A complete list of every cruise review on CruiseReport.com.
Celebrity Beyond Western Caribbean Cruise
We spend seven nights aboard Celebrity Beyond on a Western Caribbean cruise.
Our food and dining review of Celebrity Beyond.
Silversea Cruises Silver Endevour in Antarctica
We spend nine nights aboard Silversea Silver Endeavour in Antarctica.
Swan Hellenic SH Vega (Mini-Review)
I am invited to a two-night sailing aboard SH Vega for media and travel professionals.
Chicago to Toronto – Cruising the Inland Sea on Victory I
“The Great Lakes – Unsalted and Shark Free”. It was an effective bumper sticker but the publisher could have added, “Wonderful Cruising”.
By John and Sandra Nowlan
“The Great Lakes – Unsalted and Shark Free”. It was an effective bumper sticker but the publisher could have added, “Wonderful Cruising”.
The Great Lakes contain fully a fifth of all the standing fresh water in the world. With 10,000 miles of shoreline, the five lakes, in many ways, dominate the geography, culture and history of North America. The region has never had the profile of ocean or European river cruising…but it should.
Chicago, with its grand buildings, many museums and outstanding cuisine was an ideal city from which to begin our cruise to Toronto.
Our ship was Victory I, a comfortable 200 passenger vessel built in 2001 and owned by Victory Cruise Lines, now part of the American Queen Steamboat Company. Its registered tonnage is just 5,000 and it’s 300 feel long. Its unusual bow is vertical rather than slanted.
Finding Victory I was a challenge. We gave our taxi driver, a 30 year veteran, a street address and told him it was at the “Chicago Dock”. “Never heard of it”, he said. After consulting his GPS with a long ride south (almost to the Indiana border), the handsome ship was finally spotted in a gritty, very unattractive industrial area. Chicago, if it wants to be a major cruise player, has to find a better port facility closer to downtown.
Once aboard the Victory I the atmosphere improved rapidly. A welcome drink and smiling crew members made registration simple and we were escorted to our room. It was small with muted, attractive colors but cleverly laid out with a surprising amount of storage space. Two large picture windows offered great views. The bathroom was tiny but quite functional with luxury touches like L’Occitane toiletries.
Before sailing, a quick tour of Victory I showed off its passenger-friendly attributes. On Deck two a comfortable Compass Lounge had enough room for all passengers and became the center for entertainment and lectures. A small library on either side of the lounge led to the “Tavern” with its bar and complimentary beer, wine, spirits and cocktails. Good complimentary wine was also available with meals in the two dining areas, the large Coastal Dining Room on Deck one and the more intimate one, The Grill, with excellent views, at the rear of Deck four. All meals were surprisingly good with our German chef and his team producing imaginative dishes like Beef Steak Tartar, Colcanon Soup, Venison Toutiere and Planko Crusted Atlantic Cod. The fish, mostly pre-frozen, was of a high quality with the very fresh Ontario trout a highlight one evening. Service from the well-trained Indonesian, Filipino and Indian waiters was very professional.
While food, service and comfort were excellent, it’s the Great Lakes itinerary that really shone. With outstanding guides, we visited both small, intimate communities and major North American cities.
Our first stop was new to most of the ship’s American, Canadian and Australian guests. On the east side of Lake Michigan, the largest city is Muskegon (population: 38,000). It boasts two fascinating World War 2 vessels that are now floating museums. The USS Silversides was the most decorated surviving submarine from the war. Visitors can walk through the claustrophobic interior and see the small galley and the crew’s bunk beds adjacent to the torpedo tubes. Nearby, visitors can also enjoy a tour through the cavernous interior and huge front unloading ramp of USS LST 393, one of only two remaining tank landing craft that were used to bring Sherman tanks and troops to the shores of Normandy 75 years ago during D-Day. More than a thousand of these versatile craft, each more than 300 feet long, were built for use in World War II.
In the afternoon another complimentary tour took us to the charming town of Holland, Michigan. As expected, the community was filled with tulips (luckily, it was tulip season) but the most interesting sight was the only authentic Dutch windmill in the US. The De Zwaan windmill was built in the Netherlands in 1761, then moved piece by piece to Holland, Michigan in 1964. Visitors can take a tour inside this working wind machine.
After a relaxing day on Lake Michigan (including elegant Afternoon Tea) we arrived at Mackinac Island, a unique US destination where cars have been banned since 1898. All transportation is by bicycle and horse drawn carriages, through the village with its 17 fudge shops and on to the historic Grand Hotel (built in 1887) with its 397 rooms and world’s longest porch. Victory Cruise Lines reserved a section of the Hotel’s huge restaurant for the extravagant Grand Luncheon Buffet.
Our first Canadian destination was Little Current, Ontario, a village on Manitoulin, the world’s largest freshwater island. It’s home to the Ojibwe People, part of the largest First Nation population in North America. All guests were invited to the nearby cultural center for a welcoming smudging ceremony and a Pow Wow, a lively exhibit of native drumming, singing and dancing.
After we re-boarded Victory I we went though the Little Current Swing Bridge dating from 1913 and past the Strawberry Island Lighthouse in Georgian Bay. Built in 1881 it’s one of the most photographed in North America.
The 1913 Little Current Swing Bridge.
Strawberry Island Lighthouse.
After small, rural communities it was fascinating to dock beside the downtowns of two major US cities, Detroit and Cleveland. It was an easy walk from the ship to the central cores. Both offer a multitude of tourist attractions so, with just a day in each port, our tour organizers chose well. In Detroit the highlight was the Henry Ford Museum, second only to the Smithsonian in Washington for cultural significance. Among the exhibits in its huge, one level gallery are the limousine that carried President Kennedy on that fateful 1963 day in Dallas, the Alabama bus in which Rosa Parks defied seat segregation laws and the actual chair from the Ford Theatre occupied by President Lincoln when he was shot in 1865. Of course there are several exhibits showing early airplanes and locomotives along with Model A and Model T Fords where Henry Ford pioneered vehicle assembly lines.
In Cleveland, Victory guests were taken on an extensive Trolley Tour of the impressive city including a drive through the 170 acre medical campus of the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic and a stop at the outstanding Cleveland Museum of Art. But next door to the ship was an architectural masterpiece, the I.M. Pei designed Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, paying homage to the greats of rock music history, from Buddy Holly to Elvis and the Beatles to the Rolling Stones and Prince. Great fun for music nostalgia fans.
Wet fun and fine wine were in store for our final day of the cruise as Victory I entered the eight locks of the Welland Canal, avoiding Niagara Falls and lowering ships 326 feet between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. All guests were given a picturesque bus ride along the Niagara Parkway and then invited aboard one of the Hornblower Niagara Falls ships. Outfitted with red ponchos, guests sailed past the American Falls to the base of the dramatic Horseshoe Falls where wind, spray and towering cascades of water made an unforgettable impression.
Fully dried, we boarded our buses to Chateau des Charmes, one of the many fine wineries in the Niagara region where we enjoyed lunch and samples of excellent Ontario vintages. We then had free time in Niagara-on-the Lake, a charming community renowned as the home of the Shaw Summer Festival.
The next morning we woke up in Toronto in an industrial part of Lake Ontario but facing the extraordinary skyline of Ontario’s capital. It was certainly a prettier sight than the depressing view from the Chicago cruise port. The good news is that Victory Cruise Lines has promised that future Great Lakes sailings between Chicago and Toronto will use a much more convenient port, closer to downtown Chicago. A great start for a wonderful cruise experience.
Big City. Small Ship...
Big City. Small Ship. Lots of Public Television. Cruising on Regent Seven Seas Navigator.
By John and Sandra Nowlan
It’s hard to dislike New York City. The Big Apple, in spite of its crowds and controlled chaos, is especially appealing as the starting and ending city for a ten day cruise on one of the few ultra-luxury, all-inclusive lines. And when the cruise line is Regent Seven Seas with its “Spotlight on Public Broadcasting” theme, you know the level of service, cuisine, entertainment and information will be difficult to match.
Also hard to match was our pre-cruise hotel choice. The Four Seasons on East 57th Street was designed by IM Pei and is close to Central Park, Radio City Music Hall and Times Square. The rooms are very large by New York standards and the well-trained staff has a ‘can-do’ attitude, even extending to a wide choice of slipper sizes and complimentary additional toiletries if needed – combs, razors, toothbrushes.
A friendly greeting at Four Seasons Hotel, New York
Our dinner choice was also ideal. Del Frisco’s Grille at nearby Rockefeller Center has a comfortable ambience (leather chairs), an excellent wait staff and an imaginative menu. We enjoyed Cheese Steak Egg Rolls, Ahi Tacos, Prime Short Rib Stroganoff and the Catch of the Day – Fresh Halibut.
Del Frisco's Ahi Tuna Appetizer
Boarding the 500 passenger Seven Seas Navigator at the Manhattan Cruise Port was, as expected, fairly quick and very well organized. Launched in 1999, the ship does show some signs of wear but has aged quite well. At noon our rooms weren’t yet ready so, after a welcoming glass of champagne, we enjoyed an excellent light lunch by the pool and explored the ship. Particularly impressive were the well stocked library, the card room (already busy with bridge keeners), several comfortable lounges with well stocked bars (all wine, beer and spirits are complimentary) and the large main theatre. The tiered seating had the best sight lines we’ve ever seen on a cruise ship. We went to a show most evenings and were dazzled by the 12 member ensemble of singers and dancers. All talented pros. The accompanying Regent orchestra was small – just five members with a piano, drums, two guitars and an overworked saxophone player. An extra brass or woodwind instrument would have been welcome.
Seven Seas Navigator
Our recently refurbished suite, like all basic rooms, was a very generous 300 square feet plus a balcony. There’s a curtain divider between the bed and the sitting area. The king size bed (excellent reading lights) had a black cushioned headboard and there was an amazing amount of storage space including a very welcome walk in closet. The marble bathroom included both a bathtub and a separate shower. The large screen TV had a wide variety of American and British channels plus movie and information channels. But no CNN.
On a ship of this size, we didn’t expect an extensive menu in the main dining room. We were wrong. The Compass Rose on Deck 5 (anytime dining) has large, ocean view windows and, as we were told by the Food and Beverage Manager, a menu identical to Regent’s larger ships. It was impressive with an “always” menu on the left hand side (including shrimp, steak and foie gras) and daily selections on the right. Unlike many cruise ships, the Executive Chef visits fish markets in some ports and brings aboard fresh fish for the dining venues. Very impressive.
Crab Salad Appetizer Compass Rose
La Veranda, the buffet restaurant on Deck 10 turns into an excellent Italian restaurant in the evening and the Poolside Grill always had a wide selection of salads, burgers, hot dogs and fish burgers. The only “Reservation Required” restaurant (no extra cost) was the 70 seat Prime 7 on Deck 10. Great beef cuts, lobster and fresh fish highlighted the creative menu.
The quality cuisine matched the outstanding theme of this cruise – Spotlight on Public Broadcasting. Since 2004, an organization called Artful Travelers has partnered with Regent and PBS/NPR outlets in the US to bring top journalists, filmmakers and producers aboard Regent ships to discuss public radio and television and show examples of their craft. The Artful Travelers President, Kevin Corcoran, told us that famed broadcaster Jim Lehrer was the first PBS guest speaker 14 years ago and now, 30 cruises later, the concept is working better than ever.
Kevin Corcoran, President of Artful Travelers
On our cruise we were fortunate to meet and enjoy presentations by Sam Paul (“Live from the Met”, “Bernstein in Berlin”), Justin Weinstein (“Being Elmo: A Puppeteers Journey” and “An Honest Liar”, about James ‘The Amazing’ Randi), Alison Chernick (“ITZHAK”, a profile of violinist Itzhak Perlman) and Hari Sreenivasan, the host of PBS Newshour Weekend. All guests were invited to share a dinner table in Compass Rose with these broadcast personalities.
With Sam Paul’s connection to Leonard Bernstein, America’s first classical music superstar, he was able to help arrange a tour in Boston of the travelling exhibit, “Leonard Bernstein at 100”. Commemorating the 100th birthday (in August) of the famed composer, conductor and social activist, the remarkable display with many personal artifacts covers the broad spectrum of Bernstein’s remarkable career.
Bernstein’s piano. Part of Leonard Bernstein at 100 exhibit in Boston.
On the same day, we visited the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, overlooking Boston and Dorchester Bay. It offers a retrospective of the president’s Massachusetts heritage, spectacular rise to prominence and untimely death in Dallas.
Kennedy Library and Museum Boston
Unlike most cruise lines, the majority of tours on Regent are complimentary and we were given many choices at each port. In Newport, Rhode Island, we joined a walking tour of this colonbial New England town. We admired its strict rules about preserving historic buildings.
Walking tour of historic Newport RI
Because of bad weather we couldn’t stop in Bar Harbor, Maine. It was a bit surreal the next day as Navigator visited our home port of Halifax. But, even in the rain, fellow guests loved it. We played tourist and joined a Duck Boat tour (the Harbour Hopper) since we’d always seen it around town but never experienced the fun of a land and water tour. We learned several new facts about the Nova Scotia capital.
