Normally, I like to write detailed descriptions of our cruises with a few pictures to accompany the blog, but with this beautiful ship, seeing is believing and you really need to see some of the great pictures we took in order to fully appreciate the Celebrity Eclipse. I hope you enjoy!

It never fails.  Whenever I mention that I have sailed with Disney Cruise Line, the first question I am asked is: "How did your daughter like it?".  Then I have to explain, somewhat sheepishly, that my daughter did not go along, that it was just my husband and I.  Some regard me with a perplexed look and let it drop.  Others ask how I enjoyed the cruise with all those kids.  Most certainly don't stay around to hear how I think that Disney Cruise Line has something special to offer adults.  So, this is my chance to let you in on a little secret: Disney Cruise Line is great for adults traveling alone, and here are my reasons why.

1. Gorgeous, Sparkling Ships

Disney went above and beyond when designing the aesthetic of their ships.  They hearken back to ocean liners with a dark hull, not black because that is not allowed, but a very dark navy blue.  The life boats are yellow to match the color of Mickey's shoes, which required special permission from the Coast Guard; but they match the rest of the ship so perfectly that it would be difficult to imagine the typical orange eyesores.  The wraparound promenade deck immediately made me think of the movie Titanic, with its teak loungers.  Art Deco or Art Nouveau is the style of the interior decor, depending on the ship, with a Dale Chihuly glass-blown chandelier in the atrium.  Sure, if you are looking for Mickey, you will find him; but the surprise is: you do have to look.  Disney is long known for placing "hidden Mickeys" around their theme parks, outlines of Mickey which are hidden in plain sight, and the Disney Cruise Line continues this tradition throughout the ship.  

Not only are the ships beautiful, but they are sparkling clean as well.  I have never seen a crew working so hard to keep a ship looking brand new as I did on the Disney Magic.  You will not find these ships looking rough around the edges in any way, shape or form.  With the higher percentage of children, they seem to double down on sanitizing and cleanliness.  And that is something that an adult can certainly appreciate. 

2. Large and Impressive Standard Staterooms

With the majority of the staterooms starting at 200 sq. ft., Disney has some of the largest standard staterooms in the business. Yes, there are even inside staterooms with that square footage. Additionally, almost all staterooms include the double bathroom concept, which Disney has pioneered with a sink and small tub in one room, and a sink, toilet and shower in another.  Even with only two adults, this feature is a godsend.  All staterooms include a sofa which can fold out to form a bed, and are beautifully decorated.  The Disney Dream and Fantasy have also added a new feature for inside staterooms: a virtual porthole which shows a real-time ocean view of what your cabin would see, were it on the exterior of the ship.  Fun characters from Finding Nemo float across from time to time (for those of us who are kids at heart).

3. Extensive Adults-Only Spaces

Most cruise lines have an area set aside for adults only.  Usually it includes some hot tubs, lounge chairs, maybe a pool.  Well, Disney ships have all that and more.  Inside the adults only deck area, there is a coffee bar as well as a traditional bar which you can enjoy with the guarantee of no kids hanging around.  Remember what I said about Disney going overboard on cleanliness because of kids? Well, the same holds true with adult amenities.  It seems that because they know their reputation, they provide more for adults than most other cruise lines.  In addition to the deck areas, there is also a night club district on every ship that is exclusive to adults in the late evenings.  (Sometimes the largest lounge has family comedy in it around 7:00, but after that, no kids!) The spa is top of the line with couples suites, complete with ocean view hot tubs and all the relaxation you can afford. The Rainforest room in the spa deserves a special shout out for aromatherapy scented steam rooms and showers.  

And how could I complete a section on adults only spaces without talking about the specialty restaurants?  Palo, an Italian-themed restaurant on all ships, is quite simply the best specialty restaurant that I have visited at sea. (And a bargain at only $20) The chocolate souffle is famous for a reason: a fluffy chocolate exterior with rich, creamy liquid chocolate inside and vanilla bean sauce or extra chocolate sauce to pour in.  The flatbreads, pastas, and entrees also impress, but my favorite thing about Palo is the brunch held on sea days.  Imagine an upscale buffet with seafood, salads, cheeses, pastries, desserts and more with a made to order menu featuring chicken parmesan and handmade pizzas.  

