We can use our cabin until 9:00am We have breakfast and leave the ship around 8:45am A taxi takes us to our hotel in the old town of Palma. The room is not ready, but we check in and stow our luggage.
By bus to Valldemossa
As always in the last few days, the weather is cool, clear and sunny. We want to take the bus to Valldemossa today.
Valldemossa - View of the parish church of Sant Bartomeu
You can find details of this tour in our post Excursion to Valldemossa. The intercity buses start at Plaça España. We're unlucky: the 10:00 bus has just passed, the next one won't leave for an hour and a half. However, that gives us time for a tour of Palma.
Palma de Mallorca - Santa Eulalia Church
The bus to Valldemossa is really full. And Valldemossa anyway. It is Sunday and the place is as popular with Mallorcans as it is with tourists. We follow the recommended tour of the tourist information and quickly escape the crowds. One gets the impression that most of the people are only here to storm the cafes and bistros. We first go to Plaça de Cartuja and take a look at the monastery, the monastery church and the garden behind it. A cobblestone street leads down to the old town and the 13th century parish church. Few strangers get lost in this part of Valldemossa. It's calm and contemplative.
For our break we find a very nice tapas restaurant. It is a bit out of the way in the old town and has an enchanted inner courtyard with a sunny garden above.
In Palma you don't just meet tourists
In the afternoon we drive back to Palma. We move into our room and then explore Palma again. Information about the sights there can be found in the article Walking tour through Palma's enchanting old town. We live near the old town hall. It's very practical, so we don't have long ways to go.
The Llotja, Palma's trading exchange in earlier times, is open. A good opportunity to have a look inside. Otherwise we will stroll again to the cathedral, over the Passeig des Born and through the picturesque alleys.
In the evening we get into the parade at the beginning of Holy Week. It is Palm Sunday and all of Palma seems to be on its feet. We follow the move for a while.
Palm Sunday procession in Palma de Mallorca
We like the fact that Mallorca is not only owned by tourists. Tomorrow we're flying back home.
Conclusion of our cruise
I really liked the route of our cruise and the individual destinations. Although only Fuerteventura was completely new to me, I was looking forward to every destination. I have seen and experienced new things and refreshed what I know. Our shore excursions on our own were great. But the tour with TUI Cruises in Granada wasn't bad either.
Mein Schiff 2
And how did I like Mein Schiff 2?
Three years ago we went on a cruise with the then almost new Mein Schiff 4. Much of what I wrote about it could be used for Mein Schiff 2 without much change.
The entire ship is impressive. The stylish furnishings, the space for the individual, the good food, the extensive drinks included in the price, the top entertainment: all of this is recommended and easily deserves four stars +.
The levels of the main restaurant
The management and the staff who deal with guests also received great praise. The tone has become more binding. The word "well-being" used all the time in the past is no longer present in normal conversations.
There are drawbacks in the service, which is very different. Breakfast on deck 5 is cleared quickly, there are many waiters and everyone is attentive. The buffet restaurant is usually very busy and the service is sluggish. Exception: the outside terrace. In the fish market, my favorite restaurant, everything from very good to poor and bad is possible. The processes don't fit, especially the kitchen crew will have to find each other first.
Lumas bar
In the bars you often have to get your own drinks. In the TUI bar we were never served despite being very patient. Exception in the bars: the LUMAS bar offers impeccable service.
My biggest criticism, however, concerns the behavior of families with children on board. TUI Cruises only sets very few limits. Children are only prohibited from entering the casino. And parents who set limits for their children are not very visible on this cruise. Children run around in the restaurants, they play in the bars or dance in the disco at night.
Pool party - not without my child
And the babies' diapers are changed at the pool because the way to the cabin is probably too difficult for the parents. It's not a holiday season, but there are 250 toddlers on board, aged 6 months to 6 years, and they are omnipresent.
We write about cruises and about cruise lines. In the German market, we can't get past TUI Cruises, and we don't want that either. We like the ships as much as the itineraries. However, it would be even better if, as a traveler, you don't have to constantly feel like you're in a children's playground.
Where will the next journey take us?