Harbour Hopper Duckboat
Our final stop (before a return to New York) was Bermuda on a “Bermudaful Day” as the locals like to call it. It was a delight seeing all the white roofed houses of St. George’s Parish as well as the many beaches and historic buildings of this British colony. Most exciting was a tour of the Crystal Caves, natural limestone caverns discovered over a century ago by boys searching for their cricket ball. Excellent lighting and walkways over the underground pools made for a memorable, if spooky, attraction.
Inside Bermuda's Crystal Caves
Back on board we arrived just in time for an excellent dinner and the Krew Kapers, a talent show by members of the crew. We’ve seen crew shows on other ships but this one was very special, including sophisticated technical effects. “The Incinerator Man” (his job is to feed the ship’s incinerator) was a marvelous crooner. One of the modest and polite wait staff named Ola changed her personality entirely with a scintillating belly dance. We did a double take.
Lively Crew Show
Back in New York, disembarkation was smooth and effortless. It made us appreciate even more the value of an all-inclusive cruise with a staff dedicated to our comfort and pleasure.
Into The Midnight Sun on Viking Sky
We spend 14 nights sailing the fjords of Norway on Viking Ocean’s new Viking Sky
Itinerary: Bergen, Bergen, Geiranger, Molde, At Sea, Tromsø, Honningsvag, Lofoten, At Sea, Lerwick, Kirkwall, Edinburgh, At Sea (Owner's Suite), Greenwich, Disembark
Cruising is kind of like dating. You don't really know the other person until the second or third date. Along those same lines, we don't feel like we really know a cruise line until the second or third cruise. Our first date with Viking Ocean was in 2017 on Viking Sea, and it was a good experience, a very good experience. So, when we had the opportunity to sail on sister ship, Viking Sky, we were anxious to discover if our impression of Viking Sea was justified. It was.
The Ship
When you step aboard a Viking Ocean ship, there is a unique sense of familiarity. That is because every Viking Ocean ship is virtually identical. Other than tweaks and improvements that are integrated into each iteration, the five (soon to be six) Viking ships are indistinguishable from each other. The staterooms are the same, the lounges are the same, the furnishings are the same, the color palette is the same...get the idea? The last cruise line that attempted a "cookie-cutter" strategy was the now defunct Renaissance Cruises back in the late 80s. Remember the R ships?
Explorers' Lounge - Deck 7 Forward
Repeat Viking guests (and, there are many) immediately feel like they are "coming home," regardless of which Viking Ocean ship they choose. The anxiety of getting lost for the first two or three days of the cruise is gone. Everything is exactly where it is supposed to be. And, the back of house benefits, too. Crew members can easily be moved between vessels without a learning curve.
Internet cafe is located on Deck 1 midship (next to Guest Services)
If you plan to build a fleet of identical ships, you have to get the first one right or any problems or shortcoming will be duplicated in subsequent ships. Since the 1980s, Viking Founder and CEO, Torstein Hagen, has been revolutionizing the cruise industry. His leadership made Royal Viking Line one of the most respected upscale cruise lines in history. And, we all know how Viking River Cruises created a paradigm shift in European river cruising. You only have to walk through a Viking Ocean ship once to realize the designers knew exactly what they were doing. The Viking Ocean ships are some of the most logically and elegantly designed ships on which we have sailed.
As with true Scandinavian design, form follows function. So, while the ship is beautiful, it employs many innovations that cannot go unmentioned. The use of technology throughout the ship is impressive. Interactive touchscreen monitors deliver information to guests in a user-friendly and intuitive manner.
Interactive touch screens
We found ourselves asking the question repeatedly, "Why doesn't every cruise line do this?" One example is the display of the disembarkation deck on the monitors near the elevators and stairs. Another monitor outside the theater displays scheduled activities and times for entertainment for that day.
We found ourselves asking the question repeatedly, "Why doesn't every cruise line do this?" One example is the display of the disembarkation deck on the monitors near the elevators and stairs. Another monitor outside the theater displays scheduled activities and times for entertainment for that day.
Embarkation
Embarkation times on Viking Ocean vessels are staggered based upon stateroom/suite categories. Guests occupying higher (meaning more expensive) stateroom categories can embark and occupy their staterooms earlier. Our Deluxe Veranda suite had an embarkation time of noon with the ability to occupy our stateroom at 2:00pm. This was not an issue since our flight from Helsinki to Bergen did not arrive until after 5pm. Nevertheless, Viking personnel were at the airport to greet us as soon as we exited Customs. Porters grabbed our luggage and escorted us to a waiting motorcoach for the transfer to Viking Sky.
Rickee checks in before boarding the motorcoach
When we arrived at the Bergen Cruise Terminal, the check-in and embarkation process was very smooth and efficient. As soon as we boarded the ship, we were greeted by General Manager, Sujith Mohan, who welcomed us back to Viking. We sailed with Sujith last year on Viking Sea. We thought it was very special for him to take the time to personally welcome us back. Glasses of champagne are being handed to guests as they step aboard Viking Sky. With champagne in hand, we make our way to Deck 6 and our Deluxe Veranda Stateroom. You can read more about our embarkation here.
The Itinerary - Into the Midnight Sun
Our 14-night cruise started in Bergen, Norway, and ended in Greenwich, England. This is the second time we have cruised in Norway and we found this itinerary to be superior to our previous visit. Viking offers this itinerary on five dates in 2019 and five in 2020. Our July 20th sailing was the last of the season, and, as such, much of the snow had already melted on the mountains so the waterfalls in the fjords were not as impressive as they might have been earlier in the season. On the other hand, the temperatures on our cruise were much warmer than we were expecting and the weather was actually quite pleasant. You can expect beautiful sailing through the Norwegian fjords and the Orkneys. You can read our day-by-day cruise blog here. If you want more information on this itinerary from Viking Cruises, click here.
Accommodations
There are five categories of staterooms on Viking Cruises' vessels, six if you include the Owner's Suite on Deck 7. The base category is the Veranda, which is a generous (by cruise ship standards) 270 sq. ft. The Deluxe Veranda, which we occupied, is essentially the same stateroom as the Veranda, but with a few extra perks. The other categories range from 338 sq. ft. up to 757 sq. ft. for the Explorer Suite. Since we occupied the Deluxe Veranda for twelve of the fourteen nights onboard, that is what we feel most qualified to talk about. That said, we did have an opportunity to spend two nights in the Owner's Suite on Deck 7 Forward.
Our Deluxe Veranda Stateroom (6068) was located aft on Deck 6. The layout of the stateroom is straightforward. As you enter from the hallway, you walk past the bathroom to the bedroom. At the entrance to the bedroom, you will find a wall unit with several dresser drawers, an electronic safe and an espresso/coffee machine.
The overall decor of the ship is carried through to the stateroom with the use of light tones in the woods, furnishings and carpeting. The king-sized bed is comfortable enough, but not the most comfortable we have slept on. Linens and pillowcases are very high quality. The bed frame is high enough off the floor so that even the largest pieces of luggage can fit underneath. The "living room" has two chairs and a small coffee table.
The coffee table is covered in fabric and leather which looks very elegant, but is not impervious to spilled ketchup stains. Perhaps Viking considers it better to replace leather/cloth than it is to refinish or replace a wooden or marble tabletop? Regardless of the reason why that surface was chosen, it is very nice. There is a small desk/vanity on the opposite wall from the bed and chairs. The desk has a desk lamp that, upon closer inspection, contains five, yes FIVE, USB charging ports on its base! There are two US-style 110 outlets at the desk and a pair of Quietvox receivers in a charging base.
A pitcher of water with two glasses sits on the desk and is replenished daily. A large pull-out refrigerator drawer is stocked with soft drinks which are also replenished daily. The most innovative feature of the desk/vanity is the flip up, lighted vanity mirror with makeup storage area. It is a great idea, but when opened, the mirror part was positioned so low that Rickee had to bend over uncomfortably to see herself. This could be rectified with a lower desk chair perhaps? In addition, the lighted mirror was a little too far away to be practical for anyone whose vision is less than optimal. Nevertheless, this was a very unique and welcomed addition to the stateroom!
Lighted makeup mirror integrated into the desk
Each of the two nightstands also has US-style 110 outlets and two USB charging ports. Thank you, Viking! Finally, I can keep my cell phone or iPad charged on my nightstand!
Electrical outlets and USB charging ports
Above each nightstand are light switches. One controls the bedside lamp while the smaller switch controls a convenient nightlight feature. If one person gets up in the middle of the night to say, go to the bathroom, the nightlight provides a soft floor light in the hallway between the bedroom and bathroom, and a soft light in the bathroom as well. There is no need to disturb your sleeping partner in the middle of the night with a harsh light.
Closet lighting is automatically turned on/off when doors open/close
The closet is next to the bed and becomes part of the wall between the bedroom and bathroom, providing a small degree of sound insulation. The sliding doors on the closet employ a soft-closing mechanism to eliminate the annoyance of slamming closet doors. All drawers in the stateroom utilize similar technology to dampen sound. The bathroom is a nice size for a 270 sq. ft. stateroom and has a large sink, a very nice glass-enclosed shower stall and quality amenities.
All Viking ships now provide their own brand (Freyja) of soaps, lotions and shampoos. We found the quality to be very good.
There is ample storage space in the bathroom with two large drawers, three shelves on each end of the vanity and open cabinet space below the sink. A unique feature of the Viking bathroom is the heated floor, which is warm enough to heat the entire bathroom. You never have to step out of a warm shower into a cold bathroom again! However, a temperature control dial would be a nice feature. Currently, if the floor heat needs adjustment, you have to request it from your room steward.
The veranda is smallish, but very usable with two chairs and a nice-sized table large enough for an al fresco breakfast.
The stateroom also has a large flat-screen HD television mounted to the wall directly across from the bed with excellent programming choices. However, we did notice intermittent interruptions in the TV signal during our cruise, a pretty common issue with satellite communications on a ship.
Overall, we would rate the Deluxe Veranda Stateroom a 4.5 out of 5 as it is definitely one of the most comfortable staterooms, for its size, of any ship afloat.
Food and Dining
When it comes time to eat on Viking Sky (or any Viking Ocean ship), there are a lot of choices. And, all of them are good. The Restaurant on Deck 2 aft is Viking Sky's traditional cruise ship dining venue with a la carté menu service for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Restaurant is a full menu-service restaurant with lunch and dinner offerings that change daily.
We never failed to get a table for two in The Restaurant. We found that if you arrive early, you have a better chance of getting a window seat. In the evening, The Restaurant can fill up quickly, so it is a good idea to arrive a few minutes before the posted opening time.
Tables set for two and four in The Restaurant
Service was very good in The Restaurant and we found the food to also be good. The evening menu offers a lot of variety and there is a nice "always available" selection. One standout dish was the excellent traditional Beef Wellington, but there were other exceptional dishes as well.
Beef Wellington
Complimentary red and white wines are offered at lunch and dinner in The Restaurant, and in all dining venues for that matter. We tend to like sweeter wines than are offered, so we preferred their house red wines, which were all good. Typically, The Restaurant is only open for breakfast and lunch on sea days.
The World Cafe is Viking Sky's Lido buffet.
Hand-washing station at World Cafe entrance
Neither Rickee nor I are big fans of cruise ship buffets. They tend to be overcrowded, and the food is usually bland, cold or both. But World Cafe is different. First, there are a lot of tables for two, with a lot of seating outdoors on the aft deck. And, in good weather, a large sliding glass door/wall can be opened to make the entire restaurant feel like a patio dining experience.
As for food, there is a nice selection of salads, hot entrees, and sandwiches. You can opt for a choice of á la minute dishes prepared in an open-kitchen. On the port side of World Cafe, you will find the nicest selection of cold seafood (boiled shrimp, king crab legs, etc.) and fresh sushi and sashimi of any restaurant at sea. There were evenings when we just wanted a light dinner and would go to World Cafe for sushi and shrimp cocktail.
Fresh sushi is handmade every night at World Cafe
On starboard side aft, you will find freshly-made pizza at lunch and dinner. The pizza is quite good, especially when it is fresh out of the oven. Back on the port side aft is the location of the very popular ice cream bar featuring at least five flavors, some of which change each day.
Very good pizza at World Cafe
The Chef's Table on Deck 1 aft, port side is one of two reservation required alternate restaurants. The Chef's Table offers a variety of fixed "tasting" menus, each with a different ethnic or regional theme. The five-course menus change every two or three days. We visited the Chef's Table twice on this cruise, trying two different menus. You can read a full review of The Chef's Table here.
If you walk directly from The Chef's Table to the other side of Viking Sky (starboard) you will find Manfredi's, Viking Sky's Italian restaurant. Unlike The Chef's Table, Manfredi's is an á la carte restaurant with a very extensive menu. On our last Viking cruise, we made the mistake of only dining in Manfredi's once. We rectified that mistake by dining here three times on this sailing! Make sure you read our full review of Manfredi's on our Cruise Ship Dining Reviews blog.
