Tag Archives: Florence

Our Mediterranean Cruise: The Trip I Didn’t Know I Needed

August 17, 2026 Barbara Ryan Leave a comment

Sometimes you take a trip because you’ve been dreaming about it for years.

And sometimes you take a trip and come home realizing you didn’t even know how much you needed it.

That was this trip.

It started as a trip to take a couple that had never been to Europe. Then another couple joined. It was planned for 3 couples. Then the original couple backed out. Reorganized again. I had to take into account that my husband and I were doing some things we had already done multiple times and create some new experiences for us. Our friends had done some, but not most. It was a long time ago, so they were up for anything.

We recently spent 7 nights cruising the Mediterranean aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic, sailing from Rome to Barcelona. We traveled through Italy and France, ate an unreasonable amount of incredible food, drank plenty of wine, walked approximately a million steps, explored ancient cities and medieval villages, climbed a volcano, wandered through Florence, and somehow still managed to come home exhausted and already planning the next trip.

And as a travel advisor, this trip was something else, too.

It was research.

It was firsthand experience.

It was a chance to test the things I recommend to clients and figure out what I would—and wouldn’t—do again.

Most importantly, it reminded me why I love helping people plan travel in the first place.

We Didn’t Just Take a Cruise. We Planned an Experience.

One of the things I love about cruising the Mediterranean is that the ship is really only part of the vacation.

The ports are the adventure. Those are my favorite parts. Seeing all those magnificent places.

And when you have limited time in each port, how you spend those hours matters.

For this trip, we decided that we didn’t want to simply get off the ship, walk around for a couple of hours, grab lunch and get back on board. We also didn’t want to just do the ship-planned excursions this trip. Those can be perfect depending on circumstances, but for this trip and with our Haven priority privileges, it was better to plan independently.

We wanted to experience each destination.

That meant doing something a little different in almost every port.

We booked private guides and drivers for most of our experiences, while also choosing a few activities that allowed us to explore independently.

And that mix turned out to be one of my favorite things about the trip.

Some days were highly structured.

Other days were completely ours.

There were days when someone was waiting for us at the port with a plan that we were fully involved in creating and days when we simply wandered down a street in Florence because something looked interesting.

That balance is exactly what I want for my clients.

Starting in Rome

Our adventure began in Rome, where we had the opportunity to explore some of the city’s most iconic sights for 2 days before embarking the ship.

We had private experiences at the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Both booked via Get Your Guide.

Having a knowledgeable guide made such a difference. These are places where it is very easy to look at something beautiful or historic without really understanding what you’re seeing.

A good guide changes that.

Instead of simply seeing the Colosseum, you understand what happened there.

Instead of walking through the Vatican and trying to absorb everything yourself, someone can point out the details you would have missed.

We also did something completely different: we went underground.

Beneath the Trevi Fountain is an ancient underground archaeological site, and exploring it was one of those experiences that reminded me why I love looking beyond the obvious tourist attractions.

Everyone knows the Trevi Fountain.

But how many people know what’s underneath it?

Those are the experiences I love finding. This was something I had never done and now would highly recommend it.

Sailing in the Haven

We also stayed in The Haven aboard Norwegian Epic.

And yes, it was wonderful.

But what I really wanted to discover was whether the experience was actually worth the additional cost.

The answer?

For the right traveler, I absolutely think it can be.

The priority embarkation, the additional space and privacy, the Haven amenities, the concierge and butler service, and simply having a quieter place to retreat to after a busy day in port all contributed to the experience.

But here’s the important part:

I don’t think everyone needs The Haven.

That’s something I tell clients all the time.

Travel isn’t about spending the most money possible.

It’s about figuring out where spending more will actually make your particular vacation better. In the case of a Mediterranean Cruise, it was highly valuable to just be able to get on and off the ship when we were ready in just a few minutes. This was especially helpful with private tours lined up.

That’s one of the things I enjoy most about my job—helping people decide where to splurge and where they can save.

Salerno: Ravello and Amalfi

When we arrived in Salerno, we had a private driver, Roberto, take us into the Amalfi Coast.

Roberto was wonderful! I booked the tour through a company based in Naples called Taxi Mister Cab Driver. Roberto was the luck of the draw and I’m so glad we got him, but from what I have seen, all the drivers are fantastic. We met a few in the course of our day when our plans overlapped and the OG driver, Ciro, sang us back to Amalfi on a boat!

We visited Ravello and Amalfi, enjoying the scenery along the way rather than trying to cram as many stops as possible into the day.

The Amalfi Coast is one of those places where the journey is part of the experience.

The roads wind along the cliffs, the views seem to get more ridiculous around every corner, and eventually you realize that you’re spending half your time saying, “Look at that!”

