This review contains three parts, Hotel stay prior to cruise, cruise about ship, "tours on our own".

Prior 2 nights @ Hotel Aventino, Rome. Although this small hotel may seem out of the way, its pleasures out-weighted "being where its at". The arrival was greeted w/ juice and heated Danish, and @ a rate of 120 euro's per night the added costs of a cab to take you where you needed to be was still a bargain. A beautiful courtyard breakfast and a nice roof top terrace to enjoy our evening weather, (bring your own wine/drinks). Starting from around the corner to view "thru the keyhole" vision of the Vatican down the hill to Orange Park and the city landscape, to the Rose Garden and finally to Circus Maximus. All of Rome was available to us including the Metro, from the Vatican to the Spanish Steps (1 euro) we utilized many of the guide books walks and enjoyed our stay. Vatican tour and transportation to and from the Equinox by "All Around Italy."

Embarkation was a little slow but the room was available immediately. Read more