Just back from Journey Western Med

[sjde]

We just returned from the 12 day Western Mediterranean cruise. If anyone has any questions I'd be happy to try to answer them.

 

Sue

[Tinwoman]

We just returned from the 12 day Western Mediterranean cruise. If anyone has any questions I'd be happy to try to answer them.

 

Sue

 

What room were you in?

Was the service from the staff good all around?

How did people dress for dinner and during the day?

What was the weather like?:)

I can't decide if I need to take Capri's for the day or slacks, short sleeves or long sleeve. because I don't know the weather conditions.

We are on the Transatlantic Dec. 3rd.

Oh and most of all how was the food?

[tnt10]

Hope you had a great time.

Was Phillip Herbert your Hotel Director? He is simply the best. We're on the 12/3 TA also, and hoping he is still on board for us?

Thanks,

TnT

[sjde]

Yes, Philip was there-wonderful man.

 

We were in 7110--great location.

 

The service was all-around superb. But then, I can't say I've ever had anything but excellent service on all our cruises--HA, RCCL, Celebrity.

 

Daytime wear--country club casual to jeans and shorts. Evening--country club casual--dockers or cords for men. Seldom saw women in dresses--occasionally. And the Captian's cocktail paty for club members--did see suits and dresses.

 

Weather was great except rain in Corsica and POrtofino. Also cloudy skies and 50's with off and on rain in Rome and Florence.

 

If you take short sleeves, take a sweater too. I hardly saw any capris.

 

The food was about like the other cruises I've been on. And this is the only cruise of 6 where I didn't gain weight (and it was the longest). They seemed to use a lot of foreign words to describe the food , maybe in a effort to sound more gourmet? But if I don't understand what something is, I'm less likely to want it. I'm one who likes most foods (except for calf liver and certain seafood) and like to try new things, but this sort of put me off.

 

Sue

[Tinwoman]

Yes, Philip was there-wonderful man.

 

We were in 7110--great location.

 

The service was all-around superb. But then, I can't say I've ever had anything but excellent service on all our cruises--HA, RCCL, Celebrity.

 

Daytime wear--country club casual to jeans and shorts. Evening--country club casual--dockers or cords for men. Seldom saw women in dresses--occasionally. And the Captian's cocktail paty for club members--did see suits and dresses.

 

Weather was great except rain in Corsica and POrtofino. Also cloudy skies and 50's with off and on rain in Rome and Florence.

 

If you take short sleeves, take a sweater too. I hardly saw any capris.

 

The food was about like the other cruises I've been on. And this is the only cruise of 6 where I didn't gain weight (and it was the longest). They seemed to use a lot of foreign words to describe the food , maybe in a effort to sound more gourmet? But if I don't understand what something is, I'm less likely to want it. I'm one who likes most foods (except for calf liver and certain seafood) and like to try new things, but this sort of put me off.

 

Sue

 

Thank you for your reply. :)

[cruise47]

What decks would you avoid?

[sjde]

I wouldn't necessarily avoid any decks. What I liked about our cabin was we were 2 floors directly over the dining room, 2 floors directly under the buffet restaurant, 3 floors directly over guest relations and shore excursion desks, and down the hall freom the laundry.

 

As for the menu, I did ask a few times wat something was, but I wasn't about to ask about almost every course! And the wait staff couldn't always adequately explain either.

 

We loved a small ship, though toward the end we wished we had another place to go for a pre-dinner drink other than the Martini Bar. We could have used the Looking Glass lounge too. And though I don't gamble much, I have to say there was no energy in that small casino with almost no one there--quite a bit different from other ships we've been on.

 

Also, I missed having a lush green spa with another pool and hot tub.

 

Sue

[swigso]

Hello,

 

We were in 7110--great location.

We are in this cabin next year, as it is near the aft were there any noise /motion issues.

Thanks

 

 

[patcav]

I, too, was on the 12-day Med cruise Sue was on.

As far as dress goes, she was correct, although we tended to dine late and in the specialty restaurants and people were more dressed up - dressy pants and tops for the ladies, open-collared sport coats for the men. I actually felt a little underdressed because I packed based on what I had read on the threads and I guess everyone interprets things differenty. People were very nicely dressed overall. It was an older crowd and often people our age think about comfort and warmth before glitz and glamor, although I was never cold in any dining venue.

I would avoid the front and rear of the ship for cabin choices - more motion. Also, in the front, you hear the anchor drop at each port early in the morning. Check out the cabins on deck 8. They are larger and so are the balconies.

Do not be put off by the comment about how food is described on the menu. The waiters are very helpful with everything and are eager to answer any questions about preparation, etc. If you don't like something, they will replace it with something else. We found the food to be very good to excellent. We have been on 7 other cruises and have learned that after a week or so, even though things are different (they did not repeat menus in the amin didng room), they take on a sameness. It's like eating out at the same 2 or 3 restaurants at home 3 times a day, 7 days a week. It's all very good, but...

