Notes from Enchanted Princess - Rome to Barcelona (aug 5 - 19 2023)

[Labanos]

Napels

A city with a unique atmosphere! The really ancient narrow streets and the, to some people, a what dirty look makes this city different.

 

With so many things to see around Napels ( Capri, Amalfi coast, Pompei, Vesuvius etc.) some people forget to see the city itself.

 

Discover the real Napolitan pizza style.It’s different then advertised in most places around the world. Even the delicious Princess pizzas are nice but not like the real Napolitanen ones. Visit Da Michelle, Sorbillo or Brandi where the margarita pizza was invented. Most open at 11 and lines form quickly. If you want to eat in the top pizza places you most likely will have to wait for 30-60 minutes.

 

Visit the Maradona memorial in the Spanish quarters and discover the real Napels for your self.

 

Spaccanapoli and the old streets around Via dei Tribunali in the center are nice to visit.

 

Metro station Municipio is so close to the cruise terminal it’s almost attached. Buy a day ticket for just 4,50 euro and save yourself some walking.

 

We did a Napels underground tour, Recommended! It requires some major stair walking so be prepared!

 

There are at least 2 Napels underground’s, Both tours seem to be excellent.

 

La Napoli Sotterranea near Piazza dei Plebiscito

https://www.getyourguide.nl/napels-l162/napels-rondleiding-door-de-spaanse-wijk-onder-de-grond-t424784/

 

Napoli Sotterranea in the center near Via dei Tribunali

https://www.getyourguide.nl/ondergronds-napels-l89414/napels-underground-ticket-t144159/

 

Toledo metro station has a nice ceiling

 

Galleria Umberto I is a must see

Edited August 13, 2023 by Labanos

[dickinson]

Thanks!  Looks like you are enjoying yourself.

[richla]

We'll be doing that same cruise in October, then staying in Barcelona a few days. We look forward to your posts.

[Labanos]

Enchanted Princess remarks

To be clear, we will book this wonderful ship again, but we have some positive and negative remarks.

 

Week 1 notes

• The outer deck layout is confusing and walking from the front to the back is sometimes difficult.
  • Deck 7 - the promenade idea is completely gone. No more walking around the ship
  • Deck 16 - the only space is around the pool. On the older ships with the separated pool areas you had more outside space to walk. 
  • Wake view. I find it a bit unlogical. I wish it was more like HAL’s Koningsdam. Spacy with enough room to sit
  • Deck 17 - the right side is blocked with the Beach House kids club and on the other side you have to walk through the fitness area to get to the back of the ship. Or to the front when coming from the wake view pool
  • Deck 17 - The area at the back is really nice and one of the top places, but it’s a smoking area….
  • Deck 18 - only stairs down at the starboard (right). The elevator in the middel at the back looks like a hidden door😀 and is a disabled elevator
  •  
• O’Malleys - is a hit, finally a pub onboard. Yeah yeah the wheelhouse bar was wonderful as well. 
•  
• O’Malleys - Nice additions on the beverage menu, Guinness beer and Irish cocktails for example. A good small eatery menu. And terrific live music every evening
•  
• Entertainment - across the different venues is great, a boatload of options. Performances are nicely planned after each other and across the evening
•  
• Casino - Sadly the casino bar is gone
•  
• Breakfast - There is no breakfast on segment days in the main dining room or the buffet. Yes you’ve read that right. Room service or international cafe to the rescue.
•  
• The Atrium - is nice, especially with the multi deck venues.
•  
• Deck 7 - The new layout with Sabatini’s, Gigi’s and Bellini is a good change, everything fits together
•  
• Sabatini’s - Was wonderful, had very nice food. Even had the idea it was better then last year on Caribbean Princess
•  
• Gigi’s - When we were in Gigi’s it was really quite. Strange as it is such a wonderful place with really nice food and a welcome diversion from the Main dining room or the buffet
•  
• Cocktails - A Major issue is that it seems the Pina Coladas have changed 😢
•  
• Cocktails - Luckily the amount of cocktails to choose from is big and others tasted good🥂
•  
• Movement of the ship - In our memories in other Mediterranean or Caribbean cruises we almost never felt ship movement. Or our memories are wrong or it’s more noticeable on this ship. Still no worries for sea sick persons
•  
• The Food - Most things we tried during our itinerary tasted good, better then last year
•  
• To busy- On sea days and in the buffet it’s way to crowded. But I have to admit we’re part of the problem. We are on a Mediterranean cruise in high summer during school holidays. We are now in the second week of the cruise and it seems to be much less crowded.

