Carnival Freedom Rome November 6, 2008

It is 16 days and ends up in Fort Lauderale Florida. We can hardly wait!

Chris, these translatlantic crossing are a great deal. We paid 899.00 per person for 16 days. There are about 4 cruise line companies that have about 10-12 ships in the Mediterranian. In the fall, they all leave the Mediterranian and sail to Florida where they will do 7 day trips all winter around the Caribbean. In the spring (I think maybe April?) They all go back and do 7 day cruises around the Mediterranian all summer. There are several itneraries for stops…We actually favored another itinerary but it had us returning on Thanksgiving weekend which is just too big a travel nightmare (and it always seems like the weather goes to hell too!) We had to buy a one way ticket to Rome from Billings, Montana (Wyoming has no major airports) and then we had to buy a one way ticket from Fort Lauderdale to Billings. Hotel for an extra day in Rome and hotel for a day in Fort lauderdale. We also pre-paid our shutttles we will need in Rome. The grand total for two of us was 3700.00. That’s pretty darn good for a total of 18 days (and most of it has everything inlcuded!) The shuttle/Taxi situation in Rome is expensive. One way from Rome to the port is 135.00 Euros. Mary

SO excited and cannot hardly wait! My husband is self-employed (mobile mechanic) and he says he is having to "flog" himself to get his work done! It is sugarbeet harvest here in Wyoming so he is keeping a bunch of older-than-the-hills trucks running for the farmers for one more year (some of these trucks are 4 trucks taken apart and put together to make one truck!) I got a new digital camcorder and have been practicing up! We have been to Europe before but never for this length of time. Unfortunately, the dollar is so bad it’s taking a beating. Travel sites are warning about exchanging your dollars for Euros and no place in Rome will take dollars anymore. It is VERY expensive using taxis or shuttles. The train is fairly cheap but when you have a lot of luggage it is not very convenient (lots of bums and panhandlers too.) Train is safe and fast but not for everyone. I got an email yesterday that there are still unsold rooms on a 12 day coming from Barcelona to Florida and an interior room was 399.00! It was around Thanksgiving but I think you missed the big travel rush dates. Vacationstogo.com always has last minute unsold cruises. Mary

We are finished! Sugarbeet harvest done and I wrapped up the gardening season( I did 36 quarts of marinara sauce yesterday .) Only nine days left and we have tons to do to get readY! Getting really excited. I checked all the forecasts and looks like weather will be good. (Our first stop over is Minneapolis and that one can get really weather nasty in a hurry!) 2nd stop-over Amsterdam, looks good (only 1 hour there so no chance to see anything, drats.) Have been checking all my lists three-times over…I am always afraid I will forget something important!

Maybe you will take one of these trips and we could meet! I belong to lots of gardening forums and have friends all over the world. There are several itineraries as I said before so we will betaking this trip again. TOO EXCITED for words!