Celebrity Cruises Hotel Packages in Venice and Rome

 

I listed a few independent hotel options previously in my blog entry regarding Venice. Click here for the information.

Celebrity offers several hotel packages for hotels pre-cruise in Venice and post-cruise in Rome.  Listed below are some of the options.  You can go on www.tripadvisor.com to read reviews of the hotels. Let me know if you want to add a hotel package to  your reservation; note that they are subject to availability and may sell out.

Hotel packages are per person pricing and include taxes, porterage, breakfast buffet and a transfer from the hotel to the pier in Venice or from the pier to the hotel in Rome.

Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal

99 rooms, about 164 yards from St. Marks Square.  Gets good reviews on Tripadvisor.com.   Harry’s Bar is next door.

1 night: $317.96 per person

2 nights: $549.16 per person

3 nights: $780.36 per person

Here’s the description from Celebrity’s website:

HOTEL INFORMATION: HOTEL MONACO * GRAND CANAL OVERLOOKS THE GRAND CANAL, IS IN ONE OF VENICE*S MOST CHARMING AND ATMOSPHERIC AREAS. THE HOTEL MONACO HAS MAJESTIC VIEWS OF THE SANTA MARIA DELLA SALUTE AND THE ISLAND OF SAN GIORGIO AND IT IS JUST NEXT TO CA GIUSTINIAN THE HISTORICAL SITE OF THE BIENNALE. THE HOTEL WAS CONSTRUCTED AROUND A RESTORED 17TH-CENTURY PALAZZO, AND FEATURES A COURTYARD WITH COLUMNS AND A MOLDED CEILING. ELEVATORS DISPLAY A RENAISSANCE-ERA GRAND CANAL SCENE. TWO ROOMS ARE SET ASIDE THAT CONTAIN BOOKSHELVES, A GLASS CEILING, A GARDEN, AN ITALIAN WELLHEAD, POTTED GREENERY AND A COLLECTION OF RUSTIC ARTISAN*S STOOLS. THIS FOUR-STORY PROPERTY OFFERS 99 GUESTROOMS HOUSED WITHIN TWO SECTIONS, ONE WHERE GUESTROOMS FEATURE TRADITIONAL BROWN- AND-GOLD COLOR SCHEMES, AND THE OTHER THAT BOASTS CONTEMPORARY DECOR WITH ENAMEL-TOP FURNITURE AND PASTEL COLORS. ALL ROOMS FEATURE DAMASK WALL PANELS AND CONTEMPORARY MARBLE BATHROOMS WITH SHOWER/TUB COMBINATIONS. HOTEL FEATURES: INTERNET ACCESS-HIGH SPEED CABLE/SATELLITE TV AIR CONDITIONING INTERNET ACCESS SURCHARGE MINI BAR BATHROBES COMPLIMENTARY TOILETRIES HAIR DRYER IN-ROOM SAFE WAKE-UP CALLS TURNDOWN SERVICE TRANSPORTATION: AIRPORT/HOTEL: 30 MINUTES BY WATER TAXI HOTEL/PIER: 10 MINUTES GRAND CANAL: ADJACENT PIAZZA SAN MARCO: 150 METRES (164 YARDS) BASILICA DI SAN MARCO 250 METRES (273 YARDS) CAMPANILE (BELL TOWER): 250 METRES (273 YARDS) PALAZZO DUCALE: 250 METRES (73 YARDS) RIALTO BRIDGE: 500 METRES (547I YARDS) PEGGY GUGGENHEIM COLLECTION: 1 KM (0.75 MILES) GIARDINI DELLA BIENNALE (PUBLIC GARDENS, EXPOSITIION OF CONTEMPORARY ART PAVILIONS): 10 MINUTES BY WATERBUS JEWISH GETTO AND MUSEUM: 15 MINUTES BY WATERBUS AND 250 METRES (273 YARDS) HOTEL CHECK IN: 3:00 PM HOTEL CHECK OUT: 11:00 AM

Molino Stuckey Hilton

Located on the Island of Guidecca, which requires travel by water to get to Venice proper.  The hotel provides free boat transfers, but from what I read, the queues can be quite long.

1 night:  $420.36 per person

2 nights: $741.07 per person

3 nights: $1061.77 per person

Hotel information from Celebrity’s website:

INFORMATION: –LUXURY HOTEL (380 ROOMS) THE HILTON MOLINO STUCKY VENICE IS SITUATED IN THE VENETIAN LAGOON, ON THE FASHIONABLE ISLAND OF GIUDECCA. VENICE*S ICONIC ST MARK*S SQUARE IS ONE KILOMETRE AWAY BY BOAT. ORGINALLY A FLOURMILL BUILT IN THE 19TH CENTURY, THE HILTON MOLINO STUCKY VENICE IS AN IMPOSING NINE-STOREY PROPERTY WITH A RED-BRICK FRONTAGE WITH TURRETS AND DISTINCTIVE WINDOWS. THE PROPERTY FEATURES AN IN-HOUSE FITNESS CENTRE OFFERING THE SERVICES OF A PERSONAL TRAINER AND OFFERS A SPA TUB, SAUNA AND BEAUTY SERVICES. SURROUNDED BY SUN TERRACES, THE OUTDOOR ROOFTOP POOL OFFERS PANORAMIC VIEWS OF VENICE AND THE LAGOON. DECOR AND ROOM FURNISHINGS ARE EITHER TRADITIONAL OR CONTEMPORARY IN STYLE AND ALL FEATURE MARBLE BATHROOMS. HOTEL FEATURES: INTERNET ACCESS HIGH SPEED WIRELESS CABLE/SATELLITE TV AIR CONDITIONING MINIBAR PRIVATE BATHROOM HAIR DRYER WELCOME AMENITIES IN-ROOM SAFE RESTAURANTS POOL TRANSPORTATION: MARCO POLO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (40 MINUTES BY WATER TAXI) AIRPORT/HOTEL: 90 MINUTES 10 KILOMETRES (6 MILES) PIER TO THE HOTEL (15 MINUTES BY WATER TAXI) CHECK IN: 2:00 PM CHECK OUT: 12 NOON RENDENTORE CHURCH: 5 BLOCKS SAN MARCO BASILICA AND SQUARE: 1 KILOMETRE (0.5 MILES) THE DOGE*S PALACE: 1 KILOMETRE (0.5 MILES) CANAL GRANDE: 1 KILOMETRE (0.5 MILES) RIALTO BRIDGE: 2 KILOMETRES (1 MILE) VENICE LIDO: 2 KILOMETRES (1 MILE) MURANO ISLAND: 5 KILOMETRES (3 MILES) WATER TAXIS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE AIRPORT DIRECTLY TO THE HOTEL. VAPORETTO WATERBUSES ALSO RUN FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CENTRE OF VENICE. ALTERNATIVELY, BUSES RUN FROM THE AIRPORT TO PIAZZALE ROMA, FROM WHERE VAPORETTO WATERBUSES ARE AVAILABLE.

Hotel Principe

Located about a mile from St. Marks Square.  Reviews on tripadvisor.com are mixed.

1 night:  $290.80 per person

2 nights: $481.93 per person

3 nights: $673.07 per person

Hotel information from Celebrity’s website:

OVERLOOKING THE GRAND CANAL, A VERY SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE AIRPORT AND STATION TERMINAL,HOTEL PRINCIPE WELCOMES ITS GUESTS IN SUMPTUOUS ELEGANCE, ENHANCED BY MODERN COMFORTS AND IMPECCABLE SERVICES. 139 ECLECTIC ROOMS, INSPIRED ON THE VENETIAN TRADITION DECORATED WITH GLASS AND SUMPTUOUS, ELEGANT FURNITURE, SOME FINE ANTIQUE PIECES AND TOP QUALITY ACCESSORIES WHICH INSTILL AN ORIGINAL AND WARM AMBIANCE TO THE SPACES ARE THE ACCOMMODATION PROPOSALS OF HOTEL PRINCIPE. HOTEL FEATURES: AIR CONDITIONING CABLE/SATELLITE TV TELEPHONE COMPLIMENTARY NEWSPAPER MINIBAR IN ROOM SAFE WAKE-UP CALLS PRIVATE BATHROOM HAIR DRYER MAKEUP MIRROR CLOCK RADIO INTERNET ACCESS TRANSPORTATION: AIRPORT/HOTEL: 15 MINUTES (8 MILES) HOTEL/PIER: 15 MINUTES FALIER PALACE: 150 METRES FRARI CHURCH: 300 METRES ACCADEMIA GALLERIES: 1 KILOMETRE (0.5 MILES) RIALTO BRIDGE: 1 KILOMETRE (0.5 MILES) ST MARK*S SQUARE: 2.5 KILOMETRES CHECK IN: 2:00 PM CHECK OUT: 12:00 PM

Empire Palace Hotel Rome

Located about a mile from Spanish Steps.

1 night:  $328.81 per person

2 nights:  $546.59 per person

3 nights:  $764.38 per person

Hotel information from Celebrity’s website:

HOTEL INFO: THE HOTEL OCCUPIES A PALACE PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY A NOBLE VENETIAN FAMILY. IDEALLY SITUATED IN THE HEART OF HISTORIC ROME, A FEW STEPS FROM VIA VENETO. ROOM SERVICE, NON-SMOKING FLOOR, WHEELCHAIR ACCESS, 24 HOUR CONCIERGE, GYM, AND VALET PARKING. TRANSPORTATION: DISTANCE AIRPORT/PIER: APPROX (65 KM) 1 à HOURS TRAVEL TIME DISTANCE HOTEL/PIER: APPROX 1 HOUR GENERAL LOCATIONS NEAR THE DOWNTOWN ABOUT 15 MINUTES WALKING DISTANCE FROM SPANISH STEPS. CK IN: 2:00PM CK OUT: 10:00AM

NH Leonardo da Vinci Rome

10-15 minute walk to Vatican City; 15-20 minute walk to Spanish Steps. Reviews on tripadvisor are mixed.

