12-Night Mediterranean Cruise from Barcelona (with Venice)

By Kathy

After our nap, Lisa and I ventured out to grab lunch at a small cafe near the hotel. I had a delicious hot ham and cheese sandwich and Lisa began her quest to consume a hot dog in every port on the itinerary. Lisa also had her first experience with Fanta. In the U.S. Fanta is just another version of Sunkist orange soda. In Europe, it is much lighter, almost a carbonated orange juice. This would become Lisa's beverage of choice over the next two weeks. After lunch, we went back to the hotel, woke up Michael and went back to the same cafe so that he could eat lunch. Like father, like daughter. Michael also chose the hot dog. Our palates were not very adventurous yet.

We had pre-purchased vouchers for the City Sightseeing tour bus (fondly known as a HOHO or hop on hop off) so a relaxing tour of the northern part of the city was in order. The bus stop was only a few blocks from the hotel. We took the two hour complete blue route tour and got the lay of the land for the following day. The sneak preview of Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and Montjuic really got us excited about the following day's agenda. There was a protest going on at our next to the last stop so we transferred to the red line and rode to our hotel stop at Casa Batllo Fundacio Antoni Tapies. Say that three times fast.

After disembarking the bus we walked around the hotel neighborhood, took in the atmosphere in this beautiful part of the city, enjoyed muffins and a croissant and found ice cream for Lisa who desperately wanted a frozen treat. We happened upon a small grocery store where we picked up a few bottles of water, a bottle of Fanta and a giant popsicle for Lisa.

We made it back to the hotel around 9:00 and had successfully managed to keep ourselves awake until an appropriate bed time in the new time zone. It was a long day and the hotel bed was calling our name. Tomorrow would be a busy day.

By Kathy

The HOHO bus took us to Sagrada Familia to begin our day. What an amazing building. There was a small mix-up with our online annual pass purchase and we had to walk offsite to pick up the tickets but we got it straightened out. There was a three hour wait to climb the tower at Sagrada Familia and our day was jam packed as it was so we decided to skip it. We visited the chapel, museum in the basement and gift shop. Lisa seemed particularly interested in the sculptures, an affinity that would continue for the rest of our trip.

By Kathy

After Sagrada Familia, we got back on the blue line bus and headed out to Park Guell, a site developed by Antonio Gaudi, the designer of the Sagrada Familia. It was a steep walk from the bus stop to the park with a few rest stops on benches along the way. We just weren't used to that much walking. We made it to the park and took a picture of the famous lizard sculpture. I couldn't remember the sign for "dragon" so I kept telling Lisa that we were going to see the "alligator." She promptly informed me that this sculpture was not an alligator. Lisa protested the ascent to the top of the park but did it anyway. She is definitely not a morning person and had not warmed up to the day. Lisa was hungry after our visit to the park so we stopped at Subway on the way down to the bus stop. She ordered a baby sub and chocolate milk. This seemed to hit the spot and her mood improved significantly. We stopped at a gift shop along the way where my backpack hit a salt and pepper shaker, sending it to the ground in pieces. I broke it. Michael bought it.

We got back on the blue line bus and made an unscheduled stop at Jardins Del Palau De Pedralbes, a small garden where we took a few pictures and got back on the bus.

By Kathy

Our next stop was Montjuic after a seamless transfer to the red line. The cable car took us to the top of the mountain where we had an incredible view of the city and harbor. By about 3:00 we were up at the castle walls, where an old cannon still points toward the harbor. Michael and I took pictures of the garden and castle. We rode the cable car back down to the station and resumed our tour on the red line.

Port Olympic on the south end of town was our transfer point to the green line. There was a nice cafe right next to the bus stop so we went in and ordered a croissant, muffins and ice cream. We finished the green line tour in 40 minutes and transferred back to the red line. By this point we were all pretty hungry and Hard Rock Cafe was conveniently located near our final stop. Michael enjoyed a cheeseburger, Lisa had mac and cheese and I had a fabulous bacon onion burger. Lisa picked out a shirt and critter for herself and a shirt for Thomas. The anticipation of tomorrow's embarkation on the Mickey boat was too much for Lisa. She wanted to go back to the hotel and get to bed early. Michael enjoyed a beer on the rooftop terrace at the hotel and met some of the other people on our cruise. From the rooftop you could see the Sagrada Familia lit up across the city. He even brought me back a giant glass of Sangria. All in all, a very successful day in a beautiful city.

