Viking Herja

Reviewed by: Tina Wheelock

Sailed: ‘Rhine Getaway’ – Amsterdam to Basel

Date: 21 May 2022

Cruise line and ship: Viking River Cruises / Viking Herja (pronounced ‘Heria’)

Passenger capacity: 190 passengers maximum (50 crew)

Year built: 2017

Currency onboard: Euro

Staterooms: 95 Outside staterooms (25 Standard, 22 French Balcony, 39 Veranda, 7 Veranda Suite). All suites feature two full-size rooms with a veranda off the living room & a French balcony in the bedroom.

Ship Features
  • Restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views
  • Library & onboard shop
  • Elevator from Middle to Upper Deck only; no elevator access for categories E & F
  • Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
  • Laundry service
  • 42″ flat-screen TV with infotainment system featuring Movies On Demand, CNBC, CNN, Nat Geo ++
  • Sun Deck with 360-degree views & shaded sitting area
  • Organic herb garden & solar panels; putting green & walking track
  • Aquavit Terrace & Lounge, a revolutionary indoor/outdoor viewing area at the bow for al fresco dining
  • Lounge & Bar with floor-to-ceiling glass doors
  • Ecologically friendly hybrid engines producing less vibrations for a smoother ride

Pre Cruise Experience
Arrived at 5pm to Sydney airport for my 9pm flight. I had pre-booked a PCR test as this is a requirement for boarding a  Viking Cruise. This is not a requirement to fly with Emirates nor to enter The Netherlands.

The PCR test did take 90 minutes for the results and I was able to receive a printed copy for my records. It is a good idea to have all documentation printed as you may not have access to wifi at all times. I also recommend a copy of your passport and an international vaccination certificate.

Emirates flights were enjoyable and the stopover was a quick 2 hours en-route to Amsterdam. You do need to allow at least 30 minutes to move between terminals in Dubai.

Upon arrival at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, I had the option of a taxi or train to Amsterdam Central. I opted for a train which was 5 Euros and only 14 minutes. A taxi was 30-50 Euro and 30 minutes. The Doubletree by Hilton hotel in town was a short walk from the station in the heart of Amsterdam and chosen as it is just moments from the cruise departure point.

Check-in for the ship was 11am.  My cabin was available and I was able to check in after a RAT test was conducted by the ship’s staff. I was able to do a tour of the cabins prior to other guests embarking Viking Herja ( pronounced “Heria”).
My cabin was a Standard stateroom with a panoramic window, and it really was a high window. My recommendation would be the French Balcony or above as the ships travel through some dramatic scenery and it is amazing to experience travelling through the many locks on this itinerary – in my cabin type you would need to be in the public areas in order to make the most of this experience.

Our journey was from Amsterdam down to Basel in Switzerland.

Itinerary
Day 1 – As the ship was in Amsterdam until 11pm, I decided to walk back into town and take a 75-minute canal cruise for approx 15 Euros. I was back onboard the ship by 5pm for live music and pre-dinner drinks, we had a muster at 6pm and then a meet and greet and ‘what to expect onboard’ until dinner at 7pm.
Day 2 –  We cruised into Kinderdijk visiting a farm where we experienced the art of cheese making and also visited the famous windmills.
Day 3 – Cologne. We started the day with a walking tour of the old town and in the evening experienced a cultural beer and dinner tour.
Day 4 – Koblenz. A visit to the medieval Markenburg Castle with breathtaking views over the Rhine River and a day of exceptional beauty as we slowly cruised the Rhine River.
Day 5 – Rudesheim to Mannheim and an afternoon Speyer walking tour.
Day 6 – Strasbourg. ‘Flavours of the Alsace’ walking tour from 10am until 5pm. This was really a highlight. The tour guide was so knowledgeable, the town was so picturesque and as it was a small group we felt like locals wandering through town. Our guide took us to the markets to buy fresh strawberries, we visited local bakeries and sampled delicious pastries, coffee and cheeses before a long lunch at a little local wine store. She really made us feel what it was like to live the day of a local.
Day 7 – Medieval Colmar. Charming medieval lanes and squares. We explored its ‘Little Venice quarter with its 9th-century streets, 13th-century Gothic churches and original Old Town, Colmar seems torn from a storybook. We were told that parts of the movie ‘Beauty and the Beast’ were inspired by this town. In the afternoon a trip up to the Back Forest for a stroll in the countryside before we were treated to a Black forest gateau cooking demonstration.
Viking has an included shore tour every day plus optional shore tours at an additional fee that you can pre-book prior to your departure.
Overall Experience
The meals were lovely with a set menu every evening as well as a changing menu daily for lunch and dinner, so a wonderful variety. We had an option for three dining venues (same menu). The Aquavit Terrace was indoor and led to a terrace that opened in fine weather, The Lounge area, and the Main Restaurant.
The staff onboard Viking Herja could not be more accommodating, the ship had a lovely cozy feel and after a day of exploring it was like coming back home each afternoon as we were made to feel very welcome onboard. The ship briefed us each evening before dinner with a short port talk, an update on the evening events and a little rundown on what to expect for dinner. We had a great German night on board where some of the staff dressed up for the evening and the dining room was converted into a lovely German-themed dining room.
It was lovely to experience life onboard a Viking Ship. I opted to include the Silver Drinks package which includes unlimited drinks. Otherwise, Viking does include Wine and Beer with Lunch and dinner. You are also able to bring your own drink onboard if you wish.
Our final day was in Basel, Switzerland. A short taxi ride can be organised by the ship to the train station or the city centre if required.

