Italy and Croatia Cruise Fam
by Jeff Grieder

article continued

The beautiful "Legend of the Seas" greeted us at the Port of Civitavecchia near Rome. Part of the Vision class of ships, the "Legend of the Seas" was the perfect floating resort for this wonderful itinerary, offering the perfect amenities while sailing from one destination to another. You just wanted to relax and take in the spa or hit all of the activities and entertainment - this ship had it all.

But, let’s face it, it was all about Italy! There was so much to see and do that it was nearly impossible. The first stop? Well, that was supposed to be Portofino - but, due to weather conditions, we docked nearby in Genoa. Luckily, RCI still allowed excursions into Portofino. Once known as a fishing village, this destination has been seen in many movies and has been visited by many Hollywood names, artists, and politicians.

Then, we were off to the Port of Livorno, where we were able to visit the ever-popular Leaning Tower of Pisa. We also saw the famous Statue of David in Florence (located in the Tuscany region), where you can see the beautiful mountainsides with authentic stone houses and vineyards.

Next was a visit to Messina on the island of Sicily. Known for its complex history and roots in the Greek mythology, Messina is also fairly young in its architecture due to an earthquake in the early 1900s. However, this thriving city is still strong with its old styles.

Awake at five o’clock in the morning, I was up on deck to make sure I did not miss our arrival into Venice. Even though it was a little chilly, it was still a magical experience as the ship slowly made its way down the Main Canal to pass right in front of the famous St. Mark’s Square. There was so much to see and do in one of the most romantic cities on Earth that I cannot possibly fit everything into this article. So, please watch for my article specifically on Venice in an upcoming issue of the "OSSN E-Agent."

Our last stop in Italy before returning to Rome was Naples. With many sights to see (such as visiting Sorrento, Capri, or even the Amalfi Coast), it was not easy to decide what to do. However, for my first visit, I had to see Pompeii. This is one of the most famous excavated cities in the world. Once an active city more than 1900 years ago, it was devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. You will feel as if you have stepped back into the past when you visit the ruins and wonder what it was like back then with its stunning buildings, streets, shops, theatres, and even the public baths.

During this cruise fam, we also took in the sights of Croatia in the stunning ports of Split and Dubrovnik situated on the Adriatic Sea. Croatia offers some of the most breathtaking land and seascape views in the world. Located in Dubrovnik is the City Wall that surrounds the entire city, with a length of 6,200 feet, offering amazing views of the ocean and steep mountains of Croatia.

All good things come to an end, as we returned to Rome to disembark our cruise. But, it was not back to the United States just yet, as I took one more day to see some sights. It was an exciting history lesson as I toured the great Colosseum, the Forums, and the delightful Trevi Fountain. However, due to the continual rain, I was unable to see the Spanish Steps and, of course, St. Peter's Basilica. So, I guess I have no choice but to go back. Darn the luck!

Despite the weather and lack of time, it was still a great adventure. The trip was also complete with classes on board the ship for our travel agent attendees. They learned how to use OSSN to help with their home based travel businesses, as well as an in-depth review of the Royal Caribbean product which included a preview of the new "Oasis of the Seas." For more information on our OSSN fams, please visit OSSN's fams listings - and, for more information on Royal Caribbean, please visit www.cruisingpower.com.

Jeff Grieder is the owner of ASAP Cruise Vacations in Houston, the director of the OSSN Houston Chapter, and OSSN's Midwest Regional Manager. He may be reached via his listing (under "TX") in the OSSN chapter directors roster.

(Credits: Jeff Grieder)