Choose this cruise to experience Greece and its food, drink and culture. The good is that Princess did an awesome job on embarkment (no wait) and disembarkment. Excursion organization and cleanliness, and great staff. It couldn’t have been any better. I rated 4 stars because I wouldn’t take this cruise again. It was boring. Entertainment was for older people ( we were a party of 8 in our late 50s and early 60s). Pool parties and piano bar weren’t what we had on other cruise lines. After dinner we struggled to find things to do. We were looking for dancing or comedy. There was one great band with a woman singer that we found 2 nights and that was the entertainment highlight. We had people in our party fall asleep and leave during auditorium shows. We did trivia a few times and that was fun. Food and drink were awesome. Service was exemplary. Shore excursions ... mostly good, organized, good guides and clean bus on all with no waits. Crete we did a beach excursion and when we got there there weren’t enough lounge chairs for our party to be together, stained cushions on loungers and you couldn’t swim cause of the rocks .. not what we expected. Now Corfus excursion was awesome town and cooking class. Highlight of the trip. We booked wanting to see white beaches and bluest water with the white buildings and saw none:(. Too windy to go to Mykonos (which we booked for) and princess did nothing for us that day ie, free drinks, more entertainment so that felt like a wasted day. One more thing, we were on a Greek cruise and the nightly dining had no Italian or Greek food or appetizers. Would highly recommend they change this to have 2 or 3 options for the area every night. Also the wine and beer of that region would be a plus. Would recommend this cruise for older people. Read Less

I can't speak highly enough about Princess Cruises they went above and beyond and everything ran smoothly ,nothing was an issue and the staff were all polite and went out of their way ,especially room service and the seated dining in the evening .Only thing i would have liked was a kettle in the room this isn't allowed for safety reasons.We had a top balcony room and it was perfectly situated,you couldnt hear anything at night when trying to sleep considering there were bars and shows going on ! The food was fantastic whether anytime dining or evening booked .5 star cuisine ! Loved the free tapas /sushi bar too. The ship itself was amazing and very relaxed no matter what part you were sitting in ,the classes were great we loved the zumba class and nutrition class.The huge screen by the pool was a bonus to watch a movie day or night .the day trips were brilliant although you have to see a lot in 6-8 hours so can be tiring for some.Transfers and day trips ran like clock work .I would highly recommend princess cruises ,I went with a friend but its a great way to reconnect with your loved ones also .lots of couples ,no stress ,a hotel floating with you to different countries amazzzzzing !!! So nice to wake up each morning in a different country and also nice to have days at sea to enjoy the spa.we had a seawed 2 hr wrap which was really nice .The interior of the ship is beautiful and there are several different bars/cafes etc ,the pools and jacuzzis were clean and not too busy either. Thank you Princess Cruises for a brilliant week :) Read Less

After a few days in Rome, we boarded the Emerald Princess for the next portion of our retirement celebration. Embarkation was very simple and we were on the ship quite quickly. Having planned the excursions ahead time, we were able to simply settle in and begin to unpack. Cabin A417 is nicely located in the middle of the ship and only a few flights below the main decks. Pros - deck measured out for walking/jogging (3 laps = 1 mile), flexible dining times, great cabin steward Jose, fruit being in the room on a daily basis, wait staff in most restaurants very pleasant, art auction was fun with the experts helping us find what was "our" style of painting, trivia games were entertaining Cons - limited fitness equipment for weight lifting - not a single bar bell, excursions over booked and not coordinated well (they needed 3 or 4 busses for some and that is fine but then divide out the arrival times so everyone does not spend their time waiting in lines), limited food choices - hard for a diabetic to calculate, more desserts than main entrees Read Less

First of all lets have the good stuff. The food in all the "free" restaurants was excellent. It was as good as the Celebrity cruise we had last year.[perhaps a little better in the evening dining rooms]. The restaurant staff and the cabin steward were excellent. The bad stuff next. The balcony was disappointingly small. [41 square feet I found out]. There was nowhere we could have a quiet game of cards with our friends. They said that we could play in any of the bars or the public areas. Tried the Piazza area but the music was horrendous[sic?]. The library was also small. Entertainment was variable but there was something to suit all tastes Read Less

