Star Princess Greek Isles & Mediterranean Cruise Notes

[dileep]

Rome to Venice. Oct 28 – Nov 9. It is rather long, so I will break it up into smaller pieces.

Saturday Oct 27 : Departed Seattle for SFO and met up with the Lovelaces and the Boyles for the flight to Frankfurt.

Sunday Oct 28: Frankfurt to Rome. Picked up by Stefano Constantini’s driver and transported to Civitavecchia in a Mercedes van along with the Lovelaces. Sort lines to board and we were in our cabin by 3 pm. Luggage was delivered an hour later, including the wine box.

5:15 pm Muster Exercise followed by Sail away party. Sailed at 6 pm. Dinner in the Amalfi Dining Room at our Table for 6. Our waiter was Vittorio Ferrari.

Monday October 29: Naples. Met Aldo at 8 am and off we went for a busy day. Drove up the hills overlooking Mount Vesuvius to Ravello. What a scenic place. Tasted wine at Episcopio and bought some to take home. Stopped in Pontone before driving down the coast for a brief stop in Amalfi with several picture stops and then through Positano for lunch in a small town called Monte Pertuso at Trattotia La Tagliatta. A Italian feast for 25 Euro per person. Lots of other private tour van stopped there too.

We celebrated Rich Boyle’s birthday with dinner in the Tequila Steak House.

Then on to Pompeii for 2 hours of intense sightseeing before returning to the ship around 4 pm. Very enjoyable day with Aldo.

Comedy Show by Rikki Jay was not all that good.

Depart 7 pm for Santorini.

Ship sailed through the Strait of Messina around 5 am (we were asleep) between the Eastern tip of Sicily and the southern tip of Calabria.

Tuesday October 30: our only sea day. Very relaxing. Attended lecture on Greek history. Met with some Cruise Critic members in the Wheelhouse lounge to finalize sharing of tour in Athens. Only 3 families showed up at the get together that was announced in the daily Princess Patter. This was formal night.

[dileep]

Wednesday October 31: Santorini. Ship anchored just after 6 am. 3 other ships also there (Celebrity Galaxy, RCCL Brilliance of the Seas, and an MSC ship).

Santorini is actually the world's largest volcanic crater, created 3,500 years ago by a massive eruption of the Thera volcano (which is still active!).

We went to the Explorer’s Lounge around 8 am and got on the next tender within 5 minutes. Rode the Cable Car for 4 Euro. Donkeys were available for 5 Euros. Walked over to the bus station and found out that the next bus for Oia was leaving at 10 am. Walked by a store front for Kamari Travels that advertised tours leaving at 9 am but nobody was there at 9:15! Walked around a bit including checking out by a nearby supermarket and boarded the bus at 9:45. Bus left early since it was full. 20 minute ride to Oia, a pretty village of pastel-tinted and whitewashed houses set into the cliffside.. Walked around for an hour and a half taking lots of pictures and back to the bus stop for the return journey at 11:45 am. Once again the bus left early even though it was not full. Had a fantastic Greek lunch at Nikolas for 25 Euros per couple. Best moussaka and grape leaves!

Walked around Fira for a while, tasted and bought wine. Long line for the cable car. So we decided to walking down the winding cobble stone path. 45 minutes later we were at the dock and got on the tender without a wait!

Depart at 6pm for Rhodes.

Good show by magician Chip Romero that night. His comedy was better the comedy show 2 nights ago.

[dileep]

Thursday November 1: Rhodes. Docked around 7:30 am.

Rhodes, the largest of Greece's 12 Dodecanese islands, lies in the midst of the Aegean and is its most important urban area. Rhodes is the name of the main town as well as the island and actually consists of three different cities: ancient, medieval and modern. For visitors, the main attraction is Rhodes' fabulous walled Old Town, Europe's largest inhabited medieval city.

