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Excellent video.. we did a 10 day Mediterranean cruise in 2021… Greece, Istanbul, Rome.. we stayed 7 days in Rome preceding our cruise.. the trip of a lifetime ❤️
Wow! Lovely video as usual. We’re off to Rome in a couple weeks from Australia. We have a couple of nights in Rome before boarding our ship for a 19 night cruise, then finishing in Milan for three nights before flying home. Watching your video has hot me jumping out of my skin!!! Can’t wait. First cruise for me, and although my wife has cruised before, this will be her first trip to Europe.
I went on a 10 day Princess mediterranean cruise in 2019 solo for my 50th end of October. London to Rome. Inside cabin bc it was cold in some ports. Best cruise I have ever taken! 7 ports so I found I spent less time on the ship which was fine. The clientel on the ship was more English and Australian than American. Even though I am American, I felt it was a breath of fresh air! Europeans are so much quieter and refined than Americans. I had no problems finding quiet places to sit and read or just gather my thoughts. Even in some of the bars during the day! But still plenty of good entertainment if you wanted. Of not one thing could I complain!
That looks like a rather crowded ship! I did a Mediterranean cruise in October 2022 on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas. It’s slightly larger than your ship, very modern, with many activities. I had a beautiful stateroom. I chose to buy the specialty dining package, which I loved for the quality, and the fact that as a solo traveller I don’t always enjoy the main dining room. We visited Israel, Turkey, Cyprus and several Greek islands. The ports were all fascinating. My one regret was that some of the popular ports were very crowded with people from my ship and many others. As well, the sheer volume of passengers leaving the ship in port meant a lot of time was spent waiting for each group to leave in order. It struck me that for a port intensive cruise such as the Mediterranean, I would prefer to be on a smaller ship, visiting quieter ports. This summer I cruised around Iceland on Azamara, which reinforced that opinion. In future I will focus on big ships for cruises with many sea days and small ships for port-intensive cruises.
My worlds are colliding seeing you in the Med - I love it! As part of spending this year living mostly on cruise ships, I totally agree with lots of your points. A bit of advice I always give to people is to be CLEAR how far some of the ports are from the cities - some people push themselves too hard to take it all in, and find themselves sitting on coaches for HOURS during their trip!
We just did the 14 day Mediterranean cruise on the Enchanted Princess. The ship is amazing. Ilana you captured it perfectly. There were 10 ports so there was much to see. It definitely helps to do a little research about the ports so you have an idea about what excursions to take. The Princess excursions are good and well organized. It was also fun to explore some on our own in Marseille and Genoa. Your video are always helpful. Keep them coming 😊.
In 2008 we cruised the Med 14 days on Celebrity Summit starting in Barcelona to Cannes, Monaco, Florence,Rome,Naples, Athens, Santorini, Dubrovnik and disembarked in Venice!! It was by far the best cruise we’ve ever been on. It was tiring but well worth it!
Fabulous video and makes me miss being in Europe. We loved our cruise on Enchanted Princess and skipped all the specialty dining on this trip. ALL crew were awesome! As Princess loyalists having done many Caribbean cruises, the European itinerary was a wonderful surprise with new experiences. Your video gets me excited about these additional ports for next time. Tip for travelers…eat gelato in every port!
I love Barcelona. It's a walkable city with main interests being the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and the Gaudi houses on PG de Gracia. I recommend buying tickets online before to save time waiting in line.
We did this trip/cruise out of "Rome" on the Reflection summer of 2022. Lots of Brits. Older crowd. I loved the food. Much better than RCCL or Carnival. I was so glad to get on the ship as I was done with Italian food by that time. Montenegro was beautiful. Really neat sailing by Stromboli at night. Oh, the Sunset bar at the back of the ship was our nightly hangout.
We have done 50 cruises in the past 15 years. I think 10 of them were in the Med and we have visited almost everywhere except I stanbul. We usually fly into Rome and spend 4 days there and then do back to back cruises of 10 to 12 days each. Venice is the highlight of any cruise and we rate the Adriatic ports next. We like Croatia, Slovenia and Greece. We have done 12 day cruises followed by 14 day trans atlantics twice. We prefer Azamara and Holland America and absolutely stay away from large ships. You have now gotten a small taste of cruising in Europe. Be sure to cruise the Baltics and Norwegian Fjords. They are incredible! Our all time favorites were Antarctica, New Zealand, French Polynesia and a Baltic Cruise from Amsterdam to St. Petersburg, Russia going through the Kiel Canal on the old Holland America Prinsendam.
We took two Mediterranean cruises earlier this year and you're right about how active you can be exploring each port. However there are so many ports in the Med that it could take several cruises to visit most of the popular ports. We definitely want to go back to visit Greece, Istanbul , the Holy land, and Casablanca.
Yes, we took a 12 day Mediterranean cruise that started in Venice, went to Athens, Istanbul Kusadasi, Myknonos, Naples, Rome, Florence, Marseilles and ended in Barcelona. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Originally, I wanted to do a Greek cruise, but for just a couple of hundred dollars more, we got the full Mediterranean experience. I never thought I would go to Istanbut and Ephesus. Now that you've seen one half of the Mediterranean, you should definitely consider seeing the other!
My wife and I are taking our bucket list Mediterranean cruse with Viking the first of November! Our cruse will last 15 days starting in Barcelona and ending in Athens, Greece. Your videos are really hyping us up to get going! Thanks for all the great tips and information!
We have done the Mediterranean twice with Viking. One from Athens to Rome (14 days) and another from Rome to Barcelona (7 days), both fabulous cruises. Your are in for a treat. Have fun!
Oh, the smaller ship experience is much nicer than larger ships such as Princess, Royal Caribbean, etc. We've been on both, nothing at all wrong with the larger ships, but smaller ships such as Viking provide a much nicer experience and the food is 100 percent better. You may also want to try a river cruise, we did that on the Danube with Avalon. We had about 100 people on the ship. It was so much fun, food amazing, sailing slowly along the river is an experience of a lifetime.
Hi Lana, thank you for all your info in your channel, me and my wife just to the Norwegian Fjords for 14days just 2 weeks ago. We watched your videos so many thanks, truly appreciated 🥳
HI Lana so we bought your 45 day cruise planner and it's awesome. It had everything we needed and more. So worth the money wish we had this for our other cruises. Thank you again.
