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In this sea day Mediterranean cruise blog you will find Sun Princess reviews including cruise food and features of the Princess Cruises App along with a complimentary whisky tasting!
Brunch in the americana dineramericana diner menu sun princess
As a quick recap, you do not need reservations for the Americana Diner and everything on the menu is available every day except the bottom right corner where it says "Tonight's Special". Those items rotate each night to include a few options from the main dining room menu in addition to the default Diner classics.
Sun Princess Americana Diner Sample Menu
buttermilk pancake stack.The buttermilk pancake stack came with blueberry jam, chocolate, streaky bacon, maple syrup, and a torched banana. In this case we requested only syrup and bacon along with the triple pancake stack and torched bananas. The bacon was missing! Oops :) diner's hash .
For the Diner's Hash you could choose between salt beef and halloumi (cheese). Your preference would be served with home-style potatoes, fried egg, roasted bell peppers, and griddled onions.
Let's see how it turned out!
strawberry shortcake milkshake.
Since we are attempting to try (nearly) everything on the Americana Diner menu, this seemed like a good opportunity for the Strawberry Shortcake Milkshake!
Described as strawberry ice cream, fresh strawberries and milk, topped with whipped cream and meringue pieces. I would be surprised if this milkshake actually has fresh strawberries in it, nevertheless it was super tasty!
The meringue pieces on top were a great touch and much better than the donut garnish of the coffee and donuts milkshake we tried previously, imo. the wheelhouse bar on sun princess.
Shown below is the wheelhouse bar on Sun Princess around 1pm on a sea day. This is a popular spot for drinks before dinner!
Complimentary liquor tasting & history of whiskey events
The Princess Cruises App shows you all of the activities for the day and allows you to bookmark your favorites. A complimentary liquor tasting on a cruise is pretty common and will be held in the duty-free liquor store on board. On Sun Princess the duty free liquor store is called Fine Spirits & Treats and in this shop they held the free liquor tasting as well as an educational whiskey tasting.
I do recommend coming on time and only lingering in the shop if you are ready to make a purchase or else it can get awkward. Of course the point of these events are to generate sales and the crew members need to make sales to perform well. We had the opportunity to try a unique Cotswolds single malt whisky. Also wanted to give a shoutout to the beautiful tile design inside this duty-free shop on Sun Princess. I really loved this design and it suited my huaraches nicely, don't you think?! :p 
Stunning Tile Design in Sun Princess Duty Free Shop
• Shop: Nisolo Huaraches in Brandy
pizza & Dogs on the Pool deckFrom the shop on deck 7 we headed up to deck 9 - the pool deck - to walk around and enjoy the sea views, but let me tell you it's hard to walk past the Princess Pizzeria without checking the menu and grabbing a slice. The special of the day was Four-Cheese pizza (fresh mozzarella, fontina, provolone, and dolcelatte). * This 4 cheese slice was the best pizza we ate on Sun Princess! So happy we grabbed this slice, although after that day we never managed to catch it again which was for sure a bummer. Feedback for Princess Cruises: Serve the Four-Cheese pizza more often! :o) Hot dogs on sun princess
There are several hot dog choices available at the grill on Sun Princess.
You can order the hot dog as suggested on the menu which includes mustard, relish, and fried onions, or you can alter it how you prefer such as with just fried onions and ketchup. They always serve the fries in the cute little baskets and the trays are perfectly picnic-y with the red and white checkered liners. We enjoyed sitting by the windows as we passed through the Dardanelles Strait of Turkey. Princess crew call chat reviewThis feels like a good moment to give some feedback on the Princess Crew Call Chat. On the Princess Cruises App you have access to "Crew Call Chat" 24 hours per day. This is a really great feature and allows you to ask questions and receive answers via text rather than having to make a phone call or go down to the desk in person. Love this feature! The quality of the responses, though, was a bit hit or miss. For instance, on the schedule there was a "Craft" in the Horizon's Dining Room on deck 7. No further details. So I decided to ask the CrewCall Chat what the craft was. 
Arts & Craft Activity on Sun Princess
Their response was to list out several activities that afternoon (not helpful) and then tell me to look at the schedule in my room (not helpful) and then send the generic I'm-closing-out-this-ticket message to finish the chat (corporate box ticking at it's finest). 
Crew Call Chat
I found this a little bit annoying to be honest as my question was not answered, I was clearly already familiar with the schedule in the room and on the app as I asked about a specific event listed on there. In the end they basically told me to go to the dining room and find out lol. 
Not super helpful CrewCall Chat
Imagine I had mobility issues. It would have been really nice if someone could have told me what this activity entails (like.. is this a children's activity or something adults would also enjoy) before I make my way with great effort across the ship. Do you see what I mean? I truly don't know if the people responding to the Chat are on the ship and what information/resources they have access to, but on a number of occasions I found the Crew Chat to be less than helpful, unfortunately. Always giving an honest review over here. Crew Chat is a great app feature which could use some improvements. complimentary laundry on sun princess
When you sail on Princess with Elite Status one of the best benefits is free laundry. It was really nice to return to our room and find our laundry washed, pressed, folded, or hanging. Especially on a 14 night cruise, having complimentary laundry is game changing. This is one way Princess Cruise Lines rewards loyalty to their line.
Still, there are things you may wish to consider in order to decide whether or not to send your laundry out on a cruise. • • Coming Soon: Tips for washing clothes on a cruise • • 
Princess Elite Cruisers enjoy complimentary laundry!
Princess does have laundry rooms for public use throughout the ship. Many who do not wish to hand wash their clothes on vacation will make use of these laundry facilities on a cruise ship.
Self service laundry is a top rated feature of Princess by many cruisers that other lines should take note of. dinner in the sun princess main dining room
For some reason we missed snapping a pic of the dinner menu in the main dining room this night. Must have been distracted by visions of crab cakes and beef Wellington ... At any rate, here's what we tried!
Crab Cake
A crab cake with some lump crab meat as seen in the photo wearing a hat of greens, one ruby slipper and resting atop a bed of aioli.
I really enjoyed the crab cake and accompanying sauce. We did find it a bit strange, however, that a breaded and fried item would be sat on top of a creamy sauce, rather than the sauce being a garnish along side. We found this odd because 1. it makes the bottom of the crab cake soggy and 2. if you are averse to the accompanying sauce now the whole bottom of your crab cake is tainted by it. I could see this causing some cruisers to become crab cakes themselves. :p
Feedback for Princess Cruises: Sauces beside fried foods, please and thanks! :) Prosciutto & Melon with endive + Arugula
Here are two different plates of the same dish for consistency comparison. This prosciutto and melon medley accented with a bit of endive and arugula is such a prime example of how simple dishes can be outstanding. With a few flavorful ingredient you have all you need!
This melon and prosciutto salad would make for an easy appetizer at a dinner party!
Roasted pear salad
A roasted pear salad was hard to pass up and I am so pleased I didn't skip it. I'm a big fan of fruit on salads and this salad offered a brilliant mix of colors and textures between the leaf lettuce, roasted red pepper slices, cooked pears, and sprouts on top. Beneath the sprouts you could find crumbled blue cheese - always complimentary to sweet pears!
This salad is another cruise food worth re-creating at home!
beef wellington
Beef Wellington is at the top of the list of foods I'm eager to order on a cruise. It's such a fancy meal that is more laborious to make than we care to do very often (literally probably 10 years ago was the last time), but when executed well is such a delight.
Beef Wellington on Sun Princess
While the plating was lovely I was surprisingly underwhelmed by this under seasoned and overcooked Beef Wellington on Sun Princess. Later on in the cruise a waiter gave us the tip to order one step rarer than you want because that's the way to get the cook you want on it. So I guess we should have ordered medium-rare?
I hope this is a fluke, but I'd love to know how your Wellington was on your last cruise? Sun princess dessert Menu
Sun Princess Dessert Menu
coconut cake with raspberry sauce
At the waiters recommendation I ordered the coconut cake with raspberry sauce, but found it a bit boring. The cake was on the dense and dry side. The filling was okay and it really needed more raspberry sauce.
Coconut Cake with Raspberry Sauce
Chocolate tart
The chocolate tart with vanilla crème anglaise was as rich and chocolatey as you can imagine by looking at the photo. The crust had an interesting texture reminiscent of the oatmeal-y nature of no-bakes, but more finely ground and drier.
Chocolate Tart
Iced cointreau souffle
The iced cointreau soufflé was a last minute addition and it was the highlight of this night's dessert! If you like cointreau / citrus flavor definitely order this unique cold soufflé!
Iced Cointreau Souffle
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Day 4 of our Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise landed us on the Greek Island of Crete. This was, in fact, an alteration to our original itinerary. Santorini was our original port of call, but it was changed to Chania, Crete. New Cruiser FYI: If you have never cruised before you should be made aware that ports of call are subject to change. If there is a safety issue, capacity issue, or other unforeseen circumstance a cruise line may stop at a different port or have another sea day.
To start our day on Crete, we ordered the free room service breakfast on Princess. We ordered 2 danishes, 1 pizza muffin, an egg and cheese English muffin, a fruit plate, and bananas along with coffee, of course!
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Princess Cruise Review
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Starboard View of Souda Port Chania on the greek Isle of Crete
We mused that the "Welcome to Souda Port Chania" sign must have been there since Paul's day based on how worn and barely visible the words were.
Welcome To Souda Port Chania | Crete Cruise Port
View from Balcony 11221 Starboard, looking at Chania port toward the left, straight ahead, and to the right respectively.
Crete Cruise Port FAQs
Is Chania a tender port?
It can be, but on our Mediterannean cruise we did not tender on Crete with Princess Cruise Lines. Check your cruise itinerary or contact your cruise line to confirm if you will be tendering or docking on Crete.
Where do cruise ships dock in Crete?
The majority of cruise ships will dock in Iraklion (Heraklion) port or Souda (Chania) when visiting Crete for the day.
Where does Sun Princess dock in Chania, Greece?
On our cruise, Sun Princess docked at Souda Port. Souda is the name of the port in Chania.
Also note the blue dot on the map below to indicate where Sun Princess was docked in Crete.
It can be, but on our Mediterannean cruise we did not tender on Crete with Princess Cruise Lines. Check your cruise itinerary or contact your cruise line to confirm if you will be tendering or docking on Crete.
Where do cruise ships dock in Crete?
The majority of cruise ships will dock in Iraklion (Heraklion) port or Souda (Chania) when visiting Crete for the day.
Where does Sun Princess dock in Chania, Greece?
On our cruise, Sun Princess docked at Souda Port. Souda is the name of the port in Chania.
