Ideas on what line and location..PLZ help

[highlandshores]

We are wanting to take a cruise doing Italy and Spain could be in there. We have been to Greece so really don't want to go there. We have been on numerous ships, Paul Gauguin, Royal Caribbean,Princess, Sea Goddess and Silversea. Would like a midsize nice ship. Could be all inclusive or not. Nice balcony suites. Looking for some evening shows for entertainment. We are in the 60's age group, but still very active:). This is going to be our only trip to this area, and need some help for those who do this and the wonderful ideas that have....good and bad is welcomed. Hope tohear from all of ya! Yes I am from Texas.

[bobalink]

We are wanting to take a cruise doing Italy and Spain could be in there. We have been to Greece so really don't want to go there. We have been on numerous ships, Paul Gauguin, Royal Caribbean,Princess, Sea Goddess and Silversea. Would like a midsize nice ship. Could be all inclusive or not. Nice balcony suites. Looking for some evening shows for entertainment. We are in the 60's age group, but still very active:). This is going to be our only trip to this area, and need some help for those who do this and the wonderful ideas that have....good and bad is welcomed. Hope tohear from all of ya! Yes I am from Texas.

 

In 2010 we did the Western Mediterranean Cruise RT Rome. We flew in to Rome FCO and spent a week pre-cruise visiting many of the wonderful sites in and around Rome.

 

The itinerary on HAL Noordam was called Riviera Romance and had these ports:

Civitavecchia

Cannes / Monte Carlo

Barcelona, Spain

Palma de Mallorca

Trapani, Sicily

Tunis - Africa

Civitavecchia

 

The itinerary is slightly different for 2012.

 

We really enjoyed that cruise. We did the "other side" this past summer that included the Greek Isles.

 

Whatever you decide, have a wonderful vacation!

[frantic36]

We are wanting to take a cruise doing Italy and Spain could be in there. We have been to Greece so really don't want to go there. We have been on numerous ships, Paul Gauguin, Royal Caribbean,Princess, Sea Goddess and Silversea. Would like a midsize nice ship. Could be all inclusive or not. Nice balcony suites. Looking for some evening shows for entertainment. We are in the 60's age group, but still very active:). This is going to be our only trip to this area, and need some help for those who do this and the wonderful ideas that have....good and bad is welcomed. Hope tohear from all of ya! Yes I am from Texas.

 

 

Hi

 

Don't know if this will help but here goes. We are cruising with Crystal Serenity this August because of itinerary, new all inclusive status and special deals. The ships is 1000pax so I would call that mid size compared to RCL and Princess (we have previously sailed Seabourn).

 

The cruise 2317 is a 12 day Venice to Barcelona takes in 4 Italian, 1 Croatian, 1 French, 2 Spanish and includes some overnights at some ports.

 

This may help but not knowing how long you wish to travel or time of year you want to travel or even what year it is a little tricky to be sure. :)

 

Julie

[stipmom]

I would look to Azamara. They have ships of a little over 600. I did them on a Black Sea cruise and was concerned I would miss the production type entertainment but I did not.

[TLCOhio]

We are wanting to take a cruise doing Italy and Spain could be in there. We have been to Greece so really don't want to go there. We have been on numerous ships, Paul Gauguin, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Sea Goddess and Silversea. Would like a midsize nice ship. Could be all inclusive or not. Nice balcony suites. Looking for some evening shows for entertainment. We are in the 60's age group, but still very active. This is going to be our only trip to this area, and need some help for those who do this and the wonderful ideas that have....good and bad is welcomed. Hope tohear from all of ya! Yes I am from Texas.

 

Hi, to our Texas friends!! The good news is that you have a very wide range of choices and options, especially now with so many ships positioned in this area. In my view, much is about the ports, your personal travel style, budget, etc.

 

We have done four different cruises in Europe. Late June 2006 on 204-passenger Seabourn Spirit, Athens to Istanbul, enjoying the Greek Isles over seven days. Then late July 2008 on the 940-passenger Crystal Symphony, Dover to Stockholm, enxperiencing the Baltics and Russia. Last year it was July 1-16 on the 296-passenger Silversea Silver Cloud from Copenhagen seeing the Norway Coast, fjords, above the Arctic Circle, Land of the Midnight Sun, etc. All three lines are excellent with great service, fellow passengers, staff, etc. What’s best? The honest answer is . . . “It depends!!!”. Ports, schedules, timing and prices vary much, especially right now with this economy and two of these lines expanding (especially Seabourn) so much. You need to seek what best fits your exact personal needs, budget and interests.

 

We were very pleased with the design, lay-out, service, etc., last June with Celebrity's Solstice. They have a number of ships of this type in the Med that can offer good port options and a wider range of ship dining and entertainment options than what some smaller ships can do and offer. PLUS, good pricing during this current, more challenge economic times in Europe.

 

Like you, we are in our mid 60's and very active. Below are a few of my visuals to give you a better sampling for what we did and liked on this Solstice ship in the Med last June.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 80,362 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 69,574 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

Appreciate those who have “tuned in” for these two posts. Don’t be shy and feel free to comment and/or ask any questions of interest.

 

 

On the top, back of the Solstice, here is a wider view of Corning Hot Glass show area, plus the green grass and the unique covering designs for this special area of the ship.:

 

 

 

Many times at the pool in the afternoons, the “party band” was going at it with great tunes, adding to the fun and excitement around the pool area of the Solstice. Just like done by some famous California pop groups, we were hearing “fun, fun, fun” underneath the sun!!:

 

 

 

For entertainment in the Solstice Theatre, it was called “Solstice -- The Show” featuring a European-style dance, air acts, music, etc. Very dramatic and interesting as they swing, twirl and soar over the audience and stage. It is a “state-of-the-art” theatre with these "Cirque-type" dancers being able to “do their thing”. Here is one example of the “air show” put on by the show performers.:

 

 

 

This is a view of the library area on the tenth floor that overlooked the central, open core area of the ship. Not a great book selection here, but it is a nice-looking area with a quiet reading hideaway.:

 

 

 

For the handy and quick, especially at breakfast and lunch time, here is the Oceanview Cafe buffet on the Solstice. This visual sample shows how large and open are these various serving areas. This area includes getting items from the pizza-pasta bar area, various hot and cold items, free tea and juice machines, etc.:

 

 

 

The Solarium was one of our favorite areas on the Solstice. Food and drinks were nearby and it was very relaxed and sophisticated. Quieter, too, as it is an adults-only area. Two hot tubs here. Not crowded, especially in the evenings. Nice art and design are there as a part of this sparkling ship facility.:

 

[highlandshores]

What great response and thank you all for the info. Looking into the ideas that everyone posted. We for sure are going to stay out of Greece, so it looks like it is going to stay with Italy and Spain. Just which one to take. Looking to go probably October or November. All the kids will be in school then :p. Will update everyone when we make the decision. But please don't stop the suggestions.