Finally, we are going on a cruise with Freedom of the Seas! It feels like we have been talking about this with cruises for several years now. We have been on board several luxury cruise ships that have docked in Stockholm, but when it comes to our own cruise experiences, it has not become more than small tours between Stockholm and Helsinki, Åland or Tallinn. So now it's time to try for real, right?
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Travel routes
Today we fly to Barcelona and tomorrow the cruise starts from there. On the way to Rome (which will be our final destination) we will stop in Marseille, Villefranche (Nice) and La Specia (Florence/Pisa).
The destinations seem really interesting. Although we have travelled a lot around the Mediterranean, we have hardly been to these places, except for Barcelona which we visited in 2013. If you have any tips on what we should see and do in these destinations (subject to time of course), please let us know!
In Barcelona in February 2013 - we'll be there again soon!
On board the freedom of the seas
There seems to be a lot to do on board too, when you are on a cruise with Freedom of the Seas! According to the website, there is everything from lovely pools and exciting restaurants to more unexpected activities such as climbing wall, skating rink (!) And surf machine (what is meant by that?).
There's also a spa, gym, shopping, outdoor cinema and performances by Broadway musicals, stand-up comedians and musicians. I don't even know how to do half of it...
Royal Caribbean
We are organising this cruise as a press trip in cooperation with Royal Caribbean. We are organising the rest of the trip ourselves. Or well, we try anyway. It has been a bit stressful lately if you say so ... We have at least fixed flights and hotels in Rome. We haven't managed to get a hotel in Barcelona yet, so it remains to be seen where we will sleep tonight ...
In any case, we are heading south today and we are very curious about how we will experience this with a cruise. We will return soon with reports!
On board one of Royal Caribbean's ships (not Freedom of the Seas) Photo: Royal Caribbean
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Lennart says:
Maybe the day will come when we won't be able to drive a motorhome but go on a cruise.
02 September 2017 - 7:07
Helena says:
It's good to have something saved to look forward to!
02 September 2017 - 14:48
Mr Steve says:
I look forward to reading your cruise report. I wonder who came up with the idea of a skating rink on a cruise ship?
02 September 2017 - 7:44
Helena says:
Haha, you might wonder! Guess there was a high ceiling when they exchanged ideas ... ?
02 September 2017 - 14:49
Matts Torebring says:
We go somewhere where we are not seen, so we keep ourselves updated. The journey as such, we feel does not suit us. Take care!
02 September 2017 - 8:09
Helena says:
Not everything fits everyone. Have fun!
02 September 2017 - 14:50
s p i n d e l t j e j e n says:
But ohhhhh, I want to too - can I crawl down between you? 😉
02 September 2017 - 9:20
Helena says:
Haha, you have to crawl into a suitcase maybe?
02 September 2017 - 14:50
LinizTravel says:
So wow what a dream trip!!!! So jealous!!! Have a fantastic trip!!!! Hugs
02 September 2017 - 10:35
Helena says:
Thank you very much! Will return soon with reports ?
02 September 2017 - 14:50
Anette says:
You will be visiting several of my favourite places so I am getting a bit jealous even though I have been travelling for a long time now.
Wishing you a nice trip ?
02 September 2017 - 10:44
Helena says:
Thank you very much! ?
02 September 2017 - 14:51
4000mil says:
Fun! We tried a short cruise from Florida to the Bahamas a bunch of years ago but had bad luck with the weather. It blew up into some kind of storm. Bahamas which has 360 days of sunshine a year!
Would be fun to try again though. With better weather and without children please! 🙂
02 September 2017 - 11:14
Helena says:
But oh no, what bad luck with the weather!!! Yes, you may have to give it another chance with better conditions!
02 September 2017 - 14:52
Goatfish says:
Go ahead 😀
I have never been on a big cruise. However, I have been to Barcelona, Nice and Pisa, of the places you listed. But have no info to add.
Have a wonderful time, I'll join you for a while.
Sunny Saturday hug ?
02 September 2017 - 11:41
Helena says:
Glad you're joining us! Hugs from us ?
02 September 2017 - 14:54
Ruth in Virginia says:
When Don and I were "island hopping" from Sicily to France.
Sardinia to Corsica, the ferry from Corsica landed in La Spezia.
Unfortunately only a stop-over, because we were on our way to Milan for the return journey.
Rome and Florence are classic 'must-see' tourist destinations.
Ahoy, mates! Happy sails!!!
02 September 2017 - 12:13
Helena says:
I don't know how long the stops are or how much you can see, but it will be exciting! ?
02 September 2017 - 14:54
Daniela/ Discovering The Planet says:
Oh what fun. It is super long since we crossed and it starts to feel like it is almost time again. You will have a fantastic trip :).
02 September 2017 - 16:33
Lena - good for the soul says:
Wow, what a great trip that seems to be! You will surely have a great time!
Hug Lena
02 September 2017 - 16:47
Helena says:
It feels exciting! Completely new for us 🙂
02 September 2017 - 17:54
Snows says:
Have always said that cruising is not for me but who knows 😉 .
Have a nice trip!
02 September 2017 - 17:03
Helena says:
Who knows 😉 We will report back on our experiences!
02 September 2017 - 17:55
BP says:
When you have some Freedoms in the family like you, Freedom of the Seas is a perfect name for the cruise ship:-)
Wishing you a lovely week with good weather.
PS. In Marseille, the Pont Vieux - the old harbour is a must! DS.
02 September 2017 - 17:22
Helena says:
Right? We love that the ship is called FREEDOM! 🙂 And thanks for the tips!
02 September 2017 - 17:55
Ditte says:
Wishing you a great trip! It's going to be great.
In Florence there is so much to see that you need several days to keep up. But Ponte Veccio and Uficierna I think are worth seeing, among other things. In pIsa the tower is a bit "cult". As for La Spezia, we travelled on by boat to Cinque Terre and if you take the nearest one it is a nice trip by boat. I think there is also a train.
Villefranche is nice and there I recommend the train that goes along the coast perhaps to Monaco or over to Italy or Nice. Villefranche is a small town and I can imagine that it will be crowded there with all the cruise ship travellers.
I have done the cruise with a slightly longer version and also visited the stops in other contexts.
I will be happy to come again.
02 September 2017 - 20:41
Ann-Louise says:
It will be exciting to "follow along" on a cruise via the blog. Have also never been on that type of cruise but are a little curious to test, mostly because it attracts to be able to visit several countries / places during the same trip in a fairly smooth way.
02 September 2017 - 21:14
Emma, sun like sun? says:
Oh, my God! What a boat! Know that it is not the one you are on but with a garden and everything!!!! Jeeeeeze .... Almost makes you sit down for a while and consider the options: giggle or resignedly throw your hands up in the air ...
You will have an absolutely wonderful trip around the Mediterranean and I look forward to the reports!
02 September 2017 - 21:51
Veiken says:
Wonderful! It's great to cruise. Have a great time!
03 September 2017 - 18:31
Veiken says:
Villefranche is an amazing little village. Enjoy it... Incredibly beautiful!
03 September 2017 - 18:38
Ama de casa says:
WOW! What a ship! 🙂
You will surely have a great time! We, our poor people, have just been stranded again... 😉.
04 September 2017 - 0:18
Maria's Memoirs says:
oh how wonderfully luxurious it looks!!! Not exactly like the Finnish ferry... 😉.
05 September 2017 - 13:24