Odyssey Europe cruise

[Moon Orchid]

Thank you so much for everyone great advised. We got hotel booked, will book flight soon when the price goes down a bit. So excited and exhausted at the same time. Caribbean and Hawaii cruise are much easier for planning☺️

[edinburgher]

15 hours ago, Moon Orchid said:

She is a salon owner so she got all the ideas from her customers.

So her clients with their vast knowledge of European travel  know more than specialist travel writers?    Already issues with planning Rome, and you have yet to move on to the port calls planning.Can only wish you the best of luck on this family trip as I think you will need it.

[Moon Orchid]

2 hours ago, edinburgher said:

So her clients with their vast knowledge of European travel  know more than specialist travel writers?    Already issues with planning Rome, and you have yet to move on to the port calls planning.Can only wish you the best of luck on this family trip as I think you will need it.

Agree. Her clients they did lots of lands vacation, so it's different than us cruisers .That's why I let her monitor the airfare with the suggestion that we need the flight that get to Rome early. That will make her happy because she wants to takes over my planning ( but have no clues😁)
I'll  research all other things like what to do for the 3 day in Rome, and at other ports ,then get together to discuss which one to do.
This will be the third time we travel together, I feel bad to say no when family ask to tag along☺️
I have same problem the last time on Harmony cruise 7 years ago. We're a group of 13 people .We agreed to use SAS transportation from FLL hotel to Miami port and back to FLL airport after the cruise. After the cruise, while we were waiting for SAS shuttle to come, she told everyone to get on 4 taxis because they offered her a cheaper prices and we don't have to wait.
I told her" We've already paid SAS roundtrip. If you want, go ahead and take the taxis. But did you know with that price, they will take you to Miami airport, not FLL." She said " Oh, I didn't know".

 

Edited December 30, 2023 by Moon Orchid

[marazul]

@Moon Orchid

Good luck with planning Rome.  Take control if you can.

Here is a suggestion for ship excursions. As you know, when you are planning to book a ship's excursion or a shared independent excursion, each party has to make their own reservations.  You should pick the excursion you want at each place.  Then give "her" a printed list of the options at each place and tell her that they are welcome to book the same excursion that you have or to choose any other they like.  In either case, you will meet afterwards at the ship for drinks and dinner. Leave it up to her and her clients to choose.

[Moon Orchid]

1 hour ago, marazul said:

@Moon Orchid

Good luck with planning Rome.  Take control if you can.

Here is a suggestion for ship excursions. As you know, when you are planning to book a ship's excursion or a shared independent excursion, each party has to make their own reservations.  You should pick the excursion you want at each place.  Then give "her" a printed list of the options at each place and tell her that they are welcome to book the same excursion that you have or to choose any other they like.  In either case, you will meet afterwards at the ship for drinks and dinner. Leave it up to her and her clients to choose.

Thank you for your suggestion. I have this plan out when we're in Rome. Please feel free  to give me more advices 😊. 
Day 1,early morning after check in the Albergo Santa Chiara hotel we will take it easy because of the jet lag.
- Lunch at Labottega Pastificio
- Visit Pantheon,Piazza Navona,Campo de' Fiori market ( if we're not too tired )
- Dinner at Armando Al Pantheon
Day 2, Vatican Museum.
- Quick lunch at Pizzarium Bonci or ( Ristoran Pizzeria dei Musei )
-Dinner at Locanda Di Piereo

Day 3, walk to Trevi Fountain after breakfast
- Then maybe do the Colosseum museum late afternoon
-Dinner at Armamando Al Theon or Locanda Di Pireo again.

Port : Santorini, I plan to take Royal excursion to avoid the cable car.
Ephesus, Turkey ( No plan yet )
Mykonos, walk around the island
Naple, Italy ( No plan yet )

[marazul]

27 minutes ago, Moon Orchid said:

Thank you for your suggestion. I have this plan out when we're in Rome. Please feel free  to give me more advices 😊. 
Day 1,early morning after check in the Albergo Santa Chiara hotel we will take it easy because of the jet lag.
- Lunch at Labottega Pastificio
- Visit Pantheon,Piazza Navona,Campo de' Fiori market ( if we're not too tired )
- Dinner at Armando Al Pantheon
Day 2, Vatican Museum.
- Quick lunch at Pizzarium Bonci or ( Ristoran Pizzeria dei Musei )
-Dinner at Locanda Di Piereo

Day 3, walk to Trevi Fountain after breakfast
- Then maybe do the Colosseum museum late afternoon
-Dinner at Armamando Al Theon or Locanda Di Pireo again.

