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Where no kettle is provided, I pack a Thermos flask. Fill it up with hot water at the cafe or buffet. A good quality flask keeps it hot for up to 8-10 hours.

I had a kettle on the Diamond around Japan, have been on many royal caribbean both in and out of australia and also mediterranean and no kettles on any of those, maybe royal have changed though last cruise with them was only this last April to Singapore from Sydney on the Rhapsody.

I had a kettle with mugs on a Royal Caribbean cruise last year. Roundtrip sailing out of Southampton (UK) to the Mediterranean.

 

We had to line up in the hot sun for over an hour just to drop off suitcases! The line was down the road and around the corner.

 

Melbourne is challenged because of the pier rather than a normal wharf but I could see it could have been done better. There were many elderly people who would have struggled in over 30 degrees for over an hour. Then there was another 30 minutes to get on the ship.

 

Just to clarify... the long queue was for the bag drop-off? If I carry my bags onto the ship by myself, would I be able to skip this queue? Or is this the queue to enter the terminal for check-in?

Following this thread. I love cereal! But I've never cruised on Princess so I can't help the OP.

On my Royal Caribbean cruise, we had about 6-8 different cereals in the buffet. A fairly wide selection including muesli, sugary type for kids, and things like weetbix. They were all American brands that we don't have here, so it was fun to try a different one each morning. They also had dried fruit and nuts that made for great toppings.

Even if menus are repeated, just pick something different than the first time! As long as they aren't repeated more than 2-3 times

However all trams within the city centre are now free and you only need to pay with a myki when you go beyond that area.

The cruise terminal in Port Melbourne is outside the free tram zone. You will need to pay (validate your myki by "touching on") if you're boarding the tram at the cruise terminal.

I lived in the US for 3 years as a child. When we first moved back here, I missed American junk breakfast cereals the most. It's been many years, but I remember snacking on Lucky Charms, Capt'n Crunch and Frosted Flakes all the time. They just don't exist here. But last year, I went on my first Royal Caribbean cruise, and I found a small selection of American cereal at the breakfast buffet. It was a happy little reunion with my long-lost Frosted Flakes! :)

Another junk food that just doesn't exist here is s'mores. In fact, we don't have graham crackers here. We do have marshmallows but they are different. They have a weird powdery coating and are usually vanilla or fruit flavoured. I miss the plain white American ones. We also don't have marshmallow fluff/cream.

Wow, I could go on and on about this! I hope this helps the OP.

I was on a Mediterranean cruise last year, and there was an extra charge for lobster in the MDR. Not complimentary

My final thoughts about shore excursions:

If you've read through my port reviews, you can probably tell that I am very happy with the overall quality of RCI's shore excursions. Sure, they are mostly overpriced and group tours always follow a rigid itinerary. But they were well organized and professional. On the 7 excursions we took, we had 7 great tour guides, 7 clean coach buses, and 7 on-time departures & arrivals. In other words, we had no major complaints about the services provided by the local tour operators or RCI.

That being said, the initial reason why we took the ship's excursions was because this was our first time cruising and we were nervous about arranging our own tours. Now that we are more experienced, we are looking at some DIY touring on our next cruise. Maybe we'll do a mixture of ship and own tours depending on the ports. For destinations like Rome, where the port is 90 minutes away, I personally would not risk getting delayed by or lost on public transport. However, for ports like Gibraltar where there are things to do within walking distance, I would feel more confident in self-touring.

I was in Nice last summer, and we were also docked at Villefranche. We took a Royal Caribbean shore excursion. I understand that you're making your own plans, but I've reviewed the places we visited here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=46540572&postcount=19

Lisbon

This was our 7th and final port on this cruise. It was our only port in Portugal and in fact, it is actually not in the Mediterranean. It is on the Atlantic coast.

As we sailed in and out of Lisbon, our ship went under the April 25 Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril). This is a red suspension bridge that looks just like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. We arrived early in the morning so we were still in bed when we sailed into Lisbon. But during sail away in the evening, we were up on the pool deck and had fun looking up at the huge bridge structure as we went under it!

