Splendor Rome to Miami 11/13

[crusin7]

Good afternoon all.  My sister Cathy and I are at LAX awaiting our 1525 LA to Rome flight on ITA.  We have low expectations from the airline after reading the reviews.  We chose it because it is the only nonstop from LA.  We are in the Korean Air lounge.  It’s like a ghost town in here.  We snacked on fried rice and chicken wings.  It was perfectly acceptable.  Only Beringer wine.  No Sauvignon Blanc only Chardonnay.  No thank you.  Bathroom is nice. 
If you have any questions please let me know.  If anyone else on this sailing wants to contribute they are very welcome.  We should be arriving around noonish Sunday afternoon.  We are staying at the Westin Excelsior.  The recent reviews have not been too pleasing.  Hopefully both air and hotel will exceed expectations.  
Crisy

[bebop bonnie]

Next April we will be flying ITA Rome to Miami non stop.  I’m also not too optimistic about the ITA flight, but being non stop makes it (hopefully) worth it!  Loved every moment on the Splendor and look forward to hearing about your flight, hotel and of course the Splendor!!

[pingpong1]

3 hours ago, crusin7 said:

Good afternoon all.  My sister Cathy and I are at LAX awaiting our 1525 LA to Rome flight on ITA.  We have low expectations from the airline after reading the reviews.  We chose it because it is the only nonstop from LA.  We are in the Korean Air lounge.  It’s like a ghost town in here.  We snacked on fried rice and chicken wings.  It was perfectly acceptable.  Only Beringer wine.  No Sauvignon Blanc only Chardonnay.  No thank you.  Bathroom is nice. 
If you have any questions please let me know.  If anyone else on this sailing wants to contribute they are very welcome.  We should be arriving around noonish Sunday afternoon.  We are staying at the Westin Excelsior.  The recent reviews have not been too pleasing.  Hopefully both air and hotel will exceed expectations.  
Crisy

Hi Crisy - Hope you get to Rome okay and without any problems.  We'll be joining up with you in Barcelona!  Best Regards.

[carolina cruisin]

We will be doing same itinerary on Grandeur in 2025.  Will be interested in how your trip goes. Habe been on Splendor twice - both trips were great.

[-Lew-]

15 hours ago, crusin7 said:

We have low expectations from the airline after reading the reviews.

 

It appears you arrived 30 minutes early...not too shabby.

 

Looks like you will be following us across.  We're on the Viking Sky on our second day of an overnight in Livorno.  Enjoy your cruise...

[crusin7]

The flight was pretty good.  When we were seated they gave us fabulous menus only to take them away 15 minutes later.  I think mine had drool on it.  They were replaced with very standard fare.  Quite a disappointment.  The flight crew were courteous but not overly friendly.    The seats did lie flat.  They were a bit thin.  But perfectly acceptable.  
They transferred us by bus to the Westin Excelsior it was an hour drive.  They said there are 190 Regent guests.  Luckily our room was ready.  We are on the first floor.

 

Our room

We are going to walk around so we don’t fall asleep.  Crisy

 

 

 

 

 

 

[crusin7]

Yesterday we went for an early dinner at Piccolo Mundo.  It is 2 blocks from the hotel.  We highly recommend it.  The food and service were excellent.  We had pasta, greens and a caprese for dinner.  Zabingno gelato for dessert.  
Chicoria

 

Mozzarella

Cacio Pepe

Gelato

Fellow Cruisers

 

[crusin7]

Our hotel room is very spacious.  The bed was wonderful.  We slept like the dead! Breakfast was in the usual ballroom. The usual breakfast fare.  We have a private transfer to the port.  Yippppeeee!

[crusin7]

We arrived at the port about 11:15 and we were on the ship by 11:20!  The fastest embarkation ever. We ate on the pool deck and found one of our favorite waiters Manu.

 

 

I went and had an excellent facial by Shade.  She was wonderful.  
We ate in Chartreuse tonight.  
Artichoke tart

Steak Tartare

Creme Brûlée 

A very excellent day!

