Thread: Star Princess T/A with a B2B cruise Med and Egypt

Star Princess is a lovely ship. Well maintained. Service was excellent. Food was a little disappointing at times in the dining room. We really enjoy anytime dining. Most of the time had the same table for 2 and waiters. The dance and singing stage shows wee very good, but some of the other acts they had were not up to par. Sad to see some things slipping, but I know it is cost savings for Princess. Hope they don't go too far off from their usually great cruises.
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Ports were: <o:p></o:p>
Tenerife, Canary Islands surprised at how nice it was, very scenic, Gibraltar was fun, took the best tour going to the top, seeing the apes, caves, tram ride to the top.
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Alicante and Barcelona Spain, what a beautiful country. Warm welcoming people. Marseille France, was OK.
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Rome of course was to see Vatican City, Colosium, so much history, was amazing Very long lines and crowds, so didn't get inside of the Sistine chapel. But it was wonderful to see it.
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Went to Pisa and saw the leaning tower and the other buildings in the field of Miracles. Great visiting where everything was in the same place. <o:p></o:p>
Naples was shocking to us, very dirty, but was told this is the way it usually is.
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Greece, Athens and Island of Kios. Again the history and buildings arches, etc to think of how they all have stood for centuries. Awesome! <o:p></o:p>
Turkey, Istanbul went to the Grand Bazara, so many people, just too crowded to enjoy it, but Turkey is beautiful and clean. Also visited Kasadasi,Turkey, to see Esephus.
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Egypt was our Bucket List to do. Awe inspiring to see the pyramids and sphinx. I got to ride a camel, and sit on the lower step of the giza pyramid. But also was shocked at how dirty everything was. Even the Museum in Cairo, was great but everything was so dirty even in the glass cases.
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We only took ships tours, and was very pleased with how much we got to see and do even on the shorter tours. A/C buses and great tour guides who were very informative. Glad we got to see mostly everything, and can take it all off of our Buck list. I know how so many people want to go back to these countries, but my DH and I said once was enough.<o:p></o:p>
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Originally Posted by fllady

T/A with a B2B cruise Med and Egypt Star Princess is a lovely ship. Well maintained. Service was excellent. Food was a little disappointing at times in the dining room. We really enjoy anytime dining. Most of the time had the same table for 2 and waiters. The dance and singing stage shows wee very good, but some of the other acts they had were not up to par. Sad to see some things slipping, but I know it is cost savings for Princess. Hope they don't go too far off from their usually great cruises.
Ports were:

Tenerife, Canary Islands surprised at how nice it was, very scenic, Gibraltar was fun, took the best tour going to the top, seeing the apes, caves, tram ride to the top.

Alicante and Barcelona Spain, what a beautiful country. Warm welcoming people. Marseille France, was OK.

Rome of course was to see Vatican City, Colosium, so much history, was amazing Very long lines and crowds, so didn't get inside of the Sistine chapel. But it was wonderful to see it.

Went to Pisa and saw the leaning tower and the other buildings in the field of Miracles. Great visiting where everything was in the same place.

Naples was shocking to us, very dirty, but was told this is the way it usually is.

Greece, Athens and Island of Kios. Again the history and buildings arches, etc to think of how they all have stood for centuries. Awesome!

Turkey, Istanbul went to the Grand Bazara, so many people, just too crowded to enjoy it, but Turkey is beautiful and clean. Also visited Kasadasi,Turkey, to see Esephus.

Egypt was our Bucket List to do. Awe inspiring to see the pyramids and sphinx. I got to ride a camel, and sit on the lower step of the giza pyramid. But also was shocked at how dirty everything was. Even the Museum in Cairo, was great but everything was so dirty even in the glass cases.



We only took ships tours, and was very pleased with how much we got to see and do even on the shorter tours. A/C buses and great tour guides who were very informative. Glad we got to see mostly everything, and can take it all off of our Buck list. I know how so many people want to go back to these countries, but my DH and I said once was enough.

