2024 European Trip

Day 1, 2 & 3 – September 30 – October 3

We believe that this was out first trip to Europe that we started late in the afternoon and it sure made it easier packing. 

We left the house at 2:00pm for our 4:23pm flight to Chicago.  In Chicago we had no time to go slow as it was a long walk from the concourse, we landed to our Barcelona flight.

We only had about a 15-minute wait and we boarded the plane and left at 6:50pm, right on time for the 9-hour flight directly to Barcelona.

It was an easy trip and we had wonderful seats, at the bulkhead and we could really stretch out.

When we arrived in Barcelona, we had a car waiting to pick us up for the ½ hour ride to the hotel, the Marriott Renaissance Inn Barcelona and it is a wonderful hotel, on the north side of the old city.

We spent the rest of the day and evening walking and when we finally went to be at 9:30pm, we had walked 17,00+ steps! 

We are 7 hours ahead of Merna.

This afternoon in Barcelona was all about going into the Old City and it was fun with lots and lots of people!

It took us about an hour+ to walk the length of La Rambla, then main pedestrian street and then we doubled back to go to the gigantic food market called Mercat de la Boqueria.  It is an amazing place with a very extensive collection for all kids of food and lots of different drinks.  We ate our way through the market and finally around 4:30pm ate dinner.  In the morning there is a lot of fresh vendors and other fresh meats.  Later in the afternoon, some of those stalls close and most switch to food and drinks for the afternoon and the evening.

Then it was onto an amazing Flamingo show in a very small intimate theater.  There was a stage and only three rows of seats.  We were there early enough to get from row seats right at the corner.  For a video of this show, see one of our YouTube videos.

Then we walked back to the hotel and crashed for the evening.

On Day 3 (Monday we left, Tuesday was first day in Barcelona and not Day 3), we had a wonderful breakfast and it was one of the best Marriotts breakfasts we have ever had in a Marriott.  It was a totally huge European breakfast with no cereals. waffles, pancakes and “stuff like that.   In the YouTube video you see what we mean.

Then we took a taxi to the Basilica de la Sagrada Family Church.  A Catholic Church that was started in 1852 and is still not completed.

This is our third trip to the Church, one sometime around 1994, we think and then probably 2012 and each time we see something new.

We got there with an hour ahead of time so we walked around and had a bit to eat at one of the streetside restaurants and outside of course.

We finished the tour in an hour and ½ and then visited the Museum within the Church.

Then we walked back to the hotel, which was about an hour.

For dinner tonight we had to take a taxi as it was lightly raining and we went to a Tapas restaurant we walked by the night before and it had a huge line.  Then the hostess said if we came back tonight before 6:30pm.  We got there at 6:00pm and we had a wonderful meal and hopefully the pictures will show all of the courses.

It was only 4 blocks back to the hotel and it was hardly raining so we walked back.

Today were 15,180 steps and we are tired.

Tomorrow, we board the Celebrity Equinox and we are looking forward to the cruise.

Night from Barcelona.

Since we have highspeed internet we can add a lot of photos tonight.

Also, if these pictures look like we ate a lot -  WE DID!!!

Leaving and Becker is not very happy!

On the plane

Time for a snack in the Market

So good!!

Walking and enjoying the sights and sounds

Time for a drink

Another snack

Shucking oysters in the market

\Lots of meats

Time for ice cream

and candy!

Yummy

The Flamingo Show performers

Wednesday

Our morning picture at breakfast

First course at breakfast

The outside of the Gaudi Church

Barb buying earrings on an umberlla from a street vendor

A stairway inside the Church

Christ over the main alter

Just some of the stained glass windows

Looking up from in front of the alter

Going out for dinner

Tuna Tartar

Red Shrimp

Cod

Tuna Belly - we had two

Custard 

Looking in at another restaurant

The Flamingo show
 

                                                               Breakfast at the hotel

                                                        The inside of the Gaudi Church

 

 

 

Our March 2024 Cruise on the MSC Seaside in the Yacht Club

In Barb’s own words

WOW . . .  What a fabulous cruised!!!

We’ve been to amazing, exciting, beautiful places . . . BUT . . . we have NEVER experienced a cruise filled with LOVE like this one, well maybe in Aruba when I almost died  . . . BUT that was a whole different situation – whew!!

This great experience started when we were walking about the ship getting the lay of the land and heard “Barb, Ed . . .  I don’t believe it!!!  It was our Angel (his name as well as who he is!) He was a casino host we had met 8 years ago on a Celebrity ship AND he rememberd us!  WOW!!

This cruise line, MSC is amazing if you are fortunate to be in the Yacht Club (YC)!!  They provide you with your own Butler and while he has other cabins, he is ALWAYS there for you . .  ALWAYS!! 

Then there is the YC pool deck with beautiful lounges, a fabulous pool, outrageous food for breakfast, lunch and in between each of those meals.  Magically when we arrived each morning on the pool deck there was a double lounger all ready for us, including towels and an ice bucket with our drinks in it.  There was any drink or wine that we wanted 24 – 7!!

THEN . . . yes, there’s more – a lovely YC dining room for dinner with our own wait-staff, beautiful surroundings, great food and live music.  Right below the dining room there is a wonderful lounge with live music all the drinks you want as well as snacks always there.

