FManke

So let me start by saying we enjoyed this tour very much. The star of this tour was the Acropolis. It was fantastic and worth the price of the tour on its own. BUT, if your idea of seeing "highlights" of Athens is getting out and exploring them, this is not the tour for you. Highlights were pointed out as we drove passed them on the bus to and from the Acropolis. Having bad knees, I was afraid the walk to the top of the Acropolis would be too much. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. After the Acropolis, we headed back into town for a short walking tour of the Plaka and independent time. Because of the terrible rush hour traffic, the 3hrs of independent time was cut to about 2hrs. We still had time to explore the Plaka, just as not as much as we had wanted. Like a lot of excursions that we have taken in the past, you spend a lot of time on the bus getting from one place to another. I guess it can't be helped that the port is 30min from downtown Athens and getting around Athens is like any other major world city of 3million people. Traffic is the same everywhere. 
If I had to do it again, I would have done the Acropolis on its own and just walked to the other sites I wanted. Things are pretty compact around the Acropolis and easy to walk to.
 
Happy Cruising!

So let me start by saying we enjoyed this tour very much. The star of this tour was the Acropolis. It was fantastic and worth the price of the tour on its own. BUT, if your idea of seeing "highlights" of Athens is getting out and exploring them, this is not the tour for you. Highlights were pointed out as we drove passed them on the bus to and from the Acropolis. Having bad knees, I was afraid the walk to the top of the Acropolis would be too much. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. After the Acropolis, we headed back into town for a short walking tour of the Plaka and independent time. Because of the terrible rush hour traffic, the 3hrs of independent time was cut to about 2hrs. We still had time to explore the Plaka, just as not as much as we had wanted. Like a lot of excursions that we have taken in the past, you spend a lot of time on the bus getting from one place to another. I guess it can't be helped that the port is 30min from downtown Athens and getting around Athens is like any other major world city of 3million people. Traffic is the same everywhere. 
If I had to do it again, I would have done the Acropolis on its own and just walked to the other sites I wanted. Things are pretty compact around the Acropolis and easy to walk to.
 
Happy Cruising!

If anybody is looking for a hotel in Venice, may I suggest the Hotel Moresco. Just stayed there 3 nights before our Greek Isle cruise. It was fantastic! Service was outstanding. Rooms were modern and very clean. My wife is a stickler for that, and it passed her test with flying colors. It's located on a canal about a 5min walk to the Piazzale Roma, which is the major transportation hub for Venice. From there you can catch any bus, taxi or water bus you want or need to get anywhere. It's in a quieter part of the city, which we enjoyed. It's only about a 25min walk or Waterbus ride to St. Mark's Square. If I can be of help answering any other questions about Venice, I'll try my best. 
 
Happy Cruising!

So let me start by saying we enjoyed this tour very much. The star of this tour was the Acropolis. It was fantastic and worth the price of the tour on its own. BUT, if your idea of seeing "highlights" of Athens is getting out and exploring them, this is not the tour for you. Highlights were pointed out as we drove passed them on the bus to and from the Acropolis. Having bad knees, I was afraid the walk to the top of the Acropolis would be too much. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. After the Acropolis, we headed back into town for a short walking tour of the Plaka and independent time. Because of the terrible rush hour traffic, the 3hrs of independent time was cut to about 2hrs. We still had time to explore the Plaka, just as not as much as we had wanted. Like a lot of excursions that we have taken in the past, you spend a lot of time on the bus getting from one place to another. I guess it can't be helped that the port is 30min from downtown Athens and getting around Athens is like any other major world city of 3million people. Traffic is the same everywhere. 
If I had to do it again, I would have done the Acropolis on its own and just walked to the other sites I wanted. Things are pretty compact around the Acropolis and easy to walk to.
 
Happy Cruising!

Navigator on November 11, 2022
First time post-covid!  SO READY!

Freedom on February 19, 2024
Taking our middle son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter on their first cruise. 

Brilliance of the Seas leaves Sunday. Flying out today for 3 nights in Venice on the front end. 3.5yrs and two cancelled cruises in the making. Excited its finally here!
 
Happy Cruising!

This is the safest bet. But you will always be able to get a drink and a couple of cans of water per trip. I always did this to keep the fridge in the cabin stocked. And don't forget your water as your leaving the ship on port days. There was always someone at the gangway with water.
Happy Cruising!

I'm not sure if anybody plans on sailing BOTS anytime soon. But if you are and are interested in a GS, may I suggest Suite 1060. We just got off of her on Sun and loved every minute of it. Check out this fabulous balcony! By far the biggest one on the ship for the size of the cabin. Even larger than the adjacent OS balconies. It is the first balcony off of the centrum and adjacent to the elevators and stairways. For full disclosure, we did hear some music coming from the centrum at night, but that did not bother us. 
 
Happy Cruising!

