Just off the Grand Venice to Barcelona 5-14 to 5-26

[jeaniem]

Our big adventure started on May 12th with an overnight flight to London, then a 7 hour wait for our flight to Venice. We arrived in Venice at about 11pm and took a land taxi to our very Italian hotel a couple miles from the airport. It was perfect for the overnight before b oarding the ship on the 14th. We arrived by taxi to the pier where the Grand was about 12 pm and the lines were very long. Since I was platinum we were able to go to the platinum checkin , then waited about 1/2 hour to go thru security and register our passports. Did hear that it took from 2 to 21/2 hours for many to get thru. Our stateroom was D229 a mini suite . Thruout the cruise we enjoyed the extra space and larger bathroom. I thought the space was well planned with lots of storage. The balcony was entirely uncovered and we did not enjoy it as much as we have in the past with covered balonies, as we didn't like people looking down at us or the hot sun . The stateroom showed wear and tear and the sofa seemed like it was broken down.The room service was great as usual.

 

I feel the ship itself is in major need of an overhaul. There were b uckets placed in several public areas catching water from leaking pipes. One of the coffee stations at the buffet was out of service the entire cruise and 2 of the elevators were laid up for a couple of days. The carpets around the pool were shabby and many of the outdoor tables were unsteady.

 

In general, we found the food in the dinning room just average. We did anytime dinning and at times the food was lukewarm. The last cruise we did traditional dinning and felt the food arrived at the right tempuratue. We did not have to wait for a table , but then we were always willing to share a table. The table service was very good. I've been on 12 Princess cruises and I have to add that the last night in the dining room I had the worst meal ever on a cruise.

 

We enjoyed the entertainment that we went to . Billy Vader, the comic was great and Chip Romero the illusionist was a lot of fun. Did trivia, the casino and other activities. Thought the cruise directer did a good job.

 

The intinery was fantastic and I keep reminding myself how lucky I was to be able to visit all these wonderful places. Venice is all it is cracked up to be. We walked and saw a lot of the major sights on our own. A ships tour is definately not necessary.

 

We were on the ships tour in athens that took us to the temple of poisidon, the acropolis, the plaka and a wonderful lunch at a greek restrauant. Loved Kusadasi and wished we had had a full day there. We took the ship's tour to Ephesus but wish we had just hired a taxi. It would have been more enjoyable to take our time with rented audio instead of having to stay with the group. Our guide was nice but it was very difficult to hear her and stay together, as the place was packed with people. Istanbul was facinating, but the day we were there it was a national holiday and the crowds were so thick that is was difficult to enjoy the palace. The tour from the ship only gave us 45 minutes to go the Grand Bazzar. Not enough time as it is loads of fun and they like Americans. Again I would do the Taxi thing. In Mykonos, we used the free shuttle and spent the day wondering around the town, buying some Greek jewelry and having a beer on the waterfront. A relaxing day. In Naples, we again took the 1/2 day tour to Pompeii, aagain take a taxi as the crowds were awful and we couldn't hear our guide and had to stay together. Since our guide had the personality of a rock, we ditched the group and wandered around the ruins until it was time to go back to the bus. We did enjoy the site and felt it was worthwhile. Our Rome ship's tour "Eternal Rome" was the trip from hell. After a 1 1/2 hour bus ride in to the city we had a 2 hour wait to get into the Vatican. Unless you despartly want to see the sistine chapel it would be best to do something else. Oh, after you get into the vatican, you then have a couple of hours of being squeesed to death by people on all sides as you go thru. After the vatican we saw st Peters, and then had a lunch at an Italian rest. Nothing charming, or out of the ordinary. Since we spent too much time dealing with the vatican we only had a short time to see the Collesium, and no time to buy any souveners. The ride back to the ship took a long time due to the roman traffic and we arrived 1 1/2 hours late. The ship waited for us, but I heard that some independents didn't make it back in time. The next port was Livorno and we chose to go to Pisa. It was a !/2 day tour and we just got there, wandered around, and took a carriage ride thru the old part of town. It was great and I would recommentd it. Our last stop was Marseillle and we were too tired to do more sightseeing so just went into town and did the 45 minute mine train ride to see the sights. Others we talked to, loved their tours into the French countryside.

 

All in all it was a wonderful cruise and vacation. Every cruise has its strong and weak areas and to us this one did too. The Grand for us is too big, we perfer the smaller sun class ships, but the itinery was worth it. Hope this helps those of you wondering if you should do the Met.

