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Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Adventure
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items Although not all the entertainment offerings on board were ready for our March 19th sailing on Sun Princess, we still had a fabulously good time! We were thrilled with all the exciting ports on this sailing. We arrived in Rome, Italy a few days befor...
Sections
9
Transportation
Tours
Rome, Italy
Messina, Sicily, Italy
Corfu, Greece
Santorini, Greece
Transportation
Flying with Air Canada and British Airways with a stopover in London. While in Rome, we hailed Uber/taxis and also travelled by trains.
We had 2 stopovers before heading off to Rome, Italy and our first flight was cancelled a few hours before takeoff. It was a scramble to see if we could get on another flight to make our connections… it was a crazy ordeal and no one at the airport counters could really help us until we finally connected with the right person on the phone! Chris, our saviour, manag...
Air Canada
On our return flight back to Canada, we had a stopover in London with British Airways.
British Airways
A few times our Uber rides were cancelled, so sometimes we took a taxi. Make sure you learn a few basic phrases in Italian or have your Google Translate handy.
Uber Technologies Inc
So convenient - we travelled on the train from Rome to Civitavecchia to embark on the Sun Princess
ItaliaRail - Italy Train Ticket and Rail Pass Experts
Sun Princess is the Winner for Best Mega Cruise by Conde Nast Traveler - Readers' Choice Award 2024. We were on one of the first few sailings so not all the venues and performances were ready, but the ship was still spectacular.
Sun Princess - Cruise Ship
Use a site like Expedia to search for your best flight option from your departure city
Expedia Travel
Tours
Day 1 Tour: Touriks - Colosseum Underground and Arena Guided Tour
Day 2 Tour: EcoArt Travel - Skip the Line: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel with St. Peter's Basilica Access Tour
The day of our Colosseum tour was the same day as the Run Rome The Marathon which made the area right around the Colosseum super dense with crowds. Mario, our wonderful tour guide from Touriks, was able to help us navigate our way to the entrance thr...
Touriks
Sara from EcoArt Travel was our wonderful tour guide for our walk through the Vatican Museum and the impressive Sistine Chapel.
EcoArt Travel: Extraordinary Rome Tours, Tickets & Transfers
When you only have a couple days in Rome, a hop-on hop-off bus tour is a great way for the family to see the city's massive highlights without wearing out everyone's walking shoes. These buses will pass by the Trevi Fountain, Vatican City, and the Sp...
City Sightseeing Rome: Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour
Rome, Italy
“Rome was not built in a day.”
As the largest ancient amphitheater ever built, this unforgettable 200 year old marvel is definitely a site worth visiting!
If you happen to be visiting during the Run Rome The Marathon like we did, make sure you book a dedicated guided tour that includes specialized access to the Colosseum Underground and Areana Floor. It was worth every penny!
If you happen to be visiting during the Run Rome The Marathon like we did, make sure you book a dedicated guided tour that includes specialized access to the Colosseum Underground and Areana Floor. It was worth every penny!
Colosseum
St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City ~ Largest Church in the World
Vatican City
Immense collection of art and treasures ~ Must stand inside the Sistine Chapel and take in Michelangelo's work of art
Vatican Museums
Located right next to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum was the bustling, beating heart of ancient Rome. For centuries, this area served as the city's main public square.
Roman Forum
Castle of the Holy Angel ~ Popes could shelter here as it is connected to the Vatican by a tunnel
Castel Sant'Angelo
An absolute architectural marvel! The incredibly massive ancient concrete dome features a completely open center eye (oculus) that lets the natural sunlight - and rain! - pour straight down in to the middle of the temple.
Pantheon
Fontana di Trevi ~ Most famous fountain
Trevi Fountain
135 steps of the Spanish Steps is located at the foot of the French church ‘Trinita dei Monti’
Spanish Steps
Messina, Sicily, Italy
"Going to Sicily is better than going to the moon."
