We chose this cruise based upon a friend’s recommendation. We were happy that we weren’t being nickeled and dimed throughout the cruise. Don’t need a casino, and liked that there weren’t noisy kids running around. Cabin service was exceptional. Service in the alternative restaurant Manfredi’s was also exceptional (the food was great too). Didn’t make it to the Chef’s Table (had heard the menu was Cantonese for most of the cruise). I really liked the seafood and my friend liked both steaks she had. We only ate in The Restaurant once, and service was SLOW (there were 6 of us at a shared table). We tried Mamsen’s only once for breakfast. The waffle was great, but not the “one of a kind” that it’s advertised to be. Most of our meals were in the World Cafe. Both of us felt that more effort is put into presentation than taste. I had trouble getting water served to me in the World Cafe several times throughout the cruise, but not in any of the other restaurants. The shore excursions were exceptional! I think I took 3 included excursions, paid extra for 3, and had a pre-extension in Madrid. There was a noticeable difference in the English spoken by the guides on the excursions we were charged for versus the included excursions (which makes sense). Travel was seamless on the way there, but a disaster on the way home (our luggage is still in Frankfurt and may be there for a while due to a strike by Lufthansa cabin crews). We purchased the trip insurance through Viking, and ended up sleeping at the airport because the insurance company would not verify that they would pay for a hotel (we had to pay upfront, submit a claim and they would “consider” paying it). I figured the hoops we would have to jump through would not be worth it, and the day had been so stressful (running through two airports, making one connection because they held the plane, and missing the other by 5 minutes). I didn’t want the additional stress of needing to be back at the airport at 5:30 am to catch the final leg. Viking probably doesn’t even know what we went through on our flights home (we missed the last flight after being re-routed to Colorado Springs just to get fuel in case we had to circle Denver for a bit, and then having 20 minutes to get through Customs, TSA a second time that day, and having to take a train to B concourse, just to miss our plane by 5 minutes). Read Less

This was our first cruise and my personal first visit to Europe. We chose this cruise because it gave us just a "taste" of so many different countries traveling the coastlines of Spain, France, Italy, Islands of Greece, Croatia and back to Italy. We also wanted to be among others (adults only!) that wanted a relaxing, enriching cruise exploring culture and history all while enjoying delicious cuisine! We decided to arrive two days ahead of embarkation to allow for any travel issues as well as to acclimate ourselves to the time change. Once ready to embark, we found the staff/service to be extremely accommodating and welcoming. Throughout our cruise embarkation/disembarkation was a breeze. Because of the size of our boat, we were able to dock in the port with a direct gangway. Our cabin was beautifully appointed, comfortable, clean and larger than expected! Love the luxurious feel of all amenities. Dining choices were abundant with more than ample food options everywhere. We never felt like we were eating "mass produced" food. Optional dining (Manfredi's and Chef's Table) were excellent and provided a more intimate atmosphere. We were very happy that we took advantage of making the reservations for those restaurants in advance as they filled up quickly. The crew/entertainment kept us happily entertained throughout the week. It was fun to see our cruise director (Jenna) providing her own cabaret show. All entertainers were fun and clearly showed that they loved their jobs! Lots of activities are available at all times - hard to decide what to do next (or not to do if relaxation was the goal!) We particularly loved all of the relaxation areas, seating alcoves, library, lounges....the layout of the Viking Star was perfect and we never felt like anyplace was crowded! The Spa was beautiful and the staff was excellent. My husband and I both took advantage of the pools, saunas, as well as personal services such as hydrofacials for me and a massage for my husband. We both felt completely pampered and the value was excellent for the service provided. Overall the service on board was amazing and we found all staff members/crew to be approachable, kind and willing to provide the best service to make our cruise the best it could be. We cannot say enough about the level of service and we were thoroughly impressed as to the team approach for this crew/staff. There was no job from top to bottom that seemed to be "below" anyone! It was truly an all hands on deck approach. Outstanding!! The ports/shore excursions were plentiful and led by well qualified partners sharing their knowledge. All excursions were well organized. We selected a lot of the optional tours and enjoyed the smaller groups that participated here. The general "included" tours were a little harder to manage as there was a variety of physical levels/abilities that seemed more difficult to manage in these groups and was more difficult to keep everyone content with pace, etc. We probably overbooked ourselves as we constantly said we wished we had more time on our own to explore! Overall this experience was excellent and we have done nothing but rave about Viking and are already hoping to plan another cruise in the coming year or so. We have referred many friends as well! We look forward to experiencing a River cruise with a smaller number on board with Viking. Read Less