We received an eMail brochure on the Maiden Voyage of Regal Princess and the camera shot of the Piazza prompted us to want to see just what made it Regal. Unfortunately, the Piazza was the beginning and the end of the Regal part. From then on the ship looked no different from other ships. However, some of the changes were definitely not to the standard we have come to expect from Princess. While stunning, the Piazza made a lousy dance venue. Unfortunately, there was no other suitable venue except for the Vista Lounge which was used too frequently for other activities like bingo. The loss of the Wheelhouse bar and its traditional setting turned out to be virtually useless for anything other than a bar to support the Crown Grill. The proximity to the grill made a secluded dinner anything but special when a jazz quartet and a piano player were in residence. The theater stage was so small that presentations looked crowded and awkward. Seating was decent but without drink services and cup holders, clapping was a challenge. Too few aisles made for difficult maneuvering throughout the two levels. The entertainment was less than normal with only one major production on the first seven day portion and the same show was repeated on the second portion of the trip. The “BRAVO” presentation was outstanding and the “Unexpected Boys” mirrored the “Jersey Boys” act. Other guest entertainment was good but not for our liking. Some nights had no entertainment at all. The addition of some venues like Bellini’s was special and we enjoyed that part but Alfredo’s Pizza was just so – so. The pizza bar up by the pool was just as good. The gelato shop did not really have gelato, just ice cream. Swirls was sufficient for us. The International Café was very good and made a nice alternative to the buffet for a quick breakfast and a decent cup of coffee and pastries/sandwiches/salads, etc. Food at the buffet was adequate although they kept moving items around so you spent a lot of time wandering around looking for things. The food was barely warm and in some cases dead cold. Seating was more than adequate and we never had a problem finding a place to sit. Formal dining was a nightmare. We had requested a table for 8 and were seated at a table for 6 with only one other couple - Brazilians who spoke minimal English. It was as though the Maitre’ D used a dartboard to select seating arrangements. Food was okay but too often we resorted to the “always available” portion of the menu. POSITIVES: Embarkation; Debarkation; Itinerary NEGATIVES: Safety drill at 9:45PM – right in the middle of second seating dinner. No one informed us that the first night was anytime dining because of the drill. Lack of tenders at Katakolon – It took over two hours to disembark for the tenders after arriving at 12:30pm with a departure of 8pm. No after dinner activities (Except Shows) for 2d seating. Almost all activities took place at 9 to 9:15Pm Lack of information on Captain’s Circle activities. We did not receive notification of Capt Circle events until the third day of the initial cruise and then periodic announcements throughout the trip. Previous Princess Cruises had an outline of all Capt Circle events up front so you could schedule your time.   Read Less

Decided to chance going on a cruise at this time of year.For first 8 days the seas were really calm and only the overnight from Naples to Rome was really rough.The flight to Rome was excellent with BA,embarkation was slick as usual.Cases were in room in an hour.Met Joseph our room steward who always had a smile and his service was wonderful.This ship always has good feel about it and out of all the cruise ships we have been on, its our favourite. We chose anytime Dining,but not sure if we would do this again as we never really got to know the dining staff and missed out on meeting other cruisers which set dining allows.On one evening we went for diner in the Crown Grill,fillet steak was superb as was the service.On another evening we went to Sabatinis on our wedding anniversary and this was an absolute treat. Waiter Vanilson Carvalho excelled throughout this experience, highly recommended.I would say that the Horizon Court has improved signifantly since we were last on this ship.We bought a speciality Coffee card which was worthwhile as our room was near the International cafe. Another treat was Vines wine bar,Joy the wine waitress remembered our names from the first night and she really looked after us.Another tip about Vines they don't really promote is the Flights of Wine which are excellent value , served in Chrystal glasses and served with Tapas.Never really felt ripped off with drinks on this ship(not like some other cruise companies ).As this bar was in the Atrium we were also able see the other entertainment treats going on. The entertainment started with Dan the cruise director and Colin the deputy.They make a fantastic team and probably the best I have come across.They could