Barcelona SOS Mediterranean Greek Isle Cruise w/Paris and Copenhagen Review

[crvng4mr]

Thanks for the compliment on my review.... glad you are reading along. I noticed earlier in your review you said you hoped to post one port a day.... I can only to be that fast in my review....lol!!! It's taking 3 days and 5 posts just to get through day 1 :eek::D

 

BTW - Moms are just all sorts of trouble, aren't they? :p Haha! Maybe after seeing all of your pics and reading your review she will decide to go on the next one. My mom and I really do have a great time traveling together (strange, since as a teenager I couldn't stand to be in the same house with her...lol)

 

I am going to try......I hope to finish up Barcelona today. but you know how that goes :p.

 

She told me last night my stepdad is making her get her passport now. He's ready to go. He has been to Europe and many places before but she hasn't at least not yet.

[crvng4mr]

While you are reading my review please also visit this one http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2065892 it is a slightly different itinerary but on the same ship and very well written!

[crvng4mr]

As we left off we had arrived at the hotel and quickly fell asleep......

 

 

The next morning the plan was to be up by 10am (you see I was being generous with the amount of sleep)...yeah...let's just say I was up. We didn't leave the hotel until 1pm to head out. Those pesky children didn't want to get out of bed and were slow to get ready. I didn't want to start the trip off by being the tyrant I am back home so I gave them some leeway but they definitely knew I was not happy.

 

I decided we would do the HOHO (Hop On Hop Off) to save time and it was a great choice. We saved a few euros by purchasing the tickets at our hotel. We went with Turistic as that is what our hotel offered but later came to the conclusion it was the best out of the 2 companies for us.

 

There is not much around the hotel, a gas station behind it, a hospital across the street and a grocery store about 2 blocks away. We were able to see a true Spanish community. The tram was about 2 blocks away and across the street from the grocery. We purchased a T10 pack at the stop for travel on all Barcelona public transportation (great buy). We only had to wait about 4 minutes before the tram arrived and it was 5 stops to where we had to get off to take the HOHO.

 

*sidenote* I love the fact that most of the public transportation in all the countries we visited showed you the estimated time of arrival of the next tram/metro/bus etc. We don't have that in NYC.

 

The HOHO came often, pretty much every 3 minutes and we grabbed a spot up top. We liked the fact that this company broke up the route into 3 lines instead of 2, which allowed us to complete one, eat and then complete another. First we found a gelato spot, of course. Then we bought some eats to go from a local 'bodega". Gelato, empanadas, baguette and sodas cost me 12 euros. :D We took the 2nd line loop completely around and decided to head back to the hotel. It was about 8:15pm and the last HOHO left at 8:30. The HOHO cost me 60 euros for 2 adults/1kid for 1 day. Well worth every penny. On our way back we stopped at the grocery store, what a Barcelona experience, to pick up some water, breads, quiche and snacks. I believe that came to 6 euros. As we walked into our hotel the sun was just setting at 9:45pm. the kids ordered a pizza and we were out for the count. Would tomorrow bring an earlier start...I hope so as we had to checkout to check in to our next hotel.

 

*sidenote* There are several Citibanks in Barcelona. as I stated before I came with only 100 euros so after the first loop on the HOHO we went to the atm and withdrew the maximum possible on both mine and my daughter's card. I believe that was 300 euros each. It seemed for me large cost were better paid by me taking money out of the atm (only a atm fee and bank exchange rates) as opposed to using my debit card for whatever exchange rate plus a 3% bank fee. Smaller purchases better to use the debit card.

[crvng4mr]

On the HO HO

By the harbor

Streets of Barcelona

Top of Las Rambles

[crvng4mr]

[kirian]

While you are reading my review please also visit this one http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2065892 it is a slightly different itinerary but on the same ship and very well written!

 

Awwww... thanks for the shot-out!

 

Glad to hear your stepdad is talking some sense into your mom and making her get her passport. That way, she won't have any excuses not to take the next cruise....lol!

 

BTW - I am loving your photos!!!!

Edited July 8, 2014 by kirian

[Cancruizer]

We were on the same cruise as you and I am loving reading your review - such good memories. I am looking forward to hearing how your stay in Paris and Copenhagen went. You may recall my DH and I sat with you and your daughter for lunch the last sea day (my son is "Canada" :-). I agree about Barcelona. Anyone planning on sailing out of Barcelona plan on at least 2 days to visit. We just loved staying there after the cruise.

[crvng4mr]

We were on the same cruise as you and I am loving reading your review - such good memories. I am looking forward to hearing how your stay in Paris and Copenhagen went. You may recall my DH and I sat with you and your daughter for lunch the last sea day (my son is "Canada" :-). I agree about Barcelona. Anyone planning on sailing out of Barcelona plan on at least 2 days to visit. We just loved staying there after the cruise.

Of course I remember you both! We met way too late into the cruise. I am glad you are enjoying my review. I'm going to post the next day in Barcelona tonight and the first day of the cruise tomorrow.

Happy to hear you all enjoyed Barcelona as much as we did.