Having a private driver meant we could enjoy the day without worrying about navigating those roads ourselves. Definitely important for the Amalfi Coast. Driving there is no small feat.

It also gave us flexibility.

And when you’re visiting somewhere like the Amalfi Coast from a cruise ship, flexibility is valuable.

Sicily: Mount Etna and Taormina

Our day in Catania was another highlight.

We met our guide, Chiara, and headed toward Mount Etna. I found Chiara on Tours By Locals, a new to me site that has become a favorite.

Yes, we climbed a volcano during our cruise vacation.

Because apparently we don’t know how to sit still.

From Mount Etna, we continued on to Taormina, where we visited the Greek Theatre and explored the town. Chiara lives in Taormina, she knew everyone wandering the streets and even got us a little taste of Ricotta cream that goes into the famous Sicilian Canoli.

And then there was the food.

We ate arancini, because you can’t go to Sicily and not eat arancini. Chiara recommended a fabulous restaurant and it did not disappoint.

Taormina was one of those places that made me immediately understand why people fall in love with Sicily.

The combination of history, scenery, food and that unmistakable Italian atmosphere is hard to beat.

Florence: One of My Favorite Days

Our Livorno port day may have been one of my favorite days of the entire trip. I do love Florence!

We had a private driver (booked via Viator) take us from the port to Florence, where we met our guide for a private three-hour tour. This guide was also booked on Tours By Locals and he was wonderful.

We explored the Baptistery, Duomo, crypt and Duomo Museum before heading to the Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David.

And then we did something important.

We stopped touring.

We had lunch.

We wandered.

We crossed the Ponte Vecchio.

We found a wine window.

We shopped for leather bags.

And we ended the afternoon with an affogato before our driver picked us up and took us back to the ship.

That day was a perfect example of why I believe travel shouldn’t always be about checking things off a list.

Yes, we saw some incredible sights.

But some of my favorite memories came from the time in between them.

The wine window.

The shopping.

The affogato.

The conversations.

The wandering.

Those are the things you remember.

Villefranche and Èze

In Villefranche, we decided to visit Èze Village.

Instead of taking the taxi offered at the port, we used Bolt, which ended up being significantly less expensive than the taxi quote we received.

We explored the Exotic Garden, wandered through the village and did some shopping before returning to Villefranche for lunch and more exploring.

It was another reminder that sometimes a little research can save you money without sacrificing the experience.

And yes, I notice these things.

It’s part of what makes me a travel advisor.

I’m always thinking:

Is there a better way to do this?

Is this worth the money?

Would I recommend this to a client?

What would I do differently next time?

Marseille

Our day in Marseille was another example of how much you can fit into a cruise port day without making yourself completely miserable.

We took a taxi to the Old Port and hopped on the Petit Train up to Notre-Dame de la Garde.

After taking in the views, we headed back down and spent some time enjoying coffee and wine before lunch.

We also had a wonderful wine tasting experience, which was one of those unexpected highlights that made the day feel less like a checklist and more like an actual vacation.

Because sometimes the best part of travel isn’t the famous landmark.

Sometimes it’s sitting down over a glass of wine with someone who loves what they do and hearing their stories.

And Then There Was Barcelona

When the cruise ended in Barcelona, we weren’t quite ready for the trip to be over.

We had a private transfer to our hotel in the Gothic Quarter booked through Welcome Pickups and spent time exploring the city.

We had tapas for lunch and later toured Casa Milà and the Sagrada Família with our private guide, Jaume. This tour was a Get Your Guide find and Jaume (Jamie) was fantastic. He was a former architect, so perfect to tell us all about Gaudi’s masterpieces.

Barcelona was the perfect place to end the trip.

And, honestly, I think adding a night or two before or after a Mediterranean cruise is not something just worth considering, it is a must.

You’ve already traveled all that way.

Why rush straight to the airport?

What I Took Away From This Trip

After spending ten nights experiencing this itinerary firsthand, I came home with a notebook full of ideas.

Things I loved.

Things I’d change.

Things I’d absolutely recommend.

Things I’d tell clients not to waste money on.

And probably most importantly, a much better understanding of what makes a Mediterranean cruise work so well for different types of travelers.

Because there isn’t one perfect way to do it.

A couple celebrating an anniversary may want something completely different from a group of friends celebrating a milestone birthday.

A first-time cruiser may need more structure.

An experienced traveler may want more freedom.

Some people will want The Haven.

Others would rather spend that money on private tours and incredible meals.

Some will want to see every possible landmark.

Others will want a long lunch and a glass of wine.

And that’s exactly why I don’t believe travel planning should be one-size-fits-all.

So… Would I Do It Again?

Absolutely.

Would I plan it exactly the same way?