Port : Santorini, I plan to take Royal excursion to avoid the cable car.
Ephesus, Turkey ( No plan yet )
Mykonos, walk around the island
Naple, Italy ( No plan yet )

Day 1 looks fine.  You must reserve at Armando way ahead of time. There is no such thing as dropping by to see if they have a table.

 

Day 2. Reserve the Vatican Museum on their website. https://tickets.museivaticani.va/home  The time you go to the tour determines the time you get lunch. Pizzarium is fine, but there are many trattorias and pizza places that are very good.  If you go to the Vatican in the morning you will have plenty of extra time in the afternoon for other things. For example, Castel Sant' Angelo. the Roman Forum, Capitoline Museum, Domus Aurea, Giudecca, etc., etc. Get a guide book.  I haven't been to the Locanda, but I am sure it is fine.

 

Day 3. After Trevi, continue on to Spanish steps and Piazza del Popolo.  There is a lot to see in the area.  Get a guide book. There is no Colosseum Museum.  You visit "the" Colosseum and you must reserve ahead of time.  Don't go back to the same places for dinner.  Rome is full of wonderful places to eat.  Look at the "Italy: All Things Food and Wine Related" thread pinned to the top of this forum. For example, try Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina not far from your hotel.  It is wonderful. Reserve.

 

Santorini - good decision

Ephesus - you must go on a tour to the ruins and make sure it includes the "apartment" houses.  Go to the "Other Mediterranean Ports" forum for lots of info.  Staying at the port town (Kusadasi) would be a total waste of time.

Mykonos - ok.  Then town is very scenic.  Consider going to Delos if you are interested in Greek history and mythology.  

Naples - three main choices: Pompeii, Capri or the Amalfi coast.  It all depends on how much time you have in port and your interests. You can't see it all. Lots of info on this board.

 

Are those all your ports?

[Moon Orchid]

31 minutes ago, marazul said:

Day 1 looks fine.  You must reserve at Armando way ahead of time. There is no such thing as dropping by to see if they have a table.

 

Day 2. Reserve the Vatican Museum on their website. https://tickets.museivaticani.va/home  The time you go to the tour determines the time you get lunch. Pizzarium is fine, but there are many trattorias and pizza places that are very good.  If you go to the Vatican in the morning you will have plenty of extra time in the afternoon for other things. For example, Castel Sant' Angelo. the Roman Forum, Capitoline Museum, Domus Aurea, Giudecca, etc., etc. Get a guide book.  I haven't been to the Locanda, but I am sure it is fine.

 

Day 3. After Trevi, continue on to Spanish steps and Piazza del Popolo.  There is a lot to see in the area.  Get a guide book. There is no Colosseum Museum.  You visit "the" Colosseum and you must reserve ahead of time.  Don't go back to the same places for dinner.  Rome is full of wonderful places to eat.  Look at the "Italy: All Things Food and Wine Related" thread pinned to the top of this forum. For example, try Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina not far from your hotel.  It is wonderful. Reserve.

 

Santorini - good decision

Ephesus - you must go on a tour to the ruins and make sure it includes the "apartment" houses.  Go to the "Other Mediterranean Ports" forum for lots of info.  Staying at the port town (Kusadasi) would be a total waste of time.

Mykonos - ok.  Then town is very scenic.  Consider going to Delos if you are interested in Greek history and mythology.  

Naples - three main choices: Pompeii, Capri or the Amalfi coast.  It all depends on how much time you have in port and your interests. You can't see it all. Lots of info on this board.

 

Are those all your ports?

Yes ,it's a 7 nights cruise. At first we want to do the 7 nights on Oasis depart from Barcelona, but changed to Odyssey because it has 2 sea day to relax , and we want to have some extra time in Rome .
Thank you for all great suggestion . I appreciate it.That will help us a lots with the planning.😀

Edited December 30, 2023 by Moon Orchid

[cayman09]

How far in advance would be sufficient to book Armando?

[Moon Orchid]

24 minutes ago, cayman09 said:

How far in advance would be sufficient to book Armando?

I hope I'm right, I saw something from Reddit ,it said "The reservations open up 30 days in advance at midnight Rome time "

[marazul]

1 hour ago, cayman09 said:

How far in advance would be sufficient to book Armando?

As soon as the reservations open. Go to their websire and see how far out they are letting you reserve. It was 60 days at one time.