Silver Dawn

Reviewed by: Meg Hill and Tina Wheelock, Cruise Express

Sailed: ex Lisbon, Portugal

Date: April 2022

Cruise line and ship: Silversea – for the official launch of  Silver Dawn

Size of ship: 40,700 GT

Passenger capacity: 596 passengers maximum (411 crew)

Year built: 2021

Currency onboard: USD$

Where the ship cruises:  The Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the British Isles, Transoceanic and the Caribbean

 

Pre-cruise – Silversea ‘Door to door’ experience – We were met in the Arrivals Hall at Lisbon Airport by a local English speaking guide and escorted to the transfer area and our Mercedes mini-coach for the transfer to our downtown hotel. Brief orientation en route (approx. 20 minutes). Overnight stay at the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Hotel, a 5-star hotel in the heart of the downtown area, surrounded by designer label stores and a short stroll down Liberdade Avenue to the commercial centre for shopping, dining and sightseeing. Extensive buffet breakfast included before transfer by coach to the pier.

OPTIONAL Panoramic Lisbon and Tagus River cruise included this morning

 

Embarkation – Short transfer by 45-seat coach to the pier. Luggage transferred separately and delivered to Suites onboard. On arrival, passengers need to present passports (held for the duration of the cruise), proof of full vaccination, proof of a negative COVID-19 test (PCR within the past 3 days or RAT within the past 24 hours). RAT testing is also available at the pier but will slow down the embarkation process.

Complete health declaration form (similar to past norovirus forms) and undergo a temperature check (wand on inner wrist). Overall, the process was very smooth with extremely helpful and friendly staff…perhaps 20-30 minutes total.

Suite – Though not ready on arrival (approx. 2pm) it was available by 3.30pm.  We stayed in a Deluxe Verandah Suite #707 (located forward, starboard side on Deck 7). Single vanity, separate bath and walk in shower, walk in wardrobe with chest of drawers, hanging space and shoe racks. Hangers include some satin-topped for knitwear, etc. Racks set up for suitcases. Spacious main cabin area with twin or queen bed set-up, quality linens and pillow menu.  

Each Suite has a Butler rather than a cabin attendant and they will assist with unpacking if required. Bottle of Pommery champagne set up in ice bucket in the sitting area – two-seat sofa plus armchair with a cashmere blanket.

Balcony with sliding glass door, two sun chairs and a small round table. Large enough for drinks and snacks but not full meals.

Other in-Suite facilities – a device charging plate also with USB point, swivel tv, mini bar with still and sparkling water and mixers.

Your Butler will stock the mini-bar with your alcohol and soft drink preferences – for example a bottle of whisky or gin and/or wine. Replenished daily at no additional cost! Snacks such as nuts (cashews with truffle oil) are also replenished daily and canapés are available daily on request.

Announcement made at 4pm. Lifeboat drill at 5pm, preceded by mandatory video viewing in the Suite.

