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Ship stuff - part 1
There is no denying that MSC Europa is a massive and busy ship. That won't suit everyone.... there were times when we just needed time in our cabin to escape the business.
But there is so much to do on board. I was grateful for a sea day where we could focus on the ship facilities.
Featured in this video:
Lego kids area- my daughter doesn't like kids clubs. She prefers spending time with us. But for several hours a day there was a large kids playroom open foe families to enjoy together. This had LOTS of lego and duplo. Colouring, video games and fussball.
Silent disco- there was no shortage of entertainment on board (see my previous reel) but one of our favourite nights was the silent disco on the promenade
Slide- from deck 18 to 8 the Venom slide is great fun. We rode it a few times during our cruise.
Pools and water slides- I didn't get any footage of the water slides as we only tried them on the first day. But we spent plenty of time in the pools and hot tubs. There is a choice of pools depending on how busy or quiet you wanted it to be. We preferred the Botanic pool. There is also a kids splash pool area. Lots of sunbeds around the pools and a few hot tubs dotted around.
Roller skating- my daughter learnt how to skate on the cruise. Skating wad available for 3 hours most days. Some days it was busier than others.
@msccruisesofficial
#msceuropa #msccruise #silent disco #rollerskating
Our last full day on holiday did not disappoint. Having started our holiday with Vesuvius, I was really excited to visit Pompeii.
My mind cannot comprehend the passage of time. 2000 years!
We were very lucky to have our own tour guide. Having learnt about the Roman's at school my daughter was keen to guide us around the Roman ruins. I'm pretty sure she took artistic license with some of her "facts" but it kept her entertained and the tour only cost us €20 including the unlimited hugs and kisses add on package.😂
If you would like an actual expert guide, I can include this in your package along with lots of other excursions across Italy.
#italy #pompeii #pompei #pompeiitaly #pompeiitour
Ship shows!
We were overwhelmed with the shows available on our ship @msccruisesofficial Europa.
If these shows were in the West End we would have spent hundreds of 💷 to see 2+ quality shows every evening.
With 3 different venues there was something for everyone. My daughter was obsessed with the interactive dance shows in Luna Park. The audience stands (dances!) around a stage and are invited to participate at various points during the show. Lots of cheesy pop tunes, colourful clothing and fun graphics on the screen, perfect for a 9 year old.
Meanwhile in the World Theate more traditional stage shows with Broadway tunes and rock anthems.
We never made it to the Panorama theatre for a show but popped in for the 90s disco.
Tickets "sell" out fast for the shows. The agenda for the following day was released the night before with tickets to shows becoming available. Some exceptions when the same show was on a couple of times during the week. It was easy enough to get booked on or to squeeze in on a cancellation on the night.
I lost track of how many different shows there were but at least 3 per night across the 3 venues, you won't be short of entertainment during your cruise.
#cruiseentertainment #msceuropa #msccruiseagent #cruiseexpert #medcruise
Nothing much planned for Marseille. So we just got the free bus from the port to the town centre. This was a massive saving against the €30+ for the transfer being offered by the cruise line. I always recommend looking at the website for the port you are calling at to see if there is a cheaper way to get from the ship to town. Just remember it is your responsibility to get back to the ship on time.
We wandered around the streets and alleys drawn to the amazing street art and indie shops. Here is just a selection of those we found interesting.
Enjoy!
#streetart #marseille #marseillestreetart #cruiseport #cruisetransfer
My 3rd visit to Barcelona having joined 2 cruises from here in 2022. I knew exactly what I wanted to do during our day in port.
I had admired Sagrada Familia from the outside on both previous visits so this time I wanted to see from the inside and learn more about Gaudi's vision for this ongoing project.
It was fascinating as a Christian to learn about the meaning behind so many of the architectural decisions he had made.
Entering via the facade depicting the Nativity and exiting through the Passion facade. Mathew, Mark, Luke and John represented on 4 of the pillars in the centre and externally on 4 of the 18 towers of the architects design. 12 apostles, 4 evangelists, the Virgin Mary represented by the Morning Star and one day when the basilica nears completion the tallest tower to represent Jesus Christ. The completed building will stand 173.5m upon completion, specifically shorter than nearby Montjuic hill so as not to surpass God's own natural creation.
The building is due to be completed in 2 years time having began construction 144 years earlier. Gaudi dedicated the final 12 years of his life completely to this project before his untimely death, but left detailed drawings and models of his design for the future project managers to decipher.
I can't wait to see the finished project so a further trip to Barcelona will be needed in a couple of years.
#sagradafamilia #Barcelona #gaudi #barcelonatravel
We came out of the Rotunda and this display began. Part of the Feast of the Assumption celebrations, air raid sirens blasted out for 20 minutes with various firework explosions from the tip of neighbouring buildings. The display represents the war but specifically the night of 9th April 1942 when 2 bombs fell on the church and by some miracle did not explode.
#mosta #mostadome #Malta #feastoftheassumption
Second stop on our cruise was Malta. I've many clients who have visited the island so I was intrigued to see what it's all about.
I booked an excursion to visit Mdina and Mosta, just 4 hours for this one which I was grateful for as my day in Sicily had been loooooong.
Mdina was really interesting and our guide explained that 235 people are currently registered as living in the old capital. Protected by a 3m wall it would have been difficult to invade. But if invaders did get inside the narrow maze of bendy streets would soon have them lost. The streets serve two purposes; narrow so as to create shade in the Mediterranean heat and bendy so that if you were running to escape an invader they would lose sight of you behind the bend and their shot at you wouldn't navigate the bends.
