Dis / Dreams Viking Sea Cruise around Italy 3/24 - 3/31/2018

[met19]

If you're a fan of Rick Steves' he has a bunch of Italy audio tours you can download along with the maps that go with them. I've downloaded a couple of them(ok all of them) to have for when we are walking around on our own and not part of a tour.

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours/italy




Thanks, and yes having to be on the ship at night will certainty keep me confined. There were a lot of late nights photo walks with Pete, Dustin, and Mike on that trip, even a couple of stupid early mornings for sunrise photos and I'm sure with how much walking we did she was more appreciative of the extra sleep.

Rick Steve's audio tours comes with Maps too. You can even download info on famous landmarks in his tours. I listened to the pantheon before I went in.

 

[met19]

Anyone in the Piazza Navona area should try the gelato at Grom.

We have taste tested our way through Italy and the consensus was that Grom was the best.

Right Jason?

My daily eating habits in italy consist of: pasta, expresso, vino, gelato plus amazing food. At some points on the Italy part of our ABD I had 2 gelato/day. That got replaced by Laderach chocolate in Switzerland.

 

[stenogoddess]

I mentioned thus before, but the Hop On/Hop Off bus stops right in front of the hotel.

It's a great way to get an overview of the highlights of Rome and allows you to hop off and see what you want to see and hop back on to the next thing.

You also receive a headset and there are recorded info packages about what you are seeing.

Might be less expensive than getting taxis.

This is my plan right now with Mom. We'll need something easy for the first day

Anyone in the Piazza Navona area should try the gelato at Grom.

We have taste tested our way through Italy and the consensus was that Grom was the best.

Right Jason?

Not Jason, but another vote for Grom. From rules!

 

[christannj]

I can attest to the hop on hop off bus... They sold the tickets at the front desk of the Bernini Bristol and then we walked across the street and got on the bus..... Couldn't be easier and definitely gave a great overview of the sites. This worked very well for us when we arrived since this was a great way to spend our first afternoon in Rome.

Chris

 

[met19]

I can attest to the hop on hop off bus... They sold the tickets at the front desk of the Bernini Bristol and then we walked across the street and got on the bus..... Couldn't be easier and definitely gave a great overview of the sites. This worked very well for us when we arrived since this was a great way to spend our first afternoon in Rome.

Chris

i did one of those in Milan and thought it was very good

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Hi all! Work has kept me from the boards for a few months - y'all have been busy! I feel like I'm playing catch up already - I love it!!! I just booked two nights at the Bernini Bristol for before the cruise and may add a third night if I can talk DH into taking the time off work.

So, I do have a few questions.....1.) As we've never been to Rome before, what is the best way to see a lot in just the 2 days we will have? Private tour? The Vatican/Sistine Chapel is on our bucket list. Anyone else wanna go? 2.) I see some groups planning to go to Orvieto, food & wine tasting, etc. Could we be joiners? Or, would these tours take too much time from say, the Colisseum, Trevi Fountain, etc.?

Lastly, who all is going to the Dis 20th? We are! (Sadly we are not going to China...)

I'm going to the Dis 20th and once the schedule comes out I was thinking of putting together a little join up at Tutto Gusto in the WS. I thought meeting in Italy a fun little pun.

I just booked the Sina Bernini Bristol and at the Westin in Venice. Last time I was in Rome I stayed at the Albergo del Senato. That location was amazing. But the Bernini looks great and my fellow travelers are A+. I've been looking at fine dining/michelin star restaurants in Rome....and guess whats at the Bristol. Not only a rooftop bar but a tasting menu with amazing desserts.

I am a 10 minute walk from Sina Bernini Bristol so I would love to join you at the Rooftop bar. It is one of our favorite things to do in Manhattan.

 

[KathyTX]

And they just sent this via e mail,

Dear Mr. Giordano,

Warm greetings from Baglioni Hotel Luna!

It was a really pleasure to speak with you over the phone.

We would like to thank you for choosing our Property for your and your friend's forthcoming stay.

We would really appreciate if you would like to share with us any particular preference or requests of your Group.
These information will really enable us to perfectly tailor made your stay!

Looking forward to welcoming you adn your friends soon, we remain at your full disposal for any further assistance you may require.

Kind regards,

Giulia

Reservation Office

BAGLIONI HOTEL LUNA
Member of Leading Hotels of the World
San Marco, 1243 - 30124 Venice - Italy
Tel +39 041 5289840 | Booking phone +39 041 9655930
Fax +39 041 8106708
www.baglionihotels.com

Just tell them I'm a princess and would appreciate extra fawning and a red carpet, and possibly a very handsome Italian escort to show me around.