[LABCHICK]

I subscribed and looking forward to tagging along with your cruise.

[crvng4mr]

Awwww... thanks for the shot-out!

 

Glad to hear your stepdad is talking some sense into your mom and making her get her passport. That way, she won't have any excuses not to take the next cruise....lol!

 

BTW - I am loving your photos!!!!

 

Thank you!

[crvng4mr]

I subscribed and looking forward to tagging along with your cruise.

 

Welcome aboard Labchick!

[crvng4mr]

So......we slept in and although we had to checkout by noon I can honestly say we left the room at 11:30. Ha! Checkout process was smooth and I paid with euros. I used their computer to purchase and print our tickets to Sagrada Familia for 2:30 and then we hopped in a cab to the next hotel. It took about 10 minutes to get to our hotel on Las Ramblas and the taxi cost 19 euro. The Hotel Lloret was an awesome choice. It is at the beginning of Las Ramblas, clean, boutique feel, and priced right. Check in was quick and easy. All they ask for is to see your passport. At this hotel we needed to leave our key with the desk whenever we went out and it was never a problem.

 

We took our bags up to our room (btw, for those of you that don't know the 1st floor in Europe is usually the one the lobby or front desk is on and usually in USA terms would be considered the 2nd or 3rd floor.) After asking the gentleman at the desk what metro we should take we were off to Sagrada Familia. The metro was 2 blocks away to go straight there and remember we had our handy T10 ticket. It was literally 3 stops. As we excited the Sagrada Familia was right there in all it's glory. We had about 45 minutes before we could go in (thank God we pre-purchased tickets as the line was really long) so we walked down the block to get something to eat.

 

My daughter, my first born, within the past few years has become a very picky/finicky eater. This is not only annoying but also a pain, especially in a foreign country. Cai and I found a place and we ate. I had a great Sangria.....and this is where I was taken again! You think I would know to check prices before ordering...but I didn't. What can I say, I was off my game. After eating I go to pay the bill and the sandwiches were fine at 7 euros but my Sangria was 16 euros......yes I said 16 euros, you can get up off the floor now. Learned my lesson! Off to enter the Sagrada!

 

We entered with no problems and all we could say was wow! If you can only do one thing in Barcelona.....go to the Sagrada Familia. We spent almost 2 hours in there and didn't even go up the towers. After we walked to the park across the street and Cai played soccer with some local kids. It was really cool. Then it was time for gelato of course! There is a Fargii on the side street, that is much cheaper than the rest we saw in Barcelona, and Cai and I had a scoop each. Ciera saw a McDonald's and decided she wanted that instead as that was the choice, because I was annoyed she wasn't getting both. Fargii has free wifi and the code is on the receipt.

 

We headed back to the hotel for a rest before searching out dinner. I found a place on Las Ramblas, usually a no no, that had a great vibe. We had paella and spaghetti and retired to the hotel balcony to watch the entertainment below.

 

There are many people trying to sell you things, all sorts of things on Las Ramblas, from fans, to little toys to purses. The funny thing is the men selling the purses have them on a sheet with rope attached to each end and when the police would come that way they would pull it up quickly into a sack even if someone was in the middle of a sale. We really got a kick out of watching this go one as there are like 30 of them on the street. we also had a dance group perform right in front of our hotel. Can you say tired? It was off to bed for us as we had a cruise to catch the next day.

 

Sagrada Familia was 40.40 euros

[crvng4mr]

I forgot to mention the entire time we were there that we all felt safe at all times. It felt like any other big city to me.

[crvng4mr]

Hotel Lloret

Updated rooms for doubles

 

Metro selfie

[crvng4mr]

Built by Ghandi for the workers to live in while building Sagrada Familia

[crvng4mr]

16 euro Sangria

[crvng4mr]

[kirian]

Great family pics!!!!! You also took some fabulous ones of Sagrada Familia!

 

16E for that Sangria?! :eek: It better have been laced with diamonds and gold flecks and been the best darn Sangria in the world.....lol!

 

OK, I have to leave the computer now to go get some gelato for breakfast.... I wonder why I'm suddenly craving that :p:D

 

Melissa

[d4nigirl]

snip

 

*sidenote* I love the fact that most of the public transportation in all the countries we visited showed you the estimated time of arrival of the next tram/metro/bus etc. We don't have that in NYC.

snip

 

It's starting! A lot of the Manhattan and downtown ones do now!

 

Loving your review! I wanted to take a cruise/trip like this for our honeymoon but we didn't have the time! I get to live it through you now!

Edited July 9, 2014 by d4nigirl

[crvng4mr]

Great family pics!!!!! You also took some fabulous ones of Sagrada Familia!

 

16E for that Sangria?! :eek: It better have been laced with diamonds and gold flecks and been the best darn Sangria in the world.....lol!

 

OK, I have to leave the computer now to go get some gelato for breakfast.... I wonder why I'm suddenly craving that :p:D

 

Melissa

Thanks! I took over 2000 pictures this trip so it has been hard narrowing them down to post. I tried to post different aspects of everything.

 

I know right! I will never forget it though.

