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Following along. We aren't on the Venezia until May, but this is getting me excited already!

So cute! I would love that in black!

Great start! Can't wait to read the rest!

That's always so exciting!

But in the movies it always shows a couple there with the whole fountain to themselves...😆

I am loving your review so far! Now I want to book a trip to just Italy!

My pet peeve is more about the fellow passengers. I hate when people ignore all the announcements to do the muster drill. On our last cruise there was a group of people who decided they didn't need to do it, and they kept having to announce it every 10 minutes. They came out and said the ship wasn't going anywhere until every last person checked in, and people STILL took their sweet time going to their muster station. It's just rude.

I'm excited to read your review! Just be careful! My son had just bought a train ticket in Rome, and he put his wallet back in his left front pocket of his shorts, when some guy grabbed his right front pocket. When he went to grab the guys hand from his right pocket, the guy's accomplice grabbed the wallet from his left pocket and they both jumped on the train just as the doors closed. It was choreographed perfectly. He lost his cash, Eurail pass, credit card and debit card. He was doing a college term abroad in Germany so none of us were with him. Fortunately he ran into a fellow college student who lent him money to get back to Germany. It was a hassle getting him a new credit card and debit card! Fortunately he had left his passport in the hotel room so he didn't lose that as well.

Rome and Venice are horrible for pickpockets! They have it down to a science, including cutting the straps of a crossbody purse before you even know what happened. 😡

Many years ago we cruised on the Inspiration during Thanksgiving. They did not change the elegant night, but they did add a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner to the menu that night. I'm not sure if it is the same way now or not. I did not get the turkey dinner, but several people in our party did and loved it.

We personally love ocean views. We never spend as much time on the balcony as we think we will. I don't know if the Liberty has the deluxe ocean view with 2 bathrooms, but if it does, snag it! Those are our very favorite cabins.

Great review! I enjoyed hearing about your trip.

I chose the Festivale because it was my first cruise, and also my honeymoon. I recently came across the receipt for that cruise and we paid $599 per person for an inside stateroom 38 years ago! It was a 7-day to San Juan, St. Thomas and Nassau. You really cannot complain about current prices when you think about that!

Great! Thanks!

We have bought some blue diamonds from Bliss Jewelers a couple of times. Super nice, non pushy people, and they will send you a Christmas card every year for the rest of your life! LOL I think I have gotten one about 20 years in a row!

Thank you! I was able to order the $100 cards, but it looks like they are still out of $500 cards.

I have searched the AARP website and cannot find where to order the cards, Can someone help?

I'm really enjoying your review. We are not on the Venezia until May, but I am already taking notes on where I want to have dinner. Teppanyaki looks great!

He really committed! Even his shoes match!

Following along! I would love to see Greenland.

Magic is on the list. The new menu starts on 10/22.

Last year on the Panorama they opened up one of those folding walls between the steakhouse and piano bar and let us listen to Geoffrey Mung who was playing there. He was outstanding! He plays classical covers of vintage rock songs along with a lot of original content. Hands down my favorite performer that I have seen on any ship.

Last March on the Panorama we did self-disembark so we could get off early and we still did not get off until almost 10:00. We got into port on time, but there was some delay with the ship being cleared by customs. It was incredibly annoying. I have no idea what time everyone else got off. but there were a whole lot of people still on the ship when we left.

Thanks for the balanced review! It's nice to hear that your waits for anytime dining were pretty short. Did you ever go later than 5:30, and if so, what was your wait time then?

Can you tell me which excursions you did? I am having a hard time choosing because of all the bad reviews.