Remy, on the Disney Dream and Fantasy, is the most expensive specialty restaurant at sea ($75) and features French specialties.  Both restaurants are adults-only, and on the two newer ships, there is an adults only bar between the two restaurants called the Meridian Lounge.

4. Great adult entertainment

I must concede that the Disney produced shows are geared toward Disney fans and families.  Some are so sappy I found myself rolling my eyes continually.  But, the comedians, magicians and other performers are decidedly NOT Disney and almost always perform an extra "adults-only" show in one of the lounges after the second dinner seating.  Every single night there is some sort of show or activity geared especially to adults with a themed dance party following.  One night was the tried and true marriage game; another a Quest-style scavenger hunt (bras and all).  We were never bored in the evenings before or after dinner, and always looked forward to whatever offering they had for adults.  The "assistant cruise director" is entirely focused on adult entertainment, and has a personality to match.  Again, they are trying very hard to help you realize that this line is not just for kids.  Add in the true movie theatre with first-run 3D movies (even adult features like "Up In the Air") and the large variety of drink tastings around the ship, and adults are unlikely to get bored, even without the casino.   

To conclude, I don't think that Disney Cruise Line is for all adult couples.  If a casino is important to you, you will be disappointed.  If you like show girls in your main theatre entertainment, you won't see them here. (Unless you count Ariel and Jasmine; they have somewhat skimpy costumes.) And you certainly won't forget that you are on a Disney ship with characters walking around, Disney music playing in the elevators and halls, and main dining spaces called Lumiere's.  "But what about the kids all over the ship?", you might ask. The kids programs are so extensive and large that you don't see the kids running around the ship like you might expect.  They even have a program where they serve the children their dinner quickly, then sweep them away to go play so that their parents can enjoy a longer meal.  The bottom line is, if you like Disney and want an amazing cruise experience, you can have it on this line, even without your children.

During the past week, I have seen many articles questioning the safety of cruise ships or questioning whether cruising is a good idea. I've talked to people who have never cruised before who are citing the Costa Concordia accident as a reason they will never cruise.  These reactions make me sad, and I believe much of the news coverage has been misleading.
 
Now, I certainly don't believe that cruising is perfect. I understand the negative side of the industry (and if you'd like a sobering breakdown of many cruise negatives, check out cruiselawnews.com).  But, I still believe that cruising is a great vacation at an amazing value with an incredible safety record.  So, what I want to do here is set the record straight a bit and look at why you should still cruise, in spite of  the Costa Concordia.

1. Cruising is the safest form of transportation.
Why has this Costa Concordia thing been such a huge deal? Because it NEVER happens. I know that now it has happened, and certainly there have been incidents in the past, but there is no way the fatalities from a cruise accident could compete with car travel, air travel or even just walking as far as danger goes.  Think about it: even on this very ship which did have a horrible tragedy, more than 99 percent of the people on the ship survived.  The images and realities of the accident are terrible, and I am not trying to downplay it, but let's think logically here. There are over a hundred mega ships sailing constantly with no incident. Have you even heard of Costa Cruise Lines before this incident? They are a huge line with 14 ships, and yet most North Americans had no idea who they were. I know it is easy to react to something like this with a snap decision "oh, well then I just won't cruise", but it really makes no sense if you look at the facts.

2. Cruising is a great value.
While cruising cannot really claim to be all-inclusive due to tips, port fees, shore excursions and other discretionary expenses, it still comes very close at a great price.  Let's look at a 4 day cruise at $269 per person, a fairly cheap, but not unheard of fare I found.  For a couple, you are at $540.  For that price, you get a hotel room for 4 nights, 24 meals (and any snacks), plus at least 3 nights of entertainment, and transportation to some amazing places. Even if you are paying $100 per night, it is a great deal.  You try to do that on a land vacation, and let me tell you from experience, you will be staying at Days Inns and eating at McDonalds.

