Day 22

After a solid night’s sleep (thank you, Dramamine), I woke up feeling human again for the first time in days. We headed to the buffet for breakfast and, since we’d arrived in Corfu, packed up and made our way off the ship not long after.

At first, we thought we had to wait — people were milling around the café on Deck 5, making it look like disembarkation wasn’t open yet. But it turns out we could go, and we ended up being the only ones lined up at the gangway! One thing Princess has done consistently well on this cruise is handling boarding and disembarkation — it’s always smooth and congestion-free.

After stepping off, we were immediately herded onto shuttle buses… which drove us all of 50 metres to the terminal. From there, things got chaotic. Another cruise ship was docked, and the terminal was a mess of queues — some for excursions, others for the ferry to Albania — with zero signage or staff to guide anyone.

We eventually came across one of the buses heading to the Old Town, but at €15 per person for a two-kilometre trip — automatically charged to your onboard account — we swiftly declined. Turns out we weren’t the only ones. A group of Australians just ahead of us discovered a local Corfu bus around the next block doing the exact same journey for just €2. Naturally, we followed.

Once we arrived at the Old Town, Ted immediately recognised the streets from his 1996 Contiki trip. I’d also been there in ’96 — on a different Contiki tour — but strangely, nothing about it jogged my memory. One thing we both noticed: the city felt a bit worn down. There were plenty of crumbling buildings, peeling paint, and it seemed like very little had been done in terms of upkeep or restoration. It still had charm — it’s Greece, after all — but the rough edges were noticeable.

We walked down toward the waterfront and found ourselves looking across the Contrafossa (a seawater moat) at the Old Fortress (Palaio Frourio) — an imposing Venetian structure from the 15th century. The views from the perimeter were stunning, especially with the sunlight dancing off the Ionian Sea and casting a golden glow on the fortress walls.

From there, we made our way toward the Palace of St. Michael and St. George — a neoclassical beauty built during the British occupation in the early 1800s. It once housed the British Lord High Commissioner and now serves as the Museum of Asian Art. The surrounding Garden of the People was a highlight — peaceful, shady, and offering sweeping views of the coastline. We probably took twice as many photos here as anywhere else that morning.

We spotted a restaurant down by the water called En Plo, and it looked too perfect to pass up. I don’t usually drink in the morning, but sitting under a tree with a cold beer and that view? Felt like a postcard. I did have to wait a little before taking my shot of the restaurant — a man with a comically hairy back was sunbaking nearby, and I wasn’t ready for that kind of visual. Ted ordered a glass of local white wine which, according to him, tasted vaguely like cask wine — but the view made up for it. At one point, a full-blown pirate ship floated past — tourist gimmick, sure, but fun to watch all the same.

Afterwards, we made our way back up through the town, winding through the cobbled laneways and markets. Prices were definitely cruise-ship-adjacent, but the little shops were fun to browse — blue-and-white ceramics, embroidered fabrics, and local knick-knacks all under the lazy watch of café cats.

Eventually, we caught the same trusty €2 bus back to the port — just in time for lunch. We didn’t have a big checklist today, and that was exactly the point. It was great to revisit a place we’d both seen on separate trips in 1996, now together, with time to take it slow.

Back on board, we went straight to the buffet — right on schedule. We’ve nailed a solid routine now: disembark early, beat the heat and the crowds, and return just in time to avoid the buffet rush. Gold stars all around.

The afternoon was blissfully quiet. I tried to nap until the Captain made a full-ship PA (don’t ask me what he said — I was half asleep). Tonight, Ted had booked us into the formal dining room, which we hadn’t tried yet. While the buffet offers more variety, there’s something luxurious about sitting down, being served, and choosing from a printed menu.

We were seated between two young guys who didn’t say a word (a couple? friends? an accidental vow of silence?), and a couple from Vancouver who were much chattier. Swapping travel stories with them was a highlight.

After dinner, we wandered back to Bellini’s for a drink. The downside of a 6 p.m. dinner? Most of our cruise friends were still eating. Luckily, we caught up with them later — but not before catching the evening’s theatre show featuring Chris and Iona, a married acrobat duo who were genuinely impressive.

Once the whole group reunited, we spent the rest of the evening chatting, laughing, and drinking. So much for my early night… we didn’t get to bed until well after midnight. Thankfully, we gained an hour of sleep as we crossed into a new time zone.

Tomorrow, we arrive in a brand-new country for both of us: Kotor, Montenegro.Meer informatie