Europe - Northern Europe Cruise Reviews

   great cruise      excellent ports       excellent food     reasonable drinks vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvtttttttttttttttttttttttttt

The reason for this cruise was Svalbard/Spitsbergen, North Cape, Trumso and 5 nights in the Artic so different from Miami.   The Fyords and Bergen where the dessert.  The lagniappe was Hamburg.  Met all our expectations

We really enjoyed the cruise.  We were first-timers, so were not sure exactly what to expect.  We were very pleased with the ship itself and the wonderful service provided by our room attendants and the dining room staff.  All the other staff were also very helpful.  Of course, the food was delightful, as we expected.  We also enjoyed the nightly shows in the main Vista Lounge and some others that we got to.  One of the main pluses of a cruise is that one only has to unpack once and then you can stay in the same bed for the whole trip.  We really liked that.

We had a couple of complaints.  One is that the shows provided by the Zuiderdam Singers and Dancers, while excellent and generally enjoyable, were too loud, and in some  places too sexy for our comfort.  Talent and professionalism were there, but there was just too much skin showing on a lot of the costumes, and it really wasn't necessary.  We noticed some other passengers around us in the auditorium who seemed to be experiencing the same feelings we were. 

Second, the activities on the ship seemed too much centered around alcohol.  As teetotalers, we simply felt left out of some activities.  It just seemed a little odd to us that every "prize" in competitions seemed to be free or reduced prices on drinks.  And the "pub crawl" activity was very noisy at its starting point on Deck 10, annoying not just us but a number of other passengers who were sitting in the observation chairs or enjoying quiet activities in the library.

Third, we were a bit surprised at how many extra cost things there were.  We knew that the basic meals were included in the base fare and were pleasantly surprised to find that room service dining was free.  We also knew that there would be an automatic gratuity charge.  However, we were taken aback by the extent to which the ship staff seemed to be encouraging the purchase of drinks of all kinds, and were surprised that even soft drinks cost extra.  The shore excursions were also pricey.  As frugal people who ordinarily travel on our own arranging our own transportation and lodging we were unaccustomed to the extra costs associated with the cruise.

Another complaint was probably specific to this particular voyage.  The satellite internet connection became essentially non-functioning after the first few days.  I had purchased an internet package of 100 minutes but was only able to use about 20 minutes of it because the whole system was just not working.  The ship staff put notices on all the computers in the library that the internet connection was not working, and it was very frustrating.  I had been planning on maintaining contact with family members through email but was only able to send one email before the system stopped working.

As to the destinations, we thoroughly enjoyed all of them that we got to. Because of issues with high winds we were unable to make the scheduled port calls in Helsinki, Finland, and Helsingborg, Sweden.  We were sad about that, but pleased in knowing that the captain had made the best decisions for the safety and comfort of the ship, its passengers, and crew.  We stopped in Warnemunde and Kiel, Germany; Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden; Tallin, Estonia; and St. Petersburg, Russia.  Each was enjoyable and seemed to capture the special characteristic of that country's culture.  We also unexpectedly were able to spend a few unplanned hours in Copenhagen because of the cancellation of the Helsingborg stop, and we thoroughly enjoyed that opportunity.

We may take another cruise, but not in the immediate future.  It's a little pricey for us, and we tend to take trips to areas not reachable by ships.  We loved living on the ship, having a comfortable cabin, lots of delectable food, and staff of all types ready to help us with questions or problems.

My favorite port of call was St Petersburg.  I have enjoyed traveling on Celebrity again.  The food and friendliness of the staff was terrific.  My only regret was that we had trouble getting into Stockholm.  The weather was the culprit.  Since this was our only day in Sweden it was disappointing to have only two-three hours to walk around.  Other that that my family and I had a great trip!

  Because the CEO was on board, special cocktail parties for Captain's Club members, and free ballet, just for Celebrity CC passengers, at the Maryinski Theater in St Petersburg.   Food overall was great, especially Blu and Tuscan Grille.  Our cabin and all common areas were spotless.  Employees cannot do enough for you,  and when my luggage took 5-1/2 days to reach us,  it was due to the Celebrity staff working behind the scenes to get it on an express train from Berlin.  Gave me free, same-day laundry service until I got my bag,

a toiletry kit and  t-shirts.