3. Cruising provides a completely new vacation experience.
If you have never cruised, it is hard to properly explain how different a cruise vacation is from anything you have done before.  One of the things that stands out to me is the service.  I am not used to maid service in hotels being all that great.  I almost never see them, and am hardly ever impressed enough with the job they have done to take notice.  On a ship, they clean your room twice a day and often really attempt to get to know you.  They do fun things like towel animals, and have always exceeded my expectations.  Servers are there, waiting on your every whim.  You never have to throw away trash or put away dishes; just leave it and they will take care of it.  In fact, it is somewhat disconcerting to try and find a trash can when you actually need one because they are kind of rare.  I have never felt as pampered as I do on cruise ships, even on value lines.


Another entirely new vacation experience that I think only comes from cruising is the social aspect.  On the first night of our first cruise, we participated in a scavenger hunt and met people who we spoke to for the rest of our cruise.  It was then that I began to realize how different this experience would be.  I can't explain how cool it is to make friends on vacation that you keep in touch with later, to sit down and have a conversation from a different culture or to play trivia with a group of amazing, brash and sassy single ladies from New York City. (Shout out to 5 Girls and a Guy, the winners of progressive trivia on the very first Carnival Magic sailing!)  Even people who aren't usually social find themselves being sucked in by the ease of meeting people on a cruise ship.  Don't believe me? Just ask my husband.  In fact, on our most recent cruise, the absolute best part of the whole thing was our dining room tablemates who we ended up spending entire days with.  Where else is it not weird to hang out with complete strangers on your vacation?

I have one more thing to cite about cruising that sets it apart from other vacations, and that is the food.  You can try something new with no risk because you can always order something new.  Have you ever wished that you could order anything off the menu or two different appetizers? On a cruise, it is almost encouraged.  Even people who don't wish for their entire vacation to be focused on food will appreciate the variety and availability aboard without having to consider the cost.  

Whether or not you choose to cruise in the future is, of course, up to you, but I will continue to enjoy what I consider to be one of the best vacation values available.   

   We just returned from our back to back cruises, and I am still in that weird, "am I really back from vacation?" phase.  But, I am ready to begin dishing about what I loved on our two cruises.  To initiate the unknowing, James and I recently embarked on two separate cruises that sailed back to back. The first was the Voyager of the Seas, and it was a 7 day sailing which stopped in Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Falmouth, Jamaica.  The second was the Carnival Elation, a 5 day cruise, which stopped in Progreso and Cozumel.  The two cruises were entirely different experiences and gave us a lot of content, which we look forward to sharing with you.  So, without any further ado, my favorites...

1. The Crew on the Carnival Elation

   When we boarded the Elation after sailing on the Voyager of the Seas for a week, we were slightly let down.  It's not that the ship isn't nice, it's that it is so much smaller and less impressive than what we had become accustomed to.  Our room had an 80's feel to it, the decor seemed somewhat over the top and garish, and we were afraid that perhaps we had outgrown Carnival.  Then we met the crew.  First, we encountered the sensational bartender, John from the Phillipines who remembered our first and last names, just from us buying the Coke card.  From that point on, we had a friend on board who always remembered our drinks and took the time to talk with us.  We had great experiences with guest services who always took care of our questions quickly and efficiently, while providing a personal touch and debated the pros and cons of the Kindle Fire vs the iPad with me (there were no other guests in line).  Our dining room waiter, John from India, never got an order wrong and went over and above to make sure we had a great time from really selling out on the dances to chatting with us and a million other little things that make a great server.  The entertainment staff made sure we had a blast, and took great care of James when he ended up in a production show (more about that later).  By the end of the cruise, we were certain that not only had we NOT outgrown Carnival, but it was probably our favorite cruise line.  The crew is a large part of the reason. 

