The Adriatic and Italy on Celebrity Reflection June 3, 2022

[PurpleTraveller]

This is a delayed review of my first Celebrity cruise on the lovely Reflection that departed from Civitavecchia (Rome) on June 3, 2022. Previous to this cruise I had only cruised with Princess (ten times) so I was really looking forward to trying the Celebrity cruise experience.

 

But first an introduction. We are an Australian couple in our late 50's and early 60's. We usually travel to the northern hemisphere during our winter to escape to warmer temperatures for a month or more. We love cruising but don't like large bus groups and usually combine a cruise, doing as much DIY as possible, with an independent land tour. Like many of you we had a number of trips cancelled for 2020 and didn't even try to travel overseas in 2021. 2022 was the year to try to enjoy an overseas trip again!

 

Originally we had planned a six week trip starting with a flight from Australia to Milan, a number of days in Venice, then embarking on Celebrity Infinity for a seven day cruise of the Adriatic leaving on June 4 from Ravenna, before going to Bologna to fly to Madrid to continue our trip. Those plans had to be changed when Celebrity Infinity was redeployed to the Caribbean and our cruise was cancelled. A mad scramble later we were "lift and shifted" to the ten day Celebrity Reflection cruise departing from Civitavecchia on June 3. It was the only cruise that we could fit in with our flights without enormous penalties and still get to Madrid for the next part of our trip. Fortunately we were able to change our flight from Sydney to Milan to Sydney to Rome and our flight from Bologna to Madrid to Rome to Madrid at a relatively small cost.

 

The great thing was we got an extra three days on a beautiful ship and even though we lost Split as a port we still had Dubrovnik and also picked up three Italian ports. If there's anything I have learned in recent times it is that to travel internationally at the moment you need to be flexible and adaptable!

 

So let's get started!

 

 

[julia]

Really looking forward to your review, and "good on ya" for your patience with the travel changes!

[PurpleTraveller]

We flew out of Sydney on May 31 and landed some 24 hours later in Rome on June 1. Combined with the travel from our home in a country town west of Sydney and getting into Rome it was around 40 hours of travelling from our home to the hotel in Rome! 

 

Upon landing we were through immigration in a matter of minutes and hopped on the Leonardo Express train to Termini train station in Rome. We bought the tickets at one of the ticket machines using a credit card. The cost was €14 each. From landing to getting to Termini train station was about 90 minutes and the train journey was 32 minutes. Our hotel was walking distance from Termini train station so we were able to check in and drop our bags. But even though we were exhausted we couldn't stop now!

 

Before the cruise the Celebrity requirement to get a Covid test prior to boarding the ship had change from one day prior to two days prior then back to one day prior. Normally it wouldn't matter whether it was one or two days prior but for us it was a problem if it was one day prior to the cruise. June 2 in Italy is Republic Day, a national holiday when most pharmacies and testing centres would be closed. The changing requirements caused much angst for us and our fellow cruisers but fortunately Celebrity changed the requirement again to two days prior to the cruise.

 

So before we could sit down we had to go and get our Covid tests done so that we could enjoy our day in Rome tomorrow. We walked to Farmacia allo Statuto and paid €22 each. We waited about 30 minutes to have the test and another 15 minutes to get the results. We were both Negative!

 

Back to the hotel for a much needed rest and we then headed back out for a walk. We have stayed at the hotel on previous trips to Rome so know the area well. It was lovely to just wander and stretch our legs. A stroll past Santa Maria Maggiore, our local church, and the surrounding streets was just what we needed before dinner.

 

 

 

[PurpleTraveller]

15 minutes ago, julia said:

Really looking forward to your review, and "good on ya" for your patience with the travel changes!

 

Thanks, I hope you enjoy the review! 

[PurpleTraveller]

June 2, Republic Day

 

After an excellent night's sleep and a lovely breakfast we set out to walk to find a place to see some of the Republic Day parade. The day starts with the President of Italy laying a wreath on the Shrine of the Unknown Italian Soldier at the Victor Emmanuel Monument, followed by a flypast of the Frecce Tricolori, the Italian Tricolour Arrows aerobatic team, and a parade of military vehicles and armed forces. I was especially looking forward to the flypast as my eldest son is in the Australian Airforce.