PUBLIC AREAS

Dining – 8 restaurants

La Dame – French inspired fine dining serving a degustation dinner menu nightly (Cover charge of USD60 per person)

La Terrazza- Serving breakfast and lunch buffet style (served by wait staff). Dinner a la carte Italian. Offers inside and outdoor deck dining

Arts Cafe – A small venue serving tea and coffee, fruit-infused waters, fruit and cheese plates, sweet pastries, cookies and sandwiches during the day

Atlantide – Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner a la carte with the evening emphasis on steak and seafood dishes

SALT Kitchen – A light and airy room with fresh herb pots as centrepieces on the tables. Serves food using the local ingredients of the region the ship is cruising in (Portugal in our case). Wines are also available from the region

Kaiseki –A small Japanese restaurant serving lunch (included) and dinner ( cover charge of USD40 per person). Lunchtime offers an extensive sushi and sashimi menu as well as udon and ramen bowls. At dinner, choose from an a la carte menu of up to six courses per person (the Chefs’ recommendation). Japanese beers and sake, matcha tea, etc are offered as well as the usual wine list

ScappaNapoli – A wide selection of authentic oven baked Italian pizzas served between 11am and 11pm. A small anti-pasta platter (olives, cheese and bread) is served whilst waiting for the pizzas. As the venue is outside on deck there are overhead heaters and lap blankets available if the weather is cool

Pool Grill / Hot Rocks – Serving burgers, fries, mezze plates, salads, etc poolside throughout the afternoon. In the evening the venue offers a ‘hot rock’ dining experience where hot stones are brought to the table with your choice of meat (steak, chicken, prawns, salmon, etc) and you cook at the table. Again, as the venue is outside there are overhead heaters and warm shoulder wraps to keep the cool night air at bay.

Entertainment

Nightly in the Panorama Lounge – A selection of shows including tributes  (The Beatles, Queen, etc)

Silver Note – a late night supper club atmosphere with live jazz from 8pm to late. Serving small  dishes 

Dolce Vita Lounge – Piano tunes

Inclusions – All meals at most restaurants onboard, all drinks including mini bar set up and daily stocking, premium coffees and teas, room service, wifi, onboard gratuities, a shore excursion in each port of call, shuttle bus service from pier to downtown.

PLUS – Door to Door
Executive car transfer from home to airport (and return), small vehicle transfer from airport to hotel and hotel to pier, local orientation tour, one night pre-cruise in the city of embarkation including breakfast.
OPTIONAL return airfares with Business class upgrades.

POINTS OF EXCEPTION

Butler Service
Prior to hosting a Facebook Live segment from the ship, we asked our Butler if he would make up our Suite early (by 9am) and add an ice bucket, champagne and glasses as if on embarkation day. His eyes lit up and he then proceeded to list all the things he would be happy to arrange for us:

  • A bath with salt crystals, candles, a portable speaker playing classical music, and a glass of champagne
  • A breakfast tray set up on one of the beds with tea for two
  • Truffle popcorn and blankets for an in-Suite movie night
  • Hot chocolates with liqueurs on the balcony table

All with a wide smile and included as complimentary in-Suite options for all guests at any time during your cruise!

On the last night of our cruise, the official christening of the ship, we were due at the first official function at 5.45pm, a black tie event. At approximately 5pm Tina had a serious dress ‘malfunction’. We paged the butler to ask for his help and he was on the doorstep in less than 5 minutes and said he would take the dress to the tailor to see what could be done. A few minutes later he called to say they were working on a solution. By 5.30pm the dress was back, good as new!

SALT – Sea and Land Taste
New and exclusive to Silversea, this is an immersive experience for guests to learn more about the fresh produce, cuisine and dishes of the region the ship is travelling to/through. Dine in SALT Kitchen, enjoy pre or post-dinner drinks in the SALT Bar, choose from a selection of SALT shore excursions and take part in cooking demonstrations and food tastings in SALT Lab, a purpose-built kitchen with nine cooking stations.