2. The Peace in the Caribbean

   I've never been much of a beach person, but after practically being in a Corona commercial, I have to admit that for a relaxing vacation, it is hard to beat the calm, clear waters of the Caribbean.  I read more books than I have ever read on a vacation.  I sat around and chatted with strangers who became friends more than anywhere else.  I've always touted a cruise vacation as the best for relaxation, but I think that you can take that even further with a Caribbean cruise vacation.  Less to do does not mean boring...

3. Authentic Food

  While the ship's food was fine, the best food we had was on shore in Mexico and Jamaica.  Most of it was so good that I chowed down before getting pictures (I'm sorry!).  There is certainly something to be said for excellent, authentic versions of favorites like tacos, grilled shrimp, quesadillas, jerk chicken, salsa, beans and rice, flan... oh the list goes on.  If you are in the Caribbean, don't forget to eat. Sure, you pay a little extra because it isn't covered by the cruise, but it is sooo worth it. And folks, Margaritaville doesn't count.

4. All-Inclusive Resorts

   In my humble opinion, there is no better way to experience the Caribbean than from the shade of an umbrella at an all-inclusive resort.  Your food and drinks are included and usually come to you in your comfy chair. You can swim... or not. You can read... or not.  The two resorts we discovered on this trip were very different from each other, but each were totally satisfying and worth the money.  Pictured above is the lazy river at Hilton Rose Hall in Jamaica, bookable through jamaicaforaday.com and the "Corona" picture further up in the blog is from Nachi Cocom in Cozumel.  I highly recommend both, and hope to return in the future. 

5. Table 208

   On our Carnival cruise, something really cool happened.  We met some amazing people that quickly became great friends.  I know, you are thinking, well, we always meet great people on cruises and enjoy that. What makes this so special?  Honestly, I am not sure.  But, for some reason we four couples clicked and ended up on excursions together, and spent almost the entire last 2 days of the cruise together.  I have never met people that I wanted to be part of my vacation as much as these people, and the fact that the feeling was reciprocal and that they wanted to hang with all of us as well is truly rare.  Our honeymoon couple (on the far right) even said that they are hesitant to cruise again because they are afraid it won't be as good regarding table mates and friends on the ship.  Truthfully Kyle, it isn't always as good, but you have to keep cruising in hopes that it might be like that again.  Thank you Carnival for seating like people together at dinner. Thank you John, our server, for letting us be as crazy as we were.  And most of all, thank you Joe, Sally, Matt, Lisa, Kyle and Robyn for making this cruise the best.  I hope we get to cruise together again in the future. 

   Well, that is it.  We have many, many more things to share about the cruises, ports and ships, but these are the things that will have set these cruises apart for me when I think back in the future.  Stay tuned for much more, including how James ended up doing an Elvis dance in a show.

  The time has come.  I have spent the past two days emptying my DVR to the point where the only unwatched episodes are Grimm ( I want to like it, but I just don't.) The house sitter is ready to go, so stay away thieves! Our two year old is ready for the grandparents and will enjoy two weeks of children's museums, Christmas cookie making and her first professional theatre performance (Annie).  And James and I? Well, we look forward to two weeks of trivia, reading fluffy romance novels (well, that's me. James is finally reading "The Hunger Games"!) and delicious food round the clock. Did I mention karaoke?

  But, let's get to what you want to hear about... where we are going and what ships we will be on.  We are leaving out of the great city of New Orleans on the Voyager of the Seas and then the Carnival Elation.  We will be hitting Cozumel twice as well as Progreso, Falmouth, and Grand Cayman.  And you know, being the CruizeCast crew, that we have detailed plans for each port.  But, I'm not giving away our plans just yet.  You should know that we will be crossing one of the 7 Wonders of the World off our list. But don't worry, our travels won't only be historically centered.  (That's is sort of impossible in the Caribbean.) So, we will be hitting up some great all-inclusive beaches also.  
  
  Follow the hashtag #NOLACruize on twitter for updates and pictures during the cruise, and keep a close eye on the blog to read about our adventures.  If you have any questions about either of the ships or any of the ports that we can research for you, please be sure to comment and we will do our best to find the answer.  Podcasts will be released on schedule, so don't forget to tune in!

