Off Duty Traveler

I’ve never considered myself a cruise person, but when Princess Cruises hired me, Carmine Media in my business life, to provide women’s leadership training and book discussions on my Leadership Linguistics book in exchange for a cruise, I figured, why not?

After a year working with their women’s program, I chose the 10-day Mediterranean cruise to the Greek Islands with Turkey, Malta, and Italy on the Majestic Princess as my destination. What follows is my review of that cruise and the excursions.

Athens, Greece

As with all cruises, it’s a good idea to fly into your port a day early just in case something happens with your flight. You do not want a flight delay that causes you to miss your embarkation. We flew into Athens, Greece a day ahead of our departure and spent the day touring Athens with a local guide from Hellenic Private Tours. Our guide met us at the hotel and drove us around Athens, taking us to hotspots including the Acropolis and Parthenon, the Plaka, the President’s Palace to see the changing of the guard, and more. Our guide was accommodating and helpful, and the tour was an excellent use of our time in the city. If you follow my blog, you know I’ve been to Greece and Athens before on an EF Tour, so many of these sites were repeats for me, but honestly, it didn’t matter. It was exciting to see them from a different perspective.

If you have limited time, I highly recommend hiring a guide to make the most out of your stay in the port city before leaving for your cruise. There were lots of options, including a hop-on on hop-off bus and more, but I am glad we chose a local guide to give us a personalized experience. In addition to being a great guide, he offered us valuable tips on using Uber and the local taxi service in the city, which allowed us to explore on our own comfortably.

Athens, Greece Cruise Departure

All aboard time for our Princess Cruise was 6pm. As our hotel was located in Piraeus, the Port of Athens, we had more time on the day of our embarkation to explore the port, the marina, and the shopping district. I picked out a yacht for us and ended up buying a floppy sunhat in the Plaka, which quickly became my entire personality.

Rather than dragging our luggage, we opted for a taxi for the short ride to the port. As soon as we arrived at the cruise line, a lovely young man named Anthony came out to greet us and immediately gathered up our luggage and directed us to the check-in point. Because we had completed much of the check-in using their app (more on that later), the process was seamless. We obtained our Princess Medallions and off we went to find our stateroom.

Tip: Complete as much of the check-in process as you can ahead of time, either on the Princess App or their website. Keep your medallion with you at all times, as this is your ticket to leave and reboard the ship, as well as your room key, your drink payment system, and your identification should you need it.

The Majestic Princess

We were impressed with the Majestic Princess and loved our stateroom, which included a balcony, allowing us to watch the ship pull in and leave each port without leaving our room. The well-appointed ship has everything you need for a beautiful summer vacation, including two saltwater pools, a huge movie screen, a theatre, a casino, multiple bars, live music, and great food. My hat made multiple appearances.

Delos and Mykonos, Greece

After a good night’s sleep in our lovely stateroom, we awoke to our first port, the Greek islands of Delos and Mykonos. The cruise line offers multiple excursions for each stop, so if you want a guided tour along with transportation to and from the ship, choosing an excursion is the way to go. I chose the Best of Delos and Mykonos, which begins by boarding a ferry to the island of Delos, the ancient birthplace of Apollo.

Tips: Bring water! The tour is around 2 hours, including the ferry ride, and I made the rookie mistake of leaving the ship without water, so we ended up begging the ferry crew. We weren’t the only ones, thankfully.

After completing your tour of Delos, you will board the ferry once again and head to Mykonos for a walking tour of the picturesque town. Pulling into that port is spectacular! Take note that the guided tour moves fast, and you are unable to look around much, as there is very little free time. Our guide was hard to understand over the audio set, and we ended up feeling like we needed more time.

We decided to go back to Mykonos on our own. After our tour returned us to the ship, we turned around and boarded the ferry again, which is located right at the port and very affordable. Even with this spontaneous jaunt, we still had time to enjoy our evening on the ship upon our return. Yes, that’s Mama Mia playing on the big screen. There’s a different movie at the pool each evening, allowing us to grab drinks and relax either in the pool or in a lounge chair after our day of exploring.

Note the hat has made another appearance.