Planning a family Mediterranean cruise in June 2024. Looking over all of the excursions now and it’s overwhelming 😂. Nice problem to have, I know🤣, but want to see as many iconic sights and learn as much as possible without boring the kids with too many museums or exhausting everyone with too much walking in summer heat, while also including beach time, (which is everyone's favorite) yet not so much that we might regret the sights we missed while at the beach, which we could do anywhere. No one helping with any input...just"Whatever you think is best." Sure, they say that now! 🤣 I'm way over thinking this 🧐🧠 as usual, I know . There MAY even be an Excel spreadsheet! 😂 📈📊 (It's a sickness!) My point is....YES please post a video to help with excursion selections! Thank you !!!
I just did a Mediterranean cruise in July and it was HOT. We also visited the three small towns and now Santa Margarita is on my list of a place I want to go and stay a week. It was so beautiful. We stayed in Rome in a former monastery, Domus Helena. It was in a great location, had wonderful AC, it was clean and secure. Oh it had a generous breakfast room. I would stay there again.
I’ve been on a couple of med cruises and going on another but on the Adriatic side in May. One thing I recommend if you can is sign up for a food tour on the night before your cruise. Did this in Barcelona and it was fabulous! Because some ports overlap and I’ve been there/done that I stay on board and do a spa day. That’s my treat to myself. It’s not for everyone but I love the less crowded ship at that time.
Another great video Ilana. Please give us a more "ports" oriented video. I think that will only enhance the mediterranean experience. In April 2024 I will be on the new Sun Princess and I can't wait. Thank you for your hotel recommendation in Rome.
Hi Illanna what a great video, even tho I'm from this side of the world your take on some of the places you visited has made me fall in love with the Med again. It just so happens I've booked another MSC cruise to the Med this October and now I am itching to get going! Our current weather in the UK is dreary so it's lovely to see the blue skies of your cruise. I often use some of your suggestions for things to take, and last year, on my first cruise your videos were so valuable. Thank you
We have already done a cruise on the Enchanted Princess, we thoroughly enjoyed it ….it was I think it’s second voyage actually, we have also been to Rome and some of the other places that you mentioned, you did a fantastic job with your coverage and I only wish I could have watched this video before we went to Rome and Europe. Oh yes we did enjoy the medallion system and all that goes with it, that is offered on the Enchanted Princess. Thank you again, I love your to the point videos.
I really did enjoy your video and the insights to your trip. We did a 10 day cruise of the Med on a Holland American ship in the 90's and will be doing another on the Sun Princess in May of 2025. I try to never repeat a cruise but when we did the cruise in the 90's I had pneumonia, not the flu so I missed out on everything. The whole cruise was a disaster starting with the Delta Flight having a malfunction out of New York and having to divert to Gander, Newfoundland (It's disconcerting when fire trucks follow you down the runway) where we were for 14 hours until Delta was able to get another plane to get us to Rome. Prior to leaving on this trip I had been sick, but I really thought I was good to go. When in Rome for the 2 days prior to the cruise it was a cold heavy rain and we ran around trying to see what we missed out by losing the day in Gander. The hotel which was next to the American Embassy did not turn on the heat until the following week after we checked out, so for me it just led to my getting pneumonia. My wife had a great time, me, not so much so it's a do over.
Did two Mediterranean cruises: 1- from Rome, Catania, Santorini, Mykonos, Istanbul, Ephesus, Athens, Naples, Rome for 12 days on Celebrity Beyond 6/23; 2- from Barcelona, Palma de Mayorka, Marseille, Rome, Florence, Naples, Rome for 8 days on Oasis of the Seas - 5/2019. Both were fantastic. Best vacations I have ever experienced.
Love love love your video's. We actual were on a cruise at the same time as you but we never ran into each other. We are cruising the Mediterranean on enchanted princess Nov 1 in Rme ending in Barcelona. Cannot wait as we have never been on the Enchanted. The only negative for the med for us was Santorini. The long walk and overcrowded streets were a real put off. How can you enjoy a place if you cannot even stop and marvel over something. Also pick pocketing is so prevalent that my sister wore her back pack on the front but in one moment of distraction (I'm sure caused by the thief) her wallet was gone. What a dilemma on vacation to cancel CR cards and other important things kept in wallets. That was my only complaint. Thanks for what you do for me and my family thru your amazing videos. Keep up the good work.
I'm heading on the Celebrity Cruise ship in a few days for 11 days. Dream of a lifetime - doing the Greek Islands etc - spending a night in Rome at either end and a few days in Barcelona before embarking. Looking forward to it. My bff and I are celebrating our 50th milestones and 45 yr friendaversary.
Very informative video. Since my wife & I are doing a Med cruise in Sept. 2024, I would very much like to see a video about the port stops. Thanks for the tips & info you provide!
We did a 2 week Med cruise last summer and it is still our favourite cruise…so many awesome ports, --Istanbul, Santorini, Mykonos, Naples, Ephesus , Sicily, Kotor, starting in Rome. fabulous people on board, excellent food.. We were on the Regal Princess…our 5th time on that ship and was amazing.
We’re doing our first cruise in 15 years taking a 7 day Mediterranean cruise on the Sun Princess in September. I’m watching every video I can, trying to be prepared.
I did one in 2019 that I liked a lot; round-trip from Barcelona. On my day in Livorno I took a bus to Cinque Terre and had a great day there! I'd recommend looking into that for anyone with a Livorno port (or I guess Genoa, although I haven't been there and it sounds like those towns near there were very charming). I loved CT enough that on my upcoming Venice-to-Athens cruise, I'm flying in early to stay there for a couple of extra days.
Thanks for the always helpful, informative, and enjoyable video! These last few have been great for us as we're heading to Athens next week for 2 weeks on the Enchanted (Athens to Barcelona then your Barcelona to Rome) followed by a couple weeks in Rome, Milan, Lake Como, and Venice. So any more videos you post about your cruise and the ports in the next few days will be much appreciated!
