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We sailed on the Royal earlier this year with our son in a wheelchair. We never waited more than 5 minutes for an elevator. Most people would see us with the wheelchair and offer for us to get in before them. Of course, there are always the few that run to the elevator as soon as the door opens even if others have been waiting longer than them!

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I'm enjoying your review, thanks for posting it!

Brochure Cover

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Mercouri Family Winery Info

We stopped in Katakolon last summer and decided that we did not want to go to Olympia. There is a "Tourist Train" or hop-on-hop-off tram that rides on the road for 6€. It really only has 2 stops, St. Andreas Beach and Mercouri Estate Family Winery. Trams come every 30 minutes or so. The beach has 2 sections; a public beach and a resort beach. Both sides have beautiful water and have some large natural rocks. They both have sun loungers that you can use for free, you may need to order a drink. We got to the beach about 11:00am and all the loungers were taken. We met a couple who got there at 9:30am and got 2 prime loungers right on the water. We only stayed at the beach about 30 since we did not have a seat, but everyone there seemed to be having a good time. The winery was very nice and they will give you a tasting of as many of their wines as you want. They have several for only 7€ a bottle. They also have house made olive oil that was only 3 or 4€ a bottle and it is great! In addition to the tram tour, and the 2 stops, we walked around the town and had a drink and snack at one of the water-front cafes. It was a really nice relaxing day! I will try to post some pages of the Tourist Train Brochure, it has been a while since I posted any photos on CC.

I have always thought the eucalyptus shampoo and conditioner in the bottles were fine. I read a lot of posts on CC of people complaining about the shampoo and shower gel in the dispensers. I thought, "some people complain about anything!" However, I recently sailed on the royal with the new dispensers and I agree with those who complained about the shampoo. My hair was hard to comb after I washed it and felt extra course and frizzy. Not a huge problem, next time I will bring my own!

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I am the OP and I just got off the Royal and Godwin was not aboard. Last I hear he was on the Sun in Japan, but that was about 4 months ago.

If you plan your wedding at a port of call I suggest that you get private trip insurance to cover the amount of the wedding in addition to cost of your cruise. A few years ago we planned a vow renewal in Venice before our cruise. First our plane was delayed 12 hours and then we did not have luggage for another 24 hours. The wedding planning company was nice enough to move the ceremony to our last day in Venice, the day we embarked on our cruise. Unfortunately my husband passed out that morning and dislocated his big toe. We spent all day in the hospital and barely made our cruise. (Once the orthopedist put his toe back in place he was fine except for a little pain.)

I apologize for the ramble, but we had prepaid over $6000 to the wedding planner and they would not refund one penny! Luckily my trip insurance covered the entire amount! While this will not help with your disappoint over a change of plans it can prevent a big loss of dollars.

Thanks for posting your blog; great photos! I don't want to sound like a creeper, but I also have 3 sisters: Patty, Jeanie and Janet! Also, I'm guessing by your username that you are a nurse, so am I!

I'm glad that you are still writing your review! I have really been enjoying reading it! I am envious of your 5 week holiday! We are really lucky if we get 2 weeks of vacation!

Ccrain, thank you so much for your review! It brought back so many memories of our 2 Mediteranian cruises on the Ruby! I especially enjoyed your last post with your summary of the special memories of your cruise. Well said!

Thank you so much for your report VirtualRain! I used your DIY reports extensively on my Greek Island cruise in July. We even rented a car in Corfu (a first for us), and followed your day almost exactly! I was so excited to see your report on St. Martin! Are you writing a report on St. Thomas too?

Congratulations on your wedding and thanks for the review of your experience!

Thank you for your comprehensive and interesting review. I loved your photos! If Princess was smart, they would offer to purchase some of your photos for their website and brochures! I also appreciate that you took the time to label your photos! This answered so many questions I had from reading other reviews. :)

Thanks for your replies. Princess posted a photo of an atrium decorated on Facebook today and it looked beautiful. I will have to plan a Christmas cruise for next year, as I will just miss seeing the decorations this time!

Sorry about typo, does anyone know how long Princess keeps their Christmas decorations up?

Does anyone know how long Princess keeps up? I will be on the Royal 1/5.

Thank you for your review! We will be sailing on the Royal in January with our son who is in a wheelchair. I was curious if you have any info on going ashore in a wheelchair? We will be going to Princess Cays, St. Martin and St. Thomas. Were you able to tender in Princess Cays with your wheelchair?

