Gems of Northern Italy and Milan

Has anyone taken Uniworld's Gems of Northern Italy trip this year? We took basically the same cruise in 2014, and are booked to do it again this August because we enjoyed it so much. There have been a few changes to the trip, and I'd love to hear any comments/reviews about the new itinerary. I'd especially appreciate any suggestions about how to spend our time in Milan (what to see, where to eat, etc.). Uniworld provides a walking tour that includes the Duomo, Galleria, and The Last Supper, but we'll have time to explore a bit more while we're there. Thanks!

I will be following this thread as well as we are sailing this trip June of 2017. It's exciting to hear that you enjoyed this trip so much that you are taking it again. I'm curious whether you chose the Bologna full day tour or the half day in Ferrara and if you were happy with your choice. Also did you take the market visit in Chioggia with the seafood lunch or the Mussel harvesting experience? The mussel harvesting experience really sounds interesting but it looks like the Mussels are your lunch and I'm not much of a mussel fan. Any other insight would be appreciated.

We chose the full day tour to Bologna. It was a bit of a bus ride, but I always think of the time spent reaching our destination as part of the tour, taking in the scenery along the way and listening to the commentary provided by the guide. (And on the way back to the ship, many took the opportunity to rest)! We loved Bologna. We enjoyed an interesting guided walking tour and had ample free time to explore the beautiful market on our own before joining the group for lunch. The pasta making demonstration was great, and the lunch that followed was delicious, with free flowing wine.

The mussel harvesting option was not offered on our last cruise, so I'm interested to hear others thoughts on that excursion. We enjoyed our market visit, and loved just exploring the town on our own. The seafood lunch we had was wonderful. Although all of our meals on the River Countess were excellent, we liked having the opportunity to have a couple of meals at local restaurants.

Thank you for your insight on Bologna. I think we will certainly take this option. We have been on two Uniworld cruises prior to this one and we enjoyed using the complimentary bikes. I understand they cannot be used in Venice but did you either use or notice the bikes being used in ports other then Venice? I have been researching this trip for well over a year as we were originally booked for this September but due to family commitments we had to cancel. I just rebooked for June of next year and am really excited about the addition of Milan. So far haven't found any reviews or comments anywhere from anyone that has sailed this year. Please post a review upon your return. Thank you again for the information.

I noticed on Uniworld's Facebook page that a bike tour is now offered in Chioggia. This was not available on our cruise in 2014, and I haven't read anything about bikes being available in the other places the ship docks. There is a new post on Uniworld's Facebook page about the trip, and a couple of posts on Cruise Critics review page, but nothing in depth about Milan or the other itinerary changes. I posted a review upon our return from this trip in 2014, and will write another review later this summer. This will be our third Uniworld cruise (we took their Paris and Normandy trip on the River Baroness, and the Italy trip in 2014). Last year we tried Viking's trip on the Rhine, and after that experience we decided we will definitely continue book with Uniworld (or similar) in the future!

What Uniworld cruises were you on?

We were on the SS Antoinette on Castles on the Rhine July 2014 and on the SS Maria Teresa last December on the Danube for the Christmas Market cruise. They were both great and the new ships are really nice. Uniworld is the only river cruise line we've sailed but as they say if it isn't broke don't fix it. We've been blessed to sail in their suites which really takes the service over the top. With the return perks and discounts and exceptional service I think we will stay with Uniworld for sometime to come.

We just returned from this cruise/tour mid may.

We flew into Milan and stayed at the Star Hotel Rosa Grand (Uniworld suggested hotel) The rep/tour guide we had was fantastic! Luc had optional tours arranged, attraction tickets with maps ready and even walked us to an out of the way bar he thought we'd like.

He escorted us on the bus to the ship in Venice. We made some wonderful stops along the way, one in Verona and for lunch in a beautiful winery....totally Uniworld Quality!!

All in all we had the best time...

If you have any questions you can PM me...

Thanks, stmartins! Glad to hear that you had a wonderful time. Any suggestions on what to do during our free time in Milan? What were the optional tours/ tickets that Luc offered? Did you do the Mussel Harvest in Chioggia?

Not sure how to post a PM.

We did the arranged tours through Uniworld like the Last Supper, The walking tours of the city etc. But we also did the Walk the Duomo Roof (fantastic!) They also gave us tickets for the sanctuary that is completely decorated with bones. This was in walking distance to the hotel. We took the tram to Old Milian and walked the canal district then stop to have dinner at one of the restaurants. They have a "happy Hour" in the evenings. If you buy a $10 drink you get the all you can eat buffet with it. It was finger foods but tasty. Most of the places offered it but at different prices. Just walking the Piazza Duomo in the evenings is interesting, lots of entertainment. But be careful of pick pockets and vendors. These's lots to do around the hotel if its the one they they will be using.

We didn't do the mussel harvest in Chioggia. When i looked back in my itineraries it wasn't offered..maybe they were out of season? We visited the local flea markets and fish market. Did the walking tour. Our cruise portion of the trip was shortened because of rough water and we docked there for 3 nights then back to Venice. It was about 2 hours sailing at very slow speed...

If you've travelled with Uniworld before you know they alway have something for everyone.

Thanks for the suggestions! We definitely want to go up on the Duomo rooftop.

I've been reading about the Aperitivo experience in Italy, and it is something that we'll try too!

We just booked this cruise for next May, 2017. We have taken two other Uniworld Cruises, and loved them both.

They are offering a bike tour of Chioggia's beaches, and I'm wondering how difficult this might be. I'd love to take this excursion.