We have sailed on multiple lines and have a number on premium lines like Oceania. Having had a positive experience on Viking River, we took our first cruise with Viking Ocean. The ship was very comfortable and the service was extraordinary. The 900 passenger size made it feel large enough to have the amenities we wanted, but small enough to be cozy and make new friends. The entertainment was very good and had a nice variety. The shows were understandably smaller than the mega ships, however very enjoyable. The restaurants had delicious food great service. The specialty Restaurants were excellent. The buffet had a good variety and was acceptable, but not outstanding. The grill-to-order steaks were excellent, but other dishes left room for improvement. We enjoyed the informative port talks and several ment lectures. Interesting subjects presented by knowledgeable folks. We thoroughly enjoyed the excursions. We appreciate the included excursions and took many with great experiences. We also took several optional excursions with positive Experiences and good value. In summary, we will definitely sail with Viking again and have booked our next trip. Read Less

we chose this cruise for the amount of ports we were going to visit...they were all spectacular from Barcelona to the french Riviera to Italy's coastline to Croatia and ending in Venice.Viking let us get on the ship right away but we couldn't access our room, which was ready ahead of schedule. we did not go early into Barcelona because the sip was docked in port overnight. The process was very smooth and fast! the ship was beautiful...nicer than any ship we have been on. It was our first time sailing on Viking and I think we have been spoiled. No kids are allowed on board so it was nice and peaceful! the food was above average and their specialty dining was even better! the ship and cabin overall could have been cooler...I found it quite hot everywhere, but the average age of the cruisers were in their late 60s to mid 70s. I found it frustrating on the excursions that people with canes who needed much more than that signed up for demanding walking tours and couldn't keep up since our group was mid forties age to early 50s. But the excursions and ports were amazing despite the people on the ship not being able to navigate the streets and steps very well.It was overall a wonderful cruise and would take another cruise on Viking...they are top notch! Read Less

We chose this cruise primarily for one reason, no young kids, no casinos, no water slides, no discos. Viking is about 1st class cruising without the carnival atmosphere so many of the big ships are into these days. The ship was perfect. Every crew member speaks to you no matter their job or class. The food was excellent and just a wonderful experience in whole. With the smaller ocean ships of Viking you can get into ports that many of the mega ships cannot. We woke up one morning and looked out our window to see Monte Carlo. WOW what a view that left us breathless. Viking has for sure found their niche catering to older adults. We could be walking out on the deck and run upon a crew member doing maintenance. They would always speak to us and that says something about Viking and its training of crew. If you like a circus then maybe another cruise line is best for you. If you like perfection on a ship that is spotless without all the circus atmosphere then Viking is definitely for you as it was for us. Read Less

We chose Viking after talking with friends who have done Mediterranean cruises and recommended a smaller ship experience, as well as doing some research on the best cruise line rankings. We were not disappointed!! The ship is amazing and comfortable. It is so easy to relax, or find things to do. What really makes the Viking experience stand out is the incredible staff! Everyone, and do mean everyone, is very friendly and helpful. Many of the waiters and bartenders knew our names after the first day and we had some amazing conversations with them about their home cities, working on the ship, ports of call, and our families. Amazing people! And the food was 5-Star! The chefs are incredible! This was our first time to Europe so we wanted to experience as much as we could in as many places as possible. That was why we chose to go on a ship, and chose this particular cruise with 10 ports of call. It was the trip of a lifetime! We did several of the included tours which gave a very good introduction to the cities, and then went off on our own exploration. Viking makes it very easy to get to and from the ship so you can explore as much as you like. We also upgraded our excursions in several ports and they were well worth it! Rome, Pompei, and Venice were some of the ones I would recommend looking into. The guides were all local and very good. The other great thing was that Viking had onboard historians that gave talks before each port of call. They were very entertaining and informative. It was also great to get the daily newsletter in our room with information on the next days activities on board and ashore, specific on excursions and times, and any specific details that we needed to be aware of in the next port. The overall experience exceeded my expectations on nearly every level! We are already looking into our next Viking cruise and have recommended them to all of our friends. It truly was the trip of a lifetime! Read Less