 

Ms Thomas Hardy

Reviewed by and sailed to: Andrew Mevissen, six-day, round-trip

Christmas market cruise from Budapest to Slovakia and Austria

Date: December 2019

Cruise line and ship: MS Thomas Hardy (named after famous British author) – one of a fleet of five-star ships operated by Riviera Travel River Cruises

Size of ship: 3600 GT, 4 decks

Passenger capacity: 169

Year built (refurbed): 2017

Currency onboard: Euros

Where the ship cruises: The Rhine, Moselle and Danube rivers

Most suited to: Riviera Travel River Cruises is a popular British cruise line and hence attracts English passengers as well as Americans but an increasing number of Australians are also being drawn aboard by competitive fares. Riviera is also popular with solo travellers, with every cruise offering a selection of supplement-free cabins. Plus, there are a range of cruises throughout the year exclusively for solo travellers, with every cabin free of any single supplement. Most passengers are over 55.

Embarkation/De-embarkation Process:In Budapest, Riviera offers a complimentary pick-up service from a centrally located Hotel. A cruise concierge greets passengers in the hotel before they are transferred to the ship. An impressive line of staff welcomes guests onboard the ship where another free bon voyage drink is offered. Baggage was delivered to cabins in minutes and the whole embarkation process was quick and seamless

Atmosphere: Thomas Hardy is a spacious, five-star ship but the atmosphere is elegantly casual and charmingly relaxed with a light-filled, marble-floored lobby greeting guests on arrival. There are rich hardwoods, gleaming brass and polished copper, sparkling glass and intricate wrought iron, all creating a harmonious ambience of understated elegance and all designed to make guests as relaxed as the flow of the Danube. With only 169 passengers onboard, the friendly and personable crew quickly remember your face and name and you get to know your fellow passengers quickly as well. There are no formal nights so the dress code throughout the cruise is smart casual although you can dress up a little if you like.

MS Thomas Hardy

Staterooms: All the staterooms are branded suites. Like most of the ship, our lovely 17sqm suite sported a French balcony – a panoramic, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door that, when opened, turns the room into an alfresco sunroom. All cabins enjoy a river view and it was joyfully mesmerising to lie on our big, comfy bed and watch the scenery float by, listening to the gentle, lapping water through our open glass door.

The marble bathroom boasted Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries and a great shower. The suite also offered a sitting area, ample space under the bed for luggage, flat-screen TV with a bridge camera channel, individually controlled airconditioning, phone, hairdryer, handy USB ports for phone charging, bathrobes/slippers and tea and coffee-making facilities including a small coffee pod machine – a nice and unusual touch. There’s an evening turn-down service too with chocolates on the pillows.

There are bigger suites with private balconies and the lower deck offers cabins with smaller, fixed windows just above the waterline. Some of these are available for sole occupancy on every cruise – with no supplement, subject to availability.

MS Thomas Hardy

Dining Options & Service: Flanked by panoramic windows, the main restaurant offered tables for two, four or six guests, beautifully laid out with crisp linen. Seating is anywhere, anytime, with dinner typically available from 6.30-8.30pm.

The cuisine is typically English but there’s enough on the menu to please all. The final night’s eight-course degustation dinner was a stand-out – a delectable and veritable feast featuring seared prawns, rillette of duck, winter bisque, pan-fried halibut and rum balls. As this was a Christmas market cruise, there were festive inclusions such as Christmas pie, mulled wine granita and Christmas baked Alaska.

Breakfast is a buffet or made to order with an extra early bird breakfast available in the lobby from 6am for early risers. There’s a second, smaller bistro at the rear of the ship offering alternative dining and it’s complimentary – with great vistas over the wake and back along the river. The Bistro is my tip for lunch, with deliciously hearty pasta and burger dishes. A buffet lunch is also available in the main restaurant. Afternoon tea is served in the lounge.

Drinks are not included in fares, which helps to reduce fares, especially for passengers who are not keen drinkers. An A$149 per person drinks package could be purchased for our five-night cruise which covered drinks with lunch and dinner- pretty good value at A$30 per person per day. Drinks from the bar outside lunch and dinner are extra but very reasonable. Service by all staff is efficient, proactive, warm and friendly. Gratuities are not included in fares either, which also helps to keep fares down so that passengers can tip what and who they like- a freedom Australians will appreciate.

Entertainment: A pianist plays in the lounge for pre and post-dinner drinks and there are regular talks by the cruise director about ports and excursions. A highlight was an Austrian string quartet that came aboard the ship while moored in Vienna to regale passengers with a moving concert featuring composers who loved Vienna, such as Mozart, Bach and Strauss. An in-cabin TV offered movies/programs and a small library nook featured books authored by the ship’s namesake, Thomas Hardy. Most of Riviera’s ships are named after famous British writers.

