Third solo, first Med cruise

[cheffip]

Hi all

I just booked Celebrity Century for a seven day cruise ex-Barcelona.:) I have a special fondness for this class of ship and had a great solo on Galaxy in February. First time on a Mediterranean cruise however. My other five cruises were Caribbean so if anyone has any advice for cruising solo in Europe please let me know. And Lois, if you read this, I know you have been on Century more recently than me. Any special tips?;)

-Phil

[Lois R]

Hi all

I just booked Celebrity Century for a seven day cruise ex-Barcelona.:) I have a special fondness for this class of ship and had a great solo on Galaxy in February. First time on a Mediterranean cruise however. My other five cruises were Caribbean so if anyone has any advice for cruising solo in Europe please let me know. And Lois, if you read this, I know you have been on Century more recently than me. Any special tips?;)

-Phil

 

Hi Phil:) when are you going? I will do that itinerary one day.

Its on my wish list. I have never done the Med or Europe...siggghh...

one day.....

Yes, I definitely suggest eating in Murano's one evening:D

It is so worth the 30 bucks!

[cheffip]

Hi Phil:) when are you going? I will do that itinerary one day.

Its on my wish list. I have never done the Med or Europe...siggghh...

one day.....

Yes, I definitely suggest eating in Murano's one evening:D

It is so worth the 30 bucks!

 

Hi Lois :)

I'm on the September 26 departure. A nice time for the Med...smaller crowds but still warm and sunny most of the time. Good idea about Murano's...I didn't try it last time...thought I would feel self-conscious being solo there. Obviously you enjoyed it:D

-Phil

[Lois R]

Hi Lois :)

I'm on the September 26 departure. A nice time for the Med...smaller crowds but still warm and sunny most of the time. Good idea about Murano's...I didn't try it last time...thought I would feel self-conscious being solo there. Obviously you enjoyed it:D

-Phil

 

Oh, I would have gone on my own without any hesitation

as the staff in there is fabulous:D

But I cannot tell a lie~I went with a longtime friend who was working

on the ship. I had met her back in 2006 on Zenith and it was a surprise

to see her, as I didn't know she was working on CENTURY!:D

She joined me for dinner:)

But honestly, I would have gone on my own had she not

been able to go or if she hadn't been on the ship.

[kitty9]

Hi Phil,

 

You're going to love the Med and your itinerary is a very good one. What's nice is that a few of your ports can be toured very easily on your own, if you're not into ship's tours.

 

If you're going to Barcelona a day early, which I highly recommend, be sure to check out La Segrada Familia---the famous cathedral that has been under construction since the late 1800's, La Pedrera-Casa Mila---a famous building by Antonio Gaudi, Parque Guell--a beautiful park in the center of Barcelona, and finally Las Ramblas the most famous street in the city with lots of shops and cafes.

 

In Cannes, I recommend taking the train to Monte Carlo and walking the lovely city. Make sure to see the famous casino, the Royal Palace and the cathedral where Princess Grace is buried. If you're into sea life, I highly recommend the Jacques Cousteau Aquarium.

 

Naples and Portofino are great walking cities. Grab a map and chart out anything you want to see. Their public transit is very reliable.

 

The ports for Florence and Rome are a great distance from the center of those cities. You can either book a private car(very expensive) or take a ship's tour. If they offer a tour that takes you to both Pisa and Florence, I highly recommend that. Florence is a beautiful city and if you take a private car, visit the Academia for the statue of David and Michelangelo's famous Prisoner's sculptures and his early versions of the Pieta. Then over to the Duomo and finally if you're into art, a walk through the Ufizzi Museum.

 

In Rome, unfortunately you can't see everything in a few hours, so perhaps a highlights tour is the best idea. Make sure the tour includes St Peter's, The Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon, the Coliseum and Circus Maximus. It's about a 90 minute ride from the Rome port to the center of the city, depending on traffic.

 

I've dined solo in the specialty restaurant a few times and never felt out of place. It's a wonderful experience and well worth the extra $.

[cheffip]

Thanks Darcie...great suggestions! I'm going to do what I can on my own and use the ships tours when necessary. The Europe board has lots of good information too!:)

[Lois R]

Thanks Darcie...great suggestions! I'm going to do what I can on my own and use the ships tours when necessary. The Europe board has lots of good information too!:)

 

Hey Phil, I am going to Alaska about 2 weeks before you:D

[cheffip]

Hey Phil, I am going to Alaska about 2 weeks before you:D

 

And you'll be on Mercury! :D Lois, I think we both a "thing" for those C-class ships. Hope they are in service for a long time to come!:)

-Phil

[Lois R]

And you'll be on Mercury! :D Lois, I think we both a "thing" for those C-class ships. Hope they are in service for a long time to come!:)

-Phil

 

Phil, you left out .."have"....I think we both "have a thing" for those

ships;)

Yes, this will be my 7th time on Mercury:D

[cheffip]

Phil, you left out .."have"....I think we both "have a thing" for those

ships;)

Yes, this will be my 7th time on Mercury:D

 

Oops you are right! Typing too fast for my own good. :rolleyes: And I guess we both "had" :( a thing for Galaxy!

cheers!

