I totally agree that you should go back to Florence for at least 3 or 4 days. My husband and I spent 4 days there, and it was so relaxing! I went there as part of a cruise for a few hours and it was irritating, hot, and crowded! Great place for an extended visit.
You need to go back to Italy for a more intense visit. My son toured Italy in a travel trailer for a month about 5 years ago. Getting off the beaten path and away from the tourist areas will give you a feel for the real Italy. Living right in front of a pristine mountain lake, sampling local foods at farms and villages, exploring the vineyards created a passion for moving to Italy in the future. Dual Citizenship is sometime this year for my Son and family. 🎉
Good evening ! Wow a McDonald’s by the entrance …it should be something more Italian…maybe a Little Caesars lol. Pisa is a cool place . When I went it was way more crowded so you lucked out . I have stayed in Florence twice so was able to see mostly everything. The Dan Brown movie/novel that has a scene in Florence is Inferno . It’s the third movie with Tom Hank’s as the main character Robert Langdon. Definitely enjoying your European adventures 😎😎😎
Thanks Anthony! Yes Inferno, I really enjoyed the Robert Langdon books but it’s been a while since I read them. I actually don’t know if I watched Inferno, I know I read it. Seems I should go back and check it out
I loved my time in Florence so many years ago. I never saw crowds like that wow! There is so much to see and do. I am not sure if you got to the museum with unfinished sculptures. If not put that on your list for next visit. They really struck me as it was like the sculpture was entrapped in the stone and the artist was freeing it!!! That image along with so many others have stayed with me for over 30 years. Thank you for bringing me back. ❤❤
Oh WOWWWW sooo beautiful!! How do you choose the music?! Very nice pairing of music to footage!! I would do what you guys did except, MORE eating. Lolll…I’d have 1st breakfast, then 2nd breakfast, then 1st lunch, followed by 2nd lunch, followed by 3rd lunch, etc. until I had to leave… 😂🤣😂 Thank you for a great video!!
Haha thanks so much, we talked about maybe skipping the “tour meal” and get to a restaurant on our own but hard to beat free. Most of our music is either from TH-cam music in the creator app or from a TH-cam channel called No Copyright Sounds. We have probably close to 100 songs downloaded and just play them until it seems right to fit the scene - thank you for noticing.
Y’all are awesome. I am hooked on your travel vlogs and I am getting amazing tips on destinations that we want to go to. I never wanted to visit Florence until I saw this.
I took this tour on R.C.years ago. We want to do it again but skipping Pisa,spending more time in Florence as it felt rushed. How do u get Away from the guide and know where and when to meet to head back to the ship?
The guides set up specific meeting places and times! Definitely pay attention to that cause we did witness someone get lost from their group! Enjoy! We were just discussing the other day how fun it would be to wake up in Florence! It’s on the list to revisit!
how's the bathroom situation like when going out for 10 hour shore excursions? is it hard to find clean bathrooms? any cities stand out for good clean bathrooms and some that dont in your travels?
Great question. It is overall not great in a lot of these spots unless it's a heavy tourist area. You can always try to use one at a store or restaurant if you get something - Pisa was very difficult, with minimal spots and lots of people in the Leaning tower area. When we got to Florence there was a Leather shop they took us to, that they allowed us to use the toilet. We also went Piazzale Michelangelo there was a wc by a cafe that allowed you to use it for a cost - always keep 1-2 euro coins on you for the bathrooms.
Hello, I am planning a cruise trip. need more information for Florence excursion. Want to understand that the cruise docked at La Spezia, tour bus picked you from port, drives you to Pisa, which is an hour away. you spend 45 mins there and than it took you to Florence, which is another hour away. on coming back it should be two hours drive. and you paid $150 per person for this package?
That sounds about right, it was a high ratio of time on a bus vs sightseeing unfortunately, and really only enough time for the highlights, but gotta do what you gotta do with the time you are given we figure. Only exception was that we ported in Livorno. If you want to see what you can do in Livorno we did tour the city on our own the day before and I will drop a link for you below. th-cam.com/video/bwMH1xromoM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=dTWfenyVOSmT_prH
@@JoshRachael Thanks for your response. I noticed many people choose to go by train. i am sure its a cheaper option. What are your thoughts in terms of travelling time?
We did not look at an alternative method, since we get nervous anytime we go too far from the ship in case you miss all aboard so I can't honestly say. All depends on how comfortable you are with the language and ensuring you don't miss your ship time@@sav478
Hello, yes the prices are generally USD when talking about the excursion but food prices would be euros. We booked it through Royal Caribbean a few months ahead of the trip
We really weren’t with the guide too much. She got us to the site at Pisa then we were on our own, and less than half was with the guide in Florence so you knew where to meet up at the end. It was decent for us
What do you think? Would you do this Excursion for $150 per person?
I totally agree that you should go back to Florence for at least 3 or 4 days. My husband and I spent 4 days there, and it was so relaxing! I went there as part of a cruise for a few hours and it was irritating, hot, and crowded! Great place for an extended visit.
Oh gosh that seems awesome. It was just too overwhelming going straight into the crowds and how constant they were 😬
You need to go back to Italy for a more intense visit. My son toured Italy in a travel trailer for a month about 5 years ago. Getting off the beaten path and away from the tourist areas will give you a feel for the real Italy. Living right in front of a pristine mountain lake, sampling local foods at farms and villages, exploring the vineyards created a passion for moving to Italy in the future. Dual Citizenship is sometime this year for my Son and family. 🎉
Some day we will definitely need to get back so we can spend more time
Wow! Enjoyed this presentation Josh and Rachael.
Thanks so much!