Also note the blue dot on the map below to indicate where Sun Princess was docked in Crete.
Cruise Travel Tip
Cruise Travel Tip: On Sun Princess, there were large screens along the path to exit the ship on port days which featured contact information for the Port Agent. Make sure to snap a photo of the Port Agent Contact Information. It will usually be in your printed daily schedule as well.
If you run into any trouble while in Port, including if you're running late, (ps. please don't run late getting back to the ship!) it will be essential to contact this number for help. It is well known that cruise ships will leave passengers who aren't back on board in time, so always get back to your ship with plenty of time if you are doing your own excursions.
Still, 'unexpected events overtake us all' and if you find yourself in that situation, call the port agent right away and let them know. No guarantee the ship can wait or will wait, but you stand a better chance if you've communicated and they know what's going on. =)
Our one day in chania cruise port
Shuttle Bus to Chania Town
Chania is a very walkable and cute port to visit, however you cannot quickly walk to Chania from Souda Port. It would be quite a long walk, something to the tune of 2 hours.
Needless to say, we were very happy that Princess had a complimentary shuttle bus from Souda Port which dropped us off in Chania near the Municipal Garden of Chania.
Chania is a very walkable and cute port to visit, however you cannot quickly walk to Chania from Souda Port. It would be quite a long walk, something to the tune of 2 hours.
Needless to say, we were very happy that Princess had a complimentary shuttle bus from Souda Port which dropped us off in Chania near the Municipal Garden of Chania.
Free Shuttle Bus from Souda Port to Chania Town | Princess Cruise Review
The bus displayed a sign in the front window which said "Sun Princess Shuttle".
How long is the shuttle from Souda Port to Chania? The ride was between 15 and 20 minutes and gave a good opportunity to check out some key phrases in Greek from The Turquoise Collection. |
Handy Greek Travel Phrases
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A walk through chania, crete
After getting off the shuttle I snapped a pic of this monument and area which was under construction. As it turns out this is the entrance to the Agora, the Municipal Market of Chania.
It is currently being restored and while it was anticipated to reopen in summer 2024, the expectation is now at least spring of 2025.
Chania's Agora, or Marketplace, is currently being renovated. A Spring 2025 re-opening is anticipated | Crete Travel Blog
As we walked along the perimeter of the Municipal Gardens of Chania to reach the coastal area, we met two of the loveliest elderly ladies at the cart. We learned via google translate, it was their custom every week on this day to be there. Modern day Anas to warm our hearts. Although we couldn't speak the same language we instantly felt the special bond that is such a treasure.
Next we popped into a grocery store to take a peak around. Fully enjoyed this coffee grinder. Nothing like freshly ground coffee beans!
A Rustic Coffee Grinder in a Grocery Store on the Greek Isle of Crete
Walking around Chania is enjoyable. From wide shopping and dining streets like this one ..
A spacious walking street in Chania | What to do on Crete
... to narrow winding alleys, you'll enjoy exploring this Greek isle on your cruise!
A Narrow Street in Chania | Chania Cruise Port In One Day
Here's a cute hotel entrance framed by a blooming bougainvillea which provides shade like an umbrella from nature for anyone sitting at that little table. =)
Charming Chania Hotel Bougainvillea in Bloom
Unique Greek Gift Ideas on Crete
Leather goods make a great souvenir from Crete. This leather shop called Baba Yank Handcraft Leather Workshop sold leather belts, leather purses and backpacks.
Do you see the green and yellow leather bags in the photo? This backpack style is called Vourgiali or Vourgia.
According to their website, this style of bag is used by Cretan shepherds and farmers to store their daily meals. Vourgiali can also be found in Cyprus and the Dodecanese islands. This leather backpack would be a really cool souvenir from Crete - it's useful, it's unique, it supports a local artisan, and it has cultural significance and an interesting story.
Do you see the green and yellow leather bags in the photo? This backpack style is called Vourgiali or Vourgia.
According to their website, this style of bag is used by Cretan shepherds and farmers to store their daily meals. Vourgiali can also be found in Cyprus and the Dodecanese islands. This leather backpack would be a really cool souvenir from Crete - it's useful, it's unique, it supports a local artisan, and it has cultural significance and an interesting story.
Greek Cruise Souvenir Ideas - Leather Goods
If leather isn't your thing. check out O Armenis for more unique souvenirs from Crete.
Handmade Knives at O Armenis in Chania
O Armenis sells traditional cutlery and you can see how unique these handmade knives certainly are.
O Armenis - Traditional Cretan Knives Since 1912 Workshop in Chania
The tall walking sticks / shepherds crooks caught my eye as well. I was curious how much they cost. These cool walking sticks were 80 euros, but I imagine they will be hard to pack in your checked luggage. lol
Shopping in Chania, Crete | Mediterranean Cruise Travel Blog
The store Cream Of Hippocrates also looked to have some unique items. Bags made traditionally on a handloom, homemade creams, not to mention books and toys.
Cream Of Hippocrates Store, Chania
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Handloomed Bag at Cream Of Hippocrates Store, Chania
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Walking past the next store, something immediately caught my eye - the colorful coin pouches inside the doorway. They looked Thai, without a doubt.
This cute boutique, Wipa Silk Shop, has loads of cute dresses and accessories including many authentic Thai goods. It was a highlight of the day to chat with the owner, a kind Thai woman.
Please stop in at Wipa when you are in Chania!
Wipa Silk Shop, Chania Crete
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Authentic Thai Accessories at Wipa Silk Shop
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Another great souvenir from Greece would be handmade leather sandals. Typically the sandals will have the family name stamped in the footbed. I much prefer this dignified way to acknowledge the maker than the overly branded items popular today, which can be tacky.
Diniakos Leather Sandals | Greek Cruise Souvenir Ideas
cretan Cats of chania
In the neighborhood were some adorable street cats and a comical, scruffy little dog.
old venetian port of chania
We had made it to the Old Venetian Port of Chania.
Old Venetian Port Chania, Crete
We found more cats hanging around waiting for a fresh catch and this one looked quite distinguished.
Striking Black Cat at Old Venetian Port Chania, Crete
There are plenty of restaurants to dine at along the Old Venetian Port where you'll have a view of the water and the Lighthouse of Chania.
What's so special about Chania's Lighthouse?
It's said to be the oldest lighthouse in the world so we thought it worth the walk down the long mole (the stone pier leading to the lighthouse), but not without first taking in the views.
Chania's old lighthouse in the distance
Before walking down the pier, take a peak around the corner of this stone wall to see glimpses of the Chanion Gulf in the Sea of Crete.
Chanion Sea | Greek Cruise Ports
Chania in one day on a cruise
The walk to the lighthouse starts out well. The walkway is spacious and affords views of the boats docked along the shore with the Venetian shipyards in the background.
View of Chania from the walkway to the Lighthouse
The mountains made a majestic backdrop for the Venetian Shipyards at the Chania Marina. Originally they were to build and maintain Venetian galleys (a type of boat that relied mostly on oars and was used for warfare, trade, and piracy in the European seas. source). Later when the Ottomans invaded Crete, the Shipyards actually became storehouses for food.
Mountainous background to the Venetian Shipyards in Chania
Sadly at this point on the journey to the lighthouse, things took a turn. I have to say the walk to the Chania lighthouse is not for the faint of heart on a blisteringly hot day.
The old sea wall going out to the lighthouse has sort of an upper level and lower level. At one point we took stairs to the upper level, which was more narrow and because I started to feel uneasy we turned back in order to continue on the lower level a la Proverbs 22:3.
Shortly thereafter my sandal proceeds to break in an irreparable way while we are on the middle of this long walk to the lighthouse in the blazing heat. We had no choice but to turn back and let me tell you it was an even longer walk back trying to hold onto my flipflop by scrunching up my toes while walking.
Tired, overheated, frustrated, and hungry we hobbled our way to a place called Tostachi.
The old sea wall going out to the lighthouse has sort of an upper level and lower level. At one point we took stairs to the upper level, which was more narrow and because I started to feel uneasy we turned back in order to continue on the lower level a la Proverbs 22:3.
Shortly thereafter my sandal proceeds to break in an irreparable way while we are on the middle of this long walk to the lighthouse in the blazing heat. We had no choice but to turn back and let me tell you it was an even longer walk back trying to hold onto my flipflop by scrunching up my toes while walking.
Tired, overheated, frustrated, and hungry we hobbled our way to a place called Tostachi.
Tostachi Restaurant Review | Chania Cruise Port Crete, Greece
Tostachi Restaurant Chania
Tostachi is a cute little restaurant serving bio (organic) foods made from the heart.
Inside Tostachi Restaurant on Crete
Tostachi Chania Menu
To Stachi Menu
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To Stachi Drinks and Sweets Menu
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To Stachi Main Menu
Greek Coffee
We started off with a greek coffee which is made in a pot called a Briki and is reminiscent of the Armenian coffee we had at Ararate Restaurant in Lisbon.
Greek Coffee at to Stachi in Chania
Cretan Spinach Pie
We ordered the Cretan spinach pie with "handmade phyllo pastry, wild seasonal greens & large variety of herbs."
Cretan Spinach Pie at To Stachi Chania
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Greek Spinach Pie on Crete
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Stelio's Salad
While we actually ordered a Greek Salad, in the end we seemed to have received Stelios's salad "with tomato, cucumber, onion, lettuce, rocket, herbs, coriander, avocado, olives, mizithra cheese & balsamic vinegar".
Stelios' Salad at To Stachi Chania
I absolutely loved this salad. I thought it was so flavorful and exciting. So full of colors and textures that you couldn't possibly call this a boring salad. This kind of salad makes eating healthy fun! =) |
A stunning salad on the greek isle of Crete
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Kalitsounia with honey - Dessert
For dessert we decided to try the kalitsounia with honey. This is "handmade phyllo pastry with mizithra cheese with Cretan thyme honey & cinnamon"
By the way, if you're wondering what is mizithra?! It's a homemade traditional cheese made from goats milk.
By the way, if you're wondering what is mizithra?! It's a homemade traditional cheese made from goats milk.
Cretan Dessert Kalitsounia with Honey at To Stachi restaurant
Fruit Plate
At the end they brought us this lovely fruit plate of fresh honeydew and strawberry with their compliments!
Fresh Fruit at To Stachi Restaurant
The best part of tostachi.
Chef Stelios, shown in photo wearing his apron, was the absolute highlight of our visit to Tostachi. He was passionate about all of the food he made, eager to explain each menu item, happy to take a video while he made our dessert and show it to us, and he just had a warmth and kindness about him that is rare to see these days.
