Kat goes on holiday - MSC Preziosa Eastern Med (5th July 2014)

Once we left the ship we had the one kilometre walk to the people mover station. This was very busy and we had to join quite a long queue to get into the station. Even so, we ended up at our hotel (Hotel Papadopoli Venezia) with plenty of time to spare. Since we were ahead of check in time we left our bags there and continued on to the next exciting thing on the itinerary!

 

We had been trip planning one Sunday afternoon when we came across mention of food tours. This got my husband very excited so I found and booked us a 'Cicchetti of Venice' food tour with Venice Urban Adventures. - http://www.veniceurbanadventures.com

 

This cost us 65 Euros each and was FABULOUS!!! It was a huge highlight of our trip! Our guide was Claire, a native of Venice, who talked non-stop the whole way explaining everything we saw and tasted. I can't remember how many places we stopped at but we wouldn't have gone into any of them if we had been by ourselves and even if we had, we wouldn't have had a clue what to order. Taking this tour gave us a taste of a side of Venice we would never have experienced otherwise and it was really amazing!

 

At each stop we had a small portion of something that was traditionally Venetian together with a small glass of either red or white wine. One stop was deep fried fish of some kind and what we would class as a toasted sandwich; another was bread topped with creamed cod; another was polenta topped with pickled fish; another was a range of breads with various toppings - I chose the truffled one! The food was amazing and so was the wine. Claire also showed us a fascinating shop where you can buy wine in demo-johns and can take in your own bottles and get them filled 'on tap' with white or red wine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Kat!!

Loving your review!! We are sailing on MSC Fantasia Nov 2 out of Venice. We arrive in Venice on Oct 31 and after seeing your lovely review of Urban Adventures, we booked the same tour for that evening!! Don't know how big Halloween is in Venice, but 2 years ago, I was in Barga, (near Lucca) Italy, and it was a big thing there with a huge party at the resort we stayed at. 2 more months to go!! Thanks again!! Susan & Tim PS I HATE any type of seafood (and I live on an island!) so hoping they have non-fish choices at the places we go

Hi Kat,

just caught up. Thank you again for such a wonderful review!!!! I can't wait to read your next one about the Disney cruise...will you post a link here?

Stef

Wonderful report, just stayed up til 3am reading it! Thx for the pictures, I'm excited to visit Ephesus and Dubrovnik which are both part of our upcoming Med cruise

Hi Kat, just want to say thanks for going to so much trouble to post your review. I looked forward to each new post. I'm sad it's over but, on the positive side, we're off on Preziosa in a few weeks! Ken

 

By then we were getting tired and hungry so I ordered room service and decided it was such a shame to leave the bubbly unopened and it would be a crime to let it get warm - so we popped the cork and drank the bottle with our snack.

 

 

After reading this (again!) I remembered that this is exactly what I'd like to do as we sail out of Venice - nothing like a nice glass of bubbly with that wonderful smoked salmon sandwich they serve. I told you, Kat, I have to keep checking back for reminders of great ideas :rolleyes:

I see you even managed to get a photo of my laptop. What I want to know is how did your photos wind up on it? :D:D

Seriously, though, that's going to be me in three days time - only difference being I'll be uploading my photos onto the MBA ;)

Kat,

After following your blog, I almost feel as if I know you. Thank you for taking so much time and providing so much details. We are booked on the Sept 27, 2014 Preziosa out of Venice and going to the same stops you did. I have customized your blog to travel size so in essence, you are going back to all the sites you visited in July! Having your blog along will make my trip much more relaxing - thanks again for all your hard work - if you don't work in the travel industry, you should!

Hi Trixter, thank you for your lovely comments! I am thrilled you enjoyed my trip report and that its been helpful. You are going to have a wonderful cruise and I hope you come back and tell us how it was!

And sadly I am not a travel professional - maybe I should consider it so I can travel more? :P

Fantastic review and pictures.

MSC is now on my short list for our next cruise.

You might enjoy The Haven on NCL.

Fantastic review!

We're booked on the MSC Preziosa later this year, in the yacht club. Can't wait. We have covered the ports that you sailed on this cruise, but with different ships, and all in winter! (a lot more cloudy and windy)

I was quite astounded that you could start your cruise immediately after a long flight from New Zealand.

