地中海邮轮之旅（序）
年初的时候，在重启因疫情而滞后了三年的旅程中提到了，这次邮轮部分，完全就是三年前订的那个。一样的邮轮公司和一样的航线，只是升级了一下舱位。 不过，因为这次时间不象那时一样受限。所以，除了提前一天到出发地巴塞罗那之外，另外又加了在罗马停留两天，第三天才飞回蒙城。
这趟地中海邮轮，从西班牙的巴塞罗那出发，沿途停靠三个国家的四个港 —— 英国的 Gibraltar 直布罗陀，法国的 Marseille 马赛 （靠近 Provence普罗旺斯）， 意大利的 Genoa 热那亚 和 Livorna利沃纳 （靠近Florence 佛罗伦萨和PISA比萨），然后抵达终点意大利的Rome罗马。因为邮轮解决了去沿途这些地方的交通和住宿，所以我们只需要订在巴塞罗那和罗马的旅馆，和安排在船停靠点附近如何游览就可以了。较之于以前的自驾游，这次的行程安排啥的，就相对比较简单明了。所以，我把任务交给队友。
一如既往的，他迟迟没东西出来。于是，我又把最后两个点的安排接了过来。我们的共识是，每个停靠的地方，我们都自由行，尽量不跟邮轮公司的excursion短途旅行团。不过，在Livorna利沃纳停靠那天，我们不想把时间花在那里，而想兼顾Florence 佛罗伦萨和PISA比萨。看了一下三处之间的距离，发现自己使用公共交通不太现实，于是决定跟了邮轮公司的 “Florence & Pisa on Your Own " 佛罗伦萨和比萨自由行的安排。这样一来，从港口到佛罗伦萨，佛罗伦萨到比萨，比萨回港口的交通就解决了，且一路的车上可以听到导游的一些介绍和讲解，下车后又可以随自己的意来逛。
很快，我把佛罗伦萨，比萨和罗马的游览大致路线计划出来了。而他呢，等到三月底，才终于交了作业。不过，跟上次去英国的比，这次的计划就详尽得不要太多了。
按惯例，下面就把我们出发前的行程计划贴一下。实际如何，回头会在系列的最后总结。
13APR23 Montreal Trudeau (YUL) 19:25 to Barcelona, Spain (BCN) 09:05 AC82
2
First day : April 14th 2023
In Barcelona
Arrive at Barcelona Airport (BCN) Terminal T1, around 9h05AM, after clearing customs we will take Aerobus A1
When it comes to public transport, the best option to get from Barcelona Airport to the city and back is the official airport shuttle bus called Aerobus. It has 2 lines: A1 which heads to Terminal 1, and A2 which heads to Terminal 2. They follow the same route, but end at a different stop so make sure to check your terminal in advance.
The Aerobus A1 is operational between 5:35 and 00:30, 365 days a year, leaving every 5 to 10 minutes. It takes about 35 minutes to get from Barcelona-El Prat Airport to Plaça Catalunya On the bus there’s plenty of room for your luggage.
A one-way ticket costs €5.90 (~ $6.60CAD) per person.
We will arrive at Plaça Cataluny around 11h30AM and walk to our Hostel a 15min walking.
After dropping the luggages and star to explore Barcelona:
- Gothic Quarter, Barcelona, Spain (free of charge)
Attractions here are:
- Gothic Cathedral
- Bisbe Irurita Street
- Church of Santa Maria del Pi
- Sant Jaume Square
- Plaça del Rei (King’s Square)
- Plaça Reial (Royal Square)
- Ciutadella Park, Barcelona, Spain (Entry to the park is free of charge, but you will need to pay if you’d like to visit the zoo, the zoological museum or the geology museum)
- Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain (free of charge)
- Sagrada Família, Barcelona, Spain (inside visit is Base price, 26.00 €, guided 30€)
- Park Güell, Barcelona, Spain (Enter Park Guell at the time selected during booking and get the flexibility to explore at your own pace as you leisurely stroll the attraction. 10€)
- Plaça de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain (free of charge)
- Revólver Records, C/ dels Tallers, 11, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
- Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, Pl. de Carles Buïgas, Barcelona, Spain (free of charge) From 9:00 p.m. at 10:00 p.m./ Start music and color show: 9:00 p.m. / 9:30 p.m. Walk back to the Hostel.
