Anchors away
by Cheryl C. Ong
Absolute leisure is the perfect vacation plan, and what better way to indulge yourself than with a cruise?
Anchored at the port of Civitavecchia, Italy, Grand Princess, one of the luxurious cruise liners operated by Princess Cruises, greets its passengers with its beautiful white starboard. As it towers meters above the soft waves, a sea of multiracial travelers wait to join the crew for a 12-night journey across the Mediterranean.
Complete with passenger staterooms, restaurants, casinos, theatres, and boutiques, the atmosphere closely resembles that of a five-star hotel—well, one that can hop from coast to coast.
The show that never ends
From classical music by the talented violinist Greg Scott to groovy Motown and rock ‘n roll music performed by Grand Princess’ own group of singers and dancers, a cruise offers a wide variety of night entertainment. On other nights, illusionists like Richard Griffin use tissue paper and water to recreate snow onstage.
When the shows are over, guests stay by the Explorer’s Lounge to listen to the ship’s band, Amante. They can also go to the Skywalkers’ Club, where guests can dance to the mixes of DJ Prince while downing punch, martinis, and mojitos.
The ship’s crew has its share of the limelight when waiters and waitresses become Draculas, and bartenders walking corpses during Halloween parties. A haunted house stands in the middle of the ship to let passengers enjoy the “scarefest.”
Delights on offer
Aside from the entertainment, the greatest delight cruise life offers is its 24/7 buffet. Think brownies, chocolate chip cookies, mouthwatering pizzas, burgers, fries, hotdogs, and soft ice cream in overflowing goodness. If that’s not enough, think thick rib-eye steaks, lamb chops, and tender, scrumptious scallops.
Chefs from around the world, almost half of which are Filipino, come together to prepare these delicious dishes from the buffet, as well as those served in the formal dining rooms. The dining rooms have excellent service, especially during special occasions such as Captain’s night, where the lobster tails, king prawns, and parfaits replace the usual burgers and pizzas.
The endless variety of dishes can astound a first-timer, and after a sample of each, you would find that while most of the dishes are tasty, the pizzas can be too mushy on the cheese and a fishy odor usually permeates from the seafood section. But then again, you could always eat something else.
As much as the unlimited food sounds seems like the ultimate indulgence, some of the food can become less appetizing over time, especially when you’re longing for a taste of home.
When you need to shed off those extra pounds, there is a well-equipped gym, complete with free lessons on ball pilates, tai chi, and yoga as well as seminars on secrets to a flatter stomach, burning fat faster, and the like.
Activities like playing Bingo, board games and puzzles in the library, gambling in the Atlantis Casino and auctions in the Fine Arts Gallery offer passengers a way to pass time at sea.
Land, ahoy!
The real highlight, however, is when the ship draws to a stop and the breathtaking sights of Venice and Santorini fill the shore. Passengers are given the opportunity to go on excursions, either on a pre-arranged tour or individually.
An ample amount of time is given for each city visit–enough for taking pictures of the beautifully painted blue and white Greek houses as seen in Mamma Mia, the natural wonder of the Faraglioni Rocks, and exploring ancient ruins in the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus.
In Venice, you can choose to have a romantic gondola ride. There is even enough time to savor some Italian spaghetti and shop for Murano glass accessories along St. Mark’s Square.
Together with the setting of the sun, passengers return to their cabins to find soft, clean bed linens and tiny bars of chocolates on their pillows. As the ship prepares to set sail to its next destination, the endless food, activies, and the shows again take center stage.
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