We took the City of Lisbon (LS02) excursion. Similar to Rome and Florence, one day just isn't enough to see everything in Lisbon. It was also crowded with lots of tourists everywhere. But again, the tour was great at taking us around to the major sights. We had a drive around the city, and then guided walks of the Alfama and Belem areas.

Alfama is like the old town area of Lisbon. Lots of architecture and history. Quaint alleys, old buildings, ruins, cathedral, souvenir shops, cafes, etc... We had walking tour with our guide here.

Belem is located along the waterfront. This area is also very historical, and pays tribute to the Portuguese world explorers. We visited the Jeronimos Monastery. There were long queues, but our guide already had our tickets so we walked right in! Beautiful architecture and there were displays explaining the history of Portuguese exploration and colonization in the world. We then went over to the waterfront where the Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries are. This was a nice park area overlooking the water with touristy souvenir shops and cafes. We could see our cruise ship and the bridge from here too. We were given free time to walk around, check out the historical monuments and statues, and buy souvenirs.

And then, for the very last time, it was back on the bus to return to our ship. But the cruise isn't over yet, we still had 2 more sea days, which I will write about next.

I cruised in the western Mediterranean last year. I was in London pre-cruise, and bought a local prepaid SIM there. The roaming charges in the rest of Europe were really cheap compared to what my Australia network was charging. It was something like 10p per MB!

I did a western Mediterranean cruise last year. We did RC's shore excursions for all the ports. I'm currently writing up my reviews. I hope it helps! :)

Malaga: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=46504406&postcount=14

Villefranche: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=46540572&postcount=19

Gibraltar: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=46667827&postcount=23

Gibraltar

After 4 busy port days, we had a relaxing sea day on the warm, sunny Mediterranean Sea. The following day, we had a late morning arrival into Gibraltar. When we sat down for breakfast in the MDR, the ecstatic vibe amongst our table mates was unmistakable. It was obvious that this was no ordinary port that we were visiting today! Gibraltar is a UK territory. A little bit of Britain in the Mediterranean. A slice of home for the majority of our fellow passengers on this oh-so-very-long voyage. ;) Well, we let ourselves get caught up in the excitement and anticipation too! As soon as our breakfast plates were cleared, we headed up to the open deck to admire the landmark Rock of Gibraltar as it grew nearer and nearer to us. As we docked alongside the berth, there was cheering across the deck. :D

We took the Panoramic Gibraltar & Tea (GI10) shore excursion. First, we were taken on a drive around town. We saw the single airport runway which also doubles up as a car highway. Driving past the Spanish border, we got a glimpse of the fascinating traffic crossing in and out of Spain. We then headed towards Europa Point, our first stop. Our driver, who was also our tour guide, continued to point out significant landmarks along the way.

Europa Point is a lookout at the tip of the peninsula. From there, we could see the northern coast of Africa. The lookout is a well-built park area with walking paths, children's playground, public restrooms, and there was even a Cadbury Flake ice cream truck!

We got back onto the bus, and our guide took us on a fun, winding drive through some of the Rock's dark tunneled roads. Shortly after, we arrived at a hotel for our afternoon tea. This part of the tour was a huge disappointment, and not worth the experience at all. The food was alright, neither bad nor good. But the service was just downright terrible! We were completely ignored by our waitress. We had to keep asking her to refill our tea cups, to get us cutlery, etc...

After tea, we drove back down to the city. We passed by the main shopping area, also known as "the high street" in British English. For those who were interested, we were given the option to alight here and return to the ship on our own. Otherwise, the bus took us back to the port when the tour was over.

In conclusion, Gibraltar was definitely an interesting and different experience from the other Mediterranean ports on this cruise. However, I do not recommend this particular shore excursion with the disappointing afternoon tea. If I were to visit again, I would choose a different excursion that spends more time exploring the Rock. Alternatively, a lot of other people on our cruise just took a walk around the high street shopping area, which is walking distance from the port. There is also a cable car that goes up the Rock.

