JEWEL b2b (Greece/W Med) semi-live Aug24 - Sept14 REVIEW w/lots of photos

[Hoopster95]

Unreal... Disembark operations currently suspended due to weather in Civitavecchia. It's really ugly out there, however I can't complain as I think about those in Florida and the coastal areas of US this morning

 

 

 

 

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[Hoopster95]

Some final images from last night...

Parade of flags pool deck

IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170910/c6fc18d8cc06aef19268050f710750a0.jpg[/img]

 

Tutti bar... Much different and smaller than the first week. 1st weeks pics were amazing! Could've done this lunch at WJ no problem so

Nothing special other than presentation

Also had enchiladas off the menu which were boring

 

 

 

Sunset from Giovanni's... Superb final meal to end the 14 days on board!

 

Last one.... Farewell show. Goodbye from staff

 

 

Ok... Disembark proceed continuing now. Gotta go. 4 days in amazing Rome coming right up!![emoji3]

 

 

 

 

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[cinnamon]

We had rain and thunder of biblical proportions in Civitivecchia last Friday week too. All roads were flooded.

 

 

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[Hoopster95]

We had rain and thunder of biblical proportions in Civitivecchia last Friday week too. All roads were flooded.

 

 

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OMG everybody... Pandemonium in the cruise terminal. Lots of cruisers in trouble this morning trying to get out of port. Especially those doing DIY to the train station. There's at least 3 inches of water everywhere. No one moving, everyone blocking exits trying to stay dry... Simply impossible.

 

I guess this is why you need to prepare, and you'd better be very mobile and very savvy, if you're DIY else just imagine rolling your luggage to the Civitavecchia train station and out onto the streets at Termini in this weather.

 

 

 

 

 

I wish I had time to snap a few photos as we left the terminal but pulling bags, dodging 3inch puddles, etc etc I didn't even think of it. Total chaos of people trying To Figure out what to do. We walked out and were picked up by Maurizio from "Cabs4Rome" as promised, my name on the sign. At 8:50am we were driving out of the port... At exactly 9:40 we were being dropped off at the Hotel Raphael in the last photo Above. I feel for those cruisers that are still making their way to the train station as I sit in the hotel lobby with cappuccino in hand.

 

 

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[maggieq]

Wow what a great trip report/live post. A bucket list cruise for me. We were on the jewel in February and Diego said he was planning to leave after the transatlantic in April ?

[cinnamon]

Those road photos look just like it was for us 9 days ago.

We're settled into our hotel in Spain too.

 

 

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[Hoopster95]

Ok... Nice surprise at hotel check in. I reserved on March 30, hotel desk says my agent/supplier cancelled the res on April 2. Nice.

 

I went through all my emails with them and also showed them my confirmation #. You just never know what hits you when you travel. Luckily they had another equivalent room, ready for 3pm check in. So we bought ponchos from a street vendor just outside, threw our 5000 lbs back packs on (I didn't feel like leaving cameras, passport, money, all valuables at hotel) and off we went. Lol! Still raining like pics above, we made a b-line through Piazza Navona and directly to Piazzo Altemps. Thankfully they had lockers as all

Bags were not allowed in. Fyi several unreal

Pieces of art here, however not at all as the same league as Galleria Borghese

 

Still drenched in Piazza Navona

 

Piazzo Altemps

 

 

With 1:30pm rolling we were HANGRY!

Ooh Ya! 12 euro special wine incl.

 

Pantheon

 

Santa Maria del Pacce, a magnificent church directly next door to our hotel "Raphael"

 

 

Just woke from a well deserved 15min nap... Zzzzzz. We're hoping to head towards the Jewish Quarter, Piazza Argentina and Crypti Baldi (incl with Altemps ticket). Dinner perhaps in the Ciampo Di Fiori area just a short 10min walk from the hotel. G'night all

 

 

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[Hoopster95]

Those road photos look just like it was for us 9 days ago.

We're settled into our hotel in Spain too.

 

 

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Great to hear you are doing well cinnamon [emoji4]

Weather in Rome supposedly questionable tomorrow as well, then 80's and sunny Tues and Wed... Knock on wood!!

