September 27 Adriatic and Italy Cruise - semi live - Constellation

I’ve read a lot on Cruise Critic and it’s helped immensely so I thought I’d try my hand at blogging as we go :). We booked this cruise in February 2017 so it’s been a long time coming!

My mom and I started our journey September 20 with an overnight stay at the San Francisco Marriott Waterfront. We generally go down the night before so we don’t have to feel rush! We left for the airport on the hotel shuttle around 10:50 am for a 2:10 pm departure. Check in went smoothly as did security. We are on United 787-8 Dreamliner- I’ve never been in one of these and can say they are quieter and love the windows changing colors depending on the light! We were fortunate and got bulkhead seats so plenty of leg room. We are currently over the United Kingdom with what looks like to be an early arrival into Zurich. We have a couple hour layover then off to Venice! We are spending 5 nights there before our cruise. My daughter will join just in a few days for the actual cruise! Can’t wait!! Including a couple photos of the plane - Row 16 seats/legroom and some of the windows.

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Will be following along. I am determined to travel to Venice! Have a wonderful trip and THANK YOU for allowing us to journey along with you.

I will be following too. In May 2019, it will be our turn! I look forward to read your stories!

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We are in Venice! Overall a smooth trip from California. Transferring in Zurich was a breeze. We took the Alilguna water boat from the airport to our hotel. It was a short walk from the pier to hotel, but bear in mind with suitcases it is over bumpy roads. We are staying at the Grand Hotel Dei Dogi. We stayed here back in 2012. They upgraded us to a suite so that was nice! I’ve been up for over 30 hours so it’s a stay in night! Walking tour tomorrow. Only negative so far is Wi-Fi is very sporadic except in lobby.

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Glad you made it safely to Venice! Following since I am starting to make plans for our cruise in May 2019!

Following! Excited to read all about your trip. We've only been on one other cruise and that was to Alaska. Thinking of taking my son to Venice and this cruise for his 21st birthday!

Following - we are on a similar cruise in November with Celebrity.

Venice looks AMAZING!!

We started the day with the hotel breakfast buffet which had many choices - including prosecco so of course had to make myself a mimosa :). We walked to one of the ferry stops and took a vaparetto to our walking tour. The free walking tour was a little over 2 hours and very interesting- focused mostly on history of Venice and some architecture. At the end you give the guide whatever you felt the tour deserved. We have done a few of these and they generally have been good. Afterwards we had an enjoyable lunch and then walked over to the Rialto Bridge area to go up the the T Fondaco roof top terrace

- it’s free but you do have to reserve a spot. It was so much more crowded over in the more touristy areas!! From there we took a leisurely walk back to the hotel with some stops to shop a bit and have a sweet snack. Back at the hotel we had dinner at our hotel on the canal. Very relaxing with a glass of local wine! Very nice first full day...Off to food tour in Treviso tomorrow.

Stats for the day - don’t think I need the gym today! Or close to since Wi-Fi is still down so have to use concierge Wi-Fi in lobby.

Steps - 13800 ish

Miles- 5.7

Flights - 18

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See you aboard the Constellation. Linda and Mel.

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See you aboard the Constellation. Linda and Mel.

 

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Can’t wait!!

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Today we took the train to Treviso for a food/walking tour. The walk to the train station wasn’t bad, around 15 minutes. Very easy to find our train and about 40 minutes to the city. Our guide met us at the train station. I think I originally decided to go here because it was the origin of tiramisu. We enjoy a 3 hour walk around the city with stops for a couple kinds of cheese. We were supposed to try a blue cheese with blueberries but due to the hot weather it wasn’t available so tried a blue with gin and Gorgonzola and marscapone. Both were very good. We also got a pastry tortellini stuff blueberry and another with apricot. Then a stop for Cicchetti - similar to Spanish tapas and some prosecco and last of course the tiramisu! It was a very pleasant day. Another quick train ride back to Venice and walk to our hotel to relax for a bit. Lots of walking again today so will most likely stay close to hotel for dinner. It is very windy today with gusts up to 40 mph, but warm and sunny.

Approx Stats for the day

Steps - over 14500

Flights - 23

Miles - slightly over 6

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Great reporting so far!