Bistecca Fiorintina (spice rubbed Rib Eye) at Manfredi's is the best steak at sea
A popular lunch spot on Viking Sky is The Pool Grill on Deck 7 amidship. The Pool Grill is your basic burger, hot dog, sandwich grill. I found the burgers to be better than I remembered on our last Viking cruise. In fact, the burger is quite good. However, the Pool Grill concept could use some tweaking.
Guests line up at the serving line to place orders, and the line eventually backs up into the salad bar area creating a real traffic jam. Mustard, ketchup and mayo are in small bowls at the end of the serving line where you pick up your order. On one visit, they ran out of ketchup and it took several minutes to get someone to fill the bowl causing a "pile up" of guests who had received their burger and fries, but were waiting for ketchup. It is the only place on the ship where I saw any traffic issues. On sea days, it was easier to just go to The Restaurant and order a burger, which was just as good as the one at the Pool Grill.
Waitstaff circulate through the pool area taking drink orders. Soft drinks, wine and beer are complimentary at lunchtime throughout the ship. There are lots of tables set up on the pool deck for dining, some of which are protected from the sun and elements.
Viking Sky also offers guests 24-hour complimentary room service. We had room service a couple of times and everything we ordered was delivered in a timely manner, and arrived hot.
Another interesting dining option on Viking Sky is Mamsen's located in the Explorers' Lounge on Deck 7 forward, starboard. Mamsen's is sort of like a snack bar and is open at various times throughout the day. In the morning, guests wait in line for one of the fresh, made-to-order waffles. At lunchtime, you will find a variety of Norwegian specialties including sandwiches, smoked salmon and beef tartare.
Viking Cruises has revived the traditional Afternoon Tea with one of the nicest presentations you will find anywhere. Most afternoons at 4:00pm, The Wintergarden (Deck 7) is the venue for a quite formal tea service, even though the dress code remains casual. A tiered tray of sweet and savory goodies is brought to each table along with warm scones with traditional toppings. A wide variety of teas is offered.
Bars & Lounges
The Viking Bar on Deck 1
As with most cruise ships, there is no shortage of places on Viking Sky where guests can quench their thirst. In the Atrium (Decks 1, 2 and 3), you can enjoy your favorite beverage from The Viking Bar while admiring the art displayed on the huge screen at the top of the grand staircase. The Pool Bar on Deck 7 amidship is the go-to spot for your favorite beverage when lounging poolside.
The most popular spot in the evenings is Explorers' Lounge on Deck 7 forward. Not only was it a great place for a pre-dinner cocktail, it was my early morning blog and coffee spot. The Aquavit Bar is located behind World Cafe on Deck 7 aft, and is a great place for a cocktail al fresco. Torshavn, located on Deck 2, is open from 9:00pm until whenever and is the place for late night dancing, entertainment and cocktails.
Drink prices are comparable to prices on other cruise lines. The Viking Sparkling Wine is one of our favorite sparkling wines, and is a good value at $5.50. A finger of Crown Royal will set you back $8, and it is a small finger. Viking Cruises has a very good Silver Spirits package that gives you unlimited cocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks for about $30 per day/per person. So, in my case, three Crown Royals per day would make it a good value. A comparable beverage package on Princess Cruises is $69 per person/per day!
Silver Spirits beverage package is a good value
Entertainment & Activities
We were completely blown away with the entertainment on our last Viking cruise. And, Cruise Director, Aaron Syfert, did not disappoint on this cruise.
Cruise Director, Aaron Syfert
The three male and three female singers were all very talented. And, the production shows integrated technology in some unique and interesting ways. However, we did recognize some of the productions as being the same as we saw on last year's Viking Sea cruise.
In addition to production shows in The Star Theater, we really enjoyed the singing duo, Vincent and Jennifer, who performed in Torshavn.
Vincent and Jennifer
In addition to the cast of singers and dancers, musicians performed throughout the ship. At various times throughout the day, The Atrium would be filled with the sounds of Laslo playing the classical guitar, or the Viking Classical Trio.
Viking Classical Trio performs in The Atrium
We continue to be impressed with the quality and variety of entertainment provided by Viking.
The Spa
The spa, located on Deck 1 Forward, is one of the nicest spas you will find on any cruise ship. Use of the spa facilities and adjacent fitness center is complimentary for all guests. The fitness center is very well equipped with the latest cardio equipment and weight training machines.
You don't need to "check in" to use the spa, simply go to the locker room and use your stateroom key to obtain a locker for your valuables and/or clothing. Spa slippers, towels and a bathrobe are all provided. There is a dry sauna in the locker room and an adjacent cold plunge pool. The coed "wet area" consists of a large thallasotherapy pool with warm, soothing jets. A more aggressive hot tub has more powerful water jets and 102 degree water.
Luxurious cushioned loungers surround the pools and are a great place to relax and cool down. A powerful steam room is just steps from the pool area. No visit to the steam room is complete without a stop in the snow grotto. That's right, a small room filled with snow! No pun intended, it is very cool.
Snow Grotto
If the snow is too cold for you, you can always cool off with a bucket of cold water being dumped on your head. Just pull the rope! The Spa on Viking Ocean ships has everything you could want. It is the nicest spa I have seen on a cruise ship, and nicer than most you will find on land.
The LivNordic Spa and the adjacent salon offer a full range of services (additional costs apply), including various types of massages, manicure/pedicure, waxing, body scrubs, facials, hair-cutting and styling services. There is a small barber shop where men can get a haircut.
Shore Excursions
We expected the shore excursions on Viking Sky to be good. This is one area where all Viking's experience as the largest river cruise company in the world can be easily leveraged. Every guest is offered an included excursion in every port. Of course, there are optional excursions available at additional cost, but the included excursion feature of Viking Cruises is a huge value. Included and optional excursions can be booked in advance through the MyVikingJourney website. Upon embarkation, you find your excursion tickets waiting in your stateroom.
Excursions can be pre-booked online
We found the included excursions to be quite good, with competent local guides. The two optional excursions we experienced were also very well executed, and actually, a good value. My favorite was the "Hike the Arctic Hills with Huskies".
Viking provides each stateroom with Quietvox audio systems for use on local excursions. We have been singing the praises of these little transceivers for years and can't believe that every cruise line has not adopted them.
Another huge benefit of a Viking shore excursion operation is the ability to book your excursions to depart at various times of the day. Many excursions are offered both in the morning and the afternoon which is great for those of us who like to sleep in, have lunch, then go on excursion. Of course, this also allows you to enjoy multiple excursions in each port, one in the morning and another in the afternoon.
Viking also provided complimentary local shuttle service to town in many of the ports we visited.
Staff and Crew
We said it last year on Viking Sea, and our opinion has not changed. Quite simply, this is one of the best crews with which we have ever sailed. It does not take long to realize that everyone working on the ship loves their job and really loves working for Viking Cruises. Sujith Mohan, the Hotel General Manager, is the most visible hotel manager we have ever seen on a ship. Sujith is just one example of how Viking has managed to assemble the very best people in the cruise industry to make the Viking experience a memorable one.
Sujith Mohan, Hotel General Manager
We cannot fail to mention our excellent stateroom attendants, Arvin and Kevin. They never failed to greet us in the hallway and always asked if there was anything we needed. Our stateroom was maintained perfectly. When we were offered the opportunity to spend two nights in the Owner's Suite, Arvin even called the Owner's Suite stateroom attendant to inform her that we preferred a top sheet on the bed!
Kevin and Arvin, our stateroom attendants
All of the restaurant waiters and waitresses we encountered were friendly and delivered excellent service. We dined in Manfredi's on three different occasions, and each evening were taken care of by Hector, our new favorite waiter.
The Viking Sky Experience
A cruise aboard Viking Sky is a casual experience. Gentlemen, leave your tuxedos at home. You can bring a sport coat if you wish, but you probably won't even need that. The entire ship is very relaxed and casual. A collared shirt and a nice pair of slacks will get you by after 6pm anywhere on the ship. As for demographics, on our cruise the average age was in the 50-60 range.
This is a cruise line for adults. If you want to take the kiddos on a cruise, look elsewhere.
Gratuities will be added to your shipboard account at the end of the cruise ($12 pp/pd), but can be adjusted with a trip to Guest Services. Wine, beer and soft drinks are included at lunch and dinner. Even the soft drinks in the mini-bar in your stateroom are complimentary and replenished once each day.
Complimentary shuttle service and included excursions make a Viking Cruise a considerable value.
Summary
If cruising truly is like dating, it is no wonder why so many Viking faithful are now in a committed relationship with this rapidly expanding cruise line. Viking claims that 80% of its guests are repeat guests, a number that any cruise line would be proud of. State-of-the-hardware, a happy and enthusiastic crew, and, destination experiences that are second-to-none combine to make this one of the very best cruise lines operating today.
Treasures of the British Isles with Tauck on Le Soleal
Tauck Small Ship Cruising delivers a unique and excellent British Isles experience.
May 10, 2018 - Having sailed on a few Tauck river cruises in Europe, we were already familiar with the company's focus on providing its guests with an unparalleled destination experience. Tauck's approach is to partner with a reputable cruise line, allowing them to handle virtually all of the onboard experience (dining, staterooms, onboard entertainment, etc.). This allows Tauck to focus on providing guests with Tauck‑exclusive shore excursions, planned and operated by Tauck, with either a Tauck Director, expert local guide, or both.
Tauck Directors Dale and Stacie
This seemingly subtle distinction really does impact the small ship cruising experience, and distinguishes a Tauck Small Ship Cruise from a "typical" cruise. All shore excursions are included in the price of a Tauck Small Ship Cruise, and each benefits from 93 years of Tauck's experience in delivering high-quality land tours. Experienced travelers will immediately notice the difference.
Most Tauck Small Ship Cruises feature a two or three-night pre-cruise or post-cruise hotel stay in the city of embarkation (or disembarkation), with guided Tauck sightseeing included. On our Treasures of the British Isles cruise, we enjoyed two evenings (pre-cruise) at The Conrad Dublin in Dublin, Ireland, and two nights (post-cruise) at the Churchill Hyatt in London.
Both hotels would easily fall in the 4 to 5-star rating category. Tauck also arranged for its guests to enjoy complimentary breakfast each day. In Europe, that translated to a $25-$30 value per person/per day! In Dublin, we were treated to an excellent city tour including a stop at St. Patrick's Cathedral and at Trinity College to view the historic Book of Kells.
We visit St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin
Unlike with most cruise line excursions, or those go-it-on-your-own excursions, Tauck arranges for its guests to go to the front of the line when visiting popular attractions like the Book of Kells in Dublin or the Crown Jewels in London. Tauck obtains VIP passes for guests so there is no waiting in long lines. Yes, you WILL notice a difference on a Tauck Small Ship Cruise!
In London, we enjoyed a tour of The Tower of London early in the morning before the hordes of tourists arrived. We had our own Yeoman Warder to guide us without the crowds, without the pushing and shoving. You get the idea.
Our floating home for the seven-night cruise portion of the trip was Ponant's Le Soléal. The ship has been in service for five years, but it looks as though it was just floated out of dry dock. The interior spaces were in immaculate condition and looked brand new. Le Soléal can carry up to 234 guests, but there are only 185 on our cruise, all of whom were Tauck guests. Ponant operates a fleet of small cruise ships and Tauck is Ponant's largest customer.
Le Soléal (and her sister ships, Le Boreal, Le Lyrial and L'Austral) are perfectly designed and outfitted for small ship cruising. The ship is small enough to feel intimate, but large enough to have all of the facilities and amenities of larger ships. There is a small fitness center, a full-service spa, swimming pool, two bars/lounges, two dining venues, 24-hour room service, and a theater for lectures and evening entertainment.
It was a little too cool to use the pool on our cruise
My balcony stateroom (507) was quite roomy with plenty of storage, an electronic safe, a large flat-screen HD television, large desk/vanity, small table and chair for in-room dining. A narrow balcony has two chairs (facing each other) and a small table. It is not large enough to really enjoy breakfast on the balcony, but great for taking in the passing oceanscape.
The bathroom is split into two sections with a dedicated "water closet" and a separate shower/sink/vanity room. This layout provides more privacy should one guest require use of the toilet at the same time their companion is taking a shower. There is a curious window from the shower/sink side of the bathroom open to the bedroom. While this window can be closed off via a sliding door for maximum privacy, the door is controlled from the bedroom and not the bathroom. Interesting design. Bathroom amenities are from Hermes and are top quality.
Ladies will appreciate the hinged makeup mirror in the bathroom.
My stateroom was very comfortable and one of the quietest staterooms I have ever experienced. I never heard a sound from the hallway or my neighbors. Stateroom doors also close quietly. The ship is very well engineered for comfort.