do a show on there own as the humour was fantastic.Breakfast show was also fun.The theatre shows were also very good but the best was the Freddie Mercury Tribute,we went to both shows and were blown away.The Guitarist doing the Brian May music was also brilliant as were his solos in the Atrium. Been on this Itinarey before so did most of our own thing.I would say most of the Islands are starting to close for winter and its starting to get much cooler in places.We decided not to overdo the trips as the last time we came home worn out.Decided to spend more time on the ship when everyones off. A mistake we made was going on a Naples and coast open top bus tour.We got off before the coast bit as we had seen enough.What a state this City is in !!!,shall go to Capri next time.On the last night and the voyage to Rome,the seas were real rough,it never put us off as we really enjoyed this cruise and met some lovely new friends. Princess arranged our flight back to Heathrow and we were stuck in Rome Airport for nearly 6 hours,not a good end to a holiday especially when we found that others were on a flight to heathrow 3 hours before us. Highly recommend the Ruby Princess with its lovely staff.   Read Less

Our 21st cruise, 3rd Princess, was all we expected and more. No rain, one overcast day, the rest were picture perfect--50's at night...high 60's days! Embarkation was a breeze once we got to the terminal. We were in Venice one night before the cruise and took a water taxi to e maritime stazione. Princess had a bag check on the pier which was great---the downside was it was still a 10 minute walk to the cruise terminal. A five minute wait for our turn with the check-in crew, got our room cards and walked on the ship. Our room was ready (R702-a port side balcony 10 steps away from the aft elevator on the 14th floor). The only complaint I have on the whole cruise was the size of the cabin in general and the bathroom in particular. Smallest balcony cabin we have ever stayed in. Great location for our traditional dining though--straight down to floor six and the Bottecelli dining room. Table for eight with great table mates from Canada. Our servers, Edgar and Leah, were excellent--very attentive and great sense of humor. We thought the food was great. It was served hot and was very tasty with a great selection if you were not into fancy fare. This was a port intensive cruise so breakfast was a quick bite in the buffet or room service. Buffet was very diverse and met our expectations. Serving areas are not as large as some other ships but no delay in getting groceries. We didn't eat lunch on the ship but a few times but thought food and selection was fine. We went to the Crown Grill steakhouse one night. The service was great but we have had better food and ambiance but ok for $25 pp cover charge. The entertainment was your usual ship board quality. Ok but not great--production shows as well as specialty acts. Cruise director Dan was a hoot! Made up for some of the entertainment doldrums. For a full sailing, the ship never seemed crowded. Public areas, casino, shops and pool areas were very spacious. We did our own excursions with CC acquaintances. We believe you always get a higher quality experience at a lower cost. We were not disappointed. Neither photographers nor drink servers were pushy with their wares. All the staff was very friendly and the ship was clean and in good condition. Our third Med cruise, all with different cruise lines. Good, not the best, but a great itinerary with good food and great companions. All in all good experience. Recommended.   Read Less

I reached my 60th Birthday in August but my celebration was my first cruise with my husband in October. It proved to be well worth the wait. We flew from Manchester to Venice via Frankfurt and the embarkation process went very smoothly. We arrived at 8.40 pm and were able to get a beautiful evening meal in Horizon Court. Choice was plentiful and flavoursome throughout the Cruise. After our meal we had a quick look around the ship to check out the facilities. From Day one the staff in the Wheelhouse Bar were friendly and attentive, making us feel special quickly calling us by our names which is a lovely touch. The International Cafe was lovely especially when the musicians played there. Beautiful snacks and drinks served here throughout our stay. For the first 24 hours I must admit to feeling overwhelmed by the sheer size of the ship and unsure of the protocols around cruising. During our first day at sea we became much more comfortable and familiar with everything. The entertainment was very good, particularly the ships dancers, vocalists and musicians. The Mercury Rising Show was the highlight of the entertainment for us. We would travel to Venice just to see this act again. Ruby Princess and her crew helped me celebrate a very memorable 60th Birthday. The staff on the customer information desk were helpful, especially Tom. We witnessed some customers being very rude and demanding but the staff maintained a professional and helpful attitude. The only down side for me was the disembarkation which was done at 8.30 a.m. We were at the airport at 9.30 for a flight which left at 3.20pm. We were unable to check in until after 12 noon and the only seating available was for disabled persons, consequently we had to stand for nearly three hours with our suitcases before check in. This spoiled an otherwise lovely holiday. This was the only time that we didn't feel like valued customers of Princess Cruises.   Read Less

