Detailed review with photos of Celebrity Beyond 23rd June - 2nd July Western Mediterranean

[CyberTag]

16 hours ago, hcat said:

Yes, but not everyone is aware.... most don't mind paying  if  they know what it will cost ahead of time. ... and it is more than a hole on the ground..

 

A few Carib ports charge for restroom at the port..but fee is usually mentioned in the Celeb Today...

I wasn’t aware either when we first went to Europe.  Not sure it’s Celebrity’s responsibility to inform guests of this. 

[WorkerBee74]

2 hours ago, Aldo7777 said:

Chandelier on holidays, not pish on

my chips but if that precious……..

 

Why are you pulling a quote over from another thread to this one?  🤨

[Surfguyxxx]

Thank you; great photos' and review.

[Lunastella]

13 hours ago, Aldo7777 said:

Chandelier on holidays, not pish on

my chips but if that precious……..

This is confusing me 🤷‍♀️.....

[Lunastella]

3 hours ago, Surfguyxxx said:

Thank you; great photos' and review.

Thanks Surfguy, much appreciated. 

[Lunastella]

Day 7 – Civitavecchia, Rome, Italy (Middle of..kinda)

 

The best sleep yet! Must have been all that relaxing yesterday. We had already docked in Civitavecchia by the time I went to the gym, but still the 4G signal on my phone was really low so I couldn’t follow my planned upper body conditioning set….is this a sign….should I just head back to bed….no…I shall improvise! I tried to remember as many upper body exercises as I could, but it certainly wasn’t as efficient as following Alice. Why didn’t you use the ship’s wifi you say! Laugh out loud I say. You can forget about trying to watch a video using the ship’s basic wifi – it basically allows you to send a WhatsApp, and maybe read some emails, but that’s it. My DH would never survive….an upgrade would be required for sure.

 

We have been in Rome multiple times before for cruises, conferences, weddings, weekends away etc., so we didn’t feel any need to go into Rome today…plus it’s a public holiday and the Pope is giving a special mass so the city is likely to be mobbed. Instead, we planned a bit of a random walk around Civitavecchia and a semi-ship day. Sorry if anyone is here looking for tips on Rome…I have written about it in one of my previous reviews….I’ll try to find it….ok I can’t find…but I have found the key pieces of info – where should you eat!!!!

·       La Tavernetta (for lunch)

·       Renato e Luisa (for dinner)

·       Gelateria del Teatro or Gelateria Delle Palme (for ice-cream or giant lollipops with pictures of Pope Francis on them)

·       Albergo Cesari (hotel for pre/post cruise)

·       An early morning coffee on the roof of St. Peters before the crowd arrives (who knew there was a coffee shop overlooking the entire Vatican!)

 

View from St. Peters

 

Coffee at the top! (at ~8am, no crowds)

 

 

Ok back to the present. A leisurely breakfast in Cosmopolitan was called for (and leisurely it was, especially compared to our previous days in Cosmo – it was busy!). I got water, coffee, grapefruit juice, all the liquids covered so, accompanied by Greek yogurt and pears (why not?) and 2 poached eggs and wholemeal toast, possible a pastry snuck in there too…well if you offer…rude to say no.

 

Only managed to snap the yoghurt and pears for some reason…not the most photogenic, sorry

 

 

Civitavecchia is not a tender port, but like La Spezia it is a commercial port, so we took the free shuttle bus to the port entrance. Most people were heading to the station to take the train to Rome, but we had other plans….possibly less interesting ones.

 

Basically, we just walked around the town…passed by some churches, the fort, the local market, and the beach.  We did have some vague plans to take a bus to Tarquinia which is close to Civi and has lots of Etruscan art, a necropolis, museums, and even a cathedral, but, it being a public holiday (perhaps), the bus wasn’t running, or if it was, there was like 1 a day, so we couldn’t go….not sure how disappointed DS and DM were really….being lovers of ruins and all….

 

A tower

 

 

A building

 

 

A market

 

 

 

A fort

 

 

 

Random, but very Italian

 

 

Me!

 

 

And me again!

 

 

 

The walk didn’t take too long and by 12.30 we were back on the ship, after a very long wait for the shuttle bus. But DS made a friend while waiting:

 

 

 

No idea where DS and DM disappeared to (hopefully not overboard…), but I wasn’t too concerned so I went to the hanging chairs in Eden to read for a while before meeting DS for lunch in Eden (she tracked me down). We had what had become our ‘usual’ – Roquefort salad, some sourdough, but today I mixed things up with a banana (the first one I have encountered on-board, but guess I wasn’t really looking but now they are everywhere!). As before, we ate outside in the shade.