Question - for formal/gala night, is a suit absolutely necessary? I saw your hubby wearing a suit for that evening.

My husband had been in Europe for business for three weeks prior so had suits with him anyway. Most men in the Yacht Club were wearing suits on formal night but it wasn't 'enforced' in any way and I am sure there were plenty of men quite comfortable wearing other clothes. I'm afraid I'm not so good at noticing that kind of thing. :)

I have to admit, I was completely wasted for the first few days of the cruise and it took me a week to feel alive in the evenings! We cruised again in December and opted for a land vacation first so we would be in the right time zone before the cruise and that worked really well for us.

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How was your cruise on Disney Katgoesonholiday? Comparable to the Yacht Club?

How was your cruise on Disney Katgoesonholiday? Comparable to the Yacht Club?

It was different in many ways - we were sailing with our three kids instead of just the two of us; we had an interior cabin on deck 2 rather than a balcony on deck 16. But having said that, the Disney cruise was amazing!

We really liked the rotational dining concept on Disney and found that quite comparable to the Yacht Club restaurant. The waiters were super attentive and we enjoyed the change of scenery.

Our cabins, despite being interiors, were quite spacious and comfortable. Disney does a split bathroom so we enjoyed that extra space and flexibility. However the bathrooms weren't done in the recent refit so they were a bit tired looking and nowhere near as nice as the Preziosa ones. There was also plenty of storage - especially since we had chose two connecting cabins.

We were able to bring our own alcohol and water on board so we didn't miss the constantly replenished mini-fridge. Disney also have a complimentary beverage station on deck 9 which was easy for us to get to so we didn't really miss the free non-alcoholic drinks.

We did miss having a easy attractive and quiet place to read our books. We loved the Top Sail lounge for this. We spent quite a bit of time wandering looking for a place to settle down on those rare occasions when the kids were all occupied in the clubs.

We also missed the quiet pools. The top deck on Diney was a fiesta for kids and the spas were like little kid soups. Having said that, we contributed three more small bodies to general noise and chaos so we can't complain!

We also really valued and enjoyed the activites we found on Disney. We did loads of trivia quizzes plus bingo and a game show type thing. They were fun and I only recall bingo being offered on the Preziosa.

But one thing that was truly outstanding on the Yacht Club that was totally lacking on Disney was really good coffee! I did NOT like the coffee that was available in the dining rooms. It was lukewarm and horrible. The coffee on the Preziosa was absolutely divine.

We really loved Disney when travelling with our kids and had a fabulous memorable awesome cruise. We hope to travel on the Disney Magic again maybe in Europe. But we also thoroughly enjoyed and loved our cruise in the Yacht Club on the MSC Preziosa and would love to do that again some time - though maybe not with the kids or when they are older.

Disney Cruise would be heavenly with kids! Glad you had a good cruise with the kids.

We did a River Cruise this holiday season, very different from Ocean Cruising. Everything is included which was wonderful. We also tried the New Quantum of the Seas and it wasn't for us.

Going on the Divina in April. looking forward to it.

Disney Cruise would be heavenly with kids! Glad you had a good cruise with the kids.

 

We did a River Cruise this holiday season, very different from Ocean Cruising. Everything is included which was wonderful. We also tried the New Quantum of the Seas and it wasn't for us.

 

Going on the Divina in April. looking forward to it.

Interesting what you say about the QoS. I've read a couple of reviews and it looks like there is plenty for families to do. But I have to say, I far prefer the smaller feel of the Yacht Club and the Disney Magic. I've been looking with great interest at the new Viking Oceans ships - they have 900 passengers with what looks to be very much a Yacht Club type of feel throughout. Plus their itineraries are very interesting to me. But they are not suitable for kids so that's off the agenda for another decade!

I loved travelling without my boys on the Preziosa but I did miss them terribly and we thoroughly enjoyed our month long holiday in December so whilst they are still young and actually want to travel with us, we are going to make the most of these opportunities. :D

My husband had been in Europe for business for three weeks prior so had suits with him anyway. Most men in the Yacht Club were wearing suits on formal night but it wasn't 'enforced' in any way and I am sure there were plenty of men quite comfortable wearing other clothes. I'm afraid I'm not so good at noticing that kind of thing. :)

 

I have to admit, I was completely wasted for the first few days of the cruise and it took me a week to feel alive in the evenings! We cruised again in December and opted for a land vacation first so we would be in the right time zone before the cruise and that worked really well for us.

