Emerald Madiden Voyage Review Info

[Grannycb]

The sidewalks and paths are slick and uneven in the ports. Walking on the ship is fine.

 

A nice dress will work for formal night if you don't want to do the formal attire thing. Men wear dark jackets for the most part. There are a few in tux and some in light color jackets. No jeans spotted so far on any nights and not many during the day.

 

Listen to the port lectures for tips about getting the best prices. Shopping is different at each port. I try to get down to about 1/3 of the asking price in Turkey.

 

Yes, you can walk to the windmills on Mykonos. The town is a very nice place for walking. There are wonderful views around every corner.

 

We have loved each of the ports. This is a wonderful trip!

[sunprincess]

Granny,

 

Appreciate your live posts. Glad you are having a wonderful cruise.

Did you receive a special inaugural gift?

 

ENJOY :)

[kbemje]

Thanks, Granny!

We got a group of 21 CRUISE CRITIC members for our Med Cruise on 9/14/07. We need your assistance where and when you had your Meet and Greet initial meeting. Did Princess offer any assistance?

 

We start in Venice with a night in port before we go off to sea.

 

Enjoy your cruise to the fullest!

[BogerJones]

The wife and I are booked in Nov. 2007. Post pics of the boat if you can, i'd love to see the actual ship. God I'm having a melt down as I type!

 

The Boger

[Grannycb]

This is my final post from the ship as it is time for packing and fun in Venice. It has been a trip of a lifetime for us. Everything has been so beautiful and interesting. It was even better than our transatlantic in 2006 (NY to Venice). We can't wait to return to this ship and this part of the world.

 

Last night was formal night. It was much more formal than the first one. I'd revise my earlier statement that a nice dress would do to a nice BLACK dress or pants would do. It seemed like everyone was dressed in black or dark colors last night.

 

The CC group meetings are pretty much unknown by me. Two meetings were set up in advance. There was one 15 minutes after the lifeboat drill. I was too tired and rushed to do more than stop by to say hi. The second one was at 10ish on our first sea day. I didn't wake up until after it was over. That meant not knowing if there were other meetings or not. Hope some others from this cruise tell of their trips.

 

Yes, we did get a heavy green glass item with the ship's name and date. Hope it doesn't put us over the weight limit on our luggage.

 

I will post some pictures when we get back home. There is no way pictures can show the beauty we have seen. You have to come and experience this for yourself.

[Travel 4 Ever]

Thank you Grannycb for your posts. We can't wait to see your pictures of the sites and the ship. I can't believe our trip is less than three months away.

[cruzzers]

Grannycb....Thanks so much for taking the time to post from the ship so all of us could look forward to our upcoming cruises on the Emerald. We will be anxious to hear all about your trip on your return.

 

Boger..We are booked for Nov too. Which sailing are you on?

[cassandra44]

We're trying to fix a meeting of our group and it's been suggested that we meet after the drill. Does anyone know when Princess schedules these drills? Just in case it varies from cruise to cruise we're sailing out of Venice on the Emerald in September and hopefully we'll be well out of the port before the drill commences.

[sunprincess]

Thanks Granny - good luck with your luggage. I always have trouble balancing out the weight.

Enjoy Venice. I adore Venice;)

Looking forward to your photos.

[suntan]

We just booked on next year's Feb. 24th sailing. :)

 

I cannot wait to hear the reviews from those that have just returned.

[Karmakitty]

Having just read thru all the threads about this wonderful :) cruise all I can say is that if you are scheduled to go you will have such a wonderful time - if you are not scheduled - DON'T HESITATE book now!!!

 

This was our first cruise so we have nothing to compare it to, but then from what we experienced who would want to. I was a little apprehensive about how they would manage all those people but the staff of Princess were great. Not once were we held up in line - Embarkation and Disembarkation was effortless!!!! The princess tours were so well organized that you just had to show up.

 

The itinerary was so port intensive that time on board was spent relaxing and enjoying the great ship. One of the things I heard complained about was the internet connection. I tried several times to no avail - but it wasn't high on my priority list to be on the computer.

 

You all have alot of questions and Granny you answered them great. Too bad you were so tired on sailaway as I would have liked to gotten to know you better.

 

Just a couple of comments.

