PurpleTraveller Posted July 21 #1 Share Posted July 21 This is a review of our recent ten day cruise to Italy, Montenegro and Croatia on Celebrity Constellation. We are a couple in our early to mid sixties who love to cruise but also combine a cruise with a land trip during our Australian winter. This trip was a six week odyssey of flying from Sydney to Istanbul, a ten day tour of Turkey, flying to Athens, a seven day Greek Isles cruise on Celebrity Infinity, flying from Athens to Rome, spending three nights in Rome, this ten night cruise of Italy, Montenegro and Croatia on Celebrity Constellation, spending a week touring Ravenna, Bologna and Milan, flying from Milan to Istanbul and spending four nights in Istanbul before flying home to Sydney. This review will cover the Celebrity Constellation cruise but I will add a some of our time in Rome and Italy. The main reason for this cruise was that on our Celebrity Reflection cruise in June 2022 we had met a wonderful couple from England who we had become friends with. We had spent the last two years planning another Celebrity cruise and booked this cruise in late December 2022. This was the culmination of all our planning! 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 21 Author #2 Share Posted July 21 This is the link to my review of my Greek Isles cruise on Celebrity Infinity if any one would also like to read about that part of our trip. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 21 Author #3 Share Posted July 21 Itinerary This was a ten day itinerary from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Ravenna (Venice) visiting Italy, Montenegro and Croatia. There were eight port stops and just one Sea Day. We had been to some of the ports previously but Brindisi, Split and Zadar were new ports for us. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 21 Author #4 Share Posted July 21 Saturday June 22 - Rome Our flight from Athens into Rome arrived a little late at 5.50pm and after a quick disembarkation we collected our luggage and were at the terminal one meeting point at 6.15pm. The meeting point is clearly marked and is directly in front of you as you leave the arrivals area. This is where you meet your driver or your group. We had organised a shuttle with Shared Shuttle to our hotel for €50. We were unable to find our driver but received an email from Shared Shuttles asking for our phone number. They then rang me and we met up with our driver. The transport was in a very comfortable Mercedes car and it took 45 minutes to drive to our hotel in the city centre. We had booked to stay at Hotel Smeraldo which is a block from the Campo di Fiori and a short walk to Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. This proved to be a great location as we could walk everywhere. Our room was small but clean and very comfortable. I had requested a courtyard room as I had read that the outside rooms could be noisy from the surrounding street noise and they were able to meet my request. We had a window that we were able to open into the courtyard. A lovely breakfast was included each morning and all the staff were very polite, friendly and helpful. After checking in to the hotel we had a light dinner of pizza at Sofia Pizza Napole which was very close to our hotel. (Oops, forgot to take a photo before the eating started! 😊) After dinner we walked to Piazza Navona. Unfortunately all the fountains are being restored and are behind boarding but there is a window on each side to look in. Next we walked to the Pantheon and the fountain in the Piazza is also currently being restored. I had to make a visit to my favourite monument in Rome the Obelisco della Minerva. The elephant was sculpted by Ercole Ferrara to a design by Bernini in 1667 and has an obelisk on its back. The elephant stands in front of the Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minerva. The last time we were in Rome it was closed for renovations so we went inside to visit. The renovations are complete and the church is looking wonderful. As we strolled towards the Trevi Fountain we also visited Sant'Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio. We could tell when we were getting close to the Trevi Fountain as the crowds became busier and when we got there the area was jam packed with tourists. After taking a quick photo we made a hasty exit and walked back to our hotel for the night. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 21 Author #5 Share Posted July 21 Sunday June 23 - Rome We had a great breakfast at our hotel before heading out at 9.00am. A short distance from our hotel is the Campo di Fiori market. We strolled through the backs streets towards St Peter's. We stopped in to see the Chiesa Nuovo. The church is lovely and as we sat there the organist started rehearsing. We walked across a bridge over the Tiber River and past Castel Sant'Angelo. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 21 Author #6 Share Posted July 21 Sunday June 23 - Rome Continued Just around the corner was St Peter's Square. We had intended to just do a walk past as we have been inside previously but when we saw that there was no queue to enter we quickly went through security to go inside. Unfortunately the altar is under scaffolding for restoration and we were unable to see the Pieta as the security glass is currently being replaced. However we had arrived in time for the start of the 10.30 am Sunday Mass. We watched the procession of clergymen into St Peter's and listened to the beginning of the mass before leaving. On leaving St Peter's we were able to see the Swiss Guards. We also had time to look around the Square. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost in Italy Posted July 21 #7 Share Posted July 21 Enjoying your review and wonderful photos. Looking forward to your next entry. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare chemmo Posted July 21 #8 Share Posted July 21 Still following along…Thank you for making my early morning coffee so enjoyable! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 21 Author #9 Share Posted July 21 40 minutes ago, Lost in Italy said: Enjoying your review and wonderful photos. Looking forward to your next entry. Thank you! Hope you enjoy the rest of the review. 😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 21 Author #10 Share Posted July 21 19 minutes ago, chemmo said: Still following along…Thank you for making my early morning coffee so enjoyable! Thanks and I hope you enjoy the remainder of this review. 🛳️ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 21 Author #11 Share Posted July 21 (edited) Sunday June 23 - Rome Continued Now I don't know if this is going to work because I've never posted a video before but this is a video of the clergymen entering St Peter's for the Sunday Mass. You can't see the clergymen but you can hear the singing. (Fingers crossed it works.🤞) VID_20240721175010.mp4 Edited July 21 by PurpleTraveller 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 21 Author #12 Share Posted July 21 Sunday June 23 -Rome Continued After we left St Peter's Square we walked along the Tiber River to Trastevere. There we visited Basilica di Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. We also visited Basilica Santa Maria in Trastevere to see the lovely mosaics. After crossing the Tiber River we had lunch at Pizza Time where they had an array of pizza by the slice that you pay for by weight. We returned to our hotel for a short break before heading out again. A short distance from our hotel is the Largo di Torre Argentina which has Roman ruins and a cat sanctuary. We walked to the Victor Emmanuel Monument. Then we walked up the long flight of stairs to Santa Maria in Aracoeli. It was being prepared for a wedding and the guests were starting to arrive. The ladies in their high heels and dresses were having a difficult time walking up all of the stairs. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Stem to Stern Posted July 21 #13 Share Posted July 21 Welcome home! Such a wonderful composition you are providing us. Thank you for the incredible photography of your fantastic holiday.👍👍 I am secretly hoping for a rainy day today, so I can curl up and read through all of your reviews. (I already had a quick peek. The hot air ballooning is majestic! I’ll go back later for further indulgence.) What a find! Thank you for being a part of our community!😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordylad Posted July 21 #14 Share Posted July 21 great keep it coming 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 21 Author #15 Share Posted July 21 15 minutes ago, Stem to Stern said: Welcome home! Such a wonderful composition you are providing us. Thank you for the incredible photography of your fantastic holiday.👍👍 I am secretly hoping for a rainy day today, so I can curl up and read through all of your reviews. (I already had a quick peek. The hot air ballooning is majestic! I’ll go back later for further indulgence.) What a find! Thank you for being a part of our community!😁 Thank you so much! And also thank you for reading along. I hope you enjoy both reviews from this trip. The hot air ballooning was a highlight of our time in Turkey. 😊 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 21 Author #16 Share Posted July 21 17 minutes ago, gordylad said: great keep it coming Thanks! There will be more coming. 😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 21 Author #17 Share Posted July 21 (edited) Sunday June 23 - Rome Continued Next we went next door to the Capitoline to see the wolf statue with Romulus and Remus. Then we went to the viewpoint over the Forum. We walked down the road towards the Colosseum and popped into the Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano which was a calm haven amongst the crowds of tourists. It was very crowded around the Colosseum and there was a rock concert at the Ancient Temple of Venus and Rome at the far end of the Forum near the Colosseum. We walked around the Arch of Constantine and took our photos of the Colosseum before heading back towards our hotel. We had dinner at Voglia di Pizza which serves gluten free pizza and pasta as well as regular pasta and pizza. Then we returned to our hotel for a good night's rest. Edited July 21 by PurpleTraveller 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbfb Posted July 21 #18 Share Posted July 21 Thank you so much for this review. We are doing a Similar cruise next year and are booked at Hotel Smeraldo also. So glad you like it and I love seeing how much there is to do nearby. Have a wonderful time! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelexpert35 Posted July 21 #19 Share Posted July 21 Loving this review as well. You sure are covering a lot of ground in Rome. Looking forward to the rest of your trip. Thanks for sharing.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 21 Author #20 Share Posted July 21 10 hours ago, cbfb said: Thank you so much for this review. We are doing a Similar cruise next year and are booked at Hotel Smeraldo also. So glad you like it and I love seeing how much there is to do nearby. Have a wonderful time! Thanks! We thought that Hotel Smeraldo was in a fabulous location for sightseeing in Rome. Everything you could want to see is within walking distance as long as you don't mind a bit of a walk. Many places are just a short distance away. We had nothing planned as we have been to Rome many times and it was great to leave the hotel to just wander and have lots to see. We would definitely stay there again. I don't know what type of room you have booked but we booked a small double room. These are photos of our room. I didn't take a photo of the bathroom which was small but modern and had a step up into it. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 21 Author #21 Share Posted July 21 6 hours ago, Travelexpert35 said: Loving this review as well. You sure are covering a lot of ground in Rome. Looking forward to the rest of your trip. Thanks for sharing.. Thank you! Rome is one of our favourite cities. We have been there many times so didn't have to go to any of the major sites, even though we did end up going into St Peter's. It was lovely to leave our hotel and just wander to our hearts content and pop in to see a new church or whatever took our fancy. We were surprised at just how much walking we did during what was supposed to be a relaxed short break in our touring. 😊 Hope you enjoy the rest of the review. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbfb Posted July 22 #22 Share Posted July 22 1 hour ago, PurpleTraveller said: Thanks! We thought that Hotel Smeraldo was in a fabulous location for sightseeing in Rome. Everything you could want to see is within walking distance as long as you don't mind a bit of a walk. Many places are just a short distance away. We had nothing planned as we have been to Rome many times and it was great to leave the hotel to just wander and have lots to see. We would definitely stay there again. I don't know what type of room you have booked but we booked a small double room. These are photos of our room. I didn't take a photo of the bathroom which was small but modern and had a step up into it. Thank you so much for the pictures. We booked a comfort double room facing inwards, whatever all that means! 🤣 This will be our first time to Rome so it will just be a taste since it will only be 2 days before we cruise. We are fine with walking and I feel being fairly close to things will give us the time to see a lot. Your pictures of all the sites so far has me so excited for our trip! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunset329 Posted July 22 #23 Share Posted July 22 I love your review and photos! We will be in Rome for the first time in April of 2025. We are also staying at Hotel Smeraldo in a Comfort Double room. Thanks for taking us on some of your strolls. In October of 2025, we are taking a similar cruise on the Constellation visiting Croatia, Montenegro and Italy. I look forward to the rest of your review. Post pictures!!! Thanks for taking the time to write your review and post your pictures. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 22 Author #24 Share Posted July 22 (edited) 3 hours ago, cbfb said: Thank you so much for the pictures. We booked a comfort double room facing inwards, whatever all that means! 🤣 This will be our first time to Rome so it will just be a taste since it will only be 2 days before we cruise. We are fine with walking and I feel being fairly close to things will give us the time to see a lot. Your pictures of all the sites so far has me so excited for our trip! You are very welcome. I would think that a room facing inwards is one that looks into the courtyard rather than onto the street. Perhaps maybe 🤔 As you can just walk out the door of the hotel and be at some sites in a short time that will help you maximise your time in Rome. Just check a map so you don't inadvertently miss something you want to see when you go in a particular direction. 😊 Hope you have a great trip! Edited July 22 by PurpleTraveller 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted July 22 Author #25 Share Posted July 22 1 hour ago, Sunset329 said: I love your review and photos! We will be in Rome for the first time in April of 2025. We are also staying at Hotel Smeraldo in a Comfort Double room. Thanks for taking us on some of your strolls. In October of 2025, we are taking a similar cruise on the Constellation visiting Croatia, Montenegro and Italy. I look forward to the rest of your review. Post pictures!!! Thanks for taking the time to write your review and post your pictures. Thanks! There will be lots more coming up with lots more photos! Hope you have a great trip to Rome in April next year and a wonderful cruise in October next year! 🛳️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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