 

[OKW Lover]

guess whats at the Bristol. Not only a rooftop bar

Several of us have great memories of that bar!

 

[christannj]

The evening cocktail group may be expanding!

Chris

 

[khertz]

Anyone in the Piazza Navona area should try the gelato at Grom.

We have taste tested our way through Italy and the consensus was that Grom was the best.

Right Jason?

I think we ate Grom in every city in 2014! Lol we also really liked Venchi in Florence if anyone adds on the Tuscany pre-stay.

 

[OKW Lover]

For those that would like to see some pictures of Rome from our 2014 Viva Italia ABD, you can see mine at https://flic.kr/s/aHsk6dc8GW

If you are interested in the Venice pictures from then, take a look at https://flic.kr/s/aHsk687XnE

 

[khertz]

I don't think that the after hour tour will happen. According to several websites it looks like after hours is only offered from May thru October....bummer....



I can attest to Dustin's photo skills, he did the beautiful pictures that Kristy used in her trip report. If Mike Holland and Pete join your group, none of the rest of us will need to take pictures since we will have our own photo crew. I did, however tell Kristy that I thought that she would be able to spend more time with her husband on this trip since we are confined to a ship, hopefully I didn't lie to her.

I'm used to it by now!! I think this time I might tag along more if I'm not too tired. The only night I fussed at him was when he went out onto that thin platform in the middle of the Arno river by himself late at night.

 

[OKW Lover]

I've also be looking at this website with lays out self guided walking tours of Rome:
https://www.rometoolkit.com/walks/rome_walks.html

Was thinking that covering 2-3 of this would give a good overview of a few major highlights

Val & I walked from the Bernini to the Borghese Gardens. It wasn't a bad walk (all uphill, but not terrible) and the grounds are very nice.

 

[OKW Lover]

Just tell them I'm a princess and would appreciate extra fawning and a red carpet,

Knowing some of our fellow travelers, you may have some competition.

 

[JWren1234]

Anyone in the Piazza Navona area should try the gelato at Grom.

We have taste tested our way through Italy and the consensus was that Grom was the best.

Right Jason?

Yes it is! I love the Venice location too. And the one here in NYC at Columbus Circle!

Hoping that Caramello Al Sale (Salted Caramel) will be available when we are there!

 

[met19]

Context got back to the regarding the after hours Vatican tour. They said dates for 2018 have not been released yet and get released at mid June. They will reach back to me then. They were wondering about how many I had to book. So if you're interested Friday night tour of the Vatican museums and Sistine chapel please PM me with how many in your group.

on my quick three days in Rome I've used both the walks of Italy and context. I've also done eating Italy tour that was recommended by @OKW Lover. That last one was really cool and the food was oh so good.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Context got back to the regarding the after hours Vatican tour. They said dates for 2018 have not been released yet and get released at mid June. They will reach back to me then. They were wondering about how many I had to book. So if you're interested Friday night tour of the Vatican museums and Sistine chapel please PM me with how many in your group.

on my quick three days in Rome I've used both the walks of Italy and context. I've also done eating Italy tour that was recommended by @OKW Lover. That last one was really cool and the food was oh so good.

As you know Kate and I would be interested in the After Hours Vatican tour.

The food (and wine) tour would be top on our list. Do you know what time that starts?

I would think we could organize our own walking or HOHO tour hitting some highlights everyone wants to see. The Roman Holiday scenes tour, anyone?

In my best Sam the Eagle/muppets impersonation: We've planned a glorious 3 day tour showcasing all aspects of Rome.
Kermit: You got a day and a half.

 

[apurplebrat]

The food tour 2018 dates are not out yet.
I still have my emails from our 2014 food tour group. I will reach out and ask about possible times etc.

 

[christannj]

Chuck and I would most definitely be interested in the after hour tour as long as I don't need to use all of my retirement to pay for it. Would like the food tour as well, Karen, purple brat, offered to coordinate this again. Still only coming in one day ahead at this point so if we have to choose it will most likely be the Vatican.

Chris

 

[stenogoddess]

In my best Sam the Eagle/muppets impersonation: We've planned a glorious 3 day tour showcasing all aspects of Rome.
Kermit: You got a day and a half.

This is me and Jeri every single time I plan a vacation.