Ocean princess venice to rome

[Bimmer09]

And I'll also call the waiter while I'm at it ... name your poison, what are you drinking Norris me old mate? ;)

 

Thanks for the tip about your camcorder, sounds pretty good - tiny (and light, light is very important). Mmmm, a new bit of technology for me to get my teeth into. One should never stop "learning", don't you agree? :)

 

Agreed but I would advise to find a camcorder with a viewfinder. Mine has none and only has a flip out color screen to see what you are filming. It washes out if the sunlight is on it. I'll show a photo of the camera gear during the ship section later.

 

This visit to Venice I was drinking mainly Nastro Azzuro (Blue Ribbon) bottled beer and at dinner/lunch the wines were very good and the price reasonable (!5 to 20Euros for a 750ml bottle). I also never turn down a Guinness. Sambuca was cheap (3 to 4 Euros) and the espresso/cappuccino the best ever.

 

Norris

[LC1950]

Aaaah Norris, anytime, it would be an honour to buy you a drink (or 3). Oh, and I'm really looking forward to your food pics. Aaaah, my mouth is watering in anticipation. :)

[Bimmer09]

Aaaah Norris, anytime, it would be an honour to buy you a drink (or 3). Oh, and I'm really looking forward to your food pics. Aaaah, my mouth is watering in anticipation. :)

 

Next up is photos from my walk. After that, video of our first restaurant experience in Venice. Singing gondoliers will make an appearance.

 

That will come later tonight as Australia is waking up tomorrow.

 

Norris, off to work.

[Deck Chair Queen]

Nice to spot Alberto the seagull in the video! Loved the ramble antico.

[slc22]

March 2013 came in like a lion and went out with a firm booking on the Ocean Princess thanks to a mouthwatering itinerary- Venice to Rome via Dubrovnik, Malta, Tunis, Sorrento and then to Civitavecchia, the port of Rome.

 

... and after much discussion which went on and on for about 3 minutes with much fist-pounding on tables and bright lights being shone in the face we decided to take the plunge into the warm waters of the Med and secured lodgings onboard the Ocean .....

 

 

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Awesome ... What a fun blog !

Edited October 6, 2014 by slc22

[Bimmer09]

Awesome ... What a fun blog !

 

Thanks-a new face-welcome. Sit back and relax as there is a lot more waiting to unfold....where are you from?

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

The front of our hotel where the feet started walking, heading away from the Grand Canal otherwise I would have got very wet. Turn a corner and start walking without studying a map. What's down there? Or there? Just walk and find out. Get lost or turned around. All you have to do is find a canal and look down it and if you see the GC you get your bearings again. There are occasional signs high on the walls pointing to St Mark's Square or Rialto. Those help if you have an idea of the lay of the land.

 

 

IMG_1832 by norris_adair, on Flickr[/img]

 

A restaurant Lorenzo the driver had recommended.

 

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5599/15250533398_390ce5d7e4_b.jpg' alt='15250533398_390ce5d7e4_b.jpg'>IMG_1827 by norris_adair, on Flickr[/img]

[Bimmer09]

A restaurant with a good canal location. We didn't have time for it on this visit but I hope we cruise out of Venice again.

 

IMG_1825 by norris_adair, on Flickr

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IMG_1822 by norris_adair, on Flickr[/img]

 

We had prime box seats booked for Il Trovatore by Guiseppe Verdi (Joe Green) on Saturday afternoon at 3.30pm. The ship was open for embarkation from 1pm to 9 pm but we had a couple of hours after the opera to make the deadline.

[Bimmer09]

I scouted around for some pre-opera lunch spots and there were a few within 20 feet of the opera house-now that's what I call very handy!!

 

IMG_1820 by norris_adair, on Flickr

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I left La Fenice by the back way , via the canal that runs alongside

 

IMG_1815 by norris_adair, on Flickr

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[Bimmer09]

IMG_1814 by norris_adair, on Flickr

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I love the striking color of this focal building!

