Europe - Western Mediterranean Cruise Reviews

My husband and I were traveling on the Rotterdam on its European Capitals cruise from May 14 30, 2007. We chose this particular cruise because we were on our honeymoon and loved the itinerary. This was our first cruise, and most likely our last in a long while, on Holland America (HAL). We stayed in room 2500. We would not recommend that anyone stay in this room. We did try to get another cabin, but was told there wasnt another available. This may have been because they had already upgraded someone out of our cabin before placing us in it, but they did say the cruise was completely full. Our cabin was at the very front of the ship. Therefore, every morning we were in port we woke up between 5:30 7 in the morning to the sound of the anchors and the side engines docking the boat. In addition, for the whole 16 days of the cruise most toilets were clogged (ours included). We kept getting notices acknowledging that the toilet was backed up, but the problem didnt get fixed. The lady across from us told us they were having the toilet problem on the previous cruise also, for a combined total of 30 days of half working toilets for half the boat. On a final cabin note, when we arrived in our cabin we had to request our complimentary fruit basked and room service cards since they werent in our cabin. We chose this cruise for its itinerary. The itinerary was incredible! However, we had planned our travel plans through the itinerary we received with our tickets from HAL. What we found when we were on the boat is that our arrival and departure times changed, meaning we arrived later (up to an hour) and departed earlier (up to an hour). We had found out by talking to some nicer crew members that the captain was trying to save gas, due to high gas prices. In one particular port it meant that my husband and I were unable to make the shore excursion we had planned for ourselves (it was not a shore excursion we had purchased through HAL). In the other ports our times were cut so short that we were unable to do everything we had planned. In addition, in Le Havre the boat failed to mention that a free shuttle was available to transport passengers from the boat to town, which meant that many people even people in wheelchairs actually walked the mile to town. Finally, in Santorini the Rotterdam arrived at the same time as 4 other cruise ships. As a result everyone who got off the boat early ended up stuck in line for nearly 2 hours for the cable car. The boat did not give anyone a heads up about the line until 10am (we arrived at 7am). The alternative was to walk up or take a donkey up, we walked while dodging donkey poo and donkeys literally running down the hill at you. Several passengers from the cruise walked or took donkeys and as a result one person slipped on poo and broke her arm and another was run over by donkeys and broke her leg. HALs make up for this unmitigated disaster was a free wine glass of cheap bad wine for all passengers at the seated diner. I would not say our stay on HAL lines was horrible, but it wasnt the most pleasant cruise we ever took. I was very disappointed because my parents have been loyal HAL cruisers and recommended the ship to us for our honeymoon. As a result of our experience my husband and I will hesitate to ever cruise on HAL again.

We selected this ship based on the very favorable impression we had of Carnival based on a previous cruise on the Carnival Pride. The ships were fairly comparable in many respects with a few exceptions. The Cruise Director on the Freedom was extraordinarily entertaining. The majority of the passengers were seasoned and all felt this Cruise Director was better than they had ever had on any previous cruises. The big screen on the Lido deck was a nice plus providing entertainment while sitting out by the pool or relaxing in the hot tub. Blankets were available for those watching movies on the big screen at night. The itinerary (we took the Grand Mediterranean cruise) had a nice variety of ports and interspersed the sea days. We found the port of Dubrovnik particularly interesting. Initial embarkation and final debarkation were amazingly speedy and the staff showed great finesse in getting the passengers off and on the ship at each of the ports. (Tendering at Cannes took a bit longer.) Our disappointment was the quality of the food. Breakfast in the dining room included 'hard boiled' poached eggs, undercooked bacon, muffins which seemed like they had been sitting out for hours. The buffet food was far inferior to food on the Pride and it was difficult to find anything we wanted to eat (a rarity). Their 24 hr pizza and ice cream were, however, very good. If the food had been better, we could recommend this ship, however, we found the food disappointing and we consider dining to be a major part of the cruise experience.

Ship was excellent and clean. Crew was very friendly and helpful. Good food.

I would not go on a carnival again, after this cruise. They are definitely slipping on their quality. They self-rated this as a 4 1/2 star ship and far short of that rating. The cook was a beginner, he needs a LOT of training. Most of the service was just about selling more, more, more. Even disembarking for excursions was very difficult and took hours!! Avoid the internet, very very poor connections that knock you off often. Avoid the art- auction, very very over-priced. Know your prices before-hand. Going ashore without an excursion is OK in most ports, don;t let the cruise-director scare you (as he did to my kids).