 When looking at the cost of a cruise in the Mediterranean, one of the largest expenses is shore excursions.  Most people assume that since they are in a foreign country, it makes sense to pay the high price for cruise sponsored excursions.  While these excursions do provide the traveler the guarantee that the ship will not leave without them as well as a licensed guide, many ports are so easy to tour on your own that the DIY option is certainly worth considering.  When my husband and I first began planning a trip to Europe, we read up on our Rick Steves and when we decided to make that trip a cruise, we just used that same information to tour our port cities cheaply and efficiently.  That being said, some ports are easier than others to tour on your own, (and there are a few that I would suggest ONLY using the ship's tours).  These are the top 5 Mediterranean cruise ports that we consider the easiest and best to tour on your own.

1. Barcelona, Spain
  Often an embarkation port, Barcelona is ideal for independent touring.  Transportation is great in Barcelona with a quick, cheap shuttle at the foot of the Ramblas which runs to and from the cruise terminal.  From there, top attractions of Barcelona are within easy walking distance like the old Gothic quarter with its Cathedral and picturesque and twisty alleys, and the La Ribera neighborhood which houses the Picasso Museum and the Gothic architecture of Santa Maria del Mar.  Or, you can take the inexpensive and clean metro up to Gaudi's masterpiece church, La Sagrada Familia.  Barcelona also has the best deal in transportation that we have found anywhere with the T10 card which costs 7.80 euros, but can be shared between members of your group and allows for 10 trips on public transit, including the RENFE train which goes all the way to the airport. Beaches are also an easy walk, if that is your preferred activity.

2. Valletta, Malta
  You don't even need to use public transportation to see the main sites of Valletta as the cruise terminal is directly below the town within easy walking distance.  Valletta is small, with attractions like the St. John's Co-Cathedral simple to find and tour.  In Malta, there is no language barrier since they speak English here.  The architecture is captivating, and it is a treat to "get lost" in the old town, finding little hole-in-the-wall restaurants to enjoy Mediterranean fare and a glass of wine.  It is hard to imagine having as enjoyable an experience being led around in a large group with a tour guide.  Even farther flung sites like Mdina and the megalithic temples can be easily reached by bus, and with the station directly above the cruise terminal, all of Malta is at your fingertips.

3. Dubrovnik, Croatia
  Cruisers can come into Dubrovnik in one of two ways.  Some ships tender passengers directly to the gate of the Old Town, while others dock at the terminal a couple of miles away.  If tendering, one only needs to walk around the city to tour independently.  If docked, there is a reasonable priced shuttle which drops you off right outside the walls of the Old Town.  Those feeling especially independent can save even more money by taking public transit or by walking the two miles.  Once in the Old Town of Dubrovnik, you have easy access to the top attraction:  walking the perimeter on the city walls which provides breathtaking scenery and views.  You could also duck into a number of old monasteries or churches, or you could ride the gondola up to the fortress above the city which boasts more amazing views as well as a small museum on the recent war in the 90's which destroyed much of Dubrovnik.  Shopping is also a pleasure, and eateries are geared toward cruisers.

4. Naples, Italy
  Up to this point, my choices have been largely uncontroversial, but this one might raise a few eyebrows due to the negative reputation of Naples.  So why, when Naples is known for being somewhat unseemly and potentially dangerous, would I suggest to tour it on your own?  My answer is simple: some of the best attractions in the Naples area are not on any ship excursion.  Sure, you can take an overpriced excursion to Pompeii, but to see the art from Pompeii as well as a wealth of other ancient sculpture, you must go to the Naples Archaeological Museum.  This museum is one of the true gems of Europe, and is often not crowded (likely due to its exclusion from cruise shore excursion itineraries).  And, it is a relatively easy walk up on of the most touristy streets of Naples, or you could easily take a bus. 
  Another site which gets no love from cruise ships, but is certainly worth touring is the Royal Palace at Caserta.  The palace, built shortly after Versailles, was to rival the famous French palace.  With its amazing gardens, complete with waterfalls and gorgeous statuary, one feels transported back in time.  The palace itself also impresses, with room after room of gold leaf and rich brocades.  The train ride to Caserta is only slightly longer than the train to Pompeii, and the palace is across the street from the station. 
  Taking a train from Naples does require more planning than some other ports, but the payoff can be extremely high.  It allows you to spend all day in Sorrento if you prefer, or to combine a trip to Pompeii with lunch at one of Naples famed pizza parlors and an afternoon visit to the Archaeology Museum.  My warning or caveat for Naples would be that you MUST do your research.  Don't expect to just step off the boat and find your way or wander around Naples.  If you don't have time for planning, absolutely take a shore excursion.

