I loved this cruise. So much so I booked two more to follow on.
This is a lovely way to visit plenty of places, and have the wealth of amenities from the ship to hand. I did fall in love with the ship, and so did a lot of other passengers. If large ships don't put you off in any way, this will not disappoint you.
I had a wonderful time on board. You can be sure that you're indeed in for a treat here. It's a wonderful ship with friendly and helpful crew.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Very easy indeed. First ever cruise but was a great experience. Top tip: always complete the online check in process for smoother embarkation. As I did this it meant I wasn't queued for that long.
Also note that you won't receive your cabin cruise card until your cabin is available - at check in they will tell you when this is. Should you wish to buy refreshments and/or food, you can present your boarding pass with "OK to board". When you arrive at your cabin once it is available to you, a white sealed envelope will contain your cruise card. Upon boarding I was directed to my muster station, and my boarding pass scanned to say I have been there. From there I just needed to watch the muster drill video from the cabin.
In general a lovely and relaxed experience.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Sindhu
5 out of 5
This reinvents everything you thought you knew about curry and Indian cuisine. Well worth a visit and open from 6pm to 9pm, Sindhu is a superb restaurant.The waiter staff here introduce themselves by name, and really make you feel very much at home. Sydney, my waiter for the evening took time to explain some of the items on the menu and made some very solid recommendations. You will receive free mini poppadoms with mango chutney to start with, and the mains are often accompanied by a chickpea curry, vegetable curry and naan bread slices.I had a lamb bhuna curry, which was simply incredible and far away from anything I've ever had before or since for that matter. I would highly recommend visiting here at least once and trying this for yourself.
The Keel and Cow
5 out of 5
This is without a doubt one of the best restaurants on Iona. I frequently came here for morning breakfast to enjoy porridge, a full English breakfast, or some yoghurt overlooking the sea. The crew were simply amazing, and very often I had the same table each time. I also enjoyed the steak here, the belly pork and the meat pies. Everything I had surpassed expectation and is well worth the extra money. The service was excellent, and the waiters were extremely attentive making for a very relaxed dining experience, both in the mornings, and at dinner time. To avoid disappointment always book as far in advance as you can (especially for breakfast) to guarantee a table on the My Holiday portal.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Entertainment
5 out of 5
I did enjoy the entertainment. It was great especially the theatre shows. Remember to book as far as possible in advance to guarantee your preferred time - also select your time of the show wisely - if you miss your slot you will not be able to watch the same show later on.
Jo Rochelle did a decent musical performance, and the Headliner events were well worth a watch.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
I found all the crew to be very nice and accommodating, and I felt particularly well welcomed in Sindhu and the Keel and Cow.
I could not fault the crew at all, they were professional and polite at all times.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
This ship was immaculate in every way. Certainly vast, and worth exploring it.
The atrium is beautiful, and very modern. It's the perfect place to grab a tea or coffee from Vistas bar, or a drink or two at the Emerald bar.
Surrounding the fringe are huge glass windows with a gorgeous view of the sea or port of call.
There is a lot to see and do on Iona, so it is well worth a good exploration around to see the best bits. There is a good selection of shops onboard and the cinema did not disappoint at all.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
This was a nice and spacious cabin, with fantastic air conditioning, and was extremely quiet. This was cabin number 14257.
Cabin stewards are very friendly and helpful. They also helped me find the fastest possible ways to the venue's I wanted to visit.
I had a very comfortable bed, and the bathroom was a decent size. You can also get a free breakfast (delivery charge applies) which is basic but convenient if you have an early start due to an excursion.
The magazine "Horizon" will be delivered via stewards in the morning. Sadly the publication is not available online, and this paper document is the only thing to show you the full day's events.
The onboard TV has a good selection of films to watch for free on demand, and has a nice feature to show you a map of the ship, the route that the ship is on and where you are right now, and other goodies.
Ship tip
Stair case colours.
Blue is the front of the ship, grey is the centre and red is at the aft (back) of the ship. This will help you navigate.
At the end of each theatre show the lifts are typically inundated with people, so it's worth avoiding the queues with a drink or two first before using the lifts onboard. That said if your in a hurry to get anywhere it's usually the fastest way from your cabin to the venue and back.
A smooth experience. Best to wake up early and get a decent breakfast before you go. You can also negotiate the time you want to leave the ship by. To do this just chat to reception and they will be glad to help.
If you opt to leave your luggage outside your cabin the night before you disembark, you can collect it easily from the terminal without the hassle of lugging it around. It will be arranged by deck number and cabin number (e.g 14257 is deck 14, cabin 257).
Thanks all! It's given me a real taste of cruising, it's a lovely way to travel and see the world.
I'm on Britannia right now preparing to set sail tonight for Norway and the Fjords.
Can't wait! I'll write a review on that soon :)
Nice to see a really positive post thanks so glad you enjoyed yourself a holiday is what you make it I personally wouldn't pay all that money and moan 😉
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