Stelios touched our hearts!
The kind of guy who would repair a sandal for a total stranger :) and as if that wasn't enough, even provide extra wire in case the first fix didn't stay. What a legend!
Thanks to Stelios, I was able to walk back to the cruise shuttle bus with ease!
walking back to the cruise shuttle bus
With a newly repaired sandal, we could start the walk back to the shuttle bus pickup point, remembering to factor in the 20 minute bus ride and then walking to the actual ship so we wouldn't miss all aboard!
View across from To Stachi Restaurant in Chania
Cool Buildings in Chania
For some reason this red building was so intriguing..
Architecture of Chania
We walked near the water and the views of the Chanion Gulf were so beautiful.
Chanion Gulf
Once I saw these steps I knew I had to run down them real quick and dip my toe into the water - it was my last chance! When would I be on Crete again?! It was soooo refreshing on such a hot day.
Where locals dip their toe in - Chania Cruise Port
Wouldn't you love to visit Crete and spend some time in these beautiful waters?!
Beautiful waters surround Crete
Sailing from crete on Sun princess
Once we got back on Sun Princess we grabbed a little strawberry-topped donut snack and returned to our balcony for the sail-away views of Crete.
The views...
Sun Princess leaving Souda Port, Chania
... were just ...
Outstanding views Starboard on Sun Princess Greek Isles Cruise
so so so good!
Balcony Views from Souda Bay on Sun Princess
We couldn't get enough
Sailing away from Crete on a Mediterranean Cruise
of the views through souda bay
Cannot get over the views of Crete in Souda Bay | Greek Isles Cruise Travel Blog
dinner and Dancing in the Piazza
To wrap up a roller coaster of a day we grabbed a most random dinner from The Eatery on Sun Princess consisting of asian food and a dessert plate of greek sweets like baklava.
In the Piazza, the band was bringing out some smooth moves from fellow cruisers.
Day 5 of this Mediterranean Cruise on Sun Princess is a Sea Day so get ready for more cruise food pics and let us know if you think the food on Princess Cruises is good!
You will also like:
Sun Princess MEDITERRANEAN Cruise Blogs:
In this post we hope we gave you some helpful tips for visiting Chania Port Souda on a cruise and that we answered some questions you may have had such as:
- Is Chania walkable from cruise port?
- What to do in Crete from a cruise ship?
- Is Chania a tender port?
- What is the name of the port in Chania?
- What is the name of the cruise port in Crete?
- Is Chania Crete worth visiting? Yes!!
- What currency do they use in Chania?
Bring euros! The currency in Chania Crete is euro since Greece is part of the European Union. Cards are also widely accepted. Our favorite travel cards do not have foreign transaction fees either. ;)
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After a day of wandering around Naples by foot and eating so many delicious things like pizza in Naples, not to mention sweltering in the excessive heat, we were happy to have a sea day to recover.
We pretty much skipped breakfast and went straight to way too much lunch at the Americana Diner onboard Sun Princess. |
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The americana diner on sun princess
The Americana Diner is a great concept on Sun Princess. It is essentially the third floor of the main dining room and always offers walk-ins with a mostly standard menu featuring "classic American fare" along with a few items of the dinner menu which rotate each night in the bottom right hand corner.
Here's a sample menu:
Here's a sample menu:
Everyday Menu at the Americana Diner on Sun Princess
The hit buffalo wings
Five crispy wings tossed in buffalo sauce with blue cheese dip
The Hit Buffalo Wings on Sun Princess' Americana Diner
The wings were coated in a sticky spicy-sweet sauce and topped with micro greens (Sun Princess is all about the micro green garnishes..) alongside a few leaves of green lettuce and a basket of fries and dipping sauces. I would not really call these "buffalo wings", personally, because to me a buffalo wing is topped in a spicy yet tangy pepper-vinegar sauce mixed with butter. Red Hot, anyone? Now don't get me wrong, these wings were delicious and a total win. I was just very surprised by the sauce which looked more barbecue-y than buffalo imo.
Sticky Pork Ribs
Pickles, raw and smoky slaw, BBQ dip, cornbread
Wait... cornbread? I'm just now realizing there is no cornbread on this plate. Corn, yes. Cornbread no.... :(
Wait... cornbread? I'm just now realizing there is no cornbread on this plate. Corn, yes. Cornbread no.... :(
Sticky Pork Ribs with caramelized onions, sweet corn, and a pickle spear
The ribs were really good and we were quite impressed. Some of the meat fell right off the bone while other times required a bit more effort. Either way I can confirm that between these ribs and the "buffalo" wings, the way your cloth napkins will look by the end is arguably worse than any child's handiwork at a restaurant. And that's saying something.. Our waiter was so nice and brought extra napkins, insisting that we really enjoy and not worry about getting messy. :)
The Americana Burger
1/3lb patty, gouda and cheddar cheeses, bacon jam, tomato aioli, and arugula on a brioche bun.
This is a legit burger.
This is a legit burger.
Americana Burger with basket of fries, tomato aioli, and a mini salad
Check out that profile! That is a well structured burger and look at the char on the patty. Solid!!
Would you like a peek at the Bacon Jam?
Arugula and bacon jam on top of the Americana Burger at the included dining venue Americana Diner
Coffee and donuts milkshake
Tiramisu Ice Cream, Lavazza Espresso and Milk. Garnished with a sugar donut and whipped cream.
Coffee and Donuts Milkshake - free at Americana Diner
A really fun feature of the Americana Diner is that you can get free milkshakes here! I suspect this milkshake is vanilla ice cream and tiramisu flavor syrup. I honestly did not taste coffee in it so I would be quite surprised if there was really Lavazza Espresso in it like the menu says.
Donut Garnish on the Coffee and Donuts Milkshake - a bit dry and would not be missed :)
The canned whipped cream can stay, but the donut was not impressive so I say it can go, although they may need to change the name of the milkshake then..
We really enjoyed our lunch at the Americana Diner. This is a free dining option on Sun Princess Cruises and we definitely recommend checking it out. It was relaxed, the crew were extra friendly up there and the food was very good!
Now.. let's explore the Sun Princess ship some more.
We really enjoyed our lunch at the Americana Diner. This is a free dining option on Sun Princess Cruises and we definitely recommend checking it out. It was relaxed, the crew were extra friendly up there and the food was very good!
Now.. let's explore the Sun Princess ship some more.
Public Restooms on sun princess
Here is one of the many public restrooms on Sun Princess. As you can see it is modern, spacious, and bright. There is a baby changing station at the back wall, several toilet stalls, and a number of sinks with backlit mirrors.
Public women's restroom on Sun Princess
The sinks seemed like a neat concept - having the water, soap, and dryer all in one spot. But honestly this did not work well in practice. It was almost comical to witness everyone struggle trying to get soap and water to come out of the right side. Either you got water and could not get soap. Or you got soap and could never get water.
Sinks in the public restrooms on Sun Princess
Eventually it came out that you can't just move your hand from one side to the other, which is intuitively what everyone does. You have to take it completely away from the faucet and then reenter the sensor zone from the side you want - left for water or right for soap.
Most people did not opt to use these air hand driers because their position over the sink coupled with the strong air movement meant water from the sink would be spraying back up at you which is kind of weird. Fortunately there were always paper towels as an option. :)
Most people did not opt to use these air hand driers because their position over the sink coupled with the strong air movement meant water from the sink would be spraying back up at you which is kind of weird. Fortunately there were always paper towels as an option. :)
Alfredo's Pizzeria
Alfredo's Pizzeria is a casual restaurant on Sun Princess with an extra charge to enjoy unless you have booked the Princess Plus or Premium Fares in which case you may dine here at least once for free.
Table for 2 at Alfredos Pizzeria
Inside Alfredo's Pizzeria on Sun Princess
Of course loved the decorative plates with tile elements.
Reserve a special table for 4 at Alfredo's Pizzeria
Sabatini's Italian Trattoria
A classic Italian trattoria at sea with a cover charge of $35/per person, let's take a peek inside this specialty dining option on Sun Princess.
The $35 cover charge includes one selection from each course on the menu.
Free jewelry cleaning - story time.
In the Princess Patter and on the Princess Cruises App you will find various activities including complimentary massage tasters and complimentary jewelry cleaning, for example.
Now let's be clear... yes. These things are "complimentary". However, obviously like any free sample the overall purpose is to get you in the door, to try something, and to walk away buying something.
After deliberation I decided to work up the nerve to get my "complimentary" jewelry cleaning of my wedding rings seeing as they needed it and this was an anniversary cruise after all. :)
It was a funny experience.
Now let's be clear... yes. These things are "complimentary". However, obviously like any free sample the overall purpose is to get you in the door, to try something, and to walk away buying something.
After deliberation I decided to work up the nerve to get my "complimentary" jewelry cleaning of my wedding rings seeing as they needed it and this was an anniversary cruise after all. :)
It was a funny experience.
The jewelry cleaning service was sort of a waste of time, but I also don't regret it.
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First of all, there seemed some slight confusion as to if this event was really happening. The crew seemed to question the event until I showed the app. (This happened multiple times on this cruise btw) We had a brief small chitchat while he first examined my rings with his little eye magnifying glass thing. Official terms here people.
Next he cleaned my rings with the exact jewelry cleaner I have at home. lol. Good to know that's what the Diamonds International people are using.. Then he tossed the rings into a machine. His colleague offered us some bubbly while we waited which was nice and then added with a chuckle 'might as well since it's about to get thrown out anyway' and that was clear since there was hardly a bubble to be found. Not complaining, just stating facts. :) It was a nice gesture. Overall I was really pleased with the experience. I thought they made us feel welcome even though we were there exclusively to clean the jewelry and not to shop. But later I really had to laugh because as we walked away and I took my ring off and saw the underneath part had not been cleaned at all. You know, the part where all the soap and nastiness is.. aka the part that actually needed cleaned... lol! |
Cruise Tip - Free Champagne on a Cruise: This is a good time to let new cruisers and budget cruisers know that there are a number of opportunities to enjoy a free glass of champagne throughout a cruise. Some require more nerve than others.
For instance, you can often enjoy a free glass of champagne or rosé at the jewelry store or watch store. While you browse expensive jewelry the cruise lines are happy to dull your senses with a glass of something or other so that you don't see the price tags as clearly ;p
In some case there will be set times scheduled on your cruise app / daily schedule like the princess patter indicating they are offering this. In other cases there is always a bottle on ice inside the stores and if you feel like it you can waltz in, ask for a glass, look around, and then leave.
