Our Amazing European Adventure! Navigator of the Seas & Norwegian Epic Review w/pics

This is my first time writing a trip report here, but not our first cruise! Since I have spent the past year obsessively reading everything I could in order to plan our trip of a lifetime, I wanted to try just a little bit to help other people in planning their trips. Reading other’s trip reports truly gave me a feeling of being in the places I’d be going and being on the ship. I hope my family’s adventures can help some other people plan their amazing journeys too!

First a little background about our family and how a trip to Italy snowballed into a three week adventure that ended up being two cruises and five days on land in Europe! My parents decided about a year ago that they wanted to go to Italy. Mainly this was my mom’s dream. Both of her grandfather’s came to America in the early 1900’s and she has wanted to go to see where her family came from for years. Things began to fall into place so that her dream could come true this summer! And not only did she want to go to Italy, but she wanted to bring me and my husband, and our two kids! So it looks like we’d be heading to Italy! It would be Mimi and Grandpop, both in their late 60’s, myself – the obsessive trip planner (Shelley) and my husband – who thinks if I don’t mention his name he’ll remain anonymous! Go figure – we’ll just call him DH I suppose – we’re in our mid-40’s. And our two kids, Alex and Megan, who are 13 and 11.

The thought of planning a trip like this was both overwhelming and exhilarating for me! This was a dream come true – but where to begin? We knew a cruise was the best way to see as much of Italy as we could in a short time, and also give the kids some time to be kids on the ship. A break from the cathedrals and ruins and history. Even if they loved every minute of every day, it would be a long trip and who doesn’t love a waterslide, rock wall or ice rink after a good ruin? Both of my parents had their wish list items, not to mention the criteria of the kids being out of school and not interfering with work schedules. We couldn’t find one cruise to check all of the boxes. So – instead of trying to make one longer cruise work for us, we figured out a way to sail on RCL’s Navigator of the Seas Eastern Mediterranean Itinerary first, after which we had a quick whirlwind through Venice and Florence…. Then zip back to Civitavecchia to pick up the Norwegian Epic for a Western Mediterranean cruise! Of course we couldn’t leave Italy without a few days in Rome and then the all-important purpose of the entire trip finding my mom’s roots – trek to her grandfather’s hometown! Simple right?

So, for those who would like to join me on my personal adventure of a lifetime, hopefully loaded with pictures and reviews of not one, but two cruises and if it’s ok with everyone, a trip report of our time in Venice and Florence between the cruises as well as time in Rome and finding our Roots in the middle of no where – I’d love to share this journey – hopefully some helpful tidbits can be taken from it.

So, here we go! We left for the airport on Friday, June 7th. My son, Alex didn’t even finish school until that afternoon! If we would have had one more snow day, he would have had to miss the last day or days of school! You know, vacations are a priority! ;) He got home from school at 1:00 and we had a driver come to pick the six of us up at 2:45! Yes, the six of us, did I mention that my parents also live with us! So, we live together and now we’re vacationing together – that’s a lot of together isn’t it?

It was raining HARD all day long. I just kept thinking, please don’t let our flight be delayed or cancelled! We had a direct flight out of PHL to FCO. Our driver arrived and one by one we were out the door into the rain, under the umbrella. I locked the door and I hear Alex – “mom – we forgot to feed the lizard” Really? Ok – back I ran, into the house up the steps and gave a quick shake of crickets into the cage. We have a zoo! Had to say goodbyes to 4 cats, a guinea pig and a Chinese Water Dragon! That’s a lot for a pet sitter to take care of for three weeks!

It was a slow ride to the airport because of the rain, but we got there right on time and check in went smoothly. And we waited to board the plane….

Mimi and G-pop

Megan and I trying to take a decent picture of ourselves

Is it morning already?

We landed nearly on time at FCO and exited the rear of the plane. This was great for us! Right down the steps onto the tarmac. Then a bus took us to the terminal. Immigration was fast. Our luggage was right there and I’m not even sure there was customs! I had watched the Rome Cabs video on where to go, so we easily found our guide right by the pole like in the video. I booked the VIP 2 hour tour to the hotel. We knew our rooms wouldn’t be ready yet, so why not get a nice intro to Rome on the way! Our guide Andre walked us to his van and the weather was perfect.

We get on the NOS on 9/8. More review and pics please...

Waiting VERY impatiently :)

I can't wait to read! Sounds like the making of a wonderful review!

