We decided to book this 10-day cruise in the Mediterranean which was to occur during the middle portion of a month-long vacation because the cruise included port stops in several areas we had been interested in seeing and we also thought it would make for a pleasant respite in the middle of our longer, land-based trip to England, Rome, and Ireland. We had high expectations for the cruise, based on the recommendation of a friend who is a loyal customer and a platinum member of Royal Caribbean. It was our understanding that because Royal Caribbean owns Celebrity, the experience would be similar in quality.

Before the cruise began, we began our vacation with 5 days in London, staying at The Amba Hotel on Oxford Street in the Marble Arch area and visiting with our son, his wife, and two-year old grandson; then, we flew to Rome, where we spent 5 wonderful days exploring Rome, staying at the charming Hotel Portoghesi, which is located in the Pantheon District, and we included sightseeing visits to the Coliseum and the Roman Forum, as well as day trips to Ostia Antica, Naples, and Pompeii.

Once we boarded the ship on the 27th, we went to our cabin #9208 and found the cabin beautifully decorated and clean. Our balcony was a standard size and we had no complaints about it. The bathroom was small, with only a shower, rather than a tub, but it was very efficiently appointed. Again, we had no complaints about it. Read more