All meals onboard the ship are included in the cruise fare, and Tauck guests enjoy complimentary beverages, including alcoholic beverages, throughout the cruise. Even the mini-bar in the stateroom is stocked with complimentary spirits, bottled water, soft drinks and beer. However, the selection of complimentary cocktails was more limited than we have experienced on Tauck's river cruises, where Scylla is the ship operator. For example, Crown Royal is considered a "premium" whisky on Ponant and comes with a hefty $10 charge. Nevertheless, bar service was very good. In fact, service throughout the ship was very good.
There are two dining venues on Le Soléal. The main restaurant, L'Eclipse, is located on Deck 2 aft and serves à la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner. A buffet with breads, cereals, meats and cheeses is available at breakfast and lunch, while dinner is a full menu-service affair.
Elegant evening dining in L'Eclipse
Evening menus offer a choice of starter, main course, and dessert. There is always a fish choice, a vegetarian option and another meat dish. A selection of "always available" items includes steak, chicken, pasta, Caesar salad, etc.
A less formal option for dining is Restaurant Pythéas on Deck 6 aft. Most would consider this a Lido buffet restaurant since the swimming pool is just aft of the restaurant, and there is indoor and al fresco dining here. This restaurant offers extensive buffet offerings at breakfast, lunch and dinner. In addition to buffet selections, there are a few à la carte items that can be prepared to order such as egg dishes at breakfast, burgers at lunch, or steak and salmon at dinner. Guests are requested to make reservations for evening dining at Pythéas.
Less formal dining in Pythéas on Deck 6
I found the service in both restaurants to be very good. Food quality was much improved over our last cruise on Ponant in 2012. I am not a fish eater, but everyone raved about the seafood dishes. All of the breads were incredible. Get a fresh baguette, some French butter and a glass of wine, and you can make a nice lunch. A selection of red and white wines are offered at lunch and dinner in both venues. Every wine I tried was good. A selection of premium wines is available at additional cost. The ice cream selections available at lunch and dinner in Pythéas were also excellent.
When guests return to their staterooms each evening, they will find the next day's itinerary in the daily newsletter, Journal De Bord. The newsletter is very well laid out and easy to read with a summary of the destination, weather forecast and disembarkation times for the various shore excursions the following day.
In each port-of-call, Tauck offers a variety of shore excursions with varied activity levels. Guests with physical limitations, or those who simply wish to take a slower pace, will appreciate the leisurely option excursions. When motor coaches are used, they are always new, clean and very comfortable.
Shore excursions and destination immersion is where Tauck's experience really shows. They have spent decades developing relationships with local tour operators and venues around the world. That translates into the very best local guides, excellent motor coaches, and often exclusive access to interesting attractions and venues.
Excellent local guides, like Linda in London, really make shore excursions special
For guests who want a higher activity level, Tauck has that covered as well. In Guernsey, the Cliff Top Hike and Gin Tasting took guests on an invigorating, and challenging hike with some of the most beautiful views of the entire trip. Read our daily cruise blog
Enjoying a pint of Guinness in Dublin
In London, on the last day of our Tauck journey, they treated us to an incredible flight on the London Eye. That was completely unexpected! And, in true Tauck fashion, they reserved two capsules just for their guests and we zipped past the huge lines of tourists thanks to our VIP passes.
The London Eye
No matter where you are on a Tauck Small Ship Cruise, a Tauck Director is never far away if you have a question or a problem. There were six Tauck Directors and a Tauck Cruise Director on our cruise. When off the ship on a shore excursion, Tauck Directors can often be found assisting the local guides. It is comforting knowing that a knowledgeable advocate is always close by when you need information in an unfamiliar place.
A Tauck Small Ship Cruise is far more inclusive than typical cruise lines. Included in Tauck’s cruise prices are all shore excursions, all gratuities, all onboard beverages (adult and otherwise, with the exception of the Galapagos cruises where they have nightly complimentary happy hours and complimentary wine and beer with dinners), airport transfers, port charges and other fees, luggage handling and more. Tauck really does take the hassle out of travel so that all you have to do is show up and enjoy the journey.
This was our first experience on a Tauck Small Ship Cruise and we were very impressed with how Tauck has taken small ship cruising to a new level. We have always been fans of small ship cruising and we are huge fans of Tauck river cruises. Small ships can take you places that you cannot get to on a river cruise and larger cruise ships have to sail past the smaller, more interesting ports because of the size of the ship. Sophisticated travelers have already discovered the small ship allure and are making this one of the fastest growing segments in the cruise industry. The combination of small ship cruising and Tauck expertise is formidable.
Tauck's small ship cruises are always the first segment of their business to sell out each year, so plan ahead. Perhaps that is why Tauck recently announced that they will be doubling their ship capacity over the next several years with a 40% increase in 2019 alone! Tauck partners with Silversea, Ponant, Windstar and Metropolitan Touring.
If you are considering a small ship cruise, we highly recommend that you put Tauck at the top of your list. For more information on Tauck Small Ship Cruising, click here.
Tahiti & Society Islands Cruise on m/s Paul Gauguin
Tahiti is the most romantic destination on Earth, and Paul Gauguin Cruises is the best way to experience it.
Itinerary: Papeete, Huahine, Taha'a, Bora Bora, Bora Bora, Moorea, Moorea, Papeete
There are a handful of cruise lines that don't fit the typical cruise review mold. Paul Gauguin Cruises is one such cruise line. First, the cruise line currently operates only one vessel: M/S Paul Gauguin. Second, they are focused on South Pacific destinations, most notably the islands of French Polynesia. And, third, guests will most likely be flying into Papeete to embark M/S Paul Gauguin, which presents its own set of unique circumstances.
Embarkation
As mentioned previously, our sailing embarked in Papeete, Tahiti, which required a total of about 11 hours of flying time. Our flight from DFW to LAX took approximately three hours, then add another eight hours for the flight from LAX to Papeete. Most US guests will likely fly to Papeete on Air Tahiti Nui (ATN), as was the case with us. That means you will probably not arrive in Papeete until very late at night. We flew in Economy Class, electing not to spend the $1,000 per person (each way) to upgrade to Business Class.
Economy Class on ATN is not all that comfortable. The Airbus A-340 is a wide-body aircraft with 2-4-2 seating. We were fortunate on the flight over to have a window and aisle seat on the "2-side" of the plane, as opposed to the center section. We also flew on one of their newer planes (not to be confused with a"new" plane) which did have touch-screen, on-demand entertainment in each seatback and had USB chargers. The seats, however, were very cramped and very uncomfortable. Halfway through the flight, we were re-thinking our decision to not upgrade.
In the photo above, you can see where my knees (I am 6' 2" tall) touched the back of the seat in front of me. And, this was before the person in front of me reclined their seat! Also, Air Tahiti Nui provides no way to select a seat in advance through their website. Multiple phone calls to their reservations' 800 number resulted in the same response: "You can only select your seats at check-in at the airport." Now, I only mention this because when you sail on Paul Gauguin Cruises, you are very likely going to be flying on Air Tahiti Nui so, if you can afford it, pay for the upgrade to Business Class!
Also, we highly recommend flying into Papeete a day or two ahead of your cruise. Get a room at the Intercontinental Hotel and Resort and you will be able to board the ship in the afternoon on the day of embarkation. Because of our late night arrival, we did not get to the ship until midnight, and we were pretty wiped out the next day.
Embarking M/S Paul Gauguin after midnight
Fortunately, once we boarded the ship, check-in was very fast and efficient. We were impressed that crew members were on hand to carry hand luggage up the gangway and into the lounge where we checked in. Once we arrived in the Grand Salon, we were greeted with glasses of champagne and whisked through the check-in process. A stewardess escorted us to our stateroom and, within 10 minutes of boarding, we were unpacking our luggage which was waiting for us in our stateroom.
The Ship
M/S Paul Gauguin is 19,200 tons and can carry 332 guests on seven passenger decks. The ship was originally operated by Radisson Seven Seas, which later became Regent Seven Seas. If you look at the smokestack very closely, you can still see the outline of the original Radisson Seven Seas logo underneath the prominent "P" that now emblazons that space. The ship is 18 years old and I can still remember touring her in 2000 when we were in Tahiti for a cruise with the now- defunct Renaissance Cruises.
m/s paul gauguin
From the exterior, you would never know that the ship is 18 years old. Even inside, the ship has held up well, although there are a few spaces that could use a refresh. An upcoming dry dock will no doubt address some of these areas. For Goldilocks cruise enthusiasts that find ships with 700+ guests overwhelming, and those with fewer than 100 guests boring, M/S Paul Gauguin is "just right." With a crew complement of 215, she has one of the highest crew-to-guest ratios in the industry.
Because of her modest size, M/S Paul Gauguin is very easy for guests to find their way around. If you forget something right before you board the tender on Deck 3, it won't take more than a few minutes to get back to your stateroom, even if it is on Deck 8, to retrieve that bottle of sunscreen or beach towel.
The Grand Salon is on Deck 5 forward and is the venue for entertainment and lectures on board. It is also the meeting point for shore excursions. The Grand Salon is actually a very well-designed theater for a ship this size with comfortable seating and excellent sight lines.
Grand Salon
There are two sets of stairs and elevators, one aft and one forward. You can move from Deck 3 all the way to Deck 8 from either set of stairs/elevators. This makes M/S Paul Gauguin easy to navigate for those with mobility issues.
The forward section of Deck 6 is occupied by balcony staterooms, as is all of Deck 7, and Deck 8 forward. Deck 8 midship is where you will find the ship's pool and the Pool Bar. The nice-sized pool is surrounded by plenty of sun loungers. However, the lounge chairs are not quite up to the standards we would expect to see on a ship that spends its days sailing the sun-drenched waters of the South Pacific. The addition of cushions would be nice.
Pool Deck
Deck 9 forward is where you will find Bar Du Soleil, a very nice area that appeared to only be used for special events. It is too bad that it is not utilized more because it is a wonderful space with expansive views of the ocean. There is also a lot of open deck space on Deck 9 and sun loungers can be found here for those who want a bit more privacy than is available on the pool deck.
The ship is equipped with stabilizers, which can help to smooth out the ride in rougher seas. We only experienced minimal motion the first night sailing from Papeete to Huahine, and it was not bad at all. On several evenings, the ship is anchored at night in protected waters.
M/S Paul Gauguin is equipped with WiFi Internet access for guest use. The costs are in line with what most other cruise lines charge for Internet access. I was pleased with the speed and reliability of the Internet on board...for a cruise ship. I was able to connect from our stateroom and from La Palette (Deck 8 aft). There were only a couple of instances of dropped connections, which is common with cruise ship satellite Internet connections.
Accommodations
Our Category C Balcony Stateroom (760) was located on Deck 7 aft, port side. The 202 sq. ft. stateroom is nicely laid out and quite comfortable overall. The use of mirrored walls helped to make the room appear larger. The queen-sized bed was reasonably comfortable and linens were top quality. A beautiful fresh tropical floral arrangement was the nicest (and largest) we have ever seen in a stateroom. However, it did take up a sizable amount of much-needed space on the coffee table.
Category C Balcony Stateroom
The white marble bathroom has a full-size tub/shower combination, toilet (obviously) and single sink with storage on each side of the sink behind mirrored doors. There is additional storage space both above and below the sink. Lotion, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner are all L'Occitane and are replenished as needed.
The twin closets can easily hold enough clothing for two people for a two-week cruise. Between the closets there is a vanity with mirror, but no makeup mirror, and less-than-perfect lighting. This space can also double as a small desk and is the only place we found electrical outlets (1 US-Style 110 and 1 European-style 220). This table soon became cluttered with all of our chargers, computer, iPad, camera and cell phones. A small battery-operated alarm clock is provided, a welcomed feature.
Between the bed and the balcony is a small sofa, coffee table and padded stool that can be used as additional seating. A wall unit has lots of storage cubbies and cabinets, a small flat-screen television w/DVD player, and a mini-fridge (stocked with soft drinks, water and beer). The balcony is only 37 sq. ft. but can easily accommodate two people to enjoy Tahitian sunsets or watch dolphins playing alongside the ship. Enjoying breakfast al fresco might be a challenge due to the very small balcony table. The sliding door to the balcony functioned smoothly, but could easily be slammed if you were not careful. The stateroom door, on the other hand, is difficult to slam. In fact, if you let the door close on its own, you can barely hear it.
If I were picking nits, I would say the reading lights attached to the wall on each side of the bed should be changed to cool LED lights instead of the broiling hot, and super-bright halogens. And, please add more electrical outlets and perhaps even a couple of USB charging ports. The stateroom was reasonably quiet. We could hear our neighbors slam their balcony door a few times. And, if you book a stateroom on Deck 7 aft of 756 (port) or 755 (starboard) you will hear the late-night disco music (especially the pounding bass!) coming from La Palette. The music would crank up around 10pm and continue until about midnight.
A hair dryer is provided in each stateroom. Laundry service is available for a fee. There is no self-service launderette on the ship.