For instance, you can often enjoy a free glass of champagne or rosé at the jewelry store or watch store. While you browse expensive jewelry the cruise lines are happy to dull your senses with a glass of something or other so that you don't see the price tags as clearly ;p
In some case there will be set times scheduled on your cruise app / daily schedule like the princess patter indicating they are offering this. In other cases there is always a bottle on ice inside the stores and if you feel like it you can waltz in, ask for a glass, look around, and then leave.
Afternoon treats
Since that was sort of a bust we thought we had earned ice cream cones so we made our way to the deck 9 free ice cream cone station on sun princess. Of course, we had to pass through the International Cafe and the Eatery buffet and it seemed like we needed to try a chocolate cupcake for your sake.
The chocolate cupcake had a nice and light looking topping finished with chocolate shavings and a strawberry, but it really was not that good. The cupcake was on the dry side and the icing had that weird oily texture that leaves a film in your mouth. Not a fan. Skip this and save your treat allotment for something else. You're welcome..told you we did it for you ;)
The free soft serve on Sun Princess is really good!
Back to the original plan with 2 ice cream cones and this was a great success! They only had vanilla ice cream cones (this would change during the second sailing) but the ice cream was really tasty. I preferred the ice cram on Sun Princess over the free soft serve on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas in 2023.
Actually these ice cream cones reminded me of the occasional service break at McDonald's for an ice cream cone growing up! Nothing tastes better than nostalgia. :)
Actually these ice cream cones reminded me of the occasional service break at McDonald's for an ice cream cone growing up! Nothing tastes better than nostalgia. :)
Scotch with a view
In our balcony stateroom tour post, I mentioned the minibar set up in our room. This is complimentary for any cruisers with Elite status on Princess Cruise Lines. To get elite status you have to sail with Princess for many nights, but there are a couple of other ways to enjoy elite benefits ;)
Relaxing on the balcony, with or without a drink, and enjoying the sea air and peaceful ocean views is one of the best parts of a cruise!
the Captain's Champagne Effervescence show
Just before dinner was a show in the Piazza. As you can see, all 3 floors of the Sun Princess Piazza were packed out for the Captain's Champagne Effervescence Show. This show featured the Cirque performers and they did some unbelievable aerial stunts. In fact, afterwards we got to thinking how there was no safety net whatsoever and some of the moves seemed very risky let alone on a moving ship! :-/
Captain's Champagne Effervescence Show in the Piazza on Sun Princess
During this show crew distribute free champagne to anyone who wants some on all three floors. This is another opportunity to enjoy free alcohol on a cruise, but not every cruise line has a Champagne event like this one by Princess.
Captain's welcome dinner in the main dining room
Captain's Welcome Dinner Menu on Sun Princess
Prociutto Ham Starter
buttery manchego cheese, sweet port cherries
Neither of us could pass up the prosciutto ham starer with manchego cheese and sweet port cherries. The above photos are 2 different portions. This is a fabulous starter, high recommendation.
Caesar salad
A run of the mill Caesar Salad
The Caesar salad was good, nothing extra special to note here.
Roasted beef tenderloin and grilled tiger prawn with port wine reduction
velvety potato mousseline, buttered vegetables
Elegant Tiger Prawns and Beef Tenderloin
Tip For Home Cooks: If you want to make something fancy just sprinkle a few micro greens on top. That's the messaging I got on this cruise. But also... if you can intertwine a couple of shrimp and stack them on a slice of beef tenderloin.... also fancy. And if you call the shrimp prawns... even more fancy ;)
Captain's Welcome Dessert Menu
Dessert Menu on Sun Princess Captain's Welcome Dinner
Caramel pecan turtle cheesecake
cheesecake with butterscotch sauce
For the cheesecake and caramel lovers out there, you may enjoy this turtle cheesecake garnished with a piece of brittle!
Black forest cake
Chocolate cake, kirschwasser-flavored cream, bing cherries, chocolate shavings
More in this sun princess cruise review series:
Ready to enjoy a sea day on the mediterranean?
When trying to decide what to do in Naples cruise port, the age old conundrum arises - DIY or shore excursion? We often DIY our time in cruise ports because we like to explore on foot, leisurely, and try to get a glimpse of "local life".
Of course I put local life in quotes because authenticity can be eroded in any port city with so many tourists. Still, you can always find it to some extent if you're interested in it and willing to put forth the effort to walk a little farther or take a peek down that grungy, unpolished alley. :)
And let's face it, shore excursions can be expensive. We live a very simple life and we are just happy and grateful to be able to be on the cruise, period, even if we can't do all the "bucket list" excursions in every port. Another day I will share some of the Naples Cruise Port Best Excursions for those who have the means (or patiently and intentionally saved up) to splash out!
diy walking tour around naples
For now, let's take a stroll around Naples!
Heading to the right after crossing the street from the Naples Cruise Port, I really enjoyed this botanical display outside the Luxury Hotel Romeo Napoli. It felt like a free visit to Phipps' Botanical Garden Desert room. :)
Heading to the right after crossing the street from the Naples Cruise Port, I really enjoyed this botanical display outside the Luxury Hotel Romeo Napoli. It felt like a free visit to Phipps' Botanical Garden Desert room. :)
Hotel Romeo Napoli Cacti Landscaping
piazza giovani bovio King victor manuel II Monument
We worked our way inland toward Metro stop Università at Piazza Giovanni Bovio. At the center of this Piazza is a monument which I had no idea what it represented (which will be a running theme lol) but figured I should snap a picture and look into it later.
Monument to King Victor Manuel II in a Naples Piazza
As it turns out, this monument is of King Victor Manuel II.
"It is a sculptural ensemble formed by the equestrian statue of the king, of eighty tons, the work of Alfonso Balzico on a drawing by Emilio Franceschi, by the mermaid Parténope, mythological founder of the city of Naples, carved by Salvatore Cepparulo, and by an eagle spreading its wings." - Wikipedia
"It is a sculptural ensemble formed by the equestrian statue of the king, of eighty tons, the work of Alfonso Balzico on a drawing by Emilio Franceschi, by the mermaid Parténope, mythological founder of the city of Naples, carved by Salvatore Cepparulo, and by an eagle spreading its wings." - Wikipedia
Camera di commercio napoli
The building in the background also felt noteworthy ;p, the Camera di Commercio Napoli (Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato e Agricoltura di Napoli in full). Please enjoy an obligatory photo of the lion statue with some sort of cherub (?) out front. Apologies I can provide no context. This is why people pay for tours lol
Litter and graffiti at the foot of the cherub and lion statue - Camera di Commerce Building in Napoli
The stroll continued to our first Italian fountain - hooray! But we were sort of in a hurry once we found out the pizza place was about to close, so I snapped another obligatory pic as we rushed on for a few more blocks.
fountain of neptune - number one fountain in naples
It turns out this is the Fountain of Neptune (Fontana del Nettuno) which Tripadvisor identifies as the number one fountain in Naples - good thing I got this low quality photo right?!
Remember the monument to the Italian king earlier in this post? Apparently it used to be located in this square and the fountain of Neptune used to be located in the Piazza Borsa (Piazza Giovanni Bovio) where the King statue is now. I had no idea they moved these things around..
Remember the monument to the Italian king earlier in this post? Apparently it used to be located in this square and the fountain of Neptune used to be located in the Piazza Borsa (Piazza Giovanni Bovio) where the King statue is now. I had no idea they moved these things around..
Fountain of Neptune - Number One Fountain In Naples, Italy
What is interesting about the Naples Fountain of Neptune is that it was sculpted between 1600-1601! (source)
It also made me happy to see some kids kicking around a ball in the plaza as it feels like a glimpse of local life - a lazy Sunday for Neapolitans.
Also because seeing kids playing outside has become somewhat of a rarity these days, unfortunately..
But let's not think about that, because we're on our way to get pizza, remember?!
It also made me happy to see some kids kicking around a ball in the plaza as it feels like a glimpse of local life - a lazy Sunday for Neapolitans.
Also because seeing kids playing outside has become somewhat of a rarity these days, unfortunately..
But let's not think about that, because we're on our way to get pizza, remember?!
streets of naples
A Girl Walks Down A Street In Naples
The streets of Naples feel busy, whether there are many pedestrians or not. The wires, the balconies, the plants, the laundry, the signs, the scooters, the garbage bins, and the dark cobble stones which my Italian uncle told me are made from the lava of Vesuvius! It's a lot to take in.
A man drives a motorcycle down a narrow street in Naples with a cruise ship in view
Can you see a cruise ship peeking through this narrow street in Naples? And see that blue shadow in the background - that's Mount Vesuvius and it is considered an active volcano "overdue" to erupt according to volcanologists and geologists.
Also notice the motorcyclist in the black helmet driving down this narrow street full of pedestrians. You really need to keep your wits about you!
All that walking and trying to avoid being hit by a vespa and we were ready forPizza in Naples!
Also notice the motorcyclist in the black helmet driving down this narrow street full of pedestrians. You really need to keep your wits about you!
All that walking and trying to avoid being hit by a vespa and we were ready forPizza in Naples!
Pizza & passione di Lino Gas Naples
The doors are wide open at Pizza & Passione di Lino Gas in Naples
Jump to the --> Pizza & Passione Naples Pizzeria Review <-- for all the delicious food pics and cost of pizza in Italy details!
After eating a delicious Margherita Pizza and Pizza Fritta, it was time to walk it off.
Napoli Metro Station
We came to Napoli Metro Station and took a peek inside. It was later Sunday afternoon and there was someone in the office if you did need help. I always think it's interesting to take a look in a metro station. Sometimes there is interesting art to be found. Do you know of any subway stations with cool hidden details that are largely unknown?
Line 1 Route Maps for Naples Metro Napoli Station are shown below.
You can reach a metro station (not this one) in brief walk from the Naples Cruise Port which is very convenient. The closest metro station to Naples Cruise Port is Colombo-Porto.
How much do Metro Tickets cost in Naples, Italy?
Tickets cost just over a euro so this would be a great and affordable way to get around Naples if you are an independent traveler who likes to explore on your own!
How much do Metro Tickets cost in Naples, Italy?
Tickets cost just over a euro so this would be a great and affordable way to get around Naples if you are an independent traveler who likes to explore on your own!
authenticity in naples
Residents' laundry hangs outside to dry along the public street near Napoli Metro Station
Across the street from Napoli Metro Stations were signs of every day life - laundry in the street above and a stepladder in the picture below presumably reserving a parking space reminiscent of the way a chair set in the street can hold a parking space in some Pittsburgh neighborhoods. iykyk lol.