We chose Viking from reading many reviews from this and other cruise lines. The ship, cabin, dining, service, crew's attitude, and excursions were all exceptional. We were pleasantly surprised with the size and comfort of our cabin. The ship is beautiful and clean and we could always find a quiet place to sit by ourselves and have a glass of wine. We applaud the hand sanitizers and sinks, soap, and towels outside all restaurants. The food and service were excellent in all the restaurants. We went on the galley tour and marvel at the efficiency and cleanliness of the kitchens. We also went on the bridge tour and were amazed to see how the ship is sailed. The excursions were very organized and ran with great precision. The entire staff and crew were always friendly and pleasant, with a smile on their face. We enjoyed sailing on a "smaller" ship and we are now planning a river cruise and possibly another small ship sea cruise with Viking. Read Less

Attention to detail by the crew was exceptional. Thought that the food and restaurant selections provided enough variability to enhance the dining experience. Entertainment was very good and we were especially impressed by the Viking singers who had been together only a short period of time. Cruise Program director even sang a song on the pool deck. Was disappointed with the gondola ride in Venice. The size of the ship was a major factor in selecting Viking Ocean Cruise. Prior trips with Viking had all been on River Cruises and we were not prepared for the larger crowds at some of the shore venues. Bottom Line: Would we do it again? YES. Did have a problem with the embarkation. Material provided prior to trip showed the ship at a different dock in Barcelona. Created some excitement trying find the ship in the port. Did not use the Viking offer of a pre-cruise stay in Barcelona. Happened, by change, to stay at the same hotel that Viking used for their pre-cruise stay. The viking staff on site at that hotel were very helpful. Read Less

What a fantastic cruise! Great food, excellent excursions and a crew that spoiled us rotten! We could not ask for anything more. It was perfect in every way! Our tour guides were wonderful and one, Zrinka, was outstanding on our Dubrovnik excursion! The offered excursions were perfectly planned and we think we saw everything possible in the allotted time. Even the included tours were great and we really appreciated the shuttles into town in certain ports. Our steward, JoJo, was exceptional and treated us like royalty! These are the best trained employees ever! That just keep amazing us by going above and beyond to please! We really enjoyed room service every morning as it helped us tone up and ready for the day’s excursions without having to rush anywhere to get our breakfast! The waiters we outstanding and set everything up very nicely every morning! The dining staff also went above and beyond to help make our dining experience memorable! We Love Viking Ocean Cruises!!! Read Less

Small ship a big plus. Passenger to crew ratio very nice. Itinerary included most places we wanted to see. Reputation of Viking. Also the crew were awesome. Especially Igor and Komang in the Explorer lounge. They were very fun, and helpful with questions as well. Tammy was always out and about on the ship and making sure our needs were met. The restaurants were all very good, we appreciated that we did not have "designated" eating times, like on some big ships. Food was diverse (oftentimes tied to our destination, which was a nice touch) and always top notch. The excursions were all good. The included excursions were somewhat basic, but always had good experience with the tour guides. Only one of the coach buses was "dumpy" (on Corfu). We enjoyed Zeus and the gals on the Strings in the lounges. We did not attend any of the "shows". Found other things to our liking. It seemed like we could always find a quiet spot on the ship to converse with our friends. Not Viking's fault, but Customs and Immigration line in Barcelona was awful. 2 1/2 hrs in airport with no air conditioning. Read Less