Food and Dining
A continental breakfast is set up in La Palette each morning at 06:30 with pastries, fruit, cereal, coffee, tea and juice. Buffet breakfast is available starting at 7:00 or 7:30am in Le Grill on Deck 8 and La Veranda on Deck 6. Both venues offer an a la carté menu and eggs cooked-to-order. Tip: have breakfast in La Veranda to avoid crowds. Most people have breakfast at Le Grill because of the outdoor seating near the pool. But, La Veranda has outdoor seating, too, and fewer people!
Lunch is served at La Veranda and Le Grill each day at noon. Both venues offer a buffet of salads, breads, desserts, a pasta station and an a la carté menu featuring burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, etc. La Veranda was our favorite place for lunch because it was less crowded and had more food choices including a carving station and additional hot entrees. They also offer a different ethnic "theme" each day in La Veranda (French, Italian, Tex-Mex, Greek, etc.)
A variety of fresh salads on the lunch buffet
For dinner, guests can choose to dine in the ship's main restaurant, L' Etoile, on Deck 5 aft. This is a more traditional cruise ship dining venue but with open seating allowing you to dine anytime between 7:00pm and 9:00pm and sit with whomever you like. We had dinner in L' Etoile on three evenings and never had a problem finding a table for two.
L' Etoile
Reservations are required to dine at Le Grill on Deck 8 and La Veranda on Deck 6 in the evenings. Both offer fixed menus with Le Grill offering a Pan-Asian-influenced menu. The menu at La Veranda offers a Menu Dégustation (multi-course chef's selection) as well as an a la carté menu. You should make reservations as soon as you board the ship to ensure the dining day and time you want.
Le Grill
On the evening of our dinner at Le Grill, the weather was perfect, so tables were placed on the pool deck for a very romantic setting. Tables are candlelit (battery-operated candles), and the mood is as nice as we have experienced on any ship. My Polynesian marinated strip steak was flavorful and cooked perfectly. Rickee's Wahoo fish was a bit overcooked and dry. We also shared an order of the Chicken Chow Mein, which was my personal favorite. Dinner at Le Grill is a must on any Paul Gauguin Cruise.
At our La Veranda dinner, Rickee and I ordered the exact same thing. The cream of mushroom soup was delicious. The mushroom risotto was cooked well, but swimming in truffle oil. The vanilla creme bruleè was excellent.
La Veranda
Everyone should try Le Grill and La Veranda at least once per cruise. And, L' Etoile, the only evening venue that does not require reservations, is quite good. Guests can also enjoy room service 24 hours a day with a fairly extensive room service menu. The evening menu at L 'Etoile is also available from room service during regular dining hours. We saw a lot of room service meals being delivered each morning at breakfast.
Complimentary wines are offered each day for lunch and dinner and we found the wine choices to be excellent.
Excellent wines are offered at lunch and dinner
When we mentioned to our waiter that we prefer a sweeter wine, he did not hesitate to bring a bottle of Gewürztraminer (a sweet German wine) to our table for us to enjoy. Not many cruise lines even stock sweeter wines, much less allow you to deviate from the standard "red or white" offering of the day. From that day forward, our waiters somehow remembered that we liked the Gewürztraminer and always offered it.
Bar Service
All cocktails, beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks are complimentary on Paul Gauguin. That means you will never have to be hassled by having to sign a check every time you order a drink at one of the bars. We feel that is a huge value. Bar service throughout the ship is extremely good. Bartenders were not shy about pouring generous amounts of rum into the fruity, colorful "drink-of-the-day" and, the Spicy Bloody Mary at the Pool Bar is as good as you will find anywhere.
The Piano Bar on Deck 5 was our overall favorite spot for pre-dinner cocktails. On our second visit to the Piano Bar, the bartender knew our favorite drinks and, as soon as we sat down, the drinks were delivered. Delicious canapés are served each evening in the Piano Bar and La Palette.
All the way aft on Deck 8 you will find La Palette. La Palette is a panorama lounge with indoor and outdoor seating. There is a full bar here and this becomes the ship's disco each evening. If you want to enjoy your favorite cocktail while taking in an amazing sunset, La Palette is your spot.
Guests enjoy the patio at La Palette for a sunset cocktail
La Palette is one space that is showing its age but we were told that a renovation of this area is scheduled in the upcoming dry dock. The indoor seating is not as comfortable, or attractive, as the seating in the Piano Bar and the tables are small and dated. However, La Palette was my go-to spot for early morning coffee and blogging/internet duties. Fortunately, coffee and hot water were available after 5:30am and a nice continental breakfast is served here from 6am until 11am.
La Palette
Entertainment
Onboard entertainment focuses heavily on immersion in the Polynesian culture. On our voyage, we were treated to a dance performance by the "Children of Huahine" and to a group of local musicians who performed during Polynesian Night. We also had the opportunity to be entertained by the most famous dance troupe in French Polynesia.
Local performers come aboard in Moorea to perform
The Les Gauguines, a group of Polynesian crew members who serve as onboard cultural ambassadors, perform local music at various venues around the ship. They proudly share Polynesian history and traditions with guests.
Les Gauguines perform at a special celebration
The ship also has its own musical band, Santa Rosa, that performs at the pool and in La Palette.
On our sailing, Cruise Director, Claudine Carle, presented a one-woman show that featured her tribute to famous singing "divas".
Activities
Guests can enjoy quite a few onboard activities when they are not off the ship exploring the beauty of the Society Islands. Les Gauguines conduct a variety of classes such as pareo tying, shell-jewelry making, hair-pick creations, Tahitian language lessons, dance classes and various other glimpses into the culture of French Polynesia.
Rickee learns how to tie a pareo
The ship has a marina on Deck 4 aft where guests have complimentary use of a variety of water toys. Guests can kayak, paddleboard or wind surf when weather and local laws permit. Snorkel equipment is available at no charge for guests to use for the week.
Experienced and wannabe SCUBA divers will appreciate the ship's commitment to the sport. The m/s Paul Gauguin offers PADI certification on board. All dives offered are guided by a professional PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Dive Master/Instructor. Each is skilled in ensuring that guests have the best dive possible.
Dive tank filling station
The ship is fully equipped with an onboard practice pool, a tank-filling station, and two inflatable dive boats with ladders. Each holds eight divers and two instructors. No tender to shore is needed—you simply leave from the marina platform of the ship and return to it after your dive, where a warm shower awaits.
One day, M/S Paul Gauguin shuttles guests to a small motu for a beach party and BBQ. You can read all about our day at the beach on our cruise blog.
Enjoying my (third) rum punch at the beach BBQ
There were several lectures conducted during our sailing. By far, the most interesting for us was an Indian Cooking Demonstration by Canadian Chef, Vikram Vij. This was a lecture meets cooking demonstration meets comedy show. Chef Vij is a celebrity chef in Canada having appeared on Top Chef Canada, Chopped Canada and Dragon's Den. He owns four highly-acclaimed Indian restaurants in Vancouver.
Chef Vij shows us how to create his signature Curry Chicken
We have attended more than our share of cruise ship lectures in the past 15 years, but nothing like the one with Chef Vij. He was very entertaining.
Paul Gauguin is very popular with honeymooners and those celebrating their wedding anniversary. The crew goes out of their way to show special attention to those guests celebrating a special occasion.
A special anniversary cake delivered to your stateroom
One evening, a special "by invitation only" celebration is held in La Palette just for honeymooners and those celebrating their anniversaries. Attendees are greeted with a glass of champagne and Les Gauguines are on hand to entertain with Polynesian music and a special dance. Each couple is invited to have their photo taken with Bora Bora in the background, wrapped in a traditional Polynesian blanket that symbolizes love. For those celebrating a special day, Paul Gauguin helps make it a day they will not soon forget!
Special anniversary/honeymoon photo
Repeat guests on Paul Gauguin were invited to a private function at Bar Du Soleil (Deck 9 forward). We were greeted by Hotel Director, Jacques Le Tallec, and had the opportunity to mingle with other senior staff while enjoying champagne and delicious canapés.
Hotel Director, Jacques Le Tallec, greets Rickee at Welcome Back Party
The Deep Nature Spa offers every possible type of treatment you could want.
The small fitness center is nicely equipped with LifeFitness machines, bicycles, treadmills and stair climbing machines.
Excursions
Paul Gauguin Cruises is all about the destination, and the destination just happens to be one of the most beautiful and romantic places on Earth. During our 7-night Tahiti and Society Islands cruise, we participated in four different excursions, three of which were booked through Gauguin and one booked independently.
Half-Day Lagoon Excursion
Our first excursion in Bora Bora was with a local tour provider, which we booked directly over the Internet. The tour was identical to one the ship offers called Lagoon Excursion with Moahi Nui. The tour begins with an outrigger boat tour of Bora Bora followed by three stops. The first stop was to snorkel in the ocean with black tip reef sharks.
Rickee snorkels with black tip reef sharks
The second stop was at a shallow sandbar to snorkel with friendly stingrays. And, the third stop was at the coral garden where we enjoyed snorkeling with many different colorful fish.
Stingrays swim right up to you
Finally, we visit a tiny motu (island) for a fresh fruit snack before returning to the ship. This is a great tour and highly recommended. Also, the cost of the tour through the ship's shore excursion desk is the same as booking independently. On our tour, we had to spend about an hour for the outrigger to make several stops at various hotels to pick up other guests. This would not be an issue with the ship's tour, so you would likely get to spend more time at each stop.
Lagoonarium: Open-Air Aquarium Snorkeling Experience
This excursion is a unique snorkeling safari in an open-air aquarium. Once again, a ride in an outrigger canoe takes you to the small motu where the Lagoonarium is located.
The Lagoonarium offers an abundance of marine life and a beach with a beautiful view of the island. Here, we had an opportunity to swim/snorkel with lemon sharks, rays, parrot fish, and more. Snorkeling is in water ranging in depth from 3-10 feet.
Rickee is surrounded by lemon sharks in the Lagoonarium
After our time in the water, we were served fresh fruit, but there was no time to enjoy the beach. Some other guests with whom we spoke were a little disturbed by the idea of having marine life contained within the confines of the Lagoonarium. Personally, it did not bother me. After all, they are sharks! But, if the idea of swimming in what essentially is a big aquarium does not appeal to you, you can always opt for another excursion. The ship offers many excursions that include time in the amazingly beautiful, crystal clear waters surrounding the Society Islands.
Moorea by Catajet
We departed the pier for a boat transfer to a hotel beach where the Catajets (and Waverunners) are based. Upon arrival, we were given (very) brief instructions regarding safety and operation of the Catajets, then climbed aboard our two-seat, side-by-side watercraft.
Our first stop was a sandbar for snorkeling in the shallow waters with black tip reef sharks and stingrays.
Rickee gets friendly with a stingray
Our second stop was a small motu where we had the opportunity to swim in some deeper waters, but we found the current a little to strong to really enjoy a swim. Refreshments consisting of water and sliced pineapple were served on the motu before we returned to the home base. We enjoyed this excursion, but felt that it was a little expensive ($299 for two people/one Catajet) for a two-hour tour. Also, half of the fun was driving the Catajet, and there really was little time to enjoy this as most of the time was spent in the water.
Slow-Paced Belvedere and Pinapple Valley by E-Bike
This slow-paced guided bicycle tour in Moorea was one of our favorite excursions. The tour began with a short introduction on how to use the E-bike.
The E-Bike has an electric motor that provides assistance at varying levels (that you can select). This should not be confused with a Mo-Ped since you are always required to pedal the bike. There are a few scenic stops along the way to the Belvedere Lookout point.
There is a lot of nice scenery along the twisty mountain road. The motor-assisted feature of the mountain bike made it easy to complete the tour, but I would recommend this for those who are at least in moderately good physical condition.
At $85 per person for the 3.5 hour tour, this excursion is the best value of all excursions we enjoyed. We prefer active excursions and this fit that description perfectly. It was really fun riding this unique bicycle!
Paul Gauguin Experience
The Paul Gauguin cruise experience is a romantic journey through one of the most beautiful places on Earth. No other cruise ship can deliver the South Pacific experience like Paul Gauguin. Life on board is very laid back, casual and relaxing. Leave your suit at home. All cocktails, beverages and bottled water are included in your cruise fare, so you never have to be inconvenienced with signing a check at the bar. All meals, even specialty restaurants, are also included to make this cruise an even better value. You will find adult guests of all ages on board ranging from 20s to 70s. But, you won't find many children. Take your kids and grandkids on Disney or Carnival in the Caribbean. Paul Gauguin Cruises is best when enjoyed by adults (of course, we don't have kids, so we are a bit biased). That said, Paul Gauguin Cruises does offer during the summer and Christmas holiday sailings.
Panama Canal Transit on Azamara Quest
We sail on Azamara Quest for 11 nights from Miami to Caldera through the Panama Canal and Costa Rica.
