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

[crvng4mr]

Our new friend Herbert, yup we named him

This was so good!

[kirian]

It is so great reading your review... especially since you and I are at the same point in our on-going reviews (I hope to get my subscribers to Cannes today as well....lol!). I love reading about the ship/ports from a different point of view :)

 

I have to ask though, did you steal my camera? J/K :p I was cracking up at a couple of the last photos... I have the exact same ones on my camera!!! For example, the big pics in the stairwell of the lady with the eagle and the days of the week in the elevator (I took these everyday to keep track of which day my photos were being taken... a tip I learned on CC). I guess these are just more examples of the cameras taking control and insisting on snapping a particular shot :D

 

Keep up the great review!

Melissa

[crvng4mr]

It is so great reading your review... especially since you and I are at the same point in our on-going reviews (I hope to get my subscribers to Cannes today as well....lol!). I love reading about the ship/ports from a different point of view :)

 

I have to ask though, did you steal my camera? J/K :p I was cracking up at a couple of the last photos... I have the exact same ones on my camera!!! For example, the big pics in the stairwell of the lady with the eagle and the days of the week in the elevator (I took these everyday to keep track of which day my photos were being taken... a tip I learned on CC). I guess these are just more examples of the cameras taking control and insisting on snapping a particular shot :D

 

Keep up the great review!

Melissa

 

I was just saying the same thing on your review!

 

Maybe I did, lol. I think those things tend to make us take pictures. I was really impressed by the artwork. I loved it! I tried to take a picture everyday of the days of the week as well (a tip I also learned on CC. Got to love CC).

[crvng4mr]

I haven't had much feedback as late so I hope I am keeping everyone interested. I should have Compass day 1 up today and our day in Cannes as well as that Compass and of course pictures.

[crvng4mr]

I forgot to add information about how I arranged my seapass. When we checked in I told them I was paying cash. They did not collect any cash from me at that time. My assumption is that they automatically give you up to $500 credit on the seapass, but since I never asked I don't know. I did not block or put a limit on my children's passes either. My son called me once to ask if he could use $5 on his card for the arcade and I allowed him to do so. My daughter asked to put a virgin Strawberry Daiquiri on and of course I said yes. That was the extent of our onboard expenses. I huge $13.

[jennywren46]

I'm loving every minute of your review, thanks so much for writing it .cant wait for the next instalment:D

[Cancruz]

...same here

 

You guys are so photogenic!!! :D

[crvng4mr]

I'm loving every minute of your review, thanks so much for writing it .cant wait for the next instalment:D

 

Thanks! I was beginning to wonder if I was talking to myself.:D

 

...same here

 

You guys are so photogenic!!! :D

 

You are too kind Susan!

[crvng4mr]

I have been trying to figure out how to post the daily compass from my computer. Can anyone tell me how to do that? That image thing is not helpful for pictures or anything else for that matter.

[crvng4mr]

 

Checking to see if this post correctly.

Edited July 10, 2014 by crvng4mr

[crvng4mr]

Trying again....

 

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/yourphotos?pid=6032660004912510210&oid=118025431375285007517

[crvng4mr]

Well I attempted twice and decided I am going to get on with the review and continue posting pictures the way I have been until I can figure how to post them from here. Now continuing the review......

[Ireallyneedavacation]

My sister and I did this cruise the end of May, beginning of June this year. We loved it! I have to say your children are very fortunate to have a mom like you that will take them on a trip like this! I am sure you all will remember it for years to come.

 

Oh, and your daughter is VERY smart. You can tell by the college she chose! WAR EAGLE!! :D:D

[crvng4mr]

Wow....here we are!!!! Cannes! I have been so looking forward to this port....let's be honest, I was ecstatically looking forward to every port.

 

Okay, so I woke my butt up at 6:30 to be as ready as possible to meet everyone at Vintages at 7:30 for our tour. You see I didn't want to be that family. You know, the one that is always late and the last ones to arrive, especially since I arranged all the tours. I get to Vintages at 7:35 and am mad at myself for being 5 minutes late and no one is there. Really, the ship is quiet and you can count on one hand the amount of people you see walking around.

 

Well in all my excitement I forgot that we actually wouldn't be able to tender off until 9 am and our tour was scheduled for 10 am. Still in denial, I head to pick up our tender tickets. One person is able to get as many tender tickets they need for their family or group. I got 8 tickets for the 2nd tender as that was our group size for the tour. Then I headed back to Vintages in case I said 8:30 and by 8:35 realized again I must have just said 9 and ran back to the cabin to scarf down the breakfast I ordered for us.

 

*sidenote* We really didn't enjoy the room service breakfast at all but we continued to order it a few days more due to the times we had to meet up for tours.

 

Finally at 9 we met up with Cancruz, her grandson (who is the same age as Cai) and Bruce, his wife Toya and their son Malik (who is the same age as Ciera and was on the cruise celebrating his graduation as well). We headed on to the tender to Cannes! Still excited here!!!