1. Don't sweat the ATM and Euro thing. All the towns have ATM's and are easy to use. (You will also get a better rate than on board)

2. HAving lived in Turkey for several years - I find the gold prices there much better than in Greece. The styles are also very different. Piece of advice when buying gold - ask the current price of gold - have them weigh the item and do a quick calculation. The price of the gold is NOT negotiable but the workmanship is. I find the Turks are more ready to barter than the Greeks. (Yes I did purchase several items in Turkey and also in Greece) All you can do is try and if they refuse to budge on the price you can also walk!

3. Reflecting back on the cruise I think the itinerary we had was ideal. Venice is SO beautiful and to finish off there made this cruise truely memorable. We stayed an extra night and did the Gondola ride with seranade and dinner afterwards. What an experience! All the other ports were wonderful as well - even windy Mykonos.

4. Favorite ports - Venice of course, Rhodes, and Corfu, & Dubrovnik. Do your research on the tours and ports. Being first timers I admit we should have done more. Next time we will be better. And there will be a next time!!!!!

 

Hope everyone that is booked or on the way that you have a wonderful time. If you don't it sure is not the fault of Emerald Princess and it's crew. They could not have been better.

 

Ulla AKA KarmaKitty!

[Michael Kays]

thanks for the great info Karma..we are preparing now, we sail June 10th, with 5 days pre cuise in Venice.

you touched on the two topics I was most interested in..Euros and gold..we are are the Venice to Barcelona route with our first stops in Athens, Kusadasi and Istanbul..I am defintely going to be on the lookout for a thick (60+ gram 14k gold) mariner link necklace. I hear alot about the 18k gold of Turkey. We will be getting Euros out of the ATM's.

I understand Emerald does not have a currency exchange machine onboard. Can you verify? I also heard from Princess the purser will exchange Euros at the going rate, with no service fee? but have yet to have either assumption verified.

how were the tours/towns as far as pickpockets and safety? I hear Venice is very safe, yet other Italian cities can be quite rebellious with gypsies. Spain is supposed to be nototrious for pickpockets..and comments?

Can't wait to experience the Emerald..

[Casshew]

Did princess give an inaugural present to the passengers? like a dish or glass or anything?

 

Thanks for the feedback on the Emerald's first cruise

[mississauga]

As quoted by grannycb:

Yes, we did get a heavy green glass item with the ship's name and date. Hope it doesn't put us over the weight limit on our luggage.

 

 

That sounds like the inaugural gift, IMHO.

[Casshew]

Yep, didn't see that post! thanks

[nomars_girl]

Did princess give an inaugural present to the passengers? like a dish or glass or anything?

 

Thanks for the feedback on the Emerald's first cruise

 

Just got home this afternoon. Yes, there was an inaugural gift. It was an emerald green glass bowl. It weighs a ton.

 

This was our first cruise and it was positively the trip of a lifetime.

 

We did most of the ports on our own and had no regrets.

 

4/12 Naples: We took the train to Pompeii and visited the excavations there and then went on to Sorrento and returned to the ship by train. It is not to be missed! At Pompeii, they provide you with a good map and a guidebook. Audio guides are available for an extra fee, and licensed guides are waiting near the ticket windows if you want a live guide. Bring cash. They did not accept credit cards for the tickets - but there is an ATM machine right there.

 

4/13 At sea: A much needed rest after all the walking at Pompeii as well as the walking during our pre-cruise visit to Rome. I sat in a deck chair and watched my daughter swim while I read a book.

 

4/14 Santorini: We got up early to catch the first tender off the ship so that we could get the cable car to the top of the cliff before the crowds got too heavy. We wandered around Fira for a little while, and then rented a car which we drove all over the island. It is not for the faint of heart! The roads are very windy and there are a lot of switchbacks, but the views from the top of the mountains are all worth it. Oia is a beautiful town.

 

4/15 Rhodes: It was a short walk into town from the ship. This was a low-key day for us. We wandered around the town and did some shopping. We toured the crusader castle.

 

4/16 Kusadasi: This was the only day where we took an organized tour. It was a private tour with some other CC members. I would highly recommend visiting this area in a smaller group. We went to the House of the Virgin Mary. Then our guide took us through Ephesus which was great to see. We went to a small village (Sirence) where we had lunch. It was an authentic meal. They brought out several different starters. I can't say that I liked everything, but I tried it all. It was all vegetarian. There is a small marketplace in the village where we bought some olive oil soap and some local wine. After the village, we visited the Temple of Artemis. There isn't much left of it, but you can get a sense of the massive scale of it. Finally, we stopped at a ceramics factory. I wanted nothing to do with going to a factory, but the showroom was incredible. The stuff was not cheap, but it was very beautiful. The driver then left us off at the marketplace that was an easy walk to the ship.