Entertainment from our reserved section in the showroom was our kind of fun, music we love. .  I knew every song and danced in my seat - - just fun.  On othere ships there is usually a "throw away" show the isn't very good.  On this ship the were ALL good!!

THEN!! We always get to know a lot of the casino staff but this time it was unreal!! I could go on and on but let me sum it up by saying the last night almost everyone including the bar staff hugged us and even a couple of tears.  We were dubbed Mama and Papa and Angel said I am now officially his daughters “gram”.  We face timed with her several times with Angel and she was a delightful 2-year old.

As you can imagine, I was a mess BUT so touched by all the love and we can’t wait until next time.

Today I can’t wait to hug all my family – we are truly blessed.

Thanks for joining us on the BEST CRUISE EVER!!

Day 10 – March 3

We are at Ocean Cay, MSC’s private island and a marine reserve and the tempeture is in the mid 80’s

They build the island on a former dump for the Bahamas.  It is unique among the other cruise lines private islands is that it doesn’t have huge zip lines, waterslides, and those kinds of features.  It is all about the beaches and the water. 

We left the ship with our butler leading the way to a golf cart to take us to the YC private part of the island.

This YC part had a beautiful beach, its own private restaurant and of course butler service.  It is going to be had coming back to reality, but we certainly will enjoyed this kind of treatment while it lasted!!

We ate lunch at the beach and then took a golf cart back to the ship.

Since the casino was open, we played a session there.

Then it was time to clean up and go out for the evening after first packing for the flight home tomorrow.

Same routine –

1.        The lounge

2.       The show

3.       Dinner

4.       Casino

We are predictable!!

The show tonight was a wonderful variety show be the production cast and it was very good.

Night for our last day.

Tomorrow we are getting off first thing as we have a very early flight to catch.  Wish us luck in making it.

Our next email will show a couple of videos that we took that we could not load from the ship.

Night and see you all at home

 

                              Ocean Cay from the left

                                To the right from our cabin

                                              Going out to Ocean Cay

                                                   Just relaxing

                                              Going out for our last evening for this trip

Barb's Lamb Shank

                              Angel our casino host who we also met in 2018 on a Celebrity ship

About to leave the ship

                                      

                                         Saying goodbye to our butler - wow - what an experience!!

                                          Walking right pass the very long waiting line

                                                                In the Miami Delta Lounge

The Yacht Club pool deck

                                                               More from the pool deck

                                                           A party at night on the YC pool deck

The Yacht Club Section on Ocean Cay and going back to the ship

                                                        The Yacht Club pool deck

Day 9 – March 3, 2024

This just might have been the best day ever to be up on the pool deck.  The sun was bright and hot (80’s) and just a slight wind.

Arter breakfast at 10:00pm we went down to the Sports Bar because they were paying double points to play slots.  As points in the casino help determine what we will be offered as far as free cruises, we thought it was a good idea for Barb to play.

After that we went back up to the pool deck and of course the pool staff had already set up our 2-person lounger with towels and a bucket of ice with water and a Diet Coke – wow do they ever spoil us!!

We ending up talking with our next neighbors who we had met earlier in the cruise and just relaxed in the sun.

We ate lunch at the pool buffet and then went down to the cabin to get ready for the slot and blackjack tournaments.

Well neither us made the final so we played a little in the casino, went back up to the pool deck for afternoon snacks and then came back to the cabin to get ready for the show, dinner, and the casino.

First, we went to the lounge for a drink and then to the show. 

Tonight the show was very good as it was music from Tina Turner, and from Coldplay to Bruno Mars and Queen -some great music.

Then to dinner and the casino and of course, we enjoyed both.

Tomorrow is our last day on the cruise sadly!!  We will be spending the day at MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay and that should be fun.

Night and see all soon.

                                                 Just enjoying the sun

                                     Going out for the afternoon

                                            and going out for the evening

 

                                                 On the stairway from the restaurant to the lounge

Day 8 – March 3, 2024

 Sometime early in the morning the ship docked at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic as we slept in.

As we had just been there on our last cruise there was no reason to get off.  It is a very small town with a made for the cruise industry port with lots of little shops, bars and restaurants.  Been there – done that.

Ed had breakfast on the top deck, which is the pool deck and they have each morning a nice breakfast with great service.

At 9:00am the sun was in the low 80’s and very hot with no clouds.

The pool butler had made up our 2-person lounger so basically, we stayed on the deck in the sun until noon.

We had met our casino host 10 years ago when he was a hot on a Celebrity ship so we got special permission to take him to our dining room for lunch.

It was sooo much fun talking to him about everything except the casino. He has a little girl back home and he face timed with her at the table – what fun we had sharing with him.To

After two hours we went back to our room, changed and when back up on the deck until late in the afternoon.

We cleaned up and went to the lounge before the 7:30 pm show.

The show was a comedian/juggle and he was very funny - probably one of the best we have ever seen because he was really, really funny.

After that we had a wonderful dinner and closed out the evening at the casino.

 Tomorrow is a day at sea so we will probably sleep in.

Night as we head towards home.

                                          Snacks in the afternoon at the pool deck

                                        Tonight it is white night for the ship

                                                    Going down stairs to the lounge

                                                      Drinks in the lounge before the show

                                            Sunset outside the lounge

                                    Our butler walking us to the show

                                              Barb having fun on a slot machine