We were in Venice for several days in the beginning of August. Our small hotel recommended Mascareta. (Enoiteca Mascareta wine bar) The hotel made a reservation and the food, wine and service were all outstanding. The price was reasonable, about 90euros for 2 appetizers, 2 dinners, 6 gasses of wine, 1 desert and 1 coffee. We basicallyvlet our waiter order for us. No charge for service or bread. My DH and I probably have 1-2 drinks a month, so we had fun stumbling through the dark alleyways of Venice trying to find our hotel! The next night we went to a different restaurant where our hotel made a reservation. We were not pleased by the lack of welcome by the staff, and the prices were high, so we left and returned to Mascareta. The restaurant was full, so we dined in the bar area and our experience was equally as good! If you go, try the black mussels, one of he best things I have ever eaten! The tiramisu is also excellent. Mascareta address: Calle Lunga S. Maria Formosa, 5183 30122 Venezia

My family loves the food at the Pub Lunch. We especially like the fish and chips and the shrimp and chips. The bread pudding they serve for dessert is awesome too.

Some lunch photos

Greek tzatziki

Greek Salad

Grilled Salmon with Pesto

Fruit Plate

Chocolate Cake with Ice Cream

I will try to add some photos!

View of Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa in Mykonos from reception

Infinity pool Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa in Mykonos

Infinity pool Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa in Mykonos

Infinity pool Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa in Mykonos

We spent the day at St. John's resort 2 weeks ago! We paid 140€ for the 2 of us. If you have the money and are looking for a relaxing day, good service, great food and no crowds, then it is a fantastic deal!!

We were picked up at the new port at our agreed upon time. The driver was in a shuttle bus near the fence. We were greeted at the reception desk by name with a glass of champagne and our day pass. We were then driven down to the restaurant/pool area. We then went and had breakfast on the veranda. It was a buffet and one of the nicest I have seen. They served us cappuccinos at our table. There was a self serve table with more champagne, white wine and some kind of Greek liquor.

After breakfast we went down to the beach for a while. It was small, but very clean and uncrowded. We had chairs with umbrellas (included). The pool was gorgeous and very clean! It was also uncrowded. At the pool we lounged on swinging lounge beds under a canopy.

Around 11:00am they started with bar service at the pool. The staff seemed very attentive. The lunch was huge and delicious. We had ordered meal 1 and 2.

Day pass - menu 1

Greek tzatziki

Fried calamari with spicy tomato dip

Greek salad

Pasta with pesto or napolitain or Chicken souvlaki (brochette) with a light lemon sauce.

Fruit salad or ice cream

1 soft drink or 1 beer and ½ bottle of miner water

Day pass - menu 2

Fried graviera cheese saganaki in olive oil

Caesar’s Salad with chicken stripes, parmesan cheese, bacon and croutons

Grilled salmon filet with pesto and grilled vegetable or Large homemade hamburger with tomato, lettuce, onions, and French fries (plus bacon or cheese)

Chocolate cake with ice cream

1 soft drink or 1 beer and ½ bottle of miner water

I was worried that because it was a "special menu" for day passes that it might be small or subpar. Wrong! The portions were huge and everything was delicious! We lounged by the pool more after lunch. We then walked up to reception (they will drive you if you call, but I wanted to check out the rest of the resort) and had the shuttle drop us off at town.

A fantastic day!! I will try to attach some photos, I have not done that before.

Thank you so much now the doges palace once your inside is it marked on where to go? I know its big so were wondering if we can walk through it on our own or will we get lost?

 

I dont k ow if they have signs on where to go etc . Other than using a tour guide

You can prebook your ticket to Doges Palace online. €16,50 or €8,50 for over 65. This allows you to skip any lines. They give you a nice booklet with a self-guided tour. Or you can take the Secret Itineraries Tour, which can also be booked online. €20 or €14 over 65. I have not done the tour yet, but posters on this board speak highly of it, and I am doing it in 3 weeks. Here is the official website to buy tickets. (you print voucher at home and bring it with you) http://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/en/pianifica-la-tua-visita/tickets/

You can also reserve a time to enter St. Marks without waiting in line. It is free to enter, but the service charge is €1,50. This is the official site of St. Mark's Basilica. http://www.basilicasanmarco.it/WAI/eng/index.bsm

I emailed the resort this morning to ask if I could still get the €30 package and she promptly responded that it is no longer available. Now I have to decide if it is worth €70!