the room, and not because we couldn't stand being in the cramped space either! The one time we had a balcony room I can't even say we sat outside, so for us inside is fine for our active lifestyle!

The ship wasn't in too bad of shape we heard a little creaking and the young married couples door stuck some , but nothing major! I know there will be those that say it needs updated, but considering the age of the ship and how many people are on it every week I didn't think it was too bad!

We ate all our meals in the WJ and always found enough food so no one was hungry! Our family prefers just going and choosing what to eat and leaving when they are done. I have shown them pictures on here of the food in the MDR and they know it's usually close to a 2 hour ordeal and they say NO THANK YOU!

My one complaint on the food section would be they had only 1 choice of ice cream at night and being an ice cream lover was disappointed many nights they had flavors I didn't care for. It would be nice if they offered free ice cream in the evening somewhere!

Complaint on port stops- really not enough time some days to do much, when you have to tender at 2 of them and don't arrive at some till noon and back on by 7 or 8 when it's dark around 6:30 it leaves you feeling very rushed!

Edited October 17, 2015 by tidygirl

[tidygirl]

Sunday- Kotor Montenegro- I had booked with Montenegro M tours Mladin is the owner and was our driver to go to Lovcen park and the mausoleum. He was waiting for us outside the port and we promptly took off. We were with him for 5 hours and the family really enjoyed him, he was informative and funny and very reasonably priced compared to tours I had checked last year in Rome, and France.

He dropped us off at the old town and we did some souvenir shopping, we would have loved to climb up to the fort in town, but we just did not have enough time ! Took the last tender back to the ship. :(