 

IMG_1819 by norris_adair, on Flickr

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https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15434012551_300d2713aa_b.jpg' alt='15434012551_300d2713aa_b.jpg'>IMG_1834 by norris_adair, on Flickr[/center]

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[perfect match]

Thank you and I am glad you found this thread. You have been onboard for all of my reviews I think and this is the one I most anticipated as the ship and itinerary were both new to me, so my senses were heightened somewhat.

 

As well as all the ports I mentioned and the ship that was new to me there is also at the end a tour of Rome with Rome in Limo, which includes a Vatican Tour.

 

Lots of food porn on and off ships. Live bands and buskers. Sunsets. The usual.

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Norris

 

I'm glad to be here! Not only that, but I got in right at the beginning for once. Normally I find myself rushing through because I can't wait to see what you've been up to next, but this time I will get to sit back and savor the whole review.

 

I don't know if we will ever get to do a Med cruise, but if we do this one would be high up in my prospective choices. So many cruises we want to do, so little time. I still have to get DH to agree to the Alaska cruise that your review pushed near the top of my wishlist. If I add a Med cruise to the priority list right now I'm afraid I'd scare the poor man half out of his wits! Fortunately, he does like cruises, just not long plane rides to get there, and since we live in Florida he would rather cruise from a port we can drive to.

 

I'm settled in here for the long trip, looking forward to seeing the Med through your eyes.

 

Nancy

[Bimmer09]

I'm glad to be here! Not only that, but I got in right at the beginning for once. Normally I find myself rushing through because I can't wait to see what you've been up to next, but this time I will get to sit back and savor the whole review.

 

I don't know if we will ever get to do a Med cruise, but if we do this one would be high up in my prospective choices. So many cruises we want to do, so little time. I still have to get DH to agree to the Alaska cruise that your review pushed near the top of my wishlist. If I add a Med cruise to the priority list right now I'm afraid I'd scare the poor man half out of his wits! Fortunately, he does like cruises, just not long plane rides to get there, and since we live in Florida he would rather cruise from a port we can drive to.

 

I'm settled in here for the long trip, looking forward to seeing the Med through your eyes.

 

Nancy

 

Nancy, the long plane ride to Europe isn't something I look forward to but when you realize where you will be when the plane lands and how different it will be from the Caribbean then the sacrifice in comfort for 9 or 10 hours is so worth it.

 

When we flew to Anchorage to join the Coral in 2011 it was a 7 hour flight. A couple of more hours sleep or another movie heading East could have landed us in Barcelona or Rome. All the European flights we have taken left around 6 pm and soon it was dark so it was possible to sleep, even in a seated position.

You can feel like a wet dish rag when you land-when we got to Munich my Chicago watch said it was 3 a.m but the sun was shining and everyone was up and about and it was a hive of activity. A one hour nap can take some of the edge off your tiredness but you can soldier on through that first day on adrenaline and excitement and in my case in Venice-sheer joy at having made the trip to get there. We hope to do the Med again and again and certainly mean to cruise in Alaska again too.

 

Maybe the photos and video yet to come can help sway your DH....

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

I came upon a photograph on a brilliant ports review by matcodixon and bookmarked his excellent photo for a year. In the interim I checked Yelp and Tripadvisor reviews and in the latter found mixed reactions from "surly waiters and microwaved food" to "wonderful ambiance with authentic Italian cuisine".

 

The location, right on a narrow canal where gondolas pull up and within 10 minutes walk from our hotel was the lure for me and I had to lobby against Carol's uneasiness. It would be our first and only dinner in Venice and a fingers-crossed decision.

 

I wrote to the hotel and they booked us a canal-side table for 7 pm on our first night in Venice. Our 2nd night would be dinner on board the Ocean Princess.

 

Before we left the hotel for dinner Bobby served us drinks and munchies from the hotel bar

 

IMG_1840 by norris_adair, on Flickr[/img]

 

The snacks were complimentary but we paid for drinks. We watched the boats go by on the Grand Canal and toasted our good fortune in being here.

 

Running 10 minutes late the hotel called the restaurant to advise and I am glad they did. They highlighted a map giving us directions to the restaurant and off we went. The streets were teeming with people now and the forecast for thunderstorms looked accurate when we looked up to the sky.

