Dubrovnik

We sailed into Dubrovnik past numerous offshore islands to moor in Graz Port on the northern outskirts of the town on another cloudless warm day. Arriving late morning we just had the afternoon to fill. So we walked into the port passing the Costa Delizicosa, which was tied up behind us and bought 2 tickets for the afternoon ferry to the nearest of the 3 Elaphiti Islands. Then we walked back to have lunch on board, the fish was called Cobia.

The half hour ferry ride dropped us at Kolocep Island where we walked up to see one of the tiny churches and then back to the bay for a paddle, drink and a gelato at a taverna. The islands are much more peaceful than the mainland with little to do except relax. We just stopped for a couple of hours and caught the last but one ferry back to the ship.

By the time we arrived back we had put it in another 15000 paces. The nice orange glow as the sun sets behind the headland promises a sunny day tomorrow.

Ravenna

The sun rose into a clear blue sky again. After breakfast we soaked up a few rays on our balcony, 2 sun beds and 4 loungers to choose from, before taking the 30 mins shuttle into town just before noon. We passed this way 10 years ago on our MH travels on our way to Venice. Remember the region for its big sandy beaches and acres of sunbeds. We can see beaches from the ship but the sunbeds appear to be packed away now.
Ravenna is famous for the bazantine mosiacs to be found in many basilica around the old town centre and for Dante's tomb. We managed to get to see 3 of the sites which had amazing mosiacs from floor to very high ceilings. We had  time to fit in a short break for cappuccino and panicini before catching the shuttle for 5 pm departure and enjoyed the afternoon.

We saw part of the show tonite before eating a nice meal in the Marco Polo restaurant. Dress code was 'smart chic', still a few DJ's but mostly jacket and open neck shirt. It is more  informal than any other cruise we have done.

Welcome Aboard

Welcome aboard, that's what everybody says, ad nausium, trained to do it!

We checked out of the Crowne Plaza and joined the dozens of other guests who were going on the shuttle bus. Checked in quickly at the cruise terminal and downed two glasses of bubbly before noon. No access to cabins until after 1pm so the self service restaurant was crammed.

We have a crazy amount of space, it's a family size state room with a huge balcony on the port stern corner. Excellent position for the Croatian scenery and the iconic cruise past St Marks square, the gondola stations and Doges palace at the entrance to the Grande Canal. Lots of photos on a sunny evening as we start a gentle cruise down the coast of Italy to Ravenna.

The main dining room was mad tonight with people trying to reserve tables or change reservations. We dined in the top deck self service where the food is just as good and it was deserted.

Diet is down the drain already. Three cakes and a caramel machiatta have seen to that. Need to get in some paces tomorrow.

Venice and Murano

We took the train into Venice from the station by the hotel and after a wander around caught a Vaporetto (water taxi) to the nearby island of Murano. This is the centre of Venice glass making with wall to wall glass making factories, show rooms and shops lining the canals. Some of the glass art is spectacularly beautiful with prices to match, while other stuff is difficult to distinguish from Chinese copies.


The shops claim everything is genuine so I have a genuine Murano glass Shaun the Sheep to add to my collection.

Murano is much quieter than Venice but still has some nice churches and restaurants to attract the tourists. We took a break and had a nice long seafood lunch off the main drag to cool down from the sunny warm day.

We were waiting for a Vaporetto back to the station when one appeared for St Marks square so we took that instead. It goes all the way round the outside of Venice before entering the Grande Canal so it was a pleasant cruise. Needless to say it was much busier at St. Marks with tour groups and gondoliers in abundance. We had seen the main Venice sights before so we just walked back to the station via the Rialto bridge. It was a lot further than we both remembered and required a gelato and a Spritz break.

We picked up a snack to take back to the hotel and caught the 6:40 train as the sun was setting over the lagoon. Pretty tiring way to start the holiday (15,000+ steps) but it will be a rest day tomorrow as we join the Celebrity Constellation. Seem to be quite a few Americans in the hotel tonight so I guess they are fellow cruisers.

Fly to Venice

We have just arrived for the start of our cruise on Thursday. We are staying at Crowne Plaza hotel in a quiet eastern suburb 30mins by train from Venice. Good flight by Easyjet from Luton, after staying with Mark and Cristina and having a nice afternoon tea with the whole family at Luton Hoo.

The shuttle bus picked us up at the airport as arranged and we have booked another to take us to the cruise terminal.

Pre Cruise preparations

Today marks the beginning of the cruise holiday. We are off to Luton to have afternoon tea at Luton Hoo before spending the night at Marks house. Then tomorrow we fly out to Venice by Easyjet.

Cruising count down.

The hotel is booked in Venice, well just outside, for two nights before we cruise. We decided it was easier to fly back from Barcelona immediately afterwards so an afternoon flight is booked with Easyjet.