Thanks for the Report. Where did the cruise begin ? and when ?
For you trip to the Pyramids your port was Alexandria I assume ? Was that the termination of the cruise ? Did you fly home from Cairo ? What was the ride from Alex to Cairo like ?

Sorry to not post completely but I did it in a hurray. We left from Fort Lauderdale, on Star Princess, May 3, 2001.
Yes, we docked in Alexandria, and the bus ride of 3 1/2 hours, wasn't too bad going, but coming back to the ship it was not the best. Our bus driver didn't keep in the lines of traffic, cutting in and out, and my husband who nothing really phases him, was nervous. The driver would cut people off and ride the middle of the line. I guess it didn't bother me as much because I was exhausted from walking the desert. We had great weather, but it was very hot!

We did a back to back, first part was 12 days, T/A from fort Lauderdale, to Civaicchia Italy, second part was 15 days round trip from there. Then we took the Princess transfer bus to Rome airport. 1 1/2 hours drive.We flew from Rome, to Philadelphia, PA, then from Philly to West Palm Beach, Florida. We live about 45 minutes north of PBI airport. Jet lag was a killer and I guess our ages showed this cruise. Eleven bus tours in 13 ports.

thanks for reading my review and happy to give any information I can remembr.

Thanks Jeanne ( pronounced Jean-e ? or Jeanne as in France ?)

I usually have more than one question. . Was you stay only one day in Alexandria ? with 7 hours travelling that means an incredibly early start and late return and you couldn't see Alex ? Or was it an overnight ?

We sailed to Antarctica on the Star , a great crew and a marvelous Captain Perrin.

Hi Tony, My mother's name was Jeanne, pronuonced as the French do, but I get Called Jeannie. Because I was the daughter and I like it.

The ship stayed over night in Alexandria, although it was a very long tour the first day, we left at 6:30 am, and didn't get back until 8:30pm. We were exhausted. We had planned on doing another tour, but was pooped out, so only left the ship to shop at the vendors market on the pier. Must say we got some really good bargins. Seems the vendors lowered their prices because they knew we would be leaving that afternoon and wanted to make sales.

I agree all of the crew were so nice, greeting you even in passing by, especially being on for 27 days we got to know a few by name. Capt Perrin was also very nice. He actually did a theater show for questions and answers we all had. That doesn't happen very often anymore, so we were pleasantly surprised.

thanks again and as you can see I do answer my questions, I find it frustrating when you read a review and cannot get any questions answered that you might have. Have a blessed day.

Thanks Jeanne, I have a cousin in San Francisco called Jeanne pronounced they way you do.

Nice cruise! I love the Star Princess, she is a beautiful ship! The only thing I didn't care for were the beds, they were not to comfortable a couple of years ago.

Originally Posted by ScrapperJen

Nice cruise! I love the Star Princess, she is a beautiful ship! The only thing I didn't care for were the beds, they were not to comfortable a couple of years ago.

We found them quite comfortable, we like firm mattresses.

I hope they don't renovatel her like the Grand to remove Skywalkers

Originally Posted by ScrapperJen

Nice cruise! I love the Star Princess, she is a beautiful ship! The only thing I didn't care for were the beds, they were not to comfortable a couple of years ago.

Yes the beds are still quite uncomfortable. We thought having a mini suite that the beds would be better, beautiful linens but DH had to get a thick piece of foam to top off the mattress, so he could be comofrtable. RCL has great mattresses, we both slept great. Wish Princess would do the same. That is also my major complaint about Princess, love them but.

Originally Posted by tonylinsdell

We found them quite comfortable, we like firm mattresses.

I hope they don't renovatel her like the Grand to remove Skywalkers

From what we were told from some of the crew, they are not going to do away with Skywalkers on the Star, right now anyway. We shall see. It doesn't do a great business in the evenings. It is a great place to go for some quiet time reading or just watching the water.