 

Lunch…variety is not the spice of life

 

 

 

Service was very attentive, either the waiters were very bored today or they just wanted to get us out of there asap. I literally had to clasp my Heineken to my chest in fear of it being whipped away at any moment.

 

 We watched the washing of the windows.

 

First outside.

 

 

 

Then inside.

 

 

New house has a lot of glass, I am taking notes.

 

After lunch I headed to Café al Bacio for an americano and some chocolate cake that was enormous, truly enormous, so enormous that it would have been obscene to take a photo…I ate it instead. No evidence.

 

Other cakes in Café al Bacio

 

 

Where to next you may ask…well you guessed it, Solarium for reading, writing, listening, maybe talking if I must.

 

The view

 

 

The afternoon was spent pretty much in situ. I had a walk around jogging track at about 6pm before returning to the cabin to get ready for our earlier than normal dinner.

 

Walk views

 

We had a quick aperitif in the Sunset bar (Campari on ice, a rediscovered favourite), while taking some obligatory pre-dinner photos.  

 

The sunset bar

 

 

DS rocking the Miami vice vibes

 

 

DS trying to get me to do something more ‘interesting’….it didn’t work

 

 

At 7pm we headed down to our reservation in Fine Cut. We managed to snag a window seat again, win!

 

Inside Fine Cut

 

 

Menu (again)

 

 

 

DS and DM

 

 

We saw the pilot again

 

 

I had crab cake, 6oz fillet steak (the waiter tried to convince me to have 9oz, no way, have you seen the size of the ice-cream sundae in here! I got asparagus and fries as sides. So tasty! Steak cooked to perfection. I was way too full to have a real dessert, I had some ice-cream (as I said before, ice-cream doesn’t count right??)

 

Crab cake

 

 

Steak & all the sides

 

 

Ice-cream & choc sauce

 

 

No shows or dancing for us tonight, instead we have a movie night planned (House of Gucci – given we are in Italy and all).

 

But first, we enjoyed an epic sunset from our balcony – the sunset veranda living up to its name! Stunning. Apologise in advance for all the photos…but look at  that light!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lunastella]

Day 8 – Naples, Italy (South of)

 

A great sleep was had by all! Rejoice! I was up by 7 and headed straight to a very empty gym….the emptiest yet…it is day 8 I guess…intentions are waning. We were already docked in Naples and I had wonderful 4G coverage (yay!), so I could do my Alice workout without difficulty (full body conditioning set today). No difficulty accessing the video, but a lot of difficulty in actual implementation….god that was a hard one. Spa café coffee time!

 

I love docking in Naples as you are so close to the city centre - no tender, no shuttle bus, you just have to walk off the ship and you are right there in the middle of the city.

 

View from Oceanview or possibly the gym...

 

 

We had booked a pizza workshop in Naples for 11am but I got an email during the night to say it had been moved to 1pm.  So DM decided to skip the workshop as the heat in Naples around lunchtime would be too much for her (it was going to be >30 degrees). She was happy enough to hang out on the ship and enjoy some quiet time without her children taking photos continuously and telling her to ‘get out of the shot!’

 

But now DS and I had a dilemma – how to spend a morning in Naples? We had no time to go to Ischia (which we did the last time, loved, loved, loved it!), or Pompeii (which we did on another trip), or Capri (ditto), or Amalfi coast (double ditto).

 

Ischia (on a previous (non X- don’t kill us-cruise…2017)

 

 

We decided that food might help us make a decision. So we headed up to Oceanview to deliberate (and eat). I had a banana and some pineapple, and what looks like yoghurt and granola, and some pastries. I’m sure coffee was involved.

 

Breakfast

 

 

DS and I are always drawn to the underground, but so is everyone else apparently so all the

tickets for the Catacombs that morning were booked out. Instead, we decided to wander through Naples old town with the intention of ending up at Santa Chiara Complesso Mounumentale. Google don’t let us down!

 

Our walk through Naples

 

 

 

 

 

The cheapest Aperol Spritz ever! No DS keep walking….

