On different days, each of us will be leaving the United States from different gateway cities to meet in Venice, Italy.  We will fly into the Marco Polo Airport with the goal of having some time to tour Venice – as well as get accustomed to the time change – before we have to get on the ship.  Our hotel for these pre-cruise days is Hotel Santa Chiara located in Ple Roma with easy access from the airport, all Venetian water transportation, the cruise port, and does not require we load/unload our huge cruise suitcases into/out of a boat or drag them across cobblestones or bridges.

 

Venice:  With its palazzos, bridges, and famous canals, this is one of Italy’s most enchanting cities.  A tour around its most famous piazza features the Basilica San Marco, the Doge's Palace, the Campanile, and Basilica Museum.  In addition, we should try to see the Bridge of Sighs and take in the beauty of the Grand Canal and smaller canals in either a gondola or using the water buses known as vaporettos. There is lots of shopping at the Rialto Bridge, a great view from the wooden bridge in Accademia, lots of options to eat some gelato, enjoy a dinner at a small café, or try to see other islands like Murano or Burano.  With limited time, there is much to do!  Currency:  Euro.  Language:  Italian.  Phrases.  High: 76  Low:  61  Humidity:  85%.  Shopping  Souvenirs:  Masks, Venetian Masks Side Trips

 

Friday, 23-May:  Venice, Italy.  (Docked) Today we can board the ship for our first day of this adventure.  It will be docked at the Port of Venice, specifically the VTP (Venezia Terminal Passeggeri).  Once we get on board the Summit, we can find our cabins, check out what they are serving for lunch, put our clothes away and/or get off the ship to continue any sightseeing as time permits.  Our cabins are 6089 and 6091.  We are scheduled for the late dinner sitting.

 

Saturday, 24-May:  Venice, Italy.  (Docked) We set sail at 4:00 PM and as we leave Venice, we should have a beautiful view of the island from our balcony. And the excitement is just beginning -- we cannot forget the obligatory life boat drill! Dinner will be in the Cosmopolitan Restaurant.

 

Sunday, 25-May:  Dubrovnik, Croatia.   (Docked 9 AM – 5 PM) This Jewel of the Adriatic on the Dalmation Coast is rich in Baroque, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture. The medieval Mediterranean city is encircled by 14th-century walls and massive guard towers, and the carefully preserved old town features, marble-paved squares, cobbled streets, and splendid churches, palaces, monastaries, and fountains. The top of Zarcovica Hill offers superb views of the old walled city and the coast.  Currency:  Kuna  Language:  Croatian, German, Serbian  Phrases   Hi:  79  Low:  63  Humidity:  63%  Shopping,   Side Trips

 

Monday, 26-May:  At Sea.  Just in time -- a day to unwind from all of our sightseeing in Venice and Dubrovnik.  This gives us a chance to become more familiar with the ship, maybe go to the spa, see a movie, sunbathe, read, or just take it easy.  Whatever activities any of us choose, it will be a relaxing day for sure.  We will need to move our clocks AHEAD 1 hour tonight for our sail into Greece.

 

Tuesday, 27-May:  Santorini, Greece. (Tendered 7 AM – 7 PM) Santorini embraces all that has made the Greek island legendary -- splendid beaches, unparalleled architecture, dramatic cliffs and quaint villages. Ride a donkey up the trail to the city of Thira or take a cable car to the top. The views from Thira, set atop a ledge overlooking the sea, are stirring. We should have plenty of time here to wander the streets, admire the churches and browse the shops and cafes.  Currency:  Euro  Language:  Greek   Phrases   Hi: 84  Low:  65  Humidity:  69%  Shopping  Side Trips

 

Wednesday, 28-May:  Athens (Pireaus) Greece. (Docked 7 AM – 7 PM) Pireaus is the port to Athens while Athens is considered the birthplace of Western civilization.  No visit to Athens would be complete without a visit to the Acropolis.  There you will find the Parthenon, the largest building at the Acropolis, and one of the world’s most awe-inspiring sights.  Also at the Acropolis is the Propylee, the Temple of Wingless Victory, the Erechtheum, and the Acropolis Museum.  A drive down Syngrou Avenue offers an impressive view of the Arch of Hadrian and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.  In Athens, Monastiraki and Plaka are the best places to purchase hancrafted goods.  Currency:  Euro  Language:  Greek  Hi: 84  Low:  65  Humidity:  69%  Shopping  Side Trips  We will need to set our clocks BACK 1 hour as we set sail for Naples/Capri.

