My wife and I had a wonderful Mediterranean cruise. The Celebrity tour for Santorini wine was great. We visited three wineries, each with its own unique approach to wine, each with knowledgeable and informative presenters. Our guide was easy going and created a relaxed atmosphere. The other Islands we visited were pleasant and the Mediterranean seems to provide us with its own vitality and relaxation. We were disappointed that the Celebrity tour for Capri was cancelled by the tour operator. The Celebrity excursion staff handled this situation pleasantly and we were refunded our tour price right away.
Our difficulty with this cruise occurred when we took the US required Covid test to enter the US. I tested positive and had to remain in Italy for ten days when I finally tested negative. I know the US has lifted this requirement now, but what I learned from my experience is that one should consider ahead of time what to do should you unexpectedly have to remain in a country and can not take your planned flight home. There were at least another dozen people who were in my situation, sitting in a closed off area of the airport and trying to figure out next steps. The assistance from the airport staff was minimal and after about three hours for some of us who had not figured out what to do and asking the testing staff for assistance, we were told that they were not travel agents and we needed to figure out what we should do on our own. I guess we should all remember that when you travel, you really are ultimately on your own.
First and foremost, if at all possible, have a cell phone. You will need it to help you find a place to stay if you can not access the information at the airport. It can also provide you with information about important things such as medical facilities near where you stay, testing locations, restaurants, grocery stores and transportation. Finally, stay in touch with your people at home who will be very concerned about your well being.
We always enjoy having lunch along the coast and viewing the windmills. There is an excitement in the air that is palpable.
Enjoyed our wine tasting tour offered by Celebrity Cruises. It was pleasant and very informative.