A stepladder reserves a parking space in Napoli
If you're wondering what shoes to wear in Naples and how women are dressing in Italy - this is something you will see a lot of. Whether a classic floral or a bright abstract patterned dress, nearly everyone is rocking comfortable tennis shoes. You're doing so much walking on varied surfaces that you want footwear that is comfortable, supportive, and stable.
fashion in naples
Italian women in dresses rock tennis shoes as their chosen footwear
We made some lovely new friends on the main street - Via Toledo. This street is full of shopping and a draw for Italian tourists, cruise ship passengers, and just about anyone visiting Naples city center.
Travel Tip: Be sure to have internet access and a translate app downloaded so you don't miss out on great conversations in foreign languages ;)
Travel Tip: Be sure to have internet access and a translate app downloaded so you don't miss out on great conversations in foreign languages ;)
Friendly faces greet hundreds if not thousands every day on Via Toledo in Naples, Italy
deeper than decorative
And to end our day walking around Naples, here's another random statue. This one set in front of a University, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, to be precise. Founded in 1224, UniNA is actually one of the oldest public universities in the world!
With its femininity, it seems that this statue may be a sphinx from greek mythology. During the Renaissance, European decorative art saw a revival of the sphinx. There is a lot of historical symbolism and even religious significance around sphinxes in various cultures.
With its femininity, it seems that this statue may be a sphinx from greek mythology. During the Renaissance, European decorative art saw a revival of the sphinx. There is a lot of historical symbolism and even religious significance around sphinxes in various cultures.
What appears to be a Greek Sphynx Statue at the steps of UniNA
But alas, we've come to the end of our walking tour around Naples.
Naples is a great port as you can take amazing all-day excursions to historical sights or do a DIY food tour, walking tour, or just observe Neapolitan architecture and try to decipher some of the history of the design elements and monuments all around.
Naples is a great port as you can take amazing all-day excursions to historical sights or do a DIY food tour, walking tour, or just observe Neapolitan architecture and try to decipher some of the history of the design elements and monuments all around.
vesuvius in view
Sun Princess Cruise Ship Docked in Naples with Mount Vesuvius In View
PIZZA IN NAPLES - DAY 2 SUN PRINCESS MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE WITH GREEK ISLES, ITALY & TURKEY
7/15/2024
On the second day of our Sun Princess cruise, we woke up in Naples with a one word mission: Pizza! It's almost literally illegal to visit Naples and not have pizza, right? ;)
But first, let's take in the views from the balcony!
But first, let's take in the views from the balcony!
Naples Cruise Port Balcony View From Stateroom 11221 on Sun Princess
It was a bit overcast when we visited Naples Cruise Port, but don't be deceived - it was still plenty hot even though it was early June.
In this post:
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Hazy mountain outlines in the distance - Naples Cruise Port
Would you like to see a view of Napoli from the docked cruise ship?
First look at Napoli from Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Ship
Quick bites to eat on sun princess
With those glimpses of Naples taken in, we were excited to get out on foot to explore the city and, of course, eat pizza!
But first, we needed to fuel up with some quick bites on the ship.
Here's what we snagged for a very late breakfast/early lunch on Sun Princess.
But first, we needed to fuel up with some quick bites on the ship.
Here's what we snagged for a very late breakfast/early lunch on Sun Princess.
International Cafe - Pastel de nata
On our way to the buffet, which is called The Eatery on Sun Princess, we were walking past the International Cafe and it seemed a requirement to try a Pastel de Nata.
Portuguese Custard Tart, Pastel de Nata, on Princess Cruises
A Pastel de Nata is a delicious and famous Portuguese pastry - a custard tart which we are well familiar with ;)
Pastel de Nata Portuguese Pastry at the International Cafe on Sun Princess
How good could a pastel de nata be on a cruise ship? In our opinion, what makes a pastel de nata a success comes down to having a crisp and flakey crust and the custard being just the right texture, not too eggy.
As you can see we take very seriously checking the crust - and this looks very promising ;)
A crisp and flakey crust is key to a delicious pastel de nata Portuguese egg custard tart
We felt like this was a respectable representation of an iconic Portuguese pastry for the uninitiated! The only thing missing was a sprinkle of canela (the portuguese word for cinnamon) on top!
By the way, it's easy to make these Portuguese Pastries!
See how here: Inspired By Travel: Making Pastéis de Nata Portuguese Custard Tarts
By the way, it's easy to make these Portuguese Pastries!
See how here: Inspired By Travel: Making Pastéis de Nata Portuguese Custard Tarts
INTERNATIONAL CAFE - Spinach Quiche
I find it difficult to pass up a quiche. I'm not sure why?
Maybe because they are delicious.
Maybe because it reminds me of stopping for breaks at Panera on a Saturday morning with my family growing up and occasionally splashing out for one of their quiches? or maybe it was a soufflé?
Honestly I can't remember, but those were so good - do they still have them?
Maybe because they are delicious.
Maybe because it reminds me of stopping for breaks at Panera on a Saturday morning with my family growing up and occasionally splashing out for one of their quiches? or maybe it was a soufflé?
Honestly I can't remember, but those were so good - do they still have them?
Spinach Quiche - International Cafe on Sun Princess
Check out the side view of this quiche though. I mean doesn't that look delicious?! What impressed me most about this quiche on a cruise ship is that it was warmed up!!!
I was 100% not expecting this at all, but absolutely delighted when the girl pulled it from the case and put it in the warmer.
Should you serve quiche warmed, room temperature, or cold?
Honestly, I'll eat a quiche any way, but imo quiche served warm is next level and my only regret is that I didn't have any follow up quiches throughout the rest of this med cruise. :(
Worth the wait for a warm quiche on Sun Princess International Cafe
The Eatery on Sun Princess Lunch - Tom Kha gai + poke bowl
A visit to the eatery usually consists of walking the entire buffet to survey the options, but since we were eager to explore Napoli in a day, I grabbed the first things that jumped out at me - Tom Kha Gai Thai Soup and a Poke Bowl.
If you know Thai food, specifically the soup Tom Kha Gai, you will probably be surprised at the look of this soup.
What is Tom Kha Gai? ต้มข่าไก่
Tom Kha Gai is a chicken soup with a coconut milk based broth and loads of flavor.
The color is very off on this bowl and I really can't say there was any coconut milk in this soup which is bizarre. While I don't feel it does the traditional Thai soup justice, I did find the soup overall to be quite flavorful and I did enjoy it.
After all, when you have a bundle of enoki mushrooms in your bowl, it's hard not to enjoy, amiright?
If you know Thai food, specifically the soup Tom Kha Gai, you will probably be surprised at the look of this soup.
What is Tom Kha Gai? ต้มข่าไก่
Tom Kha Gai is a chicken soup with a coconut milk based broth and loads of flavor.
The color is very off on this bowl and I really can't say there was any coconut milk in this soup which is bizarre. While I don't feel it does the traditional Thai soup justice, I did find the soup overall to be quite flavorful and I did enjoy it.
After all, when you have a bundle of enoki mushrooms in your bowl, it's hard not to enjoy, amiright?
Tom Kha Gai Thai Soup on Sun Princess
The Poke Bowl on Sun Princess was an absolute star! these poke bowls were available every single day and I wish I had gotten more.
What is in a poke bowl?
At the minimum this poke bowl had fresh, raw salmon, cucumber, beets, radishes, seaweed, and red cabbage along with sticky rice and a sprinkling of mixed sesame seeds.
This Poke Bowl is a beautiful dish - colorful, light, refreshing, and a satisfying mix of textures and flavors - making it one of the best things I ate in The Eatery Buffet on Sun Princess.
A favorite food in The Eatery on Sun Princess - Light Refreshing Poke Bowl
If you're looking for fresh, healthy meal ideas for hot summer days - try a Poke Bowl! :)
INTERNATIONAL CAFE - Chocolate Drizzled Merengue
Since we had to go past the international cafe again to get back to our room, it seemed like a good idea to grab this meringue cookie because it's basically just air right? :p
What are meringues made of? Why are meringues so delicious?
Good question. Meringues are primarily made of egg whites and sugar and that's why they are so delicious. My favorite meringues have that light crunchy exterior texture and are a bit chewy in the center, how about you?
What are meringues made of? Why are meringues so delicious?
Good question. Meringues are primarily made of egg whites and sugar and that's why they are so delicious. My favorite meringues have that light crunchy exterior texture and are a bit chewy in the center, how about you?
Delicious Merengue, I mean Meringue, at the International Cafe on Sun Princess
Okay enough of the cruise ship food. Let's get to the main event - Pizza in Naples!
Pizza & Passione Pizze - Italy Restaurant Review
After getting off the ship we met some lovely friends at the carts who recommended we be sure to try fried pizza, aka pizza fritta which is classic Neapolitan street food so we determined to follow through. ;)
We walked to a restaurant called Pizza & Passione which was probably about a 1 mile walk from the cruise ship. We took our time taking in the scenes as it was our first time in Naples (more pics below) and once we arrived we nearly were turned away as they were about to close. :-/
Pizza & Passione di Lino Gas - Pizza Fritter near Naples Cruise Port
Americans, take note: It is extremely common in Europe for restaurants to close for several hours between lunch and dinner. I know that some restaurants do this in the US, but overall I think Americans are used to being able to get food at any hour of the day easily whereas in other parts of the world you really do have to manage your time to ensure you get in by 3pm or else you'll be waiting until 7pm often times!
Also be aware that the information on a restaurant's google listing is not always accurate. It may imply a restaurant is open all day and night and not actually list the space of time between lunch and dinner where they close. If you are not flexible with where and when you eat, be sure to call ahead to confirm hours and avoid disappointments.
Let's carry on and take a peak inside the kitchen:
Also be aware that the information on a restaurant's google listing is not always accurate. It may imply a restaurant is open all day and night and not actually list the space of time between lunch and dinner where they close. If you are not flexible with where and when you eat, be sure to call ahead to confirm hours and avoid disappointments.
Let's carry on and take a peak inside the kitchen:
A red hot pizza oven in Naples, Italy
I can't imagine how hot it must have been inside given the temperature outside.
The smallest spaces often make the most delicious food
Hard at work cranking out pizzas for the seated guests. Here's a peak at Pizza & Passione's seating:
Al fresco dining at Pizza & Passione di Lino Gas in Napoli
When it comes to beverages on a hot day like this, a cold Peroni is the only way to go while you wait for your pizza.
How much is Peroni Beer in Italy?