Messina Cathedral and Orion Fountain in the the Piazza del Duomo
Piazza del Duomo | Messina, Sicily | Attractions
60 meter high bell tower
Astronomical Clock of the Cathedral of Messina
Chapel with an octagonal dome is a memorial to war casualties and its bell tolls hourly in their memory
Tempio di Cristo Re
Corfu, Greece
“Gradually the magic of the island settled over us as gently and clingingly as pollen.”
Castle build on the peninsula into the sea and is connected to the mainland by a narrow bridge ~ hike up to the lighthouse at the top for a stunning view of the Town and Sea
Old Fortress of Corfu
Beautiful palace with colonial architectural elements ~ Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, was born here in 1921
Mon Repos Palace
Largest square in Greece
Spianada Square
Fortezza Nuova or Fortress of San Marco was built by the Venetians and is strategically located near the Old Harbor
New Fortress of Corfu
Santorini, Greece
Santorini, The One
Prettiest blue-domed church in Santorini ~ The church was restored in 1956 after an earthquake
Three Bells of Fira
Akrotiri - located 12km southwest of Firá, prehistoric settlement was buried below lava after a 16th-century volcanic explosion
Akrotiri Archaeological Site
Firá - Capital of Santorini - from the port of Skala, take a walk up the steep and winding 587 steps up to the town or skip the “hike” and take the cable-car
Fira
Oia - northern tip of Santorini and famous for its amazing sunsets - enjoy the 3 hour walking trail along the cliffs above the caldera from Firá
Oia
The famous Red Beach just below the spectacular red cliff wall - accessible along the path from the town of Akrotiri or by boat from the nearby ports
Red Beach
Ephesus/Kusadasi, Turkey
“Yurtta Sulh Cihanda Sulh ~ Peace at Home, Peace in the World”
Ancient Ruins of Ephesus - some of the most well-preserved ruins in the world - must check out the Library of Celsus and the spectacular Great Theater
Ephesus Archaeological Site
After touring the ruins of Ephesus, make sure to visit the House of Virgin Mary, a mere 20 minutes away, a highly spiritual beautiful tranquil spot to visit.
House of Virgin Mary
Kusadasi Market - We visited a carpet store that showed us their beautiful carpets that they can ship worldwide.
Kusadasi Market
This grand structure was dedicated to the Goddess of the Hunt but now in ruins, but still a must see for history lovers
The Temple of Artemis
If you have time, then Pamukkale is a wonder to take in. It is almost 3 hours away from Kusadasi, but worth the travel time to revitalize yourself in the milky-turquoise thermal pools and hot springs of this UNESCO World Heritage site
Pamukkale Thermal Pools
Athens, Greece
"Eleftheria i thannatos ~ Freedom or Death"
Acropolis - A must visit while you are in Athens
Acropolis, Athens - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Make a stop at the ultra-modern Acropolis Museum which is constructed over an actual active archaeological excavation site. You can look down at the site through the glass floors. This museum houses every surviving artifact found on the Acropolis.
Acropolis Museum (Μουσείο Ακρόπολης)
The Parthenon stands proudly atop the Acropolis ~ dedicated to the goddess Athena. Check out the pillars which are slightly curved outward, because ancient architects knew that straight lines looked warped to the human eye from a distance. This optic...
Parthenon (Παρθενώνας)
If you want to experience the energetic, beating heart of modern Athens, Monastiraki is the perfect place to sit down at a rooftop cafe for lunch or have a cold frappé coffee.
Monastiraki Square
Naples, Italy
“Vedi Napoli e poi muori ~ See Naples and die!”
Pompeii - a day trip over to explore the ancient city of Pompeii, a city that was buried by a massive volcanic eruption in 79AD
Pompeii Archaeological Site
This rumbling active volcano (last erupted in 1944) looms over Naples. A visit to its peak for a view of the Bay of Naples and a look inside its massive steaming crater
Mount Vesuvius
If time permits, this stunning monastery complex is just a short, easy walk from the Naples cruise port. The main courtyard is completely covered in beautiful, hand-painted yellow and blue majolica tiles and surrounded by peaceful citrus trees, makin...
Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the largest and most densely populated old towns in Europe.
Historic Centre of Naples