 

[edinburgher]

17 hours ago, Moon Orchid said:

I'll  research all other things like what to do for the 3 day in Rome, and at other ports ,then get together to discuss which one to do.

For your stop at Kusadasi, you  could visit the world class ruins of Ephesus as there is really nothing of any interest in Kusadasi itself and the ruins are outstanding. Visiting Ephesus is the #1 option. Include if you can, the terraced houses, which another poster has referred to as "apartments"

 

You could take a shorex, arrange a private tour, or take a taxi.  Many many previous threads and posts about all the options for getting there and touring the site can be found on these threads:

 

.  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=kusadasi&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=149

 

And have you looked to see if there is a Roll Call for your ship and sail date?  The RC is where you would be able to share information and ideas  with fellow passengers and possibly join any private tours which others have arranged, also where you might find others to join any private tour you have arranged.

 

Here is a link to  RCs for Odyssey  of the Sea. Check if your sailing already there, if not, consider starting one.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/2463-odyssey-of-the-seas-roll-calls/

 

 

 

Edited December 31, 2023 by edinburgher

[Moon Orchid]

3 hours ago, edinburgher said:

For your stop at Kusadasi, you  could visit the world class ruins of Ephesus as there is really nothing of any interest in Kusadasi itself and the ruins are outstanding. Visiting Ephesus is the #1 option. Include if you can, the terraced houses, which another poster has referred to as "apartments"

 

You could take a shorex, arrange a private tour, or take a taxi.  Many many previous threads and posts about all the options for getting there and touring the site can be found on these threads:

 

.  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=kusadasi&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=149

 

And have you looked to see if there is a Roll Call for your ship and sail date?  The RC is where you would be able to share information and ideas  with fellow passengers and possibly join any private tours which others have arranged, also where you might find others to join any private tour you have arranged.

 

Here is a link to  RCs for Odyssey  of the Sea. Check if your sailing already there, if not, consider starting one.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/2463-odyssey-of-the-seas-roll-calls/

 

 

 

Thank you so much. I forgot about the Roll Call ( We have our little grandson with us because his parents got Covid , it's a joy to have him all week ,but my mind is not that sharp ☺️.)
Thanks to all wonderful experts on this board, Edinburgher,Marazul,CruiseMom42,Kohanfam,Euro  cruiser , Benny Bear, Hlitner and Touchstonefeste. My list of what to do , where to go is almost complete. I just need to go get some Guide book like Marazul suggested.

[sasandy]

On 12/30/2023 at 3:22 PM, Moon Orchid said:

Thank you for your suggestion. I have this plan out when we're in Rome. Please feel free  to give me more advices 😊. 
Day 1,early morning after check in the Albergo Santa Chiara hotel we will take it easy because of the jet lag.
- Lunch at Labottega Pastificio
- Visit Pantheon,Piazza Navona,Campo de' Fiori market ( if we're not too tired )
- Dinner at Armando Al Pantheon
Day 2, Vatican Museum.
- Quick lunch at Pizzarium Bonci or ( Ristoran Pizzeria dei Musei )
-Dinner at Locanda Di Piereo

Day 3, walk to Trevi Fountain after breakfast
- Then maybe do the Colosseum museum late afternoon
-Dinner at Armamando Al Theon or Locanda Di Pireo again.

Port : Santorini, I plan to take Royal excursion to avoid the cable car.
Ephesus, Turkey ( No plan yet )
Mykonos, walk around the island
Naple, Italy ( No plan yet )

You have done a very good job researching Europe. It is similar to my plans even the hotel is the same. I spent over a year researching and I still have more to do. I would suggest an excursion from Naples to Herculaneum. It is very similar to Pompeii but a little more preserved. Santorini and Mykonos is the same for us also.

[Moon Orchid]

18 hours ago, sasandy said:

You have done a very good job researching Europe. It is similar to my plans even the hotel is the same. I spent over a year researching and I still have more to do. I would suggest an excursion from Naples to Herculaneum. It is very similar to Pompeii but a little more preserved. Santorini and Mykonos is the same for us also.

Thank you , I changed my mind and booked the 9 nights Greek Isles cruise for August 25 instead. Same ship, just a little bit longer. Now I have to research for what to do in Athens and Chania. What company did you book the excursion for Naples ? TIA

[sasandy]

5 hours ago, Moon Orchid said:

Thank you , I changed my mind and booked the 9 nights Greek Isles cruise for August 25 instead. Same ship, just a little bit longer. Now I have to research for what to do in Athens and Chania. What company did you book the excursion for Naples ? TIA

Ship excursion.