At this restaurant, a larger glass bottle of Peroni Beer (66cl) was 3.50 euro and was a perfect size to share! 33cl bottles are currently 2 euros each.
A cold Peroni Beer at Pizza & Passione in Naples Italy
Ripieni Fritti - o' battilocchio Fried Pizza at Pizza & Passione
What is Pizza Fritta?
Pizza Fritta, shown below, is a type of fried pizza originating in Naples, Italy. A round pizza dough is filled with sauce, cheese, etc, then folded in half and deep fried. It looks like a giant empanada!
Pizza Fritta, shown below, is a type of fried pizza originating in Naples, Italy. A round pizza dough is filled with sauce, cheese, etc, then folded in half and deep fried. It looks like a giant empanada!
Ripieni Fritti - O' Battilocchio Fried Pizza at Pizza & Passione Naples Italy
What is in Pizza Frita?
We ordered O'Battilocchio (should we have been insulted?) and the ingredients were pomodoro, provola, and pepe which translates to tomato provolone, and pepper. I could really taste the more intense, slightly smoky flavor of the provolone in the fried pizza compared to the Margherita pizza we also tried.
Here's a cross section, if you want to see what the inside of pizza fritta looks like and get an idea of the thickness and texture of the dough.
We ordered O'Battilocchio (should we have been insulted?) and the ingredients were pomodoro, provola, and pepe which translates to tomato provolone, and pepper. I could really taste the more intense, slightly smoky flavor of the provolone in the fried pizza compared to the Margherita pizza we also tried.
Here's a cross section, if you want to see what the inside of pizza fritta looks like and get an idea of the thickness and texture of the dough.
Inside a Pizza Fritta (Fried Pizza) in Naples Italy
This reminded us of something you might get at the fair in Pennsylvania in the summer time. :)
Pro Tip: Anything deep fried is always best eaten immediately before it has the chance to lose its crisp and get soggy. Don't waste a moment when your Pizza Fritta arrives!
How much is Fried Pizza in Naples?
At Pizza & Passione the pizza fritta we ordered was 7 euros in June 2024.
margherita PIZZA AT PIZZA & PASSIONE
Whenever we try a new pizza place we almost always get a Margherita because we want a baseline for the establishment. We want to see how good a simple and classic Margherita pizza is.
Our first margherita pizza in Italy
What is on a Margherita Pizza?
A margherita is a simple, fresh, delicious pizza consisting of olio, pomodoro, and mozzarella and basilico - that is to say tomato sauce, mozzarella, and finished with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh basil.
A margherita Pizza in Naples - tomato, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil
How much is pizza in Italy?
This margherita pizza cost 6 euros in Naples, Italy in June 2024.
This margherita pizza cost 6 euros in Naples, Italy in June 2024.
A glimpse underneath the Margherita Pizza at Pizza & Passione
How good is Pizza in Italy?
Listen. It's so so good, but you just need to go experience it first hand if it's within your ability. :)
Why is Pizza in Italy so much better than the US?
Italians are using high quality ingredients, often locally sourced, which will always yield the most delicious results. That being said, there are many incredible pizzerias in the US doing the same.
Still, Naples is considered the birthplace of pizza. Eating pizza in the very place pizza was invented is a special experience for any foodie. ❤
Pizza & passione Naples Italy Menu 2024
Menu = Cost of Pizza, Fried Pizza, Coffee, Limoncello, Coca Cola and Water in Naples Italy June 2024
returning to the ship in Naples
As it was time to board the ship, we made our way back to the Naples Cruise Port Terminal Building
Naples Cruise Port
After entering the building you will go up stairs or the escalators and staff directs you from there.
Inside Naples Cruise Port Terminal Building
You will walk the length of a building filled with souvenir shops - so if you missed grabbing your massed produced magnets and aprons with lemons or a little bottle of limoncello or some "leather" goods that the sales man made himself........ not skeptical at all ..... this is your chance to snag a momento on your way out of Naples. At the end of the building you will go back down stairs and outside to your ship!
Sun Princess Docked in Naples Italy for a Mediterranean Cruise - Is that Mount Vesuvius?
Dinner on the pool deck
We waved farewell to the passengers on the Aida Stella cruise ship and then said arrivederci to Naples, contented by the day and eager to return - sooner than you may think ;)
As there were no dining reservations available for the main dining room (we could have waited in a walk-in line), we decided to have dinner on the pool deck where Movies Under the Stars are shown every night.
Unfortunately, no sooner did we sit down at a perfect spot than a group of people sat right behind us including a woman who proceeded to loudly recap the entire movie to her friends while we (and others) were obviously trying to watch said movie for ourselves.... *eyeroll* What can I say? That's the general public for you. haha :p
The shwarma was delicious and highly recommended. The salad station has several suggested salad configurations or you can DIY. I went for the Chicken Cobb Salad and it was good, but I found the bacon to be unusually dry/hard to chew so I left all those bits behind. It did have plenty of chicken and blue cheese. This salad can easily be its own meal, not just a side.
Dessert at the international cafe
One last stop at the international cafe yielded the following little desserts:
A lovely slice of tiramisu, as shown below. Perfectly portioned and generously topped with cocoa powder, I found the flavors to be mild yet tasty and better than expected tbh!
A lovely slice of tiramisu, as shown below. Perfectly portioned and generously topped with cocoa powder, I found the flavors to be mild yet tasty and better than expected tbh!
Tiramisu at the International Cafe on Sun Princess
Historically I've not always been a big fan of cakes on cruises as they always seem to be a bit on the dry side. However, this nice chocolate cake held up to scrutiny pretty well thanks in part to the thin layers of cake and the fact that they were topped in fluffy mousse and smooth, shiny ganache. :)
A Chocolate Layered Mousse Cake at the International Cafe on Sun Princess
On that sweet note we close the second day of this Mediterranean Cruise on Sun Princess' Inaugural Season!
Sun princess Inaugural Season Cruise Blogs:
- Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise with Greek Isles, Italy & Turkey - Day 1
- Sun Princess Deluxe Balcony Stateroom 11221 Cabin Tour
- How to get to Civitavecchia Cruise Port by train from FCO Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy
- Traveling From Portugal to Rome For a Mediterranean Cruise - Ryanair flight review
Book a mediterranean cruise
Ready to book your Mediterranean cruise?! I'm ready to help!
❤ Let me know when you want to set sail! ❤
❤ Let me know when you want to set sail! ❤
After checking out our room it was time to explore the ship a bit and start trying all the included food options!
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In This Post:
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International Cafe on Sun Princess
We made our way down to deck 9 and as we traversed the piazza, took a peek at what the international cafe had to offer. The international cafe is a great feature on Princess Cruises. This spot is open 24/7 and has sweet treats (even Pasteis de nata!) and small savory items like little sandwiches and the like to curb the rumble in your tummy. :)
Princess Pizzeria on Sun Princess
The Princess Pizzeria located outside on deck 9 of Sun Princess served a style of pizza that was quite thick. I had hopes that it was a thick and airy/fluffy style of pizza, but to the contrary, I personally found it a bit heavy and it felt like the pizza dough was not quite cooked all the way through. We'll give it another go later in the cruise!
Burgers & Fries
Not to worry, just beside the pizzeria on deck 9 you could order burgers and fries and the crew were more than eager to invite us over! We requested only a basket of fries and they insisted that we sit down and relax and they would bring it over after they had been freshly fried. To my surprise they brought us 2 baskets!
Shop: Adorable mini fry baskets
2 cats in the piazza
As it was nearing sail-away time and we wanted to be on the balcony for that, we made our way back inside grabbed a cup of coffee from the buffet (aka World Fresh Marketplace) and stopped to watch a performance in the Piazza. CATS Strings were a talented electric violin duo who played in various venues around the ship. They always wore headbands with little cat ears.
Rome SAIL-AWAY on Sun princess
We made it back to the balcony to enjoy sailing away from Rome (Civitavecchia) cruise port. It's always exciting when you see the ship start to move away from the shore line. You can enjoy the sail-away on any public deck of the ship if you'd like, but we usually prefer to dodge the crowds and watch from our balcony if we have one!
sail away dinner menu Sun Princess
I would love to know what you would order off this menu. Feel free to leave a comment with what sounds most tasty to you!
Sun Princess 2024 Sail-Away Dinner Menu
Greek Salad
Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Food - Greek Salad
Chicken, Ham, Parmesan Croquette
Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Food - Chicken, Ham, Parmesan Croquette
Pork Tenderloin with Huckleberry Jam
Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Food - Pork Tenderloin with Huckleberry Jam
Linguine Vongole
Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Food - Linguine Vongole Seafood Pasta
Dessert menu day 1
Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Dessert Menu
After much deliberation we ended up with Vanilla Mascarpone & Blueberry Crèmeux
French Vanilla Bean Crème Brulée
Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Food - Creme Brûlée with Madeleine Cookies
Seasonal Fresh Fruit Plate
Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise Food - Seasonal Fruit Plate
With that our first day on the Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise came to a close. After a long day, once we returned to our room, I was thrilled to find the stateroom attendant had dropped off the fluffiest robes imaginable.
Sun Princess Tips: On embarkation day request a fluffy robe!
Sun Princess Tips: On embarkation day request a fluffy robe!
SUN PRINCESS INAUGURAL SEASON CRUISE BLOGS:
- Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise with Greek Isles, Italy & Turkey - Day 2 Pizza in Naples
- Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise with Greek Isles, Italy & Turkey - Day 1 (you are here)
- Sun Princess Deluxe Balcony Stateroom 11221 Cabin Tour
- How to get to Civitavecchia Cruise Port by train from FCO Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy
- Traveling From Portugal to Rome For a Mediterranean Cruise - Ryanair flight review
Want to book a MEDITERRANEAN Cruise?
Read Next: How to get to Rome Cruise Port By Train & Save a lot of Money!
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SUN PRINCESS MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE WITH GREEK ISLES, ITALY & TURKEY CRUISE REVIEW
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If you want, you could get a private transfer from FCO airport to the cruise port. It will probably cost you around $100 per person. On the other hand you can a take the train and it will cost you around just 11 euros per person. You don't have to guess what we chose lol.
What follows is a step-by-step travel guide that will help you take the train from Rome airport to the cruise port and potentially save a ton of money! :) |
How to get to the train station from FCO Airport
After disembarking our RyanAir Flight, we followed the exit signs "Uscita" as you can see below on the right.
Exiting Rome Airport
Once you round the bend, look for the bright yellow sign featuring various modes of ground transportation including the Train.
