Live from the NCL Breakaway May 6-16, 2023 – Spring in Italy, Greece, Malta and France Roundtrip from Rome

[YVRteacher]

Your plans are great! What a trip!!

[Happycrafter123]

15 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

Hint: Six is so fabulous you may want to see it more than once!  I may have gone 8 times in two weeks on the Bliss…

I’m very excited about it!  They only let me book one but I recall on your recent cruise live update you suggested just showing up and asking for standby?

[Happycrafter123]

@YVRteacheri was inspired by your discussion on opera and looked up options for Rome while we are there—-they have lots of different types of performances daily!   Hubby is not keen and now determining if we can fit some dressier clothes in the carry on.  May be a no-go.

 

Curious to hear from anyone reading this who has gone to an opera in rome the day before the cruise or day after??  

[YVRteacher]

What I did when in Rome was to pack a gorgeous silk scarf/shawl.  This way I could enter churches and cathedrals with my shoulders covered and it also served to “fancy up” my outfits.  We didn’t go to the opera in Rome but we did go for fancy dinners and did not feel under-dressed.

 

Could you go to the opera while hubby goes to the bar?

[Happycrafter123]

Re: ditching hubby, which is what I do at home with Opera lol!  But curious, Did you feel safe walking alone in Rome at night?

 

re: outfit - red scarf and little black icebreaker skirt will dress up black outfit!  Good thinking and portentously needed for warmth layering too.

[YVRteacher]

I was with my dad in Rome and we felt and were totally safe. I use a Pac Safe travel purse from MEC that is cross body and it’s been one of my all-time best travel purchases. We were out late every night (for gelato and to walk off the amazing dinners) and never experienced anything unsafe.  We took buses during the day, walked a lot, took the train to Civitavecchia all without issue.  Are you doing a Vatican and Sistine Chapel tour? (Sorry if you mentioned this before! I have a lot on my mind.)

[Happycrafter123]

I’m glad to hear you felt safe and gelato sounds like an excellent plan!  Any of our readers here planning to travel solo curious about this type of stuff too?

 

as for pre-cruise plans, we have a lot!  It is after all 6 days.  I need to do up a nice schedule (hubby says it is too confusing and too busy) however for now here is the list!

- Saturday flying

 - Sunday flying still (our journey is far) arriving Rome middday.  Afternoon walking tour plus maybe evening Opera

- Monday - colosseum and then walking food tour

- Tuesday- early morning Vatican then evening walking food tour (different company than Monday)

- Wednesday- day trip to Tuscany 

- Thursday- day trip to tivoli and maybe evening opera 

- Friday morning catacombs visit then evening golf cart tour with apperitifs

- Saturday- CRUISE!!!!!

 

Edited April 27, 2023 by Happycrafter123

[laudergayle]

21 minutes ago, Happycrafter123 said:

I’m glad to hear you felt safe and gelato sounds like an excellent plan!  Any of our readers here planning to travel solo curious about this type of stuff too?

 

as for pre-cruise plans, we have a lot!  It is after all 6 days.  I need to do up a nice schedule (hubby says it is too confusing and too busy) however for now here is the list!

- Saturday flying

 - Sunday flying still (our journey is far) arriving Rome middday.  Afternoon walking tour plus maybe evening Opera

- Monday - colosseum and then walking food tour

- Tuesday- early morning Vatican then evening walking food tour (different company than Monday)

- Wednesday- day trip to Tuscany 

- Thursday- day trip to tivoli and maybe evening opera 

- Friday morning catacombs visit then evening golf cart tour with apperitifs

- Saturday- CRUISE!!!!!

 

Wow…your pre-cruise excursions in Rome sound amazing.  I was wearing sandals when walking around Palatine Hill and Circus Maximus near the Colosseum…as my toes got dirty I got giddy as I thought about everyone over the centuries who had shared that ground.  Enjoy your experience of a lifetime!