[MLAW]

Thanks for the review. I am wondering the name of the hotel you stayed at in Venice. Thanks again.

[AliceS]

Did the ship overnight in Venice? Tell me about getting from the ship to St. Mark's. Do the water taxis run often?

 

What movies did they show on the ship? Did you see any of the production shows?

 

 

What PC dining room did you use and at what time? Thanks for the review.

[sebasco]

Can you tell me how cool the evenings were on the ship, did you need a sweater at night?

Was there one PC dining room that was better than the other?

 

Did you try Sabatini's or Sterling steak House? if so which was your favorite?

 

How was the spa? Did you try any treatments?

 

Did they offer any classes on sea days, can you recall what they were?

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions and glad, all in all, that you enjoyed the cruise!

[maulie]

Did the ship overnight in Venice? Tell me about getting from the ship to St. Mark's. Do the water taxis run often?

 

What movies did they show on the ship? Did you see any of the production shows?

 

 

What PC dining room did you use and at what time? Thanks for the review.

 

I was on this cruise and took a water taxi from the hotel to the ship. Water taxis are expensive in Venice. 6 of us shared a taxi and split the bill of 120 Euro. I think they quoted 60 Euro for 2 people and charge extra for more than 5 people and extra luggage. Just have your hotel call for a taxi to pick you up.

 

My DH and I enjoyed Movies under the Stars. Some films were Sideways, Phantom of the Opera, and Oceans 12. Get there early if a good movie is being shown, as seats fill up quickly.

 

We had PC dining, and only ate in the dining room the first night. I think it was the DaVinci Dining Room. We were not impressed, and preferred to order room service or have a burger while we were at Movies under the Stars.

 

We also ate at Sterling Steakhouse and Sabatini's. The steakhouse was a waste of money. Don't bother. Sabatini's was much better, but a very long meal (1-1/2 hours).

 

Hope that helps.

[maulie]

Can you tell me how cool the evenings were on the ship, did you need a sweater at night?

Was there one PC dining room that was better than the other?

 

Did you try Sabatini's or Sterling steak House? if so which was your favorite?

 

How was the spa? Did you try any treatments?

 

Did they offer any classes on sea days, can you recall what they were?

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions and glad, all in all, that you enjoyed the cruise!

 

I did not need a sweater most nights, only on formal nights. Sabatini's was far better than the Steakhouse and the dining rooms. Many classes were offered everyday. We were so busy at the ports, that on sea days we parked ourselves by the pool and relaxed. The weather was perfect, it's a great time of year for the Med.

[jeaniem]

The hotel close to the Venice airport that we stayed in is the TITIAN INN ---web site is http://www.titianinn.com. It was a very nice and clean place. not fancy but we chose it for an overnight as we were getting in late in the evening and did'tn want to spend the extra time and money for a hotel we were only going to spend a few hours in before boarding the ship. When the Grand was docked at the passinger pier, they provided a boat shuttle to San Marco square, for a 10.00 fee. The next morning the ship was moved to another pier within a short Walking distance of the square. Hope this helps.

 

We didn't see any of the production shows but heard that they were enjoyable. Most nights we ate in the Da Vinci dining room. The temperature in the ship was okay. I did'nt notice that it was cold or hot. Movies were generally first run in the Princess theater. Mutes showed a Tom Jones concert and a Tina Turner concert along with old and new movies.

[bdjam]

My DH and I enjoyed Movies under the Stars. Some films were Sideways, Phantom of the Opera, and Oceans 12. Get there early if a good movie is being shown, as seats fill up quickly.

So was MUTS playing during the day? Like I’m thinking when you sailed up the Grand Canal in Venice?

[maulie]

They did show movies during the day, in the same location by the pool. These movies were not first run, but many were enjoyable to watch. Two I can think of are Ocean's 11 and Top Gun. We watched movies while relaxing by the pool on sea days.

When the ship went through Venice, in the Canal outside the Grand Canal, it was 5:00 a.m. -the ship actually changed piers before our sail away in Venice. Do not miss this wonderful sight.

Movies were not on during the sail aways. When we went on deck during a sail away or sail in, the ship historian gave information on what you were seeing.

 

Let me know if you have more questions.

 

Maulie

[Strawberry]

Hello - When they have MUTS do they also show movies at a theatre somewhere inside the ship at other times? Thank you!