vacationer

One night may be lobster night. Seek and find that entree, it's a good one.

When we took our cruise for our destinations, we were told once we showed it to RC we did not have to carry with us again and we could lock it up in our room safe, which we did. I recommend taking a photograph of it and keeping with your Iphone to show security when asked. Also, some countries will make you show a government issued photo ID in addition to your sea pass to reboard RC, so in that case you will need a driver's license plus your Sea Pass, which is preferable if usable since it's more easily replaced if lost. We did bring our driver's license with us along with the Sea Pass for those specific countries that were particular. I recommend listening carefully to the Cruise Director evening post-Show announcements, and you could also try asking Guest Services or the Shore Excursions desk.

Suggestion: Rome Pisa and beach - allow people to leave early. The beach is very hot. There is no air conditioning in the building. You arrive around 12 after being in the sun at Pisa and stay in the beach until time to go home at 4 pm or so. We were told on the bus that if we're tired we could try to ask to sit on the bus but it will be very hot there is no A/C when it's not running and it will not leave until the end of the day to go back. There needs to be an air conditioned place people can cool out or some people may be overheated. The temperature in farenheit was in the triple digits. If you get sick there is very little option but to lay out in the sun under an umbrella and try to stay alive until it's time to go home. Tip if you want to go to the pool where we went it required a swim cap. You can bring your own or be prepared to buy one there. Rome: LIkewise be forewarned in July the Coliseum has no bathrooms, it is difficult to get a ride on the one small elevator you have to get permission, and the coliseum is not air conditioned, with long lines. The stairs are hard to negotiate. I did see medical attention called to a woman who had collapsed. She looked to be in her 50s-60s. It was a difficult tour for July. The tour takes a while due to the talking about the coliseum it's not in and out and it's all in the heat. At the Basilica women will have to cover their shoulders - the guard will stop them, and they don't have alternative wear to give you at least on on our day. This adds to the heat. Technically you need to cover your knees too. Although men's shorts were not strictly enforced if they were bermuda. Womens' shoulders were. Basilica is better heat wise because of the covered building. Not so much the Coliseum - very hot. Evening at the hotel had nicer weather. Dinner is served at a late hour then closes surprisingly somewhat early so prepare, and everything closes up in the middle of the day for a couple of hours, so if you need something like a pharmacy be on the lookout for when it's open. France - cooler, on the days we went. Even if it doesn't say you can bring beach wear if going to the Riviera, you may have 10 minutes or so, or some free time. Beach on the riviera was a fun little break. Absolutely loved France. Some stores are A/C and there was a really nice department store. Amazing cafes. Also going inside a perfume factory which is A/C and smelling a bunch of perfumes pretending to be "the nose" was a lot of fun. Portofino, Italy, some people we were wading by the rocks taking off their shoes, to cool off. It's beautiful there. Get an excursion to guarantee a timely tender because in our experience if you did not have one you could not tender off the boat until very late due to Portofino not able to have boats to tender and RC having to do 100% of the tendering, so there weren't enough boats, which were quite crowded, for everyone to get off right away. Cinco Terra - loved it. Look for a place that has a good bathroom early, not all bathrooms are the same, by the time you get to your second stop if you are stopping for lunch/free time. You'll need to buy something, like lunch. Masks - doesn't hurt to bring along just in case, if it's super crowded in an area or during transport. Got covid likely in Italy, diagnosed upon return. Towards the end and on the plane a lot of coughing by a lot of people. Love: RC transport services.

Thanks! Yes, we're getting excited too.

Me too. What should we wear on our shore excursions? I have seen that several are marked as conservative attire, and yet they involve walking on a lot of cobblestone or steps. I have also read that Italians don't wear running shoes, so in order to stick out we shouldn't wear running shoes, or workout clothes, or a baseball cap. That just about sums up my summer wear so.... How do you wear nice shoes and walk up uneven steps or long distances without worrying about a fall? Sometimes it's "casual" clothes, and other times "beach attire" yet all are different from "swimwear" - which I totally get (at least I think I do). So, what to wear for women, and men for conservative strenuous walking excursions over cobblestones steps, and uneven terrain or long distances? Ditto for casual? I'm guessing beachwear means what I normally where, shorts and a t-shirt and running shoes. Maybe a cap. I know what to wear formal nights on the ship, for women heels one wouldn't walk outside on during an excursion, and maybe a nice dress, and guys a dress shirt and dress pants - that's fine. It's where the fashion meets functionality offshore that has me a bit concerned (especially if it means we can't get into some places because we don't meet the dress code). Thanks!

Hi, I am new to the blog and just saw this. I wondered what you thought of your cruise and what excursions you went on?