Rome: Trevi Fountain is the Place to Be - Rain or Shine

Sharon Miceli shares some photos from Rome:

I wanted to be where the action is and the Trevi Fountain is it!

By Day...

Crossing on the Crown - Day 13: Civitavecchia to Rome

Sharon Miceli has returned from her Transatlantic crossing aboard the Crown Princess, and weighs in on the various options for a transfer from the port town of Civitavecchia, where she disembarked, into Rome. Sharon...

How to get from the port to the city is a common question. It takes about an hour and a half either by road or rail and the $70 to $100 per person that the cruise lines charge for the transfer causes my callers to ask for an alternative. After all, the train costs only 4.5 Euros, approximately $6.

At tea one day I listened to a spry 70-something gal describe the walk from the port to the train station in Civitavecchia as a very easy 15 minutes. I considered this idea and also, perhaps, taking a tour from the ship and just remaining in Rome at the end. But I decided I would try the train so I could better describe it for my clients. Besides, I needed the exercise.

Civitavecchia from Google Maps: Red X on the Left is the port, Red X on the right is the train station. It really doesn't look that far.

Crossing on the Crown - Day 12: A Sweet Day in Florence

Sharon Miceli is nearing the end of her Transatlantic crossing aboard the Crown Princess, and checks in from the last port of call - Florence. Sharon....

The occasional showers that accentuated our visit to Florence, home of the Italian Renaissance, could not dampen the enthusiasm of the throngs of tourists nor lessen their numbers. The timing of the thunder, however, as I entered the Duomo, did give me pause for just a moment but the tri-colored marble monument is still standing tonight so all is well!

 The Tri-colored facade of Il Duomo

Crossing on the Crown - Day 11: A Day in Marseille

Sharon Miceli checks in from France. She's sailing on a Transatlantic crossing aboard the Crown Princess, bound for Rome. Sharon...

After a frenetic day in Barcelona I was ready to take it relatively easy in Marseille and the tourist train was just the perfect way to see this city in a relaxing, whimsical manner.

Crossing on the Crown - Day 10: Barcelona or Bust

Sharon Miceli checks in from her transatlantic crossing aboard the Crown Princess with an amazing photo tour of Barcelona, one of the true gems of the Medierranean.

I’m giving Barcelona 3 A’s for Art, Architecture and Action, oh, the action! What a happening city! Even under overcast skies and occasional sprinkles the crowds were sizeable, diverse and lively no matter where I went, and I went everywhere thanks to the hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses. 

Crossing on the Crown - Day 9: Alluring Alicante

Our own Sharon Miceli continues to file great updates from her Transatlantic voyage aboard the Crown Princess. Today, she checks in from a gem along Spain's Mediterranean coast.

Perhaps one of the least known Riviera ports amongst even my most traveled clientele is Alicante, Spain. Up until today I didn’t have much of a description to offer either except to surmise that it must be delightful being located on the romantic sounding Costa Blanca. Delightful doesn’t even do justice to this charming stop on our way to Barcelona.

Crossing on the Crown - Day 8: Rockin in Gibraltar

Sharon Miceli has successfully transited the Atlantic and reached Europe. She checked in with us after Gibraltar, her first stop on the continent:

It looked more like a foggy day in London town as we pulled into port today for a visit to the Rock. Although it is physically attached to Spain the tiny nation of Gibraltar maintains a staunch British identity and it seemed to underscore that point by rolling out dense clouds and light drizzle upon our arrival. Disappointing? To some, yes, but what makes a pub feel cozier and a freshly steeped pot of English tea more inviting than a gray day?

Crossing on the Crown - Day 7: Now Hear This

Sharon Miceli drops us another note from her Transatlantic crossing aboard the Crown Princess, with a travel accessory recommendation:

What to pack for vacation? The expense for the luxury of carrying luggage at all is prohibitive enough these days so chancing the sky high overage fees should you exceed weight limitations, perhaps because of just one extra pair of shoes, makes you think twice about every item that you pack.

The most compact item I carry is my entire music library thanks to my iPod. My trusty little pocket-sized gizmo accompanies me to the gym, to the pool and on every vacation, it’s distinctive white wires trailing from my ears and allowing me to enjoy the soundtrack of my choosing without disturbing those around me.

Crossing on the Crown - Day 6: Double Credit Days

Sharon Miceli files her latest update from the Transatlantic crossing aboard the Crown Princess.  

FREE MONEY. Need I say more? In this day and age it would be careless to ignore such an offer so it is always wise to stop by the Future Cruise Desk aboard your ship to find out how to earn some free spending money. 

Crossing on the Crown - Day 5: Decisions, Decisions

Sharon  Miceli is back with yet another report from her Transatlantic crossing on the Crown Princess:

A simple decision can alter the course of your life. Decisions you make in your home, at your office, even the decision you make every day when peering into your wardrobe can have a profound effect on your future. Making decisions is stressful. It’s no wonder we agonize over the vitally important decision called vacation, that meager ration of free time that we hope will not only renew and restore both our bodies and souls but will also add a colorful page to our scrapbook of memories. 

Suppose there was a place where all decisions were good ones, a place where you couldn’t make a mistake. Well there is. If you ask me, a cruise is the easiest vacation decision you can make, a sure thing in my opinion.

Whatever your style of vacation, I assure you that you can make it happen aboard a cruise ship. The sheer abundance and variety of activities offered aboard the Crown Princess, for instance, is a great example of how a cruise vacation makes sense for everyone.

Spontaneous Balloon Volleyball Before the Crew Talent Show

Crossing on the Crown - Day 3: An Unexpected Stop

Sharon Miceli, our Personal Vacation Manager aboard the Crown Princess for a Transatlantic crossing, checks in once again from the ship, with yet another adventure: 

I have only a select few structured activities planned for this vacation. Other than a couple of off-the-beaten-path sites that have intrigued me enough to seek out I simply plan to see where each day takes me, follow my nose. The Crown Princess is of like mind, it seems, as we have strayed from our path twice now in only 48 hours.

Exclusive Vacation Vignette on Holland America

Join Online Vacation Center's Mike Lukins aboard Holland America Line's ms Westerdam this September for a unique Vacation Vignette sailing. Mike will serve as your private Concierge Host as you cruise to the Western Mediterranean, enjoying the premium-class hospitality Holland America Line is famous for, plus a private cocktail reception and an exclusive shore event just for Vacation Vignette passengers!


The Cruise
The ms Westerdam departs Rotterdam on September 7, 2010. Enroute to Athens, you'll visit St. Peter Port, UK: Brest, France; Lisbon, Portugal; Cartagena and Barcelona, Spain; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Rome, Italy and Katakolon, Greece. It's a unique, port-intensive 12 night itinerary, with just three days spent at sea. The ms Westerdam, launched in 2004, recently received Holland America Line's Signature of Excellence enhancements, ensuring a modern, comfortable cruise experience.

Crossing on the Crown - Day 1: Sending Out an S.O.S.

Sharon Miceli, one of Online Vacation Center's Personal Vacation Managers, is sailing aboard the Crown Princess on a 14 night transatlantic cruise from Ft. Lauderdale bound for Rome. She has promised to check in from time to time throughout her journey, and her first dispatch appears below.

We've all grudgingly attended the mandatory safety drills prior to setting sail for a cruise. Each ship has it's own style of executing this unpopular task and as we obediently form ourselves into slow moving streams of orange clad zombies we are prepared to devote as much attention to lifejacket features as we do to seatbelt demos on airplanes. But have you ever wondered what would happen in a genuine emergency at sea?