We walked around Old Town on our own starting at 8:30 am. Taxis were available for 100 Euros for the 45 drive to Lindos with a 1 hour sightseeing and return. We passed and decide to stay in Old Town which was across the street from the dock. 10 Euro ticket gets you into 4 attractions including the Palace of the Grand Masters, a 14th-century hospital of the Knights of St. John, which now houses the archeological museum, the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Byzantine Museum, housed in an 11th-century church..

Nice easy day with lunch at a local Odyssey Taverna. Back on the ship by 3 pm. Ship departed at 5 pm for Kusadasi, Turkey.

[dileep]

Friday November 2: Kusadasi. Left the ship at 9 am and ket our guide Leventh with Sisan Tours for a full day of sightseeing in a Mercedes van. First stop was Virgin Mary’s House and then the highlight of the day, Ephesus. We spent about 2 hours looking at the ruins and taking pictures. Lunch was at a carpet shop in the front yard with trees. Good Turkish food with beer and Raki. We had to go through a slight sales pitch on carpets before leaving. We stopped briefly at the temple of Artemis before returning to Kusadasi for some shopping for leather. Our guide was excellent!

Back on the ship at 4:30 pm in time to sail away at 5 pm for Mykonos. Had dinner in the Sabatini’s Italian specialty restaurant. Food was good but not outstanding.

[dileep]

Saturday November 3: Mykonos. The ship’s shuttle (6 Euro roundtrip) left at 8:30 am and dropped us off in town. There were some taxis available and the walk would have been at last 20 minutes.

Mykonos was a chill-out destination: a day to take it easy, stroll around town down the narrow streets, explore the old town and see the windmills. We saw the 3 resident pelicans. Nice lunch at a local restaurant next to Nicholas church – pizza, gyros, moussaka, and lamb kabobs with cold beer. All for 10 Euros per person.

Good show that evening by Willie Tyler and Lester.

[dileep]

Sunday November 4: Athens. We got an early start and met our driver Petros at 7:30 am to try and beat the crowds. There were 9 of us in a large Mercedes van. We were among the first to the Acropolis and spent an hour and half there. Got good pictures of the Parthenon before the crowds arrived! The marathon was on that day and several roads were closed. Traffic moved slowly. It was cloudy and it did start to rain. We decided to drop the side trip to Cape Sounion and concentrate on Athens instead. Spent time at the Greek Agora and when it started to rain went to a restaurant for lunch. Once again good food shared among the 6 of us with beer for 25 Euros per couple. Visited the Archeological Museum and the Temple of Zeus before returning to the ship around 3:30 pm. Peter was a good guide and gave us a lot of information on Athens.

The Royal Princess was also in town dropping one set of cruisers and picking up the next. P&O artemis and an Oceania ship were there too. Taxis were available and we were told on the ship that the fare into Athens from Piraeus was 25 Euro.

Monday November 5: Katakolon.The 40-minute drive from Katakolon takes you through some of the most fertile areas of Greece, where most of the country's fruit and vegetables are grown. Once in Olympia, the tour buses pull up to the archeological site at the foot of Kronos hill. The Olympic Games originated here in 776 B.C., although the Sanctuary of Olympia dates to the 10th and 9th century B.C. This is also where the Olympic flame of the modern games is lit (using sunlight and a lens).


We took the ship’s tour to Olympia - it was very interesting to see the ruins of the site of the first Olympics and the Archeological Museum. We enjoyed it. Lunch was a simple gyro sandwich (2 Euros!) and beer at a takeout shop with a few seats on the sidewalk. In the afternoon we walked around the town - there are quite a number of restaurants along the waterfront and shops as well. Found some white wine from Crete which we consumed later on our balcony.

There were plenty of taxis available for 80 Euros for the round trip with 2 hours in Olympia. Saga Ruby was docked next to us.

