Captain Cook Fiji

Senior Cruises

Adelaide

Australia & New Zealand

Average

Very Good

Excellent

Reef Endeavour

Murray Princess

When we arrived at our embarkation point, Mannum, after a 1.15 hour coach trip from hotel pickup Adelaide the temperature was in the high 30c, alas that was as good as it gets!

For the next 4 days it was cold & rainy, not the companies fault though.

We booked an outside cabin (outside onto the deck) with 2 single beds, as a double was not available unless we paid an extra $200. I am 6+foot tall medium weight, these cabins are not designed for people like me, they are tiny in comparrison to ocean cruises. the bed was too short, the bathroom & shower so small I could not clean my feet in the shower nor shave easily in the basin. The toilet is also tiny. Hopefully the suites are bigger

Because of the weather & wind, we were unable to do most of the shore tours as the captain was not prepared to tie up on the bank. The food however was very good, the wine prices reasonable (expect to pay $23+ for a bottle) The on board credit system worked well.

There are only 2 x 4 person lifts on the boat so if climbing stairs, some are steep, is a problem then you may need to reconsider this boat.

The age profile for our trip was late 60s+ this may not suit the 35+ age group. Probably would be a good idea to reserve some cruises for a younger age profile.

The evening entertainment was a very good keyboard & guitar/singer, however it was a small audience after dinner, due to age I suspect.

The cruises go for 3,4, & 8 nights. 4 was enough for us.

Disappointed because of the weather

It was something different, than a normal sea cruise.

And what a surprise, did not expect the cruise would be so beautiful, and adventurist, while being so relaxing, and fun.

The crew always tried to make sure your experience was everything you could want.

Did not realize the Murray River was so gloriously beautiful. The swans on the river each morning was a real majestic ballet of grace to watch.

Embarkation was run very smoothly, and we were settled in our cabin within 15 minutes of arriving at the ship.

It was well appointed, with bar fridge, coffee/tea making facilities, free chocolate bars, an assortment of luxury toiletries.

The queen bed was very comfy. the room was larger than the cabins we normally have on our sea cruises.

The for and aft lounges are very comfy, and a grand place to meet the other passengers.

I would thoroughly recommend this cruise as a must do at least once. We will be doing it again.

Scenic relaxation, great crew

The boat looks like it is recently refurbished.  Cabin tough small is clean and comfortable.

The cabin is serviced like a hotel with a nightly "make up " room with goodnight chocolates

It was so relaxing sitting on the bed and gazing into the wide expanse of the Murray River watching birdlife and activities along the banks

The service is impeccable especially in the dining room,

Meals served are up to par as any 4 or perhaps 5* hotel

The lounge provides ample supply of beverages, biscuits and fresh fruits

There is free wifi in the public areas and its quite high speed

But we can do without the entertainment by the crew, It is far too amateurish, On the Captain's dinner night one lady passenger was allowed to speak a lot of "crap"

Also not many actually bothered to dress up on that night

The boat offers free laundry services. We were supposed to log in our time of use but no one respected this requirement. Also there was no signage to the laundry. We found our way when we saw an ironing board in the lower deck

Relaxing 4 days

What a great cruise, relaxing, great sights, made a lot of new friends and had a lot of fun doing it. 

We were picked up on time by bus from Adelaide. one of three stops before heading of to Mannum, the town that the  paddlewheel ship departs from, John the driver was a bit of a hard case, and the 2 1/2 hour trip flew by with John's rendition of the local area and history. 

The ship itself is beautiful and takes 120 guest (only about 90 on out trip). I do recommend a stateroom if you don't like smaller cabins but most people seemed happy with the size of the room as it's really only a place to sleep and shower.  The bar is great and stock everything you need, The dinning room is spacious and doubled as a place to do most games, meetings, lectures and videos.  The  Paddlewheel Lounge is, well next to the  paddlewheel and has quite a background noise of the slap slap slap and a bit of vibration. The lounge was still very popular and it isn't a major problem.  There is a laundry, spa and exercise area. The sundeck right on top is a great place to sit and watch the great sights and wildlife pass you by. The sights were awesome and the ecology is alive and ready for photos.

The first day, the Murray Princess left at 5pm (an hour late but it didn't really matter) and we cruised to our first over night spot. We sample our first meal. The food was very good, there was two choice of entrees, two choice of main and two of desert, all delicious and done to perfection. This was the format for most lunches and dinners with a wide range of dishes and no complaints from anyone. Breakfasts was a buffet of cooked, continental and fruit and toast with some minor variations each day.  There were several "special" meals such as the BBQ one night on the river bank, Good food including kangaroo steaks and they even set up a bar.  A champagne bush tucker breakfast is available the next day at a price and was well worth it, three courses and very tasty. The Captain's Dinner was another excellent meal with a difference but I'm not letting the cat out of the bag for that one!

Entertainment (other than the food and drinks) was also of a high standard with piano music during lunch and dinner. Trivia afternoons, Bingo (not me though), a visit to an aboriginal archeologist sight, guided by the local tribe members with a climb up a cliff (stairs) for a great view of the Murray river and surrounding area. We also stopped for at the small town of Swan Reach (locals were very friendly), had a visit to a winery and more importantly a tasting of their wines. A visit to a farm for a sheep show and viewing of local wild life... the list goes on. 