5. Civitavecchia, Italy (Rome)
  Most people assume that since Rome is an hour away from the cruise port of Civitavecchia, they must take a shore excursion to get to the Eternal City.  But, with a little bit of prior knowledge, it is quite easy to take the train to Rome, allowing you to tour at your own pace.  The station in Civitavecchia is a short walk from the cruise terminal, and an all day ticket which allows you to travel to and from Rome, plus metro and bus travel within the city is only 9 euros.  If you are like we were, you want to see all the major sites in Rome in one day: Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, Vatican and St. Peters.  Alas, no shore excursion dares to complete all that in one day, so we created our own itinerary which we completed by 5 pm.  (Podcast Itinerary- A Day in Rome) Other great sites like the Basilica di San Clemente and St. John's Lateran are also absent from shore excursion itineraries.
  Some concerns may arise about touring Rome independently, one being the lack of a guide. But, guided tours are easy to come by at both the Colosseum and the Vatican, with private guides costing extra.  The other concern would be getting back to the boat in time, but with most boats leaving Civitavecchia at 9 pm or later, as long as you make sure you are on a train by 7, there should be no issue. (We have always completed our touring and headed back by 4:30, even with our full schedule.)


  Shore excursions can be a great option for travelers who don't have time to plan, or who just want the security, but in many Mediterranean ports it makes sense to weigh your options before plunking down lots of cash.  As always, each traveler should feel comfortable with their decision and decide what is right for them.

   On this cool morning in southern Alabama with no European trip on the immediate horizon, I am wishing I was in Florence.  It is strange to have fallen in love with a city that is so different from where I come from, which contains delights that I didn't even know existed a few years ago, but I guess the saying is true "you can't choose who (or what) you love."

    Travel writers always seem so worldly, like they have always known about the world at large, where they wanted to visit and such, but they just haven't gotten the chance to reach the fulfillment of their knowledge until they visited these places.  Perhaps I am projecting, but I feel like the complete opposite.  I didn't care about tons of things until I traveled.  And I bet there are still millions of experiences and places that I am currently closed off to and entirely unknowledgable of (Asia and South America come to mind). So, I am not ashamed to admit that I didn't really even know Florence existed until I stumbled across a Samantha Brown show a few years ago.  All my life I had heard of Venice, Rome, and even knew the names of Naples and Milan, but for some reason, Florence wasn't on my radar.  I had, of course, heard of the David, but had no idea where it might be and didn't really care.  I knew of the Renaissance, but was still in the mindset where it didn't really matter to me where it started.

  On that television special, Samantha actually seemed a little off her guard in Florence, commenting on problems she had with bathrooms among other things that we Americans tend to find disconcerting.  I remember thinking that the Duomo looked pretty, but that Florence probably wasn't my kind of place.  My Florentine education continued with a musical entitled "A Light in the Piazza" which I didn't actually see, but had the soundtrack for.  It extolled the virtues of the city and highlighted the wonder that a young American woman felt by seeing statues of naked men (okay, and Renaissance architecture and art).  Next came Rick Steves, with his detailed guidebooks and television specials.  This is where I learned of the Uffizi Gallery and, again kind of shrugged because I have never been a fan of visual art.  Paintings never really did it for me, and this museum just seemed to be chock full of them.  Sure, there were some famous ones that I had seen in textbooks my whole life, but were they really that much better or more interesting in person?  My final little introduction to Florence came from the movie," A Room With A View", which I fastforwarded through a bit on netflix instant view and got bored with, but thought that Florence, at the very least, looked interesting.

