Europe - Mediterranean Cruise Reviews

My dad, my four siblings, and our spouses were hoping for a nice reunion while exploring different cities in Europe.  Harmony of the Seas did not disappoint.  Rather, it exceeded our expectations.  Everyone had a great time.

My wife and I loved our Mediterranean cruise aboard Harmony of the Seas. Our cabin with a balcony on the 10th deck had plenty of room. We were surprised at how much drawer and closet space there was. The bathroom was swell designed and the shower was great. The bed was quite comfortable. Our cabin attendant left us a different "towel sculpture" every evening, which was a fun touch.

The food in the main dining room was quite good but we chose not to eat such a big meal every night. We enjoyed having dinner in Wonderland, which was a unique experience.  The food in the Windjammer Marketplace was just fair. The hamburger and hotdog buns were always stale. The ship was full which meant the Windjammer was jammed at mealtime and that made for a chaotic scramble to find a table.

We expected better shopping on board but that wasn't why we took the cruise. The shows were well done. The crew was friendly and helpful.

We really enjoyed the adults only Solarium on the 15th and 16th decks. Great spaces to enjoy the sun and breeze.

We chose the excursion to Pompeii when we docked at Naples. However, after having a private guide in Rome for two days before we sailed and another private guide in Barcelona, the crowded group tours weren't not as enjoyable. We took a city tour of Palma in Mallorca which was boring compared to Rome, Pompeii and Barcelona. My wife took a vastly overpriced excursion to Aix for a pastry class and a couple of hours of unguided free time when we docked at Marseilles. Skip this excursion. It's not worth the money.

We highly recommend this cruise.

We thoroughly enjoyed our entire experience on the Vista.  The itinerary, the staff, the ship, the price, the room, the food... all were excellent.  Couldn't have been happier!

The Vista was just okay, As a Carnival regular cruiser it was nothing spectacular.  The Carnival Excursions were nothing to write home about.  The crew was not very friendly.

The Carnival Vista is an amazing new ship and staffed with the most amazing and hard working staff. Everyone was super accommodating and there are so many things to do on the ship! The cities we visited were breathtaking and all so different. The only down downside was not being able to visit Turkey. 

The ports of call were wonderful with the exception of Turkey. Cruise traveling, I believe, is the way to get slightly immersed in the sights and cultures of many places.

So it was not cruising per se that was a disappointment; it was the actual cruise ship.

I found the staff on the ship to be unprofessional, inflexible, and not very friendly. I thought the food was quite poor and the entertainment was incredibly overrated!

My husband and I took this cruise for our 25th wedding anniversary.  We love to travel and have previously rented cars or taken trains and stayed in B&B's or used AirBNB to find housing.  However, we wanted a slightly easier way to travel this time so we chose to take a cruise.  We were at the concierge level with a balcony suite.  The Riviera was a stunning ship.  It was elegant and never felt crowded.  My husband and I are very active and in our early 50's. Needless to say, we were significantly younger than the average passenger on this ship.  We are independent travelers and did not do any of Oceania's shore excursions so we cannot comment on the quality of the shore excursions except for things we heard from other people on the ship.  

The cruise started in Athens.  We opted to pay the extra $350 air deviation fee so that we could stay a few extra days and choose flights that worked best for us.  We also did the $99 upgrade to Eurotraveler Plus.  Our flights were comfortable and we had great seats.  I would definitely recommend spending a little extra for the flexibility and comfort.

Our first stop was Santorini.  Unfortunately, 4 other ships were there at the same time.  We are early risers and were some of the first people off the ship, which was a brilliant choice.  The streets of Fira were empty when we first got there.  We wandered around for a little while and enjoyed the cool temperatures and quiet.  We had read about an amazing hike from Fira to Oia and decided to do this.  It was a 5-6 mile hike over the mountains which took us about 3 hours.  It was a little challenging but the views were incredible and we got a feel for the island.  This is definitely worth doing.  Unfortunately, when we finally arrived in Oia, it was wall to wall tourists.  We had lunch and grabbed an incredibly crowded bus back to Fira.  The wait for the line for the gondola was over 1 1/2 hours so we decided to walk down the donkey trail.  Be warned that Santorini can be EXTREMELY crowded.  Try going in as early as possible to enjoy the quiet and serenity of the island. 

The next stop was Katakalo (Olympia).  Katakalo is charming and Olympia (where the olympics first started) was very interesting.  

We stopped in Corfu next.  We decided to rent a car and drive over to the other side of the island.  The island is beautiful.  Renting a car is a great way to get around UNTIL you get into Corfu Town, then it can be a little harrowing.  