 

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Thanks. We would be visiting Europe on holiday, so it would be inconvenient to bring a suit. I could easily bring shirts, ties, pants, no problem.

It was different in many ways - we were sailing with our three kids instead of just the two of us; we had an interior cabin on deck 2 rather than a balcony on deck 16. But having said that, the Disney cruise was amazing!

 

We really liked the rotational dining concept on Disney and found that quite comparable to the Yacht Club restaurant. The waiters were super attentive and we enjoyed the change of scenery.

 

Our cabins, despite being interiors, were quite spacious and comfortable. Disney does a split bathroom so we enjoyed that extra space and flexibility. However the bathrooms weren't done in the recent refit so they were a bit tired looking and nowhere near as nice as the Preziosa ones. There was also plenty of storage - especially since we had chose two connecting cabins.

 

We were able to bring our own alcohol and water on board so we didn't miss the constantly replenished mini-fridge. Disney also have a complimentary beverage station on deck 9 which was easy for us to get to so we didn't really miss the free non-alcoholic drinks.

 

We did miss having a easy attractive and quiet place to read our books. We loved the Top Sail lounge for this. We spent quite a bit of time wandering looking for a place to settle down on those rare occasions when the kids were all occupied in the clubs.

 

We also missed the quiet pools. The top deck on Diney was a fiesta for kids and the spas were like little kid soups. Having said that, we contributed three more small bodies to general noise and chaos so we can't complain!

 

We also really valued and enjoyed the activites we found on Disney. We did loads of trivia quizzes plus bingo and a game show type thing. They were fun and I only recall bingo being offered on the Preziosa.

 

But one thing that was truly outstanding on the Yacht Club that was totally lacking on Disney was really good coffee! I did NOT like the coffee that was available in the dining rooms. It was lukewarm and horrible. The coffee on the Preziosa was absolutely divine.

 

We really loved Disney when travelling with our kids and had a fabulous memorable awesome cruise. We hope to travel on the Disney Magic again maybe in Europe. But we also thoroughly enjoyed and loved our cruise in the Yacht Club on the MSC Preziosa and would love to do that again some time - though maybe not with the kids or when they are older.

Thank you very much for your comparison of the two cruiseproducts. Very interesting to read. :)

On embarkation day, whilst we were waiting for our cabin to be ready, the maître d was at the Concergerie making note of dining time preferences. The Yacht Club was sailing full so I giving they were just wanting to get an indication of peak dining times. They did ask us to specify what time we wanted to dine, which surprised me. And it wasn't a choice between two dining times but just "What time would you like to dine?"

 

B.

My belief is that they ask you so that your butler can escort you to dinner on the first day. It is anytime dining but so this service can be provided your butler needs to know what time to turn up to show you to the restaurant.

Thank you Kat - I thoroughly enjoyed your review. We did our Eastern Med cruise in 2010 and your blog and photos brought back so many wonderful memories. Back in 2010 (and I dont know if it is still true) we were able to hire private tours for a fraction of the price of the ship tour. There were four of us as we took our girls - we hired a guide and driver in Katakolon, Ephesus and Istanbul. We paid only Euro 60 in Istanbul, 80 for Katakolon and 120 for Ephesus but that included all entry fees. I have some great photos but don't know how to share them with you. I particularly wanted to share three. One was the carpet we bought in Istanbul. I paid far too much for it. I know I did because they broke out the champagne and danced and sang after I agreed on the price ;). The other was a photo I took at the back of the Blue Mosque where the feet washing troughs were - you mentioned the segregation of women - this sign said, and I quote, "the place for ablution for ladies is at the backside". The other memorable sign we saw was in the market at the end of Ephesus "Genuine Fake Watches" amused us no end.

