We started early, very early, to get ready for today’s excursion to Florence with a 90+ minute bus ride.

Starting at the Piazza di Santa Croce we walked up to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Piazza del Duomo, before having lunch at the smallest sandwich shop we have ever seen, Panini Toscani. Excellent sandwiches would definitely recommend.

Statue of a David standing on a pedestal with other statues below him overlooking a crowded plaza filled with tourists surrounded by hills and a vast urban landscape in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Gothic church façade displays intricate architectural details and sculptures people gather at the base under a bright blue sky with light clouds.

A tall ornate tower with intricate Gothic architectural details and pointed arch windows stands against a cloudy sky background

An ornate archway features a colorful mosaic depicting religious figures in robes set within an intricate carved stone structure adorned with statues and floral patterns The mosaic includes Latin text IN TE LINGUA CHRISTE The surrounding pillars and arches are elaborate with geometric and floral designs

After lunch we wandered the crowded city streets to Ponte Vecchio and found some gelato at LaStregoNiccoila.

Ponte Vecchio stone bridge with shops on it extends across a calm river beneath a partly cloudy sky flanked by historic urban buildings with windows and balconies reflecting the architecture of an old European city

Narrow street lined with tall buildings featuring shutters on windows and decorative lanterns People are walking and a car is parked in the distance The street is cobblestone with storefronts and flower decorations

A stone statue of a Neptune wearing a crown stands with water spraying from his waist in a dynamic outdoor setting under a bright blue sky.

We made it to back to starting/meeting point early so we found a small restaurant, Casa Toscana, and relaxed with some drinks. We watching the pigeons steal bread from the tables before returning to the bus for the drive back to back to the ship.

A hillside is covered with dense trees and ancient stone walls. A cluster of buildings, including a tall house with rectangular windows, stands among the greenery. In the background, layered hills and a clear sky with scattered clouds create a picturesque scene. Branches frame the view.

A large stone archway stands prominently with a smaller adjacent archway. Cyclists and motorcyclists pass by, and trees and a cloudy sky are visible in the background. Signs next to the arches read “ℙ LIBERO” and a plaque with text in Italian.

Arriving back on board too late for dinner in the main dining room, we headed to the buffet and then to the Rock Show in the Celebrity Theatre.

Acrobat hanging mid-air from straps performs on stage with arms spread. Below, four performers sing and dance illuminated by stage lights. Large lit-up letters form the word ROCK in the background. The stage features industrial-style platforms and a musical band playing in the back.

After almost 13,000 steps and 9 kms today we ended the day in the pool/whirlpool to soothe our aches and pains .

🗺