Itinerary: Miami, At Sea, At Sea, Cartagena, At Sea, Panama Canal Transit, Fuerte Amador, Golfito, Golfito, Quepos, Puntarenas, Caldera read cruise blog
Some cruise lines defy conventional logic. Azamara Club Cruises is one such company. They only have two ships, and have not publicly announced any new builds. The two ships they do operate, Quest and Journey, some would suggest are getting 'long in-the-tooth' at 17 years. And, by today's standards, these ships are small, each holding only 686 guests. Smaller is better for those of us who prefer a less crowded experience, but it makes it tougher for a cruise line to be profitable. You know, economies of scale, and all that. Yet, Azamara has found a niche, and have a passionate and loyal following. More than 50% of the passengers on our recent cruise were Le Club Voyage members (past guests). Impressive.
The Ship
When we learned that Azamara's ships had emerged from dry dock last summer, we could not resist the opportunity to see the changes for ourselves. We are already fans of Azamara, having previously sailed on both Journey (2014) and Quest (2011). Our chance to see the updates came with an 11-Night Panama Canal and Costa Rica sailing aboard Azamara Quest in January.
We embarked Azamara Quest in Miami after a brief mixup over ground transportation at the Miami airport. Apparently, our names did not make it on the list to receive the Azamara transfer to the ship. Fortunately, there was Uber to the rescue. Mr. Uber showed up within five minutes and whisked us off to PortMiami. We arrived at the pier around 3pm, a great time to embark if you want to avoid crowds. We were through security, checked in at the terminal and walking on board Quest within ten minutes of being dropped off! As soon as we boarded on Deck 5 midship, we were greeted with a warm "welcome home" and a glass of sparkling wine. We would come to learn that "welcome home" is a theme that now runs throughout the entire Azamara onboard experience.
Accommodations
Getting to our stateroom was easy as we had only to walk up one flight of stairs (or use the elevator) and a few steps forward port side. Our Club Veranda Stateroom (6016) was open and waiting for us when we arrived. Dry dock refurbishments were immediately apparent. New bedding, new wall coverings, fresh carpeting and new furnishings give the stateroom a more modern, up-to-date appearance.
Azamara stopped short of replacing the built-in furnishings (desk, mini-bar, closet); perhaps the cost and time required would be prohibitive. Nevertheless, that which has been upgraded makes a big impression. The bathroom also got new flooring, wall coverings, and new shower fixtures. Eco-Boutique amenities have replaced the Aveda provided on our last Azamara cruise.
Now, let's be honest. The stateroom is no larger than it was before the dry dock, and the bathroom is still pretty cramped. But, appearance-wise, it looks much nicer than before, and the new bed is a huge improvement. I can still remember the neck and back pain from my first Azamara cruise thanks to the rock-hard mattress. The new mattresses are very comfortable. Pillows are soft, but I always travel with my own pillow. Firmer pillows are available upon request.
More importantly, everything in the stateroom works well. The HVAC will freeze you out if you set it to the max, there is always plenty of hot water in the shower, the cabin door hinges do an admirable job of preventing the dreaded "wall shake" when the doors slam shut. In fact, the stateroom is very quiet and peaceful. I don't think we ever heard our neighbors during the cruise. We could hear the band playing in The Cabaret Lounge during the shows (our stateroom was right above the lounge), but the music did not last long enough to be bothersome. We much preferred the Deck 6 stateroom location to our 2014 Deck 8 stateroom location. On Deck 8 you will get noise from the pool deck above.
The small refrigerator below the safe is a nice touch, but ours barely cooled the cans of soft drinks to above room temperature. I mentioned this to Edwin, our stateroom attendant, but the issue remained unresolved throughout the cruise. Perhaps that's as cold as it gets? The electronic safe is large and easy to operate. The wall-mounted, flat-screen television is very nice and Azamara has excellent interactive programming. You can check your account balance from the television, a nice feature. The bridge cam channel came in handy when we were transiting the Panama Canal as we could see the lock gates opening ahead! There were movies on demand available for a fee and two different free movies were repeated throughout the day.
Bridge cam shows lock transit
We appreciated the addition of the little, almost hidden, USB charging ports located under the bedside lamps. A digital alarm clock on the nightstand is also an often overlooked necessity on most cruise ships, but not on Azamara.
A veranda is a must on a Panama Canal cruise and we were able to enjoy most of the transit from our veranda! It did not look as if any changes had been made to the veranda during dry dock. In fact, the decking on our veranda was bubbling up in a few places. The furnishings are almost too large for the small space, but the large table makes having room service breakfast al fresco a pleasure.
Enjoying the canal transit from our veranda
Within minutes of our arrival at our stateroom, we were greeted by Edwin, our stateroom attendant. After a brief introduction, Edwin took Rickee's request for more hangers and promptly delivered them. We mentioned to Edwin that we often go for drinks around 6pm and may even skip dinner and come back to the stateroom earlier than normal. We asked if he could make up our room early in his rotation, and he agreed. Our stateroom was always made up when we returned in the early evening.
Edwin, our stateroom attendant
Food and Dining
We barely had time to unpack before we were required to attend the mandatory muster drill. Our muster station was The Cabaret Lounge on Deck 5. Fortunately, Azamara has dropped the requirement for guests to bring their life vests to the drill. After the drill, we decided to celebrate the first night on board with a drink at what was formerly The Looking Glass on Deck 10. We were pleasantly surprised to see that this observation lounge has been completely refitted. Now designated as The Living Room, this lounge's new name reflects that "welcome home" theme we mentioned earlier.
The bar at The Living Room
This lounge has undergone a major upgrade, not the least of which is the addition of a tapas bar. Each evening, The Living Room offers a nice selection of hot (and delicious) tapas. We found ourselves having completely spoiled our appetite for dinner on more than one evening after enjoying the tapas. During the day, light snacks are available here.
Items on the tapas bar change throughout the day at The Living Room
Azamara is on to something with the evening tapas at The Living Room, and it started a few years ago with Mosaic Cafe offering light snacks throughout the day (which they still do). This is actually how we prefer to dine in the evening. Rather than a large, elaborate dinner, we like to "snack" on small-plate dishes. We are seeing this "small plates" concept appear on several cruise lines, and it is something that we really enjoy.
While we are on the subject of food and dining, this is one area where we noticed quite a bit of improvement over our last Azamara cruise. For breakfast, most guests opt for the extensive buffet served at Windows Cafe on Deck 9 aft. The cooked-to-order eggs/omelets complement the buffet items, but the real star is tucked away behind a little window on the port side of Windows Cafe. Fresh waffles and pancakes are available at this special window along with some of the best donuts, cinnamon rolls and sticky buns you will find anywhere. If you want a smoothie, there is a Smoothie Bar in Windows Cafe. Pastries, coffee and tea are served at Mosaic Cafe on Deck 5. Breakfast is also available in Discoveries Restaurant on Deck 5 and, of course, room service is a popular choice for many guests.
There are several options for lunch. On sea days, Discoveries Restaurant offers a menu-service lunch. The nice thing about lunch in Discoveries is that it tends to be less crowded than Windows Cafe.
Of course, Windows Cafe (Lido buffet) is always a popular lunch spot, offering a variety of salads, soup, breads, sandwiches, hot dishes, desserts and a carving station each day. Another popular spot, and one of our favorites for lunch, is The Patio (formerly the Pool Grill) on Deck 9. The Patio opens a little earlier for lunch than the other restaurants and offers burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, brochettes (skewers), and more. There is also a self-serve salad bar. My favorite thing on the menu was the cheeseburger while Rickee always ordered a hot dog. They also have nachos here (tortilla "chips" with chili, cheese, jalapenos, etc.). Since they have salsa and guacamole on the salad bar, Rickee and I just wanted some "chips and salsa" on one visit here. We ordered some "chips", telling the waiter that we did not want the nachos, only the chips. We forgot that cruise ships use European lingo and we ended up with a basket of French fries (what the Brits call "chips"). Maybe we should have ordered "crisps"!
There are also two soft-serve frozen yogurt machines at one end of The Patio, dubbed "Swirl & Top" where guests can help themselves to a bowl or a cone throughout the day. A full bar of toppings and sauces allows you to pile on as many calories as you wish!
For dinner, Discoveries Restaurant is always a popular place, with a menu that changes daily. We were very impressed with the quality and presentation of the food in this main restaurant. Discoveries is one area of the ship that looks exactly as it did the last time we were on Quest. We remembered from our last voyage on Quest that the restaurant can get a bit noisy when the place fills up with guests. That has not changed. One thing we noticed in all of the dining venues is the number of two-top tables. If you enjoy dining as a couple, you are in luck! Of course, the tables can easily be pushed together to form four-top, or six-top tables.
Windows Cafe is open for dinner with a different theme (Asian, Indian, Italian, etc.) each evening and is very popular with guests. On "Asian night", there is a large stir-fry station set up outside in the Sunset Bar. Indian night features a variety of fragrant and spicy dishes from Northern and Southern India.
One of the more interesting new evening dining venues is The Patio on Deck 9. This space is transformed into a casual bistro each evening and is a big hit with guests. The menu is quite interesting, sort of like that of a mini-steakhouse. I had the lamb medallions with sauteed mushrooms and they were very good.
In addition to all of the dining previously mentioned, Azamara also offers guests a variety of specialty dining opportunities (at additional cost). There are two specialty restaurants, Prime C and Aqualina, each of which requires reservations in advance and carry a $30 per person service charge. Prime C is the Azamara's signature steakhouse serving massive cuts of beef and lamb. We dined at Prime C on the last night of the cruise. They have brought back the delicious Chicken Lollipop appetizer, which is a must-have. Both of our steaks were cooked to perfection, fork-tender and delicious.
Even if you choose to order the souffle for dessert, don't forget to order the signature mini-donuts. These cinnamon sugar-coated donut holes are served fresh, warm and are addictive. The three dipping sauces served with them are delicious!
Aqualina is Azamara's other specialty restaurant that, in my opinion, has previously suffered from an identity crisis. On our first Azamara cruise, it was billed as a seafood restaurant, which sort of fits with the name "Aqualina". In 2014, it was described as offering "Contemporary American Cuisine with a Mediterranean flair," whatever that means. At the time, we felt the concept was so confusing that we did not dine there. Now, Aqualina is an Italian restaurant, which makes much more sense (even though the name "Aqualina" is no longer relevant). Regardless of whether the name fits the theme or not, the menu and the food were spot on. In fact, our dinner at Aqualina was perhaps our best meal of the cruise.
Seared scallop appetizer served in Aqualina
We both ordered the Crispy Duck Confit with Mushroom Risotto. Delicious. My Proscuitto-wrapped Scallops with Cauliflower-garlic Puree, and Rickee's Watermelon and Tomato salad with Balsamic Glaze antipasti were both near perfect. Service in both Aqualina and Prime C was a step above what we experienced in other dining venues. Both restaurants delivered an exceptional dining experience, and both are a bargain at only $30 per person. However, you should definitely book reservations before the cruise, or as soon as you get on board, as both restaurants tend to fill up quickly.
Aqualina decor is warm and romantic
There were two other specialty dining opportunities offered on our cruise: a Chef's Table dinner ($95 per person) and a Rijsttafl Indonesian Rice Table feast ($25 per person). The Chef's Table is offered in three different themes: French, Italian and Californian with each theme featuring food and wines from those areas. Each of the five courses of food is paired with a different wine that best complements the dish.
At our Chef's Table dinner, Executive Chef, Monica Ortiz, greeted us and explained the elaborate and complex menu. Sommelier, Jackson, introduced each wine before it was poured. This is a unique and special dining experience. There were 14 guests seated at one long table (set up in the Prime C bar area). The menu is a five-course tasting menu, with your only choice being meat or fish for a main course. Each dish was expertly prepared and presented.
Expertly prepared dish at Chef's Table
The Rijsttafle (pronounced "riss toffel"), or Indonesian Rice Table, defies description. A large table was set for 20 guests at The Patio. After a brief introduction on what we were about to experience, we soon had waiters bringing huge platters and bowls filled with a variety of Indonesian specialties. There were rice dishes, there were noodle dishes, there was fish, there was chicken, there was lamb, there was beef, there were veggies. Must I continue? All dishes were served family style, so we spent the entire evening passing dishes around the table. There was enough food for at least 40 people!
Before the feast
During the feast
Entertainment and Activities
When it comes to entertainment, Azamara punches above its weight for a ship with only 686 guests. Each evening, there is something going on in The Cabaret Lounge. Immensely talented Cruise Director, Russ Thomas Grieve, is featured in a fantastic "Mama Mia" show, which we remembered from our 2014 sailing with him. The Azamara Quest Singers and Dancers are backed up by a live band and presented some very good production shows. On our voyage, we were also entertained by a comedian, a magician and a Broadway-style singer. Simon played the guitar for our listening pleasure in The Living Room and by the pool, and Ed played piano in various venues around the ship. There was also a DJ for all the late-night partying in the disco!