[dileep]

Tuesday November 6: Corfu. Docked at 8 am and we got off at 8:30. A short complimentary shuttle ride (it was about a 10 minute walk) to the passenger services terminal. The Old Town is another 20 minute walk from there and there are plenty of taxis. A taxi ride to Old Town is about 8 - 10 euros .We had booked a 6 passenger Fiat Multiplus from Corfu Sunrise for 60 Euros incl insurance. Their office is across the street but there is a fence. They came around and picked us up. Quick paperwork and add another 10 Euro for gas (we did not want to return it full) and we were on our way with Randy driving. There were other care rental agencies at the port with 4 passenger cars for 40 Euros. Some cruisers hired a taxi for 140 Euros for the whole day. Helps to know that it is called , Kerkyra in Greek when you are navigating!

We drove to the small village of Paleokastritsa, known for its monastery of the Virgin Mary. The scenery is beautiful. We then drove around and up another hill to try and see the Angels Castle but it was closed. The panoramic views were worth the side trip.

The next stop was Achilleion Palace. Entrance was 7 Euros and hardly worth it. The best part was a great view of Corfu town. We could have skipped this stop. Achilleion, located in the village of Gastouri just south of Corfu Town, was built in the late 1890's and was the inspiration of Elizabeth, Empress of Austria. A neoclassical mansion, Achilleion was named for Achilles and a huge four-ton bronze sculpture of the mythical hero dominates the back gardens.

Then on to Old Town where we had a gyro sandwich again (<2 Euros) and walked around for a while before driving down to Kanoni to get a panoramic view of Pontikonissi (or Mouse Island as it is popularly known) and Vlaherna, two tiny islands that serve as Corfu's visual signature.

Were back on the ship at 4:30 pm in time to catch a beautiful sunset just after 5 pm. Sailed off at 6 pm for Dubrovnik.

[dileep]

Wednesday November7: Dubrovnik. We docked early just after sunrise at 6:30 am. There was a private shuttle bus (10 euros round trip) for the 2 mile drive to Pile Square and the entrance to the walled Old Town.

. One of the major distinctions of Dubrovnik is that the medieval-era city is a walled city -- completely encircled. Dubrovnik is still being restored; the city was seriously damaged as a result of shelling that occurred during the Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian war in 1991 - 1992. Overall, though, this is a port for relaxing, for strolling its picturesque streets, walking the wall, and then chilling out at a sidewalk cafefor some inexpensive fresh sea food.

The local currency is kuna (7 per Euro or 5 per $) but they accept dollars and euros. The entrance to the wall costs 7.5 Euros and we took 2 hours to do the circuit with lots of stops for photos. Back at ground level we found the narrow side street halfway up the hill to Niko’s mother’s place. She fed us cake and homemade grappa and wine. Then we set off outside the walled Old Town and uphill to see Nico’s beautiful house with 4 apartments and a view of the Old Town.

Lunch by the little dock outside the wall with some fabulous mussels, calamari,shrimp, sefood risotto and wine – all for $25 per couple.

This was one of the places we were really looking forward to seeing and we were not disappointed! This was formal night again. The lobster was excellent and Vittorio made sure that we had an extra helping!

We sailed off for Venice at 5 pm. Good comedy Show by Don Ware in the Vista Lounge.

[dileep]

Thursday November 8, Venice: We entered the lagoon around 11:45 am and it was a spectacular sight from the open deck on level 15 in front of the ship. We docked around 12:30. Our ship’s excursion by motor launch to San Giorgio Maggiore, Gondola ride, and Murano left at 1:30 pm.

San Giorgio Maggiore was designed by the great architect Andrea Palladio. The superb neoclassical facade is red and white marble; the simple interior boasts two of the painter Tintoretto?s greatest works: "The Last Supper" and "The Gathering of the Manna."

After a short stop to see the church, we went across the canal and boarded our gondola near San Marco Square for a 30 minute ride. Each sleek black gondola holds 6 and they travel through some of Venice’s smaller, less-trafficked canals, crossed by scores of stone bridges, as you glide past balconied, waterfront buildings.