We are doing the The October 21 sailing on the enchanted princess. Your video was extremely helpful and we’re so extra excited because of all the good things you shared. We’d love to see more of what you experienced on your first Mediterranean cruise. This is our first met cruise as well so thank you again for your great information and wonderful attitude that you share.
Hi Jim. We too will be on the 21 night cruise departing on the 21st of October. We have been traveling Europe for the past four weeks. All I can add is it has been extremely warm, unbelievably crowded and there is so much walking. Can’t wait to unpack once and enjoy being spoilt.
@@marycoletti5185 Mary are you On the same cruise we are? Will be traveling a week before we get to the cruise in Spain and then a week to week and a half after in Italy. Thanks
My first trip to Europe was on a Royal Caribbean 12 day begin Barcelona, end Venice, including Corfu, and Monaco, along with Sicily, Rome, Naples, Florence, Venice, and Majorica. They left no time to shop, so i complained when we went to Venice, and they brought me to the Murano glass shop to buy what i wanted. Ended good, great trip, did nothing on cruise ship, ate dining room, nothing extra, no shows, i was too tired, and really not interested. It was a terrific way to cover so much ground in a 12 day span. Since then, been back for 2 more Italy land trips, and one Greek cruise, but on a small greek ship, perfect.
My husband and I have done about four Med and Adriatic cruises out of Rome and Barcelona most longer than 7 days. A great way to see Europe without having to pack and unpack. Back when the Euro was strong we got great deals on US dollar ships. A real bargain since all on board costs were in dollars and only paid Euro off ship. Even booked tours on the dollar. Croatia does not take Euro...a point to remember if you do some of the Adriatic and want to shop the port on your own.
We did a similar cruise on the Enchanted Princess. One tip we wish we knew before the last day was on deck 7 right near the Vista lounge, on both sides of the ship are some secluded (quiet) places to sit in the sun.
I loved our Med cruise we did on Enchanted the two weeks before yours. 2 days in Rome, 1 in Florence, then the cruise to Naples, Capri, Kusadasi, Istanbul, Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Kotor and then Naples again before ending in Barcelona to get you.😂 It was an intense itinerary but I loved it so much. Total bucket list trip! I didn't realize that the adult pool near Sanctuary had so many seats in the shade! Bummer. 😢 We so might have gone there. I only remembered the pools on Lido and they were absolutely bonkers and really, really hot. Loved the food too. You have to get to the buffet early to get the really nice goodies like the shrimp cocktail you saw but we loved the variety and flavors available there. The crew was attentive, friendly and helpful and we loved our cabin steward. I loved your room by the Pantheon. So much more space than we had in a place further out from the fun sights. Even being farther out into the city we still had to use two small elevators to get to our 5th floor room and there was an even smaller lift for the highest floors. 😮 Bon voyage! 🎉
This is the exact itinerary I want to use the next cruise. Did a 10 day in June starting in Rome and went east to Greece and islands. Ended in Barcelona. The islands tended to be mostly shops and restaurants. A couple of excursions were disappointing as well. It was a learning experience. The major mistake we made was only having one day in Rome and one day in Barcelona. We fell in love with Barcelona and plan to spend more time there next time.
Barcelona and Rome need as much time as you can spare in them especially Rome. We have stayed in both cities as well as cruising in them and how are beautiful places. Barcelona beach is within walking distance from the port so Barcelona has it all. The beach is topless and we got an eye full of a really old granny with them out that has me still scarred.
In September we’re going on a Mediterranean cruise departing from Barcelona, Spain voyaging on Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas. Then heading to Palma De Mallorca, Balearic Islands Marseille (Provence), France La Spezia (Florence & Pisa), Italy Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, Naples, Italy, then back to Barcelona, Spain. On here looking at everyone’s experience! 😊
We are going on a Mediterranean cruise in about a month. We are very excited. I believe we are going to be on the same ship you were on so all you can tell us is very helpful and appreciated !
When in Italy move one or two streets in from the main street to get something to eat. Everything in the tourist trap areas taste of Heinz tomato soup especially in Rome lol. One or two streets in and the restaurants the locals use are far better. Rome really need 5 days at least, the amount of ancient history just there alone is crazy.
Also, do at least a little shopping first (also away from the tourist centers) and ask the clerk for a recommendation. Often they will call the restaurant for you and when you arrive, they'll give you an aperitif and even an appetizer on the house.
We are going on the same ship October 7-21. Starting in Rome and ending in Barcelona. We are excited to be going on the cruise and will spend 5 days in Rome and 3 in Barcelona. Thanks for all of your videos. 👍🏻
Going on inaugural 10-day Med cruise of Sun Princess in Feb 2024. Staying two days before in Barcelona & two days after in Rome. Please do a video of your excursions and tips for those cities.😊
Our last cruise with Princess we found the food the last 3 nights was the best of the whole cruise. Plus, we found they have changed a lot of the desserts not for the better. They had no taste. But we still had an amazing time. And we will still cruise with them
Awesome video. My wife and I want to plan a Mediterranean cruise late 2024 or spring 2025. We have been on 18 carribean cruises and excited about visiting new ports.
❤❤❤❤ Thank you so much for this video. Honestly, we have avoided Princess because we heard they were kind if boring. This video shows us they are not. Thanks and PLEASE let us know more about this cruise and the places you stopped. ❤❤❤❤
We just returned from an 11-day Med cruise (Trieste, IT to Marseille, FR) on NCL Epic. It was our first trip to Europe and our first cruise. We really loved it, although the onboard activities were minimal and, some, were very pricey. My least favorite port was Dubrovnik - incredibly crowded and it felt like we were in Disneyland with all the shops. If I ever went there again, I'd skip the old city and explore the newer parts. My favorite was Florence; I love the history and beautiful everything. I took three pairs of sneakers (2 Altra & 1 K Swiss). The Altras killed my feet, so I lived in the KSwiss. I have old lady feet and we were averaging 10-12 miles per day walking. It was SOOOOOO humid, but I was prepared with cooling clothes and personal fans. I can't wait to take our next trip!
Sailed this same itinerary in May. Best excursion of the trip was from Livorno to Lucca and Pisa. Wish it would have only gone to Lucca, it's such an amazing place. Booked thru Viator and it was extremely affordable. Caught the free cruise port shuttle to downtown and then our tour bus picked us up there. So easy. Fabulous day!