DeAna Earl, one of the Quest Singers, performs in The Cabaret Lounge
One of the entertainment highlights of any Azamara cruise is the signature "White Night" party. Guests are asked to wear something white and join together on the Pool Deck for a Deck BBQ followed by a rousing folkloric show put on by local performers.
Local performers entertain at White Night
When the local performers complete their show, Russ Grieve wastes no time in getting the Azamara Quest Singers and Dancers, along with the band, on stage to start a lively dance party. Virtually everyone hits the dance floor to boogie the night away. White Night is always a big hit with guests.
Another signature entertainment event is the Azamazing Evening. This complimentary event will vary depending on the destination. On our sailing, we enjoyed an incredible piano concert in Cartagena, Colombia. Guests are invited to board motor coaches for a drive to an historic theater in Old Cartagena where Ivan Dario Arias, artistically known as IVANN, a Colombian piano sensation, put on a Vegas-esque performance just for Azamara Quest guests.
IVANN performs for Azamara Quest guests
The Azamazing Evening is an expensive and complex undertaking for a cruise line. A lot of pre-planning and coordination must go into securing these venues and the performances, not to mention transporting 600+ guests from the ship to the venue and back. Azamara pulls this off seamlessly and everyone who attends seems to love it. As an additional treat, when the coaches returned to the ship after the concert, we were greeted with glasses of sparkling wine as we got off the coach. As if this was all not enough, we were then invited to enjoy a late-night buffet in the Living Room! Azamara knows how to put on an event.
Teatro Adolfo Mejia
On sea days, Azamara offers a wide range of activities, all listed in the daily Pursuits which is delivered to your cabin each evening. We attended two cooking demonstrations, both conducted by Chef Joao, and both were quite interesting.
Chef Joao demonstrates how to make Risotto
Bridge lovers, and there are quite a few of them, were treated to a series of Bridge lessons conducted by Jim and Millie Gavin.
And of course, our favorite sea day activity is the Progressive Team Trivia, conducted by Russ and Activity Manager, Lee, in The Cabaret Lounge. If trivia is not your cup of tea, there were many other things to do including: watercolor art lessons, origami demonstrations, fitness lectures, health and wellness lectures, dance lessons, gaming lessons and slot tournaments in the casino, and bingo, just to name a few. There was a destination lecturer who talked about the countries we were visiting and about the Panama Canal, its history and operation. We also were enlightened by a representative from the World Wildlife Federation who talked about whales, sea turtles and being environmental stewards of the oceans.
One of the most popular ways to enjoy the beautiful weather is lounging by the pool, or up on the Sun Deck (11). Our "layin' in the sun" days are behind us, so we now tend to look for indoor activities. A visit to the onboard spa, The Sanctum, is a popular choice. They offer massages, facials, salon services, steam rooms, acupuncture, a medi-spa, and a fitness center. A "popcorn movie" was shown each afternoon in the Cabaret Lounge featuring some fairly recent releases.
The Pool Deck (9) and jogging track (11)
While not necessarily a form of entertainment, Azamara does offer guests Internet access through the ship's new "full-signal WiFi" throughout the ship. I was able to access the Internet, with respectable performance (for a cruise ship) from our stateroom, at Windows Cafe (my morning blog hangout), and Mosaic Cafe. WiFi signals were strong from every location and the Internet connection was one of the most reliable I have experienced on any cruise ship to date. I was even able to live stream the NFL Division Playoff game on my phone using the ship's WiFi! There were only a couple of brief periods, during the transit of the Panama Canal, where Internet service was interrupted. Guests have 24 hours access to the "in touch" Internet cafe located in the Card Room on Deck 10 forward.
Rates for Internet access are competitive with other cruise lines, and have not changed significantly since our last Azamara sailing (2014). However, there are two new package options now available. A One-Day Pass (unlimited access) for $69.95, or a Full Voyage Unlimited package for $30 per day. If you own a business and need to stay in touch throughout the cruise, the Full Voyage is the way to go, and is a decent value compared to other cruise lines.
Shore Excursions
Azamara is really focused on destination experiences. Their itineraries allow them to remain in port longer than most cruise lines and they offer an wide variety of excursions through their Land Discoveries shore excursion desk. We booked two tours through Land Discoveries and found them to be a good value and very well operated. The local guides spoke excellent English and were very approachable.
Excursions through Land Discoveries were well conducted
For those (like us) who enjoy exploring on their own, Azamara provides complimentary shuttle service into town at most ports. This is a huge value, saving guests the hassle and cost of arranging local transportation to get from the port into a city. In Cartagena, Rickee and I wanted to explore the old walled city on our own. The Azamara shuttle dropped us off right at the gates to the Old City! Printed shuttle schedules are provided as are maps of the town you are visiting.
Whether you choose to explore on your own, or participate in one of the ship's excellent shore excursions, Azamara goes the extra mile by providing complimentary chilled bottles of water to keep you hydrated on your journey, a very nice touch.
Bars and Lounges
After spending the day exploring exotic ports-of-call, nothing is more relaxing than enjoying your favorite beverage in comfortable surroundings. Our favorite onboard watering hole is The Living Room (observation lounge) on Deck 10 forward. Spirits (formerly, Casino Bar) on Deck 5 is smaller, but also very comfortable with big, cushy leather sofas and wall-mounted televisions. Sun worshipers will no doubt pay a visit to the Pool Bar (Deck 9 midship), or the Sundowner's Bar (Deck 9 aft). Azamara guests now enjoy a variety of complimentary beverages including Budweiser and Beck's beer, a selection of wines, and spirits refer to list here. My favorite, Crown Royal, is not on the list of included spirits, but I found Seagram's to be a satisfactory alternative. And, even though we could find no reference to it, a complimentary sparkling wine is available for the asking. There is also a red and white wine offered with lunch and dinner each day.
Rickee enjoys a glass of complimentary sparkling wine at White Night
Azamara does offer a variety of optional beverage packages featuring top-shelf brands for an additional per day/per person cost depending on the package. You can see details about Azamara's beverage packages here. We found bar service throughout the ship to be inconsistent. The wait staff are very polite and responsive, but there were a few times when I had to walk up to the bar to request another drink. During peak periods, having more wait staff available would probably alleviate this issue.
Demographics
If you are wondering to whom Azamara Club Cruises appeals, on our 11-night sailing it was a mostly older clientele. Children were almost non-existent. I think we saw one teenager, one toddler and one infant, and that was it. Families with small children will probably find larger ships with kids' programs and activities more appealing. The guests we met and spoke with were mostly seasoned travelers, many of whom have sailed with Azamara several times. The company has a very loyal following and we heard several people say they had already booked their next Azamara cruise while still on this one. Le Club Voyage is Azamara's loyalty program and guests are automatically enrolled after their first cruise.
Le Club Voyage members travel bag
Le Club Voyage members receive points for every cruise aboard Azamara, and there is reciprocity with Celebrity Cruises' Captain's Club and Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society. Points and benefits are interchangeable between the cruise lines. Nice. Members can receive discounts, shipboard credit, free Internet minutes, complimentary laundry service, even complimentary cruise nights! The complimentary bag of laundry is a nice perk and kept us from having to visit the onboard launderette on Deck 7.
One bag of laundry free for Explorer level and above members
Of course, Azamara recognizes Le Club Voyage members each cruise with a special "repeater's party" held in The Cabaret Lounge. On our sailing, there were 322 guests at the Le Club Voyage party! That is nearly 50% of the people on board. One couple was recognized for having sailed on 22 cruises with Azamara.
Summary
It has been three years, almost to the day, that we sailed aboard Azamara Quest the last time. We sailed on this Quest cruise to see what changes were made as a result of the dry dock last summer. We discovered a lot more than just new carpeting and furnishings. Azamara continues to evolve and improve, while retaining those things that loyal guests love. How much better can Azamara get? We don't know the answer to that, but we look forward to finding out.
Rickee Richardson and Chris Dikmen co-editors of CruiseReport.com have sailed on more than 130 cruises across 34 different cruise lines
ABC Islands on Windstar Cruises' Star Pride
We sail the ABC Island aboard Windstar Cruises new Star Pride.
Itinerary: Barbados, St. Lucia, Bequia, Grenada, Tobago, Mayreau, At Sea, Bonaire, Curaçao, Aruba
It has been a few years since we sailed with Windstar Cruises, so when the opportunity came up for us to spend nine days aboard one of their new motor yachts, Star Pride, we jumped at the chance. Windstar has gone through a lot of changes since our last review and we were anxious to see what has been going on with one of our favorite brands.
Windstar Cruises' Star Pride
History
Windstar Cruises has long had an admirable reputation as a small sailing ship cruise line, with 4- and 5-masted sailing vessels carrying from 148 to 310 guests to some of the most remote and exotic destinations in the world. The company continues to operate three sailing yachts: Wind Star, Wind Spirit and Wind Surf. However, in 2014, Windstar launched the small motor yacht, Star Pride, followed by sister ships Star Breeze and Star Legend. Each of the new "Star" motor yachts can carry 212 guests. The addition of the three motor yachts makes Windstar one of, if not the, largest operator of small ships in the world.
The Ship
Star Pride was built in 1988 and was originally christened Seabourn Pride, operating under the Seabourn flag. At just under 10,000 tons, the ship is 438 feet long with a beam of 67 feet and, as previously mentioned, can carry up to 212 guests. The ship has stabilizers to smooth out any rough seas she may encounter. Because of her small size, Star Pride can take guests to smaller ports where large cruise ships simply cannot go, one of the big advantages of small ship cruising.
The ship has been fitted with a large marina at the aft section to allow guests to enjoy a variety of water toys (complimentary) such as paddle boards, water skis, wake boards, etc.
Marina
Star Pride has five decks (passenger decks) and three elevators. The two amidship elevators and the nearby dual spiral staircase extend between Deck 3 and Deck 7. The forward elevator and stairs go from Deck 3 all the way to Deck 8. We found the forward elevator to be quite small and possibly a tight fit for a wheelchair. The aft (main) elevators are larger. Therefore, it may be difficult for someone in a wheelchair to get to Deck 8.
Main, dual spiral staircases amidships
Most of the interior public spaces are located aft on Decks 5, 6 and 7 with the exception of The Yacht Club which is located on Deck 8 forward. The ship is small enough that it never takes more than a couple of minutes to walk from one space to another which is yet another advantage of small ship cruising.
The public rooms appear to have been recently refurbished with new carpeting, furnishings and other surfaces. Only the stage and dance floor in The Lounge are showing some signs of wear. Carpeting throughout the hallways, and even in the suites, all appear to be in very good to excellent condition. The HVAC system seems to be working well, perhaps too well. A sweater may be in order when visiting The Lounge or AmphorA Restaurant. However, based on our experience, interior cold temperature is not unique to this ship.
Windstar has an "open bridge" policy allowing guests to visit the navigational bridge while the ship is underway, or anchored. It may be closed during sail away or docking procedures.
Guests are invited to visit the Bridge on all Windstar ships
As far as outdoor spaces, Decks 7 and 8 provide loungers for sun-lovers, and shade-lovers as well. However, on days at sea with a full ship, you should pick out your lounger early as they can get scarce. We had about 140 people on our sailing (72 below the max) and on our one day at sea, we had difficulty finding a lounger on the non-smoking Starboard side of the ship.
Loungers with tables and umbrellas on Deck 8
There are also a few loungers hidden forward on Deck 3 at the bow, along with a little-known-about hot tub.
Hot tub and loungers at the bow on Deck 3
A larger hot tub and swim-against-the-current pool are located aft on Deck 7.
Resistance pool and hot tub on Deck 7
On this cruise, there were several ports requiring use of the ship's tenders. It should be noted that the tender service was the best we have experienced on any cruise line. There were always two tenders running continuously between ship and shore, so you never had to wait very long to get to shore or return to the ship
One of the ship's two tenders at Pigeon Island
The ship is equipped with WiFi Internet access which we found to be quite good. Cruise ship Internet is never as good as what you are used to on land, but Windstar's was better than average. Windstar offers a choice of Internet packages as follows:
The Email Plan $60 This plan gives you 200 MB of data to use during your cruise. This plan is recommended for people who will be checking email and doing very limited browsing. The estimated minutes range from 15 to 60.
The Surfing Plan $120 This plan gives you 500 MB of data to use for additional browsing and small file transfers (such as posting pictures to a social media site). The estimated minutes range from 90 to 360 (approximately 5 hours).
The Unlimited Plan This plan gives you unlimited internet access. You have no worries about how much time you spend on the internet
- 7 Day Cost $250
- 8 Day Cost $280
- 9 Day Cost $315
- 10 Day Cost $350
- 11 Day Cost $385
- 14 Day Cost $490
- 15 Day Cost $525
- 2 devices
- 1 ticket issued onboard valid for two devices
Accommodations
We were assigned to Balcony Suite 308 located, contrary to what you might think, on Deck 6 port side. Balcony suites and Ocean View Suites are essentially identical with the exception of the narrow, step-out balcony in the Balcony Suites. Both configurations are 277 sq. ft. and are identical as far as their layout and amenities.