This was my sister and I's first cruise. We booked a mini-suite, on the recommendation of others. It was wonderful! Nice, roomy, decent bathroom and closet space, plus a cabinet and safe. The room also had a "living area" with couch, chair and table. Two TV's, storage and counter space allowed plenty of places for our collections along the way. Also included was a small refrigerator. Of course, the balcony was wonderful, also. We spent time out hanging onto the railing, watching as we left port and occasionally, as we entered a new port. How these big ships can maneuver and turn is amazing. I was impressed with the speed and organization at Check-IN (embarkation) I've heard horror stories about other cruise lines! Many employees around to guide you in each direction, as needed, for each step of the way. ALL the staff was extremely friendly, always with a smile, no matter how many questions I asked. Our luggage was quick to arrive to our rooms. We hurriedly unpacked. Our Room Steward brought us Champagne and fruit. How nice! We later wandered around the ship. I took the "SHIP TOUR", which was offered. I met a new "Assistant Cruise Director", Catalina, (Cat, for short) Throughout the length of the cruise, when we saw each other, she always recognized me and said a warm, "Hello, Miss Laura". We often chatted for a few moments, as she would tell me how her new job experience was developing. She was such a genuine person! All the staff had smiles and seems willing to help or offer their services. (even when NOT requested) I loved the decor and theme of this ship!! Beautiful beyond imagination! My taste, for sure. Even Fresco paintings on the walls, mosaics and water falls, dark wood paneling. Very elegant,lovely, and quite calming. (I looked at photos of other cruise line ships. Their decor would give me a migraine, what with all the colors, shapes, patterns and craziness!) The TV had a channel that kept everyone updated with location and another channel describing the cities we would visit. The nightly Theater shows were mostly OK. A few were really good, (the song and dance numbers) The magician wasn't very good. The shows filled up so fast, we had to get there about 30 mins. BEFORE show time to get a good seat. The pools looked lovely, but we were not into swimming. We DID enjoy the outdoor movies. Really fun, with popcorn and a blanket to keep us warm. We choose ANYTIME dining....thinking it was the Buffet. It was NOT...it was in a choice of two BEAUTIFUL, Elegant dining rooms. Very fancy, with white table cloths, servers for all our courses. We were quite impressed! We did eat in the buffet often, for dinner. Many items to choose, all the ones we tried, we liked. We never did eat breakfast, choosing ROOM SERVICE, because we had to get off the ship so early to see each city we visited. We were disappointed in the offerings for Room Service Breakfast. Beverages were good, coffee, tea, milk, juices, etc. Food choices very limited. Oatmeal available. I ordered the Egg McMuffin with cheese and ham. Small, dry, (no condiments) and muffin not tasty. Croissant was very small, so my sister started ordering two. We thought to have sandwiches delivered, to take along on our tours. That did NOT work out, as they came DRY, no condiments, no lettuce, and UNwrapped. We put them in ziplock bags we had in our room. We didn't order sandwiches anymore. One thing that was GREAT.....being an American ship, I was able to get money from an ATM, on board. There is also a Money Exchanger for Euros.A small fee of $4.50. was charged. Throughout the cruise, live music was playing in the Piazza, on the 5th deck center. This was so wonderful. Even as we left Venice, the Venice Symphony was playing. Great moment to remember. This was a very exciting time for me. I hope to take another cruise in the future. Thank you to Princess for a memorable time. Plus, good weather! All-in-all, a GREAT first cruise and I hope the beginning of many more! Read Less

