Jazzbo

The second day in Livorno we did the Tuscan Farm excursion that @GenerationX wrote about in her live report. We have been to Florence several times; we have hiked in Cinque Terre; we’ve been to Pisa a couple of times (even though it’s a one and done); we visited places throughout Tuscany on a tour; and we spent two weeks in Lucca and explored Tuscany from there, so the farmhouse excursion was perfect for us. It’s easygoing, so it was a nice break for my cousin and her husband. A horse-drawn wagon met our bus and took us to a shady outdoor area with large round tables. The description sounded like we might have some focaccia and cheese, olives, etc. We did start with cheese and honey from the farm, and bread with olive oil, but then we had tomato salad, pasta with a tomato sauce and one with a meat sauce, free-flowing wine, and vin santo with a small cake for dessert. They served gluten-free crackers with the cheese, and gluten-free pasta for my cousin. After that, we wandered around the farm and bought honey and grappa in the store, where you could taste wine, grappa, honey, etc. On the way back to the ship, our tour guide played songs, starting with “When the Moon Hits Your Eye Like a Big Pizza Pie,” and our bus turned into a sing-along! I’m sure the wine had nothing to do with that. 😉 IMG_2106.mov

We have T-Mobile (US) and we have unlimited data, text, and phone in Canada and Mexico, and unlimited text and data in 200+ countries plus $0.25/minute calls.

The next two days were in Livorno. My cousin and her husband went to Florence. They had been before, but had not been able to get into the Accademia, and she wanted to see Michelangelo’s David. Larry and I took the shuttle into town and walked around Livorno for awhile, then went back and enjoyed the ship.

The next day was Villefranche-sur-Mer, our only tender port. My cousin and her husband did a full day excursion to Nice and Monaco. My husband and I walked around the lovely town and then sat at a sidewalk cafe overlooking the water and had some nibbles and Aperol Spritzes.

We were in Concierge Class (we usually do Aqua Class). The MDR was okay. I noticed the cutbacks in the selections and in the quality of the food. Service was mixed; there seemed to be a lot of inexperienced crew. but we did have a good sommelier. We had dinner in Oceanview several nights, which was a first for us. There were some good choices there. My cousin has celiac disease, and Celebrity is quite good about providing a variety of gluten-free food. We had dinner at the Lawn Club the first night, and it was fantastic! If you like lamb, the lamb chops there are delicious!

The first port was Marseille. We did the open-top bus tour, which took us to the Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica. So.many.steps. The views were beautiful, but by the time we got to the top, we had to turn around to get back to the bus. The bus then took us to a cathedral in town, but we opted to walk a few blocks to a cafe for a snack and an Aperol Spritz. I do not recommend this excursion. We booked Celebrity excursions as my cousin planned most of them.

We had to be out of the apartment by 10:00 am, so we headed to the port. We stood outside in a line for about 20 minutes until they opened the doors to the cruise terminal. The port staff directed us to seats in the order we arrived, and we browsed the duty free shop. We were onboard by 11:15.

This was the September 30, 2023 cruise. On another thread, @hmcrn asked if I had done a review, so I decided to write one. We cruised with my cousin and her husband; it was their first cruise (my cousin had been on one more than 30 years ago). We flew into Barcelona 2 days early and stayed in a 2br 2ba apartment I booked directly through the Aspasios website. My husband and I had stayed in an Aspasios studio apartment in Barcelona last year for 3 nights before our Reflection TA, booked through 3rd party site (booking.com, maybe). We were in a great location down the block from Palau Guell.

If only! I miss menus like these (and the food even more so). 😥

We had them on 9/30/203 Reflection Barcelona to Rome French & Italian riviera cruise.

@GenerationX I am loving your review (as usual)! We did this same excursion (without the pasta factory) last month. We enjoyed it so much! I haven’t opened the honey or the grappa we bought there yet. When you go back to Italy for a land vacation (which I’m sure you will), you may want to consider renting a villa and use it as your base. We rented villas outside of Lucca for a group of family and friends — 12 the first week and 10 the second. We couldn’t get the size we needed for 2 weeks in a row, so we moved to a different one the second week. We took the train to Florence a couple of times; hubby & I drove to Cinque Terre; and most of us took the train to Venice and stayed a couple of nights. I would love to read a Charla report for a trip like that!

Sore to hijack this fabulous review! We were in Rome for 2 nights last month at the end of our Barcelona to Rome French & Italian riviera cruise with my cousin and her husband. We stayed in Parione House Apartment through VRBO. Although it isn’t nearly as swanky as Charla & Jeremy’s, we loved it! 2 br, 2 ba, and superb location. Within a few minutes walk of Piazza Navona, Campo di Fiori, the Pantheon, Trastevere, etc.

I am enjoying this live review so much. I always enjoy your reviews. I love Captain Matt and Giuseppe! I’ve never paid that much attention to who the Captain and CD were on cruises until we had them on the Reflection transatlantic from Barcelona in 2022. They are so much fun!

Thank you. If it were just the two of us, I’d pick an aft cabin, but my cousin gets seasick.

We are planning an 11-day Alaska Cruisetour in late August 2025 to celebrate a big birthday for my husband. Kids, grandkids, possibly great-grands, and other family members will join us. We are long-time Celebrity cruisers (just did a 9-day Med, Barcelona to Rome on Celebrity Reflection). We chose Princess because of the land portion and because it includes both Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. (The last Alaska cruise we did was an inside passage from Vancouver and back in 2003.) We are looking at a premium balcony mid-aft (closer to mid) on Deck 10, C-500 to C-509. I read on this board that the Deck 10 balconies are larger (5' covered and 4' uncovered, or vice versa) Has anyone cruised in these cabins on the Sapphire? Any opinions on whether they would be a good choice? Thanks!

The last views from our balcony. Sunrise skies and Beyond arriving to join us in port.

Yes, they are doing breakfast buffet.

I just checked at World Class Bar — so sorry, they no longer have the ingredients.

I just checked with Future Cruises onboard, and the answer is YES! No problem at all

I just checked with Future Cruises onboard, and the answer is YES! No problem at all.

I have yet to see the green flash.

We were gifted with this from our balcony a few minutes ago.

@kwokpot, we are not in a suite, so I can’t answer that. But it is still Michael’s Club, not The Retreat.

My pleasure, @Texed. I’m afraid I have some bad news for you. There is no waffle station. Instead, they prepare waffles & pancakes back in the kitchen and bring them out in pans. I should have taken a picture. 😕

I am so sorry for your loss, Charla. Cancer sucks!