Great video!! We have done several Princess cruises and enjoyed them all. In October we will be doing a few firsts. First 2 Royal Caribbean cruises and first time visiting Europe from Australia. We are doing a 7 night Greek Isles cruise on Explorer of the Seas and a 15 night Transatlantic on Odyssey of the Seas. Loving watching Europe cruise videos to get excited for our trip! Only 3 weeks to go!
We were on this exact cruise as well! I couldn't find myself in any video though lol. We liked it as well. I agree about the walking. By the time we got to Livorno, we decided to stay on the ship and relax.
Enjoyable thanks! I’ve cruised many times but never Princess so especially informative as will be on a 15 day Princess Hawaiian cruise next month. It should be exciting! On this years transatlantic/Mediterranean cruise the only thing I was disappointed in was the pizza in Italy. We tried it twice too, although the lasagna, fish etc. in Italy was fabulous. This coming Spring I am taking a 25 day cruise that has some South American ports then crosses to Europe and has quite a few Mediterranean ports. I’m especially looking forward to Dubrovnik as plans to visit decades ago were scrapped due to the country being at war.
Great video, we really love your channel!! We are doing a 10-day western Mediterranean in April on the Sun Princess. We are going to all the same ports, so we thoroughly enjoyed watching. Thanks to you, now I know what we will do in Genoa 😊
You should talk about the VAT taxes on food & beverages on the Mediterranean cruise. We’re sailing on Disney and don’t plan on drinking or shopping until we’re in Turkish waters.
Can tell you really enjoyed your Mediterranean cruise, as we did ours last year. But do hope you can cruise on one of the Oceania ships. Think the Best of Holland and Princess.
We really enjoyed your video. We're pretty sure we did the same excursion in Gibraltar at the rooftop wine and food pairing when we were on Celebrity Apex. It was one of our favorite excursions. We tossed the coin at the Trevi Fountain and we must have done it correctly since we're going back next fall on Equinox. Your video brought back great memories! Thanks!
HI! I love your channel, and I don't believe I have commented before! It's long overdue. One of my favorite parts is seeing the clothing you choose, especially your dresses. You have great shoulders, and you show them off in wonderful sun dresses. I prefer to keep my upper arms covered, and I am having fun dreaming about outfits for our Mediterranean Cruise coming up in May of next year. I would love a video of what you wore on your Med cruise. Especially, what fabrics do you think work best for a cruise, when you can't have an iron with you? The weather for Greece and Italy in late May looks like lighter dresses may be a little too cool, but I love the idea of dressing up a little on vacation still. Any advice or pics you can share to help me out would be appreciated. Thanks for all you do! Best wishes from Orlando.
PIZZA: Sorry honey, that's a You Problem. The Pizza shown is representative of the regional prefferances, that cheese was Athentic Buffalo Milk Mozzerella. Great Vidi 😎☕💋
We’re going to be on this ship next month cruising out of Athens ending in Barcelona. Watching your video was very helpful in getting to know all about the ship.Looking forward to our cruise. Thanks again for all the information.
Excellent!! The ship was great. Had everything that we needed and was very happy with the technology they use. All of the ports of call were great. Definitely was a great time. Thanks for asking!
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Excellent video.. we did a 10 day Mediterranean cruise in 2021… Greece, Istanbul, Rome.. we stayed 7 days in Rome preceding our cruise.. the trip of a lifetime ❤️
Sounds amazing 👏
Wow! Lovely video as usual. We’re off to Rome in a couple weeks from Australia. We have a couple of nights in Rome before boarding our ship for a 19 night cruise, then finishing in Milan for three nights before flying home. Watching your video has hot me jumping out of my skin!!! Can’t wait. First cruise for me, and although my wife has cruised before, this will be her first trip to Europe.
My husband and I are taking a 275 day/9 month World Cruise sailing in December. RCCL Serenade of the Seas, visiting 62 countries. Very excited.
Wow!! Dream trip
I went on a 10 day Princess mediterranean cruise in 2019 solo for my 50th end of October. London to Rome. Inside cabin bc it was cold in some ports. Best cruise I have ever taken! 7 ports so I found I spent less time on the ship which was fine. The clientel on the ship was more English and Australian than American. Even though I am American, I felt it was a breath of fresh air! Europeans are so much quieter and refined than Americans. I had no problems finding quiet places to sit and read or just gather my thoughts. Even in some of the bars during the day! But still plenty of good entertainment if you wanted. Of not one thing could I complain!
That looks like a rather crowded ship! I did a Mediterranean cruise in October 2022 on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas. It’s slightly larger than your ship, very modern, with many activities. I had a beautiful stateroom. I chose to buy the specialty dining package, which I loved for the quality, and the fact that as a solo traveller I don’t always enjoy the main dining room. We visited Israel, Turkey, Cyprus and several Greek islands. The ports were all fascinating. My one regret was that some of the popular ports were very crowded with people from my ship and many others. As well, the sheer volume of passengers leaving the ship in port meant a lot of time was spent waiting for each group to leave in order. It struck me that for a port intensive cruise such as the Mediterranean, I would prefer to be on a smaller ship, visiting quieter ports. This summer I cruised around Iceland on Azamara, which reinforced that opinion. In future I will focus on big ships for cruises with many sea days and small ships for port-intensive cruises.
My worlds are colliding seeing you in the Med - I love it! As part of spending this year living mostly on cruise ships, I totally agree with lots of your points.
A bit of advice I always give to people is to be CLEAR how far some of the ports are from the cities - some people push themselves too hard to take it all in, and find themselves sitting on coaches for HOURS during their trip!
I would absolutely watch a three hour video about your cruise experience 😅 please don't worry about making them too long!!
Lol thanks!!
Same here! I hope you do talk more about Rome and Barcelona.
We just did the 14 day Mediterranean cruise on the Enchanted Princess. The ship is amazing. Ilana you captured it perfectly. There were 10 ports so there was much to see. It definitely helps to do a little research about the ports so you have an idea about what excursions to take. The Princess excursions are good and well organized. It was also fun to explore some on our own in Marseille and Genoa. Your video are always helpful. Keep them coming 😊.