Good evening ! Wow a McDonald’s by the entrance …it should be something more Italian…maybe a Little Caesars lol. Pisa is a cool place . When I went it was way more crowded so you lucked out . I have stayed in Florence twice so was able
to see mostly everything. The Dan Brown movie/novel that has a scene in Florence is Inferno . It’s the third movie with Tom Hank’s as the main character Robert Langdon. Definitely enjoying your European adventures 😎😎😎
Thanks Anthony! Yes Inferno, I really enjoyed the Robert Langdon books but it’s been a while since I read them. I actually don’t know if I watched Inferno, I know I read it. Seems I should go back and check it out
I loved my time in Florence so many years ago. I never saw crowds like that wow! There is so much to see and do. I am not sure if you got to the museum with unfinished sculptures. If not put that on your list for next visit. They really struck me as it was like the sculpture was entrapped in the stone and the artist was freeing it!!! That image along with so many others have stayed with me for over 30 years. Thank you for bringing me back. ❤❤
We didn’t get a chance to see that museum but will definitely keep it in mind when we return! Thanks for the tip and thanks for watching!!
Florence deserves so much more than a cruise stop…
It certainly does but some of us don’t have enough time or money to devote more so we take what we can until we can
Did you pick me up a Tower of Pisa fridge magnet? An absolutely lovely Sunday morning!
I wish! 😂
Oh WOWWWW sooo beautiful!! How do you choose the music?! Very nice pairing of music to footage!! I would do what you guys did except, MORE eating. Lolll…I’d have 1st breakfast, then 2nd breakfast, then 1st lunch, followed by 2nd lunch, followed by 3rd lunch, etc. until I had to leave… 😂🤣😂 Thank you for a great video!!
Haha thanks so much, we talked about maybe skipping the “tour meal” and get to a restaurant on our own but hard to beat free. Most of our music is either from TH-cam music in the creator app or from a TH-cam channel called No Copyright Sounds. We have probably close to 100 songs downloaded and just play them until it seems right to fit the scene - thank you for noticing.
Nice!! I'll take look at them!!
@@JoshRachael
Y’all are awesome. I am hooked on your travel vlogs and I am getting amazing tips on destinations that we want to go to. I never wanted to visit Florence until I saw this.
Awesome thank you!!!
Will be visiting in September on Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas
Enjoy!!
Can’t wait to go back!
Maybe in 2025 or 2026???
Lovely Italy 😊
It really is!
I guess there’s no such thing as “shoulder” season any more! Wonder what the crowds will be like the first weekend of June!
That’s what we thought! If it’s this busy in late October what is the summer like?!
The city’s looked very beautiful,the weather was nice. The food looked delicious was that ham on one of the sandwiches and was the sandwich heated.
The sandwich was toasted - so yummy! Salty, cheesy, crispy, just down right delicious 🤤
Thanks for sharing! Great tips!
We will be doing the same shore excursion in October. So excited about Pisa too.
When was this?
Awesome have fun. This was the last week of October
I took this tour on R.C.years ago. We want to do it again but skipping Pisa,spending more time in Florence as it felt rushed. How do u get Away from the guide and know where and when to meet to head back to the ship?
The guides set up specific meeting places and times! Definitely pay attention to that cause we did witness someone get lost from their group!
Enjoy! We were just discussing the other day how fun it would be to wake up in Florence! It’s on the list to revisit!
@JoshRachael Thank you.
how's the bathroom situation like when going out for 10 hour shore excursions? is it hard to find clean bathrooms? any cities stand out for good clean bathrooms and some that dont in your travels?
Great question. It is overall not great in a lot of these spots unless it's a heavy tourist area. You can always try to use one at a store or restaurant if you get something - Pisa was very difficult, with minimal spots and lots of people in the Leaning tower area. When we got to Florence there was a Leather shop they took us to, that they allowed us to use the toilet. We also went Piazzale Michelangelo there was a wc by a cafe that allowed you to use it for a cost - always keep 1-2 euro coins on you for the bathrooms.
Hello, I am planning a cruise trip. need more information for Florence excursion. Want to understand that the cruise docked at La Spezia, tour bus picked you from port, drives you to Pisa, which is an hour away. you spend 45 mins there and than it took you to Florence, which is another hour away. on coming back it should be two hours drive. and you paid $150 per person for this package?
That sounds about right, it was a high ratio of time on a bus vs sightseeing unfortunately, and really only enough time for the highlights, but gotta do what you gotta do with the time you are given we figure. Only exception was that we ported in Livorno. If you want to see what you can do in Livorno we did tour the city on our own the day before and I will drop a link for you below.
th-cam.com/video/bwMH1xromoM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=dTWfenyVOSmT_prH
@@JoshRachael Thanks for your response. I noticed many people choose to go by train. i am sure its a cheaper option. What are your thoughts in terms of travelling time?
We did not look at an alternative method, since we get nervous anytime we go too far from the ship in case you miss all aboard so I can't honestly say. All depends on how comfortable you are with the language and ensuring you don't miss your ship time@@sav478
I absolutely agree with you. we are in the same boat as well. Have doubts...But I really appreciate your advice. Many thanks.@@JoshRachael
I’m doing this excursion in April! What time is the free time? I want to get tickets to see the statue of David
Our free time was around 1-3pm
Hi
How far in advance did you book the trip?
Is the price you are showing in USD?
Thank you
Hello, yes the prices are generally USD when talking about the excursion but food prices would be euros. We booked it through Royal Caribbean a few months ahead of the trip
How was it following the guide around? I probably would rather just have free time than to have to follow a guide. What did you think?
We really weren’t with the guide too much. She got us to the site at Pisa then we were on our own, and less than half was with the guide in Florence so you knew where to meet up at the end. It was decent for us