Which Meditteranean Cruise for 50ish couple?

[Commieri]

Hi, although I've cruised Carribbean and Mexico, haven't done one in Europe yet. Hubby and I are having our 15th anniversary next Sept and I want to either do Tuscany trip or Med cruise. Although I'm not sure I want to be on a ship full of other Americans running from port to port, I also have reservations about being on a predominatly Italian ship.. DH is not the most cosmopolitan of guys.. I would have to try to do all the talking and planning exercusions etc.

 

I know all the usual cruise lines do the Med, but wondering how people feel about MSC ( i think those are the initials) which looks like an Italian line? If we cruise I would prefer a few sea days rather than a different country each day....

 

As for price point- we are Celebrity/RCCL /Princess... don't think we can afford a Luxury line.

 

thanks for your help;)

[jstpshe]

Although I can't help you with this since I've never been there I just wanted to say that I'm planning a surprise cruise for my DH and me for next Sept. too because our anni/his BD are on the same day Sept. 10 and it will be our 15th anniversary too.:p

I'm still trying to decide what to do but I'm narrowing it down. I do believe for sure I'll know in about a month.:rolleyes:

I'm also 50ish and he's 40ish.:eek:

 

Good luck on narrowing yours' down and congradulations early.;)

[caviargal]

I did a Med cruise on MSC Sinfonia tw summers ago. Really enjoyed the food, ship and service but there were only a handful of other Americans onboard and they were not as pleased with the cuisine or entertainment as we were (rabbit, risotto, tripe, yumm).

 

I would not take MSC again in the summer as there were a ton of kids aboard who behaved abysmally and their parents found it charming. Not much different from the family oriented lines in North America during school breaks and something we really work to avoid. It is a very different experience and not for everyone.

 

IMO, a land trip to Tuscany is far more special than a Med cruise. I have done both (cruise 5x, land trip to Italy 15) and am leaving for Italy in two weeks for 12 nights in Venice, Florence and Rome. The experience is very different and the best part is when the daytrippers have gone and the piazzas reflect local lifestyles. Also, to take a cruise means not to be able to feast on the wonderful foods and wines that are intrinsic to the Italy experience.

 

For my time and money, there is no contest.

[eh2zed]

Why not do both. Do a pre or post cruise stay in Rome/Tuscany in concert with a Rome return cruise. The cruise should be 10 day minimum. Several lines do this. I would pre in Rome and post in Tuscany. Would be a wonderful vacation and very easy to arrange.

[Kevbirch]

Hi, although I've cruised Carribbean and Mexico, haven't done one in Europe yet. Hubby and I are having our 15th anniversary next Sept and I want to either do Tuscany trip or Med cruise.

 

We did an East Med with RCCL (Legend of the Seas) for our 25th in August (and my 50th too). It was awesome and have some wonderful memories even though most of the ports are in our back yard . . .

 

There was quite a range of nationalities on there, including New Zealanders and Aussies - oh and us Brits too :)

[cusyl]

We did the Med. last year on the Grand Princess, mainly because my DH wanted to see the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. We love Princess, have never been on Costa which is mostly Italian crew I believe.

[Commieri]

Hi all,

Well I've been sneaking peaks at the reviews for MCS and Costa and they do make me wonder how wise it would be to put DH on a ship that caters more to Europeans. I THINK I'd be fine with it but then again, I ain't so young anymore so I might get grouchy too . I love Italian food but wonder if some of the dietary slant towards Europeans would be a deal breaker for us. On the other hand, if we did Celebrity, etc.. it's all with the Americans and I would miss the flavor/flair of the Europeans.

 

As I said, I also have my doubts about going to so many cool places with just a day in port. I don't care in the Carribean cause I've been to all of them many times and often just prefer to stay on the ship and relax. But in Europe, I'd feel that I was cheating myself if I did that...

 

I wish I could do both a cruise or Tuscany but can't afford that in either time or money. At this moment, I'm leaning towards just staying put in the Tuscany region... maybe in Lucca or around there but I plan to explore and look at both angles.