[Happycrafter123]

Thank you @laudergayle hoping my toes don’t get too dirty with all that historical dust lol!   
 

I’ve packed and repacked.  Still no bid upgrade.  We fly out in the morning.  Online check in is done.  Last minute housecleaning for petsitter is done.    Now just to try to get a good nights sleep before the long journey begins.

 

we live far from the airport, and on the west coast of canada, so we will leave home at 5:45 AM our time tomorrow for a morning flight to the East coast, and then leave there in the evening for an overnight flight to Rome, arriving there the next day at noon.    Deducting the time change that will be about 21 hours in transit.

 

[YVRteacher]

Your toes will get dusty and dirty in both Rome and Olympia.  If you have a moment, pack some wet wipes or baby wipes-great for cleaning both toes and shoes!

[YVRteacher]

@Happycrafter123 I was driving home from work today and thought “I need to wish Happcrafter a safe travel journey and an absolutely wonderful cruise and vacation.”

 

I won’t have unlimited internet on the Jewel so will read your live when I get back and I’m already looking forward to hearing about your pre-cruise stay in Rome and all the ports and your ship experiences.

 

Life is short.  Eat the gelato!

[YVRteacher]

Also, don’t make the mistake I did.  If you see something about Cappuccini on the map it is NOT a coffee shop. It is a Capuchin Monastery with skeletons.  No cake pops and over priced espresso inside. Trust me.

[redmomof4]

On 4/26/2023 at 7:39 PM, Happycrafter123 said:

We have low bids on Haven so unlikely to get any, but hope springs eternal so we check our NCL app about 20x per day to see if room # has changed — any of you do this?  Currently we have dinning package and vibe which we will cancel if we get the bid, to offset cost.  
 

Current plans, assuming no winning bid:

 

Where do you find this print out of your reservations? App or website? I love it 

[Happycrafter123]

@redmomof4 I know it is wonderful to have all the times listed like that!   
 

it is available only after your online check in at the 21 day mark, as a page of the edocs.    I took a screen shot of that page on my phone    Edocs are available on the app in the section called guests. .

[Happycrafter123]

Gorgeous day leaving YVR

[Happycrafter123]

20 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

@Happycrafter123 I was driving home from work today and thought “I need to wish Happcrafter a safe travel journey and an absolutely wonderful cruise and vacation.”

 

I won’t have unlimited internet on the Jewel so will read your live when I get back and I’m already looking forward to hearing about your pre-cruise stay in Rome and all the ports and your ship experiences.

 

Life is short.  Eat the gelato!

Thank you so much @YVRteacher you will be heading off on your adventures Monday and I’m really excited to hear about those too!  Enjoy the last couple days of prep and anticipation.

[Happycrafter123]

Lovely surprise at Toronto airport.  We had a 3 hr layover and headed over to the maple leaf lounge to kill time and the lady said we had an invitation to the maple signature lounge.  Wow is all I can say!  They offered us the choice of a lounge area or a 3 meal service, and it was such a treat.  So unexpected and such a great experience.  The three hours flew by.  
 

 

 

 

 

 

What a great way to start this journey!

[YVRteacher]

Looks like you chose wisely!  I’d take food over a lounge chair any day!  What a treat!!

[Acordner]

I will be on the May 6th cruise as a single and a first time cruiser. I am wondering if the private beach club is worth it at 380$ CAD? Anyone heard?  

 

Also I haven't booked any excursions and they seem sold out and was wondering how easy it is to get off the boat and find a taxi or random tour that is not related to the cruise to get to different spots if anyone knows? I called NCL and they said that shouldn't be a problem. 

 

Also anyone have any tips for what extras on the ship are worth buying into? I haven't booked anything yet as I didn't want to waste my money as the Candian price is WAY higher than the American one. I am even travelling with my own coffee and french press to avoid the insane price of Starbucks. lol Not that I am cheap but I like quality. 

 

Any other singles?

