What we thought was a 14-day cruise was actually two cruises back-to-back although the cruise wasn’t advertised in that way. This meant that the second Saturday of the cruise was spent with the amazingly irritating messages for disembarkation in the morning and then the even more irritating messages (in five languages), once everyone was back on board, for muster drill for those embarking on their “first” cruise. It was disruptive, to stay the least. Moreover, services on the ship that day were curtailed (no internet for several hours, dining rooms closed for lunch, other facilities closed as well).
This two-in-one cruise also led to a strange itinerary, with the ship going past one week places that it docked at the next. Yes, we should have figured this out before we boarded, but if you’re not all that familiar with this part of the Mediterranean, you don’t wonder why you’re not visiting Athens before you’ve visited Mykonos and Santorini. Once you’re on board, you see why you’re basically going in two big circles. You’re on two cruises, and Day 1 of the second, your actual Day 8, is basic turmoil until the ship sets sail after 6 pm.
The first week, the menu was repetitive and mediocre at best. Some of the staff seemed confused and uncertain when we asked them questions; it seemed as if a disproportionate number of them were in training. Sometimes, instead of telling us they didn’t know, they made things up, giving us completely wrong information that almost resulted, one day, in our missing our tender group and disembarking for a private tour.
The cabin was the good part. It was well laid-out, spacious, and comfortable.