Today was a bit of a lazy day which we needed. No gym at my hotel so I went for a good walk this morning. The wind has died down, a bit cooler but beautiful blue sky. The weather is really looking good for the cruise! My daughter left this afternoon from California to join us for the cruise so I’m going to be a worrying mom until she texts me that she has landed in Venice! Can’t wait til she gets here.

We went on a food tour tonight with Venice Bites - highly recommend, great company, food, drink and hints for Venice.

Steps - 17,100

Flights - 26

Miles - 7.2

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I hope you and MOM have a wonderful trip. If you have never done the Adriatic, you will love it. We have done many Celebrity Cruises, including a Baltic, thé British Isles, Hawaii and Alaska, not to mention many in the Caribbean. We are preparing to leave for the Greek Isles on the Reflection on Oct 12 but I must say that so far, our Adriatic from Rome to Venice on the Silhouette in 2013 has been our all time favorite.

Bon Voyage.

I hope you and MOM have a wonderful trip. If you have never done the Adriatic, you will love it. We have done many Celebrity Cruises, including a Baltic, thé British Isles, Hawaii and Alaska, not to mention many in the Caribbean. We are preparing to leave for the Greek Isles on the Reflection on Oct 12 but I must say that so far, our Adriatic from Rome to Venice on the Silhouette in 2013 has been our all time favorite.

 

Bon Voyage.

Thanks! We did a Mediterranean cruise on celebrity in 2014 and loved it! Really looking forward to this one!

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My daughter arrived today. Thankfully she had a pretty smooth journey. Overall a pretty relaxing day. We took the hotel shuttle to San Marco, then walked around Venice - taking my daughter to the Rialto bridge, up to the rooftop terrace and a good lunch and gelato. Then she was ready to crash. Can’t wait for the start of the cruise tomorrow!!

Steps - 10,250

Flights - 18

Miles - 4.2

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Enjoying your blog, love the photos!

Thank you for taking the time to do this. We are on the Constellation soon, and this preview will really help to build the excitement.

Thank you so much for posting. I am enjoying your photographs especially - and the evening shot in your post 8 is just so evocative; I stared at it for a long time. I think I should like it as a poster/painting.

My first ever Celebrity cruise was on the Constellation out of Venice, so good memories. I hope you have a wonderful time.

A relaxing morning just packing and getting ready to leave. It’s been a great stay in Venice. We decided to take a taxi to the port with another couple which was 100 Euros - well worth it as we arrived very relaxed. Check in went extremely quickly and we were on the ship and sitting in the buffet area before 12:15. We got there just in time as it was getting quite crowded by the time we left. We toured the ship including the pools, spa and gym. Our rooms were ready before 1:30. I had done the MoveUp bid and went from Oceanview to Family Veranda aft. I surprised my mom and daughter. It’s 2:30 and still waiting for luggage, we may go get a drink and/or cappuccino- need to make sure and make use of premium package. :). The muster drill is at 3:45 and er have dinner at Quisine at 6:30.

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A relaxing morning just packing and getting ready to leave. It’s been a great stay in Venice. We decided to take a taxi to the port with another couple which was 100 Euros - well worth it as we arrived very relaxed. Check in went extremely quickly and we were on the ship and sitting in the buffet area before 12:15. We got there just in time as it was getting quite crowded by the time we left. We toured the ship including the pools, spa and gym. Our rooms were ready before 1:30. I had done the MoveUp bid and went from Oceanview to Family Veranda aft. I surprised my mom and daughter. It’s 2:30 and still waiting for luggage, we may go get a drink and/or cappuccino- need to make sure and make use of premium package. :). The muster drill is at 3:45 and er have dinner at Quisine at 6:30.

 

 

 

 

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Thank you so much for this report. We are doing a similar cruise next year. When you mentioned the taxi, did you mean a water taxi or a land taxi? How close to the ship were they able to take you?

The FV's are the BEST. We had one on our full transit Panama Canal cruise last year, and it highly enhanced our cruise. ENJOY. Thank you for posting. Venice is on my bucket list.

Once you have settled can you please post some photos of the inside of the ship.

Great reading your reports by the way.

Thanks

Once you have settled can you please post some photos of the inside of the ship.

 

 

 

Great reading your reports by the way.

 

 

 

Thanks

Sure any particular area?

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I am also following. Will be there next May. Would be interested to hear of your taxi experience. $100 sounds very high, but I believe you said you were staying further out.