Follow the yellow signs for the train in FCO Rome airport
In our case, we were directed to exit the airport and walk outside to the train station. Periodically you would see the yellow square sign with the train icon on it.
Entrance to Stazione Fiumicino Aeroporto train station
The train station had lovely, large planters with tropical foliage which provided seating for passengers waiting, as well as a cafe and ticketing offices on either side.
In the picture below, the train platform is behind us and in front of us is an entrance to Fiumicino Airport. It's really convenient that you can take the train directly to the airport in Rome for your flight or hop on a train to your destination, like the Civitavecchia Cruise Port for a Mediterranean Cruise right after your flight!
Inside the train station at Rome Airport
Entering the rome airport train platform
The train platform at FCO stazione is not exceptionally big. Therefore you can only pass through when your train is one of the next to arrive. For mobile tickets, we had to see a live staff member to go through. Paper tickets could be scanned automatically. A bit counterintuitive, but whatever! :)
Closed doors leading to the train platform in Roma Aeroporto
Upon entering the platform is a sign showing the next train and the stops it will make, as seen below.
Upcoming train scheduled stops at Rome Airport Train Station
Rome Airport Train Station - Buying Tickets
When it comes to buying train tickets you have a few options.
- You can buy them in advance from trenitalia
- You can buy them at a ticketing machine in the airport or train station
- You can buy them at a ticketing counter - which is helpful if you need assistance from a human. :)
We bought our tickets in advance. Once you get to the train station you can validate your ticket on the app. Once validated, ticket times cannot be adjusted.
For instance if you want to board an earlier train, but you have already validated your ticket, you will have to wait until the scheduled train time.
This happened to us. We wanted to have tickets booked in advance so we wouldn't be stressed at the airport/train station, knowing we would be tired. We also weren't sure how timely our RyanAir Flight would be, so we added a little buffer time of around 1 hour after our flight was scheduled to land for our train ticket. In the end we could have taken an earlier train if we adjusted the ticket time once we arrived to the station and then validated the ticket. At least that's my understanding from what the attendant told me. :)
Really it was not too long or a big deal to wait and it gave us time to observe the flow of the airport station. Just sharing the details in case it helps you on your next trip to Rome!
Pro Tip: If you're having difficulty purchasing tickets for a train from the airport through trenitalia, try entering your search and clicking through rome2rio. ;)
A train on the platform at stazione fiumicino aeroporto in Italy.
Roma Ostiense - Changing Trains
To get to Civitavecchia Cruise Port from Rome Airport you will need to take 2 trains. We took the train from the airport to Roma Ostiense station. We followed the signs to the platform where we would board our connecting train, which you can see below.
Lost in translation
One amusing thing when traveling is finding humor in how signs are translated to English. Apparently, if you do not speak Italian the elevator is only operational from 5am until noon. lol in actuality it runs from 5am to midnight. :p
Elevator operational hours at Roma Ostiense Station
GEtting to the cruise terminal from civitavecchia train station
After exiting the train station at Civitavecchia station, there were quite a few drivers offering to take passengers to the ship for a fee. There is also a paid shuttle bus that costs 6 euros per person. We had read conflicting things about how far that bus gets you and the area was so congested we decided to just keep walking toward the ship on our own.
I have to be honest, it was not a super easy walk. It was extremely hot out, we had left our house at 3am and it was now like 1:30pm and we were running on fumes, at least I was for sure. Also, the sidewalks are in no way designed for seamlessly pulling luggage. We each had just one carry-on with a personal bag on top, but if you also had checked luggage - forget it! lol
Michelangelo Fortress Civitavecchia
As you are walking toward the cruise port, you will see Michelangelo Fortress on your left. It is not necessary to take this path to get to the cruise ships. You actually want to stay on the other side of the street.
Michelangelo Fort Civitavecchia
Free Shuttle to Civitavecchia Cruise Port
After crossing the street, to our happy surprise, we found a free shuttle to the cruise ship! It all happened so quickly, I snapped this picture of what was outside the window of the shuttle once we were on.
Onboard the free shuttle to Civitavecchia cruise port
Here is a snip of a map from the Port of Civitavecchia. I circled in red where the train station is located on the bottom right and where the free shuttle pick up is.
Map showing the free cruise port shuttle pick up location and Civitavecchia train station
The shuttle was quite full and it was hot onboard as well. About 20 minutes from when we boarded we were close enough to see the ship - so exciting!
View of the ship from the packed shuttle
There she is - the brand new Sun Princess!
Sun Princess in Rome (Civitavecchia) as seen through shuttle bus window
Boarding sun princess cruise ship in rome (civitavecchia port)
Boarding Sun Princess was an absolute breeze. If you're used to sailing the Caribbean you will be more accustomed to longer wait times to board your ship. Because many European/Mediterranean cruises are multiple voyages combined, you don't have a day where 100% of the passengers are disembarking and all the new cruisers are embarking.
Roma Cruise Terminal
Some people stay on the ship for 2 or 3 itineraries back to back. This makes it really nice, I think, as it cuts down on congestion and speeds up your embarkation time. And hey, if you can swing it financially you might as well. You're probably traveling quite far to embark and if you can stay for 2 segments you will see a ton of Europe or the Mediterranean in one go!
As you can see there are very few people in line to board and the chairs are totally empty. :)
Inside Roma Cruise Terminal Boarding Sun Princess
It took just a few moments at the counter for us to pick up our "Medallions". Some cruise lines use plastic cards as your room key and to scan you in and out of the ship at various ports. Others have move into various wearables like the Medallion Princess has. It comes on a lanyard, but there are tons of accessories you can buy for it if you're into that sort of thing. From wrist bands, to keychains, and Apple Watch adapters to necklaces and bracelets.
Supplies waiting to be loaded onto Sun Princess for a Mediterranean Cruise
With our medallions in hand it was time to let the adventure begin on this Anniversary Mediterranean cruise "onboard the Marvelous Sun Princess! Ciao.... for now" iykyk :p
A friendly bear welcomes you to Sun Princess!
Read This Next: Sun Princess Deluxe Balcony Stateroom 11221 Tour
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We were really happy to discover we could take a direct flight from Faro airport in Portugal right to FCO in Rome ahead of the Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise.
This trip would consist of many firsts:
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How to get to faro airport from Western algarve
While you can hire a transfer service, we initially planned to drive to the Faro airport and pay to park our car there. When I originally checked the prices it was going to be about 100 euros for the duration.
Typically we would fly out of Lisbon which requires taking the bus 2.5 hours and staying in a hotel the night before or paying around 50 euros in tolls plus gas each way not to mention parking.
Typically we would fly out of Lisbon which requires taking the bus 2.5 hours and staying in a hotel the night before or paying around 50 euros in tolls plus gas each way not to mention parking.
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So to be able to fly out of the airport less than an hour away and park our car there for around 100 bucks seemed great! Then the other shoe dropped. When I went to book the parking, the saver price was sold out and parking would now cost over 200 euros for the same time. UGH. :( We had to adapt. I was able to book an uber in advance for a 3am pickup. Yes, you heard right... 3 am pickup. It was about 55 euros. The ride back from the airport, this time via Bolt was 45 euros. In the end we paid about the same to be driven to the airport as we would have paid for parking after driving ourselves if we had gotten the cheaper price. And since that price was no longer available, we basically saved 50% off the prevailing rate by taking uber/bolt. It worked well! |
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Faro Airport Travel Tip: Book Airport Parking Early! Also consider if it makes more sense to use Uber/Bolt.
Check parking prices at Faro airport here.
Check parking prices at Faro airport here.
Flying Out of Faro Airport
Flying out of Faro airport was a delight. 10/10 recommend!
We arrived at 4:05am for a 6:20am flight to Italy. The airport was already abuzz with activity.
We arrived at 4:05am for a 6:20am flight to Italy. The airport was already abuzz with activity.
Faro Airport Portugal at 4am
It was just 4:08 when we entered the security line. As you can see the line was pretty wide open. :) It literally took longer to snake through the empty line than to go through the security!
No Security Line in Faro at 4am
By 4:16am our bins were on the conveyor belt and at 4:21am we were already through security and double checking our gate location. So just 16 minutes after Uber drop off we were through security and on our way to our gate. Maybe there is something to those painfully early morning flights after all...
Flight days are all about the "hurry up and wait" game, aren't they? So now that we had hurried to our gate, it was time to wait for an hour or so until boarding would begin.
Waiting at the gate for our RyanAir flight to Rome
Boarding Ryan air at Faro Aiport in Portugal
At 5:45am we were already queued up outside to climb up to our RyanAir plane for our 6:20 flight.
Boarding RyanAir flight FR1726 to Rome from Faro
I really loved not having to cram into a shuttle bus to get to our plane. Every time we fly out of Lisbon we have to do that and it's never my favorite.
Ryan Air FLight Safety Card
The flight safety instruction card for the Boeing 737-8200 was right on the seat in front of you along with adverts which alternated every 2-3 rows. I actually thought that was pretty good planning as if your gaze drifted between the seats you would see different ads.
The plane felt really fresh and new and I was pleased that the seat in front of me had plenty of room for my puffy samsonite bag that I always use as my "personal" item. Before we knew it, we were in the air with this view:
Somewhere over Almancil Portugal from RyanAir plane window
Arriving in Italy
After nodding off a good bit, we were already descending into Fiumicino (FCO) airport in Rome. The pastural views were lovely and can you spot the tiny airplane shadow captured here?! ;)
By 9am (okay 9am Lisbon time, 10 am Rome time) our RyanAir plane had landed in Rome (this photo is from the window of one RyanAir plane looking at another) and we were ready to experience train travel in Italy as we made our way to the cruise port at Civitavecchia.
How much does it cost to fly from portugal to rome?
This RyanAir flight from Faro Airport, Portugal to Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy cost $163.74 for 2 people including 2 cabin bags. So each of us could bring our personal bag to store under the seat and a carry on sized luggage to store overhead. This flight was in the month of June.
First impressions of ryan air:
I was a bit apprehensive ahead of this flight as I had always heard not-so-great things about RyanAir. Happily, our experience was great! Everything went smoothly with our flight. It was timely, the aircraft was comfortable and had plenty of room for my bags. Of course we got to board early since we paid for an extra cabin bag which helped.
I would not hesitate to fly Ryan Air again based on this experience. Let's hope they are all as good!!
RyanAir Travel Tip: Buy a cabin bag to get priority boarding ;)
I would not hesitate to fly Ryan Air again based on this experience. Let's hope they are all as good!!
RyanAir Travel Tip: Buy a cabin bag to get priority boarding ;)
How early should you fly ahead of a cruise?