Firstly, the level of service was excellent. Our steward, Alief took good care of us. Everyone on board was extremely helpful and cheerful, but was never overly so. They did not hover, were not obsequious, yet were always there when something was needed. Our cabin suited our needs perfectly. The bedding was comfortable and the small deck outside was adequate. Food quality, quantity and range of choices was excellent. Compliments to the chef! The ship itself is just the right size. Any larger and it would have been overwhelming as were some of the ships tied up near ours. The guides on our shore excursions were uniformly knowledgeable, informative and entertaining. My only complaint was that our stays in port were too short. Perhaps fewer but longer port visits might be better. One day in Rome, Naples, Venice or Dubrovnik is not enough. My one caveat concerning entertainment was that it was too loud to carry on a conversation. Less amplification was called for. All in all, however, we had a marvelous time and look forward to doing it again. Read Less

Greetings! I am a former luxury cruise TA and had sailed on Serenity 3 times in a PH, about 12-14 years ago. This is the my first time back as a 'civilian' and first time on Crystal for my husband. Our last 4 cruises have been NCL, NCL, Cunard, Cunard. Much has changed with Crystal since my last voyages and I had been warned that it 'isn't what you remember' but my expectations were exceeded in almost every way, We had a standard Oceanview on deck 7. Sure we missed a balcony but otherwise the cabin was great. The most outstanding & memorable aspect was the dining. Every single day, no matter where we ate, every meal was great. I don't know how many times one of us would taste something & say "mmm..wow, that's so good" And we're foodies...not easily pleased. I am a pescatarian but I never felt there weren't enough non-meat options for me. All the fish & seafood dishes were wonderful, fresh and creative. My husband did have beef a few time and this in the only time he felt a bit let down. Having had very dismal desserts, pastries etc on our previous cruises, the outstanding desserts on the Serenity were a welcome relief. Kudo's to the Exec Pastry Chef! We dined at every venue for dinner & in order of most liked to least, we would rate them: Prego, Waterside, Umi Uma, Silk, Churrasqueira. We would gladly do all again but pass on the last...not quite up the standards of the others. Prego is wonderful, best menu, best service, a real highlight. The other 'bests' for us were the production shows - top notch singers & dancers, very professional & entertaining. And the guest/space ratio. My husband was so impressed with how much public space vs guests there is on the Serenity. We were never crowded, virtually no lines, always a lovely, calm atmosphere. My 3 top observations: - relaxed dress codes were noticeable since my last Crystal voyages, but I was pleasantly surprised that about 80% of the guests still dress up for dinner...women in cocktail dresses, men in casual office or suits/sport jackets. We dressed up every night but 1 (after a very long day in Florence/Pisa) I love this aspect of cruising and so did most of my fellow pax from the look of things - the service was great, especially the bar & wine stewards... far more attentive than any cruise we've done where alcohol is a revenue maker. At dinner I had to start saying 'no, thanks' with my hand over my wine glass! Too much of a good thing and all that! - I did find that the friendliness of the crew overall may have been a wee bit less than I remember but it was still excellent and I wish I had written down some names to include in the survey sent by Crystal. Definitely some outstanding service by some individuals. Read Less

We chose Seabourn again, because we had tried other lines - Silversea and Regent. On those other lines the excursions were great, but we were not impressed with the food or service. Seabourn had recently hired a new chef for the pool deck evening dining venue - called Earth and Sea. Phenomenal food. Better than any restaurant we have in Seattle or anywhere else. After trying the other dining choices, all of which were good, we ended up eating at Earth and Sea every night. By the end of the cruise word had spread, and it was hard to get a table there. We weren’t impressed with the Thomas Keller dining room…oddly pretentious and mediocre food. They do offer exceptional wines by the glass and wine pairings at Keller, which is a nice addition. We had a much better steak at Earth and Sea. The cruise director was very entertaining and engaging. The staff was warm and attentive. The ship is beautiful - with staterooms larger than the ones on their former smaller ships. Most, but not all, of the land excursions were very good. Seabourn didn't offer an opportunity to rate the land excursions that the other cruise lines do. I think that's a missed opportunity to get valuable feedback, particularly where passenger safety is concerned. In addition to a pool and hot tubs, there are many activities offered throughout the day. The spa management seemed a bit disorganized, but the services were good. We have already decided to a Seabourn cruise for 2020 and 2021. Highly recommend. Read Less

