Liberty of the Seas - In depth review of our Mediterranean Cruise!!

[chasinraynbowz]

The Grand Casino, Monte Carlo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let me backtrack a moment. Remember the tour in Marseille that RCCL said that the walking was “moderate” and I thought it should have been “strenuous”? Well todays tour was listed as strenuous. Oh boy were they right. I don’t know how they do it. Yes, I am overweight and out of shape, but even my sister and Aunt who are not out of shape had a difficult time. It was all up hill and up stairs!! Wow. But again, it was worth it!! We got to see the casino and go in and gamble. I spent my 10 euro, saved a few cents and printed out my coupon for my scrapbook!! Once we finished, Greg and I headed outside to take pictures and relax for walking back down to the bus.

 

After getting back to the ship, Greg and I had dinner and went to the casino again for a little while. He went to see the headliner show and I headed to bed!

Edited October 27, 2011 by chasinraynbowz

[chasinraynbowz]

Sorry folks. I came home with a nasty cold and can't keep my eyes open much longer.

 

I will post more tomorrow!!

[Pushka]

Thanks again Pam. Can you tell me what kind of things you bought at the stalls? I love little stalls but have limited space.

 

Your photos are lovely.

[chasinraynbowz]

Thanks again Pam. Can you tell me what kind of things you bought at the stalls? I love little stalls but have limited space.

 

Your photos are lovely.

 

 

Thanks so much Pushka! You can buy almost anything in the little stalls. We bought scarves, statues, cookies, drawings, books, post cards, etc... If you want it, I am sure someone will have it! I collect snowglobes and was able to get one each place we visited. I also collect tea sets and was able to get 3 of those.

 

The scarves were a great buy in Florence. I got 3 for $15 and they make great gifts!

 

I will be working on my review today and hope to get a lot more published tonight! ;)

[bigque]

Good review! I was planning on going on that cruise in 2012 but had to change and is doing the Freedom instead! Hopefully after that I can do the Med cruise! Nice pics...there is so much more in the world to see than hanging out on the beaches in the Caribbean!

[snookymom]

Loving you review Pam. The pictures are teriffic as I knew they would be.:D Hope you get over your cold soon.

[finz2u]

I am so enjoying your review. Your writing makes me want to go there. Can't wait for the next installment.

[celie1110]

Fantastic review Pam! I am going on this same cruise next September and I am getting excited just reading about yours!!

 

Feel Better and I cant wait to read more!

[chasinraynbowz]

Loving you review Pam. The pictures are teriffic as I knew they would be.:D Hope you get over your cold soon.

 

Thanks Margie!! I hope I feel better soon too. I am supposed to take Davis to the pumpkin patch this weekend (our yearly trip).

 

I am so enjoying your review. Your writing makes me want to go there. Can't wait for the next installment.

 

Thanks so much!! I finished all the text and just have the pictures to do now! Look tonight, there will be more added!

 

Fantastic review Pam! I am going on this same cruise next September and I am getting excited just reading about yours!!

 

Feel Better and I cant wait to read more!

 

Oh I am jealous. I want to go again!!! LOL

[chasinraynbowz]

Good review! I was planning on going on that cruise in 2012 but had to change and is doing the Freedom instead! Hopefully after that I can do the Med cruise! Nice pics...there is so much more in the world to see than hanging out on the beaches in the Caribbean!

 

 

Thanks!!! I hope you do get to go. It was a wonderful trip!!

[chasinraynbowz]

We love Barcelona too an hoping to do liberty western med next sept. we visited Barcelona last sept and would love to recomend hotel emilia to anyone thinking of a visit www.hotelvillaemilia.com it's in a lovely location yet handy for the metro and tour bus.

 

 

So was ours. We weren't in the middle of the city, yet the metro and HOHO buses were very close!!

[chasinraynbowz]

10/18/11 - Florence and Pisa, Italy

 

 

Our wake up call was at 6 am and room service at 630 this morning. Then we met Mom and Aunt Linda in the Platinum theater at 715am for our drive to Florence. The drive took about 45 minutes (I think) and we were dropped off at the Arno River to begin our 3 ½ mile walk!

 

First stop, Basilica of Santa Croce. While there we visited the leather factory and both Aunt Linda and I fell in love with the “Kelly Bag”. Aunt Linda bought one, I just drooled!

 

 

 

 

The River Arno, Florence

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basilica of Santa Croce

 

 

 

 

 

 

Piazza Santa Croce

 

 

Edited October 27, 2011 by chasinraynbowz

[chasinraynbowz]

 

More of the Piazza Santa Croce

 

 

 

 

After more shopping and picture taking, we headed over to the Palazzo Vecchio and then onto Ponte Vecchio for pictures.

 

 

 

Palazzo Vecchio - Neptune's backside!!

 

 

Neptune's frontside

Edited October 27, 2011 by chasinraynbowz

[chasinraynbowz]

 

Palozzo Vecchio

Me in front of a replica of David and Hercules (to the right)

 

 

Perseus holding Medusa's head

 

 

 

[chasinraynbowz]

 

Greg rubbing the Boar's nose for good luck

 

 

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (English: Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower) - better known as the Duomo.

