Carnival Pride 10-day cruise to (Pompeii), (Mt. Etna), Mykonos, Santorini, Athens, Olympia, Turkey, plus train around Italy

[kelkel2]

Are you headed any other fun places, or is this a flight home? 

[grimpil]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post your adventure. Great balance of pics/ humor/history and food porn. One of the best reviews...rivals St Greg

[pcvtmom]

What an outstanding review and memorable trip!  A thousand thanks for a job well done! (Now I need to go back to Italy...)

[maluhia87]

On 9/23/2022 at 1:22 PM, jimbo5544 said:

Thanks, appreciate it

Bought wine at almost every port without any problems. Even got liquor at a couple, no questions asked. 

[IntrepidFromDC]

One more shot from the last night, Venice (l) and Murano (r) from the plane just after takeoff, and the Alps as we were flying over northern Italy.

[Jamman54]

Awesome review and awesome pictures! Thanks again for taking the time to post! 

[IntrepidFromDC]

On 9/30/2022 at 6:39 AM, kelkel2 said:

Are you headed any other fun places, or is this a flight home? 

We have two dogs and six ferrets that have free roam of the house, so I guess the answer is "both"...

 

Thanks for following on the trip.  Except for the fact my daughter didn't come with me, it was my favorite trip ever!  😁 🏴‍☠️

[backbiter]

Really enjoyed your review. As I've mentioned, we were on the same cruise as you, and also visited the Cinque Terre, but before the cruise. 

We did it in a day by train from La Spezia, which was just as well as the sea was pretty rough when we were there, so it's possible the boat trips were cancelled. Also, there was a train strike the day before, so we were pretty fortunate with our timing as well as our choice of transport. 

I'd wanted to visit them for years and they did not disappoint.

[IntrepidFromDC]

I was going over my photos to see if there were any I meant to post but left out and found one.  At first I looked at this one and wondered why I even took it.  Then I remembered, it was a reminder that I needed to comment on the condition of the Pride, as others have done. Pride is in need of dry dock.

[ninjacat123]

On 10/1/2022 at 7:09 PM, IntrepidFromDC said:

We have two dogs and six ferrets that have free roam of the house, so I guess the answer is "both"...

 

Thanks for following on the trip.  Except for the fact my daughter didn't come with me, it was my favorite trip ever!  😁 🏴‍☠️

Since you usually have a travelling partner (I have always travelled for pleasure with someone, business sometimes by myself) I am curious about your overall take on this experience.  Both cruise and train travel.  TIA!

[IntrepidFromDC]

5 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

Since you usually have a travelling partner (I have always travelled for pleasure with someone, business sometimes by myself) I am curious about your overall take on this experience.  Both cruise and train travel.  TIA!

My overall take on partner and cruise/train?

 

I wish my daughter had come with me, of course the best memories are shared ones.  That said, I already told her I'm doing another trip to Italy next May, with or without her.  In fact I already completed a first draft of the route, based on some reading of "hidden gem" Italian towns.  I will probably be visiting Cinque Terre and Venice again in May, I just can't get enough of them.  The other cities and towns I visited I would like to see again, but not so soon (Bologna, Pisa, Parma, Rome).

 

As for cruise/train, this trip was a 10-day cruise and 12-days training around.  I like the mix alot.  But I'm getting an itchy finger for May and don't see any cruises (free casino offers) to match up with training around except the one I just did.  That doesn't exclude it, but I'm looking for variety before repeating the same itinerary if possible.  I would enjoy the same cruise again, there is enough to do at every port that I can stay happily busy without any redos.  If I compare the itinerary - Mykonos, Santorini, Ephesus, Athens, Olympia, Taormina, Pompeii, Positano - to any other I've been on, none other comes close.

Edited October 3, 2022 by IntrepidFromDC

[LibertyBella]

Thank you for sharing your trip experiences.  Your cruise brought back many great memories for me and I am sure, for others who have traveled in those areas. Venice will always have my heart.  Greek cruises are always one of my favorite itineraries, but I almost always book full-day excursions that include visiting famous archeological sites. Bon voyage for your next adventure!

[IntrepidFromDC]

Did anyone notice the Banksy original on the wall in Venice?  The tour guide said it was done with permission and under agreed secrecy from midnight to 4am one day earlier this year.

[kleibo]

On 9/16/2022 at 7:56 AM, IntrepidFromDC said:

On the water taxi

Intrepid - how long did it take to get to the top of the cable car.  Trying to figure out when I should start an excursion from up there.  It says we arrive in Santorini at 8AM

[staceyglow]

26 minutes ago, kleibo said:

Intrepid - how long did it take to get to the top of the cable car.  Trying to figure out when I should start an excursion from up there.  It says we arrive in Santorini at 8AM

Based on my experience last summer, it's not about the length of the ride itself.  It's the wait to get on the ride.  We skipped it and took the mule ride instead.  We didn't have a shore excursion though, so time didn't matter.  

[IntrepidFromDC]

1 hour ago, kleibo said:

Intrepid - how long did it take to get to the top of the cable car.  Trying to figure out when I should start an excursion from up there.  It says we arrive in Santorini at 8AM

30 - 40 minutes in line (I was with the swarm that just got off the ship, though... I imagine if you time things right the line would be shorter) and a five minute ride up.  Boarding is quick.

[ninjacat123]

On 9/11/2022 at 12:18 PM, IntrepidFromDC said:

The 55-minute train ride from Rome to Civitavecchia was beautiful,  sorry no pics as I got lucky with 4 trainmates all on the Pride and they were both interesting and fun. Once we got to port it got ugly. The first pic is outside of cruise terminal from Lido, second is inside of cruise terminal,  last 2 are surrounding area from Lido deck left and right. 

