This cruise was a birthday present for my husband and we billed it to ourselves as a "trip of a lifetime". I thought 12 days was a little long to be onboard, but with stops in different ports it didn't feel claustrophobic at all.

Embarkation in Venice was a breeze, and after a quick shower we left to tour Venice. I wish I would have arrived a day earlier to spend more time in the city. Something to remember. Then 2 days at sea to recover from jet lag. We then took tours in every port and the only days we ran into problems leaving the ship was in Rome when we arrived and everyone was trying to get off at the same time. We took 3 NCL shore excursions and thought it was very well organized by having everyone arrive first to the theater to get that many people off the ship and onto the buses.

We had the upgraded dining package so ate at some of the specialty restaurants. Le Bistro was my favorite. I didn't think Raffles gave you enough of a choice for a 2 week cruise. The food was the same every day. Breakfast should start a little earlier especially when everyone is seeking to eat before they leave for an excursion. It could be very congested and lack of tables. The waiters were very courteous and accommodating. Read more