Great to hear about your cruise! Thanks for watching & sharing your feedback 😊
Great video
In 2008 we cruised the Med 14 days on Celebrity Summit starting in Barcelona to Cannes, Monaco, Florence,Rome,Naples, Athens, Santorini, Dubrovnik and disembarked in Venice!! It was by far the best cruise we’ve ever been on. It was tiring but well worth it!
Yes please for a video with more info about the ports. 🤩
Fabulous video and makes me miss being in Europe. We loved our cruise on Enchanted Princess and skipped all the specialty dining on this trip. ALL crew were awesome! As Princess loyalists having done many Caribbean cruises, the European itinerary was a wonderful surprise with new experiences. Your video gets me excited about these additional ports for next time. Tip for travelers…eat gelato in every port!
Great to hear your experience! Totally agree with gelato 👏👏😂
Yes! Gelato is a food group! 😂❤
YES to Gelato!
Heading to Barcelona for a sailing in Symphony next month. A Barcelona port tour/guide would be awesome 🙌🏾
I love Barcelona. It's a walkable city with main interests being the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and the Gaudi houses on PG de Gracia. I recommend buying tickets online before to save time waiting in line.
Sounds great! Have a wonderful time!
Heading out on Oct. 4th to Rome for a few days, before embarking on a 10 day Celebrity Reflection cruise. Thanks for raising my excitement level. 😊
So exciting!! Enjoy every minute 👏
We did this trip/cruise out of "Rome" on the Reflection summer of 2022. Lots of Brits. Older crowd. I loved the food. Much better than RCCL or Carnival. I was so glad to get on the ship as I was done with Italian food by that time. Montenegro was beautiful. Really neat sailing by Stromboli at night. Oh, the Sunset bar at the back of the ship was our nightly hangout.
@gwcrispi We reserved most of our dinners late so we can enjoy a couple of sunset drinks each night at the Sunset Bar. 🍹😁
You picked a perfect time to go, I did the same in 2017 and weather was great!
Helpful video ! Wondering if you would mind telling me where you got your white off shoulder dress ? It may no longer be available but I’ll look!!
We have done 50 cruises in the past 15 years. I think 10 of them were in the Med and we have visited almost everywhere except I
stanbul. We usually fly into Rome and spend 4 days there and then do back to back cruises of 10 to 12 days each. Venice is the highlight of any cruise and we rate the Adriatic ports next. We like Croatia, Slovenia and Greece. We have done 12 day cruises followed by 14 day trans atlantics twice. We prefer Azamara and Holland America and absolutely stay away from large ships. You have now gotten a small taste of cruising in Europe. Be sure to cruise the Baltics and Norwegian Fjords. They are incredible! Our all time favorites were Antarctica, New Zealand, French Polynesia and a Baltic Cruise from Amsterdam to St. Petersburg, Russia going through the Kiel Canal on the old Holland America Prinsendam.
We took two Mediterranean cruises earlier this year and you're right about how active you can be exploring each port. However there are so many ports in the Med that it could take several cruises to visit most of the popular ports. We definitely want to go back to visit Greece, Istanbul , the Holy land, and Casablanca.
So true! Lots of places to explore
Yes, we took a 12 day Mediterranean cruise that started in Venice, went to Athens, Istanbul Kusadasi, Myknonos, Naples, Rome, Florence, Marseilles and ended in Barcelona. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Originally, I wanted to do a Greek cruise, but for just a couple of hundred dollars more, we got the full Mediterranean experience. I never thought I would go to Istanbut and Ephesus. Now that you've seen one half of the Mediterranean, you should definitely consider seeing the other!
Hello,what Company did you use?thanks
@@danieltroyo3847 Princess, in 2006. We've been with them ever since then.
@emilyserafamanschot800 thanks for the response!!
My wife and I are taking our bucket list Mediterranean cruse with Viking the first of November! Our cruse will last 15 days starting in Barcelona and ending in Athens, Greece. Your videos are really hyping us up to get going! Thanks for all the great tips and information!
That’s going to be amazing!! Have a wonderful cruise 👏
We have done the Mediterranean twice with Viking. One from Athens to Rome (14 days) and another from Rome to Barcelona (7 days), both fabulous cruises. Your are in for a treat. Have fun!
I hope the Med is not too cold in November for your bucket list cruise.
You will love the smaller ship!
Oh, the smaller ship experience is much nicer than larger ships such as Princess, Royal Caribbean, etc. We've been on both, nothing at all wrong with the larger ships, but smaller ships such as Viking provide a much nicer experience and the food is 100 percent better. You may also want to try a river cruise, we did that on the Danube with Avalon. We had about 100 people on the ship. It was so much fun, food amazing, sailing slowly along the river is an experience of a lifetime.
Hi Lana, thank you for all your info in your channel, me and my wife just to the Norwegian Fjords for 14days just 2 weeks ago.
We watched your videos so many thanks, truly appreciated 🥳
Yay! Have a wonderful time!
Booked Sun Princess Mediterranean for Sept of 2024. Can’t wait!!
HI Lana so we bought your 45 day cruise planner and it's awesome. It had everything we needed and more. So worth the money wish we had this for our other cruises. Thank you again.
I’m so glad it was helpful! Thanks for your lovely feedback & for your purchase
Planning a family Mediterranean cruise in June 2024. Looking over all of the excursions now and it’s overwhelming 😂. Nice problem to have, I know🤣, but want to see as many iconic sights and learn as much as possible without boring the kids with too many museums or exhausting everyone with too much walking in summer heat, while also including beach time, (which is everyone's favorite) yet not so much that we might regret the sights we missed while at the beach, which we could do anywhere. No one helping with any input...just"Whatever you think is best." Sure, they say that now! 🤣 I'm way over thinking this 🧐🧠 as usual, I know . There MAY even be an Excel spreadsheet! 😂 📈📊 (It's a sickness!) My point is....YES please post a video to help with excursion selections! Thank you !!!
Great video! Will definitely love as much information as you care to share!
I just did a Mediterranean cruise in July and it was HOT. We also visited the three small towns and now Santa Margarita is on my list of a place I want to go and stay a week. It was so beautiful. We stayed in Rome in a former monastery, Domus Helena. It was in a great location, had wonderful AC, it was clean and secure. Oh it had a generous breakfast room. I would stay there again.