We had sunny weather until we got to Helsinki, then a bit of rain.   Disappointed that due to weather,  could not dock in Stockholm until night, so missed excursions.  Celebrity did order buses  to take us into town that night if we wanted, starting at 8:30pm,  and had lots of entertainment on our unexpected extra day at sea.  Sihlouette  was very smooth ride, hardly felt like the ship was moving.

        All Celebrity tours were excellent, it was great to have 3 full days in St Petersburg.  After visiting Peterhoff,  Catherine's Palace, Hermitage,  give your feet a break and take a canal tour - beautiful.  Some passengers took the day-long tours to Berlin (at Rostock dock) and Moscow (St Pete) but we were not interested in a 15-hour marathon of train and bus.   Rostock and Talinn were surprises,  both well worth seeing.  Had wonderful lunch at Carlsburg Brewery in Copenhagen,  would recommend the tour that includes Dragor village.

Some countries took Euros or dollars,  all take credit cards,  some only their own currency when in town.   

    Biggest disappoint was entertainment.  Had a couple of small bands or duos that made wonderful music,  but the  big stage productions looked canned,  the dance routines uninspired,  costumes simply butt-ugly.  Rap? Really? On a cruise with 90% older than 60 years?    The best night was the Russian dancers and singers who came on board.    Best ship entertainment is the martini bar.

     Big change - no more formal night, now "casual chic" but most got dressed up anyhow.    They are putting the squeeze on regular drink package,  no longer can get martinis at the Martini bar without the premium package.  But will serve you other vodka or gin drinks!  

Having three days in St-Pertersburg was fantastic. We wish the guest relation desk would have better information about independant transportation in the cities visited. Often we could not even know where the ship was going to dock. We would highly recommend this cruise.

The destinations and excursions on this cruise were wonderful.  We were, however, disappointed in the mediocre quality of entertainment on the ship.  The canned music was terrible and most of the live music was not as good as we remembered from a previous cruise.  There was one excellent vocalist, Jane Curry, who performed only once although she was on the ship for 5 days.

Specialty restaurant that was outstanding was Murano.

I enjoyed traveling on a smaller ship,the service was superb.  I felt that we were treated like royalty.  The accommodation were extremely clean and the food was wonderful.

Our cruise to the Fjords would have been nice, provided we would have given a good cabin for the extremely high price we paid for. Our fellow cruisers received the same kind of cabin as ours for half of the price. Unfortunately, we purchased it from BJ's - a big mistake, because the cruiseline refused to deal with us directly. The ports visited were beautiful, all the crew members were helpful. The entertainment was OK, but not much of variety. I think we could have done better with other cruiseline, and definitely without BJ's as a travel agency.

We enjoyed dining in the Tuscan Grill, Bistro5 was good for lunch, we were all looking forward to Panini Sandwiches that we had there before, only to learn they do not make Panini Sandwiches anymore.The downside to the Bistro ,is, the menu remains the same. When you are on a 14 day cruise that menu got boring.

The ship has gone down since we were on it in 2014. We would not go on another cruise on the Eclipse. The Murano restaurant was not nearly as good as before

for $40 p.p..The crew were very very nice and very helpful.

Very good itinerary. At sea days were timed well. Best buffet food of all the cruises we have been on. Enjoyed all ports, especially St. Petersburg (beautiful city).

We were very pleased with British Airlines.  The trip was great, we were so tired coming back that I checked all our luggage.  While on ship I developed diahrea and nausea.  After consulting medical officer, I was confined to my room on ship. I took meds given to me and was told I must stay in cabin until they released me.  The cabins with no windows are extremely small, but I did what I was told until released.  I was disappointed in the Boutiques on board.  Most passengers were Chinese and did not communicate well. I had no idea, it would be so cold, windy and raining some of the time.  So, I was never in the pool or enjoying the sun.  I felt this ship was too large.  I met so many nice people but never saw them again as there were so so many people on this ship.  Upon debarkation, my husband got the virus, we went to a hotel and left the next day. We have been on many cruises.  I enjoyed Berlin and Russian, it was very interesting to go to the Hermitage and see the wall in Berlin.  Due to my virus, I had to cancel going to see Catherine the Greats cancel and the river cruise.  Loved all our cruises to the Mediterranean and the weather was always so nice.