Kusadasi and Ephesus, Turkey

After enjoying another evening on the ship, we set sail for the port of Kusadasi and Ephesus, Turkey. Although Turkey is not a member of the EU, it does have a deal with the cruise line to allow passengers to enter without going through customs. The cruise line will leave important papers in your stateroom the night before, and you must bring those with you if you are disembarking for a tour. We chose a tour that took us to

• Ephesus
• House of the Virgin Mary
• Basilica of St. John
• Turkish Rug Weaving Demonstration in Kusadasi

This region is an important part of history, as Saint Paul preached in the Great Theatre of Ephesus, and it is home to some of Christendom’s holiest sites. The ancient library of Ephesus is well preserved and a spectacular site among the ruins. Our guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and available for questions. We toured the entire site, and our tickets allowed entrance to the terraced apartments, preserved currently under an elaborate tent structure. The tour ended with a lovely outdoor lunch at the foot of the walkway once used by Anthony and Cleopatra. My partner and I walked hand in hand on that same route as we made our way to our lunch, which was situated looking back into the agora and the ancient theatre.

From there, you’ll be transported to the port of Kusadasi for a rug weaving demonstration and time on your own to explore the lively shops before heading back to the ship, within walking distance, for another evening of drinks by the pool and live music to entertain us.

Tips: Wear good walking shoes and be prepared to traverse uneven terrain and slippery marble stones. Wear sunscreen and bring water. My hat made another appearance and I was thankful I bought it. Also, Turkish shop owners are very assertive about getting you to enter their shop. Once inside, know that they will dicker on price. Be prepared for battle as they put up a good fight!

Rhodes, Greece

Did I mention how thankful I am that Princess gave us a room with a balcony? Pulling into each of these ports is spectacular. Rhodes’ port does not disappoint, as the city is surrounded by ancient and well-preserved walls built in the first few centuries AD. The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the wonders of the ancient world, is no longer there, but you can imagine it as you approach.

Our excursion began with a stop at Kallithea Springs, a beautiful seaside spot once known for its thermal baths and still a popular film location. From there, we headed to the medieval Old Town, where you’ll notice the Turkish influence everywhere. Of course, we had to stop at the oldest Turkish Coffee shop in Europe, situated in a historic 14th-century building and run by the same family for the past 200 years. This excursion offered plenty of time on our own to explore, and we took advantage of it!

Tips: As with all the excursions, wear good walking shoes and sunscreen, bring water and a snack if you need to eat before late afternoon, as many of these tours will continue until approximately 2pm, and some do not include a meal.

Crete, Greece

While we slept, our ship made its way to Crete. Crete is the largest and most populated of the Greek islands. If you follow my blog, you right remember our EF Tour Guide from Greece and Italy – Georgia. She lives on Crete (lucky duck.) We scheduled two excursions in Crete, starting with a tour of the Old Venetian Harbor.

Old Venetian Harbor, Crete

The Old Venetian Harbor of Chania is a showcase of the rich Venetian history and architecture, with a beautifully restored harbor and narrow, winding streets. After a short walking tour of the area, we were let loose to explore on our own before returning to the ship around noon. Yes, my hat also toured the harbor.

Cabana Mare Beach Club, Crete

This is a summer beach vacation after all, so we had to visit at least one beach! After returning from our Venetian excursion, we headed out for an afternoon at the Cabana Mare Beach Club, where we settled into our privately booked cabana, ordered a cheese and cracker tray and drinks, and admired the view. The water is so clear you can see all the way to your feet even when in up to your chest. This was luxury. If your feet carried a little sand onto your cabana, no worries! The staff quickly came along and brushed it off with a broom. That water is so blue you won’t believe your eyes.

Olympia, Greece

Originally, our cruise itinerary included a stop in Santorini, which is one of the reasons I chose this particular cruise. With no communication, our schedule was changed, Santorini was removed, and replaced with Olympia. I’ll talk about communication issues toward the end of the blog, of which there were a few. We made the best of this and chose an excursion that allowed us to tour the ancient Olympic site and the museum. I had visited before, but my partner had not.

Our guide took us through the active archaeological site and explained the history, including its demise starting in 393 AD, followed by the order to destroy the temples, including the temple of Zeus, in 426 AD by the Emperor Theodosius II. By that time, pagan cults and the worship of Greek gods were outlawed. The Olympic games, which had occurred every four years as they do in modern times, were no more. The games would not be brought back until 1896, with the first modern games being held in, where else, Athens.

Here you’ll see images of the ancient stadium, the length of which we walked, the temple grounds, the site of the Olympic Torch lighting ceremony, and the site of the first modern games in Athens.

The Republic of Malta

Many are surprised to learn that Malta is not part of Greece or Italy; rather, it is a separate country located in the Mediterranean Sea between Sicily and North Africa. Because of Malta’s location, it was the hottest and most humid place we visited. We survived by drinking a local favorite, Kennie, a soda made from bitter oranges and herbs. If you like Aperol, this is the non-alcoholic soda version.