   Fast forward a little to the time when we actually have a Mediterranean cruise booked, and La Spezia is on the itinerary.  La Spezia happens to be about 2 1/2 hours from Florence, and is quite difficult to get there and back in one day on public transportation, so there was a hot second when we considered just touring the Cinque Terre that day, or perhaps Pisa.  But, we shouldered on and decided to book the ship's bus shuttle to Florence: expensive, but we figured we would be kicking ourselves if we didn't go.  I meticulously planned out those 4 hours that we would have in the city, so that we could see everything we planned on.  Reservations for David were booked, restaurants highlighted on the map and tons of travel tips were packed in my brain.  This was certainly not the most anticipated port stop; that was probabaly Rome with its immediately recognizable and famous places (athough I was still trying to keep straight whether it was the Pantheon or Parthenon that we would be seeing).  No, in my mind, Florence was this "art city" with lots of designers like Gucci that I didn't care anything about and a pretty bridge. (By this time, I knew about the Ponte Vecchio from a History Channel special on the Medicis.)

   Go a little further ahead in time, and we are on the cruise.  In Barcelona I am AMAZED by the architecture.  I knew I liked pretty buildings before, but Barcelona wowed me.  I began to see architecture in an entirely new light.  Then we go to Malta.  And in a small chapel in a church in Malta, I finally saw art:  Caraveggio to be specific, and it was glorious. I finally "got it" where visual art was concerned and couldn't wait to see more that moved me like that.  In Naples, I discover my favorite form of visual art, sculpture, and revel in the delights of the Archaeology Museum.  (I also discover my love for the Italian language on that day, but that is completely different blog.)  Rome doesn't disappoint, and suddenly, it was our Florence day.
   

  The day is dreary, and the two plus hour bus ride is endless, but somewhat interesting with the information from the guide.  The initial impression of the city is slightly underwhelming as we come in on a street lined with businesses outside the old city.  I spot a Blockbuster Video and a gas station.  But, once James and I sprint away from the rest of the group and head toward Piazza della Signoria, we are soon enchanted by this city.  I won't bore you with the details of what we did that day, (although I guess the point could be made that if you got this far, you don't care) but suffice to say, we fell in love.  It rained for half of our precious time, and we didn't even see the Uffizi because we opted for other attractions, but it didn't matter.  And you know what?  I can't even really put into words why I loved/love Florence so much.  (Which is somewhat of a problem due to the whole travel writer thing) But, here is what I can tell you.

 1. Since our initial visit, we have returned for a multi-day trip and it lost none of its charm for us.  We only loved it more.  
 2. The people are so warm and generous, especially considering that their city is overrun by bumbling tourists most of the time. (Daniela and Roberto, thank you so much for an authentic evening in Fiesole!)
3. The gelato is better here than anywhere else in Italy, and no one will convince me otherwise. Though I encourage you to try, as I love trying new gelato.
4. No where else immerses you in art like this city does. I feel my spirit constantly getting fed in Florence, just from what I see walking down the street (as corny as that sounds). 
5. The food is crazy good, and relatively inexpensive. I never knew something that came out of a microwave could taste so good until I stopped at just a little enoteca, and tried some warmed up pasta with fresh Tuscan bread and olive oil. Seriously. Better than any Italian food I have had in the states. 

  I could go on, but I won't.  I have trouble believing that any city will prove higher in my estimation than Florence. London came close, and Venice sure tried hard, but there is something about how my heart swells when I see that dome that I don't think can be replicated.  Only thanks to travel could a little southern girl find her place halfway around the world.

   Today, I was inspired by a blog post on MeetOnCruise.com http://meetoncruise.com/blog/who-wrote-that-cruise-review to write almost a companion piece. That article asked whether or not it matters who writes a cruise review as to if is trustworthy or useful.  As I began thinking about this question, I came to the conclusion that, for me, who writes the review is not nearly as important as what they say. So, what DO I look for in a cruise review? Details and honesty. 

