Connoisseur cruises - Greek Isles or Western Mediterranean?

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I am looking at

- Greek Isles Connoisseur

- Western Mediterranean & Adriatic Connoisseur

 

What is Connoisseur? Is there a difference from a regular cruise?

 

Are these cruises better in Oct or Nov?

[fishywood]

These are cruises on Pacific Princess that due to her small size can call at ports the rest of the Princess fleet cannot such as Sibenik, Catania, Myteline, and Rijeka. Plus either ending or starting in Venice where the moratorium on mega ships continues ad infinitum.

 

As for when to sail, by October the summer heat is gone. The Western Med is not as much a year-round destination as the Eastern is; some tour operators may be shut for the winter by November. When we were booked to embark in Venice in November 2011 the ship had been diverted to Trieste as Venice was fogged in. When we finally sailed away a day late it was -1C and sleeting.

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Thanks.

[flamomo]

These are cruises on Pacific Princess that due to her small size can call at ports the rest of the Princess fleet cannot such as Sibenik, Catania, Myteline, and Rijeka. Plus either ending or starting in Venice where the moratorium on mega ships continues ad infinitum.

 

As for when to sail, by October the summer heat is gone. The Western Med is not as much a year-round destination as the Eastern is; some tour operators may be shut for the winter by November. When we were booked to embark in Venice in November 2011 the ship had been diverted to Trieste as Venice was fogged in. When we finally sailed away a day late it was -1C and sleeting.

 

Was on the Pacific recently, having boarded her in Dover on September 25th .... disembarked on October 18th in Venice. The ship was scheduled to overnight in Venice on the 17th, but when we got there, the port was closed due to heavy fog. We ended up sitting at anchor outside the harbor, starting about 5AM, until about 3PM before it was finally opened and we were able to get to our berth. As a result we weren't able to disembark to go into Venice to wander about a bit until nearly 5PM. So much for having the whole day to tour the city before departing the ship and flying home the following day!!

 

If OP hasn't cruised on the Pacific Princess previously .... you're in for a real treat! (JMHO, of course!)

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I have been on Pacific's sister ship the Ocean Princess 2x, and really enjoyed the experience of a smaller ship.