Sailing on: Sky Princess, Europe

Highlights

1. Variety of Food. The World fresh marketplace each day it showcases different cuisines such as Italian, Mexican, Japanese, British Pub fare, it’s a foodie’s dream. There are loads of options, from specialty dining options such as Crown Grill, Sabatini’s, Ocean Terrace, Seafood bar, Le Mer French cuisine. or casual options such as Pizza on deck, Alfredo’s Italian or Salty Dog, Burger & hot dog grill and 24-hour room service. The main dining room was also brilliant, the service from the crew was exceptional. I loved the afternoon tea which is served every day in the restaurant between 3.30-4.30pm cucumber sandwiches, specialty cakes, freshly baked scones served with jam & cream are a must!

2. Celebrations Onboard. The ship had an Easter extravaganza in the Piazza, a spectacular Easter display and loads of activities for children and families to enjoy. We celebrated my son’s birthday & my Wedding Anniversary onboard which the ship made really special with champagne, cake and a personal note to our cabin. Plus my son received a special delivery to the cabin- he was given a Stanley bear as a gift & a lovely birthday cake which was a really nice touch!

3. Destination Bilbao. Princess offers a complimentary independent shuttle service that runs throughout the day to get you into the main city for you to explore. We visited the Guggenheim Museum, amazing day exploring the old city and having some fabulous wine and enjoyed the delicious Basque Cuisine such as Pintxos- Yum!

4. Medallionclass Experience – Embrace The Technology! This is a real game charger, whatever you want delivered on demand. Fantastic travelling with the family to be able to locate them on this large ship and stay connected. If you need any assistance onboard, Princess Cruises have a helpdesk located on deck 7 to assist with any enquiries guests have in getting set-up.

5. Destination La Rochelle. Located in Western France on the Bay of Biscay. Complimentary independent shuttle service was also provided to get into the heart of this mesmerising little town. Easy walk throughout the village town, lovely Marina with loads of waterfront restaurants to enjoy amazing fresh seafood such as oysters and clams. I loved this little place, the architecture, lovely boulevards filled with little boutique shops, lovely shopping and local food markets to explore and enjoy.

6. Destination Gibraltar. We picked up the cable car to visit the Rock of Gibraltar which allows spectacular views of Europe, Africa and the Mediterranean. We visited St Michael’s Cave filled with Stalagmites and an amazing amphitheatre where you can watch a short light show which displays the caves detail and history. A must is a visit to the Apes Den- this is Gibraltar’s top attraction. Visit the Barbary Apes which are the last remaining population of the species on the European continent. Beware they love to jump on tops of cars and grab any food you may be carrying!

7. Destination Lisbon. We did a 2 hour city tour which is a MUST do to get a feel for this vibrant and colourful city before exploring on our own for the afternoon and into the evening as we didn’t need to be back until 9.30pm. Giving more ashore time to experience everything this amazing city has to offer.

Amazing Portuguese tarts. As we had more time ashore, this allowed us to have a meal shore side before returning to the ship by 9.30pm and an evening sail away deck party out of Lisbon which was a fun night. Night time is when all of these cities come alive with people lining the streets in restaurants and bars. We strolled around, enjoying what this city has to offer.

8. Something for Everyone. My son is a keen fisherman and managed to go fishing just off the ship in various ports which was a real highlight for him, despite not catching anything! The shopping was fantastic, and I loved all of the local markets in each of the ports which I always seek out. It’s interesting looking at how the locals live and take it all in. Overall an amazing experience for a family holiday.

Top Tips

1. Pre-book Airport Transfer. Transfer on the day of embarkation from Heathrow- Southampton approx. 1.30 hours door to door. Super convenient and very easy. I flew into London the day before and stayed at the Airport hotel and jumped on the Hopper for 6 pounds. Amazing value.

2. Think About A Longer Duration. Doing a 14 Night cruise was the perfect mix of port days and sea days to explore the ship. 7 days in the Mediterranean is too short to really get the best of the destinations and enough time to enjoy the ship and some down time while on holidays.

3. Getting Ocean Ready.  Ensure a seamless and quick embarkation, make sure you get Green Lane ready prior to arriving at the terminal for your departure. The embarkation process only took about 10 minutes from bag drop to embarking the actual ship. It was super fast!

4. Get More Bang For Your Buck. Europe is expensive, especially food. On a cruise all your main meals, activities and entertainment is all included. So you are not having to put your hand in your pocket all the time. We visited 8 ports across 3 countries in 14 days. Cruising takes the hassle out of navigating, planning and getting between places. Everything is done for you, even if there is a change or delay the ship keeps you informed every step of the way. It’s the only way to experience the Mediterranean!

5. Future Cruise Deposit. Purchase a Future Cruise Deposit for your next Cruise. Gives guests 50% reduced deposit + up to $150pp Onboard Credit. Now available to purchase via the Medallion app or guests can drop by the Future Cruise Desk to speak to a consultant.

6. Destination Presentations. Throughout the cruise we offer port presentation so that guests can pick up local tips for the destinations they are travelling to plus some general history and must do places to visit or experience and this is all part of your cruise experience. This is a must do on sea days!