PurpleTraveller

June 13 - Debarkation Civitavecchia This was the very sad day that we had to leave the ship. 🙁 We had breakfast for the last time on the back deck of the Oceanview Cafe. After breakfast we went to take our last look of our favourite watering hole - the Sunset Bar. We had a good view of the other ships in port which included the beautiful Celebrity Beyond and Queen Victoria. We watched the huge Costa Toscana come into port. Eventually we had to leave the ship so at 7.50 am we did self walk off with our luggage. It only took moments to get into the shed they use as a terminal at dock 25. It was a little disorganised and we had to ask where the free shuttle bus was. It turned out that unlike the marked shuttle buses going to the train station they were using coaches from various companies as the free shuttle buses. A quick ride to the port gate to Varco Vespucci shuttle stop. This was the shuttle stop that was used in recent times while the Largo della Pace shuttle stop area was being used as a drive through Covid testing area. I have heard that since we were there that the shuttle stop has reverted back to Largo della Pace. Originally we had planned to get the train to Fiumicino Airport but decided not to risk dealing with the chance of a sudden train strike and had booked a transfer from the shuttle stop to the airport. We booked with Civita Tours in mid May and the cost was €20.00 each. Shortly afterwards the cost went up to €25.00 per person. We got to the Varco Vespucci shuttle stop very early for our airport shuttle so we sat down to wait. Shortly after arriving the staff of Civita Tours arrived dressed in their yellow shirts. They put up a large sign so that new arrivals would know where to find them. They marked our names off their list and when everyone had arrived we made our way to their mini bus. There is no parking for vehicles other than the shuttle buses at Varco Vespucci so we had to walk to the port gate with our luggage to just across the street from the previous Largo della Pace shuttle stop. Now that the shuttle stop has reverted to Largo della Pace this step would be obsolete. There we got into the mini van and our luggage was loaded into the back of the mini bus. There were ten passengers. We left at 9.30 am and arrived at the airport at 10.20 am. We arrived in plenty of time for our flight to Madrid. We liked this Lamborghini Police car on display in the departures hall. When the check in for our flight opened we checked in and dropped our bags off. It took a little time to get through security as it was very busy but it was moving quickly and wasn't too bad. We continued our trip with five days in Madrid, an eight day coach tour of Spain which ended in Barcelona and then were supposed to do an eight day cruise of the Western Mediterranean on Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas. Unfortunately when we did our pre cruise Covid test we both tested positive even though neither of us had any symptoms. The next three days were spent trying to contact Royal Caribbean to tell them that we would not be boarding the ship and to cancel our cruise for a refund. The emergency numbers provided were only for US passengers and when we were transferred to the International line they could not help us because we booked in Australia. The emergency number for the Barcelona port service would not answer their phone (we rang them about 20 times) with a message to call back later. We got our son to ring the Australian service line but they could not help. We made dozens of calls and spent hours on hold (bearing in mind that we were ringing from Spain) to no avail. It was very frustrating and stressful! Fortunately along the way I was given an email address and I sent an email with our test results. Three days later I received a reply that they had cancelled our cruise and we would receive a full refund in 30 - 45 days. Amazingly, five days later the full refund was credited to our credit card. Yay!!! We tested negative two days after our positive test and we were able to spend the eight days that we were supposed to be on the cruise, in Spain enjoying the sunshine. We returned to Australia after six great weeks in Europe. Next I will do a Conclusion of the cruise.

I used Civita Tours after our cruise on June 13. We got the free shuttle bus to the Varco Vespucci shuttle stop (but I believe the shuttle stop has now returned to the Largo della Pace shuttle stop). We were quite early for our transfer so waited for the staff from Civita Tours to arrive. They arrived shortly after and wear bright yellow shirts. They also put up a large sign with the company name on it so you could see where to meet them. Our names were marked off their list and when everyone had arrived we had to walk with our luggage, out of the port and to the road across from Largo della Pace. This step will be obsolete now that the shuttle stop is back to Largo della Pace. We got on a mini van that was waiting for us and our luggage was loaded into the back. There were ten passengers. We left at 9.30am and arrived at Fiumicino Airport at 10.20am. I would happily use Civita Tours again.

We have never felt unsafe in Naples. We have walked in narrow laneways and been in areas that are definitely not on the tourist track. I wouldn't go down an alley that looks really sketchy or dangerous. The area around the train station is not that nice but we have previously walked from the port to the train station and did not feel unsafe. I think the area around the port is fine and there are usually plenty of people around. There are also plenty of other tourists around tourist spots. I describe Naples as gritty but I still love exploring there. Like many places I think you need to be alert and confident and if you feel uncomfortable or unsafe don't stay where you are but return to where there are more people and you feel safe and comfortable again. You will know your level of comfort and be sensible and have a great time in Naples. Oh, and I should add that there are many ways (and probably more direct ones) of getting to the places I went to but those shown on the maps just happen to be the way I went. 😊