 

I set up a private tour with Revelation Tours. Michel was waiting for us sign and all. HE WAS AWESOME!!!! Let me say that again......HE WAS AWESOME!!! His van was clean, comfortable and he was humorous, entertaining and extremely knowledgeable. Immediately he discussed our day with him and what our expectations were and then began telling us the history of the area in regards to Italian and French rule and what we would be seeing. I wish I recorded him and that he was one of my history teachers back in school. He also offered us cold water and candies.

 

We headed off on the highway to the furthest point so we would work from that way and take the scenic route back to beat the crowds. We did arrive at all of our destinations before the big tour bus crowds arrived. Both the boys were fast asleep the second we pulled off, which would become a common theme with them both on future tours as well and sometimes comic relief for the rest of us.

 

We headed to Eze first then took the scenic views to Monaco, Monte Carlo, Nice and the quaint Village of Saint Paul. Along the way we drove past many towns of Cote d'Azur such a Villafranche. Eze was quiet when we arrived and it really is a lovely village. We never made our way all the way to the top but enjoyed it just as well. We stopped in Monte Carlo to use the restroom facilities because we got it like that, haha. We were all amazed by how beautiful the public restroom are in the parking structure across from the famous casino. Then we drove the a portion of the Monaco Grand Prix route before continuing our scenic drive, stopping for pictures every so often, until we reached Nice. There we had an hour to spend and we all had lunch there as well. The old town section near the water was great for getting lost in the tiny streets filled with restaurants, churches, pastry shops and stores. I felt like I was in a dream.

 

After some much needed gelato, as we were so tired from leisurely strolling through the streets of Nice, we met Michel exactly where he dropped us off and headed to the Village of Saint Paul. This was absolutely my favorite stop, although the others were hard to beat. It is very easy to lose yourself in this town among the many galleries, stores and stunning scenery. We opted to take the less traveled route on the left side of town back to meet Michel, as he suggested, for a serene view of the local homes and people.

 

We made it back to port begrudgingly by 5. It took about 20 minutes until we boarded the tender but had to wait a good while on the water for the tender in front of us to empty out. We were back on board at 6:05 and rushed back to the cabin to get ready for our 6:30 reservation in the MDR and it was formal night. Highlights of dinner were definitely the shrimp ravioli and beef tenderloin.

 

We were able to catch the captain's welcome and show in the centrum right after dinner. It was good. What I love the most about having things in the centrum is there are many spaces on the different floors to watch and see everyone. Yes, I like to spy :p. I forgot to mention that the art gallery, right past the photo gallery, gave away free prints during the cruise and we took advantage of that almost every night on our way for our late night snack and lemonade at Park Cafe. I believe we retired to the room about 10:45 to relax and prepare for our next port Livorno. (Ciera and I, as Cai hung out until 1am every night on the ship)

[maggieq]

Your review and pictures are bringing back good memories of our liberty cruise last September. For anyone looking for a decent and not to expensive hotel, look at the Renaissance Barcelona. It was good for us as we had 3 adults and not many hotels allowed for that...that I saw anyway. Very convenient to las ramble as well

[crvng4mr]

My sister and I did this cruise the end of May, beginning of June this year. We loved it! I have to say your children are very fortunate to have a mom like you that will take them on a trip like this! I am sure you all will remember it for years to come.

 

Oh, and your daughter is VERY smart. You can tell by the college she chose! WAR EAGLE!! :D:D

 

Thank you so much! WAR EAGLE!!! We are so excited!

[crvng4mr]

 

 

 

 

 

[crvng4mr]

 

 

 

 

 

[crvng4mr]

 

 

 

 

 

[volunteer cruiser]

Enjoying your review, pics are fantastic.

[crvng4mr]

 

 

 

 

 

[crvng4mr]

Your review and pictures are bringing back good memories of our liberty cruise last September. For anyone looking for a decent and not to expensive hotel, look at the Renaissance Barcelona. It was good for us as we had 3 adults and not many hotels allowed for that...that I saw anyway. Very convenient to las ramble as well

I am so glad as it was such a fabulous trip. Yeah, there are limited options for triples and they fill up quick.

[crvng4mr]

Enjoying your review, pics are fantastic.

Thank you!!!!

[kirian]

Well I attempted twice and decided I am going to get on with the review and continue posting pictures the way I have been until I can figure how to post them from here. Now continuing the review......

 

I definitely am NOT the one to help with this... as you know from my review, I have had a world of trouble with those pesky pics :eek:

 

BTW - I'm still LOVING your review!!!!

[kirian]

 

 

We made it back to port begrudgingly by 5. It took about 20 minutes until we boarded the tender but had to wait a good while on the water for the tender in front of us to empty out.

 

On no!!!! Sitting on the tender while it rolls around, waiting to be able to get off (or for it to fill up) does not make my tummy happy. I hate it when this happens :eek:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really need to wait to read your review until AFTER I have had a "real" breakfast. You just make me crave sweets too early in the morning....lol! :D

 

Melissa