Warning, this cruise line does not like or take care of its American guests. This is the second time that me and my wife tried costa...once on a larger ship, the costa magica and once on the europa. Both times our hosts were noticibly rude and not very helpful. We have done some cruising before so we were able to get around the lack of help. The rudeness only gets worse as you get closer to Italy. And the europa has a smell that is noticeable all over the ship...it smells like sewers. They really tend to cut all types of corners on this cruise line, for instance the pool on the outside deck was only open once on our eleven day cruise. Each stop was either too short or when you went ashore you found that most of the stores were closed because it was on a weekend and it was after 1pm. It just goes on and on...This goes for our so called english speaking hosts also..for some unknown reason the english speaking host doesn,t tell you about the shuttles that will take you into town only the expensive excursions..(but even those shuttles end up to be about the same cost as getting a taxi on your own.) We received no information booklet from costa and even after many attempts to contact costa via phone e-mails we never received any information. Then costa told our travel agent that they no longer send out any booklets....and costa was right in a way...all the european guests showed up with booklets ,just not the American guests. (actually not being able to access thier website or getting information actually saved us lots of cash. We ended up going ashore at each stop and saw there was easy access to many types of tours not just the ones offered on ship...the best of which was those double decker tour buses that you can get on and off all day for about 10-20 euros. We used those like taxis and got off at or near where we wanted...spent as much time as we wanted then just got on them when they came by again.) Don't get me wrong, the upper class italians were the rude unhelpful ones...your cabin stewards etc were more than helpful...it is just a shame that their bosses are not. (if you are not european or better yet an italian from Italy be warned. ) The food was not up to standard either. This was the first cruise where we actually ordered room service...(where there is also a small charge...they do get you everytime you turn around...you have to pay for water...they even turn off the hot water for the tea machines!!!) The food is the same day after day for breakfast and for lunch/dinner/midnight buffets ,I am so sick of the same sandwiches they served which had the same two types of meat slices and the same two types of cheese. This is also the first cruise where I saw guests getting off just to eat! and that also included some of the europeans!...I figured that at least the fish would be fresh being that almost every day we docked at places that had large fish markets, but yet every time I ordered any type of fish/seafood I just sent it back...you could smell it before it hit the table....please do yourself a favor and don't pick the costa europa

We just returned from the Canary island/Spain/Morraco 11tour from Genoa Warning, this cruise line does not like or take care of its American guests. This is the second time that me and my wife tried costa...once on a larger ship, the costa magica and once on the europa. Both times our hosts were noticibly rude and not very helpful. We have done some cruising before so we were able to get around the lack of help. The rudeness only gets worse as you get closer to Italy. And the europa has a smell that is noticeable all over the ship...it smells like sewers. They really tend to cut all types of corners on this cruise line, for instance the pool on the outside deck was only open once on our eleven day cruise. Each stop was either too short or when you went ashore you found that most of the stores were closed because it was on a weekend and it was after 1pm. It just goes on and on...This goes for our so called english speaking hosts also..for some unknown reason the english speaking host doesnt tell you about the shuttles that will take you into town only the expensive excursions..(.but even those shuttles end up to be about the same cost as getting a taxi on your own.) We received no information booklet from costa and even after many attempts to contact costa via phone e-mails we never received any information. Then costa told our travel agent that they no longer send out any booklets....and costa was right.. in a way...all the european guests showed up with booklets ,just not the American guests. (actually not being able to access thier website or getting information saved us lots of cash. We ended up going ashore at each stop and saw there was easy access to many types of tours ...not just the ones offered on ship...the best of which was those double decker tour buses that you can get on and off all day for about 10-20 euros. We used those like taxi's and got off at or near where we wanted...spent as much time as we wanted then just got on them when they came by again.) Don't get me wrong, the upper class italians were the rude unhelpful ones...your cabin stewards etc were more than helpful...it is just a shame that their bosses are not. (if you are not european or better yet.. an italian from Italy be warned. ) The food was not up to standard either. This was the first cruise where we actually ordered room service...(where there is also a small charge...they do get you everytime you turn around...you of course have to pay for water...they even turn off the hot water for the tea machines!!!) The food is the same day after day for breakfast and for lunch/dinner/midnight buffets ,I am so sick of the same sandwiches they served which had the same two types of meat slices and the same two types of cheese. This is also the first cruise where I saw guests getting off just to eat! and that also included some of the europeans!...I figured that at least the fish would be fresh being that almost every day we docked at places that had large fish markets, but yet every time I ordered any type of fish/seafood I just sent it back...you could smell it before it hit the table....please do yourself a favor and don't pick the costa europa