 

 

Santa Chiara Complesso Mounumentale is a religious site in the centre of Naples which has fantastic cloisters and archeologically museum. Such a peaceful retreat in a busy, noisy, hot city. It is filled with lemon, orange and olive trees and colourful frescos. Plus its only €6 entry and they have toilets (free ones!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nope, not a building site, ancient baths

 

 

 

Feeling suitably pious after our visit to the cloisters, we stopped by a bar on the way to the pizza workshop as we were still way too early. We didn’t mean to drink anything alcoholic or eat any food…but it’s so hot and I mean, how was I to know a Napolitana spritz contains alcohol?? The waiter said the ingredients were a secret….this was a strong secret! On the plus side he gave us loads of snacks to snack on and line our stomachs. It was the cheapest spritz in the history of spritz (ok more expensive than the €3.00 one we saw earlier, but still only ~€6-7). We were very happy. Just the one mind you.

 

Spritz

 

 

All the snacks!

 

 

On our way to the workshop

 

 

We had to meet for our pizza workshop at a shop close to the port. There are loads of these types of workshop/tours available in Naples, with average prices ranging from €50-80, however we had found one for €15 on AirBnB Experiences which seemed to promise exactly the same content as all the others, so we went for it….sure what’s the worst thing that could happen??? Nothing, it would turn out, it was excellent value!

 

There was already a big crowd waiting when we arrived as the morning class (which was cancelled) and the lunchtime class had been merged into one. But once we got to the restaurant (just a few mins walk up the road) they split us into two groups which worked out really well. The class took place upstairs in a modern pizzeria.

 

The workshop space

 

 

 

We started off by learning how to make the dough - floor, water, yeast, salt and lots of kneading, lots of kneading…adding more and more flour as you go…this is hard work…

 

 

Kneading

 

 

Ok time for a break, that was genuinely tiring. We were invited to sit and share some anti-pasta (bruschetta and arancini with a glass a prosecco). Thank you very much. Tasty.

 

Bruschetta

 

 

Arancini

 

 

Ok, break over, back to the pizza making quick smart! The dough can take up to 12-18 hours to proof (depending on the temperature), so obviously we didn’t use the dough we had just prepared to make the pizza (just as well perhaps…). Instead, he gave us dough they had made earlier (i.e. made by a professional chef, not our attempts). We learned how to stretch out and shape the dough, which is harder than it looks. Then the instructor (who was not one to joke with by the way, to the detriment of one of the other students who got a stern telling off!), gave us tomato sauce, burrata and basil as toppings. Then we headed down to the pizza oven downstairs to cook. It literally takes 2-3mins! We even got to take it out of the oven.

 

Roll it there Roisin!

 

 

Ready for the oven

 

 

Fingers crossed

 

 

The final product!

 

 

I was pretty impressed with how mine turned out, the instructor even complimented me on my crust (!). They offered us a drink (wine or beer) while we ate our the pizza. I could only eat half of it after all those snacks earlier. The instructor/chef sat with us while we were eating and talked about the history of pizza, he also wrote out the instructions for making pizza at home and he gave us a certificate. It really is excellent value, I would definitely recommend.

 

How to make pizza at home

 

 

So proud, tops my PhD!

 

 

It was a short and sweaty walk back to the ship, and coupled with all the food (and ahem the drinks…), we were ready for a lie down. But some jobs to do first - pick up a present for my DH (a University of Naples t-shirt to add to his collection from my many travels) and some cash for a tip for Munir, our cabin attendant…as the cruise is nearing to an end….sob….

 

As I said, it was very hot and very sweaty today

 

 

You can even see Mount Vesuvius from  the ship

 

 

We got back to the ship at about 4pm and headed straight to the cabin to see how DM had spent her day…and to enjoy the air conditioning. She was fine, think she’s on her third book of the cruise at this point

 

Feeling suitable refreshed, I went down (sorry up) to the solarium as per my afternoon routine.

 

It was a relatively short ‘relax’ today as I was back in the cabin by 7pm to watch our sail-away from Naples with views of Vesuvius in the distance.

 

Goodbye Naples

 

 

DM went for an early dinner in Oceanview and DS wasn’t hungry at all that pizza, so it would be a late dinner solo tonight (I can always eat). But first we collectively went to the Arte show in the theatre at 7.30pm. There was singing, there was dancing, there was acrobatics, it was entertaining, albeit a bit loud, but maybe that’s just me.

 

Arte

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK time to experience dining solo on Beyond. I have gone on one cruise by myself, just a 2/3 day trip from Southampton to Hamburg on the Queen Mary II,  and I am very used to travelling on my own for work (pre C19), so eating alone is not a problem for me.