By Kathy

Our bus was not scheduled to pick us up for the cruise terminal until 11:30. It was a very long wait but Lisa was patient. We sat outside and took some pictures before boarding the "Tinkerbell" bus. The transfer to the port took about 20 minutes. The bus ride was nice and they showed the pre-cruise hype video onboard but it didn't really compare to our previous experiences coming out of Port Canaveral. Lisa was a bit confused because it wasn't the Disney Cruise Line bus that she is used to seeing. We reassured her that it was indeed taking us to the Mickey boat. She sat back, relaxed and enjoyed the ride. Once the Mickey boat was in plain view, she was all smiles.

By Kathy

There was a short line at security and then registration. We were through all of the lines in about 25 minutes, got our embarkation pictures taken and walked onto the ship to the familiar greeting of, "Disney Magic welcomes the Rennhack family." That experience never gets old. It was just as magical the third time as it was the first time. Topsiders for lunch was first on our agenda and then Lisa wanted to go swimming. She promptly determined that the water in the pool was way too cold and camped out in the hot tub with Michael. Having a pool at home that is 88 degrees has spoiled her.

Our stateroom was ready at 1:30 and we found our Castaway Club gift waiting for us. On the last cruise we received a blue backpack that Lisa still uses for her school bag. This time it was a red shoulder bag with a key chain, magnet, masks for the Sail Away party and wands.

After a quick walk around the ship to reacquaint ourselves with our home for the next 12 days we made our way to Deck 4 for the mandatory muster drill. Michael had an appointment at the spa for a Swedish massage at 4:30. Lisa and I went to Deck 9 for the Sail Away party. After the ship left port, we found the Oceaneer Club and got Lisa signed up and equipped with her wrist band, a sure sign that our vacation had officially begun. She was so excited and instructed me to make a hasty exit. She was ready to make new friends. I came back to the room and enjoyed quiet journal time on the verandah as the ship pulled out of port.

The first restaurant on our rotational dining list was Lumiere's, with its Beauty and the Beast theme. We met our dining team of Sam, I Made and Cedomir. Sam recognized us immediately from our last cruise on the Magic. He was our server on that cruise as well. He is fabulous! We were seated with a family of three from Jupiter, FL. Bill, his wife Kirsten and their seven-year-old son Nathan. It was a match made in heaven. Bill and Michael talked about tech stuff, Kirsten and I had a lot in common and Lisa and Nathan enjoyed swapping electronic gadgets throughout the trip. We would spend the entire cruise dining with them.

After dinner we hit the onboard shopping venues, picked Lisa up from Oceaneer Lab and went to bed.

By Kathy

Today we were scheduled for a shore excursion that would take us to Monte Carlo in the principality of Monaco. We met our other excursion participants at Studio Sea and made our way to the gangway on Deck 1 to catch the tender boat. This was our only tender port on the entire cruise. I am typically not a fan of tendering but this process ran smoothly. After snapping a few pictures and meeting our tour guide for the day, we boarded a bus and drove along the Lower Corniche to Monte Carlo.

By Kathy

Our journey in Monte Carlo began at the top of Monaco Rock where we saw the outside of the Oceanographic Museum commissioned by Prince Albert. By 10:50 there was already a crowd outside. We boarded a small tourist train that took us all around Monte Carlo, including the outside of the famed Monte Carlo Casino. Lisa recognized it from the movie Madagascar 3. We also saw the shopping district and harbor which was full of very expensive yachts. This area is a millionaire's playground. The train took us past the Royal Palace where the flag waving in the wind indicated that the royal family was in residence.

By Kathy

Once we disembarked the train, our tour guide led us to the Monaco Cathedral. This is where all of the royalty in Monaco are married and buried. We walked inside and found the tombs of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier. The guide told us the story of how Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier met. She was scheduled to do a photo shoot at the Royal Palace. It was love at first sight.

By Kathy

Our final stop on the tour was Stars and Bars, an establishment frequented by Formula One racers after the Grand Prix of Monaco. We were met with a welcome sign and enjoyed sodas with a beautiful view of the harbor. The tour guide gave us 45 minutes for souvenir shopping. Lisa found a sailor hat and I got a magnet. Michael found the International Atomic Energy Agency Environment Laboratories so a photo op was definitely in order. I also took Michael and Lisa's pictures in the Formula One car statue.

