Discovery Review

3.5 / 5.0
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Christmas and the New Year in the Far East

Review for Asia Cruise on Discovery

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Sail Date: Dec 2011

We were originally booked on Swan Hellenic's Minerva for their Christmas and New Year cruise to the Far East and were very upset when the cruise was cancelled for a ship refit. Fortunately, we were able to switch to a similar cruise on Discovery and so we were prime candidates to switch loyalty to another ship (we love Minerva). Whilst we had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed our trip from Bangkok to Hong Kong - taking in a number of ports in Vietnam and China - the overall experience wasn't enough to keep us.

Discovery is due for a refit next November. It needs it now. Actually, it needed it some time ago and, from comments made by other passengers, it is clear that a number of those travelling with us will not be returning in the near future because the ship is, quite frankly, extremely tired and rather scruffy. The fittings and furnishings are dated and well past their best. And parts of the ship's superstructure are badly rusted - they are covered up with a thick layer of paint, but this doesn't disguise the fact that rust is eating away the metal underneath. The Lido area must have once had a very nice teak deck - but there are very significant holes in it and such repairs that have been made are in poor order. One passenger pushed their chair back, the leg caught in one of the holes and they fell heavily. The whole area, now, is a great drafty barn with an empty swimming pool and corroded windows. It is the only place for informal eating for breakfast and lunch - there is no cafe facility on this ship for the evening meal which has to be taken in the dining room.

There is also no launderette which may not bother some people, but did mean that passengers either wash and dry things in their cabins, take a lot of clothes or use the laundry service which, whilst not very expensive, does add to the overall expense of the trip.

Cabin Review

5422 - very small but plenty of storage. Twin beds in L shape. Small bathroom but quite adequate.

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