I sailed out of Southampton last year. We were first timers in the general boarding line, and we pretty much just walked up to the ship too. It was after 12pm, so lines were very short.

I think most of the "problems" are on cruises that sail round trip from China. Majority of the passengers are from China, and many things on board are adapted to suit their tastes and interests. Even though it is a Royal Caribbean cruise, the experience will be completely different from a cruise sailing out of a US port. The biggest difference will be that the main language on board is Mandarin. There might be a lack of activities and entertainment in English. And if you like meeting new people on a cruise, it will be hard to make friends when there is language barrier.

In my opinion, you shouldn't allow a few negative reviews to change your mind that easily. If you're still interested in traveling to Asia, go with an open mind and the understanding that things are different overseas.

the only time you will see tea is on sailings out of Great Britain. otherwise at best you can find snacks in Windjammer or Promenade/Park Cafe.

I sailed out of Southampton (UK) last summer. There was no proper sit down afternoon tea. But there were scones with clotted cream and jam in the Windjammer buffet in the afternoon. There were also sandwiches, cakes, etc... so I guess one could assemble their own tea at their table!

Livorno

After our big day out in Rome, it was another busy day in Florence! We took the A Taste of Florence (LV06) excursion. In comparison to our Rome tour, this was a little more laid back. :)

Our guide walked us through the streets of Florence, while explaining the history of the city. She was also wonderful at pointing out smaller, lesser-known but equally important historical monuments as we strolled past them.

Our first stop was the Piazza del Duomo. The star attraction here was the beautiful exterior of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. Magnificent colors and so much architectural detail to gaze at. In its shadow are the adjacent baptistery, bell tower, and a museum on the same square. Like in Rome, there were large crowds of tourists everywhere and our tour unfortunately didn't allow us time to enter the basilica or the other attractions.

We then visited the Piazza della Signoria. This is a big square where the famous replica of Michelangelo's David sculpture is located in front of the Palazzo Vecchio gallery. We were given a few hours of free time here to self-explore the surrounding sculptures and architecture, museums, shops, and cafes. We took a stroll through the alleys and side streets around the square, wandering into local leather and gold shops, and designer boutiques.

On the drive back to the ship, there was a stop at a leather factory outlet store. However, there was absolutely no pressure at all from the guide or the store assistants to purchase anything. In fact, we were allowed to stay on the bus if we wished, and it was a quick approximately 20 minutes stop.

Civitavecchia

We did the Discover Renaissance Rome (CV11) excursion. There is just too much to see in Rome within a day and this tour covered a number of the top attractions. The drive from the port was about 90 minutes, with a restroom stop at a fuel station along the way.

Our walking tour of Rome took us to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Navona Square. Then we crossed over to the Vatican to see St Peter's Square. At each attraction, we were given about 20 minutes to self-explore, as well as one hour at Navona Square for lunch.

It was peak tourist season in August, so there were huge crowds everywhere. Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and Navona Square are outdoor attractions and there were just so many people all over the place. It was hard taking photos without a mob of tourists in the background. :eek: The lines to enter the Pantheon and St Peter's Basilica were long, but they did move very quickly. At first we hesitated to join the lines, as we weren't sure if we had enough time. Our tour guide assured as that we would, and we did! And we still had time to pick up a coffee, gelato and souvenirs before moving on to the next stop. :)

My favorites on this excursion were Navona Square and St Peter's Square. Navona Square was exactly how I imagined Italy to be like. Beautiful fountains, old buildings, al fresco cafes, and the laid back atmosphere.

I actually looked forward to going to St Peter's in the Vatican, because I've always seen it on the news and wanted to finally say I've been there. :D The basilica was so beautiful inside, and was worth the line to get in. But it was really packed with tourists and we were sort of herded in and out.

Overall, Rome was great with lots to see and so much history. I would love to return and explore more. I recommend anyone who has a cruise sailing out of Civitavecchia to spend a few days in Rome before or after their cruise.