The Regal Princess is a beautiful Ship, We had an exceptional time on board

the services were outstanding never a dull moment plenty of activities to keep you busy if you want to do them or you can just relax top side and enjoy the view.

Plenty of Ship traffic to watch in the Baltic Sea. The food was exceptional

Service was fantastic in the dining room ,and of course I spent a lot of time at the Wheelhouse Bar and service was second to none our bartender (Rainer) was one of the best I had on a Cruise to date.

6 countries with two sea days.  An amazing experience of architecture, history, beautiful scenery and art.  This was a wonderful cruise.  Two days in st. Petersburg was the highlight but Talinn Estonia was a close second.  Be sure to book a walking tour of Talinn.  The old town is wonderful experience of medieval life as it was then.  REally enjoyed this cruise.  Wish there had been more time in the ports as all aboard time was 3:30 most days and that just doesn't give you much time to see more than one thing.  Wish it could have been 6 PM.  

Favorite part of this trip, the many ports of call. It was a great way to be introduced to so many countries and unpacking just once! The staff on board were helpful the entertainment was amazing. We enjoyed the staff and Henry in the 5 O'clock Somewhere bar especially! The food selection was pretty good. Would like to have seen fresher/lighter options of food in more of the restaurants. By the end of the trip we were craving fresh salads and fruits. The best place for them was the Market where finding seating could be a challenge. The coffee in the sit down restaurants left a lot to be desired.

Itinerary fabulous, daily Italian pasta just too much!

Entertainment by duo terrible, especially when the recording of Beethoven's 9th final chorus went totally and very painfully off-key! Had no one of production team noticed??

Ship ran out of alcohol-free beer on the third day, poor planning...

Lady M. Louisa  in charge of english-speaking passengers was the very best!!! Helpful, planning ahead, resourceful, kind and caring - we thank Costa for her!

The ports visited were the deciding factor to book this cruise. We enjoyed the ports but the down side was the ship embarked and debarked approximately 750 passengers both in Hamburg and Kiel. This caused problems with Immigration when returning to Southampton and it also disrupted the flow of the cruise. Not so bad at Hamburg but in Kiel you had new passengers acquainting themselves with their surroundings while the other passengers had settled into a relaxing routine.

The ship is beautiful, food and service were great, entertainment disappointing. 

This is the best way to see Norway.We have sailed on the Navigator of the Seas

before and liked the ship very much.The crew was very good.The food in the buffet

was the best we ever had on a cruise.

The shower in our stateroom was outstanding.  This cruise itinerary was very good with most port stops providing a full day in port.  The boat was new, clean and well appointed.  The food delivery process is in need of improvement as the buffet lines were not clearly defined.  The lido market did not have sufficient tables and chairs to accommodate peak eating hours.  Also, the dining room seating process was laborious as one dining room served both the anytime dining and the fixed time dining.  It was not possible to reserve a seat in the dining room for a specific time if anytime dining was chosen.  As a result, some days the wait was very long and other days the wait for a table assignment was reasonable.  Numbers of staff in the dining area needs increased as food delivery was a bit slow as well as waiting for a hostess to seat you once your pager rang.  Significant improvements are needed.

very disappointing overall. However the housekeeper was really good and the servers were good.

The other services were horrible. If there was a problem and asked to speak to general manager no call back.

internet did not work as advertised and company would not refund. Staff knew internet was bad but customer services said differently. Needed internet for work. Had I known that poor internet service I would not have gone on cruse. Needed internet for business. Had to use the free internet in port and as a result did not enjoy port.

Food in dinning room was a little better than Arbys or McDondalds. Food in dinning room lacked quality. First night food was horrible.

Food  in buffet was better than dinning room. 

Could not obtain ice from bartender. Though I was in a suite. Needed ICE for leg. Had to call room service who did not come with ice. Had to chase a worker on the floor to obtain ice. Ice took 2 hours.

The suites were overpriced for the Services provided and the quality of food.

According to my understanding the suit were entitled to one complementary dinner in a specialty dinning room. That was not the case. Therefore did not eat in specialty dining room.

Overall I dont think I would go on this cruse line again. But the ports were nice.

still trying to obtain refund for the internet and the company has not responded to my request. 

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