We chose this cruise because of the itinerary. We have cruised many times and are always looking for something new to see. Sadly, what was new was the lack of service and the lack of required knowledge demonstrated by the Shore Excursions department and just about anything from the pier on.

Customarily, we will visit ports independently and we are more and more becoming fans of hiring local taxi drivers/guides because of the great service and local knowledge they provide. In two ports, it was impossible to book an independent tour and it was reported that taxis were scarce. We booked two tours through the ShoreEx desk and they were both a waste of money. In another instance, the desk told us that it was not possible for my mobility challenged wife to visit Pompeii on her travel scooter. The taxi driver we later hired saved the day and took us to a less popular entrance to the site that led right to the ever improving and expanding accessible route through the ruins. (Check Sage Travelling or a similar resource for more information). I will NEVER use a ship's Shore Excursions desk again. Taxi fares are sometimes regulated by government, or simply by competition.

The ship was heading for dry dock following our cruise, so one might reasonably expect to see some "deferred maintenance" about the vessel, but unreliable and sometimes inoperable elevators (in which some guests, including this writer, were briefly trapped between floors) is unacceptable and inexcusable. Read more