We loved our cruise on the Ruby Princess. The ship is very nice except that the cabins are a little bit outdated. We actually got a sheet with a hole in it and they all looked a little worn out. Princess needs to consider changing their sheets when needed. But the public areas were good and the service was excellent. The only area on the Princess ships that leaves it open to think that the person that designed it was not thinking straight is the Horizon cafe. It is cramped and people run around like the food is going to run out. We try to go early or late to avoid the feeding frenzy. This was a very port intensive cruise so we hardly had to deal with the Horizon Cafe. This cruise was 3 in 1, but we did only 2. First part was Venice to Athens. Second part was Athens to Rome. Third part was Rome to Barcelona. One thing we could not believe is that they put the same menu in the MDR. So I can imagine that those that stayed for the 3rd part ended up eating from the same menu three times. Princess needs to rethink this issue. I am sure that if they can sell a 21 day cruise, they can come up with 3 different menus. Venice, Santorini and Istanbul was the main reason we booked this cruise. We were not disappointed. We spent a few days in Venice before the cruise and loved every minute of it. Best way to enjoy Venice is just walking around and getting lost. The ship leaving Venice is a definite must. We booked a balcony on the port side and were able to enjoy the view without mobs of people trying to see over each other in the upper deck. The view is incredible. Dubrovnik was a wonderful stop. We took the funicular and enjoyed breathtaking views of the old city. We also went up on the wall, but I didn't care much for walking around it. They tell you that they will take euros in town, but a lot of the places refused to and one place even told us that it was illegal. We didn't care much for the cold and uncaring attitude of the vendors in the old town, but overall this place is well worth it. You don't need a tour, you can take the shuttle bus into town and back to the ship. Corfu could have been skipped. We took a tour that took us up mountains in this huge bus. It felt very unsafe. One of the villages you have to go through, the bus could hardly get through because the road was as wide as the bus and it was lined with houses. The guide thought it was funny, but one mistake by the driver and we would have beens stuck. The Virgin Mary monastery was not appealling. It smelled up cat urine and feces. Definitely a waste of time. Istanbul was a great experience. Ladies you have to cover your hair to enter the Blue Mosque. They didnt tell us that in the port lectures, but you do. As you enter if you dont have your own hair cover, they will give you this blue piece of cloth that a lot of other people use. If you are wearing shorts, men and women will have to wrap one of those blue wraps around their body. They also make you take your shoes off. Make sure you were socks, the place smells like feet so I can only imagine how dirty the carpet is. The Blue Mosque was nice, but I liked the Haiga Sophia better. Overall we loved our visit to Istanbul and would go again. We felt safe all the time, except when those annoying kids would push against you to sell you perfume. I bought one for $20 and all I got was alcohol with a smell. THEY ARE FAKE!!! But I was tired of the kid. Mykonos was very nice to walk around and get lost. Go up to the windmills, the view is beautiful. They have an area that they call Venice and it's very nice. You can sit there and have a drink or get something to eat. Athens was a nice experience, except that besides the Acropolis, there is not much more to do. To get up the Acropolis you have to walk A LOT of steeps steps. There were thousands of people there and it was a miracle nobody tripped. It's worth the climb, but very very strenous. Santorini was incredible. We took a tour that first took us to a winery at 8:00am. We didnt have any wine, but the views from up there were breathtaking. From there we went to Oia for 1.5 hrs. The drive to Oia is incredible. You are on the side of a mountain on one of those big buses, but you get incredible views. Oia was wonderful and we got to walk around take a lot of pictures of th blue dome, etc. We went back to Fira and there we were left on our own. We took the funicular down to the ship. Rhodes was a nice place to walk around, do some shopping and sit to have a drink. The place is very crowded. The Gran Master Palace is so full of people at one time that it's hard to even walk around. But it's worth a visit. Crete was a waste, we definitely should have skipped it. We took a tour that took us to Knossos Palace for about 1.5 hrs then they gave us 40 mins in the downtown area that was a waste. I would not even care to get off in Crete again. Kusadasi was interesting but we had bad weather so we chose not to go on the tour to Ephesus. We walked to the Gran Bazaar, did some shopping and went back to the ship. As we were sitting in the Sky Walker lounge, a horrible storm broke out. All of the sudden the ship was pushed by the strong winds, the ropes broke and the ship started drifting sideways. We could feel the ship tilting to one side. The capt came on the speakers to call out an alert. He sounded out of breath. Within minutes he took control of the ship. Thank God we did not hit the pier or anything else when the ship was shifting out of control. The day stayed pretty much the same, so we just stayed on the