By Kathy

We boarded the bus and drove back to the port along the Middle Corniche. This was much higher than the Lower Corniche and while I found it a bit unnerving, it did afford some amazing views. The tour guide pointed out the church where Sting got married as well as the most expensive house on the market in the world. It was a mere 286 million Euros. In fact, the average price of houses in this area runs 50,000 Euros per square meter. We arrived back at the port, boarded the tender and went back to the ship to enjoy our afternoon. We were back at the tender dock in Villefranche by 1:30.

We ate lunch at Topsiders and dropped Lisa off at Oceaneer Lab. A few hours later I picked Lisa up for dinner. Tonight's theme was Villains Tonight and we dined in Animators Palate, my personal favorite restaurant. Lisa asked to be taken back to the Oceaneer Lab and this gave me a chance to get everything unpacked. This was the first time we have ever completely unpacked for a cruise. I picked Lisa up from the Lab to go to the Broadway style production of Villains Tonight. Lisa was elbow deep in the Ratatouille Cooking School where she was an official cookie taster. After Villains Tonight, Lisa convinced us to make a stop at Mickey's Mates where she picked out a Merida doll from the movie Brave. Lisa and Michael went for a late night swim and enjoyed pizza while I went to bed. A great first day on the Mickey boat!

By Kathy

We arrived in Florence at 10:30 and quickly made our way to the Uffizi for a 10:30 appointment that I had secured online ahead of time. We spent about two hours walking through the museum. It was hot, crowded and quite honestly very underwhelming. Michael and I were much more impressed with the Louvre in Paris. Many of the works were very violent and graphic in nature, a fact that disturbed Lisa and prompted a very enthusiastic thumbs down from her. The highlight of our Uffizi experience was lunch at a small cafe just outside the gate. Lisa continued her hot dog sampling quest while Michael and I enjoyed hamburgers on ciabatta bread.

By Kathy

We didn't have any concrete plans for the rest of the afternoon so we headed toward the Duomo and took some amazing pictures against the bright blue sky. Part of the cathedral was under scaffolding. We came across a street artist who was sketching a boy about Lisa's age. The detail was incredible. We were so impressed that we waited for him to finish with the boy and then asked him to sketch Lisa. The sitting took the better part of an hour, and by just after 2:00 she had her finished portrait in hand. The artist's name was Nicola and he had a studio in Florence. Nicola was also a very talented painter so we purchased a watercolor of the Ponte Vecchio Bridge from him as well. Lisa gave his work two thumbs up.

By Kathy

After sitting so nicely for her portrait, we found a street vendor selling Pinocchio marionettes. Carlo Collodi, the original creator of Pinocchio was from the Florence area. We bought a marionette and headed back to our meeting spot, the Palazzo Santa Croce. On the way we stopped by the Disney Store and a gelato shop.

By Kathy

After the 2.5 hour bus ride, we made it back to the ship just in time for dinner. It was international cuisine night. Lisa had her old standby of mac and cheese. Michael had prime rib and I tried the chicken cordon bleu. Lisa wanted to go to the Oceaneer Lab halfway through dinner. When we were finished, Michael and I went to Deck 10 to take pictures of the incredible sunset. The sun didn't finally drop below the hills until almost 9:00. I decided to do a little journaling while the events of the day were fresh in my mind. Michael picked Lisa up from the Oceaneer Lab and they enjoyed their traditional night time slice of pizza before heading to bed. A very busy day indeed.

By Kathy

Our first stop was the Colosseum where we spent 90 minutes looking at the ruins. We arrived a little after 10:00. Lisa was particularly interested in the ancient artifacts. She slipped away from the group to focus on one piece in particular. Michael found her and communicated that it is not OK to walk away. She was upset but recovered in short time. The Colosseum was impressive and made for many great photos. We even found a Disney shipboard photographer who took our picture with the arena in the background.

Now we were right there in the middle of something steeped in so much history and tradition.

The next stop on our itinerary was St. Peter's Square. It happened to be a Sunday and the pope was scheduled to give his papal blessing at noon. This wasn't a scheduled part of our agenda but the tour guide made sure we got there in time to partake in the experience. Pope Francis made his appearance right at noon. Three months ago I had followed the papal selection closely. Now we were right there in the middle of something steeped in so much history and tradition. Even though we aren't Catholic, the papal blessing was quite impactful. The giant screens and excellent sound system ensured that we could see and hear everything. A large flower petal carpet had been laid out in the square.

