NCL Viva: The Good, The Bad, the DISSAPOINTING: Italy, Turkey, Croatia, and Greece (with hints, tips, and help)

[TPgal]

9 hours ago, Travel R said:

f I were to enjoy additional time in Venice, my perfect day would be to just wander around the jumbled streets taking photos and randomly frequenting small food venues when hungry.  That is just me, and I am sure others would find other uses of their time when visiting.

I highly recommend the Peggy Guggenheim in Venice.  The modern art was like a breath of fresh air after days and days of stunning ancient visuals.  

Just my opinion, but I think you were right to decline to take a stranger's kid on your gondola.  The parent in me wouldn't have let me relax and enjoy my experience because I'd be anxious about making sure the kid got back to their group.  even if they were a late age teen.  Nope, no thank you.

[kgfeathers]

Following. Thanks for providing such an authentic review. This is a trip I am currently planning and I appreciate the practical information!

[olemissreb]

Loving your review so far, but I have to disagree with you about Venice. I was there in '92 and I absolutely loved my 3 days there. We got off the touristy paths and explored the back alleyways and the shops and just had a great time. Our concierge at our hotel recommended some great non-tourist restaurants...one of which was where I discovered cuttlefish (pretty good if you can get past the black ink and tentacles).  Our concierge also booked us on a shared gondola ride that took 6 people. He recommended a bar/shop for us to stop at and pick up some wine and cheese. He actually contacted the owner of the bar, who recommended a great bottle of wine and the cheese to go with it. The other 2 couples were totally envious and we were selfish and didn't share (not enough cups to go around). One of the most magical and romantic nights of my life.

 

I want to go back one day and explore more and get over to Murano and Burano and explore over there too.

[Travel R]

13 hours ago, TPgal said:

I highly recommend the Peggy Guggenheim in Venice.  The modern art was like a breath of fresh air after days and days of stunning ancient visuals.  

Just my opinion, but I think you were right to decline to take a stranger's kid on your gondola.  The parent in me wouldn't have let me relax and enjoy my experience because I'd be anxious about making sure the kid got back to their group.  even if they were a late age teen.  Nope, no thank you.

 

Thanks for the suggestion.  I have been to the Solomon R. Guggenheim here in NY many times, and had seen this museum during my research (and even did some further research into the connection (which are a few, but most importantly, Solomon Guggenheim is the uncle of Peggy).  A good option for next time!

Edited yesterday at 11:30 AM by Travel R

[Travel R]

13 hours ago, kgfeathers said:

Following. Thanks for providing such an authentic review. This is a trip I am currently planning and I appreciate the practical information!

 

Thank you.  If you have any specific question, please ask.

[Travel R]

10 hours ago, olemissreb said:

Loving your review so far, but I have to disagree with you about Venice. I was there in '92 and I absolutely loved my 3 days there. We got off the touristy paths and explored the back alleyways and the shops and just had a great time. Our concierge at our hotel recommended some great non-tourist restaurants...one of which was where I discovered cuttlefish (pretty good if you can get past the black ink and tentacles).  Our concierge also booked us on a shared gondola ride that took 6 people. He recommended a bar/shop for us to stop at and pick up some wine and cheese. He actually contacted the owner of the bar, who recommended a great bottle of wine and the cheese to go with it. The other 2 couples were totally envious and we were selfish and didn't share (not enough cups to go around). One of the most magical and romantic nights of my life.

 

I want to go back one day and explore more and get over to Murano and Burano and explore over there too.

 

Thank you very much for sharing your story. That sounds like it was amazing! 

 

Maybe part of the magic of Venice was lost on us since we arrived very late (eliminating any chance of an enchanted evening), then we rushed through the next morning to St. Marks, then Doges Palace, then shopping, then gondola, then had to make it to the train station for our next leg of the trip.

 

[FYI - As I read your story, in my mind I am envisioning doing this with my DW when we return to Venice. However, I started vaguely remembering that I read something about food not being allowed to be eaten on the Gondolas. I just searched to confirm, which I did, but you are also not allowed to drink while aboard. What a let down for me - but at least you were able to have such an experience, which will always be a spectacular memory.]