[readboat]

My DH and I will be celebrating our 40th anniversary on Carnival Freedom in May in the Med. This is a good time because children are still in school and the weather isn't terriable hot.

We did a med cruise 5 years ago on a British cruise line. Everyone was very nice and We learned a lot about others. The British have a great sense of humor. Lots of Aussies there also. (great people love to party)

We will do a 2day pre cruise in Rome and a 5 post in Ravenna and Bologna.

This cruise was the right price for us and enabled us to take the post trip.

I know what you mean about a port everyday it can be tiring.

My Dh and I decided to take it slower this time and spend more time seeing less places.

[Fredr]

Hello,

 

I noted that the Century of Celebrity cruise line has sailingsto very interesting ports in the Med during September of 2008, and the prices look very reasonable.

 

Hope that this helps.

 

Fred

[Longtonian]

Agree with pre/post (or both) cruise idea suggested by previous poster. As for Italian cruise ships, can't help much, but having seen some of them alongside our ship (Celebrity Galaxy) during this summer's holiday, I'd stick with Celebrity/Princess - at least you know what you're getting (you can't take too much of a risk with your anniversary!). We are European (British) but we would still stick to American lines. As for Tuscany, countryside looks lovely, but I wouldn't plan an extensive stay in Florence - for me it's bit of a let down - nice monuments and setting, but noisy and touristy. As for Italy in general, whatever you do, don't miss Rome. I couldn't recommend it highly enough - been there twice in the past year and it's fabulous.

[ger_77]

We've been to the Mediterranean twice - for our 25th and 30th wedding anniversaries - and we have another planned for 2009 just because we have to go back. It is a wonderful area of the world; there's so much history and you wake up almost every morning in a different country with different things to experience. I honestly didn't think I'd care for it the first time we went, but after the second day, I was hooked and couldn't wait to get to the next port.

 

We went with Holland America because of the things we'd read on these boards and will certainly sail with them on our next one.

 

Let us know what you decide, then come back and tell us how it was!

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[seawyllow]

Some items to consider-

 

Costa is an Italian cruise line, but owned by Carnival. Smoking is allowed everywhere and if you are a non-smoker, this can be a problem. Costa also has on some of it's itineraries the port of Libya. Chances are you will not be allowed to disembark there.

 

The Costa ships are beautiful, the itineraries more varied, definitely more European than American, and they also have short cruises of 3- 6 nights that you can combine for a most comprehensive trip.

 

Another item to consider is the cost of food for a land tour. The dollar is worth zilch and the Euro is worth about 50% more than the dollar. You might have to take a second mortgage on the house to pay for the food.

 

The Princess Grand Med for 12 nights looks good to me, and we are considering it for next fall. Barcelona to Venice with stops in Cannes, Rome, Greek Isles, and Istanbul. Very varied.

 

It's a lot to consider, but you have to ask yourself- what do you really want to see and what is your true budget? Since you have not cruised in the Med yet, I would recommend the cruise over the land tour. This way you get a taste of several locales, and you can go back for a land tour later.

 

Carnival also has a 12 night Med sailing in October for around $1000 less than Princess and RCCL, so you might want to consider that too. They have new ships there and they have really been trying to change their image. The food and service has improved, and October is good since the kids are back in school, it isn't as hot, and the crowds are a lot thinner. It is also roundtrip out of Rome, so you can always go in a couple of days earlier for sightseeing, tours, etc.

[caviargal]

Some items to consider-

 

The dollar is worth zilch and the Euro is worth about 50% more than the dollar. You might have to take a second mortgage on the house to pay for the food.

 

.

 

IME, very good food can be had for a reasonable price as can nice accomodations. With the savings from overpriced and expensive excursions and other onboard charges (tips, specialty dining, drinks, etc) a land trip can be done for the same price, with advance planning and smart shopping.

