[Mr Mercury]

Booked our first ever cruise, a week round the Western Med from Barcelona with Royal Caribbean on Freedom of the Seas.
Anyone got first hand tips on RCI cruises, particularly the Freedom of the Seas..thanks

[fishini]

Mr Mercury, on 27 January 2017 - 08:15 PM, said:

Booked our first ever cruise, a week round the Western Med from Barcelona with Royal Caribbean on Freedom of the Seas.
Anyone got first hand tips on RCI cruises, particularly the Freedom of the Seas..thanks

Been on a cruise around Nova Scotia we wanted some a little different. Loved the scenery, loved the food, the liner was very good. However cruising is not our cup of tea nothing wrong with the holiday but just not for us. We prefer to see more of a few places than a little of many. You will undoubtedly enjoy it. Have a great time Mr M

[Mr Mercury]

fishini, on 27 January 2017 - 08:23 PM, said:

Been on a cruise around Nova Scotia we wanted some a little different. Loved the scenery, loved the food, the liner was very good. However cruising is not our cup of tea nothing wrong with the holiday but just not for us. We prefer to see more of a few places than a little of many. You will undoubtedly enjoy it. Have a great time Mr M

It's a sort of bucket list thing we've wanted to do, so see how it goes. You'll never know unless you've tried it sort of thing.

[fishini]

Mr Mercury, on 27 January 2017 - 08:29 PM, said:

It's a sort of bucket list thing we've wanted to do, so see how it goes. You'll never know unless you've tried it sort of thing.

Thats exactly why we tried it. I am not knocking them at all, just not for us

[Mr Mercury]

fishini, on 27 January 2017 - 09:07 PM, said:

Thats exactly why we tried it. I am not knocking them at all, just not for us

Yes I agree..I'm looking forward to it, the missus is a bit more sceptical now it's booked, and it's her who was pushing for it..

[isleaiw1]

Not done the med or RCI but have done Caribbean and canaries - absolutely love it, great for resting and enjoying scenery, good entertainment and great food.

I am not one of those who now will only do that type of holiday, but enjoy it as an alternative.

Med is next on list to go to so keep us updated.

[dim view]

Mr Mercury, on 27 January 2017 - 08:15 PM, said:

Booked our first ever cruise, a week round the Western Med from Barcelona with Royal Caribbean on Freedom of the Seas.
Anyone got first hand tips on RCI cruises, particularly the Freedom of the Seas..thanks

In my opinion standards on board are almost always exceptional and it is the quality of the itinerary that makes the difference. For that reason I wouldn't cruise the Caribbean 'cos there is hardly anything worth getting off the boat for. On the other hand Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Naples (for Pompeii), Dubrovnik, Athens and lot's of other places are sensational. I suppose for me it's the cultural experience plus relative luxury on board that is key.

If you are boarding at Barca, I'd recommend getting there a day or two early. Fab city with the step on step off bus tour a must for the Camp Nou.

[Mr Mercury]

dim view, on 28 January 2017 - 10:15 AM, said:

In my opinion standards on board are almost always exceptional and it is the quality of the itinerary that makes the difference. For that reason I wouldn't cruise the Caribbean 'cos there is hardly anything worth getting off the boat for. On the other hand Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Naples (for Pompeii), Dubrovnik, Athens and lot's of other places are sensational. I suppose for me it's the cultural experience plus relative luxury on board that is key.

If you are boarding at Barca, I'd recommend getting there a day or two early. Fab city with the step on step off bus tour a must for the Camp Nou.

Thought about that re Barcelona but haven't really got the time with the wife's holiday rota. We stop off at Marseilles, Nice, La Spieza (a certain visit for the Leaning Tower of Pisa), Rome (never been so another definite) and Naples, (again Pompeii on the list). All places we've never seen so looking forward to it.

[dim view]

Mr Mercury, on 28 January 2017 - 10:37 AM, said:

Thought about that re Barcelona but haven't really got the time with the wife's holiday rota. We stop off at Marseilles, Nice, La Spieza (a certain visit for the Leaning Tower of Pisa), Rome (never been so another definite) and Naples, (again Pompeii on the list). All places we've never seen so looking forward to it.

Off at a tangent, here's a theory....

Pompeii was buried in AD79, smack bang in the middle of the time some Disciple or other (Paul?) is supposed to have been spreading Christianity up Italy. It occurs to me as a non religious type that if any evidence of this is uncovered at Pompeii then that might be the biggest single piece of evidence that Jesus existed, looking at it from a scientific point of view. I'm thinking of using this theory for a film starring Tom Hanks. I think less than 40% of the city has been excavated. It is mind boggling.

[Mr Mercury]

dim view, on 28 January 2017 - 10:48 AM, said:

Off at a tangent, here's a theory....

Pompeii was buried in AD79, smack bang in the middle of the time some Disciple or other (Paul?) is supposed to have been spreading Christianity up Italy. It occurs to me as a non religious type that if any evidence of this is uncovered at Pompeii then that might be the biggest single piece of evidence that Jesus existed, looking at it from a scientific point of view. I'm thinking of using this theory for a film starring Tom Hanks. I think less than 40% of the city has been excavated. It is mind boggling.

Definitely a place to go then?

[Search & Destroy]

Do you get the rolling sensation on a big boat?

[isleaiw1]

dim view, on 28 January 2017 - 10:15 AM, said:

In my opinion standards on board are almost always exceptional and it is the quality of the itinerary that makes the difference. For that reason I wouldn't cruise the Caribbean 'cos there is hardly anything worth getting off the boat for. On the other hand Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Naples (for Pompeii), Dubrovnik, Athens and lot's of other places are sensational. I suppose for me it's the cultural experience plus relative luxury on board that is key.

If you are boarding at Barca, I'd recommend getting there a day or two early. Fab city with the step on step off bus tour a must for the Camp Nou.

Been to a fair chunk of Europe with work and we tagged the cruise on to a week in Florida, so the main aim was rest and relaxation. But we did Jamaica (interesting), Cozumel in Mexico (full of history) then grand Cayman (didn't get off) and Bahamas (beach and bar)

[fishini]

dim view, on 28 January 2017 - 10:48 AM, said:

Off at a tangent, here's a theory....

Pompeii was buried in AD79, smack bang in the middle of the time some Disciple or other (Paul?) is supposed to have been spreading Christianity up Italy. It occurs to me as a non religious type that if any evidence of this is uncovered at Pompeii then that might be the biggest single piece of evidence that Jesus existed, looking at it from a scientific point of view. I'm thinking of using this theory for a film starring Tom Hanks. I think less than 40% of the city has been excavated. It is mind boggling.

When we visited there 2 years ago we were told by our guide that the reason such a small % has been excavated is that the land above the ruins are controlled by the Mafia. She said its such a shame this site in in Italy and not elsewhere. That said we preferred Herculaneum. Both sites could be so much better. Just imagine these sites in the UK