Continuing to Mosta our visit was to Rotuna of Mosta, the third largest unsupported dome in the world. This church hosted 300 parishioners on 9th April 1942 when 2 German bombs fell through the roof. By some miracle the bombs did not explode and one remains in the church as a symbol of this miracle.
We visited on 14th August, the day before the festival of The Feast of the Assumption. So there were ongoing preparations for the following day. Large statues adorned the streets, flags and other decorations ahead of the public holiday. The statue of Santa Maria is paraded from the church on this day.
Check out my next video for a taste of the celebratory display we encountered during our short visit.
#malta #mdina #mosta #rotunda #mostadome #feastoftheassumption #maltesefestival
Afelter visiting Etna we visited Taomina in Sicily.
Based along the main pedestrian street, small alleyways branch off with colourful decoration.
Food is a massive part of Sicilian culture. One street to a restaurant is so small that you know you have had a good meal when you can't fit through the alley back down to the main road.
#sicilyholiday #Taomina #sicilianfood #cruiseexcursion
Mount Etna did not disappoint. Very different to the experience at Vesuvius.
She is currently in a state of activity but locals see that as a good thing. While she is smoking up top she is releasing some pressure so there shouldn't be any surprises elsewhere.
Black soot covers the streets in the villages at the base of Etna. Piles of it are swept to the side of the road. Unsurprisingly homeowners in these villages can't get home insurance.
The volcanic soil means that Sicily is rich in produce; lemons 🍋 avocado 🥑 grapes 🍇 pistachio 🥜 and lots more.
#activevolcano #mtetna #etna #sicilyholiday #sicilytourism #sicilytravel
Travel day yesterday back to Naples to start our cruise.
Trenitalia trains are really comfortable and spacious. It was easy to locate our connection and follow pie journey onboard.
To get from Naples Centrale station to the port we took the metro at just €1.50 each. In the 13 minutes we waited for the next train the platform filled. However the train arrived empty so there was enough space. 3 stops later and we were right at the cruise terminal. Very convenient and a fraction of the cost a taxi would have cost us.
#trenitalia #napolicentrale #msccruise
First day in Italy
I was a bit nervous about our journey to Vesuvius today. Internet research suggested it was possible to get there on local transportation rather than the €20pp bus. But the directions weren't clear and I always get a bit anxious when travelling with my husband and and daughter.
We took the bus from Naples to Torres del Greco. A 2 minute walk up the road then from where the onwards bus would take us up to Vesuvius.
The onwards bus was late and another bus turned up in the meantime. In broken English the driver told us he would only go half way up so we stepped off but another family stayed on. Once the correct bus turned up we passed the other family who were now walking up the windy road. Thank goodness we hadn't joined them on the first bus. I just hope they found another bus to get them to the top.
Once at "the top" there is then a 30 minute walk to the crater. It's a steep walk but manageable at a steady pass. Once at the crater it then takes another 30 mins to walk around the crater with a few shops selling tourist tat and cold drinks along the way.
Coming back from Vesuvius we attempted the buses again. We got the bus back to Torres del Greco but the onwards bus to Naples didn't show. Rather than waiting any longer we walked the 15 mins to the train station.
Despite this it was super easy to get there and back on local transportation and for the 3 of us cost €27
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Flying home today but not before a final stop in mainland Portugal. 2 hour with our tuk tuk driver around the historic city.
Definitely worth a trip back one day
#lisbon #fredolsen #cruiseexcursion #bolette #tuktukride
The highlight of my trip so far, a behind the scenes tour of @fred.olsencruiselines Bolette. This experience is available for guests to book and I highly recommend.
The below deck operation prior and during a sailing is phenomenal. Enough food for a 2 week cruise (and longer) is loaded in the UK. The food in this video is what is left after over a week of sailing.
We also saw inside the engine room (no videos allowed) and popped by some of the crew areas.
#fredolsen #bolette #behindthescenes
Lovely morning excursion in Madeira today.
We saw pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins 🐬
Great way to see the coastline and some different views of @fred.olsencruiselines Bolette.
#madeira #cruiseexcursion #bolette
Sea days are not boring onboard.
The food and drinks onboard are all part of the @fred.olsencruiselines experience. This afternoon we had a session with Neil, the sommelier to learn about the onbaord wines and a cooking demonstration creating an authentic Portugese Pastel de Nata.
These experiences are available for customers to book and are tailored to the region you are cruising.
#fredolsen #cruising #food experience #cruisefood #cruisefoodie
Experiencing the product is the best way for travel agents to learn but it isn't all fun and games.
This morning we had an informative session with the lovely Hayley and Jo from @fred.olsencruiselines who were joined by the hotel manager, entertainment manager and future cruise manager to teach us all about the unique selling points of Fred Olsen
Small ships
Unique itineraries
Family owned
Customer focused service
I've lots of clients that I know will love this. I'll be in touch with you when I get home
#fredolsen #smallshipcruising #uniquedestinations
Great day in port today.
I had a wander around Ponta Delgada this morning, followed by a jeep tour of Sete Cidades this afternoon.
Our guide was so knowledgeable about the formation of the island.
#azores #saomiguel #fredolsen
Such beautiful spaces available on Bolette. These videos were taking on a port day so quieter as lots of people off exploring but even on days at sea there are lots of nooks and crannies to get a moment of peace.
#bolette #fredolsen #cruising #cruiseexpert #cruisetravelagent
