Having just returned on the Ruby Princess, I am detailing my thoughts below.

I will start at the beginning, arrived at Venice airport and had to make my way to the port. Saw a Princess rep and asked could I buy tickets for the coach. They said sure $54 each for the four of us. I then checked the Taxi rank this still cost me an extorbitant 40 euros but considerably cheaper than Princess. Have now found out, you can get bus for 3 euros each and 5 minute walk at end.

Arrived at terminal, went to suite check in and got embarkation card. Was in the best suite on ship I then had to wait for my number to be called 7, when it was only on number 3 to get onboard the ship. Totally ruined priority check in. When eventually got on there cabin nice and large, most probably not as big as RCI's owners suite.

Things have changed on Princess, ask your stateroom attendent for something, it was, you ahve to call guest relations, or housekeeping or room service. It was never I can do that for you. I found the staff was polite and courteous for you but never went out of their way for you.

The east med is beautiful and the ports of call great. One word of warning, most of the time the ship docks outside the main part and the coach and taxi's rip you off. In 4 ports of call for the 4 of us I spend in the region of £200 just to see the places. Also at the other ports, Taxi's would double their prices. Woudl recommend doing reserach and book car hire as this would most probably work out cheaper.

As the cruise is destination rich, very little going on during the day. the band only played once aroudn the whole deck in 12 days. If you was lucky there might be one thing going on aroudn the pool per day.

Movies under the stars, they repeated films, put on silent movies. I looked round the pool and not one person was watching so waste of time. Half the other time it was not on. They could have put on stuff which suits everyone from cartoons, to Top Gear, Cheers, Friends, only fools and horses etc etc.

Food was excellent on a consistent basis and can really recommend the crown grill restaurant. This is now being rolled out across the fleet and offers more choice than the old steakhosue restaurant.

Overall a good crusie but not a great one.