 

4/17 Mykonos: Another low-key day for us. We wandered around the town. Stopped in a cafe and had some baklava and Greek coffee. It is a very scenic place, but the wind was especially strong that day making it hard to enjoy. That night leaving Mykonos was the only time I was strongly aware that we were actually on a ship. It was rather choppy and the ship had a pronounced list to the port side.

 

4/18 Athens: We were on our own again. We walked to the train station and took the light rail into Athens. We walked through the ancient agora on our way up to the Acropolis. There is a lot to see, but everything is in the same area. We had a late lunch and then went through the plakka (marketplace) on our way back to the train station.

 

4/19 Katakolon: We were totally exhausted and stayed on the ship. No one I talked to went out to Olympia, so I don't know if that would have been worth the trip.

 

4/20 Corfu: I should have done more research on this port. It is one of the most scenic islands in Greece, but I didn't know about all the transportation options. We took a taxi into town and wandered around there and toured the old fort (great view from the top). Sat in a cafe and had some iced coffee and watched the world go by for a while. Someone I talked to that night had taken a local bus to the other side of the island and it is supposed to be very pretty there. If I had known there was a bus, I would have gone.

 

4/21 Dubrovnik: Very scenic town. It is VERY touristy. We didn't take a tour and just wandered around the old town and walked along the fortifications. Everyone I talked to who took a tour was unhappy with it, so I think we made the right decision.

 

4/22-4/23 Venice: I think I am in love with Venice. Words cannot describe it. Be sure to see the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. Then just wander around the city and get lost for a while.

 

Since this was our first cruise, we have nothing to compare it to. I enjoyed the food. The service was great. Our 12-year old daughter went to the kids club every night so we really only saw here during the day when we were in port. Our favorite nightspot was Crooner's bar where we listened to the piano man and our man Matt fixed us some killer martinis.

 

We cried when we disembarked yesterday morning, but it wasn't so bad since we got to wander around Venice for the whole day after we dropped our luggage off at the hotel.

 

Can't wait to book another cruise!

[cruzzers]

John F, and Cruise Fairy, and Suntan.....We are on the Feb 24 cruise with you. Be sure to drop in and join our roll call. Only 10 months from today! Looking forward to seeing you onboard then. We have lots of fun activities planned with a great group of people that we met on previous cruises from all over the world.

[Eileen G]

Nomars girl, Thank you so much for your review. We will be doing all the ports on our own also. About what time were you able to get the tender into Santorini? We also plan on renting a car there and we would like to get an early start. Did you have to wait for the tours to get off first? We leave next week and I can hardly wait!

[Bassethound]

OK, OK. So I didn't live up tomy promise. The conections were waAAYYY too slow.

 

Response to someone: youwill absolutely love B748. Best balcony on the ship!!:)

 

Random other answers

 

Buy gold in Kudasasi or where the taxis take you in Rhodes (for the workmanship and not just price)

 

The menus are entirely new, and the items which sound the same from the previous Princess "standard" menu are actually much improved.

 

The Cafe Caribe buffet was always good, selection and quality. They really upgraded the buffet food.

 

There is never enough time to most of what you thought yuou could do in each port, so do what you can and realize you will miss somethings.

 

CD is James Lay and assistant is Lisa. OK, but I don't see what Princess loves about them.

 

Make sure you find your spot for salining into and out of Venice early, gets really crowded.

[vitaminz1990]

I'm glad that all of you that went had a great time!! I too will be on the Emerald for the Grand Med cruise. SOOO EXCITED!

 

But I believe i speak for many when i say, where are all the photos?!

 

Hopefully someone will upload an album. anxious to see the ship

[jdpod363]

im going on the same one! see ya there!

[vitaminz1990]

im going on the same one! see ya there!

 

you're going on the 7/28 grand med cruise too? I'm not sure if you were directing your response towards me.

[Paparam]

 

Finally, we stopped at a ceramics factory. I wanted nothing to do with going to a factory, but the showroom was incredible. The stuff was not cheap, but it was very beautiful. The driver then left us off at the marketplace that was an easy walk to the ship.