Travel to the island of Murano and visit a leading glass factory. Tour the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore and take a gondola ride through the canals.

Then through the Giudecca canal and across the Laguna Veneta to the island of Murano. You pass the Arsenale, the Serenissima Republic’s old shipyard, the ancient Church of San Pietro di Castello, and the Island of St. Elena, enjoying views of Lido in the distance.

Murano Glass Factory - The tiny island of Murano gained prominence as a center for glassmaking when the process was still a guarded one. The 16th century is considered the great age of Murano glass. We toured one of the islands leading glass factories; watched a demonstration, and bought some glass jewelry in the showroom.

Then back to the ship around 6:30 pm for the farewell dinner with Baked Alaska.

Friday November 9, Venice: Disembarked around 8:30 am and took the the free shuttle with our luggage to Paizzale Roma. Then the challenging part taking our luggage over 2 bridges to the Hotel Carlton & Grand Canal across the street from the San Lucia Station. The vaporetto operators were on strike and there was limited service. We left our luggage with the concierge and bought our 15 Euro 24 hour ticket and took the vaporetto to Rialto bridge which is as far as the water bus went. Then a nice walk to St Marks Square. There were no lines and we walked through the church and went up the steps to the museum and balcony. Then a short 15 minute wait and we were in the Doge’s Palace. We wandered into an area behind the square and found a nice pizza place and had pizza, lasagna and red wine.

After some gelato and shopping we walked back to Rialto bridge and took the vaporetto back to the hotel for some rest and gin and tonics (Vitamin G!). The hotel concierge recommended a hotel near Rialto bridge and made reservations. Ristorante a la Vecia Cavana was about a 10-15 minute walk down some back streets and after several stops for directions we found it (It is near Hotel Giorgone). We had a fantastic seafood meal with a great Pinot Grigio by Jermann and a less exciting Pinot Nero. The seafood risotto was outstanding. And by Venetian standards the total cost of about 170 euros for the 4 of us was a bargain! http://www.veciacavana.com/

[dileep]

Saturday November 10: Florence. Had a nice breakfast at 7 am in the hotel and scaled the high bridge across the Grand Canal with our luggage to get to the San Lucia train station. Boarded a train just after 8 am for Venice Mestre station. All trains from San Lucia stop in Mestre. Another challenging set of stpes down to the tunnel and back up to get to our platform for the train to Florence. The 2.5 hour ride in first class was quite plesant.

The tourist information office told us that our Hotel Europa was within walking distance, but with the rough and narrow sidewalks and all the people, it was not a fun walk! We did not realize that the taxis were on the other side.

We left our luggage agin and ventured out for some panini sandwiches before going to the Academia to see David. From there we came back to the hotel and got our room keys before heading out again to the Duomo. A short stop in a wine shop and we had some aged balsamic vinegar and Brunello to take home. The lady at the wine shop (originally from Chicago) recommended two restaurants – one for each night. This night we walked through the vendor stalls to get to a pasta place called Ristorante Le Fonticine. They had some fine chiantis to go along with the pasta. The gnocchi was more like polenta!

Sunday November 11: Florence. We had a 10 am appointement at the Uffizi, but we left at 8:30 to walk leisurely to take some pictures along the way. The Piazza dellla Signoria was quite interesting. Since we were early we got in line at the Uffizi and got in within 10 minutes. Two hours later we had pizza and wine for lunch just otside the Uffizi. Soon we were on the banks of the Arno and going across the Ponte Vecchio to see the Piti Place but decided to head to Piazza Santa Croce instead of spending more time in a museum.
There was music in the square and we found our way to the best gelato place in town called Tivoli. Outstanding! We walked back across the Arno on Ponte alle Grazie to catch bus #13 (about 1.2 Euro for ticket valid for 75 minutes) to Piazzale Michelangelo to see the bronze David and a panoramic view of the city.