 

I am leaving next week for 2 weeks in Italy and put the trip together for 8 people. Apples to apples, we will see far more and spend about the same for our trip than on a cruise when the many extras are factored in. Plus, we will get to enjoy the cities and outskirts when the daytrippers are gone.

 

Cruises often leave you a distance from the main areas (Livorno to Florence, for instance) and you spend time and money on more than anticpated. JMO based on past experiences.

[bbcc]

IME, very good food can be had for a reasonable price as can nice accomodations. With the savings from overpriced and expensive excursions and other onboard charges (tips, specialty dining, drinks, etc) a land trip can be done for the same price, with advance planning and smart shopping.

 

I am leaving next week for 2 weeks in Italy and put the trip together for 8 people. Apples to apples, we will see far more and spend about the same for our trip than on a cruise when the many extras are factored in. Plus, we will get to enjoy the cities and outskirts when the daytrippers are gone.

 

Cruises often leave you a distance from the main areas (Livorno to Florence, for instance) and you spend time and money on more than anticpated. JMO based on past experiences.

HI-CAVIARGAL-IS IME A CRUISE LINE?:eek: I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT ABBREVIATION.:confused: THANK YOU:D. PAUL IN SD

[ddonalds]

We did a Med cruise on Crystal a while ago - and it was absolutely fabulous. I have heard people talk about Costa - and the smoking was a big issue. Culture is very different, and you need to be sure you'd be comfortable in it. I personally can't handle the smoking - but having been on Crystal, Celebrity and Princess - any of them would be terrific. We did it because we wanted to go to 4 different countries, and the thought of all that pack/unpack just exhausted me - so we picked a cruise that went to every where we wanted to go. It was fabulous. Sitting on your balcony watching the dark blue Mediterranean water go by - it just doesn't get any better than that....:D

[caviargal]

HI-CAVIARGAL-IS IME A CRUISE LINE?:eek: I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT ABBREVIATION.:confused: THANK YOU:D. PAUL IN SD

 

 

Sorry! IME is "in my experience".:)

[Commieri]

[ Sitting on your balcony watching the dark blue Mediterranean water go by - it just doesn't get any better than that....:D[/quote

 

These are helpful comments and I am considering everything you all said. Besides prices/cultural clashes and time budget, one concern I have about the Med cruise is that I would feel I flew all the way there, spent all that money but am essentially spending just a day in each of these fabulous ports. If I did do Tuscany, I'm thinking of renting a small apt or something outside of Lucca... my DH says he would drive so we could take day trips to explore the area and also relax in the country side. I would not just stay in Florence.

 

Anyone know what British lines do the Med?

 

thanks, Commieri

[caviargal]

Anyone know what British lines do the Med?

 

thanks, Commieri

 

Cunard, P&O, Thomson

[sea-explorer]

We're in our 50's (British) & sailed MSC this Summer.

 

We liked it...didn't see any tripe on the menu, thank God!;)

 

We were on a Baltic Itinerary, mixed Europeans, but mainly German I'd say. Hardly any children.Although the ship was full, it certainly didn't feel it. We had such a good time, we came back & booked another, Eastern Med this time. I think though with hindsight, & a bit of input from these boards, the experience is likely to be very different with more Italians on board..we'll just see how we go on.

 

Little smoking on this ship. One main smoking lounge, the others I believe were smoke free. There were also a couple of deck areas where smoking was allowed. I'm not sure about the casino, I didn't go in.

 

British cruise lines, I'll have a think, but out of the top of my head I can think of P&O, Thomson, Fred Olsen & Saga. Oh, there is always Cunard of course.:)

 

Try here:

http://www.pocruises.com/QuickFinder/Cruises-E816-2008-Summary.aspx

 

http://www.thomson.co.uk/cruise/cruise.html

 

http://www.saga.co.uk/travel/cruises3/sagacruisinghome.asp

 

http://www.fredolsencruises.com/fredolsen/index.jsp?fp=true

 

http://www.cunard.co.uk/

[paul929207]

We have been on two med cruises and are in our 50's also. The first was a Black Sea cruise from Athens to Rome - 14 nights. It was the best cruise we have had (out of about 12). The other was a 12 nights cruise from Southampton to Barcelona. It was also great. We are going on a 12 night cruise from Venice to Rome in November.