 

 

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[PaulS]

Thank so so much for telling Diego that we said hello. You made my day.

Also, thanks for the great review. Have a great time in Rome.

[cinnamon]

Glorious here Hoopster. [emoji6]

 

 

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[Hoopster95]

Glorious here Hoopster.

 

 

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Wow! Super nice.... We did better also. Rain

Let up albeit still cloudy.

 

Seeing and doing a few things I've never done before today including a visit to Crypti Baldi, a relatively new dig and part of the Altemps ticket. We visited several basilicas close by I've never seen before either including a major surprise.... So beautiful:

Sant'Andrea Della Valle

 

 

Note the sculptures hanging off the frescos of the dome! Incredible and gorgeous

 

 

Walked to Campo De Fiori... Wow, what a dump. Extremely dirty and not at all inviting as many travel sites/blogs made it out to be. We had chose a restaurant there based on reviews and walked right on by, decided to head back to a restaurant right across the street from

Our hotel also with good reviews called Ostaria dell'Anima.... Can you believe pear stuffed pasta with carrot white sauce? SOOOO good!!

 

And I had the eggplant parm as a starter... Oh man as good as anything mama made.

 

Yep, life is good. Made the best of a bit of a downer day to start, but ended very well.

Big day tomorrow... Vatican Museum/sistine chapel, St Peters, Bramantine staircase, the cupola, likely Castel St. Angelo.... And who knows what else. G'nite everyone

 

 

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[Hoopster95]

Hi everyone. I know not many following now until I get back with a ton of actual Jewel and port pics, but here's a few from today:

 

Bramantine's Staircase - Vatican Museum

(Not a stock Internet photo... Actual photo from my simple Iphone6!)

 

 

St. Peter's

 

View from the cupola

 

Not easy to get up there... Or down!

551 total steps up... 321 if you take elevator to first level

 

Very rare view in behind of the Vatican grounds

 

 

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[Hoopster95]

We are not going hungry... Total opposite! We've discovered a couple of great restaurants

 

Insalada Di Polpolo (octopus)

 

Osso Bucco ... Puts Giovanni's to shame

 

Risotto Al Pescatore

 

What a Caprese Salad should look like when in Rome (yes, it tastes as good as it looks)

 

Yep, bad food lol! Bad service too... Not!

Waiter photo bombing us... We had lots of fun

 

We had a wonderful walk down Via Gulia, over Ponte Sisto to Trastevere... Wow, just hopping on a Monday night. A very "in" area and very busy. Great dinner and wine, took some nice evening pics with camera as the iPhone does not do well in the evening. Here's one in Piazza Navona before heading to bed.

 

It drizzled a couple times today, and now weather is letting up. Forecast is sun and 80 for tomorrow's full day in Tivoli. G'night folks

 

 

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[8toes1961]

Hey you're welcome neighbor!

What city you from?

 

Expand my signature and take a look through my "Serenade" review, best itinerary ever.

 

I would not need to do this last 7 day itinerary again... I would instead opt for 3 days in Barcelona and a quick flight (or ferry) over to Palma for another 3 days. I've also done Malaga/Granada/Sevilla/Gibraltar on land and Spain is a country to be visited on land, definitely not a port stop. Greece for me is magical for a cruise vacation .... Different islands, easy days getting around, an extra sea day. Have fun planning [emoji2][emoji2]

 

 

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Well this is my 2nd RCI cruise but my first to The Med. lt is my girlfriend's first cruise so we are very excited and look forward to a couple of pre-cruise days in Rome. Our trip is from September 18th - 27th next year. We are from Burlington, Ontario.

 

I will definitely check out your Serenade review. I am looking forward to sailing on The Jewel. My last cruise was on The Navigator and l had a blast.

 

Cheers,

 

Brian J.

 

 

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[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Beautiful pictures!! My favorite place I ate in Rome was a little place called Voglia di Pizza - yummy AND the entire menu duplicated gluten-free!!