1 night:  $304.49 per person

2 nights: $499.30 per person

3 nights: $694.11 per person

4 STAR PROPERTY WITH 244 GUESTROOMS JOLLY HOTEL LEONARDO DA VINCI HAS A LARGE VARIETY OF FEATURES THAT ARE SURE TO APPEAL TO ANY TRAVELLER. LOCATED IN THE CITY CENTRE, THE HOTEL PROVIDES GUESTS WITH EASY ACCESS TO THE MAJOR ATTRACTIONS OF ROME. THE HOTEL RESTAURANT PROVIDES SOME OF THE FINEST LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL CUISINES, AND THE BAR IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR WEARY TRAVELLERS TO UNWIND AND RELAX. ROOMS INCLUDE AIR CONDITIONING, CABLE/SATELLITE TV, HAIRDRYER, AND MINI BAR. ALSO AVAILABLE ARE LAUNDRY SERVICES AND BABY SITTING. TRANSPORTATION: DISTANCE AIRPORT/PIER: APPROX (65 KM) 1 à HOURS TRAVEL TIME DISTANCE HOTEL/PIER: APPROX 1 HOUR CK IN: 3:00PM CK OUT:12:00P

Celebrity Secrets and Tips

Happy New Year Merrytimers!  Your cruise now only months away!  Here are a few of my secrets and tips that you will hopefully find useful.  

EMBARKATION DAY:

Lunch will be served in the Oceanview Café where the masses will gather for the extensive buffet.  It is generally really crazy on embarkation day, and finding a table may prove difficult.  Our secret: We like to avoid the crowd of people with the hand luggage in tow, so we head to the Bistro on Five.  Note that the Bistro is one of the specialty restaurants and as such there is a $7 per person surcharge.  You can get crepes, paninis, salads, soups, and such here.  The clam chowder and French onion soups are favorites of mine as is the Italian crepe for dessert.  The Italian crepe is stuffed with fresh sliced banana, Nutella, pistachio and drizzled with chocolate… Oh my!  The Bistro is on the small side, so head there early if you’re interested.

Photo Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

ROOM SERVICE

24 hour room service is available and it’s quite good with lots of choices.  It’s fun to order breakfast and sit on the balcony and enjoy the view.

FOOD FINDS

Main Dining Room:  In addition to the dinner menu of the day, you will find Celebrity Classics that are served every night: grilled steak, chicken or salmon, shrimp cocktail, baked potato or mashed potatoes, Caesar salad, and onion soup.

Complimentary pastries that include my favorite almond and chocolate croissants are served each morning at the Café Al Bacio!  This is also a great place for a hot chocolate or specialty coffee (a charge applies).

Photo Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Oceanview Café:  At the breakfast toast & bread station, you will find large assortments of some very nice specialty whole grain, rye and seed breads, as well as some nice variety of bagels and other rolls. The servers will happily slice and toast any of these if you request them.   You will find most everything that your heart desires for breakfast… from corned beef hash to eggs benedict to Greek yogurt and cereals to fresh fruit.

Don’t forget about the waffle station, also located in the Oceanview Café!  Yummy waffles with orange butter, fruit, and syrup… perhaps even whipped cream!

The ice cream bar is good here too; so don’t miss it!  There’s a pizza station, a pasta station, a stir fry station, a Mexican station, a salad bar, and more… enough choices to satisfy any appetite!

From about 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, there are tea sandwiches, cookies, pastries, and such available in the Oceanview Café.

I'll be giving more tips on dining options on your ship in a forthcoming blog entry.

GENERAL

You can get over-the-counter seasickness meds as needed at customer service or the purser's desk. They dispense a couple of tablets at a time for free. (I recommend bringing your own Bonine, which you can get at a drugstore or Wal-Mart, etc.).

There is only one US - style outlet in most of the cabins, so you'll either have to switch things around to charge your camera/phone/iPod/computer, etc., or bring a power strip or at least a "Christmas tree" plug to have enough outlets. Also, there's no clock in the cabins so a lighted alarm clock is a good idea if you want to know what time it is when you wake up in the night. A night light helps to find the way to the bathroom.  A hair dryer will be in your stateroom or bathroom. There is a stocked mini-fridge in each stateroom (a charge applies for each item); you can have your room steward remove the items if you want to use it for your own treats and drinks.

SPA

Embark early and head for the spa to make your appointments. 

LAUNDRY:

There is no self-serve laundry on Celebrity ships but generally there will be at least one “laundry bag special” where for one price you can fill the provided bag with as much laundry as you can fit.  It’s not a bad deal and we used it twice on our last Celebrity cruise!

GALLEY TOUR & More:  Be sure to watch the daily schedule for special one-time only tours, such as a tour of the ship’s galley.

And this is just the beginning of my tips and thoughts… more to come!