I'm not sure if anybody plans on sailing BOTS anytime soon. But if you are and are interested in a GS, may I suggest Suite 1060. We just got off of her on Sun and loved every minute of it. Check out this fabulous balcony! By far the biggest one on the ship for the size of the cabin. Even larger than the adjacent OS balconies. It is the first balcony off of the centrum and adjacent to the elevators and stairways. For full disclosure, we did hear some music coming from the centrum at night, but that did not bother us. 
 
Happy Cruising!

I'm not sure if anybody plans on sailing BOTS anytime soon. But if you are and are interested in a GS, may I suggest Suite 1060. We just got off of her on Sun and loved every minute of it. Check out this fabulous balcony! By far the biggest one on the ship for the size of the cabin. Even larger than the adjacent OS balconies. It is the first balcony off of the centrum and adjacent to the elevators and stairways. For full disclosure, we did hear some music coming from the centrum at night, but that did not bother us. 
 
Happy Cruising!

I'm not sure if anybody plans on sailing BOTS anytime soon. But if you are and are interested in a GS, may I suggest Suite 1060. We just got off of her on Sun and loved every minute of it. Check out this fabulous balcony! By far the biggest one on the ship for the size of the cabin. Even larger than the adjacent OS balconies. It is the first balcony off of the centrum and adjacent to the elevators and stairways. For full disclosure, we did hear some music coming from the centrum at night, but that did not bother us. 
 
Happy Cruising!

I'm not sure if anybody plans on sailing BOTS anytime soon. But if you are and are interested in a GS, may I suggest Suite 1060. We just got off of her on Sun and loved every minute of it. Check out this fabulous balcony! By far the biggest one on the ship for the size of the cabin. Even larger than the adjacent OS balconies. It is the first balcony off of the centrum and adjacent to the elevators and stairways. For full disclosure, we did hear some music coming from the centrum at night, but that did not bother us. 
 
Happy Cruising!

If anybody is considering coming in early for a cruise in Ravenna, I might suggest staying in Ravenna for the night. Ravenna is a great town with a lot of Byzantine mosaics and a lot to do in a small area. We stayed in the middle of town, which was about a 20min, 25 Euro taxi ride to the port.
 
Happy Cruising!

If anybody is considering coming in early for a cruise in Ravenna, I might suggest staying in Ravenna for the night. Ravenna is a great town with a lot of Byzantine mosaics and a lot to do in a small area. We stayed in the middle of town, which was about a 20min, 25 Euro taxi ride to the port.
 
Happy Cruising!

The free room service is available for any suite, GS and above. We enjoyed MDR dining room service after a full a day in Athens, getting back just as ship sailed. Nice to get the upgraded meal without having to clean up and go the MDR. Also enjoyed a quick afternoon snack on the balcony one afternoon. 
 
Happy Cruising!

I'm not sure if anybody plans on sailing BOTS anytime soon. But if you are and are interested in a GS, may I suggest Suite 1060. We just got off of her on Sun and loved every minute of it. Check out this fabulous balcony! By far the biggest one on the ship for the size of the cabin. Even larger than the adjacent OS balconies. It is the first balcony off of the centrum and adjacent to the elevators and stairways. For full disclosure, we did hear some music coming from the centrum at night, but that did not bother us. 
 
Happy Cruising!

I had no issues with that, just having got off Brilliance this week. I swapped out veggies, changed potatoes, mixed and matched as I wanted with no issues. They are very accommodating. 
 
Happy Cruising!

I'm not sure if anybody plans on sailing BOTS anytime soon. But if you are and are interested in a GS, may I suggest Suite 1060. We just got off of her on Sun and loved every minute of it. Check out this fabulous balcony! By far the biggest one on the ship for the size of the cabin. Even larger than the adjacent OS balconies. It is the first balcony off of the centrum and adjacent to the elevators and stairways. For full disclosure, we did hear some music coming from the centrum at night, but that did not bother us. 
 
Happy Cruising!

I'm not sure if anybody plans on sailing BOTS anytime soon. But if you are and are interested in a GS, may I suggest Suite 1060. We just got off of her on Sun and loved every minute of it. Check out this fabulous balcony! By far the biggest one on the ship for the size of the cabin. Even larger than the adjacent OS balconies. It is the first balcony off of the centrum and adjacent to the elevators and stairways. For full disclosure, we did hear some music coming from the centrum at night, but that did not bother us. 
 
Happy Cruising!

Yup, dinner inside, dinner outside.  Pretty sweet!

You can't get drinks delivered to your room with any package. However, you can pick up bottles and bring them back to the room. Make it a habit of swinging by a bar on your way back to the cabin and grabbing a bottle of water. 

Aren't they all? 🤣

My e-docs from RC say meet at 8:30 and transfer will leave promptly at 9:00.
 
Happy Cruising!

Aren't they all? 🤣