 

But where would I go?? I could have gone to any of the 4 main restaurants, but I decided on Tuscan. Why? There is no why.

 

“Table for one” said I, “just for one” said she, “yes just for one” said I. Once seated, “will you be dining along this evening?” said she, “yes, just me” said I. And again, “dining alone this evening?” said he, “yep, you guessed it” said I. I get the message, I am a loser with no friends! I was asked 3 times in less than 5 minutes! But I had my kindle for company, and I was seated next to a lovely couple from Liverpool who were doing a back-to-back cruise and we talked for a while over dinner.

 

Table for one

 

 

I wasn’t too hungry I so kept it simple - pumpkin salad to start, followed by salmon and vegetables. The sommelier came absolutely nowhere near me, dining alone is like being completely visible and invisible at the same time. When my salad arrived I asked my waiter for a glass of white wine to accompany it and she was shocked that the sommelier had not served me – she said it must be because there was no-one in the seat opposite me. Gosh, I really do need that glass of wine now! My lesson from dining alone (at least in Tuscan) – you are definitely made to feel like you are dining alone, but people will be very friendly so you won’t be lonely. But it did made me question whether I really want to go on my planned world cruise alone….won’t be for many years yet though.

 

Salad

 

 

Salmon

 

 

I wasn’t planning on having dessert as I couldn’t even finish my salmon, but when I spied tiramisu on the menu…first time all cruise….I couldn’t resist (good thing DM wasn’t there - no dessert without eating all your dinner flashbacks came to mind). It was very good, I finished it all.

 

Tiramisu

 

 

Back in the cabin, DS and DM were enjoying the balcony, well actually, they were trying to solve the daily Wordle, but it was defeating them. We watched the remainder of House of Gucci and went to bed. Our last day full tomorrow!

[Barwick Cruiser]

I am going to be very sorry when you’re finished this report, your writing style along with the pics has been absolutely wonderful! Your sense of humour is also coming through and I’ve been chuckling along. Definitely one of the best reviews I’ve read on these boards and trust me I read them all! Thank you for keeping me and I’m sure many others so well entertained 🙏

[WorkerBee74]

3 hours ago, Lunastella said:

This is confusing me 🤷‍♀️.....

 

Right?  Especially because it's a quote from a completely different thread being responded to.

[Beamafar]

Roll it there Róisín - lol. 🤣🤣🤣

 

I remember when it was “Roll it there, Collette”.  😂😂

[hcat]

On 7/14/2022 at 10:46 PM, CyberTag said:

 

 

 

Can't  get rid of above  post..pls ignore it being here????

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Barwick Cruiser said:

I am going to be very sorry when you’re finished this report, your writing style along with the pics has been absolutely wonderful! Your sense of humour is also coming through and I’ve been chuckling along. Definitely one of the best reviews I’ve read on these boards and trust me I read them all! Thank you for keeping me and I’m sure many others so well entertained 🙏

Agree 100 % with this comment...review only got better and better..

Totally delightful. Great writing style, .comments, photos,  outfits...will miss it when cruise is over

[nikel]

I know you will be sad when your cruise is over.  I for one will be even sadder.  Have loved living this cruise vicariously, especially since we just had to cancel our October one........your style of writing and pictures make my day !

[dani negreanu]

I'm thoroughly riveted with your review, enjoying your dry wit, your outfits and your pics, not to mention your writing style, which is not "academic" at all ☹️.

 

Thank you for taking the time, I know it is a LOT of work.

 

YES. We found Arte and, in general, the shows quite loud.

 

And Munir was also our CA, and he was marvelous. From the first day he got the "hint" that we don't like the sheets tucked in, and also removed all the ornamental pillows [which he found crammed unceremoniously in the closet 😉] 

[Lastdance]

On 7/13/2022 at 10:35 AM, WorkerBee74 said:

Thank you SO much for the extensive Cinque Terre coverage!  That's gonna be me on Oct 15th... we're doing a DIY train tour too.  Good to know about the bus... I'll be on the hunt for bus tickets in the terminal - that's awful that happened to you 😞

 

We're planning to start with Vernazza and work our way back... I'd rather see Corniglia than Monterosso - it won't be beach weather when we're there anyway!