There are pictures on Uniworld's Facebook page of the bike excursion and mussel harvest excursion. Both look like lots of fun!

We just booked this cruise for next May, 2017. We have taken two other Uniworld Cruises, and loved them both.

 

They are offering a bike tour of Chioggia's beaches, and I'm wondering how difficult this might be. I'd love to take this excursion.

We had friends take the bike tour and loved it...no hills, lots to see.

The mussel harvesting wasnt offered but the paste making was interesting to watch. We didn't get a chance to try it.

We are taking the July 14, 2017 Gems of Northern Italy cruise.

We start in Milan with a 2 night stay in the Star Hotel Rosa Grande.

Unless I misunderstood, Uniworld told me that the hotel is INCLUDED in the cost of the cruise.

A comment was posted that the hotel was SUGGESTED by Uniworld,

giving me the impression that the hotel stay is additional

Can someone clarify please

We are taking the July 14, 2017 Gems of Northern Italy cruise.

 

We start in Milan with a 2 night stay in the Star Hotel Rosa Grande.

 

Unless I misunderstood, Uniworld told me that the hotel is INCLUDED in the cost of the cruise.

 

A comment was posted that the hotel was SUGGESTED by Uniworld,

 

giving me the impression that the hotel stay is additional

 

Can someone clarify please

This thread is a year old so perhaps that's why. Maybe it's different now? I have also looked into this tour (for 2018) and it certainly sounds like it's included.

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We leave on June 22nd and the hotel is definitely included. It even shows on the trip documents. Will be doing a day to day report if the internet allows.

Has anyone sailed on the Uniworld Countess.

We are about to select a cabin location on Deck 4.

Any staterooms to avoid?

papa B me, BEFORE you cruise, if you have not already do try to watch The Borgias. Milan is where Sforza Castle is located, which is open for tours. (if you have seen The Borgias, you know that Lucrezia was married to Giovanni Sforza whom her family later humiliated in order to allow her to remarry.) What most don't know is that the Sforza Castle is just an amazing place with an incredible art collection. It is well worth a visit when in Milan. In addition Milan is located in the Lombardy region of Italy, so the famous foods from this region are Osso Buco and risotto - definitely try these there! Rice is more popular than pasta in Milan. In terms of cheeses: Gran Padano, Provolone, Gorgonzola, Taleggio and Robiola all hail from this region. Yum!!!

Bologna is known for cured meats and this is where Proscuitto di Parma and Mortadella di Bologna originated. They are also famous for being the location where Parmagiana Reggiano originated. Bologna is known for rich eggy pasta. Lasagna, Tortellini and Tagliatelle are from this area as well as Piselli alla pancetta. Capellattacci is also from this area (pasta filled with chocolate chestnuts and topped with olive oil and pepper - sounds weird - tastes divine!)

Can't wait to read all about your trip! Have a fabulous time!

Has anyone sailed on the Uniworld Countess.

We are about to select a cabin location on Deck 4.

Any staterooms to avoid?

I have not been on that ship, but if you mean the Marco Polo deck, I would choose a cabin toward the middle. So probably any cabin between 420 & 419 and 406 & 405 would be great. If you need the elevator, choose a cabin closer to the elevator. The staterooms nearest the lounge will have some noise (not horrible) from the lounge. The staterooms nearest the dining room will have some noise from the dining room. So that is why I would not select those on the very ends of the corridor.

We had the aft most cabin, next to the dining room. No noise at all. Rooms are well insulated. You don't have to worry about people walking past your cabin (except at meal times).

Robin

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We had the aft most cabin, next to the dining room. No noise at all. Rooms are well insulated. You don't have to worry about people walking past your cabin (except at meal times).

 

Robin

 

 

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Interesting as we had a suite on SS Antoinette that was closest to the lounge and we could hear the music from there clearly. It was not terribly loud or offensive, but we could indeed hear it.

SuiteTraveler,

Thanks for the input. Can't wait for the next 10 days to pass and be on our way.

To all of you going on the River Countess, have a wonderful time. My husband and I enjoyed our first Gems of Northern Italy with Uniworld in 2014 so much that we repeated the trip last summer. The Star Rosa Grande was a beautiful hotel located just a block from the Duomo, and it was included in the trip price. Breakfast buffets were varied and plentiful, and our Uniworld Milan hosts were amazing. One of the highlights of our time in Milan was going to the rooftop terraces of the Duomo. The views were absolutely incredible, and seeing the architecture from that perspective was amazing.

We were in cabin 209 and had no noise issues. On our first trip we were in the aquarium class and I don't recall any noise issues then either. We spent very little time in our cabins.

This trip is not a typical river cruise, but I loved being able to spend so much time in Venice exploring on guided tours and on our own. Highlights of the trip for us included the luncheon/wine tasting and tour at the Serego Alighieri winery; the bike ride in Chioggia; the mussel harvesting excursion in Chioggia; our pasta making demonstration and lunch in Bologna; our visits to Torcello, Mazzorbo and Burano; tours of several markets; "getting lost" in Venice (as recommended by several guides); and so much more. Hope you enjoy your trip as much as we did!

Interesting as we had a suite on SS Antoinette that was closest to the lounge and we could hear the music from there clearly. It was not terribly loud or offensive, but we could indeed hear it.

I guess the difference is, most people are in the dining room to eat at the same time, including me, and the hours are limited.

The Lounge-different situation, plus, you had the atrium to amplify the sound.

The Countess also had fabric walls in the halls, which helped dampen noise.

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