We arrived in Rome around 10am local time for a cruise leaving the same day, at 6pm.
We would have preferred to arrive a day before the cruise started as it's just best practice, but since flights are only available a few days per week out of FAO Faro Airport to FCO Rome Airport, we didn't have much choice other than to fly the day of the cruise and assume some risk.
We calculated the risk and if something happened and we were to miss embarkation we felt relatively secure since our flights had been booked with our Sapphire card which has built-in travel protection. And we figured worst case scenario we could take a train to Naples and hop on the next morning. Much less risky than if we had been traveling from the States.
If you are traveling to Europe from the US, for example, I would never risk arriving the same day as the cruise. It could be so much more stressful if anything went wrong and overall I recommend arriving a day or two early at least to combat jetlag ahead of your amazing Mediterranean cruise!
We would have preferred to arrive a day before the cruise started as it's just best practice, but since flights are only available a few days per week out of FAO Faro Airport to FCO Rome Airport, we didn't have much choice other than to fly the day of the cruise and assume some risk.
We calculated the risk and if something happened and we were to miss embarkation we felt relatively secure since our flights had been booked with our Sapphire card which has built-in travel protection. And we figured worst case scenario we could take a train to Naples and hop on the next morning. Much less risky than if we had been traveling from the States.
If you are traveling to Europe from the US, for example, I would never risk arriving the same day as the cruise. It could be so much more stressful if anything went wrong and overall I recommend arriving a day or two early at least to combat jetlag ahead of your amazing Mediterranean cruise!
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We recently had an amazing opportunity to sail around the Mediterranean on the brand new Princess Cruise ship - Sun Princess in her inaugural season. It was an incredible anniversary cruise and we will be sharing highlights from each port, as well as the food, entertainment, and ship itself.
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Whether you are living vicariously through us or seriously considering booking a cruise vacation on Sun Princess or a cruise to the Mediterranean, we hope you will find value in this Sun Princess Inaugural Season series! |
Entering Your Sun princess Cabin with the Medallion
Anticipation builds as you walk down the corridor to your stateroom for the first time. A panel is spotted beside the door, featuring a smart screen as well as the cabin number with braille beneath.
You may be surprised to see "Door Unlocked" along with your face on the screen and the light around the door handle will be green indicating you can enter the room!
I really enjoyed the convenience of not having to fiddle to find and tap a card or item every time I wanted to get into the room. As long as the medallion was on my person, by the time I got to the room I could enter seamlessly.
You can also see on the display that as you enter or exit your stateroom on Sun Princess, you can tap for Privacy or to notify the Stateroom Steward that it's an ideal time to service your room.
You can also see on the display that as you enter or exit your stateroom on Sun Princess, you can tap for Privacy or to notify the Stateroom Steward that it's an ideal time to service your room.
Deluxe Balcony Stateroom 11221 Photos
Below you can see a portion of the desk area, couch, and bed in this balcony cabin number 11221.
Inside Balcony Stateroom 11221 on Sun Princess
Desk Area - Balcony Cabin 11221 Sun Princess
You'll be welcomed with a line up of information at the desk, as you can see, including the Princess Patter. The Princess Patter is the daily schedule for ship activities and provides valuable information about the hours of bars and restaurants and when you need to be back on the ship on port days. If you would like to see the Princess Patters from our recent cruise to get an idea of what is on offer, click here for Princess Patter Uploads. (coming soon!)
The desk area is quite spacious and there are two drawers to keep yourself organized. The chair is designed with a leather handle at the back which proved very useful when pulling it out to have a seat.
The desk area is quite spacious and there are two drawers to keep yourself organized. The chair is designed with a leather handle at the back which proved very useful when pulling it out to have a seat.
Mini bar and desk area on Sun princess
The mirror here really opens the room and provides an ideal space for anyone doing their hair and makeup while the bathroom is in use. If you would like some more lighting, there are two long vertical light strips on either side of the mirror.
The mini fridge can be found in the bottom cabinet and if you have a mini bar set up you will find the fridge filled with a variety of mixers and small bottles of liquor on the shelf above. This is a complimentary perk for any Elite travelers on Princess.
Read: Elite Benefits We Used on Sun Princess (coming soon!)
The mini fridge can be found in the bottom cabinet and if you have a mini bar set up you will find the fridge filled with a variety of mixers and small bottles of liquor on the shelf above. This is a complimentary perk for any Elite travelers on Princess.
Read: Elite Benefits We Used on Sun Princess (coming soon!)
Spacious Couch in SUN PRINCESS Stateroom 11221
An abstract painting added character to the wall behind the couch, which was very spacious and comfortable. The material was almost velvety with a silver hue. A small, round side table was useful as a valet tray, surface to set glassware, and even as a footrest from time to time :)
Spacious couch on Sun Princess DB 11221
Bed by Balcony in Cabin 11221 Sun Princess
Of note, the configuration of Balcony Stateroom 11221 on Sun Princess is that the bed is located next to the balcony while the couch is at the entrance. Other rooms have the couch near the balcony and the bed near the entrance.
There are two nightstands at either side of the bed. You also have standard wall lamps as well as small reading lights beneath, which is a nice touch. Switches beside the bed make it convenient to shut off the lights or turn them on without having to get up and you will find outlets and charging ports at the bedside which is always a great feature!
There are two nightstands at either side of the bed. You also have standard wall lamps as well as small reading lights beneath, which is a nice touch. Switches beside the bed make it convenient to shut off the lights or turn them on without having to get up and you will find outlets and charging ports at the bedside which is always a great feature!
Tip For Cruise Travelers: If you have a preference in either direction, have your travel agent verify the configuration for you in advance! Please note that you will not be able to book a "guarantee" room if you have specific preferences like this.
In-Stateroom TV on Sun Princess
Sun Princess had a really great selection of movies along with tv shows to watch in the stateroom, free of charge. The TV was huge. It did not swivel out, which felt like a missed opportunity, however it was perfectly placed to watch movies in bed in a fluffy robe while ocean waves flowed on by!
Sun Princess Cabin Private Bathrooms
The stateroom bathrooms on Sun Princess were so fresh and modern. You'll have everything you need with several shelves for your toiletries and refillable hand soap and lotion dispensers at the counter.
A very exciting feature to the bathrooms on Sun Princess are full glass showers - no more gross shower curtains! You can adjust the water flow from the shower head and you will find shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the shower for your convenience.
You also may notice the round silver bit affixed to the left side of the shower wall. For those who do not know, this is a clothes line! So if you need to hang some clothes to dry whether it's your damp swim suit or some undies you washed up in the sink you can utilize this built-in line. Not all cruise ship bathrooms are equipped with these anymore, so we always bring a portable one with us, but I was pleasantly surprised to see they included these clothes lines in the staterooms!
Cruise Travel Tip: If you have particular hair, I recommend bringing at least your favorite conditioner as the one provided did my hair no favors. This is my favorite at the moment and doesn't even take space in your TSA liquids bag! ;)
Cruise Travel Tip: If you have particular hair, I recommend bringing at least your favorite conditioner as the one provided did my hair no favors. This is my favorite at the moment and doesn't even take space in your TSA liquids bag! ;)
Portable Hair Dryer on Sun Princess
You may have noticed there was no junky in-wall hair dryer in that bathroom. That's because the stateroom has a drybar buttercup blow dryer! From the top drawer above the mini fridge, I could pull out this cheery yellow hair dryer at any time. The Dry Bar blow-dryer worked really well and I loved having the ability to plug it in anywhere around the room and not be trapped in the bathroom with a hair dryer on the wall. It's very practical for a cruise as you can continue to get ready while another traveler is in the shower, for example.
Drawers and Closet Space on Sun Princess
We had plenty of space for storage in our stateroom on Sun Princess. An in-room safe was housed in the far left top cabinet. Two pool towels were waiting for us in one of the open cubbies beneath. Three drawers could be found below that.
The main closet had a very spacious rod for hanging clothes and plenty of hangers - some with pant clips some without. Additional shelves inside the closet made it easy to keep things organized and I was actually able to put my luggage on the right side, beneath my hanging clothes. The bottom shelf was perfect for keeping shoes together, yet out of sight!
Deluxe Balcony on Sun Princess 11221
Stateroom 11221 on Sun Princess is an unobstructed balcony, categorized as a Deluxe Balcony. Two chairs and a small table were waiting for us. Footrests/ottomans for the chairs were not provided, although we could see them on the larger balconies beneath us.
We embarked in Rome, Civitavecchia Port, so that is what you are seeing from the balcony on this room tour day. Of note, Rome city center is a ways away from the Port, inland. We flew into FCO and took the train to the port.
Read: How to get to Civitavecchia Cruise Port By Train (coming soon!)
Read: How to get to Civitavecchia Cruise Port By Train (coming soon!)
This view should give you a bit of an idea of the amount of space on your deluxe balcony!
There is nothing quite like being on your balcony as the ship sails away from the embarkation port.
Here you can see the sun dipping low over the coast of Italy near Civitavecchia port as we head south to Naples.
Here you can see the sun dipping low over the coast of Italy near Civitavecchia port as we head south to Naples.
Oh, but wait! There's something else you can see, isn't there?
You can see the balconies of the C2 mini suites on deck 9 as well as the private Cabana Deck (with the plush lounge chairs). We thought it was an incredibly strange design that these suite balconies were so exposed. They really had no privacy despite costing more and to some extent one could say that they obstruct the view of balconies above. What do you think?
Cruise Tip: Your travel agent can help you choose a room that has the size and amenities you want (like a mini suite) with the location you want. ;)
You can see the balconies of the C2 mini suites on deck 9 as well as the private Cabana Deck (with the plush lounge chairs). We thought it was an incredibly strange design that these suite balconies were so exposed. They really had no privacy despite costing more and to some extent one could say that they obstruct the view of balconies above. What do you think?
Cruise Tip: Your travel agent can help you choose a room that has the size and amenities you want (like a mini suite) with the location you want. ;)
Sun Princess Stateroom 11221 Location
Sun Princess Deck 11 Map - Deluxe Balcony Stateroom 11221 in Red
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Cabin 11221 on Sun Princess is a Deluxe Balcony located Forward and Starboard as you can see in the red box on the accompanying deck map. The elevators (Lift) are also noted in red so you can get an idea of the distance this balcony stateroom is from the nearest elevator.
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Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links to relevant products or services. We paid for all cruise expenses ourselves. This graduation cruise was a reduced fare sailing. All opinions are our own.
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We're Justin and Marissa
We love to travel and eat!
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