Barely A Live from Escape May16-26 2024 Trieste (Venice) to Barcelona/10-Day Mediterranean: Italy Croatia Greece France Spain

JIMESOPUS · May 19

14 hours ago, schmoopie17 said:

Exclusive??

Isn't practically everyone Silver or above? Could be a massive turnout.

What's below Silver...Plastic?

plastic is not allowed anymore, most likely cardboard

Teachmother3 · May 19

6 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

I will write about my port excursion experience when I have a chance. The port intensive schedule and long port hours have led to sleep deprivation resulting in incoherence.

This is exactly why I found Cruise Critic and you! This itinerary is an amazing overview of much of the Mediterranean but SO Port intensive- I was truly overwhelmed what to do.

ENJOY the voyage! The ship info and pics are great and enough for now.

Thank you , again for all you are sharing as you have time.

ontheweb · May 19

On 5/17/2024 at 5:55 PM, Sugar Magnolia said:

If you were wondering whether I dined alfresco tonight...I did not. If you were guessing that I likely skipped dinner tonight...you would be correct. I did, however, pop up to the buffet for some fruits because I did not want to get scurvy.

@mking8288 the buffet shut down at 9:30pm without hesitation.

After exploring Split from 7:30am to 5:00pm, I collapsed in my room. Kept ping ponging in my head...should I take a nap and run the risk that I don't fall asleep again until after 3:30am...or should I drink some good coffee at the solo lounge and just plow through the night? Before I knew it I fell asleep until I was awoken shortly before 6:00pm by Cruise Director Jack announcing the evening's programs.

The catnap was all I needed but unfortunately I am now wide awake approaching midnight and have another early morning excursion in Dubrovnik, meeting at 7:15am. It's a vicious cycle.

What a tough life. 🤣

ontheweb · May 19

On 5/18/2024 at 8:42 AM, schmoopie17 said:

Glad to see Jack's back. He was gone for a while (I believe an extended vacation).

He's our second-favorite CD, after Simon when he was on the Prima. (Or was it Alvin? Theodore? I get my Chipmunks confused.)

Simon was our cruise director on the Prima back in August.

ontheweb · May 19

16 hours ago, schmoopie17 said:

Exclusive??

Isn't practically everyone Silver or above? Could be a massive turnout.

What's below Silver...Plastic?

Our latitudes meeting was also in the observation lounge, silver which we are and above.

I had at a previous Q&A session asked the officer in charge of the stewards a question about their workload. He found me at the latitudes meeting and thanked me for asking the question.

Sugar Magnolia · May 19

I attended today’s Latitudes Exclusive Party because I knew there would not be many attendees. All aboard was 4:30 and party was scheduled for 4:30. At this hour many are either napping or preparing for dinner.

Here is the line to get in at 4:20. I can sense the excitement building.

Luis the Spanish guitarist extraordinaire was the entertainment.

Juan Franco the always affable CruiseNext manager was the host for this Exclusive Party.

4595 passengers on board

1600 crew

773 bronze

393 silver

166 gold

124 platinum

33 sapphire

2 diamond

There were no Ambassadors so I felt like royalty being served food fit for the Queen of Diamonds.

schmoopie17 · May 19

3 hours ago, JIMESOPUS said:

plastic is not allowed anymore, most likely cardboard

But they both go in the same recycling bin.

Sugar Magnolia · May 19

While relaxing in my cabin, the toilet just made the most terrifying screech as if it was possessed. I flushed it once and the screeching stopped. At first I thought it was some kind of strange alarm over the PA system.

Sugar Magnolia · May 19

I gain an hour back tonight and tomorrow’s excursion is not until 8:00am. I think that calls for a party…but a less exclusive one.

Sugar Magnolia · May 19

Croatian teas at the buffet.

mking8288 · May 19

40 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

I gain an hour back tonight and tomorrow’s excursion is not until 8:00am ... That calls for a party…but a less exclusive one.

1 hour of partying and 1 extra hour of sleep, be fair & kind to yourself. I am sure that @Fogfog will agree, given your tough port schedule ahead.

Look what I got ...

Sugar Magnolia · May 19

45 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

1 hour of partying and 1 extra hour of sleep, be fair & kind to yourself. I am sure that @Fogfog will agree, given your tough port schedule ahead.

Look what I got ...

You must share!

We shall see how long I last tonight.

Sugar Magnolia · May 19

Travel essentials at the ship store.

But as I’ve mentioned on @mking8288’s Prima TA Live thread, I don’t understand why Cheez Doodles is not a travel essential.

Sugar Magnolia · May 19

It is hopping tonight now that we know we will gain one hour.

Syd Norman’s band is performing Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours tonight so the 10:00pm show was already standing room only at 9:20pm. The 8:00pm show was packed to the gills.