I'm rereading your review. A couple questions: 

Did you ride the bus to the port from the train?  I'm looking into TrenItalia and there is an option for train and bus to port.

Found out L'altra Guancia is closed on Tuesdays which is our Vatican tour.  I'm thinking lunch on Wednesday which is embarkation day getting reservations at 12:30.  Hour and a half for lunch?

Favorite lunch and dinner places in Rome?

I'll bug you later for more info....thx!!

[ninjacat123]

On 6/1/2023 at 12:54 PM, ninjacat123 said:

I'm rereading your review. A couple questions: 

Did you ride the bus to the port from the train?  I'm looking into TrenItalia and there is an option for train and bus to port.

Found out L'altra Guancia is closed on Tuesdays which is our Vatican tour.  I'm thinking lunch on Wednesday which is embarkation day getting reservations at 12:30.  Hour and a half for lunch?

Favorite lunch and dinner places in Rome?

I'll bug you later for more info....thx!!

Hey Intrepid I hope you are doing well.  I booked a 12:30pm lunch at L'Altra Guancia after we hear the Pope speak on Wednesday at 10:30am.  I'm still thinking about reservations for Rome dinner-wise on Monday, Oct 16 and Tuesday, October 17.  Have any thoughts Mr. Foodie? 😊 TIA!

[ninjacat123]

n-flight meal was eh, train station was organized chaos. I don't check luggage,  so I walked directly from my gate at Rome Airport to the stazione in 10 minutes,  bought an express train ticket to downtown Rome for $14, boarded the waiting train, walked one block from the train station to my hotel (Hotel Mediterraneo, which I recommend despite the bidet having prime bathroom real estate while the toilet languishes, cramped behind the sink). Do bidets gross anyone else out? From deplaning to checkin was only 45 minutes due to the efficient plan of not checking luggage,  knowing where the train station was and how to buy tickets ahead of time,  plus choosing a hotel near Roma Termini Stazione.

 

Intrepid, did you buy a ticket at the Airport?  You mention "how to buy tickets ahead of time" so I'm not sure what was happening train ticket wise.  I want to land at FCO and buy tickets to Venice for the next train out of FCO.  As always, TIA!

[ninjacat123]

On 9/17/2022 at 4:02 PM, IntrepidFromDC said:

Sushi for dinner was better than I remembered. But nowhere near as good as the fresh octopus salad I had in Plaka for lunch. 

Do you remember the name of the restaurant in the Plaka that had the delicious octopus?  TIA!

[IntrepidFromDC]

16 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

Do you remember the name of the restaurant in the Plaka that had the delicious octopus?  TIA!

I retraced my path and found it, but even on Google maps the name is not in English: "Μπαρμπουνάκι Μητροπόλεως".  Have fun, I can't wait to hear about your experience!

[IntrepidFromDC]

On 7/30/2023 at 3:31 PM, ninjacat123 said:

n-flight meal was eh, train station was organized chaos. I don't check luggage,  so I walked directly from my gate at Rome Airport to the stazione in 10 minutes,  bought an express train ticket to downtown Rome for $14, boarded the waiting train, walked one block from the train station to my hotel (Hotel Mediterraneo, which I recommend despite the bidet having prime bathroom real estate while the toilet languishes, cramped behind the sink). Do bidets gross anyone else out? From deplaning to checkin was only 45 minutes due to the efficient plan of not checking luggage,  knowing where the train station was and how to buy tickets ahead of time,  plus choosing a hotel near Roma Termini Stazione.

 

Intrepid, did you buy a ticket at the Airport?  You mention "how to buy tickets ahead of time" so I'm not sure what was happening train ticket wise.  I want to land at FCO and buy tickets to Venice for the next train out of FCO.  As always, TIA!

What I meant was not that I bought tickets ahead of time, but rather that (ahead of time) I read about how easy it is to buy tickets once you're there.  I can't remember if it was the express train website (I'm not sure but I think it's called Leonard Express or something like that?) but I googled it and found something that showed photos of each step (e.g., walking out of FCO with an arrow pointing at the express train station, buying the ticket showing the ticket machine, etc.).  It's easy, but easier if you know the steps and what the ticket machine looks like ahead of time.  The attendant at the ticket machines spoke English.

Edited July 31, 2023 by IntrepidFromDC

[Stowaway LFC]

What a totally awesome and beautiful trip!  I never thought I would want to go to Italy but after seeing all your beautiful pics it's going on my bucket list!  Thank you for documenting so well and I hope to see future reviews! 🤩

[Anyislandwilldo]

On 9/17/2022 at 3:04 PM, Jamman54 said:

 Actually, you don't get any respect because it was Bob Uecker who was in the front row! 

 

Really enjoying your review and pics! 

"Bingo!  I must be in the front row!!"  Bob Uecker

[ninjacat123]

On 9/10/2022 at 5:15 PM, IntrepidFromDC said:

In-flight meal was eh, train station was organized chaos. I don't check luggage,  so I walked directly from my gate at Rome Airport to the stazione in 10 minutes,  bought an express train ticket to downtown Rome for $14, boarded the waiting train, walked one block from the train station to my hotel (Hotel Mediterraneo, which I recommend despite the bidet having prime bathroom real estate while the toilet languishes, cramped behind the sink). Do bidets gross anyone else out? From deplaning to checkin was only 45 minutes due to the efficient plan of not checking luggage,  knowing where the train station was and how to buy tickets ahead of time,  plus choosing a hotel near Roma Termini Stazione.

Hi Intrepid!  Hope you and your daughter are doing well.  When I land at FCO next Friday, to purchase a train ticket I would go to the red Biglietti kiosks, like in your pic here?  I will want tickets to Venice on Frecciarossa (not Regional, too slow).  Or do I get the tickets elsewhere?  TIA!!