 

Reaching the restaurant at 7.10 sharp the deluge of rain began at 7.10 and 1 second and the staff scurried to clear some tables not under the canvas canopy. We waited in the front of the restaurant and I noticed there was one table by the canal and under the canopy sitting vacant-that must be our table I thought. Meantime other wet people were running over the small bridge and to the restaurant in the hope of grabbing a table. They were hoping to speak to the busy Maitre 'd so I had to catch his eye and say to him in Italian- I have a reservation via Palazzo Sant' Angelo. "Signori Adair?" he said and immediately told a waiter to seat us at that last table. Phew! What a relief. Lesson- it pays to call if running late or the table might be gone when you get there.

 

The tables are very close to each other on the canal sidewalk but we shoe-horned ourselves in and I ran the camcorder to capture the scene.....

 

 

Photos to follow...

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Carol's crisp Italian diction brought smiles from our waiter. Of course he could speak English and was far from surly. He was witty and good at his job.

When I looked at the price of the Pinot Grigio (15E) I thought it must be a carafe but he explained it was a bottle. Bring it on, per favore! The wine glass had a nice big bowl and he gave me a tasting pour. Even though the glass was very deep I managed to lick the last drop with my long tongue as I have some Iguanas in my family tree.

 

Off to a good start!

 

Warm crusty bread with oil and vinegar soon came to give us something to chew on while we watched the gondolas go by with their damp passengers who were all smiling, making limoncello out of lemons as the rain poured down.

 

The food was very good. The restaurant was celebrating 60 years in business and the touristy location must count for a lot of their success but we had no complaints regarding the food nor service. We ate a fine meal and Carol enjoyed a glass of very good wine with me. There were British accents (Yorkshire I'd say) at the table next to us. The tables are so close that even though it would have been permissible to smoke at the table I didn't want to ruin anyone's meal so left the table at one point and went around the corner to a narrow alleyway.

 

Carol making trip notes on her iPhone between courses. The tiny camcorder can be seen on the table.

 

IMG_1843 by norris_adair, on Flickr[/img]

 

My favorite spaghetti dish- ala carbonara

 



 

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/15436764412_b9a38cf858_b.jpg' alt='15436764412_b9a38cf858_b.jpg'>IMG_1845 by norris_adair, on Flickr

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[slc22]

slc22 - Thanks-a new face - welcome. Sit back and relax as there is a lot more waiting to unfold.... where are you from?

 

Norris

 

Thanks for the welcome - from Texas.

 

Happily reading each update. Your pics are marvelous!

Edited October 7, 2014 by slc22

[Bimmer09]

Thanks for the welcome - from Texas.

 

Happily reading each update. Your pics are marvelous!

 

Well if you have read my Caribbean Princess review you'll know that I recently visited Texas for the first time and am looking forward to returning.

 

There is so far a very small group of people commenting but I hope that will grow as I like to know who I am sharing this with and am always keen to answer questions. Early days I guess and many don't have the time or interest in following a cruise review on an hour by hour basis. Personally I like a good long read with some helpful detail and scene-setting.

 

For those itching for me to get on the ship and do some cruise reporting-well that is still a day or two away as there is more Venice to endure (LOL!)

 

The ship will get it's (7) days in the sun and the excursions are worth experiencing even from an armchair.

 

After that there is ROME.

 

Stay tuned and thanks for your enthusiasm!

 

Norris

[HRPro]

Just checking in so you know who's following along. Your pictures and videos along with wonderful commentary are bringing back my own memories of magical Venice. Loved your walking tour--there's nothing like getting lost in the quiet back alleys of Venice knowing that it's so easy to find your way back using the canals and Grand Canal as points of reference. We've had two trips there--one on a land tour and one as the embarkation port last fall for our TA on the Royal Princess. Both visits were fantastic--as you say, there is really no other place like it in the world. Food and scenery are literally out of this world. Looking forward to the rest of your review.

 

Susan

[smeck]

Enjoying your review. Sailing on the Caribbean Princess for 14 days in Europe can't wait!!

[SOLIVITA LADY]

Enjoying your review. Keep up the good work.