We chose this cruise for the itinerary. We did private party excursions at most of the stops. We very seldom will take the overpriced cruise line excursions. Most of the stops were places that we had not been. Yes, the rooms were small, but it's a small ship. We liked the size of the ship. This was our first time on the "R" class. We were in a concierge class veranda. We liked the location on the 7th floor. It was very quiet. The one area where we were most disappointed was with the two specialty restaurants. Some items at Red Ginger were fabulous, others not so much. At Tuscano it was service issues that ruined the meal. We were looking forward to the Olive Oil cart and the explanation of the different oils and vinegar. Instead the server served whichever olive oil she felt like serving with a splash of balsamic. No explanation or perhaps asking if you might like butter instead. Still waiting for my hot butter to go with my lobster. In summary, we felt the specialty restaurants were lacking in their attention to detail. In fact we cancelled our other reservations with them. That being said, we never had a bad meal in the main dining room Service was excellent. So, when I mark the "Very Good" for food, I am talking about the MDR. Because this was a port intensive itinerary, we did not do many activities after dinner. Read Less

This was our first Viking cruise. The experience was as wonderful as our river cruise. Service, food and itinerary outstanding. Guides were exceptional and we felt like we had real insider views from the locals of each country. The cruise offered a wide range of excursions and we enjoyed traveling by foot, bus, boats and cable cars. The food was the best we ever had on a cruise. Dining was open and it was easy to get a table whatever time we choose to dine. No long lines or hassle with reservations. The service and staff was outstanding. Rooms always clean, room service 24x7 in addition to all the diverse places to eat. Seafood buffet nightly was amazing and food in the dining room diverse and tasty. We were wowed by the entertainment, the house band and singing crew were wonderful. Everyone was up close and personal, it was a wonderful experience. Read Less

The Viking Star was beautiful and clean, and the staff were efficient, organized , pleasant and helpful and the food was terrific. Every excursion was organized very well and we loved every city we visited. My husband loved having the lectures from the history professors about the cities we were visiting and it was so fun for them to talk us through what we were seeing as we sailed in to the port at Venice. That added so much to our understanding of what we were seeing. we loved every one of our tour guides since they made the cities come alive with details of history. I can not say enough wonderful things about this trip!! Our beds were comfortable, the bathrooms were pretty and very functional and we loved every meal we ate on that ship. Every staff person was friendly and helpful and went out of their way to get us what we needed. I loved having a washer and dryer on the ship to clean our clothes and we loved the thermal pool and work out space. Read Less

The adage, you get what you pay for, certainly applies. A wonderful trip visiting a city of Europe almost every day. While it was difficult (though with some outside excursions) to see a city in one day, you get a feel for it and can return if you are so inclined. We were busy almost every single moment. The walking/bus tours were pretty nice especially because of the added devices that let you hear the leaders story, comments, and descriptions of the city. I learned a lot and saw the most famous of the iconic landmarks . Food was wonderful with a themed food every day corresponding with the city visiting. If you wanted a steak, just ask for it. Tasty and so much better than the usual cruise food. Entertainment was a bit of a let down. The same people did different genre of songs each evening, but we were so tired out that it was just fine. The best feature was the wonderful support staff. You developed a rapport with those you see each day and while they may be friendly just to get your tip, I don't think so. They genuinely seemed to care for your welfare. You treated them right, they returned it - double! Loved our Viking trip and truth be told, won't be going on any other ever again!!!! GREAT JOB! Read Less

Small ship, great shore excursions. The food venues were fantastic and the entertainment venues were fabulous. I would not way to be on a larger ship, it would be too crowded. We loved the Barcelona excursion of Gaudi Architecture. Monaco was impressive. We loved Pisa and Lucca. Rome is indescribable. The Amalfi Coast was beyond words. Being on the edge of a cliff is breathtaking. We saw the Stromboli volcano erupting was a once in a lifetime occurrence. Who sees that in their lifetime? The day at sea was very relaxing no. We got to experience parts of the ship we had not yet seen. We experienced the spa as well as Manfredi’s restaurant. Corfu Greece was another world. Then we visited Dabrovnik, Croatia which was a wonder. Split was fabulous with the Cetina River Cruise. Then, entering Venice was the highlight of the trip! Cruising past the Grand Canal was the best! The crew of Viking Star was the best! Read Less