Montenegro was our next stop - and one of our favorite.  We got up early and sat on our balcony as we floated through the 17 miles of beautiful mountainous scenes.  The old city of Kotor is charming.  We hiked the 1300+ steps up the mountainside to the old fortress.  Again, we were some of the first people off the ship and hiked this in the cool morning.  It is well worth doing and the views are spectacular.

I was most disappointed in Split, Croatia.  This was my own fault because I had expected the most out of this stop and should have researched it further.  The old city was charming but small.  The city of Split is crowded and the area around the old city is crazy.  There is a beautiful, large park/open space that overlooks the city and we should have gone for a hike there but we were tired and a little grumpy so we went back to the ship after wandering for a few hours in Split.  

Venice was next.  We fell in love with Venice.  We were the first people off the ship and walked into town.  We took a Vaparreto (public water transportation) up the Grand Canal to Piazza San Marco.  Again, the streets were empty and we were some of the first people in the Piazza.  We tracked our steps and ended up walking over 10 miles that day - needless to say - our feet were killing us!  So we hung out in the hot tub after dinner.  It was beautiful to sit in the water, under the stars.  

The next stop was Ancona, Italy.  It rained for most of the day but we got a few hours of light rain and some sun and were able to wander around.  Unfortunately, it was Monday and everything was closed so we could only look but not enter any museums or churches.  

Our final stop was Bari, Italy.  I had the lowest expectations about this stop because I had read some negative comments but we ended up enjoying Bari immensely.  It had a wonderful walled city that people actually lived normal lives in.  Once again, we were some of the first people off the ship and as we wandered through the streets, we came upon people having breakfast in their kitchens and hanging out laundry.  It was charming and was the least touristy of the stops.

We viewed the cruise as a way to comfortably get from one place to another.  We did not really partake of any of the entertainment because we wanted to be rested and ready for the next day of touring, so I can't comment on the quality of the entertainment.  On our day at sea, we had access to a quiet deck in the Canyon Ranch Spa and spent the day there.  My husband had an excellent massage as well. 

Oceania is most known for it's food and the food was fantastic.  We loved dining al fresco and ate most of our meals on the back of the ship at the Terrace Cafe.  We discovered that they serve the same food at the Terrace Cafe that they do in the Grand Dining Room.  Although it is a buffet, it is elegant and the staff is very attentive.  We loved sitting outside and watching the sunset every night and watching the moon rise over the horizon.  We ended up canceling 2 of our 4 speciality restaurant reservations because we loved sitting out there so much.  We did eat at the Red Ginger and the Polo Grill and the food was amazing.  However, we still preferred the charm of sitting outside, on the back terrace more.  

We are not heavy drinkers so we opted to use a little of our on-board credit for alcohol.  The basic drinks were reasonable and the daily drink specials ran about $6.50 so we could have a few drinks daily and not break the bank.  The cruise line also permitted us to bring wine on board.  We bought local wine and beer at several ports.  Although Oceania has a 3 bottle limit - this was not enforced.  We did not abuse this benefit but it permitted us to try local wines and beers at our leisure.   

The staff was lovely and very attentive without being intrusive.  I would recommend the Concierge level because of the access to the Concierge Lounge, the free unlimited internet, the access to the Canyon Ranch deck amenities and the size of the room.  We chose Level 4 but were upgraded to Level 3.  We were on the 9th floor, towards the back.  This was perfect for us.  We used the laundry a few times. It is $2 for each token - you need 1 for the washer and 1 for the dryer.  

We had $1100 of on-board credit and had to find things to spend money on because we didn't end up using most of it.  My husband had a great massage.  The cruise line automatically takes out $16/day per person for tips.  We ended up purchasing some great gifts and I got an Italian purse that I would never had bought.  

The embarkation and disembarkation process were flawless.  We had no real issues or complaints about anything and thoroughly enjoyed our cruise and plan to take another Oceania cruise at some point in the future.  

What a lovely surprise! This was a trip planned with 20 other relatives. We were able to keep close and really enjoyed evening meals in the main dining room (Minstrel). The facilities were clean and up to date. The staff members were fabulous. It was obvious that they were trained to work for the customer and not the company!!

while on our cruise I had an allergic reaction to Dramamine    The medical team on the ship was awesome.   From the moment my husband called them to our state room and a follow up call everyday to assure I was still doing ok.   This was not what anyone wants while on a cruise but it is nice to know they have the expertise staff.   I also enjoyed every port we visited.  An awesome European vacation.  

The cruise itself was fantastic  

My room was outstanding  and the value  was great, but   I had problems  with other  issues not related  to cruise .  Highly  recommended  

We had a great time, it was an excellent cruise, everything went well. We enjoyed the food, ambiance, our cabin and all excursions. We highly recommend this beautiful journey to any travelers.  

The ship is newer and even though it was sold out, never felt crowded.