ship. Our last stop was Naples. We took a tour to Capri. This is an incredible place. It is worth going back to spend a couple of days. The tour was quick, but there wasnt much time. You have to take a water ferry for 50 mins and you have to make sure to get on the 4pm ferry back to make it on the ship on time. We loved Capri and Annacapri. Beautiful place with an incredible view. Our desembarkation was in Rome. We took a tour of the Roman Countryside with RomeCabs. Michele (Michael) our driver was incredible. He knew where to go and always got there on time. We went to Odelgasi Castle where Tom Cruise and Katy got married. Incredible!! We also went to the Necropolis. Very interesting place. He took us to a town named Ceri that is on top of a mountain. There is only one road in and out. We had lunch at a restaurant that was incredible. The best fettucine I have ever had. The service was impecable. We definitely recommend them. Our day ended in the hotel Hilton Garden Inn near the airport. We rested and took our flight back home the next day.   Read Less

We sailed on the Ruby on Sept 21st from Venice with stops in Dubrovnik, Istanbul, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu, Kusadasi, Naples, and Crete. It was a very port intensive cruise but that is why we picked it! The ship was in good shape and we were warmly greeted by every crew member. We had arrived a day ahead of time and stayed at Ca'Doge which is right next to the People Mover and the bus station. It was a great place to get to a ship however..... the Ruby was a good long walk from the people mover! Would have appreciated a shuttle of some type! We checked in later in the day so it was a breeze to get on. My DH however, had carried on his Multi tool and it was confiscated. He was not happy. He got it back later in the cruise however. Our meals were mainly in the buffet for breakfast and lunch and the anytime dining rooms for dinner. Most things were good and replenished often. The layout is a little hectic as people criss cross bake and forth around the buffet area. We sometimes had excellent service for juice and tea and sometimes we had to search it out. Coffee is just not good.... but somehow it grows on you. We also ate at the International cafe for snacks and it was always good. The food in the dining room has changed.. and on a 2 week cruise the menu began to repeat. Service was great some nights and just ok on others. We tried to sit with the same server a couple of times. He was a joy !When sitting in a group table of 8, we found the acoustics make it hard to hear our table companions. We did go to the shows. The individual acts were quite good but the production shows were lacking. They tried hard, but just not enough talent. The cruise director, Dan was a riot!! Very quick on his feet and the rest of the social staff was very engaging. The pool area was easier to access than on a Caribbean cruise. Never had trouble finding a seat but only got there 3 times! We did go the the Muts one night and enjoyed that. We found all tours and transfers to tenders, were pleasant and well organized. They sent you to an area of the ship to get the tender and gave you a group number and called you by group . No standing in line. All the staff helped to keep folks happy while waiting. The day we landed in Civetevechia the weather was awful!! Pouring rain and windy... the staff did a great job of getting folks to their transfers, running back and forth with umbrellas through large puddles. I felt the organization was very good. This was a dream trip for me due to the ports. The ship was full but rarely felt crowded. We enjoyed our stay on the Ruby! Read Less

My husband and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary with a cruise that began on Sept. 9 in Rome. The itinerary was very good and we have sailed with Princess about 5 times now, the last being just 6 months ago when we sailed on the Coral Princess through the Panama Canal. I liked the Ruby much better than the Panama canal trip with the Coral. The ship was big enough to have the amenities we like and not so big that we feel we have to trudge miles to get anywhere. We stayed on the 11th floor and felt we were close enough to the pools and Horizon Court and everything seemed quite easy to find except the Boticelli dining room, which is on deck 6, in the mid-ship area. The food was actually better on this ship than it was in Panama but I do think overall, Princess has gone down in quality quite a bit since we first started cruising 15 years ago. The familiar icons of the dining room such as the flambe' cherries jubilee and Baked Alaska parade, singing waiters for Italian night, etc. are shadows of how things were. Some changes are good, we actually like smaller portions and I think Princess is trying to be flexible by allowing 1 bottle of wine per person to be brought in each port stop. We carried in wine and beer almost each time we stopped and security never even glanced at them. Often we paid a corkage fee to