I’ve been on a couple of med cruises and going on another but on the Adriatic side in May. One thing I recommend if you can is sign up for a food tour on the night before your cruise. Did this in Barcelona and it was fabulous! Because some ports overlap and I’ve been there/done that I stay on board and do a spa day. That’s my treat to myself. It’s not for everyone but I love the less crowded ship at that time.
Sounds amazing
Another great video Ilana. Please give us a more "ports" oriented video. I think that will only enhance the mediterranean experience. In April 2024 I will be on the new Sun Princess and I can't wait. Thank you for your hotel recommendation in Rome.
Very exciting!!
My mom & I will be going on a cruise on the new Sun Princess at the end of April too!
Hi Illanna what a great video, even tho I'm from this side of the world your take on some of the places you visited has made me fall in love with the Med again. It just so happens I've booked another MSC cruise to the Med this October and now I am itching to get going! Our current weather in the UK is dreary so it's lovely to see the blue skies of your cruise. I often use some of your suggestions for things to take, and last year, on my first cruise your videos were so valuable. Thank you
So glad you enjoyed the video! Being from Canada & having grey skies much of the year, I’m a lover of blue skies as well :). Have an amazing cruise!
We have already done a cruise on the Enchanted Princess, we thoroughly enjoyed it ….it was I think it’s second voyage actually, we have also been to Rome and some of the other places that you mentioned, you did a fantastic job with your coverage and I only wish I could have watched this video before we went to Rome and Europe. Oh yes we did enjoy the medallion system and all that goes with it, that is offered on the Enchanted Princess. Thank you again, I love your to the point videos.
Thanks so much for sharing
Yes more info on your Mediterranean cruise! ❤
I really did enjoy your video and the insights to your trip. We did a 10 day cruise of the Med on a Holland American ship in the 90's and will be doing another on the Sun Princess in May of 2025. I try to never repeat a cruise but when we did the cruise in the 90's I had pneumonia, not the flu so I missed out on everything. The whole cruise was a disaster starting with the Delta Flight having a malfunction out of New York and having to divert to Gander, Newfoundland (It's disconcerting when fire trucks follow you down the runway) where we were for 14 hours until Delta was able to get another plane to get us to Rome. Prior to leaving on this trip I had been sick, but I really thought I was good to go. When in Rome for the 2 days prior to the cruise it was a cold heavy rain and we ran around trying to see what we missed out by losing the day in Gander. The hotel which was next to the American Embassy did not turn on the heat until the following week after we checked out, so for me it just led to my getting pneumonia. My wife had a great time, me, not so much so it's a do over.
Great video!! Yes please share more about each port more in depth.
Did two Mediterranean cruises: 1- from Rome, Catania, Santorini, Mykonos, Istanbul, Ephesus, Athens, Naples, Rome for 12 days on Celebrity Beyond 6/23; 2- from Barcelona, Palma de Mayorka, Marseille, Rome, Florence, Naples, Rome for 8 days on Oasis of the Seas - 5/2019. Both were fantastic. Best vacations I have ever experienced.
Love love love your video's. We actual were on a cruise at the same time as you but we never ran into each other. We are cruising the Mediterranean on enchanted princess Nov 1 in Rme ending in Barcelona. Cannot wait as we have never been on the Enchanted. The only negative for the med for us was Santorini. The long walk and overcrowded streets were a real put off. How can you enjoy a place if you cannot even stop and marvel over something. Also pick pocketing is so prevalent that my sister wore her back pack on the front but in one moment of distraction (I'm sure caused by the thief) her wallet was gone. What a dilemma on vacation to cancel CR cards and other important things kept in wallets.
That was my only complaint. Thanks for what you do for me and my family thru your amazing videos. Keep up the good work.
Just embarked today on my first cruise and it’s all thanks to you and your handy planner!❤ thanks for these awesome videos. Keep them coming!
Have an amazing cruise!!
Going on transatlantic cruise from Rome in November on Enchanted Princess.
I'm heading on the Celebrity Cruise ship in a few days for 11 days. Dream of a lifetime - doing the Greek Islands etc - spending a night in Rome at either end and a few days in Barcelona before embarking. Looking forward to it. My bff and I are celebrating our 50th milestones and 45 yr friendaversary.
Very informative video. Since my wife & I are doing a Med cruise in Sept. 2024, I would very much like to see a video about the port stops. Thanks for the tips & info you provide!
We did a 2 week Med cruise last summer and it is still our favourite cruise…so many awesome ports, --Istanbul, Santorini, Mykonos, Naples, Ephesus , Sicily, Kotor, starting in Rome. fabulous people on board, excellent food.. We were on the Regal Princess…our 5th time on that ship and was amazing.
We’re doing our first cruise in 15 years taking a 7 day Mediterranean cruise on the Sun Princess in September. I’m watching every video I can, trying to be prepared.
I did one in 2019 that I liked a lot; round-trip from Barcelona. On my day in Livorno I took a bus to Cinque Terre and had a great day there! I'd recommend looking into that for anyone with a Livorno port (or I guess Genoa, although I haven't been there and it sounds like those towns near there were very charming). I loved CT enough that on my upcoming Venice-to-Athens cruise, I'm flying in early to stay there for a couple of extra days.
Thanks for the always helpful, informative, and enjoyable video! These last few have been great for us as we're heading to Athens next week for 2 weeks on the Enchanted (Athens to Barcelona then your Barcelona to Rome) followed by a couple weeks in Rome, Milan, Lake Como, and Venice. So any more videos you post about your cruise and the ports in the next few days will be much appreciated!
Enjoy!!
Going on Enchanted Princess from Athens to Barcelona next week! Very excited!
Enjoy!
We are doing the The October 21 sailing on the enchanted princess. Your video was extremely helpful and we’re so extra excited because of all the good things you shared. We’d love to see more of what you experienced on your first Mediterranean cruise. This is our first met cruise as well so thank you again for your great information and wonderful attitude that you share.
Hi Jim. We too will be on the 21 night cruise departing on the 21st of October. We have been traveling Europe for the past four weeks. All I can add is it has been extremely warm, unbelievably crowded and there is so much walking. Can’t wait to unpack once and enjoy being spoilt.