 

We managed to find a front row position near the Victor Emmanuel Monument and it was very crowded. We could see movement at the monument but we were a fair way away. The president arrived, the ceremony took place and the national anthem was played by the band and the locals all sang the anthem. Then the flypast went straight over our heads. The noise was incredible and sight wonderful but it was so fast I didn't get a chance of getting a photo. Oh well, never mind - at least I saw and heard it!

 

Then the president left driving past us and then the horse guards.

 

 

 

We waited a while but as we could only see the military parade from afar we decided to leave and do some sightseeing.

 

Edited July 13, 2022 by PurpleTraveller

[PurpleTraveller]

As we have been to Rome many times there is no need for us to race around to see the major monuments. We like to revisit our favourite places and there are so many churches in Rome we can still find ones to visit that we haven't been to before.

 

We started by visiting Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di Loyola. A beautiful church with a stunning ceiling and lovely to sit in for a while after standing in the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

Onwards to the Pantheon which we didn't go into. The square was very busy.

 

 

Then it was time to see my favourite monument in Rome. Just around the corner from the Pantheon is Piazza della Minerva where the church Santa Maria doors Minerva is. The church was closed for renovations but we were there to see the Elephant Obelisk in front of the church. Designed by Bernini and unveiled in 1667 it is my favourite Roman monument.

 

 

 

[PurpleTraveller]

Our next stop was some lunch at a "pizza by the slice" cafe. Then on to San Luigi dei Francesci. An unassuming church from the outside but gorgeous inside.

 

 

 

 

There are three Caravaggio paintings in one of the chapels - The Calling of Saint Michael, The Inspiration of Saint Michael and The Martyrdom of Saint Michael.

 

 

 

 

We then headed to Piazza Navona. It was here, just as I was about to take a photo of the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or Fountain of the Four Rivers, that the most exciting thing happened! For the first and probably last time in my life, I was facing the right direction, with my camera on and about to take a photo when the Frecce Tricolori planes flew past with the three colours of the Italian flag streaming from them! I couldn't believe that firstly I got to see and hear them again and secondly I actually managed to get photos!

 

 

 

I was so thrilled I was like a small child dancing on the spot!

 

Once I got myself together again we took some time to enjoy Piazza Navona.

 

 

 

Edited July 13, 2022 by PurpleTraveller

[PurpleTraveller]

After leaving Piazza Navona we had a very important stop to make. By now it was getting very warm so it was time for our first gelato of our trip. The very kind shop owner let us sit in front of his air conditioner to have our gelato. Yum!

 

 

After our gelato stop we walked past the Column of Marcus Aurelius on the way to the Trevi Fountain.

 

 

The Trevi Fountain was very crowded.

 

 

 

 

As we walked on we came across some Fiat Bambinos.

 

 

Our last stop for the afternoon was Santa Maria Maggiore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We then headed back to the hotel for a well earned rest before venturing out again for the evening.

 

Edited July 13, 2022 by PurpleTraveller

[PurpleTraveller]

After a rest we then headed out for dinner and some more sightseeing. Along the way we saw this building that had vines drapped over it and the power lines. It looked lovely.

 

 

We had dinner at a little restaurant in a laneway near the Victor Emmanuel Monument. We then walked past the monument and the statue of Romulus and Remus at the Capitoline.

 

 

 

We arrived at the viewpoint to look over the Forum just before dusk.

 

 

 

 

We then walked down to the Colosseum along Via dei Fori Imperiali, past the spectator stands where the earlier military parade had marched past and were starting to be dismantled.

 

By the time we got there the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum were lit up beautifully.

 

 

 

 

 

Rather than walking uphill back to the hotel we decided to get the Metro from Colosseo station to Termini. We bought tickets at a ticket machine as the station was unmanned and had to use a credit card as the machines don't accept cash. Cost was €1.50 each. 

 

We wanted a good night sleep as tomorrow was cruise day,!

 

[PurpleTraveller]

1 hour ago, PurpleTraveller said:

Just around the corner from the Pantheon is Piazza della Minerva where the church Santa Maria doors Minerva is. 

 

Darn auto correct! The name of the church that the Elephant Obelisk is in front of is Santa Maria sopra Minerva.