Onwards to the English Cemetary which disappointingly, was also closed. The English Cemetary is the oldest Protestant Cemetary in Italy and was established in the 17th century. We walked along a canal to the waterfront where there were fishing boats. We then found ourselves at the Monument dei Quattro mori. A monument to Grand Duke Ferdinand I de Medici, it was started in 1595 and raised in 1617. In 1621 the four chained Moors were added to the pedestal. A short distance away is the Fortezza Vecchio built 60 years before the Fortezza Nuovo, in the early 16th century. On our way back to the shuttle bus stop we came upon this statue of Vittorio Emanuele I. We got the 1.10 pm shuttle back to the ship and had some lunch. After managing to do the online check in for our flight and getting our QR codes to get into Spain we had a relaxing afternoon by the pool. Lying back with a cold drink we were able to look over the port to the city. While we enjoyed our time in Livorno we found that there was not a lot to see (for us) and almost everything was closed as it was a Sunday. All shops were closed and only a very few cafes were open. If we find ourselves in Livorno again we would get a taxi a bit further along the coast to Villa Mimbelli which is now a museum and Terrazzo Mascagni. We had a final (quiet sob) dinner at the Opus Dining Room before going back to our cabin to pack

We walked along a canal to Fortezza Nuovo which was built for the Medici's in the late 16th century. It is free to go into but there is not a lot to see there other than views of the surrounding canals. We could see Piazza della Republica from the fort. After leaving the fort we walked through Piazza della Republica and along a canal to the Mercato Central which is closed on Sundays. The canals were very busy with locals going out on their pleasure boats on a beautiful Sunday.

June 12 - Livorno One of the big selling points to us of this cruise when our Infinity cruise was cancelled was that it went to La Spezia rather than Livorno. Very disappointingly about three months before the cruise our port was changed to Livorno. Not only was the port changed but our arrival time was changed from 9.00 am to 10.00 am despite having to travel a lesser distance. We have been to Florence twice on land tours spending a number of days there each time. We have also been to Pisa twice so there was no interest to us to go to either again. I waited expectantly for the shore excursions to come out but they were a very uninspiring lot. Three to Florence, three to Pisa, an afternoon (during an Italian summer!) biking tour of Lucca and a couple of farmhouse or pasta making tours. The pasta making tour doesn't even run completely on a Sunday which was when we were in Livorno. That was it. When I have previously been to Livorno with Princess I have done wonderful shore excursions to the Cinque Terre and another one to San Gimignano, Pisa and a winery. There was nothing like that to get me excited so we considered what to do. Most private tour companies were already booked out and our late arrival made it difficult to organise a DIY day. So we decided to have a quiet day in Livorno which would allow me to return to the ship to use the internet to check in online for our flight the following day and finalise our Spanish Health Forms and get our QR codes. Before we set off to explore Livorno we had breakfast. We had received an invitation to go to the Helipad for sail in so went there at 9.15 am. It was interesting to watch us going into a harbour and turning the ship to dock. We also watched the ferries coming and going from the busy port. We also had a good view of the window of our cabin. As Livorno is a very busy commercial port you are not allowed to walk through the port. There was a free shuttle to talk us from the ship to the city centre and back again. We got the 10.10 am shuttle and were in the city centre in ten minutes. As it was a Sunday I knew that the Cathedral and churches I wanted to see would be having services and then close so there wasn't a lot of time to waste. First stop was the Cathedral only a block from the shuttle stop. The Cathedral was built between 1594 and 1606 but had to be rebuilt after being bombed in WWII. The service was just starting so I only had a quick peek. We then walked to Chiesa di San Ferdinando which was built between 1707 and 1716. It was also damaged after being bombed in WWII and was rebuilt after the war. The service was due to start soon so we had a quick look around. We walked along the canal to Chiesa di Santa Caterina where the service was due to start. The church has an unusual octagonal dome and was started in 1720. It opened in 1753 when the facade was still incomplete. The church was closed in Napoleonic times and used as a prison until the 20th century when it reverted back to being a church. Mission accomplished of seeing the Cathedral and churches that I wanted to!

We turned right at the first road and walked a couple of blocks before turning inland. I have tried to show you on the following maps but we do have a tendency to divert when we see an interesting laneway. I use my phone (I have an app with off-line maps) to keep heading in the direction of where we are heading to. The first map is from the ship to Chiesa dell Gesu Nuovo and the second is from Chiesa dell Gesu Nuovo to Montesanto funicular station.

Thanks. We love Naples and love to wander the streets and laneways on our way to wherever we have decided to go. There is so much to see and do in Naples and the surrounding area. Every time we go there I plan to go into Castel Nuovo but I still haven't managed to. Maybe next time. Hope you have a wonderful cruise on Edge in September.

Thank you for letting me know. We were going to have a drink at the bar next door but there weren't any free tables outside. We spent almost four weeks in Spain after our cruise and had a great time. Hope you have wonderful cruise.

Thanks for letting us know.