have wine in the dining room but sometimes we asked for wine glasses and drank it somewhere on the ship. The excursions have gone up quite a bit in price and they still have the same format, spend 1 hour sitting in the theater or someplace waiting for your tour to be called and ending with shopping at some place that Princess picks for you to shop. Wasted time in my mind and Europe has great opportunities for self-guided tours. Check out Rick Steves' website for Mediterranean cruise ship port guidebook and free apps you where you can download tours for your iphone or ipad/ipod. They were fabulous, and no heavy foreign accents to wade through. My husband has hearing issues and we did the Sorrento/Pompeii tour and it was really hard to understand our tour guide. Also, we had some very elderly, slower people on the tour even though it had a 'strenuous' emblem but they still came. Really read the tour materials to get the most out of your tour. We loved Dubrovnik, Athens, and Corfu. Corfu had a city bus in the parking lot that you could take into town and back, Athens had a bus stand across from the terminal we took to the metro, went to the Acropolis (couple of ways to do it, ask in the cruise terminal), we shared a cab in Dubrovnik and there were Ephesus tours advertised in the cruise terminal in Kusadasi that were half of the ship's cost. Venice had a vaporetto (water bus) stop at the cruise terminal ( it only takes Euros ) or take the People Mover over to the train station and walk to the Vaporetto stop. The Princess ticket for the water shuttle didn't go down the Grand Canal, it went outside, by the cruise ship entrance so if you took that, you missed a chance to see the canal. Some of it took a bit to figure out but not too bad. Since you only have a few hours in Athens, check out the Acropolis museum, it is new and much closer than the other museums. Overall, we loved the trip, we probably will give Princess another try since we just hit Platinum after this cruise but we are interested in checking out other lines. Enjoy!   Read Less

My wife and I are aged 60 and love cruising having been on 14 cruises with various lines. We are out to enjoy ourselves, up early, stay up till the bars close and usually come home worn out, but not on this cruise. EMBARKATION.-----We could have no quibbles with this,from check in to boarding was fast and efficient. CABIN-----We had a balcony cabin on Deck 11, it was very nice although it had not been cleaned properly, I found a part used packet of Tamiflu tablets along with some used tissue paper just under the bed. Its not what you want to see but a call to house keeping and a word with the room steward sorted it out. Dining room, buffet and specialty restaurants-----------Food quality has never been a problem for us on any cruise line, it varies ofcourse from ship to ship but we found the found the food in all the outlets to be fine, but nothing more, certainly no WOW factor that used to be the norm. The exception to this was the specialty restaurants which we used 4 times, they were excellent in both quality and service. ENTERTAINMENT-----------This for us is were our cruise experience took a nose dive. The quality of some of the performers was without doubt the worst we have ever seen, so poor in fact that some of the bar staff passed comment about it. The stage productions were a mixed bag, as they usually are, some very good and some poor. The best venue on the ship is without doubt Club Fusion, very classy. Unfortunately it was never used once for live entertainment, it was set up as a sports bar. They did have music on in there but would you believe it was archive clips of tv performances from yesteryear. On most nights there was interactive shows like the Marriage Game or Whos the Liar along with trivia games and quizzes and yes you've guessed it, at evening prime time. I tackled the cruise director Dan Styne about the quality of the entertainment and he agreed that it was poor but it wasn't his fault as he could only work with what was given. As a parting shot he then said that if we thought it was bad so far then we see should see the comedy magician Thom scheduled for that evening. We did and it was cringe making, simply horrendous. The result of all this was boredom, bored for the first time ever on a cruise ship.We went to bed early on several nights, again a first for us. Our bar bill was a fraction of what it normally is! DISEMBARKATION--------- We left the ship in Venice, every thing ran smoothly and in a timely manner. SUMMARY-----------We booked this cruise based on a previous experience with Princess having sailed on the 2nd voyage of the CROWN some years back. When looking to book a cruise there are two things of paramount importance to us---- Itinerary and good entertainment. We presumed the entertainment would be of a good standard based on our previous experience, we were wrong and it ruined our cruise. Its obvious to me that Princess are cost cutting and we will never return. Read Less