Sail of the century

Good food and wine are the first things most people say when being asked to sum up the Mediterranean.

Imagine being given the chance to cruise to some of the Med's most beautiful cities, tasting great local food and wine along the way, while learning something of the places that produce these delicacies.

Well, that's exactly what Princess Cruises has done with its latest Mediterranean cruise aboard the magnificent Grand Princess which takes in some of the best wine-producing countries in Europe and possibly the world.

The cruise also encourages passengers to soak up something of the Mediterranean life, the scenery, the people and, of course, the food and wine.

Although the majority of the 2,500-plus guests were on the Grand Princess for two weeks to and from Southampton, we joined this beast of a ship in Rome.

We had enough time in the city to take in some of the important historical sites and also to have a freshly baked pizza and, of course, a capreze salad (mozzarella, tomatoes and bazil) washed down by a cold beer and then a strong espresso.

Apparently, being a Saturday in July, Rome was relatively quiet, we were told, as all the city dwellers had headed for the relative cool of the coast.

It was the second day of our floating adventure that we started to really soak up the essence of Italy. After docking in the rather disappointing city of Naples, we took and an interminable coach ride to Sorrento. It seemed we had found the entire evacuated population of Rome in one place – on the Amalfi Coast.

But the journey was worth it as we visited a magical farm which had been run by the same family for three generations. Lemon trees and olive groves grew happily together.

We watched a display of local cheese-making and then got to taste it, along with the speciality olive oils and Italian specialty Lemoncello.

The trip was made even more enchanting by our guide, a young local girl whose English was perfect and delivered with a clear Northern accent. It turned out that her mother was from Derby and that was where she learnt her fantastic English.

Sorrento itself is a beautiful place, if rather touristy with shop after shop selling heavily-scented lemon shaped soap and other even more tacky souvenirs. Luckily, we avoided the two-and-a-half hour coach ride back to Naples and, instead, took the exhilarating 40-minute hydrofoil back to the Grand Princess which was moored in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius.

If I have a criticism of this excursion it is the fact that it doesn't quite give you enough time to visit Pompeii, which was a disappointment.

Next day, next port, and this time another country and a visit to a vineyard in Corsica.

Well it wasn't exactly a vineyard; we were reliably informed that the grapevines were some way off in the hills, so what we were seeing was the machinery which turned those grapes into wine, and then the bottling process.

The ensuring wine tasting was excellent and gave a real taste of Corsica which is a stunning island. We even got to lunch round the corner from Napoleon's birthplace, although a curt notice on the door revealed that the house, which is now a museum, was not open on Mondays. This being Monday, we just had to retire for lunch and another taste of the local vino.

Our leg of the trip did miss the cava cellars of Spain and the wineries of Monte Carlo but it did give us a real flavour of what can be achieved in a whistle-stop tour of the Med.

And then there is the ship.

The Grand Prince is a floating resort with 1,500 staff catering for 2,600 guests. There are three main restaurants, plus an Italian and a steakhouse, five swimming pools – one with full-size cinema screen, gym, spa and for those wanting to escape the teenagers dominating the pools, the aptly named Sanctuary.

As its name suggests, it is a shady oasis at the front, or prow, of the ship. It has opulent sun-loungers, and waiter service. There is a small surcharge but worth it to get a little P&Q.

There is no shortage of food and drink options aboard. The Horizon food court is open 24 hours a day and their breakfast is a must.

The three main restaurants offer an ever-changing menu, plus a number of poolside eateries offering pizza and burgers. If that isn't enough, then for a supplement you can eat in the excellent Tratoria Sabotini or the Stirling Steakhouse.

And if none of those tickle your fancy, there is 24-hour room service.

It is like a five-star hotel – well, five five-star hotels actually.

Four days was all too short and I left envying those who were making the return trip to Southampton two days hence.

A cruising holiday may not be for everyone, but by combining good

food and wine with impeccable service and opulent surroundings, Princess Cruises go a long way to convincing even the most cynical.

The bookings reservations team are available at 0845 3 555 800. www.princess.com

Mediterranean magic

Grand Princess 14-nights roundtrip from Southampton. Mediterranean Adventurer itinerary calling at Malaga, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Rome, Naples, Ajaccio and Gibraltar. 2011 departure dates July 23, August 20, September 3. Or Mediterranean Medley itinerary calling at Cadiz, Seville, Alghero, Rome, Florence/Pisa, Cannes, Barcelona and Gibraltar. 2011 departure dates August 6, September 20, October 21. Fares from 1,199 per person (based on two adults sharing inside category stateroom).

YP MAG 28/8/10