Princess Cruise Report - Adriatic and Egypt Cruise Nov 2009

Last year I did my first cruise and I’m well on the way to becoming addicted to it, as my second cruise I really started to get to know the perks of cruising. Princess Cruise line is the line that I have picked and I’m please with their product.

This cruise started in Rome (Civitavecchia) and I had to deal with FCO airport. And I have to say It has to be one of the worst capital city airports in Europe. I hate it, dirty, crap service and painfully long waiting for baggage. I flew LH from FRA a day before the cruise started, and did a day in Rome.. Spent the night at the Hilton Rome Airport, you can walk from the airport into the Hotel. The Hilton also offers a FREE shuttle into downtown Rome and back. This is a full size bus and runs on a set schedule.

I did book the transfer with Princess from Rome Airport to Civitavecchia about a 90 min ride. You could find cheaper 3rd party transfers but I found using Princess is worry free, and worth the extra few bucks.

As a 2nd time cruiser with Princess I’m a Gold member, but this doesn’t give you priority check in or boarding. This comes with the next 2 levels with Princess Platinum and Elite. The main perks of gold are, an invitation to the Captains Circle party on board. This is a couple hour party that provides finger foods and an open bar. You also get to chat with the captain. The other big perk is better pricing on your cruise price.

After 5 cruises or 50 cruise days you become Platinum, As a Platinum member, when you purchase Princess Vacation Protection at the standard rate, Princess will purchase an upgrade to Princess Platinum Vacation Protection automatically on your behalf. When you arrive at the port, don’t wait in line. If you are a Platinum member, you and your family or guests will be invited to use the Preferred Check-In desk to help expedite your embarkation. Platinum members to use the Platinum Members Lounge, offering light refreshments and peace while you await disembarkation. Each Platinum Member will receive a credit towards the purchase of a package in our Internet Cafés or on a personal laptop.

After 15 Cruises or 150 cruise days, one will become Elite with many more perks like Priority Tender Embarkation, Shoe polishing service, free laundry and dry cleaning. You also get some nice cabin amenities, Your stateroom will receive one mini bar set up according to your personal preferences. If no preferences have been indicated in your Member Profile, the standard selection will be given. Drinks will be refilled upon request and you will only be charged for the additionally requested drinks consumed. Elites also get a 10% discount from the onboard stores and free wine tasting.

I really enjoy Princess because they are not too formal, but they are not party ships. The food onboard is very good. I do like the anytime dining, so you are not stuck with the same people and can eat at anytime you like. I also did a tour of one of main galley, really clean. It is also cool to note that they bake everything on board, like bread rolls and cookies!  Some nights I got a table for 2 and other night I was sat with a random group. You can eat all day nonstop. I’m cheap so I only got alcohol when it was free, at the art auctions and the captains circle party for example. I did by the coke drink pass for $58.00 for a 12 day cruise it was unlimited soft drinks. If you can drink tap water and Iced tea for 12 days then there is no need for the pass.

My ports of call were a nice mix of locations, and really the best way to see these places really quick. It was Rome to Naples, at sea, Athens, then to Ephesus in Turkey, the next day in Istanbul, followed by Mykonos, a day a sea heading toward Port Said for Cairo, the last stop was Alexandria Egypt then back to back days at sea were nice to end back in Rome.

I hate tours, but I did book a few with Princess, did a 4X4 Safari outside Cairo hitting a bunch of pyramids. This was a long all day tour the bus ride from Port Said to Cairo was around 2.5 hours each way. I do have to say that the Princess tours are well run and I have always had an open seat next to me on the bus. It looks like they do not book the busses full. The tours also were followed by an armed gard on each bus, and cars in the convoy.

The ship was large, The Grand Princess was the Worlds largest passenger ship from 1997-1999, 3,100 maximum passengers with a crew of 1,100. For an older ship it was in really good shape. The days at sea you could see them painting, and doing work on the ship. At night there is plenty to do with shows happing all over the ship, the Princess Theater is a very large for movies, shows and comedians. The open decks are also large with 4 pools, and area for only adults, a kids area, and games like golf, basketball and shuffleboard. You can also Win (or lose) money in the casino.

You can also book your next cruise onboard, there is an office were you can put down $100.00 per person refundable deposit for any cruise with in the next 4 years. Once you pick a cruise then or within the 4 years the $100.00 is the only deposit you need, and you will get onboard booking pricing and on board credits up to $300.00 each. I knew what cruise I wanted to do next so I was able to book on board put down $100.00 and have a cabin picked out.

The other big perk to Princess is once you book, you can keep calling back to see if there is a promotion or the price dropped. I saved around $1000.00 on this cruise due to a 2 for 1 promotion. When I booked it back in May of 2008 the price was $1600.00 each, after the 2 for 1 it was around $900.00 each (2 for 1 required booking a higher class cabin but was worth it).

I’m no cruise expert, but I’m getting there. If you have questions or comments post them below.