Review of a Mediterranean cruise on the Splendida and 24 hours in Venice – October 2024 (page 6 of 7)

Hi Catherine, It’s true that this vaporetto ride is gorgeous and way cheaper than a gondola. To get a good spot, you should board at a terminus.

Hello! I’m not used to coming on the forum anymore, so I hadn’t seen your review, which I just read all at once. It’s so nice to be back here. I’m really happy this cruise went well for you. It’s true that during school holidays, the atmosphere must be different.

I enjoyed revisiting Istanbul, which I know very well because my son did a 2-month internship there, and I ended up spending at least a month of those two there. I’m a bit surprised about the taxi issue because I’ve never had a problem in Istanbul. Normally, they have meters they turn on, so you don’t negotiate the price or ask for it beforehand. Maybe it’s because you asked that he realized you weren’t aware and tried to take advantage. Personally, I have great memories of the Turks—they were really lovely. My son stayed in a guesthouse, and the neighborhood was very safe. The two sides of the Bosphorus are really different, and Taksim is a bit like our Champs-Élysées.

Your Venice photos are gorgeous, and they make me want to go back someday too.

So glad I followed along and found your review.

Good evening Catherine, The report ends beautifully in Venice. We’re going on a cruise outside of French school holidays, but we sometimes run into Italian school breaks... still just as noisy, hogging the jacuzzis and sun loungers. We’re going to try CFC for the first time. Have a great weekend everyone: Mum49

Hello Catherine, It's true that this vaporetto ride is beautiful and much cheaper than a gondola. To get a good spot, you should start from a terminus.

Hello Nicom,

Yes, that's the right solution. We had never taken the Vaporetto to do the Grand Canal (only as a means of transport to reach the islands) because seeing them always so crowded put us off.

I’m a bit surprised about the taxi because I’ve never had a problem in Istanbul. Normally they have meters they turn on, so you don’t negotiate the price or ask for it beforehand. Maybe it’s because you asked that he saw you weren’t aware and tried to take advantage.

Hi Nathalie,

Great to see you here again! It’s awesome you got to spend a month in Istanbul—I love Turkey and the kindness of the Turkish people too. In this taxi situation, it was actually the opposite that happened: it was because he hadn’t turned on his meter that I asked for the price. 😉 Luckily, we don’t judge the people of a country based on one taxi driver’s behavior… Otherwise, we’d stop traveling altogether!

Hi Catherine, The report ends beautifully in Venice. We’re going on a cruise outside of French school holidays, but we sometimes overlap with Italian school breaks... still just as noisy, hogging the jacuzzis and sun loungers. We’re going to try CFC for the first time. Have a great weekend, everyone: Mum49

Hi Guylene,

We’ve also had the experience of traveling in Italy (the Great Lakes) outside of French school holidays, only to run into German school breaks... It’s tough to avoid them all. I hope you have a wonderful cruise with CFC, and maybe you’ll share a few words about it when you return?

Hi Catherine,

No problem doing a review after the "Vikings" cruise on CFC. I’ll check with our kids about adding photos since I’m not very comfortable with the internet. I’ll see about the review for the one we did with COSTA in October 2024 because, even now, I’m not very "optimistic"—the cabin wasn’t suitable for two people (I posted about it on this site under "Costa Favolosa review"), and the COSTA excursions were... Have a great Sunday! : Mum49

Hi Catherine, Thanks for this great travel journal, the photos, and the time you took to write all this! 😉 Speaking of taxis, some seem legit—they turn on the meter—but it’s not the right rate (like the night rate), and it adds up fast, so stay alert....

Thanks, Michel, for reading all the way to the end—yes, a review takes work and time, but it’s also a lot of fun when it’s so well received. 🙂 I agree with you—you always have to be wary of taxis; there are plenty of scams around.

Hi Catherine,

Thanks for this review—it’s so lovely to travel through your words and photos.

During our cruise with Oceania in November 2023, we had the same taxi experience. The price was negotiated when we got into the taxi at the cruise terminal’s underground in Istanbul. But when we arrived at the Grand Bazaar, the driver wanted to charge us 10 € extra. Given the short distance, we refused!

We had a great impression of Istanbul’s cruise terminal. It’s a real success. M.M.

Hi Marie,

Thanks so much for your kind comment. Taxis everywhere—and far too often—have bad practices. Fortunately, sometimes you find a good one.

The cruise terminal in Istanbul is stunning. It’s as beautiful as the buildings you see in the Emirates.

Hi Catherine,

A question for everyone... For the past two days, discussions have been appearing on a black background 🙁 It's really unpleasant.

Is it the same for everyone? Or did I do something wrong?

Thanks for your help

Hello,

In the top right of the screen, to the left of the word "Search," there’s a round button that’s half white, half black. Click on it...

Hi Claudine,

Here it is:



Have a good evening

Thanks so much! It’s brighter in white :(

Thanks Catherine! I see things much more clearly now 😛

I really didn’t like this black version either—it’s so gloomy.

Good evening,

Thanks for this review—it’s an absolute gem to read and look at!

Have a great evening and happy holidays.

Thanks Gada for the kind compliment, and happy holidays to you too.

Hi Catherine, Just wondering—do you happen to have the phone number for the taxi you took in Bari? I’m looking for a way to get to Alberobello without going through MSC, and it doesn’t seem easy. Thanks in advance!