Pretty good cruise

Item: Grand Princess
Rating: 3
Author: RitaB1

Grand Princess Cruise Review to Europe - Mediterranean

RitaB1

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 8

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

Verified Review

12 Night Grand Mediterranean (Barcelona To Venice)

Sail date: September 25, 2006

Ship: Grand Princess

Cabin type: Balcony

Traveled as: Large Group

Reviewed: 14 years ago

Review summary

The ship itself was very nice. The staff was excellent. Very helpful.

Ports of call

Piraeus (Athens), Greece

5 out of 5

The shopping was very good at the Plaka. They don't deal though the way they do in Turkey but they do negotiate. The Acropolis was well worth the climb. Again, you may opt to take a cab and forego the expensive ship tour packages.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: The Plaka - The Acropolis

Istanbul, Turkey

5 out of 5

This was one of our favorites. The Grand Bizarre gave us some amazing deals. Push the vendors on price until they give up. Usually about 60% of the original asking price is their limit.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: The Grand Bizarre, The Spice Market, The street cafes. The mosques are not that great.

Naples, Italy

3 out of 5

City was not clean and felt dangerous. Warned strongly of pick-pockets

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: Aisle of Capri

Piraeus (Athens), Greece

5 out of 5

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: The Plaka - The Acropolis

Venice, Italy

5 out of 5

The Bride of the Sea is what they call Venice and for good reason. Beautiful. Romantic. Amazing. Perfect.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: The canals. The gondola rides. The sidewalk cafe's. The wine. The restaurant "The Calice".

Mykonos, Greece

5 out of 5

We loved Mykonos. The city with it's narrow, winding streets, shops, bakeries and "ancient" culture was the greatest. The pizza at the last little outside restaurant by the water before you get back on the bus was fantastic.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: The basement bakeries/pizza ovens. Some are centuries old.

Marseille (Provence), France

3 out of 5

Not worth getting a ship tour package. They have the same tours available at a reliable kiosk right off the ship for less money.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: The Notre Dame.

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

5 out of 5

A highlight. If you're going on a Med. cruise - you can't not see Rome if you've never been there. The culture, history, art, churches, museums are amazing.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: St. Peter's, Sistine Chapel, Three Fountains, The Colosseum

Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Italy

5 out of 5

There was so much to see here. However, I still wouldn't get a "tour package" from the ship. Just take a cab. It's much cheaper.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: Ufizzi Art Gallery, Michaelangelo's David (Get there early - the lines are long) Tower of Pisa.

Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey

5 out of 5

The ruins of Ephesus were wonderful. If you're into biblical history it was fascinating to see where Paul preached to the Ephesians. They claimed Mary (Jesus' mother) was buried there. That's debatable. The architectural history there was phenomenal.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: The ruins of Ephesus

Naples, Italy

3 out of 5

City was not clean and felt dangerous. Warned strongly of pick-pockets

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: Aisle of Capri

Marseille (Provence), France

3 out of 5

Not worth getting a ship tour package. They have the same tours available at a reliable kiosk right off the ship for less money.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: The Notre Dame.

Venice, Italy

5 out of 5

The Bride of the Sea is what they call Venice and for good reason. Beautiful. Romantic. Amazing. Perfect.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: The canals. The gondola rides. The sidewalk cafe's. The wine. The restaurant "The Calice".

Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Italy

5 out of 5

There was so much to see here. However, I still wouldn't get a "tour package" from the ship. Just take a cab. It's much cheaper.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: Ufizzi Art Gallery, Michaelangelo's David (Get there early - the lines are long) Tower of Pisa.

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

5 out of 5

A highlight. If you're going on a Med. cruise - you can't not see Rome if you've never been there. The culture, history, art, churches, museums are amazing.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: St. Peter's, Sistine Chapel, Three Fountains, The Colosseum

Istanbul, Turkey

5 out of 5

This was one of our favorites. The Grand Bizarre gave us some amazing deals. Push the vendors on price until they give up. Usually about 60% of the original asking price is their limit.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: The Grand Bizarre, The Spice Market, The street cafes. The mosques are not that great.

Mykonos, Greece

5 out of 5

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: The basement bakeries/pizza ovens. Some are centuries old.

Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey

5 out of 5

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: The ruins of Ephesus

Pros: The ports of call were excellent

Cons: The room size and entertainment