-Phil

[gxchan]

Hi Phil,

 

You're going to love the Med and your itinerary is a very good one. What's nice is that a few of your ports can be toured very easily on your own, if you're not into ship's tours.

 

If you're going to Barcelona a day early, which I highly recommend, be sure to check out La Segrada Familia---the famous cathedral that has been under construction since the late 1800's, La Pedrera-Casa Mila---a famous building by Antonio Gaudi, Parque Guell--a beautiful park in the center of Barcelona, and finally Las Ramblas the most famous street in the city with lots of shops and cafes.

 

In Cannes, I recommend taking the train to Monte Carlo and walking the lovely city. Make sure to see the famous casino, the Royal Palace and the cathedral where Princess Grace is buried. If you're into sea life, I highly recommend the Jacques Cousteau Aquarium.

 

Naples and Portofino are great walking cities. Grab a map and chart out anything you want to see. Their public transit is very reliable.

 

The ports for Florence and Rome are a great distance from the center of those cities. You can either book a private car(very expensive) or take a ship's tour. If they offer a tour that takes you to both Pisa and Florence, I highly recommend that. Florence is a beautiful city and if you take a private car, visit the Academia for the statue of David and Michelangelo's famous Prisoner's sculptures and his early versions of the Pieta. Then over to the Duomo and finally if you're into art, a walk through the Ufizzi Museum.

 

In Rome, unfortunately you can't see everything in a few hours, so perhaps a highlights tour is the best idea. Make sure the tour includes St Peter's, The Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon, the Coliseum and Circus Maximus. It's about a 90 minute ride from the Rome port to the center of the city, depending on traffic.

 

I've dined solo in the specialty restaurant a few times and never felt out of place. It's a wonderful experience and well worth the extra $.

 

Darcie,

 

Thanks for the great info! I got back from Alaska last weekend and immediately started looking for a new cruise for this summer. RCI was having an incredible sale so I booked a Med cruise on Voyager, getting the top balcony category for less than the regular per person rate for the same category!! I jumped on it so quickly I didn't think about anything else so I'm now scrambling for port and hotel info. This will be my first Med cruise and we are leaving out of Barcelona. May I ask which one you stayed at?

 

Thanks!

[kitty9]

I've stayed at the Le Meridian, which is right on Las Ramblas and at the Grand Marina, which is walking distance to the cruise ship terminal. Actually, the cruise ships dock right there.

[gxchan]

I've stayed at the Le Meridian, which is right on Las Ramblas and at the Grand Marina, which is walking distance to the cruise ship terminal. Actually, the cruise ships dock right there.

 

Thanks!

[Lois R]

Hi Ginnie, have a wonderful cruise:)

[ricgato]

I booked also the Voyager for Sept 6, my first solo cruise to Europe and looking forward to it. I'm getting a day early to BCN and booked the Continental hotel on Las Ramblas so I can explore the Gaudi's treasures.

Thinking of using Romelimo tour company for private tours at ports.

Ric

[gxchan]

I booked also the Voyager for Sept 6, my first solo cruise to Europe and looking forward to it. I'm getting a day early to BCN and booked the Continental hotel on Las Ramblas so I can explore the Gaudi's treasures.

Thinking of using Romelimo tour company for private tours at ports.

Ric

 

Ric, I've heard very good things about the Continental, hope you enjoy it. Thanks for listing the tour company you are looking at, I'll check them out.

[gxchan]

Hi Ginnie, have a wonderful cruise:)

 

Lois,

 

I think your Alaska cruise is coming up fast, right? I hope you have great weather like we did. Juneau was a bit windy but even that was good compared to what it could have been. If your ship offers it, I would highly recommend the glacier trek in Juneau. There are three levels, a walk around, about 30 minutes on the glacier; a hike, two hours on the glacier; and the hike/ice wall climb, 3 hours on the glacier. All include a helicopter tour. I did the hike/ice wall climb, it was an incredible, once in a lifetime experience.

 

I'm having a cruising kind of summer. Can't wait to cruise the Med and may take a Mexican cruise before the summer is over.:D

[movin' on]

Be sure to use the Bus Tourista if you have time in Barcelona. It's a great hop-on-hop-off bus. Buy the headphones and plug it into the seat - there's a continuous description of what you are passing on the bus. If something looks interesting hop off, get the next one in 30 minutes or so. It's a great deal

[ricgato]

Hi Ginnie, I want to do Alaska in sept but RCI didnt have the itinerary that I was lkng for which was passing the Glacier Bay and I found only NCL was doing it round trip Seattle but I wasn't too sure about NCL so I decided to go to the Med and be loyal to royal.

My question to you is if with the itinerary of the Rhapsody you were able to really see close and personal the glaciers?

Thanks,

Ric