After the blessing we had a few hours of free time and decided to grab a "Rome on the Go" box lunch from a cafe outside St. Peter's Square. We ate our lunch on the steps and then shopped at the local street vendors. We had a "one and done" policy for Lisa with respect to souvenirs so she made a very wise selection of a sun hat to protect her from the blazing sun. Michael bought a set of rosary beads for his Aunt Roberta. We allowed Lisa to select a second souvenir when we came across some beautiful silk scarves.

By Kathy

Finally it was time to make our way to the much anticipated Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel tour. Both attractions are closed on Sunday but Disney was able to get them to open just for our group of several hundred cruisers. On a typical day, the museum sees about 30,000 visitors. We started in the beautiful Vatican Museum. We were inside by 3:00. Room after room of statues and paintings awaited. Lisa really liked the sculptures of animals and the paintings of maps. Our guide pointed out that the male statues either had their genitalia covered by fig leaves or removed entirely. The male genitalia are stored in the basement of the museum. Because they were not cataloged when removed hundreds of years ago, there is no way to know which parts belong on which statues.

We then entered the Sistine Chapel which was absolutely breathtaking. So much history. So much art. The ceiling was phenomenal and my personal favorite part of the tour. Lisa used her new scarf to cover her shoulders as the chapel adheres to strict protocol with respect to dress. Shoulders and knees must remain covered at all times. There were also several guards on duty in the chapel, reminding guests not to sit in the middle of the floor or take pictures of any kind.

By Kathy

After an hour in Sistine Chapel, we boarded the bus and drove back to the port of Civitavecchia where our ship awaited. We ate dinner at Lumiere's and Michael had another massage scheduled at the spa. I was exhausted and went to bed around 9:30 after taking pictures of the sunset from Deck 10. Michael picked Lisa up from the Oceaneer Lab and took her around for more character pictures. Since we paid $500 for the CD option, we had to get our money's worth. They then enjoyed their nightly slice of pizza from Pinocchio's Pizzeria before turning in for the night.

By Kathy

We met our tour guide right outside the ship and after hooking us up with the radios that we would be using, she shuttled us to the waiting Jetfoil. The Jetfoil was an awesome experience in and of itself. Upon boarding the vessel Michael noted that it looked more like an airplane than a boat with comfy seats and a snack bar. The ride to the island of Capri took 45 minutes. The tour operator, SNAV, handed out coloring books and colored pencils to keep the kids occupied, a gesture that was much appreciated by the parents.

By Kathy

Upon our arrival in Capri, we immediately transferred to a smaller sightseeing boat and took a 75 minute tour around the island. This allowed us to get up close and personal with the Faraglioni Rocks and beautiful grottos surrounding the area. By 9:50 we were right alongside the Faraglioni Rocks rising out of the water. Lisa was a bit grouchy and out of sorts during this portion of the tour but a Coke and some gelato when we got back to shore seemed to perk her up. After a short break to shop and enjoy our gelato, we boarded another Jetfoil to the peninsula of Sorrento. This ride was only 25 minutes.

By Kathy

A motor coach was waiting for us at the pier. The city of Sorrento sits on the top of a very steep cliff so the bus was a welcome alternative to walking. We took a short tour of an inlaid woodshop and were given two hours to shop and grab lunch. We made our way to a small cafe called The Disco Bar where Lisa of course, ordered a hot dog. Michael had a cheeseburger and I had the most amazing salami and pepperoni pizza. We wandered around the local shops and Michael bought an inlaid wood box for his poker cards. Lisa selected a doll from the toy store and I found a nice book about the reconstruction of Pompeii. As we were walking back to the meeting point we saw a sculpture of Dali's "Persistence of Memory," a painting that we have in our living room. There was a Dali exhibit being hosted by one of the colleges in town. It provided a nice backdrop for pictures. Lisa sat at its base while we took her picture.

It was eerie and spectacular all rolled into one.