Onboard Activities: The observation lounge and bar, with its inviting leather armchairs and sumptuous sofas, was very popular although I think I was the only person to use the small exercise room! There was also a massage room and hairdresser onboard as well as a souvenir shop. The top sun deck featured plenty of deckchairs, a mini golf course and a small, plunge pool – an unusual but welcome inclusion on a European river ship. The pool is heated comfortably in summer but on our winter Christmas cruise it was toasty hot – an indulgent jacuzzi in which we could soak in the passing scenery, drink in hand. Many passengers had not thought to bring swimwear so pack it for a dip. There are also bikes onboard, free for passengers to use in port, which we did with glee!

Excursions: I was very impressed with the complimentary excursions offered during the cruise. In each port there was a free excursion which typically included a guided coach and walking tour for half a day or so, leaving the rest of the day to explore on your own – including the stunning Christmas markets of Bratislava, Vienna and Budapest. There were other optional tours available for purchase as well but we loved the free tours available as well as the complimentary transfers to and from the ship and to Christmas markets.

Favourite Experiences on the Ship: Our two favourite activities were time spent cruising the famed Danube by day – so relaxing, with epic castles and quaint villages passing by – and enjoying the ship-top plunge pool/jacuzzi at dawn as the town woke up and at night, under the stars, surrounded by the majestic splendours of Europe.

Families: A river cruise would suit teenage children who take an interest in the passing scenery and ports visited and able to entertain themselves on the ship.

Self-Service Laundry: No, but for a charge, staff will launder your clothes.

Uniqueness: Riviera Travel River Cruises likes to do river cruising a little differently, partly to make river cruising as affordable as possible. The tours may not be as long as those of other cruise lines, but they were very enjoyable and informative, leaving us time to explore on our own as well. There’s the flexibility of buying your own drinks package and tipping what you want and Riviera does not discount its already reasonable fares so everyone in the same cabin type has paid the same fare.

The fare structure is also very simple to understand. Riviera has gained a strong reputation also as a solo-friendly cruise line with a selection of supplement-free cabins available on every cruise (but book early for these) and a range of cruises every year exclusively for solo passengers with every cabin open to solo guests, free of any surcharge – and no need for sharing with other solo passengers. 

Bookings are only available via travel agents so to learn more about some great offers, contact Cruise Express today on 1300 766 537 or email info@cruiseexpress.com.au

Explorer Dream

Cruise Express’ Bec Barnes, recently spent time onboard Explorer Dream. This was Explorer Dream’s much-anticipated inaugural visit to Sydney. Below are Bec’s thoughts on this beautiful ship.

Reviewed by: Bec Barnes

Date: October 2019

Cruise line and ship: Dream CruisesExplorer Dream

Size of ship: 75,338 GRT

Passenger capacity: 1,856 pax

Year built: 1999

Year refurbished/revitalised: 2019

Where the ship cruises: Australia and New Zealand

Currency onboard: AUD

Embarkation/disembarkation: The team of four from Cruise Express received a very warm welcome from Dream Cruises. We were met at the terminal with a champagne reception and had a very smooth embarkation process onto the ship. We were boarding for lunch so only a driver’s license was required. This welcome reception at the port was given because it was her first arrival into Sydney Harbour.

Main features/highlights:  The Dream fleet features all the comforts of authentic Asian hospitality combined with the finest experiences from around the world. The Dream Cruises team state that they are Asian at heart and international in spirit.

Expect most of the usual shipboard facilities including a la carte and buffet dining, a number of specialty restaurants, several bars and lounges, the main show lounge, midship pool with waterslide, gym and shops. The Dream difference is the offer of The Palace – a ‘ship within a ship’ concept that includes private VIP facilities including an exclusive pool and deck space, lounge and restaurant. The Palace guests stay in luxurious suites with private butler service, all-inclusive drinks and complimentary access to all specialty restaurants.

Most suited to:  Families will love it, however there is also plenty on offer for couples and older travellers.

Encounters with service staff: Friendly staff, however some with limited English in the dining room.