Our local guide took us through the Inquisitor’s Palace (yes, Malta had an inquisition similar to the Spanish Inquisition), and guided us around historic Mdina. Our tour included a stop for lunch where I ordered a Maltese pizza that was delicious. From there, we had the option of returning to the ship, but decided to brave the heat and explore Valletta, Europe’s southernmost city and a UNESCO World Heritage site. From our bus, we took the lift up and wandered. The city is gorgeous and filled with artistic and historical treasures. Note the unique balconies that have a storied history. Our guide noted they were originally there to accommodate women who, under Arabic rule, could not be seen outdoors or even inside a window. After some research, I found this article that confirms that history.

Believe me when I tell you I took TWO of the nicely chilled towels our cruise staff offered us as we returned. Yes, that’s a thing the cruise line does upon your return to the ship.

After heading to the pool to cool off, we spent a great deal of time watching our ship leave this magnificent port before heading out for another day at sea.

Naples, Italy – Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius

Our day at sea was spent watching us steam through the Strait of Messina, floating by an active volcano, and enjoying the pool and other onboard activities, including the live music, drinks, and food, while we headed to our final port, Naples.

Pompeii, Italy

Although both of us have visited Pompeii before, each time I go, it feels like a completely different experience. Archaeologists uncover more, learn more, and add more to the experience. If you’re new to Pompeii, the city lies at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, which erupted in AD 79, covering the ancient Roman city in ash, preserving it entirely to be uncovered centuries later. It’s a perfect example of a prosperous Roman city during antiquity and fascinating to explore.

Mount Vesuvius

We chose this particular excursion because it included a climb to the top of Mount Vesuvius, something my partner has dreamed of since childhood. As this was her 70th birthday, who am I to say no! So up we went. Our bus dropped us off at our starting point, allowing us to climb the final 500 meters on foot. That was much harder than it sounds. The path is loose stone and steep!

Tips: Wear hiking shoes and take advantage of the folks offering hiking sticks at the entrance. Bring water and snacks. The climb is well worth the effort, as you can look into the crater from the top. On the way down after boarding our bus, our wonderful guide led the group in a rousing version of Happy Birthday for my partner. We headed back to the ship to experience our final sunset on what was, overall, a magnificent trip. As the sun sank behind the horizon, the ship broke into applause, and I couldn’t help but shed a tear or two in disbelief at what I had experienced over the past days.

Princess Cruise to Greece, Turkey, Malta, and Italy: If You Go

If you take this cruise, it will be one of the trips of your lifetime. The cruise itself was organized, well-appointed, and spectacularly beautiful. The included food and drinks were excellent and I did not find it necessary to eat at any of the onboard restaurants, although there were lots of enticing options. I found the entertainment to be above average from other cruises I’ve been on, and there were enough options to keep any guest happy during our time at sea. We were well taken care of, and the service was outstanding.

Cautions and Final Thoughts

While the cruise itself was practically perfect, the experience leading up to the cruise had some waves. I’m in digital marketing, and I was disappointed that the Princess app is optimized to sell more stuff and point users to upgrades rather than to provide a helpful experience for guests traveling overseas. It’s very easy to get lost on both their website and the app, as there are dead ends and infinite loops. I’m tech-savvy; however, I found myself needing to call for help. My phone calls for help were met with some rudeness, and reps mainly advised me to go to the app.

Take enough time to review everything and plan your itinerary carefully. Don’t rely on the app for excursion meeting times, as we discovered inaccuracies that caused us to miss one of our departures and had to scurry to get on a different excursion. Use the tickets they provide you at the beginning of your trip for exact departure times.

Regarding communication, our Santorini port was cancelled with no apparent communication from the cruise line – I discovered it by accident when I was trying to figure out my excursions and noticed it was missing. When I called to enquire, I was told the port was no longer available by a very annoyed and rude customer service rep. No explanation, no advice on what to do with the money I had paid for that excursion, and no attempt to find out why I had not received the communication. After weeks of complaining about the lack of communication, I finally reached a customer service rep who discovered they had an incorrect email address in my account. As users cannot change their own account emails, they advised me that they would update it. I discovered weeks later, again by accident, that they had mistyped my address a second time. Another phone call, another promise to change the email. This went on multiple times before it was corrected, causing me to miss important notifications from the cruise line, such as the change to the itinerary, documents that were due, requests for passport information, and more.

Ultimately, remember that you are responsible for knowing what paperwork you need, when you need it. Don’t trust them to remind you, as email may not be reliable. I did receive their marketing emails to sell me more upgrades, though! They weirdly had that address correct.

All those inconveniences disappeared once our trip began. I can truly say once you are onboard, it’s smooth sailing!

If you would like to see all my photos of this magnificent journey, take a look at my Google Photo Album here, and follow me on Facebook and Instagram.