[Literary Lynne]

Hi

 

I was on the Journey, western Med cruise which finished on 9 November and have to say that most women wore dresses or dressy clothes in the evening. I guess that the average age on that cruise was 50.

 

I thought, for what it's worth, that the food was incredible, especially in the speciality restaurants. The food in the main dining room was splendid too.

 

The wonderful Philip Herbert was on the Journey and I do know that he intends to be there next June, when it comes to the UK, but I don't know what annual leave he has between now and then.

 

Lynne

[lubalouis]

I don't know what your ports were. We are spending a night in Rome, Barcelona and Paris. Any suggestions are welcome.

[sjde]

We both loved the flamenco show, though the food wasn't very good. Better to go for the drink show.

[vintagebabe]

Hi Sue,

 

Was wondering if you booked excursions through Azamara, or did you do your own thing? We are going to the Med. on October 7. Were the ports far from the center of town? Could you walk, or did you have to take a bus, taxi?

 

Terri

[sjde]

Terri,

 

We did both. In Marseilles we did the ship tour to St Remy. I'd have arranged a visit on my own if we'd have been able to find 2 other couples to split the cost, but no luck. There wasn't anything to see at the port we were in but the other was quite colorful with markets I heard.

 

Monaco- we did the ship excursion to Old Town. If you just want to stay by the casino area, you can do that easily--it's close enough to walk toThis was a tender port I think.

.

Portofino we went on our own on a local bus to Santa Maria Ligure and then did Portofino on our own. It's small and everything is right there after you tender in.

 

Livorno-we took a ship tour of Volterra and had lunch at a farmhouse. Again, I'd have liked to do this on our own--Volterra and San Gimignano--but couldn't find anone else who wanted to.

 

Civitavecchia--you can walk around here but it's not much to see. We did olive oil tasting on a ship tour-had already been to Rome several times.

 

Corsica--We walked around town on our own--you take a tender and then it's right there.

 

Casablanca--We didn't want to do this on our own, but some people did. We took the ship's city tour. If you wanted to go in on your own, the ship provided a bus ride for a fee. That was the only way to see the souks.

 

Valencia--the old town was far but the ship again provided a bus. We paid for that and then were on our wn.

 

Malaga--a very short bus ride, and then we were on our own.

[hmorrow]

Thanks for your thoughts on the Journey. We are leaving next week on the TA, and will have 16 nights on the ship. Glad to hear the food was good to excellent! Helaine

[janets]

Did you go to Monaco? Where did it dock?

What were your ports - we are on Journey in Sept and may want to ask questions on ports in common

Janet

[Cruise Betty]

:(I read a review today which said that Journey was the most claustrophibic ship that this person had ever been on. Since I am booked on the ship in October, I found this a bit worrying. I have only been on Millenium and Century class ships previously.

 

Anyone like to give me their thoughts?

 

Elizabeth

[uktog]

I did worry about the Quest (Journey's sister ship) having been used to Century and Summit - my fears were misplaced. It is no more contained than a large hotel - and given the open decks you would never be claustrophobic. What you will find is a much closer knit experience; the show lounge is small and there is not a bar like the Martini Bar to sit in, its true the Discovery Bar is on the way into dinner and is small and tends to be a little busier

Is all this a big negative - no in fact I am really looking forward to going back on Quest in August

[Cruise Betty]

Thank you for the reassurance. The idea of the smaller show lounge etc does not bother me at all.

Do you know if there is any chance of getting a visit to the Bridge on this ship, being smaller? My father is coming with us and this would really make his trip.

[Makeithappen]

"Claustrophia !

 

Anyone like to give me their thoughts?

 

Elizabeth"

 

Hello Elizabeth,

 

As another kind poster commented this ship is anything but claustrophobic. In fact this ship may have spoiled us against taking any further large ships. The food was well prepared and good, the common areas never felt crowded and the staff friendly. We had a balcony cabin and while the room wasn't large it was quite comfortable.

 

You will have a wonderful vacation.

[LuAnn]

Thank you for the reassurance. The idea of the smaller show lounge etc does not bother me at all.

Do you know if there is any chance of getting a visit to the Bridge on this ship, being smaller? My father is coming with us and this would really make his trip.

 

speak to Liesl ..she is the staff person on board in charge of Captain Club members, future cruises and the Cruise Critic parties etc. She is a "gem" and I'm sure she will try and arrange the tour for your father...they were offered, by invitation only, and I can't imagine whe couldn't gain one for your Dad...LuAnn

[Cruise Betty]

Thank you for that, Luann.

 

Elizabeth

[Cruise Betty]

Thanks, Jill and Mike. I'm feeling a lot happier about the ship again now.

 

Elizabeth :)

[lbell]

I am traveling with my Mother who can't walk long distances. Can anyone tell me if we take the ship's tour can we be on our own in Lucca and meet up with the group later?