Just so you know, Monterosso is a wonderful place to stay.  My DH and I have stayed at a hotel where we befriended the owners who are absolutely lovely...so is the view, along with a wonderful breakfast.  We returned a few years ago for four nights, in the same small hotel. We are meeting them again next May, but just for a short visit.  You can start the hike from there, or begin it at an easier place/town.  Another great way to travel to the other towns is by ferry; do not miss Portovenere if you ever return for an extended stay!

Edited July 16, 2022 by Lastdance

[JohnGinPBG]

37 minutes ago, Lastdance said:

Just so you know, Monterosso is a wonderful place to stay.  My DH and I have stayed at a hotel where we befriended the owners who are absolutely lovely...so is the view, along with a wonderful breakfast.  We returned a few years ago for four nights, in the same small hotel. We are meeting them again next May, but just for a short visit.  You can start the hike from there, or begin it at an easier place/town.  Another great way to travel to the other towns is by ferry; do not miss Portovenere if you ever return for an extended stay!

 

We stayed in Monterosso for 3 nights in 2019 at Il Guardino Incantanto with hosts Fausto and Mariapira. It was magical! By any chance was that the place you stayed? Daily breakfast in a wonderful garden

[upwarduk]

Thank you for a detailed review

I was especially interested in  Civitavecchia , as we too have decided not to go into Rome, which we have visited a number of times.

[Tee & Chilli]

The best review of the year. Excellent!!

[Wirral Girlie]

Thoroughly enjoying your review..... Especially as we will be in the exact same cabin doing the exact same itinerary in September!!! 

I have even had a rethink about some of our planned tours thanks to your review!

Many thanks....

Wirral Girl (not that far from Ireland🥰)

[vickykay]

Quick question.  How did you get from the port to the old town in Naples?  We will be there in Oct. and still deciding how to spend the day as we have been to the major sites before.  Enjoying your review.  Thanks!

[Lunastella]

19 hours ago, Barwick Cruiser said:

I am going to be very sorry when you’re finished this report, your writing style along with the pics has been absolutely wonderful! Your sense of humour is also coming through and I’ve been chuckling along. Definitely one of the best reviews I’ve read on these boards and trust me I read them all! Thank you for keeping me and I’m sure many others so well entertained 🙏

Thank you Barwick Cruiser. I'm really not funny in real life (just ask DS)!

[Lunastella]

18 hours ago, Beamafar said:

Roll it there Róisín - lol. 🤣🤣🤣

 

I remember when it was “Roll it there, Collette”.  😂😂

Ah I was wondering if someone would get it....fellow late late show watcher...

[Lunastella]

18 hours ago, hcat said:

 

 

Can't  get rid of above  post..pls ignore it being here????

 

 

 

Agree 100 % with this comment...review only got better and better..

Totally delightful. Great writing style, .comments, photos,  outfits...will miss it when cruise is over

Thanks Hcat. I have really appreciated your comments and encouragement all the way. 

[Lunastella]

16 hours ago, nikel said:

I know you will be sad when your cruise is over.  I for one will be even sadder.  Have loved living this cruise vicariously, especially since we just had to cancel our October one........your style of writing and pictures make my day !

Thanks Nikel. So sorry to hear you had to cancel your cruise, hopefully its a postponement rather than a full cancel. You will be back out there someday.

[Lunastella]

14 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

I'm thoroughly riveted with your review, enjoying your dry wit, your outfits and your pics, not to mention your writing style, which is not "academic" at all ☹️.

 

Thank you for taking the time, I know it is a LOT of work.

 

YES. We found Arte and, in general, the shows quite loud.

 

And Munir was also our CA, and he was marvelous. From the first day he got the "hint" that we don't like the sheets tucked in, and also removed all the ornamental pillows [which he found crammed unceremoniously in the closet 😉] 

Hi Dani, you are right, it does take time and effort, especially choosing among the hundreds, if not thousands of photos! 

Munir was great, we felt bad that he had extra work as there was 3 of us in the cabin, so we tried to be tidy (not easy with 3 women!!!). 

[Lunastella]

13 hours ago, Lastdance said:

Just so you know, Monterosso is a wonderful place to stay.  My DH and I have stayed at a hotel where we befriended the owners who are absolutely lovely...so is the view, along with a wonderful breakfast.  We returned a few years ago for four nights, in the same small hotel. We are meeting them again next May, but just for a short visit.  You can start the hike from there, or begin it at an easier place/town.  Another great way to travel to the other towns is by ferry; do not miss Portovenere if you ever return for an extended stay!

I would love to do a land-based trip to the Cinque Terre so thanks for the tip.