ollienbertsmum

I’m not sure that I do know what French people are like. I googled it and apparently they are famous for food, wine, love, art and fashion. Sounds a good basis for a cruise.

To be honest you still have a whole year to go. I think the route and options for Venice to Trieste are getting better. We did fine taking the train from Bologna to Trieste and Airbnb the day before embarking and then using FlixBus to Venice for our return. That was a year ago and I think it is getting to be a road more well traveled. So you have this season to keep on reading reviews and blogs. Make that your summer homework. You have time to make decisions during the winter

You have not said when you are taking the cruise, that makes a great deal of difference - from my experience small children work better in the cooler weather. If you are going during summer months then you can find some good beaches in Barcelona, Cadiz (brilliant beaches), and Cannes where a short walk from tender drop off is a public beach. OR a short ferry to Ile Saint Marguerite for walks or beaches could make a great day out. Just take swimwear and towels (I always carry those small towels you can get from sports shops) because you might come across the possibility of bathing when you don’t expect it. I am sure that there must be some great play parks around these cities too. I agree that you would be best to avoid long treks like to Florence, but difficult to advise without knowing if this is 1. A once in a lifetime trip to Europe with kids in tow or 2. A great cruise where we want to find things for the kids to do during the day. Does that make sense? The two cruises require different approaches. I have done both - and version 2 worked out better.

Now that so many people pay by card splitting the bill is much easier. In November on a trip with three other ladies, one used her card and we all sent her money to cover expenses of the trip. When we go out at home we will divide the tip and bill by the number of people and all pay that. The waiter goes around the table taking cash or uses the card machine. Perhaps it takes a few minutes longer than if one person pays - but they are used to it. It is how people go out to eat in digital times.

Your day sounds pretty much like our first day trip to Cannes. It was really enjoyable and a relaxing day after a couple of long port days. Don’t miss the handprints of famous people in front of the film festival building.

The Med has not given us much of a problem in our 8 cruises - unless there has been a storm. We have been in big ships though. I think your best advice would come from the company running the cruise - or the crew itself. Why don’t you take the prescription anyway and ask for advice when you are on board

We have always done our own thing in Cannes. We actually spent our 30th Wedding Anniversary (like you we never had a honeymoon) at Cannes. We had been a couple of times before and had enjoyed just walking around for the atmosphere - expensive cars, views, buying a croissant using schoolgirl French, Le suquet, swimming from the public beach -(in summer) but as this was in November we decided to go on a ferry to St Marguerite a little island that offered nice walks. We had a lovely day. I always say ‘next time Monaco’ but in reality I think we would likely have a more enjoyable day taking the train to Nice. You want to do a ship tour I think so you have different considerations to me, in your case I think I would want to include Eze view with Nice. I hope that the weather is kind to you during the cruise - we have had several in November and I find it much more comfortable walking around than July. You do risk a storm though.

With a bit of research you can do some good diy days in these ports. Check out the ports on google maps as you may prefer to get a shuttle to the town Centres. I think you will be stopping in Cadiz not Seville - it is a lovely city with lots to see. Without knowing your preferences it is difficult to know what to suggest

Just left the cold rainy uk that Graham has described. On my way home after a trip to see my 95 yr old parents. Trip was extended because my dad had a fall getting into bed while I was there. The broken bone will heal but he is struggling to sit up - his blood pressure keeps falling. My sister is taking over getting mum too and from the hospital. I left early this morning on a plane headed for Malaga where my car has been waiting for me. There was fog over the airport in Malaga so we were diverted. Now I am sitting on the plane at the airport in Seville. Ironically I have been planning a trip here for months. look how interesting it looks

It will be hot in August, so you have to factor that in to your accessibility search. I would say that Santorini will be hard. It may well be that the cable car is accessible - but even when you get up to the town, we were met with a wall of people (Sept 2019). In Mykonos we berthed out of town. There was a boat taxi into town, can’t recall how accessible it was. There was also a nice beach the other side. A shortish walk and probably a pleasant way to pass the time ashore. Mykonos is an island for fun.

I agree 100%.

I am not sure that the decision is so obvious if you are referring to Chateau D’If which I am not convinced is a WHS Now if you are going to Avignon, that is a WHS and I think matches bouillabaisse for being a special part of your day. I actually thought that the soup IS an intangible heritage. I checked. Gastronomy is, but soup was not on the list. I have to agree with previous comments that Marseille is a port that we usually leave. This has resulted in some great days out. On one occasion, however, we walked up to the Notre Dame Cathedral and enjoyed the views. On the way down we stopped in a kitchen utensil shop and I bought the best ever egg pricker. We eat a lot of boiled eggs so I think about that cruise several times a month. 😂😂😂

I would anticipate that the ship provides transportation to Venice. That would be their revenue for the day. Probably the most convenient be more expensive method of transportation. What is your budget for the Venice hotel? We stayed in a lovely but budget hotel near to the train station. Even though it was ‘budget’ I think that it was the most expensive hotel I have ever stayed in

Using info from Rome2Rio the public transport journey time from Venice to Ravenna is at minimum 3hours. That would make me want to travel the evening before - but there still is plenty of time to go off at 8 am . It may well be that the cruise line puts on a shuttle from the airport. I would look into that as my first option (and I rarely say that for shuttles). Bologna is a little more accessible. I stayed overnight before a cruise from Trieste. I have been to Venice before so was pleased to visit a different city. As lovely as Bologna is, Venice is in a different league. You have made the right choice going to Venice first