My sister and I and our two youngest daughters went on the Oceania Regatta Cruise last November. The ports of call were well chosen and fascinating. We embarked from Barcelona and went on to Rome, Amalfi, Sorrento, Sicily, Tunisia, Gibraltar and Casablanca. The food was excellent, boasting a gourmet program created by Jacques Pipen, and since we had booked the Butler Suite, our service was equally first class. I was appalled, however, at the maintenance issues we encountered on this trip including our spa tub overflowing our first night aboard and despite repeated maintenance being done on the spa, we were never able to use it during the entire trip. It kept spewing out a gray dirty water that looked like it had bugs in it. Later discussing this with some of the maintenance people, It proved to be the result of improper cleaning procedures that need to be done regularly on these spas. In addition, our room had an absolutely beautiful wraparound patio deck for our own personal use for sunning and dining. Unfortunately, for the first week we were unable to use it because the door kept falling off. In addition, the room boasted a full regalia of movies, new and old to be seen in our room, but the DVD player did not work and they did not have one to replace it. Oceania has a long way to go before I will travel with them again.

Superior to Maasdam, not nearly as good as the Westerdam Month of cruise was May 2006--not offered as selection for cruise date.

The ports of call and excursions were pretty good. We had one trip that didn't include what we paid for. My parents paid for the inital trip and when we tried to use our credit card for purchases it was denied. The office staff were rude through the entire situation that went on for days. The credit card company said it was the ship so make sure you call your credit card company before going to ensure no problems. The wait staff and room stewards were excellent.

Overall a great time. The itineray was perfect..we just wish we had stayed a few extra days in Barcelona and stayed at sea instead of going to Naples. We have been there before and never liked the place. The streets are crazy and makes for a horrible time. By comparrison, Barcelona is an exceptional city. The downers were the shore excursion staff and dining, which I'll hit later. We started in Istanbul and finished in Barcelona and the price was right. Only $800 each for 13 days, which would be hard to beat. While it was an inside stateroom, we specifically asked for it...all we needed was a place to sleep.

The promenade was huge.... it's like walking down a shopping alley. Like the staff and crew, who were always with smiles..... our dining waiter and assistant waiter was very friendly and excellent in his choices of food recommendation... our table was 364.

We booked a concierge level balcony stateroom which was lovely. The cabin steward couldn't have been nicer, and my husband and I found the staff to be generally accommodating. We sailed the Meditteranean, and the ports and shore excursions were good (although the excursions were pricey). The restaurant choices were great, and the open seating policy in the dining room is a pleasure. This was our second time on Oceania, with both of our cruises offering free air. Both returns were botched by missed connections and a day's delay in returning home. However, the return from Rome via Paris was a disaster because the connection in Paris was overbooked. We were put up in a hotel that can only be described as a sewer, and I sat in the lobby all night. Also, when we disembarked the ship, my husband's suitcase was broken, obviously mishandled by the baggage crew. The Insignia staff were no help and offered no assistance. What was a wonderful cruise ended badly. Our prior cruise through the Panama Canal was wonderful also, but once again, the trip home took 2 days and was exhausting because of missed connections. When we returned home, I wrote to Oceania not expecting anything, but hoping for at least an acknowledgment and maybe an apology. I received a curt letter that they were not responsible for anything that happened. I disagree because the cruise line did handle the air and advertise this "perk" extensively. We will go back to sailing with Silverseas, Windstar and Celebrity. If we do sail with Oceania, will book our own return travel and suggest this to others.

very good.

We took the cruise In Civitavecchia Rome, and begining with 3 hours boarding in the heat, among hundreds of people. once exausted and on the ship, the cabin was so small we had no space to get in to our bed, no drawers to put our close, or to put our suitecase. Once out to sea food was available only during meals, there is no such a thing as windjamer even part time. People smoked on every floor including the elevators. The shows are the only good thing on this ship. For the money we payed we could have gotten twice the deal with another cruise line. Sorry but that was our worst ship ever.