Dining options:  We had a five-course lunch in the well-appointed Dream Dining Room including Australian Freshwater Crayfish, Saffron Risotto and Red Braised Wagyu Short Rib. Generally, food in the Dining Room is a Chinese/Western fusion style and possibly one of the best places on the ship. We also tasted canapes from Seafood Grill by Mark Best (good), Umi Uma (excellent) and Silk Road (good).

Seating up to 342 passengers, the Lido Grill is buffet-style restaurant located outdoors at the aft of the ship. With sensational outdoor undercover seating areas, the Lido Grill appears to have lots of international options as per other cruise line buffets and is included in the cost of your cruise.

Also worth visiting are the specialty restaurants (but not included in your cruise cost):
  • Seafood Grill by Mark Best – Deck 13
  • Hot Pot (authentic Chinese) – Deck 8
  • Umi Uma -Deck 8
  • Silk Road – Deck 7
  • Mozzarella Ristorante and Pizzeria – Deck 7 ( modern classic Italian)

There is also the Candy Kingdom for those with a sweet tooth.

Staterooms: 

  • Interior – from 12sqm – max occupancy 3
  • Oceanview – from 13 sqm – max occupancy 2-4
  • Balcony – from 18sqm – max occupancy 4. Queen bed, plus a small sofa beside the bed.

Entertainment: What we saw of the entertainment was excellent, first-class and very impressive.

Family facilities: There is a great kids club on Deck 12 called “Little Dreamers Club” with games, workshops, costume parties and even a DJ booth – for children up to 12 years. Esc Experience Lab – the latest in virtual reality technology and a games arcade for older kids (extra cost). Also The Zone is a multipurpose lounge featuring video game consoles and an air hockey table for older kids. There is also a substantial outdoor area for the kids with a large jumping castle and cubby house.

Activities: Fitness centre, kids club, evening shows, movies on deck, tour talks and port info, live music, video game challenges, sail away party, talent shows.

Sports and leisure: Jogging track, sportsplex, Caesar’s slide, Parthenon pool and boardwalk. A gym on deck 12 that is quite spacious and overlooks the outdoor pool area as well as views to the sea.

A spa and salon with a large selection of services , for example, you can have a facial from $156 for 75 minutes. There are also plenty of boutiques on Deck 7 and 8 mid-ship in the atrium area.

Inclusions: Dining – Dream dining room, Pavilion (Chinese cuisine), The Lido (buffet). Some entertainment and use of the gym.

Exclusions: Shore excursions, all specialty dining, some shows, some kids club activities, gelato bar, arcade, VR experience, spa, salon, Candy Kingdom and boutiques.

Self-service laundry: No, however you can do a special wash whilst cruising  – fill a bag for AU$20.

Celebrity Edge

Reviewed by: Clive Heath

Date: May 2019

Cruise line and ship: Celebrity Edge

Cruise name or itinerary: Reviewed on her Inaugural sailing from Southampton and first European cruise – to Rome, via Spain and Portugal

Passenger capacity: 2,918

Year built: 2018

Size of the ship: 130,818 gross tonnes

Where the ship cruises: Europe and the Caribbean

Currency onboard: USD

Main features/highlights: The ‘Magic Carpet’ – predominantly designed as a platform to expedite shore embarkation when in tender ports, this moving platform has multiple uses. When not in operation for its prime purpose, it becomes a sunset and sail away venue on either Deck 14 or Deck 5.

Passengers are not allowed on the platform when it moves from one deck to another so it can be a little annoying when you find a good spot to then be asked to leave for moving time.

Most suited to: For Australian clients, this is the much-loved Celebrity Solstice taken to a whole new level. It would suit all age groups with options for all. The mix on our cruise was considerable and shows the broad positioning for these luxury ships aiming for the affluent traveller who like large ships. 

Atmosphere: Following on Solstice’s sleek lines and non-cruise ship feel, this cutting edge ship is a luxury hotel coupled with diverse dining and entertainment areas.

Staterooms: As with all large ships there are numerous cabin grades on Celebrity Edge.

