We would heartily recommend this cruise to anyone who enjoys the cruise experience. It is not geared to families with children - thank you. The staff and crew definitely have had excellent training in attending to the expectations of the passengers. The food was good and the cabins and public areas were always clean and well-cared for. I am not sure why the rating does not add up to a "5" as that would be our recommendation.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
So quick that you were on board within 7 to 10 minutes.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Clean, efficient, friendly and good food. The only negative was the rather poor quality of orange juice - also mentioned by other passengers.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Movies, lectures - otherwise our time was spent out on excursions. The Spa is certainly above and beyond the usual on shipboard spas.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Guitarist, pianist and a trio of cello, flute and violin. They provided nice melody-filled music that floated throughout the Atrium.
Children's Programs
No children
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The service and staff were beyond excellent.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Great layout and design. Easy to navigate and definitely well-maintained and clean.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The bed was comfortable with several changes of sheets throughout the journey. The bathroom was better than any other cruise ship on which we have been - the shower was enclosed by glass and plexi-glass that were spotless and roomy - about four feet square.
Ship tip
Try the Spa with sauna, cool-dip pool and snow house.
Panoramic Helsinki and Porvoo - The village of Porvoo is quaint - mostly to wander the streets to see a place that remains largely unchanged. The panoramic part of the tour was in Helsinki with major points of interest pointed out.
We went on four excursions and in combination, they gave an excellent opportunity to see a great deal of St. Petersburg. Guides were excellent with good English language skills.
The excursion - Jewels of the Estonian West Coast probably would have been more enjoyable if it had not been rainy. The guide spoke English well but included a syllable of "ka" after about every 3rd or 4th word. The tour moved very slowly. A visit to an old monastery with a musty smell could have warranted a visit only to the outside. The tour ended at an old railroad station with old-time engines. Probably it would have been better to stay in Tallinn.
The excursion - Malbork Castle gives an excellent chance to see a well preserved castle from the days of the Teutonic Knights. Although it suffered much damage during the war, it has been restored to its original grandeur. We would choose this excursion again.
The excursion was into Berlin - a two-hour trip from the port into Berlin and an excellent tour with excellent guide and then lunch at the Reichstag. In total - an 11-hour excursion ending in a two-hour trip back to port. Tiring but well worth the effort.
The panoramic tour of Copenhagen was a good use of time. The guide did a good job with keeping the trip moving and still seeing major portions of the city.
In the evening, we went on the jazz cruise through Copenhagen. The jazz group played old-time musical numbers. The downside - two passengers who "thought they could sing" added nothing. Anyway, a good chance to see Copenhagen from the canals.
An excellent guide who knew the city and took us on a walking tour. Although it was a drizzly day, it was enjoyable throughout. Definitely a nice place to visit.
A good use of time and the stop for those delicious little waffles with creme freiche and jam was definitely worth the time and also to wander by the seaside. They delighted the crowd with a troll visit.
The tours that we booked were cancelled because of a cycling event that closed down a lot of streets. We did go out on Bergen by Boat with an excellent guide that gave a different perspective of Bergen. We did spend time walking through the city so it was not a total loss.
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