This was the first time we did a European cruise and we loved it. We started off in Tuscany for a week before boarding the ship and was happy we were going to see more of Italy as well as some other ports. The crew were wonderful, as was the food and ship amenities. It gave us the chance to sample a few different countries and their cultures.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
It was a breeze getting on the ship at Rome. Hired car service and was dropped right off in front of the ship.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Ate all o our dinners at the main dining room except for one night at the seafood restaurant, Hooked. It was excellent.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
There certainly was plenty to do. We spent time at the pool. waterslide, pickle ball court, fitness center. Would have done more, but we were off the ship at different ports a lot.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The Hiro show was a thrill to watch. We were amazed at the physical fitness of the entertainers. It was certainly a unique experience. We also enjoyed the classical guitarist performingin the atrium.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Our waiters (Focus & Sachin) were outstanding. Really informing us of all that we were entitled to (extras) and other options if we couldn't make it to our assigned seating. They were always on top of refilling our drinks and bringing out our meals quickly. Our room steward, Jeffrey, was also a pleasure. He was always available when we needed him and kept our room clean and well-stocked. They're away from their families for 7 months at a time, so it's worth getting to know them and making their jobs a little less redundant.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The cabin was nice and roomy, bed extremely comfortable, liked the shower and setup of the bathroom. Had enough outlets and USB ports for charging our things. Happy I did not have to bring a blow dryer as that was provided. Also a small fridge (cooler) in the room was nice to have.
Ship tip
If you have any issues whatsoever, go to Guest Services. We wanted to sign up for the Hiro show and it said that it was sold out (I guess you can make reservations before you get on the ship). We went to Guest Services and they got us in and gave us a pass to go to any show, even multiple times.
We embarked in Rome and only arrived the night before, so we didn't have much time to see things. Loved what we did see. We would definitely like to go back and spend more time.
Did the excursion to Sorrento and Pompeii. Our tour guide, Benedetto, was excellent. Visited a farm on a hilltop along the way that had Lemon and Olive trees. Tasted cold meats, home made mozzarella and Limoncello, of course. Shopped in Sorrento and had some cappuccino and gelato at an outdoor cafe. We had a wonderful day and learned so much.
Very clean and beautiful. We did the Hop on/Hop Off sightseeing bus. Given we only had one day, we were happy we got to see so much of the city. Sat down at an outdoor cafe on the waterfront and enjoyed some fried calamari and a drink.
We didn't do any excursion here. We saw some beautiful cathedrals and walked along the waterfront where hundreds of boats were moored. Ate lunch here, but do not think I chose the best place as our meal was a little disappointing.
We were supposed to do a cruise to Cinque Terre, which was the one I was most looking forward to. Due to bad sea conditions, it was canceled. So we walked off the ship and explored La Spezia. I was pleasantly surprised. There were so many shops and restaurants right in walking distance. We found a little leather shop and the owners/staff were so friendly. They gave us a recommendation for lunch and it was delicious!
I was concerned about disembarking as we had a car service picking us up at 9:00 AM to catch a 1:00 PM flight out of Rome. As it turned out, leaving the ship is as easy as walking off. All went smoothly.
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