Then back to the hotel for some wine before heading off to dinner. Restaurants do not open for dinner before 7 pm. We got to Giovanni’s just after 7 pm and the staff was till eating their dinner. They let us sit and wait instead of standing outside in the cold. Another fine meal with mushroom pasta, veal, and chicken, and of course fine wine.

Monday November 12: Florence – Frankfurt – London – San Francisco – Seattle!
Starting with a 5 am taxi (30 Euros) to the airport and 4 flights we arrived home at 9:45 pm more than 24 hours later!


It was a great trip – fantastic itinerary, good ship and service, good friends to travel with, and excellent weather and no crowds.

[dileep]

EXTRACT FROM THE DECK LOG FOR CRUISE V9735
OCTOBER 28TH TO NOVEMBER 9TH, 2007

28th OCTOBER 2007 - CIVITAVECCHIA
The Star Princess was lying quietly alongside at her berth from the early morning hours . At 1830 all pre departure safety checks were complete and Star Princess was ready to sail toward the first port of the cruise: Naples. The mooring lines were let go, and with the help of the thrusters, the propulsion and the steering, the vessel moved off the berth, then we steamed out through the Harbour entrance.
Noon position: Alongside in Civitavecchia Wind: Westerly Force 2 Sky: Clear + Fine
Pressure: 1024.2 Temperature: 20.0
29TH OCTOBER 2007 NAPLES
The Star Princess made her final approaches to Naples in the early hours of the morning passing the Island of Ischia on her port side just after 0400. We embarked at 0600 the local pilot. After entering the Harbour, the Star Princess was turned bow to port and she came astern towards her berth. Star Princess was all fast along side her berth at 0715
Noon position: Alongside in Naples Sky: Partly Cloudy Wind: Light variable winds
Temperature: 20.5°C Pressure: 1025 Hpa
At 1859, all pre-departure checks were complete, and Star Princess was readyto sail, lines were let go 1910hrs and with the aid of our thrusters moved off the berth. Star Princess set various south-easterly courses as she headed towards Santorini
30th OCTOBER 2007 - AT SEA
The Star Princess passed through the Messina Straights (the water between Italy and Sicily) in the very early morning hours. We boarded the local pilot at 0444 which guided us throughout the transit Once clear of the narrowest point, the pilot was disembarked and the Star Princess continued her voyage towards Santorini (Greece).
Noon position: 37°19'.1 N, 17°52'.6E Sky: Overcast. Wind: East-South-East force 6
Temperature: 21.8 C Pressure: 1014.5 Hpa
31 STOCTOBER 2007 - SANTORINI
Just after midnight the Star Princess Passed through the Peloponnesos Strait. We approached the island of Nison Thira from the northerly entrance. We arrived at the anchor position at0630.Our port anchor was let go at 0635 and shortly after was broth up. We begin the tender service at 0700. Santorini is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km south-east from Greece's mainland. It is also known as Thira, forming the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately 73 km2 (28 miz) and a 2001 census population of 13,670
Noon position: At Anchor in Santorini Sky: Partly Cloudy Wind: North-Easterly force 7
Temperature: 21.0 C Pressure: 1018.6 Hpa
At 1750hrs, all pre-departure checks were complete, and Star Princess was ready to weigh anchor and sail. At 1755 Star Princess started heaving up the anchor. Once the anchor was home the Star Princess maneuvered away from Santorini and set various easterly courses toward Rhodos.
1st NOVEMBER 2007 - RHODES
Making her final approaches to Rhodes we embarked our pilot at 0710 after passing through the breakwaters, into the Harbour we thrusted alongside our berth and were all fast by 0750. In Greek mythology, Rhodos was a son of Hermes and Aphrodite.
Noon position: Alongside in Rhodes. Sky: Mostly Cloudy Wind: East-South- Easterly force 4
Temperature: 23.4°C Pressure: 1021.6 Hpa
At 1645 hrs, all pre-departure checks were complete, and Star Princess was ready to sail, lines were let go 1658 hrs and with the aid of our thrusters moved off the berth, and then astern out through the breakwater and at 1724 the pilot was disembarked. Once clear of the breakwater the Star Princess then swung over 180° to starboard, and set mainly Northerly and then later Easterly courses as she head towards Kusadasi.
2ND NOVEMBER 2007 - KUSADASI
During the night Star Princess was set on North Westerly courses as she steamed towards Kusadasi. In the early hours of the morning Star Princess passed some 4 miles North of Nisos Samos as she made her final approaches to her berth. We embarked our pilot at 0720, and were alongside our berth by 0758
Noon position: Alongside in Kusadasi Sky: Partly Cloudy Wind: North Easterly Force
Temperature: 23.0'C Pressure: 1020.8 Hpa
At 1700 hrs, all pre-departure checks were complete, and Star Princess was ready to sail, lines were let go at 1706 hrs and with the aid of our thrusters moved off the berth. Once the Star Princess was a satisfactory distance off the berth the engines were put ahead. Once the stern was clear of the berth the pilot was disembarked at 1723. We then set various Westerly courses toward Mykonos

