Cruise in the middle of the sea – a march through the day

Day 1: Genoa

The cruise s sailed from Genoa, which as a city seemed to us very boring and confused. We didn't look at it at all, but just boarded the ship. Shortly after we left Genoa, we stopped at sea to watch some of the crew make a demonstrative evacuation with the rescue boats so that all passengers would know what to do in the event of an accident. Out of a total of 10 lifeboats, we had to be in boat number 6 – this was written on the map they gave us when checking in. We watched the demonstration from the balcony.

Day 2: Ajaccio

The next day we landed in the city of Ajaccio on the island of Corsica, where Napoleon's native house is located. The house-museum is open from 9:30 to 12:00 and then from 14:00 to 18:00. The entrance fee is 4.50 euros/person, and for children and young people under 26 years of age and from the EU is free. It was the only stop where we didn't get off the ship to explore, firstly because we were tired of the road to Genoa and secondly that it seemed to us nothing. On the other hand, we rest in the cabin, looked at the ship, ate, melted in the jacuzzi, ate again and at 19:00. We left Ajaccio to the next stop on the route.

The outfit for tonight was formal, i.e. the ladies had to wear evening dresses, and the gentlemen in suits or tuxedos. I was wearing a black dress, the prom shoes and the wedding gloves, and Simeon was wearing light trousers and the wedding shoes. First there was a cocktail from 18:15 to 19:15, where, in addition to the cocktail, we were also served bites of caviar.

Then from 19:00. until 7:30 p.m. All the passengers lined up to take pictures with the ship's captain. When it was our turn, the captain took baby Avi in his arms and stayed for the picture. This photo came out quite salty for us - as much as 16.50 euros, but there is no way - when will Avi be held by a captain another time. After filming, we visited the Broadway Theater, whose performances were free and tonight there was a concert with opera singing and classical dances. It only lasted 40 minutes – short but nice. Another already had performances dedicated to tango.

Day 3: Rome

At 8:00 a.m. We docked in Civitavekia. It is a port city, 80 km. from Rome. Since the guided tours organized by the ship cost quite a lot (minimum 40 euros/person) we decided to organize our own walk around Rome. It was the only city where I knew exactly what I wanted to see and had previously found information about what, how and where.

So, we caught the Free Shuttle Bus to the exit of the harbor, from there on foot to Civitavecchia station, from where we finally reached the Rome station by train for 9 euros/double way per person. And since the first thing we wanted to see was the Pope in the Vatican, we got on the subway there. It's good that we decided to be with the kangaroo and not with the baby carriage, because otherwise it would have been completely impossible to get into the subway because of the large crowd of people in the subway who was also going to the Vatican. Leaving the metro station and going to the Vatican, we saw many, many people returning from there.

To a huge disappointment, it turned out that we missed the Pope in a few minutes. Basically, every Sunday at exactly 12:00. is displayed and spoken from the window of the papal residence. We were in front of the Church of St. Peter at exactly 12:30. And we got very angry that we missed it. Going to Rome and not seeing the Pope is like… going to Rome and not seeing the Pope 🙂

We swallowed disappointment and decided to enter St. Peter's Basilica, which is also the largest church in the world. Entrance is free, and it costs 10 euros to go up to the dome, but please note that 551 stairs can be reached by the dome. Inside were the relics of two popes and of course many gilded elements everywhere. From there we bought 20 cards for 1 euro to distribute to the relatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Then we took the subway to the Colosseum. Meanwhile, it started to rain, but we were prepared and brought an umbrella. The entrance fee to the Colosseum was 16 euros/adult or 9.50 euros if you enter after 2:00 p.m. Children under 18 are free. The working hours are from 10:30 to 19:15. On entering, we completely rearranged the entire long line with the excuse that we were with a baby 🙂 Inside, it was not exactly as I had imagined, but it was still interesting. From there we also saw the arch of Constantine, as well as other ruins.

I can't help but mention the rude attitude of the Italians. Example: We ride in the subway and get ready to get off at the next stop. The train stops and the doors open. The Italians who wanted to get on the train did not make a way for us to get off at all, but simply pushed into us. They even looked like they were expecting us with a small baby in their hands, we are obliged to make way for them...

At 18:00. We were at the station at Civitavecchia and we have exactly half an hour to board. Well, we made it - a little rush, a little more running and finally a sprint and that's it! 🙂

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Sea-sickness

The evening after Rome, we were caught by seasick. We go to the restaurant to have dinner and start staggering from one side to the other. We wonder what's going on. Then we sit down to dinner and realize that the whole ship is shaking from the strong waves. The waiters were very funny, carrying various drinks and dishes and at the same time staggering in various directions. The first two days we felt absolutely nothing, but on the other hand, the next two days it was a bit unpleasant.

The truth is that such wobbles are rarely felt, but there is no one to guarantee when they will happen and when they will not. When she started shaking, I was very afraid for baby Avi that she would get seasick, that with vomiting and diarrhea we would probably have to get off the ship. I only felt a little guessed, but Simeon felt very sick - he got diarrhea and he felt best when he was lying on his side. Separately, the day before, Simeon got a runny nose and sore throat, but now also seasickness. By the end of the cruise, he also added cough + severe pain in the head and eyes... In general, it took a big break... After the end of the cruise, after the fact, we found out that they distributed seasick pills at the reception for all the passengers in need.

