Hi,

I will be sailing alone and I am looking forward to a lot of private time to relax, read, roam, and exercise.However, I'll get bored on a 14 day Cruise and would appriciate spending small periods of time interacting and connecting with a few "like-minded" souls. I have been divorced for over 10 years and  have two adult sons. I am a retired High School Art Teacher, and have traveled the world extensively. Hope to hear from some of you before the Transatlantic Cruise departing Rome on October 28, 2007.

Frank

Hello Franco,

My friend and I are traveling to Europe from Mississippi, and sailing on your cruise.  We wouild  be open for conversion and travel talk.  Know any nice places to go in Europe to shop and really see the real city?   She has been to Italy before I have not.  Also, there is a roll call for our ship at this site as well, you might want to sign in on there as well. 

Hi Nikki,

Sounds  like you are planning a fun trip to visit Europe and shop. There is great shopping everywhere but clothing in the larger cities is quite expensive. However, you can find good bargains on most items if you are willing to look. One word of advice, if you see something that you would like to have, buy it before you leave the area because you may not come across it again. This especially applies to art, antiques, and tourist items. It is not like the U.S. where you will see the same items everywhere in various cities.  I don't know what to suggest in terms of "seeing the real city" because I don't know what your itinerary is. However, get a guide book and look for interesting villages that might just be a short train ride away from the Hotels you plan on staying at. Remember, most larger cities are a haven for "pick pockets" so keep your passport, credit cards, and extra cash in a money belt. Every year, I run into someone who tells a sad story of being pick pocketed. Thanks about your tip concerning the ship's roll call. Keep in touch.

Frank

Hello.  I'm Peter and I just booked for the transatlantic voyage on Freedom.

I'm a retired trial lawyer, married, with a wife that doesn't care for long sailings.  So, I'll be solo this trip.  For many years, I made an annual trip to Italy, during this same period.

The weather should be ok most of the time.  There is some rain but I only had one trip where it was continuous.  Beware though.... the Italians don't use a lot of heat and your rooms might be chilly at night.... especially in So. Italy, where they might not use heat at all. 

Shopping?   Get ready for a shock.  I was last in Italy BEFORE the rise in the Euro and, even then, I found the prices to be staggering compared to the prices in the US or even what I encountered in Italy in previous trips.   In Rome, many of the most expensive shops are near the Spanish Steps.   They can be very expensive but the clothing is high-style and high quality. 

Franco is correct about pick-pockets, especially in the Italian cities.  They will not hurt you but they can be tricky.  They will set up some diversion, perhaps a young mother screaming, and then their cohorts will work the crowd.   Watch your wallet and be very suspicious if some seeming emergency occurs. 

I'll be spending a few days in Rome before boarding the ship.   I know a nice hotel in a pleasant neighborhood in Rome.  Nothing fancy but it is quiet and lovely.  It's about a 20 minute bus ride to "downtown."  I find that after a day in Rome, I like to retreat to someplace green and quiet.

Looking forward to meeting you folks....

Hi Nikki,

We will be on the same cruise, and we will be in Rome for several days prior to sailing (and touring in Turkey for 10 days before that.) Our daughter is the operations manager for a city tour agency in Rome, and has lived there for a few years. She knows where the best deals are on dining and shopping - she was "born to shop," but probably is a little short on knowledge of hotels in Rome. I live outside of Wash DC and know the last people to ask about hotels are the people who live where you are going. 

Where else in Europe are you travelling to? Among other things, our daughter has made some friends whose families own vineyards and wineries in Tuscany - we are thinking of renting a car when we get to Livorgno for the day and hitting the countryside - I have driven extensively in Italy and feel very comfortable doing so - having been to Pisa once is enough - the tower is still leaning, and nothing else goes on there. But San Gimignano or Lucca or Chianti is worth a trip - especially during grape harvesting season - maybe everyone can get to stomp grapes a la Lucy!

If anyone is interested in really top notch tours in Rome, check out her company's web site www.througheternity.com - they are listed in Rick Steves, Fodors, and Lonely Planet, among other guides. They are not the cheapest in town, but from friends who have taken their tours, they are the best! Native English speaking guides are the norm. I understand their Vatican tour is absolutely the best.

Anyway, look forward to meeting everyone.

Denny and Pat Darlak