[crvng4mr]

It's starting! A lot of the Manhattan and downtown ones do now!

 

Loving your review! I wanted to take a cruise/trip like this for our honeymoon but we didn't have the time! I get to live it through you now!

Good to hear! Love my New York!

 

You should look into it for an anniversary trip maybe? Thanks for the compliments!

[Danish]

 

I will say that just from our experience in the Oslo airport Norway is extremely expensive. we bought 3 slices of pizza 2 drinks and a sandwich while we were there and that equated to $60 USD. Breaking my budget already. And no free wifi. Booooo

 

Yes - Norway is extremely expensive. I live inan expensive country, but I do get suprised, then going to Norway. I am looking forward to your review of Copenhagen,

[crvng4mr]

Yes - Norway is extremely expensive. I live inan expensive country, but I do get suprised, then going to Norway. I am looking forward to your review of Copenhagen,

 

Yes, I have to visit without children, haha! We had a very short time in Copenhagen (11:00pm to 1:40pm the next day) unfortunately I miscalculated in timing for our return flight, but we were able to see some things.

[crvng4mr]

How's that saying go, "The best plans are made to be broken". Is that the saying? Well as we continue to follow suit in ehr let's say changing things up.:rolleyes:

 

The original plan was to checkout by 10:30, go to the atm and arrive at port by 11am. We did check out by 11, I guess that counts for something. After another trip to the atm, of course the children had to eat so I grabbed them some churros to go and we hopped in a taxi to port. It should have only taken 5-7 minutes tops but at the bottom of Las Ramblas they had the road blocked and that created some traffic. We pulled up at noon for 16 euros.

 

I must say those folks at the Barcelona port run a first rate operation. It was nice to have water, lemonade and cookies offered before you even get in line to check in.:cool: The unfortunate part is that I'm a gold member and our line got stuck in the middle. How's that you say? The staff handling the lines kept calling the those with status above us and those with no status (whose lines were longer) which in return people who walked in with us were at the counter at least 10 minutes before us. It was actually a running joke of how gold status is below no status. At least we could laugh it off, I mean we were getting ready to get on a cruise. It took 30 minutes to get to the counter and 5 minutes until we were on the ship.

 

I knew to head to the Park Cafe from CC and that is exactly what we did. It was practically empty and Cai and I enjoyed our roast beef sandwiches and salad. I will say I loved the roast beef but the bread was to big for a sandwich. It was served almost everyday, so when we did go back we had it without the bread. My suddenly picky eater, Ciera, decided she was going to WJ and we met her there after we finished. As a growing preteen, Cai ate again in the WJ when we joined her. By this time it was 1 and we went to see our room. This is our first balcony and I was beyond excited.

 

I was right to be excited!!!! We searched every nook and cranny of that cabin before we unpacked. I couldn't believe how much room there was. (yes I know we only brought carry ons but there were 3 of us) All of our bathroom stuff fit in the medicine cabinet and shower (good thing to because I didn't bring my over the door shoe hanger). There were 8 drawers, the closet of course with ceiling to floor shelves and also cabinets above the tv where the safe was stored, and a cabinet behind the mirror.

 

We stayed in cabin 7626 and I thought it was a great choice. The cabin is 10 cabins from the centrum, close to the mdr, latte-tudes, casino and the shoppes. The only thing that might concern some is that you can not see directly below to the water due to the roof that covers the life boats but for us it was fine. We could see the whole rest of the sea.:D

 

The kids decided they wanted us to celebrate sail away on our balcony.:( Because on our last cruise I embarrassed them by doing my favorite dance, the wobble, at the sail away party. (they taped me by the way) So Cai went out in search of the basketball courts and Ciera and I finished unpacking until the muster drill. I was happy that we didn't have to wear life vest and our station was in Giovannis. Score!

 

*a little background info* When I booked the cruise my time dining was the only option. I was not happy as I love a set dining time and sitting at a big table with others. My children loved the idea, as they new they wouldn't have the same expectations at the dinner table and could be more comfortable.

 

So when we first boarded the mdr only had 8:30 seating, which is late for us. Not really a problem when you are on a ship with many eating options, so we head back to Park Cafe for a snack. We basically walked around the ship until dinner and were blessed with a table by the window. We instantly loved Rachel and Mary, our waitress and asst. waitress. In fact Cai wouldn't let anyone else take his order but Rachel. I really enjoyed my food. Much better than I remember on my last RCI cruise, except for the shrimp cocktail as those shrimp are not worth having imo. We skipped dessert and headed to the Tropical theater to watch Divergent or what was left of showing the movie. On the way back we walked through the shops and indulged in the liquor tasting. Ciera's first tasting, as she turned eighteen 5 days prior! She doesn't particularly like the taste of alcohol but she did like the Sheridan.....I mean who doesn't like Sheridan. By this time we called it a night and as Cai's curfew was the ship's curfew, 1am, he didn't come in until then. He found a whole set of cruise friends at the basketball courts.

 

Next up Cannes!!!!!!

[crvng4mr]

Getting ready to board SOS

Cai trying to figure out where he's sleeping