 

For those who may not be aware...the stuff in any factory or shop that has been chosen by your guide/driver has a markup above and beyond the usual markup for Tourists. This is to cover the guide/driver's commission that ranges from 10-25%. This is true in all parts of the world. If your cruise ship directs you to a store with "free gift" for cruisers they are the ones getting the commission. Want to get the identical item cheaper?- choose a store nearby, avoid stores with free demonstration on how the stuff is made and be direct (with a smile) when bargaining saying they do not have to pay guide's commission and therefore item should be discounted further. Ceramics are cheap in Turkey if one avoids the shops in the center of tourist activities.

Al

[Bassethound]

While I agree with you on the markup, seemed to me that it was not so high in Turkey. And, even if it was, here is the situation. You have only one hour remining before needing to be back on the ship and the private tour takes you for a rug demonstration in Turkey. While you know about the markup, you have no real time balance, so we bought the best we could. 2 beatutiful 5 x 8 rugs shipped home for $2500. Yes, we might have gotten a better deal elsewhere, but how much money could we really have saved vs having to have skipped one of the sights we came so far to see?? $100? $200? And maybe risk getting inferior products? We decided years from now we will still be enjoying the rugs and not care so much about the few bucks.:eek:

 

And, the one place several taxis seemed to go in Rhodes we boudht a beautiful one of a kind design (yes we did not see it again anywhere) 18K gold pendant for US $70. Again, how much could we have saved trying to do it on our own vs spending our precious port time??

 

Did we get the best price, probably not. Did we get a great value for ourselves, definitely yes.:)

 

Probably would be diferent if we have enough time to spend shopping in Kusasasi on ouw own, but we'd rather see the sights.

[Alzarine]

We returned Monday evening from what I can only describe as the cruise of a lifetime. The ship gorgeous,the ports magnificent and the weather perfect !

 

We spent two days in Rome seeing the sights and then took the train to Civitavecchia. Embarkation went off without a hitch and we were on the ship in record time.....less then 15 minutes after arriving at the terminal. All I can say is the ship is superb. The glitches were not annoying to me but I did see the usual cast of characters sounding off at the reception desk to those poor people who work there. They couldn't pay me enough to work the customer service desk on a ship.

 

I can't review the ship in detail as many others will no doubt do. When I go on a vacation it is to enjoy and not take numerous notes on observations.

The only negatives were a very slow internet connection thus allowing Princess passengers free access ( great ! it's free but you can't connect) and the sound system for MUTS. Hopefully it will be corrected soon.

 

Folks did dress formally with men in tuxedos and dark suits. Ladies in cocktail dresses on formal night. It appeared many people changed back to more comfortable clothes after dinner to see shows or make donations in the casino.

 

Food was on a similiar level to HAL or Celebrity. Some days were better than others.

 

Most of our excursions were done through our CC group. It saves so much time and expense. CC tours included :

 

1. the Amalfi coast and Pompeii, private guide

 

2. Kusadasi- Ephesus and the final resting place of the Virgin Mary, St. John's Basillica, a Turkish meal which included a visit to a rug merchants factory.

 

3. Katakolon- a visit to Olympia with an excellent private guide who was passionate about ancient Greece.

 

4. Athens- another private giude who took us to various spots of interest

 

5. Venice- a sunset serenaded gondola ride which cost $50.60 compared to the $106 charged by Princess. Bassethound, where were you ???

 

The rest of the days we wandered around the ports on our own. Several ports had taxi drivers waiting to offer good deals on short excursions through their islands. I used to be very hesitant about booking private tours but now feel it works very comfortably for me. No one wants to miss the ship so just keep an eye on the clock and you'll be fine. Stay with the ship's tour in decidely unsafe cities.....Caracas being one example.

 

We never changed money on the ship but had no problems finding ATM's at all ports when cash ran low.

 

It was so nice meeting all the folks on our roll call in person. Bassethound, Montananan, Fuzzyface, hsprincipal, debbiedoesit, karmakitty, nomar's girl, but a truly exceptional privilege was meeting and knowing Lori in AZ. You are a special lady...it was a joy spending time with you and Rob. My very best wishes to you both in the future. I'll bet it was great hugging your children on your return. :) :)

 

All in all, a fabulous vacation was experienced so run don't walk to book this itinerary. It is breath taking ! :D