Celebrity Reflection Western Med from Rome August 21, 2017

Partner and I will be traveling with my mother on this ship. Anyone else?

My partner Bill and I will be on the cruise. This will be our 14th cruise on Celebrity. We have done all of the ports before with the exception of Ibiza. Have you been to any of these ports before?

Christopher

Hey, Christopher! Nice to hear from another couple who will be on board. Yes, we've been to Rome several times, Florence, Nice and Barcelona. The other Spain stops and Gibraltar will be new for us. Really looking forward to visiting Ibiza for the first time and hitting the beach!

Great! We are looking forward to getting away from the stress of the office to relax for a couple of weeks. We have done a Mediterranean cruise the last several summers and enjoy the weather and sites. Have you booked any of you tours yet?

What other cruise lines have you tried that you have liked?

Christopher

Haven't booked tours yet, but plan on doing that this weekend. Probably will do the priority access in Florence to see David again. Will also do the Monte Carlo tour that visits the casino, and Gaudi's Barcelona. I'm interested in the cave in Malaga, too. And probably upper rock of Gibraltar. Planning on just grabbing a taxi in Ibiza to head to the gay beach. Have you been there before? Will be our first time and hoping that it is similar to Elia beach in Mykonos from an atmosphere perspective.

What's on your agenda?

We are staying 3 nights in Rome before the cruise and are taking a private tour to Villa Adriana outside of the city. We are also doing Nice and Eze, which we have done before, but we love the mountain town of Eze. In Barcelona we are going to Monserrat which Bill has not yet seen and then the next day to a winery tour. LaSpezia and Malaga we are taking the transportation to Grenada and Florence and then touring on our own. Gibraltar we are doing on our own since we have been there several times. The caves are fascinating.

This will be our first time to Ibiza and we are doing an island tour in the morning and then walking around in the afternoon.

I am ready to leave!!!!!!!!!

I'm definitely looking forward to it, now that the trip is less than 3 weeks away! We're only staying in Rome one night on the front end, and two nights on the back end. We've all been to Rome several times, and 3 days of Rome in August is about all I can stand. The last time we were in Rome in August, we swore never again - it was sweltering! But this itinerary and the dates work out well for us. Besides the August heat, my only other regret is that Ibiza is practically at the end of the trip, when I'll have added my cruise pounds and have to wear a bathing suit! LOL

We typically will have a cocktail in the martini bar before dinner. If you guys indulge, perhaps we'll bump into each other there.

In regards to an earlier question way up the thread, we've sailed on Celebrity, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America, Cunard, Oceania and Silversea. We've also done a combination of both regular, "straight" cruises and all-gay charters.

Last year we spent three nights in Rome before our cruise in July and we really lucked out, it was in the 70's and no humidity. The weather lasted through the first week of our trip and then was a typically hot summer in Europe. Last year we were also on the Reflection, but were on the last two weeks of July and there were over 500 kids on the ship, so we thought that the end of August they would all be going back to school and maybe a little more peace and quiet!

Hopefully all the sales will still be on in the stores in August, we have gotten some great deals on shoes and clothes in late July.

We have been on all the same cruise lines with the exception of Silversea. Out of everyone we have enjoyed Celebrity the most

We also go to the Martini bar before dinner. Hope to meet you and your partner there!

Christopher

Christopher,

We are Paul (me) and Joe. Some people ask if we are brothers, although I don't see it. Maybe because we both have blue eyes? Or maybe it's because of the 17 years together. LOL.

We look forward to meeting you and Bill at the martini bar before dinner one evening. Seems unlikely that we will be the only 2 gay couples on board, but it you spot someone you think could be us, feel free to say hello!

Okay that is scary! People always say we look like brothers too, although I don't see it! We have been together 17 years January 21st! Looking forward to meeting you and Joe in the Martini Bar!

Last year on the same ship we met a couple who live about 3 miles from us. We have gotten together with them several times since then. I am sure there will be more gay couples on the ship, there always are!

Safe travels!

Christopher

Hi guys! We'll be making that same cruise - just 3 weeks later [emoji6] If you want the "real" Ibiza beach experience, go to one of the top beach clubs. We've booked two beds at Tropicana Beach Club (http://www.tropicanaibiza.com/en/), going there by cab. Next to Tropicana you'll find Blue Marlin - this the real deal, famous for its jet set clientele (http://www.bluemarlinibiza.com/ibiza/).

Enjoy your cruise!

Rogier

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Safely arrived In Rome this morning, night at Hotel Palazzo Manfredi, and transfer tomorrow to the port. I'm so ready for this vacation!