 

 

[Travel R]

2.  Another Train and the Fair City of Trieste

 

We arrived at to the Venice train station a little bit earlier than planned, so we went to the ticket office and were able to exchange our tickets (pre-purchased) for earlier ones and easily found and got onto our train. The train was coach, but much cheaper than the previous day’s ride. Our car was fairly decent in regards to comfort and took us about 2h 20 minutes (with the scheduled time being 2h 5 min).  The view was not bad and we saw some nice views of the Sea.  Oh yeah, along the way we saw a ship in the distance, which according to a FB post was the soon to be launched NCL Aqua.

 

Once we departed the station we walked to our hotel (Hotel Coppe), which was less than a half mile away. Out path took us across Trieste and even across its own Grand Canal.  We arrived at the hotel, checked in, and relaxed in our rooms for a little while before showering and changing for dinner.  The hotel was “okay,” the rooms were fairly clean, not too large (but large enough), but the hotel itself seemed to be undergoing some type of renovation.  However, the location was perfect for walking from the train station, and then to the dock where the Viva would hopefully be waiting.

 

As mentioned beforehand, we had all thought the dock was to be the one near the city center, then when we printed our tickets (21 days prior) it listed Pier 57, which is a little more than a mile from the city center and would require a cab ride from our hotel.  Then about 2 days prior to leaving, they changed the dock back to the Pier near the city center to everyone’s relief.  This changing of docks became a continuing theme throughout the trip. Sometimes to our benefit, and sometimes not. [I am not going to go into the itinerary changes on other NCL sailings, or mention the change for one cruise from Manilla to Hong Kong announced after Final Payment Date.]

 

After getting into some “nicer” clothing, we met up in the lobby and strolled hand-in-hand with our better halves to our destination for dinner.  After mostly Italian food all week, we had planned on going to a restaurant that served Austo-Hungarian food (Birrera Forst).  We ordered drinks, appetizers, and myself and buddy ordered a mixed grill for 2 while the girls shared some type of pasta dish (Although the décor was Austrian or German, it just did not have a great vibe, but we decided to eat there anyway.  Not to break our streak, the food was just “okay” again, and nothing spectacular enough to really mention – except the mixed grill was a pretty large dish.

 

Yeah, we have been to better German/Austrian restaurants in Queens, NY.  Maybe I should have gone for my usual standby at these places, a wienerschnitzel, but the sausages and other meats seemed to be calling out to me when I read them off of the page.  This place was just not what we were expecting, and being in a former territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, albeit centuries later, though it would have a more authentic feel to it.  Also note that their selection of alcohol was limited, not everything they had on the menu was available.

 

After dinner we strolled along the dark streets just enjoying being with each other with the knowledge that we will be cruising the following day. We eventually made our way to the Grand Canal of Trieste and walked its full length and had some gelato before heading to the hotel. However, during our walk, we did stop at the James Joyce statue so I could take a photo with one of my favorite authors.

 

We had tentatively made plans for the following morning to visit the Risiera San Saba the following morning, but we decided that we wanted to relax in the morning and head to the ship (we had a boarding time of 10 am).  There are a few other places in Trieste which I would have considered visiting (including a visit to nearby Slovenia), but there was just not a lot of time.  I can only wish, but one day we may take another cruise from this port, and would look forward to exploring the area in the future.

 

Triest is a nice little city with a lot of history. Before visiting you may want to do a little research on its long history and who the various rulers were over the years, including the Austro-Hungarian Dynasty, which provided a little different influence on the food and architecture of this city compared to the Italian cities we had just visited such as Rome, Venice, and Positano or even the next Italian city, Ravena.

 

When we first arrived at the hotel we decided to sit for a few minutes at an empty table downstairs for a few minutes to talk.  The girl from the front desk had put out waters, which we took (one for each). After arriving back at the hotel I met the sandman within mere moments of my head hitting the bed.

Edited yesterday at 11:48 AM by Travel R

[Travel R]

In Trieste, on that first night, I bumped into an old friend that goes by the name of James.  After a few pleasantries, and a quick catch-up on life, we said our farewells, but not before taking a quick snapshot to cement this moment in time in technicolor.

 

"A Pier is a Disappointed Bridge"

 

Edited yesterday at 12:02 PM by Travel R

[olemissreb]

12 hours ago, Travel R said:

 

Thank you very much for sharing your story. That sounds like it was amazing! 