We met the group and boarded the bus for Pompeii. After a short tour of a cameo factory, we made our way to the actual site of the Pompeii ruins. Our tour guide spent about 90 minutes walking us through the major highlights of the area. We saw residences, the bakery, the sports arena and the bath house. Looming in the distance was Mt. Vesuvius, still an active volcano that last erupted in 1944. From the forum, the columns framed the mountain in the background. It was eerie and spectacular all rolled into one. There were some amazing photo opportunities and Lisa was happy to stop at every one of them. She really enjoyed the openness of Pompeii that afforded her the opportunity to run ahead a few steps without getting into trouble. There were plenty of places to stop for a short sitting break while the tour guide talked. Lisa was fascinated by the feral dogs that have made Pompeii their home. We all agreed that Pompeii was one of the highlights of our trip.

By Kathy

We came back to the ship and had dinner at Animator's Palate. This night was the special show where all of the artwork on the wall starts out white and then turns to full color by the end of the dinner. The show ended with an appearance by Sorcerer Mickey and the entire wait staff entering the dining room in colored vests and ties. It's always a neat experience.

Lisa begged to play at Oceaneer's Lab and Michael had another Swedish massage scheduled at the spa so I did what any mother with free time would do on vacation. . . LAUNDRY! I managed to do three loads that evening and then turned in for the night. Michael and Lisa stayed up a bit longer.

By Kathy

At 11:30 there was a princess gathering in the atrium, a not-to-be-missed event for Lisa. We learned on our first cruise that this gathering is a hot ticket and if you don't get in line at least a half hour before the scheduled start time, you may not get a chance to meet the princesses. I got in line at 11:00 and Michael brought Lisa down at 11:20. We met a very nice family from California while standing in line. Lisa played Uno with the two daughters while we waited. After getting her picture taken with Cinderella, Tiana, Aurora, Belle and Snow White we rushed over to Preludes for a character greeting with the Queen of Hearts. Lisa ran out of room in her autograph book so a new one was definitely in order.

By Kathy

Next on the agenda was a mask-making session for the celebration of our arrival in Venice the next day. Glitter, foam and feathers oh my! We changed into our swimming suits and headed up to Topsiders for lunch and then to the Goofy pool for an afternoon at the pool. Lisa found some of the friends she had met in Oceaneer Lab and hung out with them.

By Kathy

At 3:00 it was time to go back to the room and prepare for formal night and the captain's reception. Lisa looked adorable in her tulle skirt and rosette top. She received many compliments throughout the evening, including Captain Robert telling her that she looked beautiful. We ate dinner at Parrot Cay, an odd place to experience formal night but we had a great time chatting with Bill, Kirsten and Nathan. Lisa wanted to go back to the Oceaneer Club (she discovered that she likes the club better than the lab) so Michael and I looked at our pictures at Shutters and took in The Broadway style show "Twice Charmed, A New Twist on the Cinderella Story." After the show, I was so exhausted and went to bed. Michael and Lisa got pizza and went for a swim.

By Kathy

After dropping Lisa off, Michael and I went to Deck 10 to watch the ship enter Venice. What an experience! People were standing on bridges, on piers and on the beaches watching as the Magic made her triumphant entrance into Venice. Since the ship is large and the canals are so difficult to traverse, she was tugged into port and a Venetian pilot was brought onboard to oversee the process. We came in through The Giudecca Canal and had spectacular views of the Grand Canal, Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark's Square. By noon the Campanile and the Doge's Palace were in view from the rail. Hundreds of passengers and crew members lined the upper decks to take pictures.

By Kathy

We had a 3:00 shore excursion, "Venetian Panoramic Cruise." Instead of walking to the pier, the tour boat drove right up alongside our ship and we boarded through the same process as if we were tendering. On our cruise, we learned that Venice is actually made up of 118 islands, connected by bridges. We traversed the Grand Canal and caught glimpses of several islands including Murano which is famous for its blown glass and Burano, known for its intricate lace. A poster on board showed the route past Murano, Burano and Torcello. Lisa thought the giant purple statue was cool and asked that I take a picture of it. I didn't ask the tour guide about it during the excursion but through some post-trip research I discovered that it is called "Allison Lapper Pregnant" and was completed by the British artist Marc Quinn. Another curiosity of Venice that we found were the water taxis or vaporettos. Their inflatable stations looked just like floating subway stops.

