Review of a Mediterranean cruise on the Splendida and 24 hours in Venice – October 2024 (page 1 of 7)

Hi everyone,

What a joy to be back here and pick up where we left off after all these months of hiatus.

I hope you’ll enjoy the story of this little trip around the Eastern Mediterranean. This cruise was the perfect way to satisfy our longing to return to Greece and Istanbul. The end of the season, until late November, is the best time to visit the Mediterranean in my opinion—when climate disruptions don’t get in the way.

Departing from Trieste, our stops were Katakolon, Piraeus, Kusadasi, Istanbul, Corfu, and Bari, before returning to Trieste and then Venice, where we planned a very short 24-hour stay.

We left home at 6:15 AM—our first cruise departure since moving to Normandy. What I miss most about living in the Gard is how close we were to Marseille Airport. No more hopping over to Marignane in an hour; now we have to plan for a three-hour trip to CDG, even under the best conditions on an early Sunday morning.

It was impossible to book a hotel night before our flight because, starting in April, the Ibis was priced at 450 € per night, and the Mercure was flirting with 800 €—breakfast not included, of course. 😏

I had a feeling there must’ve been a conference or something going on… Turns out, it was just the auto show. They simply adjusted the room prices to match the cost of the cars. 😛

Our flight took us to Venice, where we caught a FlixBus to Trieste. We arrived at Trieste’s train station in the afternoon and walked to our hotel in the city center.

After treating ourselves to an amazing pizza at a restaurant (Di Napoli Maestri Pizzaioli, Via Armando Diaz 10) for a very reasonable price, we enjoyed the mild evening temperature while exploring the stunning buildings of this charming city by night. These magnificent structures are a testament to the city’s past. Trieste became Austrian in 1382 due to its complicated relationship with Venice, and it wasn’t until 1918, at the end of World War I, that it became Italian again. The city’s lighting beautifully highlights the architecture of the buildings.

The terraces were lively, and the atmosphere was so warm and inviting that we wanted to stay out even longer.



But we’d been up since 4 AM, so we were happy to retreat to the quiet of our hotel, located in the pedestrian center just a few steps from the port (Urban Hotel Design—highly recommended).

More to come soon.

Hi Catherine, Here for the rest... Mich74

Hello, I’m so happy to find your trip reports on this forum. It’s always a pleasure to read you. Best regards, Aline

Hi Catherine!

You can’t imagine how happy I am to read your travel journals—I really love your writing style.

As for hotel prices, it’s insane, and sometimes I wonder if they even realize it. They treat tourists like cash cows. The worst I’ve seen was in Los Angeles, and don’t even get me started on breakfast prices. It’s ridiculous!

It was definitely more convenient for you to reach the port of Marseille when you lived in the Gard. But hey, you shouldn’t regret the quality of life (much more peaceful) you have in Normandy now.

Looking forward to the rest!

Alfred

Thanks Michel! :)

Hi Aline, I’m so happy to be back on this forum and to have these exchanges here too. Thanks for reading me.

Hi Alfred,

I’m so happy to be back in Normandy, and I don’t regret a thing—it’s just the airport that’s a bit far, which is less convenient.

You’re absolutely right about the breakfasts—the prices are totally crazy and unjustified. I’m really glad to be writing trip reports again too.

Hi Catherine, also here and thanks for sharing this lovely cruise with us! 😎

Hi Catherine, I’m so happy to see you here! 🙂

Good evening Catherine,

It’s always a pleasure to follow your posts—thank you for this review. You really have a way with words! I’m so happy the forum is back; we missed it. M.Madeleine

Hi Catherine, I’m so happy to be back on the forum and to follow your trip report. Best, Claudine

Thanks Claudine, It really makes me happy to know you're reading me.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone for your warm welcome.

Monday, October 21st, Trieste – Embarkation

After an excellent and generous breakfast filled with great Italian products, we set off to explore the city under a radiant sun.

As soon as we left the hotel, a church towered above us at the top of the hill.



A few flights of stairs later, and we’re there.



The church of Santa Maria Maggiore is one of Trieste’s grand Baroque-style churches. It was built in the 17th century, and its construction took decades.





From its forecourt, you can glimpse the sea.



Continuing our walk along the heights of the city, just a few hundred meters away, we reach the Cattedrale di San Giusto Martire, a Romanesque-style cathedral.





Inside, we’re greeted by a more surprising style. Stunning 13th-century Byzantine mosaics cover the domes, though it’s a shame they aren’t better lit.





A chat with the servants of God costs just 1 €—just dial in to hear the monument’s history directly.

You can see the ruins of the Roman theater in Trieste from the sidewalk on the path that leads down to the city.



This theater dates back to the 1st century and was expanded in the 2nd century. It could hold between 3,500 and 6,000 spectators. Imagine that back then, it was located outside the city, right by the sea. Now, it’s about 400 meters from the water. The view from the stands must have been amazing.





A family seems to have taken up residence there.

The Grand Canal is an artificial waterway built in the mid-18th century to allow merchant ships to reach the city center. This made it much easier for them to load and unload goods coming from Dalmatia and the Adriatic regions. At the time, Trieste was a very busy merchant port.





Today, the Grand Canal has a lovely atmosphere. The facades of the surrounding palaces, the churches, the bridges, and the colorful boats all contribute to the feeling that time has stood still...



On the edge of the Grand Canal stands the Church of the Holy Trinity and Saint Spyridon. Behind that very long name is an impressive church built in the late 14th century with Byzantine architecture. The colorful facades, rounded domes, and decorative mosaics make us really want to visit it. But no matter how much we walk around and check every corner for even the smallest open door... we have to face the facts—it’s closed.







To be continued tomorrow... 😉

Quick, quick, the rest!

Have a good evening

Your story confirms what I thought about Trieste... it's a beautiful city with plenty to see. I had planned visits for a cruise that was supposed to leave from this city, but I canceled it.

Trieste is indeed very beautiful and really interesting to explore, with a great vibe. We only saw it quickly, but we’ll definitely go back—it’s also perfect for boarding a ship located right in the city center.

Hi there! Thanks for this new review—it’s great to see you back! 😊 I didn’t know you’d moved! If it was your choice and you’re happy in your new life, that’s awesome!

Yes, Italian cities are gorgeous. This summer, we sailed with RCI from Ravenna, and it’s stunning too—those mosaics are incredible!

Hi Marie-Christine,

It’s great to reconnect with you too. This cruise is our first of 2024 because we moved at the beginning of the year. We deliberately chose it—we’d had enough of the heat, mosquitoes, drought, and water shortages. We’re really happy here and don’t regret our decision at all; life is sweet in Normandy.

I hope to visit Ravenna someday too. 😉

Hi Catherine,

Thank you so much for this lovely travel journal. Have a great Sunday! Mum49