 

Maybe part of the magic of Venice was lost on us since we arrived very late (eliminating any chance of an enchanted evening), then we rushed through the next morning to St. Marks, then Doges Palace, then shopping, then gondola, then had to make it to the train station for our next leg of the trip.

 

[FYI - As I read your story, in my mind I am envisioning doing this with my DW when we return to Venice. However, I started vaguely remembering that I read something about food not being allowed to be eaten on the Gondolas. I just searched to confirm, which I did, but you are also not allowed to drink while aboard. What a let down for me - but at least you were able to have such an experience, which will always be a spectacular memory.]

 

 

Well my last time in Venice was in 1992...sad that they don't let you take food or drink on the gondolas any more.

[Travel R]

DAY 7:

TRAVEL R MEETS THE VIVA

[Adventures ahead]

11 hours ago, olemissreb said:

Well my last time in Venice was in 1992...sad that they don't let you take food or drink on the gondolas any more.

We, two couples, enjoyed a celebratory bottle of wine on a gondola in 2017. Unaware if it was a problem. Didn't know if it wasn't permitted. Not big drinkers, it was the first alcohol to touch our lips that day. 

 

Enjoying the review. Thanks for your time and commentary.

Edited 10 hours ago by Adventures ahead

[Travel R]

1. A Morning Stroll in Trieste and Boarding the Viva

 

Although we decided to sleep late, my mind had other ideas.  I awoke early and decided to take a little walk around the town, take some photos, and pick up some breakfast for the two of us.

 

This is yet another personal disappointment, which I really cannot blame on anyone.  As I keep on mentioning,  I am not in great health.  Normally I would have gotten up early and taken a 3 to 5 mile run before most people awaken.   When healthy running in different cities is just one of the pleasures in my life and a perfect way to begin the day during any vacation.  I already had paths already drawn out for my runs.  Running was off the table for me during this holiday, so at least I got up to walk around.

 

I only walked about a mile or mile and a half, but saw a lot.  It was interesting passing by a Roman Theater in the middle of town, some of the old municipal buildings, various statues, and of course the highlight of the morning was seeing (and confirming the location of) the Viva in the nearby port.  There were a number of little cafes in the area to chose from, so I wound up getting pastries from one, and Americana coffees from another.  The chocolate croissant I had was pretty good, and even the coffee was not too shabby.

 

Once we had our belongings packed, we walked the semi-short distance to the ship, our excitement growing with each step.   We arrived at the port a little early (@ 9:44), and one of the NCL personnel allowed us to sit just inside the building. They were not letting anyone in until 10. Actually, at a few minutes before the hour (9:58) we were given permission to go up, we made our way to the counter to receive our cards, then waked a little further (just before security) and were stopped (@ 10:03).  We were literally the first people in line.  Although we were queued on this line early, they did not allow us to go through security until about 10:35.  Of course I talked to others on line and met up with newlyweds (obvious) and some bloggers. We did stop for the photograph before boarding, and others went around us, so we were not the first to board (also note, Haven passengers had a different entrance, so may have already been allowed to board earlier).

 

[Note: I had a water bottle in the outside packet of my backpack, which I put through security, but they never took it from me. I did not realize what I had done (waters and sodas are not allowed to be brought onto the ship) until later. I am just putting that out there. They did not confiscate my bottle, but according to their guidelines, they are supposed to do so.]

 

[Tip:  In order to receive an early boarding time we awoke before midnight of the day they became available, so that we could make our choices beginning at 12:01 AM (EST).  Not really an amazing trick here, just the desire to wake up in the middle of the night (or extend your bedtime).]

 

Once we boarded, we found our muster station and checked in.  Note that it became clear from this early point in the trip that the layout was different than we were used to took almost the full 9 days to mostly get used to it.  Upon first glimpse at entering the ship, it was probably one of the nicer looking cruise ships I have seen – especially in the area of décor. No one can accuse the Viva as not being a good-looking ship.

 

We took a quick detour to our stateroom, which was not yet ready just to take a look around (shhhhhh . . . . . we were not really allowed to be there, but did not read the sign).  Then went for lunch.  We originally went to The Local, but it looked like the bar portion was the entire venue (not knowing that the restaurant part was on the other side of the wall) and decided to just go up to the King of Crowds and Congestion, otherwise known as the buffet.  Luckily, since we had boarded the ship early, it was the least like a zoo than we had seen during other meals aboard ship (except in the late evenings or very early mornings when only the hot and cold libations were available).

