From Toulon to Aix-en-Provence

Aix Fountain courtesy of WikiTravel

If there is one gargoyle-inspired stop on the Celebrity Silhouette Transatlantic cruise, it is Toulon, France. It is the gateway to Aix-en-Provence, a stunningly beautiful town. Note the amazing fountain above. I can just imagine a gargoye jumping down from it to explore the town. 

Aix flower market courtesy of WikiTravel

Between the flower market and the wonderful courtyards with fountains, a day wandering around Aix would be extremely pleasing to me. What do you think? Do you love these towns as much as I do? One of my favorite excursions a few years back went to Monaco, Eze and Nice. I especially loved Eze and did lots of posts on it. Aix looks just as inviting.

With its fabulous Cathedral and lovely streets to stroll, I think a leisurely day in Aix would be a delight and a great start to a Transatlantic cruise.

Cathedral Saint Sauveur at Aix

Celebrity Silhouette Transatlantic

This video has to be one of the most beautiful I have ever watched from YouTube. It is a sail away from Venice on the Celebrity Silhouette. I was convinced that the transatlantic cruise Moises and I should do is the Spanish Serenade on the Equinox, another Solstice class ship from Celebrity. But the more I investigate, I am drawn to the Italian Classic Transatlantic on the Silhouette. What a beautiful ship and what a fabulous itinerary. I am drawn to the itinerary for November 1st, 2014.

Silhouette Quasar night club courtesy of FloridaAgenda.com

It leaves from Rome and I would love to spend a few days in Tarquinia first. Tarquinia is the spot where there are 6,000 Etruscan graves at the Necropolis. More information on this wonderful UNESCO World Heritage site can be found here.

Tarquinia mural courtesy of UNESCO World Heritage site

The cruise travels to Livorno, where you can go to either Florence or Pisa ... also Toulon, France in Provence, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife in the Canary Islands before crossing to Fort Lauderdale. It is an awesome itinerary on a beautiful almost new ship. What's not to love.

Cathedral Palma de Mallorca

More information can be found on the Silhouette (Solstice class ship) on Celebrity Cruise Lines website.

Gargoyles Wanted: Bergen, Norway

Bergen Norway Hanseatic District from wikipedia

If there is one place that should have a sign out looking for employment for gargoyles, it is Bergen, Norway. I haven't been there yet, but I am really psyched to get there. I looked at a few shore excursions that took me away from this lovely town, but I may just get off the ship and walk around. There is so much to see right in Bergen.

The above photo of the waterfront first of all, with all the painted wooden buildings. The Hanseatic Museum is also supposed to be fascinating. 

Photo: Regin Hjertholm of old Bergen

Throughout the old sections of Bergen, there are museums and displays dating from the 10th century and on. A gargoyle would look great in that dentist chair!

Bergen view from above

I am dying to find out where these photos of Bergen were taken. There are tours that take you on the funicular and then you walk back down. Maybe this view can be seen from one of the lookouts on the way. I don't know yet, but plan to do a lot of research to find just the right things to do in Norway. I know that Bergen is often called the gateway to the Fjords.

Bergen, gateway to the Fjords

Again, I am off solo on this one. Wish me luck!

First Transatlantic Planned

Palma de Mallorca

Last year when I opted to change my cruise mid-planning and go on Norwegian Jade instead of the repositioning cruise on Holland America Ryndam, I truly regretted it later. I worried that the Ryndam was too old, which I still wonder about as I have not been on her. But knowing how wonderful the service is on Holland America, and knowing the layouts of their ships and how much personal space each person has - I truly believe my concerns were not valid. Nevertheless, I chose to try NCL one more time and it will be my last. There are those who love Norwegian Cruise Line. I am just not one of them. It is too casual and I don't like the layout of the ships, with their very narrow corridors. They just don't thrill me architecturally either, especially the Jade, which is a ship that was made to sail Hawaii. There are still many Hawaiian themed features that are just weird for Europe.

Pink tower at Palma de Mallorca

But one of my biggest regrets was I did not make it to Palma de Mallorca. So Moises and I began to plan in earnest our fifteen year anniversary cruise a bit early. We will be going in October of 2014, instead of July 2015. In my mind, better nine months early than three months late. Moises has been wanting to do a western Transatlantic for a while. I found this itinerary on the Celebrity Equinox. It is just perfect, 14 days with stops in Spain and the Canary Islands before the transatlantic portion. It also goes to Palma de Mallorca.

Harbor Port Andratx at Mallorca

Cannot wait to plan this trip!

Lusting After Funchal, Madeira at Portugal

Funchal, Madeira at Portugal

My husband and I are finally taking the plunge and looking in to a transatlantic cruise from Barcelona. I have been lusting after a visit to the Canary Islands. My husband wants to do a transatlantic. That is one cruise I prefer not to do solo, so we have combined both ideas and come up with an itinerary that goes to the Canary Islands and then arrives in Fort Lauderdale.

Major avenue at Funchal

Market at Funchal, Madeira

In my research, I stumbled on Funchal, Madeira. It is a stop on quite a few transatlantic including Princess and Holland America. We are looking at Celebrity and they don't stop there. But there are so many other wonderful spots on their transatlantic cruises, I can do this island another time. I will put a Canary Island itinerary on my bucket list.

Beautiful avenue at Funchal

Funicular at Funchal

One of my favorite things - a funicular. If you would like more information about Funchal, please click here. Information provided by wikipedia wikitravel.

Celebrity Eclipse

Bergen, Norway

Sorry for the time that has elapsed since my last post, but I have been a girl on a mission. I wanted to locate a cruise for next year and lock it in. It gives me something to look forward to when I am working so hard. I am going to Norway and decided to try out Celebrity Cruise Lines again. I have not cruised with them since May of 2004, when Moises and I went to Alaska.

I angsted over whether to do a Transatlantic, but I know me. I love ports, hate sea days and look forward to my time off the ship. I guess I may  have settled down and read some books, but I truly believe I would have spent most of the time thinking of all I could have been doing if I had picked a different cruise.

Another view of Bergen, Norway

So now I am heading to Norway, kind of a compromise between a Transatlantic and the Med cruises I dreamed of going on. We loved our Alaska cruise and this should also be spectacular scenery. It also goes out of Southampton, so every place I go will be new to me.

I can begin to count down the days!