 

 

 

 

The marble is white, pink and green. Its absolutely beautiful!!!

[chasinraynbowz]

 

 

Next was lunch at the Athenaeum Hotel, which was great. Our bus picked us up at the hotel after lunch and we headed to Pisa.

Edited October 27, 2011 by chasinraynbowz

[chasinraynbowz]

Once in Pisa, the walk from the bus to the Field of Miracles is approximately 10 minutes. There are a LOT of “vendors” when you get off the bus trying to sell you umbrella’s, purses (knock-offs), and lots of other stuff. Ignore them, keep walking. DO NOT even make eye contact with them. One lady made the mistake of looking at one of the purses and they almost followed her back onto the bus… lol.

 

Once we reached the outer wall, we were given an hour and half to look, take pictures, shop, look some more, and shop more… lol. Greg and I had to stop a couple of times and say… wow, look. This is something we have read about all of our lives, seen pictures of and now it’s right in front of our noses. Wow is all I can say. Of course, we have to take the typical, cheesy “poser” pictures. You know the ones…. One of us with a camera while the other one tries their best to hold up the tower… lol!!

 

 

 

 

Part of the Old Wall that surrounds the Piazza dei Miracoli

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me excited about being there!!!

 

 

 

Edited October 28, 2011 by chasinraynbowz

[chasinraynbowz]

 

We were not able to climb to the top due to time. I overheard a woman tell her hubby that if they bought tickets then, it would be 2 hours before they could go. Since we had less than 2 hours there was no way. Guess we will have to go back!!

 

 

 

 

We got back to bus at 6pm and once back on ship had just enough time to drop our goodies off, freshen up and head to the dining room. Tonight, my niece introduced me to the champagne bar!! LOL

 

We headed up to our cabin early for another big day tomorrow… ROME!!!!

Edited October 28, 2011 by chasinraynbowz

[chasinraynbowz]

10/19/11 - Rome

 

 

This is the day I have been waiting for. I was able to convince my family that a private tour was the only way to go. Not only did I want to see the Coliseum, Forum, Trevi Fountain, etc….. I wanted to see as much of the Vatican as I could, including the Sistine Chapel. We could not do that thru the ship. I have read some great reviews about Rome In Limo on this board and checked them out thru Frommers and Trip Advisor and saw many glowing reviews so we chose them. What a great choice I made!!!

 

Mauro, our driver, was at the ship when we disembarked at 8am. He was right on the other side of the fence holding a card with my name on it. Once our group was all together, he told us to wait there and ran to get the van. Due to traffic we were running a bit late, but he did his best to get us there as quick as he could. During the drive to Rome, he gave us a wonderful history lesson on the city and during our tour, he gave us the history of everything we saw. We could not have asked for more… except for time of course!! First stop – Coliseum. WOW! Per their request, I bought our tickets prior to our arrival online. I handed him our tickets and off we went. He knew what line we needed and once there told us we had 30 mins (due to the traffic) to explore. Mom could not make it up the stairs (they are VERY steep) so while the rest of the group went up, I stayed down with her and we walked around the bottom and met everyone up front. We did good and were back at the van within the 30 mins!

 

 

 

St Paul's Basilica

 

 

 

On our way to the Coliseum.

 

 

 

Our first view of the Coliseum

 

Edited October 28, 2011 by chasinraynbowz

[chasinraynbowz]

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Imperial Palace, which overlooks the Circus Maximus.

Edited October 28, 2011 by chasinraynbowz

[chasinraynbowz]

Next we saw the ruins of the Imperial Palace. We didn’t get out of the van, but he stopped long enough for us to take pictures. Next he drove up to Capitol Hill and stopped so we could get some great pictures of the ruins below.

 

 

 

Circus Maximus

 

 

 

Capitol Hill overlooking the ruins

 

Edited October 28, 2011 by chasinraynbowz

[chasinraynbowz]

Our next stop was the Trevi Fountain. He dropped us about a block or so (it was as close as he could get) and we walked the rest of the way. He was sure to tell us how to correctly throw our coin into the fountain.

 

The "Coin Throwing" Legend of the Trevi Fountain

 

A well told legend holds that if visitors to the Trevi Fountain throws a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to The City of Rome.

 

Other interpretations are that two coins thrown will ensure that a marriage will occur soon, and three coins leads to a divorce or breakup. Another version of this legend is that it is lucky to throw three coins with one's right hand over one's left shoulder into the Waters of the Trevi Fountain.

 

Approximately $3500 is thrown into the Trevi Fountain each day and the coins are collected at night, and used to subsidize a supermarket for Rome's poor population.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 28, 2011 by chasinraynbowz

[chasinraynbowz]

After the Trevi Fountain, he drove us around the city some and explained some of the buildings. Next stop was the Pantheon. We were able to go inside and take pictures and see the tombs of Raphael and King Umberto I and his wife Margherita.

 

 

 

 

Our first view of the Pantheon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[chasinraynbowz]

 

Raphael's Tomb

 

 

 

King Umberto's Tomb

 

 

The Spanish Steps

[Kingofthesailaway]

What a great report. Wonderful pictures. This takes me back to my Med cruise over the summer. Keep it coming !!!! I am interested to hear you final impressions of RCCL.