@@marycoletti5185
Mary are you On the same cruise we are?
Will be traveling a week before we get to the cruise in Spain and then a week to week and a half after in Italy. Thanks
More videos about ports would be great! Thanks!
More to come!
My first trip to Europe was on a Royal Caribbean 12 day begin Barcelona, end Venice, including Corfu, and Monaco, along with Sicily, Rome, Naples, Florence, Venice, and Majorica. They left no time to shop, so i complained when we went to Venice, and they brought me to the Murano glass shop to buy what i wanted. Ended good, great trip, did nothing on cruise ship, ate dining room, nothing extra, no shows, i was too tired, and really not interested. It was a terrific way to cover so much ground in a 12 day span. Since then, been back for 2 more Italy land trips, and one Greek cruise, but on a small greek ship, perfect.
My husband and I have done about four Med and Adriatic cruises out of Rome and Barcelona most longer than 7 days. A great way to see Europe without having to pack and unpack. Back when the Euro was strong we got great deals on US dollar ships. A real bargain since all on board costs were in dollars and only paid Euro off ship. Even booked tours on the dollar. Croatia does not take Euro...a point to remember if you do some of the Adriatic and want to shop the port on your own.
As of January 2023, the currency in Croatia is the Euro!
@@annbowers4124 Good news for travelers. Hope it works out for them.
We did a similar cruise on the Enchanted Princess. One tip we wish we knew before the last day was on deck 7 right near the Vista lounge, on both sides of the ship are some secluded (quiet) places to sit in the sun.
I loved our Med cruise we did on Enchanted the two weeks before yours. 2 days in Rome, 1 in Florence, then the cruise to Naples, Capri, Kusadasi, Istanbul, Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Kotor and then Naples again before ending in Barcelona to get you.😂 It was an intense itinerary but I loved it so much. Total bucket list trip!
I didn't realize that the adult pool near Sanctuary had so many seats in the shade! Bummer. 😢 We so might have gone there. I only remembered the pools on Lido and they were absolutely bonkers and really, really hot.
Loved the food too. You have to get to the buffet early to get the really nice goodies like the shrimp cocktail you saw but we loved the variety and flavors available there.
The crew was attentive, friendly and helpful and we loved our cabin steward.
I loved your room by the Pantheon. So much more space than we had in a place further out from the fun sights. Even being farther out into the city we still had to use two small elevators to get to our 5th floor room and there was an even smaller lift for the highest floors. 😮
Bon voyage! 🎉
Nice cruise! Lol I enjoyed your comments
I have a Mediterranean cruise planned next year, I'm excited. I've been there before but this will be my first cruise!
Very exciting 👏
Hi Lana. I would love to hear more about your Mediterranean cruise
Medallion is the best then ever invented. Used on an Alaska cruise and it worked like a dream.
This is the exact itinerary I want to use the next cruise. Did a 10 day in June starting in Rome and went east to Greece and islands. Ended in Barcelona. The islands tended to be mostly shops and restaurants. A couple of excursions were disappointing as well. It was a learning experience. The major mistake we made was only having one day in Rome and one day in Barcelona. We fell in love with Barcelona and plan to spend more time there next time.
Barcelona and Rome need as much time as you can spare in them especially Rome. We have stayed in both cities as well as cruising in them and how are beautiful places. Barcelona beach is within walking distance from the port so Barcelona has it all. The beach is topless and we got an eye full of a really old granny with them out that has me still scarred.
We are going next year and I have heard from a few people about all the stores
and restaurants. I hope not. I can do that at home. lol
In September we’re going on a Mediterranean cruise departing from Barcelona, Spain voyaging on Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas. Then heading to Palma De Mallorca, Balearic Islands Marseille (Provence), France La Spezia (Florence & Pisa), Italy Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, Naples, Italy, then back to Barcelona, Spain. On here looking at everyone’s experience! 😊
Hi, IIana! You always look great, but after this Mediterranean cruise you sparkle. 💖
Thanks! More info on Barcelona and Rome please.
I would love to see more detail on Rome and Barcelona. This was a very helpful video as we are planning a trip next year and looking at Princess!
Santa Marguerita was our favorite stop as well! I would like to spend more time there!
Would love a video on the other ports (Barcelona and Rome)
We are going on a Mediterranean cruise in about a month. We are very excited. I believe we are going to be on the same ship you were on so all you can tell us is very helpful and appreciated !
When in Italy move one or two streets in from the main street to get something to eat. Everything in the tourist trap areas taste of Heinz tomato soup especially in Rome lol. One or two streets in and the restaurants the locals use are far better. Rome really need 5 days at least, the amount of ancient history just there alone is crazy.
Also, do at least a little shopping first (also away from the tourist centers) and ask the clerk for a recommendation. Often they will call the restaurant for you and when you arrive, they'll give you an aperitif and even an appetizer on the house.
We are going on the same ship October 7-21. Starting in Rome and ending in Barcelona. We are excited to be going on the cruise and will spend 5 days in Rome and 3 in Barcelona. Thanks for all of your videos. 👍🏻
We’re going on the same cruise! 🇨🇦
Enjoy!!
Going on inaugural 10-day Med cruise of Sun Princess in Feb 2024. Staying two days before in Barcelona & two days after in Rome. Please do a video of your excursions and tips for those cities.😊
Will be embarking on the Enchanted on Sept 30…thanks for all the info!
Enjoy!
Our last cruise with Princess we found the food the last 3 nights was the best of the whole cruise. Plus, we found they have changed a lot of the desserts not for the better. They had no taste.
But we still had an amazing time. And we will still cruise with them
I did one through Disney and it was amazing. Loved every minute
Thank you so much for video. We are actually leaving next week for the 10 day with NCL Mediterranean. Diff ports of course but I'm sure very similar ❤
Have a wonderful time!
Awesome video. My wife and I want to plan a Mediterranean cruise late 2024 or spring 2025. We have been on 18 carribean cruises and excited about visiting new ports.
Wow! Such a great video! Enchanted Princess seems like a well suited cruise for us!!!