By Kathy

The tour concluded just in time for dinner which we enjoyed at Lumiere's. Lisa went to hang out at the Oceaneer Club and Michael and I enjoyed walking along the upper decks while taking pictures. There was a local Venetian troupe that came onboard for a show on Deck 9. Lisa and I caught the first 20 minutes of it and then went back to the room for bed. Michael stayed for the whole show and said the juggling and shadow puppets were very cool.

By Kathy

The ride to the port in town took 20 minutes. We got off the boat and had three hours to explore. Our first stop was an impromptu "climb" of the bell tower in St. Mark's Square. For 8 Euros each, we took an elevator to the top of the tower and were afforded a spectacular 360 degree view of Venice. By 10:20 we were looking out over the rooftops of the whole city.

After spending time at the top of the tower and hanging out with the pigeons in St. Mark's Square, it was time to find a bathroom. This was our first experience with pay toilets. We followed the signs on the ground and found the toilet. It was 1.5 Euros per person. The facility was stinky and dirty but a necessary stop.

By Kathy

Coming out of the bathroom we stumbled upon a gondola stand and since a gondola ride was high on our bucket list, we hired a gondolier. For 80 Euros we traversed the Venetian canals for 45 minutes. It was a bit unnerving for Lisa in particular. She is not a huge fan of small boats and the waves were high on the Grand Canal. The smaller canals were very calm but smelly as high tide had not yet come in to cleanse them. Lisa signed "the water is dirty and we should not swim in it." Our gondolier pointed out places of historical significance including the house where Beethoven spent some time writing music. Out on the Grand Canal we could see the dome of Santa Maria della Salute. Overall, it was a good experience and a neat way to see Venice.

Shopping was the next item on our agenda. Since we weren't going to have time to take Lisa to paint masks at Ca'Macana we let her pick one out from a street vendor. She chose a pink mask with a giant pink feather. I bought three silk scarves and Michael selected a watercolor painting from a local artist. We made up for missing out on the Ca'Macana experience by purchasing blank papier mache masks from a small shop. Michael also bought a small ashtray made from Murano glass.

By Kathy

It was time to take the boat back to the ship. When we got to the ship, Lisa asked to eat lunch at Pluto's Dog House and then go to Oceaneer Club for a few hours. Michael went to see the Lone Ranger. I grabbed my journal and found a seat next to a window in the Promenade Lounge. Comfy chairs, good music and an awesome view. Since it was the 4th of July, there was a party on Deck 9 to celebrate the holiday for the American cruisers and 60 (out of 1,000) crew members. Lisa enjoyed the celebration and collecting the paper streamers that were shot out at the crowd.

Michael and I had dinner reservations at Palo. It was by far the most spectacular meal we had during the entire cruise. We also had a cake to mark our anniversary. The service was impeccable and the food was incredible. We were 90 minutes late pulling out of port and had a great view of the ride through the Giudecca Canal from our table.

I picked Lisa up from Oceaneer Club and took her to get her picture taken with Minnie Mouse and then we went to the Walt Disney Theater to watch "The Dream Continues," a tribute to Walt Disney. It was awesome. Lisa gave it two enthusiastic thumbs up. She went back to Oceaneer Club afterward while Michael and I looked at pictures from the previous day.

By Kathy

We met our tour guide and wooden schooner that would take us on the panoramic cruise from the port to the Old Town. During our 45 minutes on the boat we enjoyed cold beverages, beautiful scenery and good commentary from our guide. The boat took us right along the base of the city walls guarding the harbor entrance. After disembarking the boat, the guide had ice cream waiting for us. It was a pleasant relief from the brutal heat and humidity. We walked into the Old Town and took a tour of the main street and a few side streets to get the lay of the land. We had an hour to explore on our own so Michael, Lisa and I grabbed lunch at a small coffee bar. They had amazing salads and Lisa had ice cream. After lunch we did a little souvenir shopping. Lisa selected a Dubrovnik, Croatia hat, a wise choice on this day. I picked up my customary magnet and Michael bought a small watercolor painting and a whale carved out of limestone.

By Kathy

We met up with our tour guide for a two minute bus ride to the cable car terminal at the bottom of Srd Hill. The ride up the hill was breathtaking. Once we made it to the top, Michael took the camera and got some great shots of the harbor, the Old Town and surrounding mountains. By 2:30 we were at the cafe at the top, looking out over the whole harbor and Old Town. The height got to me immediately so Lisa and I found the cafe and enjoyed a late lunch. We spent an hour at Srd Hill and then made our way back down to the station. While waiting in line for the return cable car, I noticed a picture on the wall of Srd Hill during the Croatian War for Independence that occurred between 1991 and 1995. Srd Hill and the cable car were heavily bombed and then reconstructed. It was interesting to see the reconstruction process. The bus was waiting for us at the bottom of the hill and took us on a 20 minute ride back to the ship.

