Grand Princess Cruises Reviews

Regarding the food: apparently concerns about the dropping standards of food quality are generally growing, but may I dare to ask of how it would be possible to buy on limited local food markets the quantities needed to feed some 2600 passengers and a 1000 or something of the crew daily? Should they go fishing in the Mediterranean in order to present fresh fish to their guests for dinner? After all, the cruise market has become a mass market for the middle classes and and this requires mostly preprepared food in large quantities, i.e. frozen, convenient products etc. To me, this seems to be fair, since, most people pay reasonable, sometimes even moderate fares, and it is just their problem that they nevertheless expect to play up a high end life which they most likely would not do so normally. Ths is why I never would go for food on a ship - this seems to be unreasonable for me, since products can't be fresh. Instead, I'm prepared to spend some money ashore for dining, and I have had some of my most beautiful holiday experiences in small local restaurants offering an individual style of cooking. Out of the very same reason that cruising has become a mass market, I respect the request to disembark early. Changing linens, cleaning etc. after some 2600 people left the ship and in the very same moment preparing for the next 2600 arriving just some hours later is no small job and requires all efforts of the crew. Since I have the deepest respect for their hard work I would not wish to stand in their way. In addition, I'm free to plan my own tours prior of flying back, and Venice is a very good point in case. The cruise harbour is located just opposite to the main station, where one could leave the luggage and head to the airports at Treviso or Marco Polo easily by bus, taxi or train . Touring Venice with Carta Venezia is also convenient. Sorry to say, but some people could get disenchanted because of their dreams incompatible with todays cruising.

Unfortunate you were told you could stay on board, it is extrenely rare for this to happen and nornally only if the line is using charter flights so there is a clean turnover of pax, in 9 years working for Princess I never once saw pax being allowed to stay on board after normal disembark time, logically it would be a nightmare for crew, immigration etc etc.