Queen bed configuration
The "suites" are technically "suites" because they have a separate living room which can be separated with a curtain, quite nice when one wants to stay up late and watch TV while the other one sleeps. The living room has two comfortable chairs separated from a medium-sized sofa by a coffee table. The coffee table can double as a dining table when enjoying room service.
Living room in Ocean View and Balcony Suites
And, while you can't sit on your balcony and enjoy breakfast or soak up the sun, the step-out balcony is quite useful for photo taking purposes, or just to get some fresh air. There is a small, narrow desk/vanity at the end of the bed with a mirror and too-dim-to-put-on-makeup lighting. You can control most of the lighting in the suite from switches located near the desk, and there are woefully few electrical outlets for today's techno-junkies, a sign of the ship's age. The comfortable, leather desk chair is nice, but when someone is sitting at the desk, the other person may have to climb on the bed to get from the living room to the bathroom or closet. There's just not enough space between the end of the bed and the back of the chair. A small, round pedestal-type stool tucked under the desk might be a better solution.
Desk and chair
To free up desk space, we quickly re-located the huge World Atlas and magazine rack to shelves in the living room where they were out of sight, and out of the way. The added space made the desk very usable for my laptop and for Rickee's makeup application duties. She, of course, would like to see brighter lighting for the mirror lights, LEDs perhaps? The portable magnifying mirror that she relocated from the bathroom to the desk, is a nice touch, but it would be even better if it were a lighted makeup mirror. The large drawers (six of them), on each side of the desk came in very handy for storage. In fact, there is quite a bit of storage throughout the suite.
The very ample walk-in closet had more than enough hanging space for our 9-day cruise. There were drawers and an electronic safe tucked away at one end of the closet, and a series of shelves as you walk in on the right. Storage was not an issue.
Walk-In Closet
The queen-sized bed is flanked by small nightstands, each with a small drawer and cubby for additional storage. The linens and bedding were high quality, however, the mattress was a little firm for our liking and not very plush. The bed seemed very low to the ground! There are small, lamps attached to the wall on each side of the bed in addition to the wall-mounted adjustable reading lights. The suite was very quiet and peaceful notwithstanding the occasional "whoosh" from a flushing vacuum toilet.
The flat-screen television offers decent satellite programming with major news channels, a couple of closed-circuit movie channels and a European sports channel. A DVD player is connected to the TV with DVDs available on a complimentary basis from the library. Underneath the TV is a Bose iPod sound system. A mini-fridge is stocked with soft drinks, tonic and club soda, all of which are complimentary. Small, airline-type bottles of liquor are placed in the cabinet with the refrigerator and are available for purchase, as are beer and wine stocked in the refrigerator. Bottled water is also available from your room steward(ess) upon request. Two bottles of filtered water are refilled as needed.
Filtered water is refilled as needed
The bathrooms have double sinks, a very nice touch. There is plenty of storage for your toiletries in the bathroom, too, in mirrored cabinets on each side of the vanity. The bathtub/shower combo makes taking a shower a bit clumsy because of where the shower head/wand is mounted on the wall. We would prefer a nice shower stall, but we understand that some people just love bathtubs. Top-quality L'Occitane soaps and bath products are provided and replenished as needed.
Food and Dining
The one area where we noticed the biggest improvement over past Windstar sailings was food and dining. That's not to say that the food on Windstar was bad before, but it was nothing notable, at least in our opinion. The food on this cruise, however, was notable. Let's start with Veranda, the ship's indoor/outdoor venue for buffet breakfast and lunch. We are not breakfast eaters, so we only had a morning meal there on the day of disembarkation. Nevertheless, the buffet was well stocked with every item you could possibly want. However, on the day of disembarkation, they do not offer Eggs Benedict, most likely because of the large crowd. Omelets and eggs made-to-order were available, however, and were very nice.
Eggs made-to-order at Veranda
Lunch is typically served from 12:30pm until 2:00pm in Veranda and the buffet items change every day. We were quite impressed with the quality of the soups, salad choices, and entrees available on the buffet. And, the amazing breads made watching carb intake a real challenge!
Chicken noodle soup, Thai beef salad, grilled zucchini and fresh bread
An à la carte menu is available at lunch with daily specials prepared à la minute. Hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, veggie burgers and hot dogs are always available with lunch, and are quite good. The French fries are hot and crispy, too. It may sound nit-picky, but you would be surprised how many cruise lines, even 5-star cruise lines, cannot deliver something as simple as a decent hamburger. The burgers and hot dogs on Star Pride were delicious.
Lamb Tikka Masala Burger Special
If you prefer something a bit lighter, there is a Continental breakfast served in the Yacht Club (Deck 8 forward) from 6am until 10am. Here you will find a selection of muffins and assorted pastries, fruit, yogurt, coffee drinks, delicious hot chocolate, and a variety of smoothies. Oh, I almost forgot -- they have the most delicious chocolate croissants and almond croissants, too. I visited the Yacht Club early every morning, finding it to be the quietest place on the ship to enjoy my coffee and get my blogging done.
My morning workstation at the Yacht Club
At lunchtime until 5pm each day, the Yacht Club offers a selection of finger sandwiches, mini-wraps, cupcakes, and cookies. What a great idea!
Sandwiches and sweets at Yacht Club
At dinnertime, there are a couple of choices available to guests on Windstar's motor yachts. AmphorA Restaurant is the main dining room located on Deck 3. The restaurant looks as if it has undergone a complete refurbishment recently. It looks brand new and is one of the nicest public spaces on the ship. The menu at AmphorA changes every evening and offers a variety of delicious choices across multiple courses. The restaurant offers open-seating any time between the hours of 7pm and 9pm and there are tables for two available.
We were impressed with every meal we had here, although some offerings seemed a bit dated. Chicken Kiev? Seriously? It's 2017, not 1980. That said, there were contemporary dishes and everything we ordered was expertly prepared and presented. The Curry Duo I had one evening was very inventive and delicious.
Curry Duo
One night I ordered Prime Rib and was delivered a huge slab of tender, perfectly-cooked beef that was as good as I have ever had on a cruise ship. Rickee had a Sesame Crusted Seared Tuna one evening that she still talks about. The service in AmphorA was also top notch; however, when the restaurant begins to get busy, the time between courses can increase dramatically. We were impressed when the restaurant manager noticed that Rickee was wearing black pants and exchanged her white napkin for a black one to prevent lint transfer that sometimes comes from the white napkins. I don't recall that level of attention to detail on any other ship.
The other option for dinner is Candles, otherwise known as Veranda during the day. In the evening, Veranda is transformed into a romantic restaurant with candlelit tables and a steakhouse menu.
Guests dining at Candles can see the meat offerings upon entering the restaurant
Dining at Candles is complimentary, but guests are only guaranteed one meal per cruise. However, guests occupying an Owner's Suite do not have that restriction. We ate at Candles on the first evening of the cruise. We were seated outdoors, and while it was very romantic, it was also very, very dark. It was impossible to read the menu without using the light from my cell phone. A small flashlight on the table might be a nice touch. The food here was very good. My Veal Chop was perfectly cooked, tender and juicy.
Veal Chop with Chimichurri
There is one other, often overlooked, dining option: room service. Room service is complimentary and there is a quite an extensive room service menu. Guests can even order from the daily AmphorA Restaurant menu during dinnertime hours, a nice feature that you normally only find on luxury cruise lines. Room service is available 24 hours a day.
One of the highlights of the cruise was the Pool Deck BBQ held one evening on Decks 7 and 8. The outer decks of the ship are transformed into an elegant dining area for the event.
Tables set up on Deck 8 for BBQ
At sunset, the ship comes alive with guests lining up at the huge buffet line for everything imaginable: grilled lobster, steaks, lamb chops, pork ribs, boiled shrimp, and on and on. A gigantic Paella pan is overflowing with rice and seafood. The galley crew really put on an amazing display of food, and it was all delicious. We even enjoyed the music of a local steel-drum band that provided musical entertainment after dinner.
Paella anyone?
In every way, the food quality and dining experience on Star Pride exceeded our expectations.
Bars & Lounges
There are two main venues for enjoying cocktails. The Star Bar is located on Deck 8, just above the pool deck, and is open all day and into the evening. On any other ship, it would be called the Pool Bar, but it is actually located one deck above the pool. The Star Bar also serves as the cocktail center for anyone wishing to enjoy a drink in the Yacht Club.
Star Bar
The other bar/lounge is in Compass Rose on Deck 6 aft. This space appears to have been recently refurbished as everything here looks brand new. Compass Rose is closed during the day and opens sometime around 8pm for after-dinner drinks, music and dancing.
Compass Rose
The Lounge on Deck 5 aft is used for evening talks, events, and as a gathering point for shore excursions. There is no bar here, but waiters can be found taking drink orders during some events in the evening, so you can enjoy a cocktail here if there is a scheduled event.
Entertainment
As is the custom on small ships, there are no evening "shows" as you might expect on a larger cruise ship. One duo, D' Harmony, performed nightly at the Star Bar on Deck 8. To their credit, they played at a reasonable volume so that you could enjoy their music, but still have a conversation.
D 'Harmony
The other performing duo, Mistura Fina, was not as considerate with the low volume. They performed in the Compass Rose and in The Lounge prior to some of the scheduled events such as the Crew Show. And speaking of the Crew Show, it was one of the most energetic we have seen in a long time. You definitely do not want to miss the Crew Show.
The crew takes a bow after the crew show
Activities
Small ship cruising is more about the destination than it is about the ship itself. Therefore, when the ship is docked or anchored in port, there is not much going on around the ship during the day. Windstar expects guests to seek their adventures on shore, either on their own, or through their shore excursions. We booked a Clear-Bottom Kayak excursion in Grenada and found it to be a good value, and a lot of fun.
Clear-Bottom Kayak in Grenada
Those who are into SCUBA and snorkeling will love the wide selection of Windstar excursions that cater to these activities, especially when sailing in the Caribbean. Windstar even provides complimentary snorkeling gear for guests. When the ship is anchored, and the waters around the ship are calm, guests have full access to the ship's marina and all of the water toys, which include kayaks, paddle boards, water skis, wake boards, and a big floating mat that is tethered to the back of the ship.
Some guests and crew members using the floating mat
Of course, the most popular activity any day in the Caribbean is just hanging out on Deck 7 or Deck 8 and soaking up some sun. The comfortable loungers have umbrellas for those (like me) who prefer the shade. Fresh towels are available at the Star Bar and drinks are also just a few steps away. On our one day at sea, we enjoyed a cooking demonstration presented by Executive Chef Stany, and a towel-folding demonstration where we actually got to make the cute and creative animals that our room stewards make for us each evening and place on the bed.
Anton shows Rickee how to turn a towel into a dinosaur
There is a library on Deck 6 and a very small casino next to the library. Since we had such a port-intensive itinerary, the casino was not open much, which was probably a good thing for us! There is also a small shop on board selling Windstar logo items, clothing and sundries. It was closed much of the time due to Customs regulations about not being able to open while the ship is in port
One of the most popular activities on a Windstar Caribbean Cruise is the signature Beach Party and BBQ. Our day at the beach was in Mayreau and was one of the best beach BBQs we have ever experienced. The beach was beautiful and the facilities, great.
Guests have access to the Windstar water toys to use from the beach and there are more than enough loungers for everyone. A steel band plays Caribbean music in the background and there is plenty of shade available for those who prefer to stay out of the sun.
Of course, there is a full service bar available and the galley crew put on a huge Beach BBQ with Jerk chicken, chicken skewers, shrimp mac & cheese, burgers, hot dogs and too many other items to list. Everyone had a great time and it was a highlight of the cruise.
Staff and Crew
Nothing new here. Windstar continues its tradition of hiring and training an excellent staff and crew. Crew members are predominately Indonesian and Phillipino and are always smiling and willing to serve.
Anto, our excellent room steward, was always there when we needed him
Fellow Shipmates
So, who exactly are you most likely to be sailing with on Windstar? This ship appeals to an active demographic, those who like to explore destinations rather than sit in a casino or ship's theater. You won't see many (if any) children, perhaps because there really are no programs for kids on these small ships. Average age is somewhere between 40 and 60, with a few on either side of that equation. On our voyage, 60 out of the 140 people had sailed with Windstar at least on one occasion before.
Summary
If you are into small ship cruising, then Windstar should be on your short list of choices. If you have never considered a small ship, perhaps you should. You won't have to worry about fighting large lines to get on or off the ship, or standing in line to be seated for dinner. The Star Pride (and her sisters, Star Legend and Star Breeze) represents the ultimate small ship experience. She was originally designed as a luxury, 5-star cruise ship, so the accommodations are huge by cruise ship standards and everyone gets a suite! The ship has multiple dining options, and plenty of space so you never feel crowded. Combine this with an excellent staff and competitive pricing, and you have quite a combination. Our advice: book a Windstar cruise and see for yourself. You might just become addicted to the experience!