Barcelona day 1 Gothic Distric Map
Second day : April 15th 2023
In Barcelona
Going to the beach, it’s 18min walk and it’s free of charge.
Need to get to the ship between 1pm and 3pm, terminal D or E. It’s 1h4min walk to the ship, but we need to show early to get the Medallions.
The rest of the day on the ship, have supper do the mush ter drill, ship leaves port at 6PM
Third day : April 16th 2023
Day at sea…
Fourth day : April 17th 2023
In Gibraltar
Arrive at Gibraltar at 7AM, after breakfast go explore Gibraltar
From the cruise port terminal to the Mediteranean steps is about 1h15 walk.
The Med Steps themselves take around 35-45 minutes, and the walk back down into town via the roads another 45 minutes. So about 3h00 just walking plus time visiting and taking pics.
The ship leaves at 5pm
Fifth day : April 18th 2023
Day at sea…
Sixth day : April 19th 2023
In Marseille
Arrive in Marseille around 8AM, after breakfast we can take the free shuttle from cruise port to Place de la Joliette:
The Grand Port Maritime de Marseille has set up a free shuttle that runs every day that there are ships calling.
The timetable:
- from 9.20am to 5.20pm and a rotation every 20 minutes
It is intended for passengers in transit, embarking and disembarking.
/! To make sure that the free shuttle bus serving the cruise terminal is available, the Tourist Office advises passengers to contact us 2 or 3 days before their stopover in Marseille to make sure it is running. Because there is no 100% reliable rule.
Going to city, free shuttle:
Starting point at the cruise terminal (for transit passengers wishing to go to the city centre and disembarking passengers): from your cruise ship, follow the green line on the ground. Walk between 5 and 12 minutes towards the exit of Gate 4 of the port until you reach the well-marked stop.
Coming back from the city toward the Cruise port, free shuttle:
Starting point at Place de la Joliette (for passengers in transit returning to their ship and those embarking): it is located between the Terrasses du Port shopping centre and the maritime station. At 9 Quai du Lazaret. After the pharmacy and the Pomme de Pain shop. There is a large gate with white iron bars. You enter through the small gate while showing your ticket.
We start to walk on Quai du Lazaret towards Catédrale La Major (church) free of charge
And then to Le Panier District, walk around.
And then to Old Port of Marseille, we walk around.
And then to La Basilique Notre Dame De La Garde (free of charge)
Walk back to the Free Shuttle on Quai du Lazaret, take the shuttle back to the Cruise Port
The ship leaves at 6PM
Seventh day: April 20th 2023
In Genoa
Arrive in Genoa around 8AM. After breakfast go explore Genoa:
From the Cruise port go to Old Port (Porto Antico)
Upon arrival into Genoa Port, make your way around to Porto Antico, a short walk from any of the cruise-shop docks. Since the city’s main attractions are within 10 or 20 minutes by foot, there’s plenty of time to first enjoy the cafes, small shops and cultural spots that have sprung up in the old port area since its remarkable revitalization in the past few decades. It’s now a favorite spot for locals to meet up on a Sunday afternoon for cappuccinos, ice cream, jogging and dog-walking.
Strolling the seafront is like literally walking into a maritime landscape painting from the Renaissance era. Pretty pastel cottages, villas and trattorias spill up and down the hillside, painting the city in nostalgic ochre and pink brushstrokes topped with tufts of terracotta tile
The San Lorenzo Cathedral or “Duomo”
is Genoa’s oldest cathedral and dates back to the 5th or 6th centuries. This historical building has a black and white striped marble facade interior with Moorish influence. During the WW1, the cathedral was one of the few buildings that withstood attack without any damage. A British battleship fired a shell into it but it never exploded. The fuse and the shell are still intact and are visible in a corner of the nave.
Teatro Carlo Felice (Opera House) located on Piazza de Ferrari
the city’s main square. During WW2, the building was severely damaged during the bombing raids throughout the city. The Opera House was restructured to its former glory and reopened in 1991 serving as a house of culture for ballet, opera and concerts.
Christopher Colombus House
They call their city the ‘Land of Columbus’ since explorer Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 and raised here.
After visiting Genoa, walk back to the ship
Ship leaves 7PM
Eight day : April 21st 2023
In Pisa and Florence
Arrive in Livorno 7AM, but IMPORTANT !!! Excursion bus leaves at 8AM (need to wake up early to take breakfast)
Visiting Pisa and Florence.