 

[sgmn]

Great blog. I'm in awe that you managed so much sightseeing after such a long journey and in the summer heat too. 

We joined Beyond in Rome on the 13th just as you were getting off I guess. Though our ports were in Greece and Malta 

Looking forward to the rest of your trip report

[PurpleTraveller]

11 minutes ago, sgmn said:

Great blog. I'm in awe that you managed so much sightseeing after such a long journey and in the summer heat too. 

We joined Beyond in Rome on the 13th just as you were getting off I guess. Though our ports were in Greece and Malta 

Looking forward to the rest of your trip report

 

Thank you! We find that if we put ourselves on the local time of where we arrive and sightsee, eat and sleep accordingly we don't get very bad jetlag. We saw Beyond when we docked to disembark and she looked wonderful. Hope you had a great cruise.

 

[sgmn]

1 hour ago, PurpleTraveller said:

 

Thank you! We find that if we put ourselves on the local time of where we arrive and sightsee, eat and sleep accordingly we don't get very bad jetlag. We saw Beyond when we docked to disembark and she looked wonderful. Hope you had a great cruise.

 

Thank you, it was great with wonderful ports, I do like the Western Med too though 

Will have to try your local time tip next time we travel long haul 

[boykin]

What hotel in Rome?

[Lastdance]

Thank you for sharing your arrival and what you accomplished the first day...wow!  We are staying in Rome at our fav hotel this October, visiting many lovely places that we enjoy when in Rome.  Your information and photos are a prelude to our trip; we also hope to test negative!  I just need to suck it up and do more the first day...note to self.

Edited July 13, 2022 by Lastdance

[vickykay]

Looking forward to your review.  We’re doing similar itinerary on the Reflection on Oct.

Spent five days in Sydney a few years ago before cruise. We LOVED Sydney and especially the people.  Everyone was just so nice and friendly!

[helen haywood]

Love this review!  Saint Mary Major is my favorite basilica in Rome.  Never crowded.  There is a statue of a clerical figure carved from marble…his vestments are trimmed in ball fringe.  Ball fringe carved realistically from marble!  Only the Italians.

[theopup]

What a wonderful review. Your pictures are stunning 

[julia]

Great job so far...  the flyover pics are amazing!!

[asnaleah]

Beautiful photos! Can’t wait to see more! Thanks 

[Provence55always]

Great review…..love your style of just getting stuck in and enjoying every moment. Your photos around Rome are beautiful they bring back lots of happy memories. We had our honeymoon in Australia 50 years ago and stayed three years…..long story. Have a fantastic cruise, looking forward to following along.

[PurpleTraveller]

8 hours ago, boykin said:

What hotel in Rome?

 

We stayed at Hotel Contilia a couple of streets away from Termini train station. A basic, no frills hotel with simple rooms and traditional Italian "towels" in the bathroom. The staff are friendly and helpful, there is a good included buffet breakfast each morning and is reasonably priced. Not for everyone but we like it and have stayed there four times.

 

[PurpleTraveller]

6 hours ago, Lastdance said:

Thank you for sharing your arrival and what you accomplished the first day...wow!  We are staying in Rome at our fav hotel this October, visiting many lovely places that we enjoy when in Rome.  Your information and photos are a prelude to our trip; we also hope to test negative!  I just need to suck it up and do more the first day...note to self.

 

Thanks. We love Rome and after waiting two years to get overseas again we wanted to see and enjoy Rome as much as possible. Hope you enjoy your trip in October.

 

[PurpleTraveller]

2 hours ago, vickykay said:

Looking forward to your review.  We’re doing similar itinerary on the Reflection on Oct.

Spent five days in Sydney a few years ago before cruise. We LOVED Sydney and especially the people.  Everyone was just so nice and friendly!

 

Hope you enjoy the rest of the review. So glad you enjoyed your visit to Sydney. Hope you have a great cruise in October.

 

[Lastdance]

Just now, PurpleTraveller said:

 

Thanks. We love Rome and after waiting two years to get overseas again we wanted to see and enjoy Rome as much as possible. Hope you enjoy your trip in October.

 

Thank you, as we haven't cruised in what seems like forever.  In 2024, we have a b2b in Australia & NZ.  We have only been to NZ, so looking forward to a complete down under trip!