Had previously gone on a Viking river cruise and had an excellent experience. My husband and I wanted to do an ocean cruise, but also wanted the opportunity to visit places we had never been to. The number of "stops" on our cruise gave us the opportunity to revisit some of our favorite cities in Europe as well as explore some new ones. While the included excursions were interesting, the crowds - which were explained as common when so many ships were in port - made it less appealing and difficult to explore the cities. The excursions that we selected, a wine-tasting in Marseille, cooking class in a Tuscan castle, and the UNESCO site at Herculaneum were excellent. The service on the cruise was excellent. Our room steward, Ronel, went above and beyond to accommodate us. And since I have a medical condition which requires daily injections, I was very impressed by the medical staff who were always available when needed. We did dine in all of the restaurants and enjoyed them all. The "feast" that was served on our day at sea was amazing! And, the entertainment in the evening was great....a nice selection of music and just right the length of time. The only criticism of the cruise was the fire drill while in Barcelona. We sat in our area for an hour waiting for the final passengers to board.... I would recommend the Viking experience highly and without hesitation. Read Less

The 12 night Viking Mediterranean odyssey cruise was our 1st trip to Europe in celebration of our retirements this year. Viking was by far superior to the other 3 cruise lines we’ve previously traveled with. The ship and food were high quality and absolutely amazing. All the complimentary amenities- free excursion in each port, high tea, speciality dining and free wine and beer with meals, free laundry along with no sales pressure anywhere - spa, dining etc - and Viking staff anticipating and responding to our every need and desire - made this a true luxury experience. We would have appreciated the port talks occurring prior to the cut off times to book or change excursions. We’d also have enjoyed more guided tour time and less free time - which seemed to be primarily shopping time. Overall we loved the cruise - and made an onboard deposit for a Viking cruise in the future. Read Less

We loved our two Viking river cruises and had never been on an ocean cruise, so, of course, we chose Viking for our first ocean experience! It was even better than we had hoped it would be! The Star was beautifully decorated and gave us a feeling of peaceful elegance! Our room was so comfortable and the shower was amazing! I didn’t even miss my Sleep Number bed or my tub for bubble baths! The dining options allowed us to dress up for a sit down dinner or be casual after being ashore all day. We really loved the variety provided by the buffet style in the World Cafe! Our room was maintained by friendly, courteous staff who came in numerous times when we were out to straighten up and leave us goodies, as well as the Viking Daily. I saved all of my Viking Dailies for souvenirs because they were so informative and helped us stay organized each day! We learned so much from our guides about each of our onshore excursions. The Quiet Vox is a great way to hear every word so we didn’t miss a thing! The Star was such a smooth way to travel that we couldn’t believe we were moving through the water until we went out on the deck! We are so in love with Viking that we booked another ocean voyage before we even left the Star! Viking is the best! Read Less

We have cruised with Viking in the past, while this was our first Ocean Cruise (Mediterranean) with them. Loved the small ship size, which really helped to not be overwhelmed by what is already over tourism at most European destinations. The Viking Star ship is large enough to provide for perfect sized accommodations with ample room/balcony space, plenty of onboard amenities and a nice smooth ride for Med cruising. There was no issues/ queues for dinning in either the sit down restaurant nor the buffet style restaurants. With two pools and two hot tubs, plus other gathering places, spread the guests out so you did not feel crowded. The smaller ship allows for docking at multiple ports that the larger ships cannot enter or have to tender; this allowed for awesome sail-ins and sail-outs at beautiful ports like Monte Carlo. Viking really provides for all of your needs and most of your wants in its included cruise fair; most included tours are a good start to experiencing each port (while Viking should vet some of the local guides a bit more, one or two were a bit laborious to the point of us bowing out of our included tour early on). The included drinks at meals were most generous, they provide for several added excursions and ample courtesy shuttles from ports to downtown destinations. The house keeping staff was amazing, providing for your every convenience (extra hangers, ice morning and night, extra bottled water, etc), as well as the restaurant staff, very friendly and inviting. The only area we felt was lacking, was the sit down restaurant meals (we primarily participated in the evenings) which did not live up to our expectations. We have had finer meals on other cruise lines (RC) as well as Viking River cruises, while we felt they did step up the game towards the end of the 13 day cruise. We believe they could do a better job of providing better destination meals considering the ports of call we made (Rome, Naples, Corfu, Venice, etc). Read Less