Maybe not.

And that’s the beauty of having the experience.

Now I know more.

I know which splurges I’d repeat.

I know where I would save money.

I know which tours were worth it.

I know where I’d build in more free time.

I know which ports I’d approach differently.

And I can take everything I learned and use it when helping my clients plan their own Mediterranean adventures.

That’s the part of being a travel advisor that I love.

I’m not interested in simply taking an order that says, “We want a Mediterranean cruise.”

I want to know why you’re going.

Who you’re traveling with.

What matters to you.

What you want to experience.

Where you’re willing to splurge.

Where you don’t care.

And then I want to help you build the trip around those things.

Because sometimes you already know exactly where you want to go.

And sometimes you just know you need a vacation.

That’s where I come in.

I’m the person who plans the trip you didn’t know you needed.

And after this trip, I have a whole lot more Mediterranean ideas to share.

Stay tuned. We’re just getting started.

And be sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram, where lots of reels and photos of the trip will be posted.

Italy

Review: Hotel Kraft

March 12, 2019 Barbara Ryan Leave a comment

I scoured long and hard to find the perfect hotel in Florence for our family trip. There are tons of choices, but triple or quad rooms can be difficult. We had a little gem of a place on our last trip 15 years ago, but it has since closed.

Hotel Kraft turned out to be another absolute gem! The icing on the cake was a rooftop pool, there are only a handful of hotels in Florence with a pool, let alone a rooftop one with a view of the Duomo!

Hotel Kraft was a short easy walk from Santa Maria Novella train station and we walked it with our luggage no problem. I had booked 2 triple rooms here, my parents with 1 kid and us with the other. They were right across the hall from one another so that was convenient. The rooms were nice and large with high ceilings and a good size modern bathroom.

The best part of this hotel though apart from great service, was the rooftop terrace/restaurant/lounge/pool. Just incredible! You can see for miles around and all the key points of Florence, the famous hills beyond the city, the Duomo and the bell tower of the Palazzo Medici. We spent evenings sipping Bellini’s and Perroni’s and enjoyed breakfast each morning al fresco. The last night we had a front row seat for the view of the sun setting on Florence. We only used the pool one day, but it was very enjoyable to have some downtime on a busy sightseeing trip like Italy is. It’s well worth it to take an afternoon to re-charge. And for our competitive swimmer son to get some laps in. We snuck out for a walk into town and shopping (had to go back and get Christmas presents for the boys they had seen earlier), but my parents and kids enjoyed the pool all afternoon. It was never too crowded

The hotel was just off the main center of Florence, but only a 10-15 minute walk to the Ponte Vecchio or Duomo. and just 2 blocks up from the Arno River. We strolled it many times. Walking being a bit difficult for my father, they easily jumped in a cab for a short few minutes ride back and forth when they needed to. We always walked. We visited the Accademia Museum and saw the real David. Then the replicas up at Piazzale Michelangelo and out in front of Palazzo Medici. We shopped on the Ponte Vecchio.

Around the corner from the hotel was our favorite gelateria, B.Ice. This became an afternoon treat and after dinner dessert daily. Within a block there were numerous restaurants, trattorias, etc… you simply cannot go wrong. Starving our first night we tucked into the first one we saw and it turned out to be phenomenal. The hotel recommended another place we went to the next night, also wonderful. The hotel’s restaurant itself was very good as well.

Florence is an incredible city, my favorite city in Italy! Not to be missed on a first time trip to Italy and a great base for day trips to the surrounding splendors of Tuscany.

Italy

Italia Series Part 2 Street of Gold

September 8, 2018 Barbara Ryan Leave a comment

Our Italian journey continues onto Florence. See how the trip started in Rome here.

This trip was a long time in the planning. My parents were born and raised in Italy and have been wanted to take their grandkids there for years. We wanted to wait until they were old enough to appreciate what they would be seeing. We were all set to travel last summer and 2 weeks before the trip we had to cancel everything because my father was ill and needed surgery. He came through nicely and the trip was rescheduled to this summer.

On Thursday August 9th we taxied to the train station and took the high speed train to Florence. Unlike Rome, the hotel we had previously stayed in here was no longer open, so I spent a great deal of time searching for the perfect place for our family. I consider it a success. Hotel Kraft was wonderful. We were able to walk everywhere and it was close to the train station. One block from the Arno River and about 10 minutes leisurely walk to the historical center of Florence.

Nonni walked off the elevator just as I was taking the photo!