Definitely!!! Already have my thinking cap on. 💜

We then walked back past the Morghen funicular station a little further to the Piazza Fuga funicular station where we paid our €1.10 each to go down to the Augusteo funicular station. Naples was very busy and we walked to Galleria Umberto I built in 1890 and opened in 1900. We stopped for some lunch - pizza of course, at a small cafe outside the Galleria. After lunch we walked the short distance to Piazza del Plebiscito. There we could see Palazzo Reale on one side of the square and Basilica di San Francesco di Paola on the other. The church was closed for a wedding and they had the cutest stretch convertible Fiat Bambino for a wedding car. We walked along the waterfront back to the ship at 2.30 pm. After a quick visit to our cabin we went to the Sunset Bar where we stayed for Sail Away. The sail away was lovely with views of Mt Vesuvius and Naples. We also sailed past Capri.

We went into the gardens overlooking the city where there were great views and we could see Reflection peeking out from the greenery. We went back inside and made our way to a balcony where the views were even better. Mt Vesuvius was on the other side of the bay and we could see Reflection below us. The magnificent cloister was built in 1581 during the extensions. There are many beautiful carvings. Lastly we went into the Refectory. There is not a lot to see in the museum but the views from the former monastery are fantastic. There was a lovely cool breeze up there which was very welcome on a very warm day.

On the other side of the square from the viewpoint is where we were going. The Charterhouse and Museum of San Martino sits just below Castle Sant'Elmo on Vomero Hill. It is a former monastery that was founded in 1325 and had extensions done in 1581. It is now the National Museum of San Martino. The entrance fee is €6.00 each. The outside doesn't look very impressive but we entered into a courtyard with the main church of the monastery in it. It was obviously the day for magnificent churches. When we came out of the church we had a view up to Castel Sant'Elmo. We then entered the small museum where there are displays of carriages, sculptures, nativity displays and other artefacts. Unfortunately the Naval section was closed.

After leaving the church we walked through the local markets which were a hive of activity on a Saturday morning. We continued on to the Montesanto funicular station. We paid €1.10 each for our tickets to go up the hill to Morghen station. We walked from the funicular station to Castel Sant'Elmo and on to a viewpoint overlooking the city.

June 11 - Naples We woke to a gorgeous morning. Off to the Oceanview Cafe for breakfast where we had a great view of Naples from the back deck. We have been to Naples many times including three times on cruise ships. We have also stayed in Sorrento on a land trip so have done most of the main sites such as Pompeii, Herculaneum, Sorrento and Capri. We love Naples and enjoy spending time in the city. Today we were planning on going to the white building at the top of the hill overlooking Naples. We left the ship at 9.10 am and walked through laneways past local shops to our first stop. We arrived at Piazza del Gesu Nuovo and admired the Guglia dell'Immacolata obelisk built between 1747 and 1751. We were here to visit Chiesa del Gesu Nuovo.Originally built as a palace in 1470, it was confiscated due to political intrigues by the Sanseverino family and sold to the Jesuits in the 1580's. They converted the palace to a church between 1584 and 1601, keeping the facade of the palace. Unfortunately we were unable to see the unusual facade. However, the interior of the church is magnificent.

Thank you and hope you enjoy the rest.

Sorry I don't know. We were always seated upstairs so maybe downstairs. Maybe someone else knows.

Only the truth 😊 Very sad it had to end. We had such a wonderful time. 💜

Sorry that you had to cancel your cruise and hope your wife is recovering well. I am Australian and was due to go on Vision of the Seas from Barcelona on June 30 but tested positive on my pre cruise test on June 28 (no symptoms at all) when I was already in Spain. I sent an email (no-one could help me on the phone) with a copy of the test results and received a reply on July 1 saying that I would get a refund in 30 - 45 days. I received my full refund of the cruise fare and shore excursions on July 6 which was actually before I returned to Australia.

On my recent Reflection cruise I met a couple whose luggage was lost by their airline. They never did get it while on the cruise. Lost luggage seems to happen more often when there are a number of flights in a journey so try to minimise the number of changes and leave plenty of time between the flights so that there is time for your luggage to get to each plane. I recommend packing a couple of changes of clothes in your carry on so that if the worst happens you can at least have some clean clothes to change into. Also cross pack so that if one suitcase goes missing at least you both have some clothes.

Thank you so much for your absolutely fantastic review. I have thoroughly enjoyed following along. Love your writing style and your photos are wonderful. Thank you again as I know how much time and effort it takes to write a review. 💐

I used one for Sydney. Apparently only someone in Australia could help me because I booked in Australia.

I took a Princess shore excursion from Livorno to Cinque Terre in 2014. It was a long but wonderful day. We drove from the ship to Manarola where we walked through the town and had some free time before getting a ferry to Vernazza. There we had free time to have lunch. We then got a ferry to Monterosso where we had more free time. From there we got a train to Levanto where we were picked up by the bus and returned to the ship. The towns are beautiful but it was very crowded with hoards of tourists. The ferry was great with wonderful views of the coast.

Thank you. I was very surprised but very pleased to get our refund so quickly.