 

All of them on smaller (700 passenger) Princess ships. I would highly recommend Princess. The staff, food, entertainment and itineries were all excellent.

[katredd]

Hey there -- just another input on Costa. DH and I did a Costa Greek Isles trip in May '06 with our two kids. It was wonderful, but we were living in Europe at the time and were used to any cultural differences. They do allow smoking onboard (as others have already stated) although I have to say we were not bothered by it. The crew all spoke English --keep in mind that unlike most folks from the US, the crew members probably speak 4 or 5 different languages. One upside we did have was the affordability... Costa was MUCH CHEAPER than the US lines in the Med. We booked with a US address and I think we may have gotten it cheaper because we were American and they were wanting to pull in tourists from the US to stretch their reach beyond Europe. We were able to book the largest suite onboard for the same price as a balcony cabin on other lines and the service was very good. The food was great too -- but I will tell you we don't look for gourmet... we look for quality and "normal" food as my kids would call it. One other note -- they do go to Lybia, so if you are from the US, I would NOT book this one... Lybia is not the place for people with American passports and last I heard they also would not admit anyone who had a stamp on their passport (any nationality) from Israel.

 

Good luck with your choice! I have had other friends highly recommend RCCL as well for the Med. Bottom line -- pick the itinerary you want and then match it to the cruise line.....

[critterchick]

I'm with Caviargal - I would do a land trip in Italy over a cruise any time. We have eaten our way across the country twice:rolleyes: and in every city have been able to find excellent food and wine for very reasonable prices. I recommend that you look at some tour books - Rick Steves and Eyewitness Guides are my favorites. Rick Steves has a budget approach to travel, while Eyewitness has some more upscale options. Both will teach you how to navigate transportation in the country and give you great tips on how to spend your time there.

 

If you really want to cruise, try doing a 7-10 day land trip in the countryside and then take a 7-night cruise, if you have that much time available, that covers ports you didn't see while you were on land.

[YoPhilly]

At this moment, I'm leaning towards just staying put in the Tuscany region... maybe in Lucca

 

Since you mention Lucca specifically, a very good friend spent 2 weeks traveling through Tuscany in May. She said that, without a doubt, Lucca was her favorite of all. She said it had everything she was hoping to find in Italy.

 

Whichever you decide to do, enjoy! And happy anniversary.

[moveup]

I've been to Italy about 10 times because my foster sister lived in Rome for about 20 years. Lucca is my absolute favorite Italian town. It is a good base for day trips but it's a long way to Venice, Rome, Lake Como -- You probably won't go beyond Tuscany if you are based in Lucca. Although we adore Tuscany, my partner and I are taking an 11 night Eastern Med. cruise on MSC Orchestra in March because the ports seem so fascinating (Genoa, Naples, several Greek islands, a day in Egypt, a day in Turkey and a day in Cyprus), and the price is about half what it would cost us for accommodations and meals in Italy. We are only planning to take shore excursions in a couple of the ports (for example, to see the pyramids and sphinx). At the other ports we plan to wander around the towns, see the churches, and enjoy a glass of wine or lunch. So don't rule out the cruise because you think it would be too hectic to go on shore excursions at every port; you can take it easy and absorb the culture in the ports without exhausting yourselves.

[loui30]

my husband and I took a med. cruise on the Brilliance for 12 days 2 years ago... it was wonderful . Make sure you get to the Greek Isles especially Santorini -- the excursions were expensive but worth it --- very different from the Carib. or Mexico -- we are now planning a South America trip and will probably go on Celebrity -- I have also been on Princess which I thought was going to be an older group ( now that we are in 50's) but I guess its us!!