The Wind Surf is a unique sailing ship. Although entertainment is somewhat limited to a house band and two others in the Compass Rose lounge. This ship is not for those looking for 24 hour non stop entertainment. No casino, no rock climbing walls, no disco, no waterslide. The ship and the smaller destinations are the draw. The crew is fantastic. The food is excellent. The on deck BBQ was great. We met many other loyal Windstar passengers including several from our Japan tour in March. In fact, several repeat customers book trips to Russia (Wind Surf) and also Egypt & The Middle East in October on the power boat. Unfortunately, there were a few people on the ship who took every opportunity to complain: lack of upgrade, tours sold out, two medical issues requiring us to return to port and miss the first port. However, having sailed with Seabourn and Oceana there are the usual complainers on those ships as well! Frankly, Windstar is not for anyone seeking a Silversea experience!! Read Less

Well what a very poor cruise. Regent has gone from elegance to budget. Staff are sloppy. Spill a drink and just walk off. Order a cocktail and end up with anything but what was ordered. Staff seem to not understand English when it suits them. Entertainment zero. Towels thread bare. Even holes in bath towels and mats. Could not believe it. Dress code really? Baseball caps in main dinning room. Shorts worn everywhere after 6pm. Excursions started at breakfast time and not back till afternoon so no breakfast or lunch. Saves them a fortune. I really thought it was a bad dream. Paid a fortune and received zero for the money. Officers had family aboard and staff seem to eat in public areas. Nice to line up for a coffee after staff are served. Unbelievable. Regent are on the way out and the sooner the better. Keep well away. Complimentary wine very poor and seems to be a push to buy the premium range. Prime 7 lobster raw. Chatreuse appalling. Bar staff couldn’t make a decent martini and didn’t care less anyway. Read Less

While we're relatively experienced cruisers (over 200 days on Silversea, 50 on Seabourn) this was only our second Regent trip. On the previous one, Seven Seas Navigator, we loved the relative informality and the quality of the F&B, but were not too impressed by the ship, so were looking forward to experiencing the Seven Seas Voyager. Overall, this trip warranted a "Good" rating, and we generally enjoyed it. Embarkation was efficient and timely. The Cabin (Veranda on Deck 7 Midships) met our expectations for the category, although the veranda itself would have benefited from a good clean and repaint.The shore excursions were generally very good, the organisation of disembarkation for the excursions was excellent, and the quality of food and wines was also good to very good. Unfortunately, though, this trip was let down by staff attitude. This was not universal by any means, but too often we encountered a patronising attitude, which at times made us feel that we were being a nuisance. This was exemplified on our only visit to the Compass Rose, where the attitude of both the waiter (think plates being placed quite forcefully on the table, rolling eyes) and the wine waiter (who tried hard to convince us that a standard Valpolicella was the same as a Valpolicella Ripasso) were so poor that we did not return, choosing instead to dine at the alternative venues. Having said that, the staff in Chartreuse and Prime 7 - where we managed to dine several times - were very good indeed, as were Setti Mare. The Pool Grill staff were acceptable, but lacked the finesse expected on a Regent cruise. There also seemed to be frequent problems with the coffee machines at the Coffee Corner, which led to queues at the service counter. We were also very disappointed to find, on four separate days, that we'd been supplied with bath towels which were worn into holes and/or frayed. After the fourth occurrence, I mentioned this to the Reception staff, and in fairness it did not happen again. The point, however, is that with a company such as Regent which claims "luxury" status, it should not have happened at all. The "acid test" is whether we would take another Regent cruise, and the answer is yes, we would, given the right itinerary. However, there were unfortunately too many small negatives to make Regent our first choice. Read Less