 

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk HD

[Bimmer09]

Just checking in so you know who's following along. Your pictures and videos along with wonderful commentary are bringing back my own memories of magical Venice. Loved your walking tour--there's nothing like getting lost in the quiet back alleys of Venice knowing that it's so easy to find your way back using the canals and Grand Canal as points of reference. We've had two trips there--one on a land tour and one as the embarkation port last fall for our TA on the Royal Princess. Both visits were fantastic--as you say, there is really no other place like it in the world. Food and scenery are literally out of this world. Looking forward to the rest of your review.

 

Susan

 

Well I haven't even got to the end of our first day in Venice and still to come....

 

ST MARK'S AT NIGHT- 1st Vaparetto ride

RIALTO AT 5 AM AND EARLY MORNING VAPORETTO RIDE

ST MARKS AT DAWN-me and the street sweepers

WINDSURF AND AIDA AURA COMING INTO PORT

A VISIT TO FRARI CHURCH TO LOOK AT TITIAN PAINTINGS

VAPARETTO RIDE TO PIAZZALE ROME AND BACK

LUNCH IN PIAZZA ANZOLA

OPERA AT LA FENICE

WATER TAXI TO THE OCEAN PRINCESS

ON BOARD THE OCEAN PRINCESS- Sterling Steakhouse

SLEEP.....

 

Agreed on the magic of Venice!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Enjoying your review. Keep up the good work.

 

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk HD

 

Thank you both for your comments. In a way it is "work" but enjoyable work. The "review" (really a journal) also helps Carol to see what I was doing, through photos and videos when I was alone. Even I haven't seen all of the video yet- I haven't looked at the ship part , nor Rome. I am seeing it as I upload episodes to youtube.The video was all downloaded onto a Passport storage device and I take scenes from there as I need them.

 

I have about 25% of the photos on Flickr so far, so much still to do.

 

Carol is seeing the photos as I put them on CC.

 

 

I'm glad you are aboard for this long ramble.

 

Norris

[jlf1]

As always, your reviews and pictures are awesome.

 

Judy

[Carolyn R]

I too am following along and appreciate your taking the time to post. I love Venice, especially the quiet less visited areas of Venice.

[Bimmer09]

I too am following along and appreciate your taking the time to post. I love Venice, especially the quiet less visited areas of Venice.

 

Thanks Carolyn-20 hours was not enough especially as I slept for at least 7 of them (jet-lagged, Your Honor) We managed to avoid big crowds by visiting St Mark's just after a heavy downpour at night. The Basilica we will visit next time. Ditto the Campanile. I was the only one to set foot on Rialto-at 5.30 am or so.

 

We would have liked to have gone to Burano for dinner had we more time and just explore those quiet little back alleys where you can stumble on a canal-side restaurant. We had a great first introduction though.

 

There's a night video uploading on youtube so that will appear in an hour or so.

 

Norris

[MJSailors]

Well if you have read my Caribbean Princess review you'll know that I recently visited Texas for the first time and am looking forward to returning.

 

There is so far a very small group of people commenting but I hope that will grow as I like to know who I am sharing this with and am always keen to answer questions. Early days I guess and many don't have the time or interest in following a cruise review on an hour by hour basis. Personally I like a good long read with some helpful detail and scene-setting.

 

For those itching for me to get on the ship and do some cruise reporting-well that is still a day or two away as there is more Venice to endure (LOL!)

 

The ship will get it's (7) days in the sun and the excursions are worth experiencing even from an armchair.

 

After that there is ROME.

 

Stay tuned and thanks for your enthusiasm!

Norris

Norris

A bellisimo review! (I hope the Italian spelling is correct.)

So glad for you and Carol that you arrived in Venice safely and set about to enjoy that unique city.

I am looking forward to the continuing review.

Thank you for sharing your adventures.

Will you be going to Florence? I so enjoyed visiting there many years ago -a beautiful city rich with art and history!

I am wondering if the water in Venice being so close to the buildings causes mustiness in the interiors of hotels,restaurants,theaters etc? Just a practical question!

Ciao!