Review Vista May 24 - June 3 Med Cruise

[scrantsj]

Maria Clara recommended a restaurant and then called ahead for us so we would get good, quick service. Fabulous food, fabulous service, good prices. Couldn't ask for more.

 

Next, at our request, Maria Clara took us to the Leather School. We had read about it and how they also had a store attached. Thinking we might find a bargain there, we wanted to go. Don't waste your time. Their merchandise is priced even higher than most of the stores were visited. So, off we went to do some shopping.

 

Last stop of the day was Ponte Vecchio. Surprisingly we did find some well priced jewelry there!! And the beauty and the history are simply amazing.

 

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Maria Clara took us to a nice shopping area and we shopped around for a while, after which our time in Florence was pretty much up. We got in the van, made a stop for some WONDERFUL gelato, and then it was back to Livorno and the ship.

 

This may have been our best Rome in Limo experience to date. Not only did we love Florence (and wish we could have spent much more time there) but Maria Clara was a gem!

 

I HIGHLY recommend this tour and this guide.

Well, hopefully Maria didn't have any issues after that little incident in the alley. Although, I had a good laugh about it.[emoji16]

 

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[jess427rn]

Great review! I'm so excited because we will also be staying at the Gaudi Hotel for one night post cruise in July. I'm glad to hear you had a great stay!

Is the Sagrada Familia walking distance from the Gaudi hotel?

And I too have Verizon so thanks for all your info!

 

 

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[krlipman]

Baseball mom, when are the two formal nights?

[cmcsharon]

Thank you for your wonderful review! I can't wait to look for "Quick Pitta" for one of our lunches in Athens...and, my daughter wants to do the fish pedicure. It'll be fun to see if she can convince her boyfriend to do it too.

 

I have a question about the port. You mentioned it was a cluster...what time did you get there and would you recommend going any earlier or later to avoid some of the issues? I'm getting the impression that it's not really a cruise terminal like we're used too and we'll just have to have patience, no matter what time we go. Would you agree?

[BaseballMomof4]

Baseball mom, when are the two formal nights?

 

First one was the sea day, second one was June 1st, which would have been Florence I think???

[BaseballMomof4]

Thank you for your wonderful review! I can't wait to look for "Quick Pitta" for one of our lunches in Athens...and, my daughter wants to do the fish pedicure. It'll be fun to see if she can convince her boyfriend to do it too.

 

I have a question about the port. You mentioned it was a cluster...what time did you get there and would you recommend going any earlier or later to avoid some of the issues? I'm getting the impression that it's not really a cruise terminal like we're used too and we'll just have to have patience, no matter what time we go. Would you agree?

 

They may have been able to tighten things up since our cruise but yes, it was a hot mess. I really doubt time of day is going to matter. There was a line for the expedited embarkation and then a line for everyone else and it is in a temporary tent structure. I think it's just one of those situations where you simply don't expect to breeze on through and you won't be disappointed ;) If it goes quickly and without glitches you can consider it a bonus :D

[BaseballMomof4]

Great review! I'm so excited because we will also be staying at the Gaudi Hotel for one night post cruise in July. I'm glad to hear you had a great stay!

Is the Sagrada Familia walking distance from the Gaudi hotel?

And I too have Verizon so thanks for all your info!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

That will depend on you ;) it is a fairly long walk but we had a lot of time to kill and Barcelona is just such a clean, beautiful, walkable city we took our time and enjoyed it. If you are not much of a walker or if you don't have at least an hour for a slower paced stroll - I suggest a cab.

[BaseballMomof4]

Well, hopefully Maria didn't have any issues after that little incident in the alley. Although, I had a good laugh about it.[emoji16]

 

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I have probably told that story 10 times since we have been home Scott, and I laugh every time!

[shark&minnow]

Thank you, I really enjoyed your review. We are also staying at the Gaudi for 2 nights pre cruise. Can not wait!!!

[AngMo44]

Thank you for your wonderful review! I can't wait to look for "Quick Pitta" for one of our lunches in Athens...and, my daughter wants to do the fish pedicure. It'll be fun to see if she can convince her boyfriend to do it too.

