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Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas / Europe / Sep 1-15, 2011

Hey Everyone!
KVI Seattle agent Shelli Spencer recently reurned from a Royal Caribbean cruise adventure in Europe.  Here is her review...

My 21 year old daughter Meghin and I left Seattle on Monday August 29th in hopes of having a couple of days to explore Stockholm before our cruise set sail. Unfortunately there was a hurricane that hit the East Coast causing nationwide flight cancellations. We were traveling standby with a pocket full of backup tickets and after being bumped off of flights for two days, we finally arrived Stockholm the night before our cruise was to depart.

The travel agent at the airport information office booked us a room at the Wasa Park Hotel and we rode the bus to its location in the downtown area. The cost of living is very high in Northern Europe and we were happy to share the bathroom with three other rooms to save some money on the hotel. At $140 a night, this was considered a bargain. The beds were comfortable, the staff was helpful, breakfast was adequate, but the walls were paper thin. We rode the bus to the pier the next morning and were happy to climb aboard the beautiful Vision of the Seas. This was the first time ever that we have checked luggage, and in our three days of travel, our luggage was lost twice. Fortunately our bags arrived to the ship shortly after we did.

The Vision of the Seas

Accomodations:
We booked an inside cabin on a guarantee which means they will assign you the best available cabin. We were upgraded to an oceanview cabin with two portholes. It was in the very forward part of the ship on deck three and was very quiet except for one night when the seas were rough. It became so noisy that we thought there was heavy equipment doing construction work below us. It was at this point that we wished we would have spent more money to select a cabin more midship on a higher deck. Lucky for us, the storm died down and we had smooth sailing the remainder of our trip.

Food:
The food was very good on the ship. My daughter has Celiac Disease and our waitress Veronica took the time each night to help her place a gluten free meal request for the following nights dinner. This works as well if you'd prefer to have lunch in the dining room. We found out near the end of the sailing that a beautiful salad with premium toppings could be made to order in the dining room. It was a nice change from the usual fare in the topsidder buffet. There was no gluten fre cereal on board the ship, but our head waiter Capacinno said he would recommend it for future sailings.

Entertainment:
The dancers put on two high energy shows, but we were disappointed they didn't have more performances scheduled. We got to know a couple of the dancers and they said the ship had been doing 4 and 5 day sailings from Stockholm to Russia and they were doing the two shows plus a number in the welcome aboard and last night shows. These were the only numbers they were prepared to do. Other entertainment included a comedian, magician, several musical entertainers, and gymnasts. All were good.

The Deck Plan:
I found the ship easy to navigate and especially enjoyed the solarium's indoor pool while we were in Northern Europe, and the outdoor pool while we were in the warm Mediterranean. My daughter was able to find some quiet places to study for her grad school exams. It was disappointing that smoking was allowed in the library, but there were other non-smoking areas that were acceptable. We climbed the rock wall and saw some of the late night entertainment.


STOCKHOLM SWEDEN


Our sail away from Stockholm was absolutely beautiful!


COPENHAGEN DENMARK

The canal tour departing from Nyhaven was delightful!
We grabbed a map from information and set off walking into town. We passed the big mermaid, the little mermaid made famous by Hans Christian Anderson, a small marina, lovely park, the performing arts theater, the Ameliaberg Castle guarded by soldiers wearing big black hats, and 30 minutes later we were at Nyhaven. A colorful row of buildings with shops and restaurants line a canal where we took a delightful hour long tour highlighting the area. We were impressed with the old buildings as well as the new, including the library called the "black diamond," as it glittered from the reflection off the water. We walked through the Kings Garden, Rosenberg Castle, the botanical gardens, and the University. We took an alternate route back to the ship, stopping at one of the port shops to send an email back home.


BRUGGE BELGIUM
The colorful Market Square

We paid $34 for the ships transfer from Zeebrugge to Brugge after discovering it would not be cost effective nor convenient to go by taxi and train. Our guide showed us the basic layout of the medieval city and we set off to explore on our own. The beautiful buildings, shops and restaurants, horse drawn carriages, cathedrals, and canals offer some great photo opportunities. We paid about 7 euros per person for the canal tour, but it took us to places we had already covered by foot, so if you are up for the walk, we felt like it is the best way to explore this charming medieval city. Don't leave Belgium without trying some of their delicious chocolates.