We were also shown an example of someone working at a massive loom to know a carpet. These carpets take months to complete using a double knotting technique which will (according to our guide) last for centuries. This centre is a co-op sponsored by the Turkish government. Here they train women in carpet weaving and supply them with looms, thread and patterns to take home. Women will work on and off for hours every day, amongst their other tasks and responsibilities, and when the carpets are complete they return them to the co-op to be sold. I like this model, and properly done it can be a significant source of training and income for women - which enriches families and societies as well as preserving irreplaceable cultural techniques.

 

The woman doing this was amazing! Her hands moved so fast they were almost a blur! He got her to slow down and show us each step several times and each time she speeded up again it was unreal how fast and deftly she was managing to knot these threads.

 

 

 

 

We sailed on a cruise recently, also to Kusadasi and were brought to a carpet place. Not sure if it was the same shop. While it was an interesting experience, I think we will avoid carpet shops next time round.

In our case, the chaps started throwing carpets at us. See the video from 1:28. Was your experience the same?

[YOUTUBE]8XOTrZcmdso[/YOUTUBE]

We sailed on a cruise recently, also to Kusadasi and were brought to a carpet place. Not sure if it was the same shop. While it was an interesting experience, I think we will avoid carpet shops next time round.

 

In our case, the chaps started throwing carpets at us. See the video from 1:28. Was your experience the same?

 

[YOUTUBE]8XOTrZcmdso[/YOUTUBE]

I acquired my silk carpet back in 2005 from one that was part of a ship tour in Istanul. Pretty much the same as your experience with them starting with Apple tea and then throwing the carpets down and doing the sales pitch whilst the other workers were doing it. To be honest, I didn't feel under any pressure. Out of 11 of us, 2 bought. One lady wanted a new big rug for her new flat's lounge. Mine was more of an impulse to buy a small hanging one - but I do love it and have had it for almost 10 years and it still looks as good as when I bought it.

I probably would not go again, mainly because I don't do organised tours anymore, but it would be interesting to find out just what a silk one about the same size as mine is selling for now.

We had them thrown and twirled too. It was very entertaining!

We didn't feel pressured - I could have walked out if there at any time. But I wanted carpet and I wanted the experience of haggling. It was fun!

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That was the same government sponsored carpet factory that we were taken to by our guide in 2013. They were helpful initially as we were willing to buy something special to take home, but at AUD$5000+; we could not get anything decent for a good price. My husband was almost taken in but I managed to convince him not to buy (the salesman asked the manager to convince us and even offer free delivery and ask for deposit and the rest by bank transfer).

He knew that I had win my husband over and he was not impressed then showed us the way out by pointing towards the corridor. We were left to find our own exit and the corridor is similar to a long dungeon. It felt so weird and scary.

The tour guide mentioned that the tour includes lunch at a carpet factory and was offered watermelon, apple tea and Turkish pastry with cheese (burek), which were great but they whole experience was sooo intimidating and did spoilt our experience a bit.

Hi Kat

We love your review of your cruise. My Wife and I have read your posts from start to finish over the last week. We read about 4 pages a night while planning our own 6 week European holiday in June that includes 7 days on the Divina in YC (being spoilt for my 50th birthday[emoji2])

We are doing the western Mediterranean cruise from la spezia.

I have been doing a lot of research on MSC and YC and loved your review. I'm more excited now than before! This is my first cruise ever and my wife's 2nd ( she talked me into it after I said I wouldn't go on a cruise)

NOW I can't wait to be sunning myself and ordering FREE drinks by the one pool. Being Australian I will fly the flag proudly. Lol

Your tips and advice are awesome.

I can honestly say that if we hadn't already booked YC before reading your review, I would have now!

MSC should employ you to review all their cruises, your great advertising for them and very honest in what you write (good and bad).

Thanks again.

Anthony and Jenny.

Thanks so much for the great review! It was just the thing I needed to pass the time on some cold & snowy days here in New York! It helped me re-live our 1st Med cruise with our 3 teens this past summer. Looking forward to the Paris part of your trip as we're planning a land trip to London, Paris & Amsterdam next year.

Tina

Thank you so much for a wonderful review. It was a great read with some fantastic pictures.

I am going on the Preziosa in December to the Med, covering Rome, Palermo, Tunis, Barcelona, Marseilles and Genoa and I cannot wait. Salivating.

I am also doing an Eastern Med in July next year on NCL going to/from Venice and going to the Greek Isles, so your review helped me there too :)