Howling at the Moon dueling pianos was also standing room only.

The Skyline Bar is a good refuge tonight with Golden Octaves performing tunes from the 70s and 80s.

For the game show enthusiasts…

Sugar Magnolia · May 19

So much nostalgia here

Sugar Magnolia · May 19

Is this the breakdown of societal norms?

I did take the mug to the buffet as I was concerned that someone tipsy might not notice and trip over it. I then washed my hands not 20 seconds but 20 minutes.

Oceansaway17 · May 19

On 5/18/2024 at 4:51 AM, CazV said:

We're on the same sailing. Shame about the change to your excursion. I'm not planning to go to Rome, so none of the changes affect me.

I cancelled because the wording said both Coliseum and Vatican would be quick visit and that is two things totally different than original booking.

so annoyed and will get my over two hundred back to card

Sugar Magnolia · May 19

8 hours ago, Teachmother3 said:

You are so sweet, Sugar Magnolia!

THANK you for taking your time to help me! I guess I saw the pictures of the one hotel (I had read the rest the day before and forgot what you had shared. I will download the CruiseMapper app. This is SO helpful. This will only be my husband and my 2nd cruise (Alaska last year on Sapphire Princess with 9 very experienced cruising couples- I just had to follow their plans. ; ) So glad kenny from our Roll Call shared your ... whatever this is called- blog,? forum?- I am new to Cruise Critic, too.

BTW- LOVED ALASKA and cruising is fun!

Welcome to Cruise Critic @Teachmother3. The overwhelming majority of us on these threads enjoy sharing our thoughts, experience and opinions about our common love of cruising. Feel free to ask questions. If I am unable to answer, someone else will jump in.

Glad to hear Alaska kick-started your love of cruising. It is, indeed, a special place.

Sugar Magnolia · May 19

Sugar Magnolia · May 19

I want to take you back to Trieste to complete my pre-Escape escapades.

I stayed at and recommend The Modernist Hotel in Trieste. It is a boutique hotel in the heart of the city, about a mile from the Trieste train station and about half a mile from where the Escape docked.

As I earlier mentioned, there are two cruise terminals in Trieste that I am aware of and they are not close to each other. On Thursday embarkation day, the Escape docked across the street from the Savoia Excelsior Palace Hotel and the Viva docked somewhere else.

There is a restaurant at The Modernist Hotel that serves fusion cuisine.

Edited May 19 by Sugar Magnolia

debenson0723 · May 19

28 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

I want to take you back to Trieste to complete my pre-Escape escapades.

I stayed at and recommend The Modernist Hotel in Trieste. It is a boutique hotel in the heart of the city, about a mile from the Trieste train station and about half a mile from where the Escape docked.

As I earlier mentioned, there are two cruise terminals in Trieste that I am aware of and they are not close to each other. On Thursday embarkation day, the Escape docked across the street from the Savoia Excelsior Palace Hotel and the Viva docked somewhere else.

There is a restaurant at The Modernist Hotel that serves fusion cuisine.

What a fabulous hotel! And very reasonable for the night I want to stay there in October...it's at the top of my list. I was originally going to stay in Murano for my 2 nights in the Venice area but now I think I will head to Trieste the afternoon before the cruise. I can't thank you enough for all the information you are providing.

MkeCruzn · May 20

Wonderful so far. Looking forward to more info and postings.

Hi Henry @mking8288!! Nice to see you on here!

MkeCruzn · May 20

On 5/18/2024 at 12:20 PM, Sugar Magnolia said:

I walked in at 5:30 for dinner at Food Republic and was seated right away. Everything I ordered was great…just too much of it. I used my FAS dining package and was entitled to 4 dishes.

Pork Belly Bao

Thai Steak and Noodle Salad.

Spicy Pacific Salmon Roll

Dynamite Roll

Sadly there was no one with whom to share this meal so there might have been some left for the fishes.

We loved Food Republic on our Escape cruise! We went twice and shared four dishes per FAS dining package. That was plenty for us!

mking8288 · May 20

1 hour ago, MkeCruzn said:

Wonderful so far. Looking forward to more info and postings.

Hi Henry @mking8288!! Nice to see you on here!

Hey, strangers, not ... how are 2 of you, busy traveling as usual ... our Epic TA last April seemed like ages ago already. We've done 2 more TA since, just got off the Prima last Sunday & flew home ... whereas "Sugar" Sylvia managed to keep going, and reporting her Live "Escape" Don't mind the jokes, "stalking" her report for ideas for our 2025 plans. Best regards & wishes, be well & stay healthy.

HM

Sugar Magnolia · May 20

It was raining when I arrived in Trieste on Wednesday so I woke up extra early on Thursday embarkation day to explore Trieste. I did not know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. Trieste has a nice city vibe without the big city grime.