Florence:
Piazza della Signoria (Square of heart of Florence)
Palazzo Vecchio, Fontana de Nettuno (fountain)
Piazza del Duomo
Florence Renaissance Cathedral Santa Maria (Landmark 1200s cathedral known for its red-tiled dome, colored marble facade & elegant Giotto tower) / Baptisery of St. John
San Lorenzo Market & Mercato Centrale
Market for foods and souvenirs
Basilica di San Lorenzo (San Lorenzo complex)
Landmark Renaissance church, burial place of the Medici, with a library designed by Michelangelo.
Fonte Vecchio
Picturesque medieval arched river bridge with Roman origins, lined with jewelry & souvenir shops.
On top of it there is Vasari Corridor.
Boboli Gardens
Park Google rating is only 3.6. So, might not go inside, but go to Palazzo Pitti and/or Porta Romana only.
Walls and Gates of Florence & Fortification
Porta san Niccolo - Towering stone gate from Florence's 1300s fortification walls, with views from its crenellated top.
Ponte alle Grazie
Road bridge completed in 1953 crossing the River Arno with panoramas of the city & Ponte Vecchio.
Go back to Piazza della Signoria via this bridge.
Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence
Neo-Gothic Franciscan church known for its Giotto frescoes, plus tombs of Michelangelo & Galileo.
Pisa:
Leaning Tower
Comeback from Excursion
Ship leaves 7PM
Nineth and Tenth day : April 22nd and 23rd, 2023
In Rome
We will arrive in Rome around 5AM
Taking the train from Civitavecchia to Vatican City
From where your cruise ship docks to Civitavecchia’s train station is about a mile (1.5 km) so you will need to give yourself at least 20 minutes to get from the ship to the platform. You can also take a bus from Largo Della Pace which is right by the port by jumping on the Civitavecchia Servizi Pubblici bus or the PortLink bus. Tickets cost 2 euro and you can purchase your ticket at the service center at Largo Della Pace by the dock.
The train you want to take is the one that goes to Rome’s central station, Termini. However, you do not want to take the train all the way to Termini. Instead, you will get off at Stazione Roma S. Pietro which is three stops before Termini Station. The cost of the ticket is 4.60 euro and the traveling time is 45/50 minutes. The train comes usually every 30 minutes with around 43 trains leaving Civitavecchia for Rome every day. You can buy your ticket for Stazione San Pietro at the Civitavecchia train station either at the bar, a ticket machine, or behind the ticket counter. You can also pre-book your tickets or the TrenItalia website or app.
If you buy your tickets at the station, be sure to validate them in the time stamp machines before boarding. Tickets purchased online for a specific departure time do not need to be validated.
To make things even easier for cruise passengers wanting to get to Vatican City by train: in 2019, a new operation called the Civitavecchia Express opened that has four daily trips. Two in the morning leaving from Civitavecchia to Stazione S. Pietro and two in the evening leaving from Stazion S. Pietro back to Civitavecchia. This service takes place from the 1st of April until the 1st of November with the journey taking between 35 to 40 minutes. Ticket prices are 10 euro one way or 15 euro return where children under 12 are free. The train leaves Civitavecchia at 8:30 am and 10:15 am from Monday to Saturday getting to Stazione San Pietro at 9:08 and 11:03 respectively. On Sundays and bank holidays the first train leaves at 9:35 am getting to Stazione San Pietro at 10:10am with the 10:15am train running as normal. To find out more on the Civitavecchia Express click here.
Tips are not mandatory in Rome
Top 10 Places to Visit:
10. Roman Forum/Palatine Hill
9. Colosseum (next to #10)
8. Altare della Patria (Monument）
7. Villa Borghese Garden - south to overlook Rome
6. Piazza Navona – square, ruins of stadium
5. Trevi Fountain – the most famous fountain in the world, nearby there is an underground VicusCaprarius of ancient Romans.
4. Spanish Steps – spring with flowers
3. Pantheon - Roman Temple/Church
2. Baths of Caracalla – center of daily life in ancient Rome
1. Vatican City – the smallest country
Bonus places: Pyramid of Cestius/Romulus; Castle Sant’ Angelo; Mausoleum of Augustus
Free view of the city: Terraza del Pincio (Garden) and Janiculum Terrace (behind Vatican city)
Eleventh day: April 24th, 2023
24APR23 Rome, Italy (ROM) 11:35 to Montreal Trudeau (YUL) 14:25 AC893