 

 

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[PhilNDebbieAtSea]

We are definitely still following!!!! Awesome pictures!!!

 

 

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[CruisinMama2003]

I am definitely still (quietly) following along as well! Love the photos, and as always, love your reviews :)

[Beachcruzer]

Sounds like you had a great second week on the Jewel! Sorry you had such terrible weather there towards the end of your vacation. We were lucky and had gorgeous weather! Happy belated birthday! :D

[gagirl7143]

P and N Sherman, miss you two!! What will we do on Jewel without Diego????

 

A restaurant suggestion, Miscellanea beside the right side back of Pantheon. Great food, and Americans get a free glass of sexy wine from Mickey the owner. Tell him Gail and Dean sent you!!

 

 

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[Biotcruisers]

Wow what a great trip report/live post. A bucket list cruise for me. We were on the jewel in February and Diego said he was planning to leave after the transatlantic in April ?

Diego leaves the ship (and the company) on 25th February 2018.

 

Cheers

Steve

[Hoopster95]

Sounds like you had a great second week on the Jewel! Sorry you had such terrible weather there towards the end of your vacation. We were lucky and had gorgeous weather! Happy belated birthday! :D

 

 

 

Hey hey cruise pals!!!!! I'm sure you had an awesome anniversary [emoji3]. Penelope says hi. Thx for birthday wishes... Definitely don't feel a year older thankfully lol. You would've been utterly amazed by the amount of rain we had that disembarkation morning, unreal. Please say hi to Jason from both of us. Had a great time with you guys [emoji3][emoji3]

 

 

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[Hoopster95]

Thx for kind words from everyone.... Ok, some more photos then!!!!

 

Another busy day today... 1/2 walk from our hotel at the Piazza Navona area to tour meeting point for Tivoli. Here's a few pics

 

Hadrian's Villa

 

Incredible pasta in Tivoli... The Porcini mushrooms are famous and picked wild. This pasta was over the top delish!

 

2017 has been an amazing year for grapes and olives, perfect blend of sun and rain this summer. Best olive oil in over 20 years.

 

Villa d'este... Could've skipped Hadrian's Villa all together and spent whole day at Villa D'este. 80% of marble and construction products at Villa D'este were taken from Hadrian's. Simply gorgeous.

 

 

 

 

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[Hoopster95]

Tivoli was a full day your, meeting

At 9am and getting back at about 4:30pm. Long day.... But on we went. Had a great walk around Campo Fiori and back to the hotel, another excellent dinner, and then a few night photos. Great day!

 

Vittorio Emmanuel

 

Largo di Torre Argentina

 

Campo Di Fiori

 

Castel Sant'Angelo lit up at night

 

St Peters in the distance (taken from the castel St. Angelo bridge)

 

Ok... No food porn tonight. However, another great dinner at a no name off-the-beaten-track eatery: prosciutto and melon, saltimbocca Romana and grilled veggies... YUM!!! I spoke Italian to the owner and built rapport right away. He gave us prosecco on the house. Dinner and a bottle of wine later, he also fed us limoncello... The best I ever tasted. I just had to have a picture of the bottle. I'm going to try finding It tomorrow To buy and bring home

 

So he brings the bottle out for the picture.... And then pours us more lol!

Ok, were feeling really good right about now... In fact still feeling REALLY good as I post this lol!

 

Well, tomorrow nothing scheduled so playing by ear. G'nite everyone

 

 

 

 

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[Beachcruzer]

We brought home a bottle of Lemoncello, but it's not the best I've ever had. I'm going to look around here and see if I can find this brand! 😀

 

I know your trip is soon nearing the end. Have a safe trip home!

[Hoopster95]

We brought home a bottle of Lemoncello, but it's not the best I've ever had. I'm going to look around here and see if I can find this brand! [emoji3]

 

 

 

I know your trip is soon nearing the end. Have a safe trip home!

 

 

 

Hey Laura! I didn't find the same brand anywhere and decided to buy at FCO duty free so that I don't have to worry about luggage. We'll see how it goes. [emoji4]

 

Last night tonight!!!!!!

 

 

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