TN_travels

We went to (and enjoyed) Al Cantinone (great risotto), Bice, and Trattoria Milanese (known for veal Milanese, and I still think about their butternut squash ravioli)- I believe a cab was required to get to Bice but the others were in walking distance of the Duomo. We also ate some great pizza just outside of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele but don’t recall the name- I can try to look back on my credit card statement.

I tend to dress like I am going to a nice dinner. In cooler months that means black or navy pants with a nice top or sweater, and in warmer months maybe a dress (not a cocktail dress!). I think this was the most casual of the cruises I have been on. There were for sure some people who dressed up and also people who really didn’t. I looked at pictures from dinner and didn’t see any ties or jackets but the unusually warm weather also could have been a deterrent. It was significantly colder in Milan than in Venice. And Venice was cool in the mornings but then got warm and humid (I’d wear a jacket but take it off in an hour). I tracked the weather on Accuweather and kept a spreadsheet so I knew what to expect but it was still so much warmer than I thought it would be in Venice.

The Last Supper tour is booked for you- the local guides will inform you which day you will go there when you check in at the hotel (we went to the Duomo on Friday and the Last Supper Saturday). Many went for the day to Lake Como and really enjoyed it! There is a talk in the afternoon when you check into the hotel with the local guides and they give you all the options and tell you where you have to be and when. I did forget to mention CaZen- it is a lovely villa and the owners are equally lovely. and the water taxi to the Rialto is a great springboard for exploring and shopping on your last day!

I took this trip in 2022 and it was great. The Last Supper is a must see in Milan. Your time in Milan is short but it is an interesting city to wander around and the food is great! (The hotel is meh but very well located). I loved Burano and Torcello. The lace in Burano is lovely (I bought napkins) and it is just such a beautiful area to walk around and explore. I wished we had more time in Murano (if you have seen glassblowing before, skip the demo and wander on your own). The morning at the Doge’s Palace is a perfect day to stay in town for lunch and exploring since there is nothing else on the agenda (assuming the trip is structured the same way) until the evening tour of St. Mark’s (which is quite spectacular). I really enjoyed Bologna but wished we had more time there. I didn’t love Chioggia but it is very easy to get around and explore. it is a very different cruise from any other I have taken (and I have only cruised with Uniworld). All cruising is done during the day so the sightseeing can feel a bit rushed because you have to move during the day. But the cruising is lovely and leisurely and you get to sit up on the deck with a spritz so it’s just a different relaxing experience. Try the pizza restaurant onboard one night! And enjoy- you will have a great time!

I saw your earlier post and meant to reply but forgot- I took this trip last spring. I did not go to Mont Saint Michel and don’t believe it is possible to go there and to the concert. However- if you really want to see Rouen, you will be docked there on Thursday, when you visit Normandy (another long day!). The dinner that night is a buffet, so you may prefer to skip that and eat in town and explore- the ship is quite centrally located and Rouen is lovely. Several of the Uniworld cruise managers are very active on Instagram and would be able to answer any of your questions. I have found them to be extraordinarily helpful and kind. good luck, and enjoy your trip!

Hi @Lois R- we are taking this cruise with Uniworld this spring. I looked into several different cruise lines and felt that was the best fit (I have traveled with Uniworld previously). As far as Paris recommendations go, I think this may be my 6th visit? It is such a wonderful city. There is no wrong itinerary! If you want to see the Louvre, it is very easy to see the "big 3" in a short time (there are signs which help you do this) and then move on to another wing or another museum entirely. The Musee d'Orsay and the Orangerie are wonderful and I am also a big fan of the Rodin and Cluny museums. Booking ahead does help you skip the line (if you are visiting several attractions, the museum pass may be a good buy and also lets you skip the line). But whatever you do, it will be wonderful! I will not recommend where we have stayed recently as they are not particularly budget friendly. But we once stayed at the Waldorf Madeleine and thought it was a well located boutique hotel- it has been awhile but I would recommend it. I also heard good things from a friend about the Hotel Verneuil and another friend recommended the Hotel des Grands Boulevards.

Hi @Bob Ross - we were on this cruise earlier this month. Like others have said, it is really a lagoon cruise (low water levels prevented us from going on the Po). Overall it is a great itinerary (we also did the Milan land portion of the trip) with some very special experiences (private tours of St. Mark's and the Doge's Palace and viewing of the Last Supper). Burano and Torcello are lovely. It is so nice to be docked right in Venice and to be able to walk right off the ship and explore. It was on the warm side while we were there- I think in the low 70s but felt warmer due to the humidity. It was cool in the mornings but warmed up quickly. It was great weather for sightseeing and sitting up on the deck as we cruised the lagoon. On the last day, there is a chance to visit the Rialto Market or you can go to a mask making workshop- or they arrange for you to take a water taxi and then you have the day to explore (which is what we did). There is a panini bar in the lounge (inside) and a pizza restaurant upstairs on the deck (but it has glass walls, so not really outdoors). It was open maybe 3 nights of the trip and reservations were required due to small space (I'd recommend it- it was a choice of several pizzas plus antipasto, salad, and dessert). Everywhere we went (shops, restaurants, museums, etc.) locals asked us about the ship as they were all curious about it and wanted to know if it was as nice as it looked outside (it was!). Happy to answer any other questions you have!

Thanks again for the input! My first choice would honestly be to take a Scenic or Tauck Duoro cruise, but there appears to be so little available for 2023, so I think that will have to be tabled until 2024. I think I have narrowed down my options for 2023 to Tauck or Scenic for Paris/Normandy or Paris/Burgundy (Scenic) or Paris/Lyon/Provence (Tauck). What really appeals to me about these itineraries is that they seem relatively relaxing, which I think is the goal of a mental unwinding spring/summer vacation. We were just in London last month, and it was lovely (cold and rainy, but lovely). I feel like I could visit London, Rome and Paris constantly and never get enough! I am going to look further into Rhone itineraries, thank you for the suggestion!

Thank you for your replies! @Wings55, what did you feel didn't measure up to Uniworld/Scenic? I am curious as I just returned from a Uniworld trip and felt that while it was a lovely trip, it didn't quite measure up to pre-pandemic cruises (hence why I am thinking about branching out). @Host JazzbeauI had previously read your review and thought it sounded wonderful! I will give it another read this evening. Have you been to other areas of France? My only concern with spending so much time in greater Paris is that there is so much more of France (and the world, frankly) that I would like to see and vacation time is limited. I think I have a bit of analysis paralysis!

@bubbulzI am so sorry for your loss. I am glad you are taking a trip and that Uniworld cruise is wonderful- you will really enjoy it! (I went on it pre-Covid and thought it was fantastic).

I guess I should also mention that I am not opposed to just spending a few days in Paris and then doing a cruise in France. I think Bordeaux or Provence sounds lovely- but have read some reviews here that the Bordeaux cruises are for the serious wine lovers and, while I enjoy a glass of wine, I am certainly no expert.

Hello all! I am hoping you can help with some advice for a Seine river cruise next spring (perhaps May/June 2023). I have previously traveled only on Uniworld and am not ruling them out for this trip, but rather thinking it is smart to consider alternatives as well (I am particularly interested in Tauck and Scenic but will certainly consider others if they have a compelling itinerary). I have been to Paris previously and will likely add a few days in Paris on to the beginning of this trip to shop and eat and try to see some new things. Have you taken one of these cruises with Uniworld or another cruise line and what did/didn't you like? And have you cruised since 2021 and have you noticed any differences, good or bad, with that cruise line? Thank you so much for your help!