LE HAVRE FRANCE



The Arch and Needle along the Alabaster Coast
I've never been to Paris, and as much as I'd like to go, I wasn't up for the 2 1/2 hour ride into the city. I opted for a tour of the Normandy Coast and wasn't disappointed. We drove through Le Havre admiring the countryside and stately french chateaus and stopped in the charming town of Etretat where we walked the boardwalk and climbed the stairs to the cliffs overlooking the beautiful rock formations known as the Arch and the Needle. Thirty minutes later we were back on the bus headed for the architecturally stunning Benedictine Abbey and Museum in Fecamp.
After an informative tour and a taste of the Benedictine Bourban, we were on our way back to the ship for a leisurly afternoon.


VIGO SPAIN
A fantastic view from the Citadel


Meghin and I were looking forward to the white water rafting excursion we had signed up to take in Vigo, but we were told it was canceled due to heavy rains. We set off on foot to explore the city on the hill. We walked to the top of the El Castro fortress which offered spectacular views of the city. We shopped a bit when we got back to the port area and paid a couple of euros for an hour of internet. The shop is right across the street from the port and if you use the cross walk, you can't miss it. There is a shopping mall right at the port, and shops and restaurants directly across the street. The sights are fairly easy to get to by foot if you are part mountain goat and don't mind climbing hills. Otherwise, the hop on hop off bus might be a good option for you.

LISBON PORTUGAL

Mosteiro do Jeronimos


Friends at our dining table who had visited Lisbon previously, recommended the hop on hop off bus as a good option to tour this huge spread out city. The agents at the shore excursion desk did not know if the tour buses came to the port, so we booked a ship tour called city highlights. The guide was fine, but the first two hours of our tour were fairly boring. We stopped at Alfama, the oldest quarter in Lisbon which was billed as having houses with brilliant whitewashed facades decorated with wrought iron balconies. We found this area to be run down with graffiti, bad smells, and little attraction. The second two hours were much more enjoyable with a stop at the gorgeous Jeronimos Monastery where Vasco Da Gama lies. Just across the street is the monument of the discoveries along the tagus riverbank overlooking the April 25th bridge, sister to the Golden Gate Bridge, and the statue of christ, replica of the one in Brazil.

Note: This ship had been sailing 4-5 day tours from Stockholm to Russia, so the excursions desk didn't have much information to offer for those wishing to venture out on their own. Shuttle buses from the port to the city centers ranged from $11-34pp and guests were advised that taxis were expensive and limited. On a sailing such as this it really pays off to do your homework before setting sail. Find out what facilities are available at each port and the cost or distance to the train or bus station.


CADIZ SPAIN

The neoclassical Cathedral


A quick walk across the street from the port puts you right into the heart of this wonderful town with a seaside boardwalk lined with giant trees, stoic iron lanterns, and narrow streets begging to be explored. We enjoyed watching local fishermen bring in their catch, admired the topiary trees and squawking green parrots in the Alemeda Botanical Garden, and leisurely combed the Caleta Beach collecting seashells and sea glass before making our way to the beautiful neoclassical cathedral and shops. Cadiz is a perfect walking port and there is no need to book a tour if you've never been here before. For returning guests, it is a good jumping off point to tour one of Spain's more beautiful cities, Seville.

MALAGA SPAIN
The balcony to Europe in Nerja


We opted to tour the caves of Nerja and weren't disappointed. Discovered less than 60 years ago, the Nerja caves are considered to be one of the most beautiful caves in Europe showing off a 32 meter high central column with impressive stalagmites and stalactites. Prior to visiting the caves, our tour stopped off in the charming town of Nerja known for its rugged coastline and beautiful beaches. Some of our dinner table mates were especially pleased with their tour of the Alhambra Palace and Gardens.


CAGLIARI (SARDINIA) ITALY
A view of Cagliari from the ship


The port offered a free shuttle to the city center where we bought bus tickets ( 3 euros for the day) at the information booth and rode 15 minutes to Poetto Beach. The beach is long and crowded and the water is clear and calm. We kept our eyes out for the infamous pink flamingos that are known for inhabiting the island, but unfortunately, saw none. There are plenty of shops and restaurants where the shuttle bus drops the passengers, and a longer walk will take you to some of the attractions listed on the port map. Folks at the information center can help set you up with tours or with a bus to get you to the sights you'd like to visit.


ISTANBUL TURKEY
Mosques and minarets dot the coastline of Istanbul

I'm sad to say that we were not able to spend any time in Istanbul, but with the little that we did see on the one hour ride from the cruise terminal to the airport, we know that this giant city spanning the Bosphorus in both Europe and Asia is a destination we must return to when we have time to fully appreciate it.

This was a wonderful vacation and a great way to get a taste of several European countries in a short amount of time.

Shelli Spencer
KVI Travel Professional
Seattle, WA
253-265-6208