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NCL Epic: European Odyssey- Mediterranean Solo Trip Review/Blog

Lilystar

By Lilystar,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Lilystar

Lilystar

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Hello everyone!

 

First a little update....this thread is the 2nd one I am posting. Due to posting the incorrect links to my blog, I had to discontinue the other one. My apologies for all the confusion!

 

Ok, now back to the post!!

 

I went on the NCL Epic in August 2014 and although I wrote various blogs about my trip, I never did actually post a trip report to help out those who were going on this cruise here on CC. I was laid off from my FT job just before I left for Europe and then upon my return, I started training for a new job and had ridiculous hours. So I'm hoping that someone will benefit from my blogs from last August.

 

The Itinerary was Embark in Civitavecchia, then onto Livorno, Cannes, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Naples and then back to Civi.

 

This was a trip of a lifetime for me....and I chose to go solo. I'm going to post links to my blog on blogger.com, hopefully it'll work! I figure it's easier for me to do that since I don't have time to mess with pictures and all that! First up is the story behind the trip!

 

Blog Post: The Story Behind the Trip

http://jakeflake.blogspot.com/2014/07/jackies-european-odyssey-story-behind.html?spref=tw

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Lilystar

Lilystar

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I was surprised to find that some of the most intricate and involved planning had to do with transportation options!

 

How would I get from the airport to the hotel in Rome? How would I get around once IN Rome? How will I get to the cruise port in Civitavecchia from Rome? How about once I get BACK?

 

Since I was traveling solo, private transportation options would be very expensive so the transportation planning started to get complicated!

 

Blog Post: Planes, Trains & Automobiles!

http://jakeflake.blogspot.com/2014/07/jackies-european-odyssey-planes-trains.html?spref=tw

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Lilystar

Lilystar

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I am a super plan-a-holic and research-aholic. So as some of you reading this can relate to, I spent a ridiculous amount of time here on CC reading the boards. Also watched, downloaded and read lots of things from Rick Steves. I ended up buying his "Europe through the back door" book which was very helpful in planning.

 

What kind of shoes should I pack?? Wow, what a dilemma I had on that one!

 

Blog Post: Be Prepared!

http://jakeflake.blogspot.com/2014/08/jackies-european-odyssey-be-prepared.html?spref=tw

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Lilystar

Lilystar

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Thank God for Rick Steves....and these boards! How else would I have known about money belts and mini luggage locks??! Goodness, I feel like I could WRITE a travel planning book after all of this!

 

Blog Post: Being Enlightened!

http://jakeflake.blogspot.com/2014/08/jackies-european-odyssey-being.html?spref=tw

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Lilystar

Lilystar

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The day had finally come! It was a loooong day from Orlando to Atlanta and then onto Rome. There are plenty of things I wished I had done differently, but in the end I was there and I was at my hotel in Rome! It was surreal.

 

Blog Post: Buongiorno Italia! My Arrival in Rome!

 

http://jakeflake.blogspot.com/2015/08/jackies-european-odyssey-buongiorno.html?spref=tw

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Lilystar

Lilystar

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Thank you for posting. I am an older single mom and this is my dream trip. I am looking at 2017 to cruise Europe and I want to do it without my boys. I look forward to reading more and getting some Med solo pointers.

 

It was my dream trip too. In the end it was the most amazing trip I have EVER taken. I would not change anything about it, including going solo. It was liberating and amazing. Please let me know if I can answer any questions or offer any guidance!

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piper45maru

piper45maru

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Looking forward to reading these posts! I'm doing this exact itinerary on the Epic--solo!--in 3 weeks! I'm an obsessive researcher, too (by nature and by trade), so I'm thrilled to add your blog as another source. Thank you!

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Trynity

Trynity

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I am accompanying my sister (the single woman) but this is a dream trip for both of us .. we will be departing in October..

 

So I am going to very eagerly digest your blog posts and any other sage advice, helpful hints, and rave reviews you are willing to post...

 

Thank you for sharing your experiences

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Lilystar

Lilystar

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Hey, welcome back! My story continues onward to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel and Pope Pizza! A first timer trying to navigate the metro on 0 hours sleep and 85 degree weather. Thank goodness this went pretty well as it could have been disastrous had I not done any research!

 

Blog post: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

http://jakeflake.blogspot.com/2015/08/jackies-european-odyssey-vatican.html?spref=tw

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Xmansmom

Xmansmom

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This is a great read. I too am an extreme planner. My husband will complain but as soon as we go on the trip he is always grateful I have figured it all out. We go in Nov. from Barcelona with a couple of days there before the cruise and then a few days in Venice after. I look forward to the rest of your trip.

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Lilystar

Lilystar

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This is a great read. I too am an extreme planner. My husband will complain but as soon as we go on the trip he is always grateful I have figured it all out. We go in Nov. from Barcelona with a couple of days there before the cruise and then a few days in Venice after. I look forward to the rest of your trip.

 

My BF always tells me "I can't argue with the results!". LOL!

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Lilystar

Lilystar

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Welcome back everyone. Thank you so much for the posts...it's always nice to know that posting these is helping and someone is actually READING!

 

I'm going to skip ahead a day to my first excursion off of the NCL Epic. I will post the 2nd part of my Rome day a little later. There are a couple pics and things I'd like to add.

 

So skipping ahead a day to the Port of Livorno. There were a lot of choices here and so many things that I wanted to do. Ironically enough, Florence wasn't all that high on my list but I ended up having a wonderfully surprising fantastic day there and vowed I would spend serious time there next time I was in Italy. I chose to do the excursion through the cruiseline that went to Florence and a wine tasting in Tuscany.

 

Onto part one of my day in Florence/Tuscany.

 

Blog Post: Florence- La Dolce Vita Part 1

http://jakeflake.blogspot.com/2014/08/la-dolce-vida-part-1-florence.html?spref=tw

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Lilystar

Lilystar

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Onto the second half of my day in the Port of Livorno.

 

I took the ship's tour of Florence/Tuscan Wine tasting and the wine tasting was the second half of the tour. We went to Castello del trebbio just a short 25 minute drive into the Tuscan hills from Florence. It was a beautiful day and gave me a nice first taste of Tuscany. I will need to go back there. (this seems to have been a common thought as I traveled throughout Italy!!)

 

Blog Post: Tuscany- La Dolce Vita Part 2!

http://jakeflake.blogspot.com/2014/08/la-dolce-vita-part-2-tuscany.html?spref=tw

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Lilystar

Lilystar

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Hello and welcome back!

 

I am finally ready to post my night in Rome just before I left for the ship. I apologize this post is out of order a bit (it took place before the port of Livorno when I went to Florence and Tuscany) I figure the information is still useful and interesting!

 

This blog post is dedicated entirely to the walking food tour I took in Rome. It was offered by a company called Gourmetaly and it got rave reviews online. It was the food I was so interested in when I visited Italy so I had been looking forward to this tour forever!

 

It definitely delivered! Perfect weather, great company, great guide, AMAZING food. It was that night I would try Buccatini ala matriciana for the first time. I'm STILL talking about it a year later!

 

Blog Post: Walking Food Tour of Rome

http://jakeflake.blogspot.com/2015/08/jackies-european-odyssey-walking-food.html?spref=tw[/color]

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