[pingpong1]

Hi Crisy - Please keep the reports and pictures coming!  Enjoying them!  We'll be joining up in 7 days!  Best Regards

[crusin7]

Good Morning Livorno!

 

[crusin7]

We did a local excursion of Livorno. We had an excellent guide Jo.  There was only 16 of us on this excursion. We had a 30 minute bus ride around the city.  We then went to the main shopping area.  We passed by the local market.

Veggies Galore 

 

 

 

We then tried a local chickpea pie.  We could have it plain or with eggplant.  We chose the eggplant.  They were very busy with many locals.  

I wasn’t a fan. Way too much garlic for me. 

[crusin7]

We then went to an inside market.  We were served bread with olive oil.  We also drank the local drink. Coffee and a watered down rum.

Ponce

 

Tasted like hot NyQuil or Lemoncello

 

It was a very nice excursion.  I would recommend.  

[crusin7]

Look who I see!

Voyager

[crusin7]

Hi Pingpong1.   I’m not sure if it’s working.  The casino sadly is closed while we are in Italy.

 

[pingpong1]

17 minutes ago, crusin7 said:

Hi Pingpong1.   I’m not sure if it’s working.  The casino sadly is closed while we are in Italy.

 

Crisy - Thanks so much for the picture.  How about getting a couple of those slot machines "warmed up" for me, once you get back out to sea!  😉

[Flgreg]

@crusin7  Thanks for posting. We're joining in Barcelona. How is the food and service at the buffet, in the restaurants, and the bars/lounges?

[crusin7]

Hi Flgreg.  We ate a burger at the pool grill yesterday.  Service was excellent.  Burger and fries were good.  Dinner in Chartreuse last night. Service was excellent and food very good.  We tried lunch in La Veranda today. The pasta was not good.  It tasted like they opened a can of tomato sauce and poured it on.  The service was excellent.  The ship was not crowded because most people were on longer excursions.  I had a drink in the Meridian Lounge last night.  Service and drink were excellent.  Compass Rose tonight.  We always eat breakfast in our room.  It was good.  Got what we ordered.

[crusin7]

We haven’t seen our friend Prashant since last October.  I wish we could steal him from the Voyager.  

 

[crusin7]

Tuscan Sunset

[Flgreg]

1 hour ago, crusin7 said:

Hi Flgreg.  We ate a burger at the pool grill yesterday.  Service was excellent.  Burger and fries were good.  Dinner in Chartreuse last night. Service was excellent and food very good.  We tried lunch in La Veranda today. The pasta was not good.  It tasted like they opened a can of tomato sauce and poured it on.  The service was excellent.  The ship was not crowded because most people were on longer excursions.  I had a drink in the Meridian Lounge last night.  Service and drink were excellent.  Compass Rose tonight.  We always eat breakfast in our room.  It was good.  Got what we ordered.

Thanks for the response.

[crusin7]

Good morning LaSpezia!   We had a very bumpy 89 miles from Livorno.  
 

[crusin7]

We skipped our excursion and walked the beautiful boardwalk.  

We walked into town.  It was very picturesque.  

 

Speaking of Holiday spirt this is in Coffee Connection 

 

[crusin7]

Good Morning France!  We are anchored in Villefranche, gateway to Nice, Saint Tropez, Monaco and Eze.  
 

 

We chose the Monaco and Eze excursion.  Our guide was good but spoke softly.  It was very hard to hear her during the walking segments of our tour.  She did recommend a nice cafe and chocolate shop in Monaco.  Yummy!  Cappuccino and Pain a chocolate.

 

Monaco

 

Tender area

[crusin7]

Good news is that the Casino finally opened last night.  It was very lively.  The guests on this 7 day segment is much younger than the usual Regent guest.  Many were out by the pool Wednesday afternoon and had their swimwear on and looked Great!  There are a few families with young children who are very well behaved.  
Miso sea bass

Chocolate Soufflé