[Travel R]

Buffet Notes (and Tips): 

 

·       Taste is subjective (as I keep saying), so my opinions if my own. Others will disagree with my findings, but that is fine.

·       Although we ate at the buffet a few times during the cruise, it was more out of necessity than desire.  Although you could stuff your face, and there was a decent variety of dishes, it was “okay” at best. Maybe they had more delectable dishes for dinner, but lunch and breakfasts were very vanilla and there was nothing that set this buffet above others we have visited on sea or land.  

·       The biggest positive (for me) was that it had a really good salad bar and there was always some type of chicken elsewhere (I would cut up the chicken and add it to my salad).  I also enjoyed the pineapple hamburgers (with or without a bun).  The French Toast with raisins for breakfast was a tasty surprise.

·       Whereas I am a big buffet lover on land, I have rarely enjoyed the experience aboard any ship (especially the past few cruises).  I know that mass-passenger cruise ships do not have a budget for their buffets to go wild like The Nordic in Rhode Island, Rio Seafood Buffet in Vegas, Shady Maple in Lancaster, PA, or many other I have visited, but there is little to excite me on cruise ship buffets.

·       Over our few cruises, the only dishes I remember from any buffet was the Indian food on Carnival (with all the fun I poke at Carnival, there are a few things they do right).

·       I have no tips for the best time to arrive at the buffet (except be one of the first onboard the first day) or for lunch while everyone is at port, otherwise it is crowded.  Note that it never took more than a few minutes to find a table (usually for four of us).  For lunch we have been offered to sit at The Republic if we could not find seating (and people did take advantage of it).

·       The buffet is comparatively not large, as is the seating area (which extends outside).  If looking at the buffet, at your right is a door with another station of the buffet which (for lunch) includes hot dogs, burgers, and similar items (you can find some seating there, but the room is not well ventilated, and can be very warm).

·       The drinks (water (for hot tea or chocolate milk) and coffee as well as cold iced tea and sometimes lemonade or a juice are available 24/7.  There are no cookies or sweets available when the buffet itself is closed. [Hint: If you use non-sugar sweeteners they have the dissolvable tablets next to the hot-drink machines (which I do not like), but if you turn around there are regular sweeteners on the tables.]

·       It has been noted that the buffet closes early in the afternoon, especially on port days.  This can be an issue when you are on shore and enjoying your excursions and come back late in the afternoon and want a bite to eat.

 

Note that the food venues open for this afternoon included: Surfside Café/Grill (Buffet); The Local, Hudsons, Indulge, and Observation Lounge.

 

We then decided to take a walk around the ship to get a lay of the land and see what was around.  We saw a number of the different public spaces on the ship, the pools and stuff on the decks, and some of the restaurants.  I am not sure if it was the layout or maybe an unconscious lack of desire to see it, but I never did see the sports area or the go carts.  The go carts, I believe, were only running while we were in port, which was most of the time, so I never had an opportunity to ride on them (another disappointment).    Maybe if I was feeling better later in the cruise, I may have made more of an effort, but never happened.   I would have also liked to have gone on at least one of the slides, but again, the timing did not work out for me.

 

A few of us did wind up at the Fitness Center and although I knew I could not run, I at least did 5 miles on one of the stationary bicycles, just to get the juices flowing. M hit the weights, and N met us a little later and did her own exercises.

 

Our DWs went to the Spa and received a great discount on a massage, if they would take it that afternoon.  While the wives went to get a treatment, myself and M went to the pool deck.  We found some loungers, ordered some drinks, watched the cuties parading around in their itsy-bitsy bikinis, and even took a dip in the pool.

 

While at the pool we met some interesting people, such as the New Zealanders who were sitting next to us.  They very pleasant, very funny, and NCL probably already lost money on them when it came to the drink package.

[Travel R]

Pictures of Trieste and the Viva

 

First sight of the Viva during my morning stroll (relieved to see it docked here, or else we would have to board at Pier 57)

 

Photo of Triton harnessing the power of the sun the Trieste Town Square

 

First in Line!!!! (just prior to the security check)

 

Fitness Center (lots and lots of treadmills)

 

View of our balcony and beyond

 

Our home for nine nights

 

A view to remember . . . .

Edited 9 hours ago by Travel R