Can't wait to read this review and thanks for taking the time. We did the Navigator Eastern Med in April and loved it so much that we're doing it again in August! We've seen Epic a few times in various ports and I'm looking forward reading more and hearing your comparisons and thoughts.

I couldn't believe we had made it! Here we were, finally in Italy! I had been planning this trip for nearly a year - amazing! I mentioned that I’m the obsessive trip planning type of person, so my parents of course knew where we were going, but not so much the daily details. So before we left I printed everyone out a sort of daily trip planner. It listed where we’d be each day and what type of excursion was planned. It also included what time to be ready and where we’d have to meet. And of course if shoulders and knees would have to be covered! With a group varied in ages like ours, and that already spends so much time together, since we live together, we decided that we’d be doing tours each day. No chance of spending hours upon hours with one wanting do one thing while the other wants to do another and in the end no one doing anything! Everything was pretty much preplanned. Of course, we knew there was always room for things to go wrong! Be ready for the unexpected and relax! That was the motto – we’re on vacation!

Although, how to exactly relax on this type of vacation – I’m not too sure. Mentally I suppose!

Anyway – here we are, in Andre’s van. He’s driving us into Rome. Recently I had heard some not to favorable reviews of Rome from family and friends who had been there. It was dirty. It was crowded. People were rude. How could this be? I had to see for myself! I was elected by the family to sit up front, and on the way Andre told us about the 2000 year history of Rome, both Ancient and Vatican Rule. He was going to be a great guide!

Our first very brief stop - we pulled over so he could explain to us that Rome was and still is surrounded by walls

If you are into ancient times, history, or archaeology - it would be right there, at that moment that it hits you. The history that this city has. Coming from the US, you can't possibly fathom anything like this until you see it. And yes, I know, this is just a wall, there would be so much more to come!

So, moving along, the contrasts of the modern and the ancient are amazing to me. Andre shows us how modern buildings are build right on top of ancient foundations!

The cars seem to drive in every direction! Crazy!

We turn the corner, and there it is. The Coliseum! I wasn’t expecting it at all. Nor was I expecting the angle! We’re up high, not down on street level, and over there – look – the Roman Forum! So, let us out – my new camera is just screaming!

On queue he pulls over, we get some history, the actual name was called the Amphitheatrum Flavium but over time it became to be called the Coliseum because of a statue, the Colossus of Nero and eventually the statue disappeared and the building took the name the Colosseum!

I can this will be a great review! Thanks.

Great start!

Subscribed!!!

Suscribing! Can't wait to read all about it! My dream is also Italy either with or without a cruise - someday!

What a great review so far!! I am the obsessive planner as well..I can relate..My husband just gives me a rough idea on where he would like to travel, and I plan! We just got off the Liberty. We spent a week in France and then on to Barcelona for the Western Med. I thought Rome was great!

Can't wait to read more:)

Ali

We took pictures and went into a little café nearby. Megan, G-pop and I got our first Cappuccino, Mimi got a pastry, DH didn't get anything and Alex, well remember he didn’t sleep at all on the plane? So he was just a big grump!

We quickly learned the system of cafés here. It’s not like in the US. You need to sort of figure out what you want, then go to the cashier and pay, get your receipt and then you go back to the counter where the food and espresso or cappuccino is and order. Seems a little backwards, but this way if you’re going to stand and drink or eat, you just get your food and drink and the person dealing with the food isn't also dealing with the money. The cappuccino was creamy. It hit the spot for this jet lagged family! We took a few minutes just soaking in the moment, and then piled back into our van wondering what Andre had in store for us next!

We rode around Rome, through twisting and turning streets, around the Colosseum, through streets that in just a few weeks we’d become so familiar with! But now, they seemed like a maze of zigs and zags and circles! Next we went up a hill that Andre had to show a permit to drive up. He said, this was Palatine Hill! Another breathtaking view – we got out and had a perfect overlook of the Forum. What this must have been like so many hundreds, oh no, make that thousands of years ago! Looking down on the people now wandering through, I know that in a few weeks we’ll be back for our tour. We have so much between now and then….

We spent some time just looking and absorbing it all. After a bit, we walked up a road and came out at Rome's City Hall. Andre said this building was designed by Michelangelo. It had a huge courtyard and while we were there weddings had just taken place and the brides and grooms were getting their pictures taken.

I think that is the City Hall building

We walked to where Andre had moved the van while we were looking at the Forum and we piled back in, we drove to the famous “Wedding Cake” or officially known as the Victor Emmanuel Monument. He was the first king of a unified Italy. Also here is the Venetian building, the Piazza Venezia.

