Anyone have any information regarding Celebrity's Century ship? Also, any pointers on the ports of call---Rome, Venice, Naples, Florence and Nice---shall I do the ships excursions or venture on my own????

WE HAVE NOT been on the Century since it was rehabbed, but we have left from Barcelona four times to cruise, three times on Celebrity.. Just came back from a cruise that included Rome, Florence and we have been to Nice. If you need more info on a hotel in Barcelona please write.. have one that most cruisers love.not only is it affordable, but right on La Rambla.. [email protected] BTW we are on another cruise in October and returning to beautiful Rome.

We ventured on our own for the past 25 years knowing very well that pick pockets are all over in Italy. Exiting the peer in Naples, we were spotted by a team of 2 that took care of both my husband and myself in the bus enroute to the train station. NO matter how hard I held on to my purse feeling the danger, next thing I know those two are out of the bus with my wallet. A real mistery on how did were able to do this. Almost got robbed again in the same trip in Barcelona.

Rme and Florence aren't really your ports--they're each over an hour away from the coast.

We found Venice very easy to see on our own--I compiled a walking tour from several guidebooks, and we had a wonderful two days.

We docked in Naples, but were supposed to tender into Amalfi, so we had arranged for a tour of the Amalfi Coast with Giovanni from www.tourofitaly.com. That was a great day. If we had known that we were going to Naples, I probably would have wanted to see the Archeological Museum and Pompeii.

We don't like ship's shore excursions--too many people, never spending the right amount of time (for us) at each stop. We prefer touring on our own or hiring a private guside.

We did this cruise in May 2008. Not on Celebrity but the same itinerary. It was wonderful. Very exhausting, but wonderful. We did not do the ship excursions. Found much better deal with private tour groups. Even went in with some folks we met on message board. Saved lots and saw everything...Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Vatican City, Rome, Pisa, Florence, small bit of Tuscan country side.