Stayed in Athens pre cruise in Residence Georgio a very fine hotel, not quite central but near enough. They stored our luggage until our evening flight. Don't take the metro to piraeus as the walk to the port is too long and the taxis will not pick up on route. Take a taxi which cost us 20 euros on our return. Only problem is the 45 minute wait in line for on on disembarkation. Embarkation was along 1 hour process.

Ship is grand. Public areas very beautiful. Inside cabin was a good size with bathrobes and elemis products, plasma TV and DVD player, dvds are available to hire. Fruit basket on arrival. Food was very good, reasonable choice but not the best I've had, we didn't use the Pinnacle Grill which has a cover charge but I did attend a cookery class given by its chef and the beef cooked was the BEST I've ever tasted! There was Catholic Mass every day and a Rabbi over religious occasions. We didn't take part in activities. The library area is fantastic, book choice limited, it has games and internet access within, plus 6 comfortable chairs with earphones linked to music downloads. This I adored and spent a lot of time here.

Ports: We didn't take tours. Istanbul was fantastic, just outside is a tram which takes only Turkish money, and for around 2 dollars takes you to the Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Cistern - well worth a visit and not included on tours, all very near each other. So buy a guide book , before you go in all cases as we could not get any in any ports. A fantastic saving. Odessa again all within walking distance don't take even the ships shuttle. Sevastopol - we missed out on a tour here. English is not spoken and we could not get to Yalta and the Tsars Palace. Rhodes well within walking distance and take a taxi throughout the island. Alexandria, if you have been to Cairo wait at the taxi rank for a fellow passengers to make up numbers for a minibus which will have a good english speaking guide for 30 dollars each. Cyprus - English widely spoken but take the shuttle into town as it is a long way, Varna also, it is uninteresting. Read more