 

Allie

[Happycrafter123]

Hi Allie! @Acordner  that is great we will be on same cruise!  Hopefully some others on the trip will chime in here.

 

on our last cruise with NCL we did the thermal spa.  I loved the warm pool and bubbling water and quiet spot, hubby found it boring.  This time we got the vibe passes so we will see how that is.

 

you can go to the excursion desk on the first day we board the ship and get your name on a waiting list for excursions as some people cancel.  Apart from that, many people do not do ncl excursions, either booking through third parties or just getting off and hiring a cab or walking around.  From what I saw on YouTube videos Santorini is definitely doable just on your own waking off the ship as is Cannes.  A couple of the others the ports may be a bit out of town so you will at least need to take a train or cab or shuttle.  Each port will be different—all new ports to me so hopefully others will chime in on options for you.

[LauraAnneC]

I’ll be on the same cruise a few weeks after you also travelling solo. I did my first solo cruise to the Caribbean in February this year. I would definitely recommend getting the vibe pass. I loved it! As a solo traveller it was lovely being somewhere where the bartenders know your name. I met some lovely people there every day. It was very social. I’ve already booked Vibe for my upcoming cruise. Go for it!

Have a wonderful trip!

[Happycrafter123]

Day 1 - arrival

 

Our flight landed on time and our diver from Bob’s limo was waiting for us.  We got to our B&B around noon and manager was waiting for us with welcome.  We are staying at Navonamyhome B&B and it is a great location and huge room with nice sitting area.

 

we went on a walking tour with Rome Free Walking Tours, that I had prebooked, tour price is based on self assessed tipping.  It was two hours and guide knowledgeable and I tipped $20 Euros.

 

we ate pizza before and after and had gelato too.

 

main observation so far— Rome is crowded, dirty, smelly, there are people smoking everywhere and the air quality is horrible.  It hurts to breathe.   There is garbage on the ground everywhere and it is kind of disgusting.  
 

I do appreciate the history and architecture but definitely compared to Scandinavia and Baltic cities we visited last year and back in 2019 this is quite markedly different in terms of the ability to walk through the city and enjoy it.  

 

The food here is better, though , I’ll give it that.  

 

We will see what the next 5 days hold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 30, 2023 by Happycrafter123

[Skjhoward]

12 minutes ago, Happycrafter123 said:

Day 1 - arrival

 

Our flight landed on time and our diver from Bob’s limo was waiting for us.  We got to our B&B around noon and manager was waiting for us with welcome.  We are staying at Navonamyhome B&B and it is a great location and huge room with nice sitting area.

 

we went on a walking tour with Rome Free Walking Tours, that I had prebooked, tour price is based on self assessed tipping.  It was two hours and guide knowledgeable and I tipped $20 Euros.

 

we ate pizza before and after and had gelato too.

 

main observation so far— Rome is crowded, dirty, smelly, there are people smoking everywhere and the air quality is horrible.  It hurts to breathe.   There is garbage on the ground everywhere and it is kind of disgusting.  
 

I do appreciate the history and architecture but definitely compared to Scandinavia and Baltic cities we visited last year and back in 2019 this is quite markedly different in terms of the ability to walk through the city and enjoy it.  

 

The food here is better, though , I’ll give it that.  

 

We will see what the next 5 days hold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you could see only one thing in Rome, what would you choose?

[JustAPilot]

17 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

Looks like you chose wisely!  I’d take food over a lounge chair any day!  What a treat!!

That’s because the signature lounge is only for paid business class international passengers, Happycrafter wasn’t slumming it across the Atlantic 😎

[Happycrafter123]

6 minutes ago, Skjhoward said:

If you could see only one thing in Rome, what would you choose?

I will answer again at the end of the week!  I’ve found that I am always surprised as what I like versus what I think I’ll like lol!

 

for now I’m really looking forward to seeing the art and paintings especially at the Vatican and to see the catacombs as well/-underground tunnels from thousands of years ago seems pretty cool.