[Labanos]

Heraklion

Bus 2 stop just before leaving the gate so you don’t have to walk to the bus station for the bus to Knossos

 

2.50 one way.

Knossos has almost no shadow so wear a hat and use sun lotion. It’s hot out there

 

Take water with you. There are some shops and restaurants in the area

 

Toilets are available just after the entrance

 

The bus back can be challenging. It leaves every 15-20 min but in real life it might be longer. Sometimes it’s crowded and people are pushing to get in. But if you don’t get in you have to wait even longer for the next bus

 

Walking from Heraklion (old town) to the ship takes a good walk in the burning sun when you are tired already. So be prepared

 

Exit the bus at the end of the city and not at the port side. This way you can walk in a straight line through Heraklion seeing mosts of the want to see stops.

[dickinson]

Thanks for your insights.  I must say it is extremely hard to believe that NO breakfast  available in buffet or  MDR on turnaround day.  IC and room service can not handle everyone on the ship.  Maybe something was wrong that particular day?

[Labanos]

1 hour ago, dickinson said:

Thanks for your insights.  I must say it is extremely hard to believe that NO breakfast  available in buffet or  MDR on turnaround day.  IC and room service can not handle everyone on the ship.  Maybe something was wrong that particular day?

My thoughts exactly, but in the Princess Patter under opening times breakfast wasn’t listed that day. We asked via crew chat if this was a mistake but they confirmed that the MDR and buffet were closed for breakfast.

[dickinson]

5 minutes ago, Labanos said:

My thoughts exactly, but in the Princess Patter under opening times breakfast wasn’t listed that day. We asked via crew chat if this was a mistake but they confirmed that the MDR and buffet were closed for breakfast.

😱

[dreaminofcruisin]

5 hours ago, Labanos said:

My thoughts exactly, but in the Princess Patter under opening times breakfast wasn’t listed that day. We asked via crew chat if this was a mistake but they confirmed that the MDR and buffet were closed for breakfast.

 

This really makes no sense.....did you go look in the buffet to confirm?

That's what I would do.

All this would accomplish is horrendous crowds at the International Cafe.....

[DeeTO]

Tks gor heads up for next week! Also for good DIY travel info at ports.

[cruisequeen4ever]

We disembarked this ship 3 weeks ago, and the buffet was open every single day for breakfast. It opened at about 5:30 AM for a continental breakfast with some hot egg sandwiches, and then the full buffet opened at 6:00 AM, since they know most people had to be up early for tours. The person you spoke to must have been brand new and didn’t know. Go there tomorrow morning, and I’m sure you’ll be eating a scrumptious breakfast.

 

As for the dining room, we didn’t even consider going, so I can’t answer about that. I saved the Patters, but I’m not near them right now.

[ROXIETHEHORSE]

On the Ruby in February the main dining room was open for  full service breakfast on disembarkation day. This is the only day we had breakfast in the main dining room because we had the suite breakfast in Sabatini's all other mornings.

[shirazcruiser]

Have you seen the new Prix Fixe Menus at O'Malleys and Gigi's? Would you be kind enough to post photos of the menus? Thank you and have a great cruise. 

[shirazcruiser]

20 minutes ago, shirazcruiser said:

Have you seen the new Prix Fixe Menus at O'Malleys and Gigi's? Would you be kind enough to post photos of the menus? Thank you and have a great cruise. 

I found the menus on another thread!

[Labanos]

Santorini

Alternative route - After the tender from the ship to the Old port of Fira, by a ticket from the ticket shop (Sea traveler) on the quai, for transportation to Oia. This costs 30 euro per person and includes a water taxi to Amoudi Bay, bus transfer to Oia and a bus transfer to Fira. A few remarks:

 

• The trip to Amoudi take about 15 minutes and is a nice sea ride
• 
• You then have to walk up a few 100 meters on a VERY steep hill. 
   
• In 5-10 minutes a bus takes you to Oia center
• 
• Every hour from 10-16 a bus leaves to Fira. So you can take your time in Oia and leave when ready
• 
• We found this a perfect way to go against the flow of all the people wanting to go to Fira first by cable car
• 
• Even when Enchanted Princess was the only ship in Santorini (lucky us) it was busy everywhere. The lines for the cable car going down were long!
• 
• We took the donkey path down from Fira to the old port. We did this at 14:00 in the full sun. Well what should I say 😅😟. Yes it’s doable for any fit person but it’s not an easy task. The steps are sometimes high, the path uneven and you have to watch for slippery parts and donkey poop. Really watch out! We did it in 30 minutes as untrained persons with how should I say it, not fat but a quite a few ponds to much.
• 

Edited August 15, 2023 by Labanos

[Labanos]

I just talked to Dirk Brand the hotel manager. He was surprised breakfast wasn’t mentioned in the Patter. Also the info from crew chat was wrong. The buffet was open as always. Better next time.