By Kathy

Back onboard the ship, Lisa got into the Pirates in the Mediterranean spirit by putting on her Jack Sparrow dress and getting her picture taken with several of her favorite characters dressed in their pirate outfits. She made a full loop that included Minnie, Mickey, Stitch and Jack Sparrow himself. We headed to dinner at Parrot Cay and watched as the boat sailed away from Dubrovnik.

We definitely saw Lisa become more independent on this trip.

Lisa wanted to go to the Oceaneer Club so we dropped her off. I went back to the room and took a nap before the Pirate Night fireworks celebration. At the deck party, Lisa found a few friends from Oceaneer Club and stood on the dance floor with them while Michael and I waited off to the side. By 10 pm the deck was full of kids in red pirate bandanas dancing along. We definitely saw Lisa become more independent on this trip. It was neat to see her interacting with kids she had met on the cruise. The show was fabulous as always and the fireworks were impressive, especially considering the fact that they were done off a boat in the middle of the sea. After the fireworks, we all went to bed, exhausted from our busy day.

By Kathy

After breakfast, we went to Studio Sea to meet the other participants on our "Jeep Safari" excursion. We exited the ship and our jeeps were waiting for us at the port. There were 14 vehicles ready to take us all around the island. Michael, Lisa and I got a Jeep all to ourselves. Our driver for the day was Art. His English was a little choppy and he was hard to understand at times but I think he caught the major points of his end of the conversation.

By Kathy

Our first stop was Popeye Village, a movie set that was left intact after the filming of the 1980 film starring Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall. We were up at the overlook a little after 9:00. The view of the sea was spectacular and we marveled at how challenging it must have been to build houses that were purposely crooked.

By Kathy

Our next stop was a vista near St. Agatha's Tower (aka The Red Tower). It overlooked the Maltese islands of Gozo, which has about 40,000 inhabitants and Comino, occupied by one single family. Along the way, Art explained that since he is retired, his government subsidized housing only costs 280 Euros per year. He doesn't pay for electricity or gas. The Maltese government has a strong program in place to support retirees.

By Kathy

The next stop on our itinerary was everyone's favorite, a swim in the Mediterranean Sea at Golden Sands Beach. We arrived at the beach a little after 10:30. Perched high on the bluff above the beach was a Radisson hotel. Michael and I both agreed that we could be persuaded to return for a more extensive stay in Malta. We took some time to enjoy gelato and a homemade Sicilian, a flaky pastry stuffed with mozzarella, ham and tomatoes. Lisa was excited because they had Slush Puppies. We ventured down to the water and Lisa had a great time splashing in the waves. Our time at Golden Sands was much too short.

By Kathy

After an hour at Golden Sands, we found Art, got back in the jeep and drove to our final two stops, the Dingli Cliffs and the Blue Grotto. The views from both attractions were fantastic. At the overlook of the Blue Grotto, we were given delicious cold fruit cups. They provided welcome relief from the hot, dry and dusty conditions. Although the excursion was extremely hot and a little longer than Lisa would have liked, we all enjoyed our day on the island of Malta.

By Kathy

When we arrived back at the port, we decided to do a little souvenir shopping before heading back to the ship. I selected my customary magnet and we all picked up a much needed beverage. Back onboard, Lisa took a quick shower to get the sand off her body and then asked to be taken to the Oceaneer Club for "a long time." We dropped her off and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon at the Quiet Cove Pool.

We picked Lisa up from the Oceaneer Club and went to dinner where the theme was Captain's Gala. Unfortunately for Michael, most of the menu items were seafood. He had beef tenderloin and I selected the lobster tail. Lisa had her old standby, mac and cheese. Our server Sammy made a special request from the kitchen for chicken noodle soup because he knew how much Lisa loved it. For dessert we had chocolate lava cake.

Lisa wanted to do a little shopping at the onboard shops. She selected a stuffed bear and a commemorative pin to add to her lanyard. It was a long but great day.