We used Carnival for our transfer from the airport to the ship with no problems. Check in was fast, within minutes we were exploring the ship. The dEcor was very loud like many people have written but our cabin was very nice. We had a window and had plenty of room. We were on the port side (left) which was good but I think the right side might be better for some views when pulling into a port. We set up on our roll call a sail away party at the aft pool at 4:30. About 35 of us showed up. We had name tags with our screen names and our real names on it. We each brought a $5 gift with a postcard from the city we are from which we exchanged. It was great putting faces with the screen name. My husband and I were traveling alone so it was great meeting all these new friends that we bumped into off and on throughout the trip. We had late sitting for dinner 8:15 we loved this time because we would come back from our shore excursions and go to the Lido deck and make ourselves a salad or grad a sandwich and then went back to our cabin and took our time getting ready for dinner in the chic dinning room. We went to the Sun King dinning room on our second day at sea. It was $30 a person and soooo worth it. We had surf and turf and lobster bisque soup ceasar salad made at your table and a fabulous dessert. NAPLES I set up a private tour recommend by cruise critic members DRIVEAMALFI it was for 8 people in an air-conditioned Mercedes limo van . Roberto was our guide. He was born and lives in Amalfi. We saw the most beautiful panoramic views, we went into town and explored. We went to the emerald grotto and the to Ravello also with breathtaking views. We went to a family owned restaurant at the edge of a cliff where the keep bringing us courses of food and wine and lemoncello. Then we went on to Pompeii. We had a guide that took us through to see the highlights of it and it was truly more than I ever imagined. Very moving... Then Roberto took us back to the ship. WOW what a great first day. 650 Euro divided by 8 .... 20 Euro for lunch ....11 Pompeii entrance fee.....12 Pompeii guide. DAY AT SEA Formal night fun in the sun etc DUBROVNIK, CROATIA Took 10 euros transfer from ship to old city. Paid 7 euros to climb up the wall.... Awesome, everywhere you look it is so beautiful. Then we explored the old city within the walls....so cool...many alleyways little quaint shops then we walked out of the walled city by the water and joined a kayak tour that paddled around the walled city and around an island that had a nude beach on it, we paddled to a cave and jumped in the cool blue sea and snorkeled. We caught one of the last transfer buses back to the ship. AGAIN another unbelievable day!! VENICE When pulling into Venice be sure to take pictures from the deck...its like you are on a hot air balloon ride hovering over the city. When we docked walk 15 min to get a water taxi pass 24 hours then explored... there is so much to see... St. Marks...little stores ...cafes ....back alleys ...bridges ... markets....nothing like it.....very crowded.....Gondolas everywhere.. WAIT TILL NIGHTTIME...when everything is quite ..it might cost a little more but we waited until 10:00 at night ..we took a gondola ride on the quite canals and then on the Grand Canal, all the buildings were lit up and there was a full moon ..all you could hear was the swishing of the ore...in contrast to the daytime which was very congested. The next day more exploring...Loved it. At night back on the boat they had a mask party, your supposed to buy a mask in Venice then come to the deck party at night...a lot of people came. It was fun. DAY AT SEA More fun in the sun...and Sun King restaurant MESSINA, SICILY This was our only ship sponsored trip Taormina on your own It was good, the girl that talked to us on a microphone on the way to the town of Taormina 45 minute drive was great. Then they dropped you off to walk around the hilltop town ...paid 6 euros to enter a Greek amphitheater for great views ....had a fabulous Italian lunch ...enjoyed gelato...and looking in all the little shops. $69 per person.DAY AT SEA Formal night ...pictures ...fun 2 hours after leaving Sicily we cruised very slowly past Stromboli., an active volcano.....great pictures of smoke coming out of it at sunset. BARCELONA, SPAIN We took a shuttle bus to La Rambla a mile long street filled with street performers and open air markets. At the end of it, we bought hop on hop off bus tickets to see the highlights of Barcelona but no time to get off and see anything...just to change lines... we went on the red line and blue line. We got lunch at a local Tapas bar and had Sangria to die for. We bought a pair of really cool shoes for our teenage son back at home in one of the many great stores. Caught the shuttle back to the ship. CANNES I set this tour up well in advance because of all the great press it got from cruise critic members.. DREAM TOURS ( I think you can reserve them even if you dock in MONACO 8 people in a Mercedes Limo van 600 Euro divided by 8 Jon Marc picked up after we got off the tender onto the red carpet. ( tell Carnival reps that you and your 8 people need to be one of the first tenders off because they give carnival shore tours guest the first tenders...just have all of your 8 people there before 9:00) Our guide took us to where the Cannes film festival and the red carpet for great pictures. Then we went to Monaco and Monte Carlo it was beautiful...expensive cars and yachts everywhere. We went to the palace and princess graces grave and had crepes for lunch. We took pictures in Nice and then went to Eze where we went to a perfume factory and then on to a mid evil village that was a highlight of our whole trip. We then went to St. Paul de Vance another mid evil village. This was a day that will not be forgotten. LIVORNO, ITALY We joined 6 other cruise critic members on a private tour ITALY LIMO We were picked up at the port and drove to Pisa for a 30 minute photo stop. We drove through the Tuscan countryside and on to Florence. We had tickets to see both David and the Uffizi museums, which did not disappoint. Then saw the Domo and had a great Pasta lunch. We went to a wine tasting and tasted different olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars. We walked around the streets and squares before the hour ride back to the ship. THE SHIP We went to most of the shows. I liked ticket to ride the best. Our Cruise Director Todd was good. The food and service was good. (we always ordered a few extra things) The Ship was clean. The DEcor was loud and it all clashed. Many picture opts Drinks were good. Great Time Great Ports Great Fun!! ROME We saved Rome for after the cruise. I set up transportation with another cruise critic member with Rome Cabs...Excellent company... Our hotel was The hotel Intercontinental De Ville near the Spanish Steps. After checking in, we began exploring Rome by foot. The stores by the Spanish Steps are very She She..we saw the Trevi Fountain ..Piazza Nirvana...Roman Forum... Parthenon...Coliseum. And even went to mass at St. Peters Basilica. Grabbed a taxi back to the Spanish Steps area where we ate dinner outside and was treated to a free Opera concert under the stars. What a way to spend our last night in Rome. Used Rome Cabs set up in advance to the airport. No troubles getting home.