Cruising around the Med
We flew into Pisa and decided to drop our bags at the train station and wander into the centre and see the Leaning Tower and sample our first pizza. It's an amazing thing to see and well worth the trip! As our ship was leaving from Genoa in a couple of days we hopped on the train and within a couple of hours we were settled in the Holiday Inn overlooking the port. This is a great hotel for anyone catching a cruise.
The next day we caught another train to Santa Margherita which took around 40 minutes. This is a lovely Mediterranean seaside resort and from here you can catch a boat over to Portofino. This is somewhere I have always wanted to visit and I was not disappointed! It's a stunning picturesque fishing port with a sprinkling of shops, bars and restaurants - and multi-million pound super yachts! We sailed back to Santa Margherita for more pizza and to watch Italy in the world cup. There was a great party atmosphere with all the bars and restaurants packed with people and the street lined with Vespas.
The following day we took a 5 minute taxi trip to the port where we strolled through check in and onto the ship in no time at all! Our balcony cabins were stunning and we were soon sitting on deck with our first bottle of wine. The ship was as good as I remembered. This time we were on early dining at 18:30 but think we will stick to Freedom dining next time as the flexibility suits us better. The food and service was spot on again and even though the ship was full we never had a problem getting a table or a sun bed.
First stop was Livorno and we took the ship's excursion into Florence. We wandered around the Uffizi Gallery and then sheltered in a bar whilst the heavens opened! A quick trek up the 440 steps to the top of the Bell Tower was well worth it for the stunning views! We just had time for a quick gelato and then time to head back to the ship.
The next port of call was Naples and we decided to take a trip to Pompeii. What an amazing place! We joined an organised group tour which we found really interesting and think we got to see and understand much more than if we had just wandered around ourselves. Dubrovnik was our next stop and certainly worth a visit. The centre was not far from the port and has a little walled city within the city with winding alleys and roads with lovely little shops, bars and churches.
Our final stop was Venice - and they definitely saved the best until last! Words cannot describe how wonderful the journey in was! The view from the ship was simply stunning. In the main pool area, atmospheric music serenaded us in. As the ship was in port overnight we had the afternoon and evening to discover the wonders of Venice. We sampled a beer in St Mark's Square which was well worth the eye-watering bill, we wandered over the Rialto Bridge and took our first ever Gondola ride!
The following morning we took a private water taxi over to the Lido which felt like we were in a James Bond movie! We stayed at the Villa Mbapa which has its own mooring so you can get dropped right outside and has private beds and umbrellas on the nearby beach. The Lido is a 10 minute boat trip from St Mark's Square and a haven of tranquillity. The long, wide, sandy beach is very clean with lots of facilities. There are lots of cycle routes and it is a great spot for families or those looking for an alternative to staying in the heart of Venice. The main tree-lined centre has a great range of shops, bars and restaurants and is walking distance from Villa Mbapa.
Before we knew it, it was time to take a water taxi back to the airport and fly home. I am definitely a big advocate of cruising and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good value holiday and a chance to see lots of great places in one trip. I will definitely be booking another one soon!