[Fortunate 2 travel]

Thank you for sharing your lovely photos and insights.  We are doing a 14 night from Rome to Barcelona on the Sun next summer.  Your information is very helpful.

[cruisequeen4ever]

2 hours ago, Labanos said:

I just talked to Dirk Brand the hotel manager. He was surprised breakfast wasn’t mentioned in the Patter. Also the info from crew chat was wrong. The buffet was open as always. Better next time.

Glad you can now enjoy the best breakfast at sea, IMO. 

[travellingnana]

@Labanos could you use a credit card to pay for the water taxi to Oia?

[Labanos]

We paid with debit card. Credit card was also possible but no Amex a sign said

[DeeTO]

On 8/14/2023 at 5:50 AM, Labanos said:

Heraklion

Bus 2 stop just before leaving the gate so you don’t have to walk to the bus station for the bus to Knossos

 

2.50 one way.

Knossos has almost no shadow so wear a hat and use sun lotion. It’s hot out there

 

Take water with you. There are some shops and restaurants in the area

 

Toilets are available just after the entrance

 

The bus back can be challenging. It leaves every 15-20 min but in real life it might be longer. Sometimes it’s crowded and people are pushing to get in. But if you don’t get in you have to wait even longer for the next bus

 

Walking from Heraklion (old town) to the ship takes a good walk in the burning sun when you are tired already. So be prepared

 

Exit the bus at the end of the city and not at the port side. This way you can walk in a straight line through Heraklion seeing mosts of the want to see stops.

Did you visit Knossos on your own without a guide. If so, did you think the signage was good enough for explanation. Thanks

[Labanos]

Athens

12-17 august is the best time to visit Athens according to a local because of the 5,5 mio inhabitants 4 mio of them are on holiday

 

There was an Immense amount of taxis at the cruise terminal

 

We booked welcome pickups to make sure we could get to the Acropolis in time without any problems. This worked but as there were enough taxis taking one of them could have worked as well

 

Both the Blue and Green Metro lines go from the center of Athens (Monastriki) to Piraeus

Monastriki

Metro

 

A taxi from the metro to Cruiseterminal B is +~ 6 euro 

 

Enchanted Princess docked at terminal B (Themistocles)

 

Book a 90 minute card for one way

 

The Metro goes fast!

 

Check if special destinations are open due to holidays in the summer. We wanted to visit some places but they were closed

 

Walking from the cruise terminal to the metro is possible but takes a long time (30 min)

 

Plaka is a very nice must see neighborhood just next to the Acropolis 

 

Acropolis tickets

 

We went to the Acropolis on our own As I was worried about the new Time slots I bought a ticket through the official site with at a time slot between 8-9. Booked a welcomepickup transfer so I would be on time. At 8:15 we were on the Acropolis and at 8:30 it was already very busy.

 

But the enforcement of the time slot will be implemented later I’ve read and with a day pass(no time slot) you can just enter. So nervous for nothing but hey better be prepared

 

Official booking site

https://hhticket.gr/tap_b2c_new/english/tap.exe?PM=P1P&place=000000002

 

 

•  
•  
• Quote

 

[Labanos]

29 minutes ago, DeeTO said:

Did you visit Knossos on your own without a guide. If so, did you think the signage was good enough for explanation. Thanks

No the signage is not enough. We had an audio tour via GetYourGuide and that was good. But next time I prefer a guide telling me things.

[DeeTO]

Thanks, that’s what I had read about Knossos.

 

[NIkkiGR]

On 8/14/2023 at 3:50 AM, Labanos said:

Heraklion

Bus 2 stop just before leaving the gate so you don’t have to walk to the bus station for the bus to Knossos

 

2.50 one way.

Knossos has almost no shadow so wear a hat and use sun lotion. It’s hot out there

 

Take water with you. There are some shops and restaurants in the area

 

Toilets are available just after the entrance

 

The bus back can be challenging. It leaves every 15-20 min but in real life it might be longer. Sometimes it’s crowded and people are pushing to get in. But if you don’t get in you have to wait even longer for the next bus

 

Walking from Heraklion (old town) to the ship takes a good walk in the burning sun when you are tired already. So be prepared

 

Exit the bus at the end of the city and not at the port side. This way you can walk in a straight line through Heraklion seeing mosts of the want to see stops.

Do you recall how much the bus to Knossos costs? We are are the same 21 day cruise in September and this was my plan also. Does the Knossos bus take you back to the bus station? Or where did you get off?