And now it’s time for Wine Wine Wine!

[Loopylooloo]

And now its time for Wine Wine Wine!

The title is a follow on from ClaireNJ’s fabulous ‘Cake Cake Cake’ theme, just adapted for my own preference for wine! 🤣
We were originally booked on a cruise that was meant to depart 28th March 2020, say no more…

We are travelling with our eldest son, George, 23, and his girlfriend Katie, 20. We have booked two nights in Rome, followed by an 11 night Mediterranean cruise on Celebrity Reflection, visiting Greece, Italy and Turkey. This is a cruise itinerary and ship we have done before but we really love both, and we will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary while we are in Sicily.

As exciting as it is to have a cruise to look forward to, I cannot say I enjoyed the build up to this holiday, in fact the stress of worrying about covid actually made me lose more than a weeks sleep and 7 pounds! (I never lose weight) yes, a bonus, but really could have done without the worry. We were ok to fly to Italy, (no test required) but once there have to have a supervised test one day before we board the ship. This was not helped by also discovering that should we test positive once onboard, we will be confined to a cabin on deck three, with a porthole, and not allowed to stay in our lovely balcony cabin. Basically, cruise ship prison. Starting to wish we had just booked a regular package holiday to Greece in a hotel! 😩

As I write this, we are on the plane, mask on, flying to Rome.
I will try to update daily, but not sure of wifi etc at sea so bear with me! We are looking forward to the food, the wine (we have a drinks package and a long list of fancy cocktails to try) and our tours in port. In preparation for the trip we have been avidly watching Stanley Tucci, ‘Searching for Italy’ and it is such a great programme, it is full of so much wonderful Italian food! My youngest son Harry 19, will be home alone, and is currently enjoying his own mini break in Amsterdam of all places, with his mates. God help us.
Ciao for now!

P.s. We have ruined Katie already. I am always saying how low maintenance she is (she never wears make up, or complains about anything) Today we had Club Lounge access at Heathrow, then I bought her some lovely Tiffany sunglasses as an early 21st birthday present, and currently she is quaffing champagne and eating a three course meal on the plane! 🤣 She seems quite happy!

[Loopylooloo]

Arrival in Rome was very easy, the airport was almost empty, we sailed through immigration remembering not to go throught he EU lane, nobody asked for our EU PLF, or Covid pass. Luggage appeared promptly and we were out in less than fifteen minutes. We did wear our FFP2 masks, but noticed hardly anyone in Italy is wearing them now. We had pre booked a driver for our transfer to the Hotel, via Romecabs, who are always really reliable. Our driver took us into the city via all the best sights, past the Colloseum, and so many other ruins and Basilica’s. Our Hotel is not quite the luxury the name promised, (Dharma Luxury Hotel) our ‘comfort’ room is not comfortable at all, the bed is hard as a rock and it is now 3:45am I am still awake writing this as I cannot sleep! We did have a lovely dinner though, near to the Trevi Fountain, at Ristorante Dell Patriota, we chose Carbonara Tartufo, (truffle carbonara) and Tiramisu. Delicious! And two bottles of Chianti. The Trevi Fountain was all lit up as we passed by after dinner, and very romantic.

Tomorrow we are doing the dreaded tests, then going on a Segway tour around Rome.

[ClaireNJ]

Originally Posted by Loopylooloo

Arrival in Rome was very easy, the airport was almost empty, we sailed through immigration remembering not to go throught he EU lane, nobody asked for our EU PLF, or Covid pass. Luggage appeared promptly and we were out in less than fifteen minutes. We did wear our FFP2 masks, but noticed hardly anyone in Italy is wearing them now. We had pre booked a driver for our transfer to the Hotel, via Romecabs, who are always really reliable. Our driver took us into the city via all the best sights, past the Colloseum, and so many other ruins and Basilica’s. Our Hotel is not quite the luxury the name promised, (Dharma Luxury Hotel) our ‘comfort’ room is not comfortable at all, the bed is hard as a rock and it is now 3:45am I am still awake writing this as I cannot sleep! We did have a lovely dinner though, near to the Trevi Fountain, at Ristorante Dell Patriota, we chose Carbonara Tartufo, (truffle carbonara) and Tiramisu. Delicious! And two bottles of Chianti. The Trevi Fountain was all lit up as we passed by after dinner, and very romantic.

Tomorrow we are doing the dreaded tests, then going on a Segway tour around Rome.

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Oh I’m looking forward to this & I’m so pleased that it’s not just wine wine wine too
As I do love a Tiramisu 😋😋😋
The fountain is stunning 🥰
Good luck for your tests I’m sure you’ll be fine xx

[disney332]

Fantastic start, Lovely family pics 💜

Foods good too 🍷🍷🍷

Disney332

[Florida1972]

Good luck for the tests. Rome is so lovely 😊 I look forward to reading more

[DisneyDaffodil]

I’m looking forward to following this trippie Louise, wine, wine, wine is a brilliant name for it 😂

We loved the Stanley Tucci programme too, and your first meal looks superb, definitely as good as any Stanley ate. Sorry to hear your hotel isn’t comfortable. That’s awful that you’d lose your balcony cabin if tested positive onboard, seems more sensible for you to stay in the room you’re in instead of moving 🤷 Fingers crossed the testing all goes well and you all stay negative and have a great time. Have fun on the Segway tour today, that sounds a brilliant way of seeing the city

[Loopylooloo]

We are all NEGATIVE! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🚢🚢🚢🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
Hallelujah I might just sleep tonight!

We have had a lovely leisurely morning - did our tests, then swapped to hopefully a quieter room, with a more comfy bed.
Then we popped out for latte opposite the Teatro dell Opera, sadly there is no opera showing tonight, would love to go to one whilst in Italy one day.

Now off to do our Segway tour.

Just wanted to say thanks to Alibayparc and others in the forum for all the input on travelling to Italy, it was so helpful.

[ClaireNJ]

Originally Posted by Loopylooloo

We are all NEGATIVE! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🚢🚢🚢🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
Hallelujah I might just sleep tonight!

We have had a lovely leisurely morning - did our tests, then swapped to hopefully a quieter room, with a more comfy bed.
Then we popped out for latte opposite the Teatro dell Opera, sadly there is no opera showing tonight, would love to go to one whilst in Italy one day.

Now off to do our Segway tour.

Just wanted to say thanks to Alibayparc and others in the forum for all the input on travelling to Italy, it was so helpful.

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Hip Hip Hooray
Have a wonderful cruise 🤩❤️
Xx

[Goldia]

I can't wait to see all the cocktails you enjoy on the cruise. Phew, the dreaded tests are now done and hopefully you can sleep a little. Have fun on the Segway tour.

[Cutiepie]

Great start Louise and so glad you are all negative Will be following along with interest as we are looking at the Reflection to the Greek Isles next summer
Love the title of the report, right up my street