 

I have a question about the port. You mentioned it was a cluster...what time did you get there and would you recommend going any earlier or later to avoid some of the issues? I'm getting the impression that it's not really a cruise terminal like we're used too and we'll just have to have patience, no matter what time we go. Would you agree?

 

We breezed right through at 3:30 with nobody ahead of us at all. Only ever stopping long enough to get our photo taken between getting out of van and onto ship. I know many others are in a hurry to get on board, so we used our day in Athens to the fullest.

[Joyron]

As far as the ship is concerned, I wasn't much of a social butterfly considering the long port days.

 

I can say the comedians (I went to 3 shows) were hit or miss. The first one was bad but the two after that were really good. I went to the Piano Bar one night and that was very entertaining. I am not a gambler so cannot comment on the Casino. We did not wind up eating at any of the specialty restaurants but heard good reviews of them.

 

I did do the Sky Ride and would caution parents of young kids that this is very difficult in spots and we saw younger kids stranded who had to be bumped around by the staff, one a particularly windy day even a grown man got stranded).

 

The hot tubs on Serenity and the Havana deck at the hottest and least crowded. You can see all the aft facing balconies from the Havana pool deck, so, no privacy there.

 

The Seafood Shack is well worth the price, the Clam Chowder is awesome!!

 

The laundry room is very popular so if you plan on doing laundry, prepare for a possible wait of a half hour to get a machine, when I went there was a line of people waiting.

 

I had no issue finding a deck chair on the sea day, which was a pleasant surprise!

 

I smoke and can say that the Deck 11 aft smoking area and the Deck 5 Lanai smoking area were both really, really nice.

 

We had anytime dining and our experience in the main dining room was hit or miss. We had a couple of great nights and a couple of "meh" nights. The Lido actually had some fantastic options and we ate there more than we normally would.

 

The new photo system is GREAT! So easy, no more searching for photos and you can buy them right from your phone if you have the Hub App and they show up on the Hub App within minutes of being taken.

 

We found the Hub App super helpful and useful and totally worth the $5.

 

If anyone has an specific questions, fire away - I will do my best to answer them!

 

Thanks for the review. Very helpful. We will be in Vista July 19, arriving in Athens July 17th. My question is 1) what time do you suggest we arrive at the pier in Piraeus . I want to make the most of that embarkation day exploring the ship 2) How may formal nights were there on the 10 day cruise

Thanks

Joy

[BaseballMomof4]

Thanks for the review. Very helpful. We will be in Vista July 19, arriving in Athens July 17th. My question is 1) what time do you suggest we arrive at the pier in Piraeus . I want to make the most of that embarkation day exploring the ship 2) How may formal nights were there on the 10 day cruise

Thanks

Joy

 

We had 1 full day and 1 half day of sight seeing in Athens and felt we did most of our targeted sights, but again, that will be more about you than any timetable. We got to the port around mid-day and waited a bit, others got there late and breezed right through so again, preference.

 

There were 2 formal nights, the first on our sea day the second was on June 1st.

[BaseballMomof4]

Thank you, I really enjoyed your review. We are also staying at the Gaudi for 2 nights pre cruise. Can not wait!!!

 

Fantastic location right off La Rambla!! Enjoy!!

[Joyron]

We had 1 full day and 1 half day of sight seeing in Athens and felt we did most of our targeted sights, but again, that will be more about you than any timetable. We got to the port around mid-day and waited a bit, others got there late and breezed right through so again, preference.

 

There were 2 formal nights, the first on our sea day the second was on June 1st.

 

Thanks!

[The Phoenixx]

Subscribing. Planning a birthday cruise in 2018. Hoping to sail the Vista II with a similar itinerary. Loving the details. Thanks bunches.

[BaseballMomof4]

Subscribing. Planning a birthday cruise in 2018. Hoping to sail the Vista II with a similar itinerary. Loving the details. Thanks bunches.

 

I too am hoping to sail the Vista II in 2018!! Although I think I would try for a different itinerary this time since we have now been to Naples, Rome, Florence and Marseille twice. Maybe they will have the Croatia itinerary again in 2018, or at least switch out Marseille for another port. Don't get me wrong, we love Marseille, but twice is enough for us.

 

If you have any specific questions, let me know - otherwise we may sail together in 2018!