We are doing a MSC Mediterranean cruise in June in 2024 on the world Europa ,with a 3 day stopover in Barcelona can’t wait😊
❤❤❤❤ Thank you so much for this video. Honestly, we have avoided Princess because we heard they were kind if boring. This video shows us they are not. Thanks and PLEASE let us know more about this cruise and the places you stopped. ❤❤❤❤
We just returned from an 11-day Med cruise (Trieste, IT to Marseille, FR) on NCL Epic. It was our first trip to Europe and our first cruise. We really loved it, although the onboard activities were minimal and, some, were very pricey. My least favorite port was Dubrovnik - incredibly crowded and it felt like we were in Disneyland with all the shops. If I ever went there again, I'd skip the old city and explore the newer parts. My favorite was Florence; I love the history and beautiful everything. I took three pairs of sneakers (2 Altra & 1 K Swiss). The Altras killed my feet, so I lived in the KSwiss. I have old lady feet and we were averaging 10-12 miles per day walking. It was SOOOOOO humid, but I was prepared with cooling clothes and personal fans. I can't wait to take our next trip!
We love food tours, especially in other countries.
Going on the Enchanted Princess next October! looks beautiful!
Hope you enjoy it!
Sailed this same itinerary in May. Best excursion of the trip was from Livorno to Lucca and Pisa. Wish it would have only gone to Lucca, it's such an amazing place. Booked thru Viator and it was extremely affordable. Caught the free cruise port shuttle to downtown and then our tour bus picked us up there. So easy. Fabulous day!
I’ll have to go to Lucca next time 👏
Yes I would like more videos on Mediterranean .
Great video!!
We have done several Princess cruises and enjoyed them all. In October we will be doing a few firsts. First 2 Royal Caribbean cruises and first time visiting Europe from Australia. We are doing a 7 night Greek Isles cruise on Explorer of the Seas and a 15 night Transatlantic on Odyssey of the Seas. Loving watching Europe cruise videos to get excited for our trip! Only 3 weeks to go!
We were on this exact cruise as well! I couldn't find myself in any video though lol. We liked it as well. I agree about the walking. By the time we got to Livorno, we decided to stay on the ship and relax.
Lol seems we were all tired ‘ needed a ship day 😂
This review made me want to do another Med cruise, but this time on Princess. Thank you.
Enjoyable thanks! I’ve cruised many times but never Princess so especially informative as will be on a 15 day Princess Hawaiian cruise next month. It should be exciting! On this years transatlantic/Mediterranean cruise the only thing I was disappointed in was the pizza in Italy. We tried it twice too, although the lasagna, fish etc. in Italy was fabulous. This coming Spring I am taking a 25 day cruise that has some South American ports then crosses to Europe and has quite a few Mediterranean ports. I’m especially looking forward to Dubrovnik as plans to visit decades ago were scrapped due to the country being at war.
This cruise looks fabulous-it is on my bucket list
Great presentation! I have a carribean cruise booked for the summer on this ship. I cannot wait to explore this beutiful ship!
Awesome 👏
I have a Med cruise planned on Enchanted in November. Can’t wait! Thank you for giving me a sneak peek :) love your videos ❤
Great video, I’ve never sailed on Princess but think I will some day. I’d love to hear more about the port cities.
Great video, we really love your channel!! We are doing a 10-day western Mediterranean in April on the Sun Princess. We are going to all the same ports, so we thoroughly enjoyed watching. Thanks to you, now I know what we will do in Genoa 😊
Your cruise fashions were gorgeous
Definitely interested in more videos about the ports, especially Barcelona.
Excited for mine next month with Royal. Thanks for all the great info
That looks like a lovely cruise Ilana.
Yes it really was
You should talk about the VAT taxes on food & beverages on the Mediterranean cruise. We’re sailing on Disney and don’t plan on drinking or shopping until we’re in Turkish waters.
Just as FYI, the medallion is the same size as an Apple AirTag, so covers/cases for those will work on your medallion.
Wonderful video. Cruising from Barcelona to Lisbon with Celebrity in October.
Can tell you really enjoyed your Mediterranean cruise, as we did ours last year. But do hope you can cruise on one of the Oceania ships. Think the Best of Holland and Princess.
Our cruise started in Ashdod, Israel and ended in Tres, Italy.
Nice! I’ll have to try one day
We really enjoyed your video. We're pretty sure we did the same excursion in Gibraltar at the rooftop wine and food pairing when we were on Celebrity Apex. It was one of our favorite excursions. We tossed the coin at the Trevi Fountain and we must have done it correctly since we're going back next fall on Equinox. Your video brought back great memories! Thanks!
Love that!
HI! I love your channel, and I don't believe I have commented before! It's long overdue. One of my favorite parts is seeing the clothing you choose, especially your dresses. You have great shoulders, and you show them off in wonderful sun dresses. I prefer to keep my upper arms covered, and I am having fun dreaming about outfits for our Mediterranean Cruise coming up in May of next year. I would love a video of what you wore on your Med cruise. Especially, what fabrics do you think work best for a cruise, when you can't have an iron with you? The weather for Greece and Italy in late May looks like lighter dresses may be a little too cool, but I love the idea of dressing up a little on vacation still. Any advice or pics you can share to help me out would be appreciated. Thanks for all you do! Best wishes from Orlando.
Please do a video on these ports!!
I will be doing that same cruise but on the new sun princess next year in August. Thanks for these tips, I’m sure I’ll be watching this a few times
You always do great videos. Sharing a lot of detailed information. I like your opinions. Thank you for sharing!!!!
Thanks for watching!
Will be leaving on the Enchanted from Barcelona on October 21…..😊
Very exciting!!
Definitely would like to see some tips & recommendations on what to see & where to eat at the Mediterranean cruise ports
PIZZA: Sorry honey, that's a You Problem. The Pizza shown is representative of the regional prefferances, that cheese was Athentic Buffalo Milk Mozzerella. Great Vidi 😎☕💋
We’re going to be on this ship next month cruising out of Athens ending in Barcelona. Watching your video was very helpful in getting to know
all about the ship.Looking forward to our cruise. Thanks again for all the information.
How was your trip?
Excellent!!
The ship was great. Had everything that we needed and was very happy with the technology they use.
All of the ports of call were great. Definitely was a great time.
Thanks for asking!