  

Thursday, 29-May:  At Sea.  What a great cruise.  Just to make sure you don’t get too tired from all the touring, we have another day at sea.  

 

Friday, 30-May:  Naples/Capri, Italy.  (Docked 7 AM – 7 PM)   Sorrento claims one of the Amalfi Coast's most picturesque harbors. There are so many options at Capri. You can also tour Pompeii,.Mount Vesuvius, or the blue grotto. Or, maybe you would prefer visiting the bustling city of Naples, with a unique culture that the natives still hold strong.  Currency:  Euro.  Language:  Italian.  Phrases.  High: 79  Low:  62  Humidity:  85%.  Shopping  Side Trips

 

Saturday, 31-May:  Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy (Docked  7 AM – 7 PM)  Civitavecchia is the port city of the Eternal City of Rome. A full-day tour to Rome explores some of the most famous churches, monuments, and fountains in the world: the Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, Vatican, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, and Trevi Fountain (toss a coin in the fountain to ensure your return). Sip cappuccino at a café in a piazza or window-shop among the high-fashion boutiques of Via Condotti.  Currency:  Euro.  Language:  Italian.  High: 79  Low:  62  Humidity:  85%   Shopping  Side Trips

 

Sunday, 1-Jun:  Florence, Italy (Docked 7 AM – 7 PM)  From the port city of Livorno, the riches of this remarkable region are revealed. A trip to Florence, with a stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa en route, provides some unforgettable experiences, including the Piazza del Duomo with its grand cathedral. Florence is home to the fascinating art treasures of the Italian Renaissance -- works by Botticelli, Da Vinci, and Michelangelo. A highlight is a visit to the Accademia Gallery, which houses Michelangelo's famous statue of David.  Currency:  Euro.  Language:  Italian. High: 79  Low:  62  Humidity:  85%. Shopping  Side Trips

 

Monday, 2-Jun:  Nice (Vilifranche) France (Tendered  7 AM – 8 PM)  Villefranche is set on a wooded hillside overlooking the Cote d'Azur. Shore excursions take passengers to Cannes, Nice, or Monte Carlo, or you can easily visit these Riviera gems on your own via train or choose to spend the day in Villefranche will find medieval chapels scattered throughout the village and an impressive 16th-century hilltop fortress. Another worthwhile sight is the Chapelle St. Pierre with its frescoes by Jean Cocteau. Nice has long been established as a popular resort town and rightly so, with its graceful blend of Old World charm and elegant sophistication. Many tourists find the Promenade des Anglais and the colorful square in the Old Town to be two of the city's finest sights. The museums here are superb, including the Musee Chagall, the Musee Matisse, International Museum of Naive Arts, and the Beaux-Arts Museum.  Currency:  Euro  Language:   French  Phrases  High:  74  Low:  62  Humidity:  74%  Shopping  Side Trips

 

Tuesday, 3-Jun:  at Sea.  To make sure we are not too tired before we have to get off the ship, Celebrity gives us a great last day at sea.  What a way to end a glorious trip!

 

Wednesday, 4-Jun:  Barcelona, Spain.  Can you believe we have to dock at the Port of Barcelona 5 AM!  The cruise port is located in the Ramblas area of the city which is about a 25-30 minute drive (by cab) to the airport. Currency:  Euro  Language:  Spanish, Catalan  Phrases  High: 75  Low:  60  Humidity: 85%  Shopping  Side Trips

 

Some may be leaving today for home from the Barcelona International Airport(BCN).  But for those of us who can eek out a few more days, the streets of Spain's cultural centerare lined with bistros and filled with musicians. We can visit the city center, Gaudi's fanciful, eccentric Church of the Holy Family, the Columbus statue, the 14th-century Gothic Quarter, Park Guell, the Picasso Museum, and/or the Spanish Village. Barcelona does have public transportation we can use or we might decide to do an organized day tour, visit the 1992 Olympic sites, or possibly find a night tour with a stop to see some flamenco dancers.  Who knows!  No matter what, by this time we should all be relaxed and very happy.  And, for those celebrating major milestones, it should be a trip to remember.