3rd NOVEMBER 2007- MYKONOS
During the night Star Princess was set on Westerly courses as she steamed towards Mykonos. In the early hours of the morning Star Princess passed to the South of Nisos Tinos as she made her final approaches to her berth. We embarked our pilot at 0600, and were alongside our berth by 0645
Noon position: Alongside in Mykonos Sky: Partly Cloudy Wind: Northerly Force 6
Temperature: 22.0°C Pressure: 1018.6 Hpa
At 1716 hrs, all pre-departure checks were complete, Star Princess was ready to sail, lines were let go at 1741 hrs and with the aid of our thrusters and the strong Northerly wind we moved off the berth. Once the Star Princess was a satisfactory distance off the berth the engines were put ahead. We set then various Westerly courses toward the port of Piraeus and the ancient city of Athens.
4thNOVEMBER 2007- PIREAUS
After passingthroughthetrafficseparationschemeonthefinal approachestoAthenstheStarPrfncess eml>arkedthepilot at 0256 and she was all fast alongside her berth at 0415. Athens, the capital and largest city in Greece, dominates the Attica periphery: as one of the world's oldest cities, its recorded history spans at least 3,000 years.
Noon position: Alongside in Athens Sky: Overcast Wind: Light Airs
Temperature: 19.3°C Pressure: 1017.0 Hpa
Star Princess departed Athens at 1738 and after disembarked the pilot at 1757. Corses were then set to round the Peloponisos Peninsula on the southern coast of Greece before altering to the North towards Katakolon.

5thNOVEMBER - KATAKOLON
Shortly after midnight Star Princess entered back to the Ionian Sea through Elafonisou Channel. After rounding the southest point of Peloponisos, Star Princess made her final approaches, embarked the pilot at 0638, and was alongside her berth by 0718.
Noon Position: Alongside in Katakolon Sky: Clear skies Wind:Northerly, Force 3
Temperature: 19.0°C Pressure: 1014.7 Hpa
At 1655 hrs, all pre-departure checks were complete, and Star Princess was ready to sail, lines were let go 1706 hrs and with the aid of our thrusters moved off the berth, then moving slowly astern until the bow was clear of the breakwater. Once the bow was clear of the breakwater, the ship wasswung toport over 90°. After disembarking the pilotat 1723, Star Princess increased speed and set northerly courses as she headed towards Corfu.

