Stacy's Journey Across the Mediterranean

DAY ONE

DEPARTURE

I travelled from Manchester airport to Athens with EasyJet, which took around 4 hours; after arriving, I met up with Jo, Millie and Ellie, the Princess hosts, who were fantastic from the start. The coach transferred us to the port, which took about an hour. I then received my Princess medallion, a small accessory the size of a coin you keep with you throughout your cruise.

The check-in process was swift and efficient; the staff took our luggage, which they delivered to our cabin. I was so impressed with Sun Princess from the moment I stepped onboard, from the gorgeous decor to the friendly, welcoming staff. My cabin was on deck 11, a deluxe cabin with all the mod cons, plenty of storage space, and sense lighting. We then met up for drinks at Cascades bar and went to the Horizons dining room for dinner—the creme brulee was amazing! 

When I returned to my cabin, the turn-down service included fresh towels and a copy of the "Princess Patter" daily leaflet telling you about the next day ahead. 

DAY TWO

AT SEA

After a good sleep, the bed was comfortable with a choice of pillows. I went to the Eatery for a buffet breakfast, then onto The Landing, a meeting area for a presentation from the Princess hosts and some onboard staff. They took us on a tour of the ship, which included visiting the Lotus spa, The Piazza, Princess casino, The Dome, and the shops of Princess, wow!

After the tour, we stopped at Crooners bar for a much-needed cocktail, a "French Martini", which I highly recommend.

DAY THREE

MESSINA, SICILY

After an overnight sailing, we arrived at Messina port around 6 am, and the view from the balcony was spectacular. I had ordered breakfast to be delivered to the cabin using the info provided the night before.

I decided to go offshore, and we got a taxi into Taormina, about 40 minutes away; the scenery was out of this world. After a few hours in Taormina, I tried a Scillian gelato and visited the famous Isola Bella. From there, I went back to Messina to visit the Norman cathedral.

When we arrived back on the ship, staff offered us cool drinks and hand towels. Again, it was a smooth process back onboard. That evening, I had dinner in the speciality restaurant "Catch by Rudi." It was a great experience, and the food was amazing. 

DAY FOUR

AT SEA

Today, I had breakfast at the international cafe, which is open 24 hours, ideal for those who want a quick coffee and grab something on the go. I thought I would struggle to find things to do as this was the first time I had cruised, but I was so surprised by the range of facilities onboard, something for everyone.

The Piazza was the ship's heart, with great entertainment, music, games, and Princess Live, which featured live acts, dancing and singing.

We were fortunate to visit the Princess Arena theatre, which wasn't fully ready for performances; I can only imagine how fabulous it would be when completed and the range of shows for all to enjoy. It was a fab experience dressing up for the formal night, but for those who didn't want to, there were plenty of relaxed areas, so everybody felt comfortable.

There was a vast range of restaurants and bars, and the choice of food, sweet treats and drinks was endless; one of my favourite bars was O'Malley's Irish Bar, which had a great atmosphere with live Irish music. 

DAY FIVE

PALMA, MAJORCA

The ship arrived early in port, around 6 am. First, we had a galley tour, which was really interesting. We learned all about food preparation for over 4000 guests. I then went on to Horizons restaurant for an all-American breakfast. Again, the service and food were unreal, especially the pancakes.

I then went offshore and took a taxi into Palma. It cost 15 Euros and took about 10 minutes; what a gorgeous city, and I saw sights such as the Cathedral Basilica de Santa Maria and the old town. I enjoyed sitting in the square and watching the street entertainment with a glass of sangria – Perfect!

That evening, back on board for our last night, we had dinner at Alfredos Pizzeria, one of the casual dining options included in the Princess Plus package. I had the Pizza Capricciosa, and it was delicious. I then went to "Good Spirits at Sea." The cocktails were so premium, and it was such a fun atmosphere.

DAY SIX

BARCELONA

The ship docked in Barcelona around 6 am, and after arranging our time to disembark with the Princess hosts, we met at 8 am. After leaving our cabin, we received luggage labels.

The process was really efficient, and the staff onboard was on hand to help. We then got on our transfer coach back to the airport. Overall, I had a wonderful time and have some great memories onboard the Sun Princess.