Our next stop is the Trevi Fountain! He parks the van a few streets away and Mimi, G-pop, Megan and I climb out and make the walk. Alex is sound asleep, finally! So DH stays with him. We get to the fountain, and it’s HUGE! And the crowd was unreal. It was hard to even get a view of the fountain itself! We’d have to make a trip back to toss our coins in.

We made it back to the van for our ride to our hotel for one night….Albergo del Senato, right at the Pantheon. Our day wasn’t over yet though! We still had a full night planned!

Can you please make your font BIGGER. Loving the review but having to scroll across the screen?

Newtoncruise....The font is the same as any other post on my computer....do you have your settings right?

Thanks so much for doing a review. It reminded me of our first time to Rome when everything was so overwhelming. We loved our first Med cruise so much we have now done 8 more. I still love reading reviews of others Med cruises and having a double header will be great.

Loving the review Shelley, was amazing to meet you and your family on the Navigator :)

Cant wait for more x

Newtoncruise....The font is the same as any other post on my computer....do you have your settings right?

Reading on the iPad. Every other thread is ok........strange? It might be the seize of the photos?

Reading on the iPad. Every other thread is ok........strange? It might be the seize of the photos?

Hmmmm.....everything looks good on my computer but when I view it on my office computer I see what you mean. Maybe it has to do with the screen resolution.

I can try a different size font and see what happens.... is that better or too big?

Thank you everyone for the encouragement to do the trip report! I'm really looking forward to sharing our experience with everyone!

Loving the review Shelley, was amazing to meet you and your family on the Navigator :)

 

Cant wait for more x

Thanks! You too - and it's been great to keep in touch! :D

Our hotel is right by the Pantheon. You never really know what you’ll find when you book a hotel in a city that you’ve never been to, but this was more than perfect! Our biggest challenge with hotels was finding quad rooms that had two twin beds in addition to a double bed since my kids (boy and girl) are far beyond the age of sharing a bed! And we didn’t want the added expense of two rooms, as well as I wasn’t comfortable with them in a separate room from me and DH in a hotel. This is where cruise critic and also Fodors came to be invaluable to me! I knew Albergo del Senato would be a splurge, but it was our first night and it was only one night after all, so let’s start the trip with a bang!

The four of us had their “mini-apartment” which is ultra modern in their ancient building. My parents were given a free upgrade to one of their nicest rooms because their room took longer than expected to be ready. Their room had a ceiling that could rival some of the cathedrals we would later visit! Both were outstanding accommodations and the staff there was superb! The rate included a nice breakfast which was a bit more than a small European breakfast, but was typical pastries, meats, cheeses, cereals, fruit and if I remember there may have been eggs as well?

Most of the group was exhausted when we arrived, but Megan and I were still going on adrenalin I suppose. We were anxious to get out and see the Pantheon! Everyone else went in for naps, but the two of us went out to keep taking in all there was to see!

Our hotel

Our first visit into the Pantheon - we were just in awe. It's so much bigger than you can imagine, and the hole in the ceiling - you stare at it and wonder just how it was built! Megan looked at me when we were in there and just had the biggest smile on her face and just blurted out the most grateful Thank You ever for being able to be there! You just have to love when an 11 year old can appreciate something like this! It was a great moment just the two of us!

Raphael's tomb

After our visit to the Pantheon, we knew where to head next, one last stop before going in to nap before our big night out! Gelato of course! By chance there was a gelato place right next door to our hotel! Megan got banana and I had Nutella and banana. We went out to the fountain in the Piazza and just soaked up all there was about Rome. All the negative comments we heard before coming just vanished from my mind. I knew right then and there - I was in LOVE with Rome! I would be back here again for sure! This was a city I could connect to for sure!

Loving your review. Keep it up!

Hmmmm.....everything looks good on my computer but when I view it on my office computer I see what you mean. Maybe it has to do with the screen resolution.

 

I can try a different size font and see what happens.... is that better or too big?

Brilliant Shell.....thanks. That's much better! Looking forward to your reviews. I am interested in the compare contrast of the two lines. Fantastic of you do do it!

Great review and amazing pictures!! Waiting for more!!:):)

What an amazing trip!! I can't wait to hear more!!

Keep it coming! This is a fantastic trip report. I love the photos. We'll be there ourselves--on the Navigator--this fall so I am eating this all up. Thank you!