I was really looking forward to this cruise, having cruised with other lines and always really enjoyed it. I was even more excited when my friend and I (each booked into separate inside cabins) were upgraded to a balcony cabin each. I had never had a balcony cabin before so it was such a pleasant surprise. Thank you Princess Upgrade Fairy! The ship was much bigger than I had been on before and I think in hindsite maybe too big for me personally, however it never felt crowded.

We stayed in Rome for a couple of days prior at Hotel Accademia. I had been to Rome before but my friend hadn't. Lovely as usual but the heat and crowds were a taste of things to come. We had a private transfer to the port which went smoothly apart from my friend leaving her jacket in the hotel lobby. She was upset to lose it but has been in touch and they will post it back if she pays the postage which was good service.

Embarkation went smoothly. We went up on deck for sailaway but there had been some light rain and the sailaway party was adjourned to the piazza. We stayed on deck expecting at least some recorded music for the sailaway but there was nothing so it was a bit of an anticlimax. Read more