Villefranche

After Malaga, we had another sea day before arriving at Villefranche. This was a tender port, the only one on our itinerary. After meeting up with our tour group for the day, we exited the ship and had priority boarding for our tender boat. I guess this is the big advantage of taking a shore excursion at a tender port; not having to wait in long lines for the tender. As our boat approached shore, we were surrounded by million dollar views. The blue, sparkling water of the Mediterranean sea. Rolling, green hills dotted with luxury homes. Clear, sunny skies above us. Ahhh....

There is not much to see or do in the little town of Villefranche itself. We took the Introduction to Nice (VF14) excursion. From the port, it was a short drive along the scenic coast to Nice. We started in the old town, where our guide walked us through the Place Massena, Cours Saleya, and the flower market. In comparison to Malaga's old town, Nice was a lot more lively and commercial. Restaurants, cafes, and bars lined the cobbled stone laneways. Old fashioned specialty stores mixed in with high end boutique stores. The flower market was a bustling open air space with lots of fresh produce, flower displays, cheeses, pastries, local artwork, etc...

We were then given a few hours of free time to explore the rest of Nice on our own. First, we went up to the Parc du Chateau. It's a lovely park on a hill above the old town. From the top, we had spectacular views of the sea and the city. The park grounds were well maintained with lots of green space and shady trees. Perfect for getting away from the hustle of the old town. I would suggest grabbing some pastries or a sandwich from a bakery in town, and having a picnic on the grass or a park bench.

Next stop was the Promenade des Anglais, the main street lining the Mediterranean Sea coast and the beach. We had lunch at a restaurant and ordered Nicoise salad, fresh local seafood, and Crepe Suzette. Great food and reasonably priced, but unfortunately I can't remember the name of the place! :o We then walked all the way to the famous Hotel Negresco, and had a peek at the inside of the lobby before we had to return to our coach.

I did a Western Med cruise last summer, including Florence/Pisa (Livorno) and Rome (Civitavecchia).

Check out the review I'm currently writing: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2194638

George, my overall rating for the shore excursions is 8/10. They were run by local tour companies in each port. All the tour guides spoke excellent English, and gave great commentaries on each attraction that we visited. The coaches were clean and air conditioned. I'll give more highlights on each port as I review them.

What do you mean by worse excursions? In my opinion, that would be ports that are easy to DIY. Genoa and Gibraltar have lots to see within walking distance from the port. If I were to visit them again, I would not take an excursion and I'll just walk around town on my own.

Thanks for following, cincicruisers!

I wanted to add that Malaga is a very memorable port for me. It was my first ever cruise port, first time in Spain, and first Mediterranean destination! :) I would recommend this RCI shore excursion, Malaga City Tour.

I wish I had photos to post with my review. I actually have a lot of photos, but my family is in most of them and I'm not comfortable with posting those on a public forum. Next cruise, I'll make sure to take more photos without people in them. ;)

Malaga

After 2 sea days, we made it to our very first port! As I said in the previous post, we took the ship's shore excursions for all the ports. We pre-booked them before the cruise, and all the tickets were delivered to our cabin on embarkation day. The meeting place and times for the excursions was listed on each ticket.

On the day, we went to the theater to meet up with our excursion group. This was the same meeting point for all shore excursions in every port. We were escorted off the ship and onto the waiting coach buses outside the port terminal.

Malaga was our only port in Spain, and we took the Malaga City Tour (MG05). The beach was right there as we exited the terminal, within walking distance. But that was not our destination for the day, and we boarded our coach instead. Our first stop was Gibralfaro, on the hills above the city. On the drive up, we passed by beautiful houses overlooking the beach and the sea. At the top, we stopped at a lookout to stretch our legs, inhale the mountain air, and enjoy views of the city and sea.

Going back down, we headed towards the city. Our guide took us on a walking tour of the historical old city, and gave a wonderful commentary on its complicated history. Highlights included Pablo Picasso's statue (born in Malaga!), views of the Alcazaba fortress, the Cathedral, and the "new town" shopping street.

The Cathedral was my favorite part of the day. I've visited many churches around Europe, and this is one of the most magnificent and beautiful ones.

We were given some free time to further explore the town on our own. Then it was back on the bus for the return journey to the ship.