   The worst cruise review, in my opinion, goes like this: "We had such a great cruise. The ship was beautiful, the staff super-helpful and the food was amazing. We will sail with ... again." Why do I hate those reviews or incarnations of them? Because they tell me NOTHING. (Well, maybe that someone enjoyed a cruise) Do I hate positive reviews? No, there are equal opportunity offenders among the negative reviewers as well. "This was the cruise from hell! The food was terrible; the staff was aloof and looked like they despised us or were completely unaware of us. Our fellow cruisers were horrible, trashy people who helped to ruin our experience. The ship appeared to be run down; the shows a rehash of what everyone has seen before and the cruise director was annoying. We will never cruise... again." 
Now, although that review appears to have more detail, does it really?  Is there anything in that review that I can actually take to the bank, helping me make a decision about a future cruise on that ship? And then, imagine reading those two reviews back to back on a site, and you just want to throw your hands up in the air and wonder "what is the truth?!?"

   Now that we have explored the options for bad cruise reviews, let's talk about what makes a cruise review good.  When I say details, what exactly do I mean?  I want specifics that I can weigh for myself to decide whether or not that particular issue/good thing is something that will affect me.  Supposed someone went on a cruise and stayed concierge in an amazing suite, and understandably had a great time.  That review will never matter to me because I will never afford a suite. If, on the other hand, they stayed in a standard category room and commented on how big or small it is, I can use that.  Maybe they say that the bathroom was too small to hold even a small makeup kit. There is information I can relate to. Now, it might or might not affect me depending on how much I care about storage space in the bathroom, but it is helpful.  Going back to the MeetOnCruise article, staterooms are one category which I really tend to prefer reviews from normal people because often travel writers get to stay in better rooms than the rest of us. If you read the Frommer's cruise guide, you will notice the bias toward suites. Most ship reviews have multiple paragraphs on the various suites, but only a sentence on standard staterooms. 

   Food is one area where details are so important to me, and yet, it tends to be a category where people feel okay just saying: "the food was good" or "it was okay".  I much prefer to see comments telling me that their steak was cooked perfectly every time or that the hamburgers on lido deck often had a hard bun from sitting out too long.  If a specialty restaurant was not worth the money, why not?  In our recent experience on the Carnival Magic, the courses surrounding the steak were unfamiliar to my husband, and since you can only order one of each course, it makes it more difficult to try something and change it out.  He tried some soup that he hated, and then traded it for another appetizer, but really didn't enjoy anything but the steak because of his inclination toward straightforward food.  Now, I like my food a little more frou frou and complicated, so if he writes a review for the steakhouse stating what I stated above, I can rest assured that I probably won't have similar feelings and will likely enjoy my meal at the steakhouse.  If he had just said that the steakhouse was not to his liking and not worth it, I would have been left wondering.  On a previous cruise, I had a creme brulee that didn't crack.  It was more like pudding.  Most of the desserts on that cruise had similar issues, just not living up to what they were supposed to be.  Since my husband really loves eating dessert on a cruise, this was a big deal.  Other people might not care at all, but my description has at least told them to not get their hopes up too high for dessert. 

   I won't give examples for every category, but you get the idea.  Last spring, there was a huge swath of terrible reviews for almost every ship out of New Orleans and Galveston right around Easter.  Apparantely, it was Easter vacation in Mexico, and there were a large number of unsupervised children running all over the ship, knocking on stateroom doors at all hours, interrupting stage shows with cat calls, and other general mayhem.  If you read those reviews without knowing what was going on, you would think that these ships hosted the worst staff in cruising and might would be gunshy to ever book a cruise on them.  Knowing the details, however, tells you to perhaps really look at when you are booking a cruise in relation to everyone else.   

   So, that is just my opinion of what makes a good cruise review.  What do you think?  Has a review ever stopped you from booking a particular ship or line?  Happy review writing, and I look forward to reading all of your very detailed cruise reviews.  Oh, and if you have any you would like to share, feel free to email us at james@cruizecast.com and we would love to post them here on the site.