6thNOVEMBER-CORFU
During the night the Star Princess made her way through the Ionian Sea. Once clear of islands Zakinthos and Kefallinia she set northerly courses following the Greek coast line as we headed towards our next port of call Corfu.
In the early hours of the morning Star Princess rounded the Southern point of Corfu. She then headed northwest, up the eastern side of Corfu as she made her final approaches towards her berth. Star Princess embarked the pilot at 0702 and were alongside our berth by 0800.
Noon position: Alongside in Corfu Sky: Clear skies Wind: Easterly, Force 2
Temperature: 16.5°C Pressure: 1017.7 Hpa
At 1744 hrs, all pre-departure checks were complete, and Star Princess was ready to sail, lines were let go 1754 hrs and with the aid of our thrusters moved off the berth. After lifting off the berth, Star Princess was set on northerly courses as she headed towards Dubrovnik.

7th NOVEMBER - DUBROVNIK
Star Princess passed through the Strait of Otranto, which marked her exitfrom the Ionian Sea and her entry into the Adriatic Sea.Throughout the night, Star Princess followed the Albanian coast line on mainly North Westerly courses. Star Princess made her final approaches towards Dubrovnik in the early hours of the morning, where we embarked the pilot at 0605 and were alongside our berth 0715.
Noon position: Alongside in Dubrovnik Sky: Fine and dry Wind: North Easterly, Force 4
Temperature: 15.7°C Pressure: 1021.2 Hpa
At 1642 hrs, all pre-departure checks were complete, and Star Princess was ready to sail, lines were let go 1651 hrs and with the aid of our thrusters moved off the berth and astern into the main channel. The ship was then swung over 90° to starboard. After disembarking the pilot at 1709, the Star Princess was set on northwesterly courses as she headed towards our last port of call Venice.

8thOCTOBER-VENICE
Star Princess embarked her pilot at 1030, and after passing through the narrow canals of Venice, was alongside her berth by 1245.
Noon Position: Venice Sky: Partly cloudy Pressure: 1018.3 Hpa
Wind: Variable winds, Force 3 Temperature: 14.2°C

9th OCTOBER-VENICE
Star Princess was lying quietly alongside her berth "Maritimo 18".
Noon Position: Alongside in Venice Sky: Partly cloudy Pressure: 1018.0 Hpa
Wind: Variable winds, Force 3 Temperature: 13.1°C

[dileep]

Sorted by port at http://www.flickr.com/photos/28359466@N00/sets/

[BubbaBoo]

Thanks for the review. I'll be on the Grand Princess in May 2008 and was looking for info on the ports.
Did you book your own airfare or through the cruise line?

Melinda

[dileep]

Originally Posted by BubbaBoo

Thanks for the review. I'll be on the Grand Princess in May 2008 and was looking for info on the ports.
Did you book your own airfare or through the cruise line?

Used frequent flyer miles to book business class, but had to take more connecting flights due to limited availability.

[English Tim]

Thanks for a very useful review.

One question, I am familiar with packing bottles of wine, did you pack the wine box in your case, or did you label it individually?

[dileep]

Originally Posted by English Tim

Thanks for a very useful review.

One question, I am familiar with packing bottles of wine, did you pack the wine box in your case, or did you label it individually?

We had a box with styrofoam inserts that held 8 bottles. The airlines allow you to check in as luggage. The box had Fragile stickers from previous travel. I tie rope around to make it easy to pick up.

[rollie]

We really loved your review and pictures. Thanks for taking the time for us. We are planning on doing the Eastern Med next May.

Rollie and Lynn

[English Tim]

Originally Posted by dileep

We had a box with styrofoam inserts that held 8 bottles. The airlines allow you to check in as luggage. The box had Fragile stickers from previous travel. I tie rope around to make it easy to pick up.

Thanks, I now understand!

We call a wine box, something that has a tap to pour the wine from!

[mustcruisemore]

Thanks for the great review! My wife and I are planning on going next Oct. I was curious where you were able to get the deck log?

Thanks again

[dileep]

Originally Posted by mustcruisemore

Thanks for the great review! My wife and I are planning on going next Oct. I was curious where you were able to get the deck log?

Thanks again

Princess left the Cruise Log (2 pages) in all state rooms on the last day. I scanned it in and used OCR software to convert it to a Word document.