The ports are fabulous (Missed both Turkey ports due to issue in Turkey) including Kotor which was a replacement port. 

The only issue is how crowded the ports were.  Partially due to many lines having to change itineraries due to Turkey issues

Firstly, we had back to back cruises the first departing on 10 September from Venice and the second departing on 17 September again from Venice. 

We did enjoy both cruises very much but as they were back to back cruises we found that entertainment and the food menu were repeated for each of the weeks and did feel sorry for those that had already been staying on the same ship prior to us and were booked to remain on there for some weeks after. 

We have cruised with RCI on several occasions and the my time dining has never been a problem as we do like to share not only with our two relatives that were with us (which RCI had at first got us booked on different tables) but also with other passengers but even when we asked to share a table with other passengers they would put us on a large table and on most occasions no-one else arrived. 

In addition since our cruise was a back to back one on the mid-weekend we had to have new sea passes and for some reason our credit card details were not transferred correctly and we had to spend time rectifying this at customer services. In addition we had charges put on our account that were not ours, in particular bar charges and we had paid for the premium drinks package!!

As I have stated above this is the first time we have had any of the above problems and hope that on our next Cruise with RCI in September next year (booked through you) does not have the same problems particularly with the dining!!

Other than the above, all the staff, particularly the waiters, room attendants and bar staff were very good. 

We enjoyed the wonderful hospitality and the great attention we were given from all the staff and servers.  The food was incredible and the presentation in the specialty dining rooms was exceptional.  We enjoyed Mykonos the most as it was a beautiful day in a beautiful surrounding of land and sea. Our mini suite was great having the large outside deck.  Would definitely recommend this cruise.  Would have liked to have gone to Istanbul, but understand the condition of the country. 

Cruise was great.  Loved the ports.  Food was divine!  Entertainment could definitely be improved.  We were some of the younger people on the cruise (early 30's), so maybe it just wasn't geared toward us.  Additional shore excursions would be nice, as there weren't many options at each port like there are on Caribbean cruises.  Overall, would do it again in a heartbeat!

Sailing out of Venice on a beautiful afternoon was wonderful;

Our cabins were excellent;

the sail into Kotor, Montenegro and shore visit, lovely place. Excellent.

Food moderate (one dinner had to be sent back; only just warm!)

Drinks package excellent value considering the cost of drinks on board.

Theatre shows slightly disappointing; not top quality. One entertainer failed to show!

This was our first cruise and hopefully not our last!  The professionalism and friendliness of everyone we encountered was exceptional, from the moment we entered the check-in area until we retrieved our luggage at the end of this amazing tour.  We loved having the daily summaries provided by our door, the Blu Restaurant experiences with Rene and Roger,  the shows with such talented performers, and, of course, the various ports of call.  The choices of the ports provided us with an excellent opportunity to see different cultures and glorious sights.  We strongly recommend this cruise! 

Favorite part of the cruise were all the ports and private excursions.

Staff members were all friendly and were very helpful.

Food in the MDR could be improved.  We were a little disappointed in the quality of the food, and were glad that we had purchased the dinner package.

Martini Bar was excellent and lots of fun.  I would have given the ship 5 stars, but the MDR food was not up to par.

Embarkation and disembarkation were very well done. 

I Took this cruise to Italy and the Greek Isles with three of my friends.  This was the final trip on my bucket list and I was hoping it would be special. It met or exceeded all my expectations in every category.

The Cruiseship was   new and extremely clean. The Decour was different from most cruiseships I have been on. It was very low-keyed.   A few people commented that it was not very pretty but I found it to be just fine.

I cannot say enough good things about the ships staff.  From the waitstaff, to the room steward, to the captain, everyone was more than friendly and accommodating. Not one member of the staff walked past you without saying hello.  Of course, some stood out more than others but it did not matter if they were assigned to you or not, they all made me feel I was on a special trip. 

We booked our tours in advance and they were not with Celebrity. They were with shore excursion and were some of the best tours I have ever taken.  

 The food in the dining room was very good. The buffet had such a variety it was hard to choose. The extra touches that celebrity does… Welcoming you on board with a glass of champagne, extra special desserts,  The repeaters parties… Also added to the cruise.

The entertainment was not exceptional but was good.  This remark is a little unfair because I had just gone on Oasis of the Seas In June and there was no comparison.  That shows on Oasis were unbelievable.

I certainly would recommend the celebrity reflection to my friends. I look forward to cruising on another Celebrity ship in the future.

This cruise had a great itinerary and the crew on the ship were fantastic.  The ship is starting to show her age, but they are trying to keep it in shape.  They have a great cleaning program that prevents illness.  The dining service was superb, but the food could have been better.  The entertainment is top notch, especially the production folks and the Tenors of Rock were fantastic.