We flew with Thomas Cook airlines and arrived in Palma at lunchtime. Everything went very well and ran smoothly. One thing to bear in mind is that Palma airport is huge, its a 15 minute walk to reclaim your luggage at Palma airport, so if you have walking difficulties speak to the rep and get a buggy ride to the baggage reclaim area. Once we have collected our bags we were met by an Ocean Village Rep who directed us to a fleet of buses ready and waiting to take us on the 20 minute ride to our ship. This is when your adrenaline starts flowing - if you've never cruised before, the size of the ship takes your breath away. (Though admittedly its not the largest i have been on) This was the last time we saw our luggage until we reached our cabin. Once we got off the bus we queued for a few minutes in the port building where we were given our cruise cards and register our credit card etc. From this moment on everything you pay for gets paid with your room card which in turn is deducted on the last day from your credit card. Anyway, by this time you could see that everyone was getting excited and couldnt wait to embark. Once past the photographer (who, believe me, you will encounter a lot on your cruise) it was a blast of alcohol gel on the hands (another thing you will get used to every time you go into a restaurant or gym on the ship) and up the gangway. This took us straight to deck 5 where the main reception area is. Ready and waiting were many stalls set up with information of various facilities. Here you could book your table at the Bistro or take leaflets for the Karma Spa etc. We didnt actually get access to our cabin until 3pm so we spent the first 3 hours getting to know the ship, this in itself was a little tricky as we had to carry our hand luggage round with us. At 3pm to tannoy said our cabins were ready so off we went to find it. When we did we were really pleased, the cabins are massive. We booked a GG grade cabin on the lowest deck which is P deck. I was slightly concerned at first as i had always thought that the lower down you were on a ship, the noisier it would be due to engines etc - but I was very pleasantly suprised at the peace and quiet. The cabins are extremely spacious, plenty of storage space - even the shower is large enough for two people. I couldnt fault the maid service at all, our room was cleaned daily and i looked forward to the handmade biscuits we were left each day!! The itinerary we covered was their 'Beaches & Basillicas' itinerary. Day 1: Fly Uk to Palma, Majorca Day 2: At sea Day 3: Tunis (La Goulette), Tunisia Day 4: Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy Day 5: Genoa, Italy Day 6: St Raphael, France Day 7: Barcelona, Spain Day 8: Palma, Majorca, Spain The first evening when you set sail there is a sort of 'sailaway party' where they play music and everyone goes out on deck as the ship leaves port. Its quite nice and gives you a real buzzz to start the holiday off with. Everyday you will bump into at least one of the ship's photgraphers whether you are coming down the gangway to spend the day in port, dining in the Bistro or watching the Moon show! Its free to get your photo taken and its always a good idea to just pose and smile. There's no obligation to buy, you simply take a look at the photos that go up in the gallery the day after and if you like any you can buy them, if not, no problem. We actually had about 9 photos taken and only one we liked (because the others were me without make-up and not a pretty sight!) it was about 8x10 inches and we had it framed all for 15 which i thought was an absolute bargain. Waking up each day in a new place is a very exciting experience, i'm not using the type to wake up early and fling the curtains open but i just couldnt wait to see what each day brought. You usually get into port at around 7.30am daily and set sail again around 6pm although this varies from port to port and is usually outlined in more detail when you book. There's not much chance of forgett

BEST CRUISE I'VE BEEN ON CHECK IN WAS PAINLESS, TOOK ABOUT 10 MIN FOOD WAS GREAT, DRINK WAS GREAT OPEN SEATING DINING

Overall impression was excellent

I never cruise with the same cruise line more than once, this way I can realy compare the dif cruise lines. This is the first time I will cruise with the same cruise line before trying others. I'm looking forward for my cruide in april the 22nd 2007 on the PEARL from Mia to Lax.

Very pleased with this cruise....the ports and surrounding cities were amazing...staff very friendly and accomadating....ship very very clean....excellent food choices!!!

The value of the cruise was excellent. We generally cruise on Celebrity but we thought we would give NCL a shot. The staff was generally very nice and helpful though spread somewhat thin. We are avid cruisers living in South Florida and this was our 10th cruise -- and we have to say this was the worst food we have ever had on a cruise. We were basically prepared for this by prior reviews we read. Entertainment was excellent.