  • Inside cabins – more square than any of the ocean facing cabins these have exactly the same appointments, sleek bathrooms and amenities as outsides and balconies.
  • Oceanview (outside) cabins – Like Balcony grade cabins these tend to be long and thin stretching more into the width of the ship but with smaller exposure to the ocean than on other ships. All beautifully appointed.
  • Balcony cabins – Either in Balcony, Concierge or Aqua grade these cabins are the same in size differing only with the amenities offered in the cabin. There are limited traditional balconies with doors and external seating. Most balconies are ‘internal’ or ‘infinity’ with similar slide down windows used on river cruise vessels. These can be automatically closed by the bridge in bad weather. This adds floor space taken away by the narrow cabin. There are no curtains but automatic blinds that can be lowered as required to provide a blackout at night. The bathrooms have a large walk-in shower but no bath. Guests requiring a full bath will need to look at the Sky Suite grades upwards. The walk-in shower is the largest I have seen at sea.

  • Concierge – This grade offers some additional benefits such as a dedicated Concierge for bookings, afternoon canapés, fruit bowl and a bottle of sparkling wine one day of your cruise. Concierge services for shore tours and restaurant bookings are supposed to be exclusive but with only two desks and thousands in that grade, it is not always helpful.
  • Aqua – Aqua guests have access to the exclusive  ‘Blu’ dining room, offering more healthy food options. Additionally, Aqua guests have access to the Spa’s facilities. Other grades (excluding suites) pay $50 per person, per day for this access.
  • Sunset Verandah cabin – These are at the rear of the ship facing backward offering a larger balcony and have altogether more space.

  • Sky Suites – These entry-level suites have access to ‘The Retreat’ and are located only on Deck 15 (more on that later), they are a larger cabin but represents excellent value given the additional amenities offered.
  • Celebrity suite – This is the first traditionally ‘true’ suite with a separate bedroom from the entry and lounge area.
  • Edge suites – These are located on Decks on 14 & 15 and consist of a bedroom upstairs and a lounge downstairs with a private plunge pool on the balcony. These are superb for a private retreat experience and unique. My favourite pick!
  • Epic and Royal suites – The benefits of these are too numerous to describe. Suffice to say they are spacious and OTT!

Dining: Edge has numerous dining options which are skilfully managed by the app available for your iPhone and Android devices. Overall the quality in all the restaurants was of a high standard. Apart from your normal main dining option, you can book online any specialty dining venue by date and time reducing that run around for the best venues.

  • Main dining – there are four main venues. You will be assigned to one but can eat around if space permits. They are Normandie, Cyprus, Cosmopolitan and Tuscan.
  • Specialty restaurants (with a surcharge) – Eden (degustation), Fine Cut Steakhouse, Raw on 5 for seafood & the Rooftop Grill BBQ. Check the surcharge in advance as these can be up to USD$60 plus per person.

Other Activities/Offering:

  • Main pool and spa – The main pool is on Deck 14 with spa baths cantilevered over the pool area from Deck 15 presenting great spots for a sailing viewpoint. The pool has a bar (of course) and the Mast Grill – churning hamburgers and hotdogs at an impressive rate. Always hot, freshly cooked with great choice of salads.
  • Cabanas – On the port-side midship you’ll find private cabanas that can be hired by anybody by the day. Apart from a menu of elected dishes served to your cabana on request, they come with a bottle of champagne or vodka, towels, soft drink and a waiter.  They line the side of the pool area next to the ‘Magic Carpet’ when it resides as a bar on Deck 14 for sail away. Over the first 7 days of our cruise these were not occupied however come a ‘hot’ Caribbean or Mediterranean sailing I can see these being popular.
  • The Retreat – This area, towards the front of the ship, is reserved for Suite guests only and includes pools and the spa as well as exclusive Luminie dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Absolute Highlights: There is a lot to like about this ship but here are my main likes:

  • Artwork is everywhere, it’s priceless and deserves attention
  • The main atrium is the best at sea – just an amazing feel
  • Plug and adaptor box in every cabin aims to keep all your electronic devices charged and together. Alas mine looked like spaghetti junction in 5 minutes
  • Cabin appointments are the best at sea for this grade of ship
  • Food is always hot even room service – a first for me on any ship
  • Adequate bars and nooks and crannies to get away
  • Hidden gems like the sunset bar behind the hidden garden on deck 15 (don’t tell anybody)
  • Variety of main dining without supplement – 5 venues
  • Coffee! Amazing for an American ship they make good coffee!