Hotel Kraft is located on a quiet street a few minutes walk from the main train station, Santa Maria Novella and a smaller train station. With 78 rooms it is larger than our Rome hotel, but still not too large. We had booked 2 triple rooms here and they were spacious, had high ceilings and with good sized bathrooms. This hotel had a restaurant with breakfast included on the top floor. They also served lunch and dinner and drinks in the restaurant and on the large rooftop terrace. Another gem, a rooftop pool with views of all of Florence past the River Arno and the Duomo. There are very few hotels with pools, let alone rooftop pools in Florence so this was perfect for my competitive swimmer son. It was tiny, but he made due with some practice laps. It was perfect for cooling off as well, still brutally hot during a heat wave continuing through all of Europe.

In Florence I had scheduled a tour of the Accademia Museum to see Michelangelo’s David. We wandered the city, saw the Duomo and Baptistry doors (partially covered for restoration), shopped on the Ponte Vecchio which is the street of gold, Palazzo Vecchio, traveled up to Piazzale Michelangelo, saw all the fake Davids after seeing the real thing and countless statues that decorate the city.

Quick Tip: Limit museums and churches with children. Use Skip the Line entry or short tours to see highlights more easily. Lines in the hot sun are not where you want to be spending your time.

We knew our kids would have little interest in hours or museum strolling looking at masterpiece paintings so I scheduled a short, 1 hour Accademia tour which really just focused on the statue of David and the other statues he left unfinished. It also got us in without a wait in line. We could have stayed and toured the museum on our own after our short tour if we wished of course. Katy was our tour guide and it was a nice short tour.

The hotel recommended a restaurant which turned out to be another little gem of a place. We had a lovely meal at Il Parione on the street with the same name and upon leaving people were lined up outside waiting to get in. Another gem we found by accident, we were hungry and it was close by, Trattoria Armando was also excellent.

Hubby and I wandered on our own several times to shop and explore and we had the best cheese (I think it was cheese) with prosecco when we stopped in to this little place on our way back to the hotel one day. It was so good, they brought it with the wine since they cannot serve drinks without food of course. Another spot we stopped in for lunch Trattoria Nella turned out to be very good too and tiny, only like 8 tables maybe. There was a moment of confusion when the owner started eating Eric’s side order of potatoes because he had ordered some too and didn’t realize they weren’t his. We laughed afterwards once Eric had his potatoes because he is no fun when he is hungry.

Around the corner from our hotel was our favorite Gelateria! We hit B.Ice twice a day during our stay, afternoon treat and nightly dessert. The counter girl welcomed us in and laughed every time we walked in. She knew our order by the last day.

A fun thing we loved about Italy, many of the Gelaterias are also bars. And sandwich shops. And snack bar. And pasta restaurant. And have souvenirs too.

Dinner at the hotel rooftop restaurant on our final night in Firenze

A note about service in Italy: A cover charge and service charge is normally included so if you leave a tip, it can be just a few euros extra since the majority of the tip is included. They often will tell you it’s not included. It is. Also, service in general is slow and not like America where they keep checking on you. Once they bring your food, you never see them again unless you flag them down for something. Nobody is ever in a rush in any restaurant in Italy. Regardless of how many people are waiting outside. Just enjoy and go with the flow.

While in Florence, we took a half day trip to Pisa since the Leaning Tower was one of the things the kids really wanted to see. This was the one sore spot of the tours I arranged through Viator. The ground operator in this case did not do a good job. We would have been much better off taking a train ourselves rather than doing a tour. The operator was My Tour and while the meeting location was close to our hotel and easy to find the tour itself was not run very well. The escort, Sarenna was a lovely young girl, but really said very little in explaining timelines and what was happening. She also walked very quickly since the bus stops about 1 mile from Miracle Square. She never looked back to see if the group was still with her and never slowed down for the slower members of the group. There was a local guide which took us on a tour, but we only walked around outside of the monuments. He was good, but clearly worried about what would happen next. The biggest issue we had was they lied about the time we had for our tour of the Cathedral. The cathedral has free entry, but requires a timed ticket like everything in Pisa. We later learned that they send someone that morning to get the tickets and the time they were able to get for our group was 1pm. We had to be back on the bus at 12:45pm. They told us the tour was for 12:30 and we would try and get in a few minute early so as not to rush it too much, and then pretty much sprint back to the bus. They usually will let them in a bit early. But as we tried to get in at 12:15pm they refused and said they would let us in at 12:45pm. Several tried to make them wait and be late for the bus, but the escort and guide refused. For some, including my mother, the cathedral was the only thing they really wanted to see since it is often closed and they had never been inside before. Had they told us up front, we would have gotten ourselves a ticket when we first arrived hours ago and gotten in, but we didn’t because we thought we were getting in with the tour guide. We also would have had time to get a ticket to climb the tower had we known the tour was going to be a bust. So instead we did nothing but wander around and have lunch. Because they didn’t admit the actual time and give us the option.