Day 4: Salerno

Near the city of Salerno is the famous volcano Vesuvius and the ancient city of Pompeii. However, we were not able to see them, as I did not have time to prepare with information on what, how and where to see due to the quick organization of the cruise. That's why we got off the ship to look at Salerno and find a pharmacy because of Simeon's health condition. It blew a lot, as it was actually at any port. We found a pharmacy and with many explanations and funny gestures we finally got the cherished nose drops and anti-diarrhea pills 🙂 The city of Salerno was the last Italian city we visited. Tonight the outfit was uncasual, i.e. semi-official. Men had to be in a shirt and trousers, the women in a dress. Yes, but we didn't really follow the etiquette.

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Day 5: By Sea

On the fifth day, we didn't stop anywhere, but only sailed to the next destination. We passed near the coast of Tunisia and a coast guard came to do an inspection. In reality, the initial route of this cruise included a stop in Tunisia, but at this time of the year there were riots and riots in Tunisia, and accordingly the cruise company decided not to stop there. It was interesting to observe how the correspondence between the ship and the coast guard proceeded - they were carrying their correspondence with a red bucket between the two vessels. There were no violations and they left. Then one of the Bulgarians on board said that while we were passing by Tunisia, there was security on both sides of the liner for greater safety.

We should have been formally dressed again tonight. What was different tonight was that the restaurant had turned off the main lights and we were all having dinner by candlelight. Suddenly, in the middle of the dinner, the waiters made a short show. Loud music rang out and all the waiters entered the restaurant, lined up behind each other, carrying each white ice cream cake with a glowing fountain on top. Then, as a compliment from the captain, there was a piece of cake and 1 cup of champagne for each passenger.

Day 6: Palma de Mallorca

At exactly 1:00 p.m. We docked at the harbor in Palma de Mallorca. That day we had decided to walk with the baby carriage. We boarded a tourist bus for 15 euros/adult. First we saw the great cathedral in Palma - it was very beautiful. There were palm trees and lots of greenery all over it. We didn't go inside because we didn't have much time. Right in front of the cathedral, we met a Bulgarian who was collecting money pretending to be a walking costume without a head.

Then we went to the beach. We had taken our bathing suits to melt, but alas, the weather was cool, there was a green flag, but no one in the water. We walked along the promenade, along which it was blowing very hard, so we took the tourist bus to a small but very nice castle at the top of a hill in the city. The castle was called Belver and from there there was a great panorama of the whole city. Entrance to the castle was free. (I had never peed in a more archaic toilet until now 🙂 – the WC was built in one of the castle towers).

Overall, our impression of Palma is that it is a very clean and neat city, with many palm trees and a Mediterranean view and is an ideal place to live. We liked it very much! We even started to think about moving to live there... 🙂

Be sure to read the travelogues of our journey with Transantlantic Cruise From Europe to Caribbean.

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Day 7: Marseille

The next day we had a day in Marseille. Already in the morning, before we landed at the harbor, we noticed in the sea bright sections through which no waves seemed to pass. So we went down to the Cote d'Azur, the French Riviera - Marseille. To our great disappointment, we did not like the city at all - a large (the second largest city in France after Paris) and dirty. Unexpectedly many negroes, Arabs and Muslims. Since we had not paid for an organized excursion, we would once again organize our tour around the city.

To begin with, we had to leave the harbor, which meanwhile is the largest port of France and in the Mediterranean Sea. We walked to his exit, which took us a long time - about 30 minutes. After leaving the harbor, from the nearby stop we boarded a city bus that took us to the center of Marseille. There we explored the Marseille Cathedral and the marina, which was huge. We wanted to get to the beach, but the distances turned out to be huge and we went back.

Day 8: Leaving the ship

As the next day cruise was over, we were warned through the day schedule sheets that we should pack our bags the night before and leave it at the door of the cabin so that at night the stewards could collect all luggage, to arrange and transport them to the port.

The next day we got up at 6:00 a.m. and at 7:00 a.m. we vacated the cabin. Then we bought gifts as a souvenir from the cruise - a belt with Barbie for baby Avi, an ultra-thin chess with magnets and a watch for Simeon for 12 euros. Then we went to pay off everything that had been collected in the card - a total of 165 euros. Most of the amount was the tips for the staff, which are mandatory for the amount of 7 euros/person per day, and we did not pay for AVI. At 9:00 we left this wonderful ship. It was a great time spent with the three of us together.

From Genoa to Bulgaria

On the way back from Italy to Bulgaria, we took the same road that we took on our way. We left at 9:00 a.m. from the port of Genoa and arrived in Plovdiv at 1:00 p.m. The next day. Our Italian highways were free, both on arrival and return. While we were filling up at a gas station, we saw two vintage cars, 1929, which were in motion and even had GPS navigation.

Slovenia passed for free again, as well as coming, but at the border with Croatia, the customs officers fined us because we had not bought a vignette. The fine was 300 euros, but when payment was immediately reduced by half. In the haste to book and prepare for the cruise, we had completely ruled out to check if it was necessary to buy a vignette somewhere and, to be honest, we didn't know we needed a vignette in Croatia. They even gave us a sheet translated into Bulgarian, where it was written what our violation was. Anyway, we paid half the amount immediately and moved on.

We supposedly stopped to spend the night, but Simeon was experiencing very severe pain in his head and could not sleep. After three hours of spinning, we decided to leave again to get back to Bulgaria faster. We were very, very tired from the road.

The interesting fact was that none of our relatives knew where we went, we didn't even tell the parents, so that they wouldn't be startled that we had taken baby Avi with us after all.

2 Adult Cost + 1 Baby

Balcony cabin - 480 euros
tips - 112 euros
ship's purchases - 53 euros
travel costs from Plovdiv to Genoa and back - 270 euros
fine in Slovenia - 150 Euro
Entrance and tolls in Rome - about 50 euros

Total: EUR 1115 = BGN 2,200