Now not Aus 2022... but Italy

[tonymc]

With the issues around Covid and travel restrictions to Australia and New Zealand, DW and myself decided to move our planned trip down-under back by yet another year!

This left us with a good few weeks of annual leave to be taken before the end of March next year, and fortunately, we discovered that MSC Cruises have a discount available for NHS staff, where DW works.

In remarkably quick time, we had phoned MSC, verified DWs NHS credentials, and were booked on a 7 night sailing around the med. We did get an extremely good deal as although the agent told us we would get 30% discount, MSC also added on, free of charge, a deluxe drinks package worth around £54/day for the two of us, so the actual amount saved equates to around 50%... how could you say no (as DW always says when coming home from the sales laden with bags)? !

As we were departing from Genoa, and having planned at some time in the future to visit Tuscany, it seemed an ideal opportunity to do this whilst we were already in the area. Last night in another remarkable bout of activity, we booked all of our accommodation, and with our previously booked BA flights, it looks as if we are all set.

Our current plans are (as always, potentially subject to change! ):

Fri 18/03/2022: Fly MAN-LHR-Genoa, 2 nights in Genoa
Sat 19/03/2022: Genoa
Sun 20/03/2022: Embark MSC Fantasia
Mon 21/03/2022: Cruise - La Spezia
Tue 22/03/2022: Cruise - Naples
Wed 23/03/2022: Cruise - At Sea
Thu 24/03/2022: Cruise - Palma de Mallorca
Fri 25/03/2022: Cruise - Barcelona
Sat 26/03/2022: Cruise - Marseille
Sun 27/03/2022: Disembark in Genoa, train to Florence
Mon 28/03/2022: Florence
Tue 29/03/2022: Florence
Wed 30/03/2022: Florence
Thu 31/03/2022: Train Florence to Pisa, 2 nights in Pisa
Fri 01/04/2022: Pisa
Sat 02/04/2022: Fly Pisa-LHR-MAN

The only remaining thing to do is to book the trains, but like the UK, you can only book around 12 weeks in advance. We were originally planning on renting a car from Genoa, but with the one-way fee for leaving the car at Pisa, plus the difficulties (and expense) of parking in Florence, it works out considerably less to go by train.

In addition, the cruise terminal in Genoa and our accommodation in Florence and Pisa are within easy walking distance of the stations, so no worrying about taxis.

Anyhow, here's hoping we can actually get away on this trip... fingers crossed

[tonymc]

The Tuscany/Pisa Bit
The Cruise Bit

And it's all change again!

Following the recent issues with travelling from the UK into Europe, over Christmas we decided to delay the cruise until May, so hopefully less restrictions by then!

MSC changed our dates without any fees, so now we are on a similar itinerary, but a slightly reduced plan omitting Florence to allow us to only have 10 days. Current plans are:

Friday 13/05: Fly MAN-Pisa
Sat 14/05: Pisa
Sun 15/05: Train to Genoa, embark ship
Mon 16/05: Naples
Tues 17/05: Messina (Sicily)
Wed 18/05: Valletta
Thu 19/05: At sea
Fri 20/05: Barcelona
Sat 21/05: Marseille
Sun 22/05: Genoa, disembark and day/night in Genoa
Mon 23/05: Train Genoa to Pisa, flight home

Meantime, for our original March dates, we are now having a week (hopefully! ) in the sun in Tenerife...