The staff were excellent. Always keen to help and Kevin (cruise director) was always on the ball. The most important man on the ship (Gary the barman) was tireless in supplying the required sustenance till late in the night. The Captain and the First Mate were very approachable and a visit to the wheelhouse was no problem for them. They were very knowledgeable and had some great stories about life on the paddlewheel ship. There were so many staff that I haven't mentioned that made our stay great. 

And yes they even had wifi, Useful for making my friends jealous via all the pics I posted on Facebook. Most guests were retired but there were several couples around our age (47 & 55) but age differences were not a problem. We made many new friends, were always talking with someone new,.  

The boat wasn't perfect but it was good enough, the price seemed a little high until you take in account of all the staff and all of things we did and then it seems quite reasonable. The food.. absolutely spot on!  

Would I do it again? In a heart beat!

P.S. Murray Princess, Paddlewheel Experience

Overall, the trip on the Murray Princess was worth taking, even though we have a houseboat that travels in the same area of the river.

We did not get to Loxton as the Princess could not get through a narrow channel at the 356km marker, so we returned to Mannum instead. The river was below normal level due to work on the weir at Blanchetown and the wind was ferocious at the time we went aground. You can't help bad luck on the river at times. We were stuck for about 28 hours before some extra water released from weir 2 allowed us to move. 

Speaking of bad luck, we had a medical emergency and an ambulance had to take one passenger to hospital from an unscheduled stop where a road came to the river. This was all handled with a minimum of fuss.

The Sun Deck provides an excellent view of the river, however, the deck surface is very tired and needs to be refurbished. The astro-turf covering was loose in quite a fw places and others were glued down during the trip. In some areas, the plywood under the astro-turf is de-laminating. More importantly, the steps to the Sun Deck are very steep and narrow. While there are handrails, it can be an effort for the elderly and/or disabled.

Some of the furniture in the Paddlewheel Lounge are missing a couple of buttons, but still comfortable. There is a wide selection of games in the upper lounge, but the library is rather rudimentary. The daily papers provide some reading material, but I suggest that you bring your own reading material.

The crew were excellent and make the trip a joy. The food was good, but sometimes the meals were a bit slow, although that wasn't a real problem as the company was good and the dinner music excellent.

The daytime talks about the river and its history was interesting. The concerts by the resident musician were also excellent (if you like Classical & Jazz). There were a few "games" such as Bingo, Trivia and the Murray River Cup, but if you need other people to entertain you all the time, this is not the cruise for you. It is a cruise to enjoy the scenery and wildlife passing by.

The excursion to Ngaut Ngaut Aboriginal Archaeological site was excellent.  Don't be daunted by the 200+ step walk up the cliff as the main site can be reached without any steps at all. The visit to the Morgan Museum was good, but the coach for those that had mobility issues did not turn up, much to the cruise director's annoyance. The Mannum "Ghost Tour" was also well received. The visit to Caudo's Vineyard is good if you like wine or a crisp Larger (Hogwash Bend Larger). The dinner and show at Big Bend was also good. The night wildlife tour at Big Bend (AUD$15, I think) was about the only tour not included in the cruise fare.

Although this cruise did not reach them, the historic Overland Corner Hotel is worth a visit,  as is the machinery musuem at Cobdogla ("Cobby" to the locals) and the historic village at Loxton.

For those with their phones glued to their heads all day long, be aware that coverage along the river is patchy. For everyone else, the peace and quiet is bliss. :) The Princess does provide free WiFi access using a password provided via a voucher at the Gift Shop.

One last thing. The ship's horn is just above your head on the forweard observation deck. When the Captain warns you that the horn is about to blow and that it is loud, believe it!! If you are nearby, you will feel your body resonating with the noise. I wish I had that horn on my boat.

Mannum to Loxton (Well, An Attempt Anyway)

We booked the four night cruise on the Murray River Princess and travelled with my husband,  my sister and our elderly mum.  Hubby and I booked the Stateroom as  we were after a bit more luxury.  It had been recently refurbished with very nice decor, including the bathroom.  The Stateroom features a coffee/tea station which most cabins do not.  I did think that given it's supposed to be a more luxury option, they might have supplied at least plunger coffee or a coffee pod machine so that was a bit of a disappointment given that most people these days have a coffee machine at home and have moved passed instant coffee.     My sister and Mum shared a disabled cabin which is yet to be renovated and is in need of an overhaul.  The concertina door to the bathroom is covered in mould on the bathroom side… a bit gross. 

The shore excursions were very nice,  relaxed, informative and enjoyable.  The woolshed tour and the winery tour were particularly enjoyable, and the Aboriginal Reserve Ngaut Ngaut was extremely interesting.     We chose the optional coach trip from Adelaide to Mannum rather than driving…  very handy.  You can also drive and park in a secured area and pick your car up at the end if you prefer.  

The boat is a replica paddle steamer and is really quite lovely.  Four levels on board… two with accommodation cabins, one with dining, and one a sun deck.  It's a shame that there are no outdoor places to sit that are accessible for the elderly (the top deck is a sun deck with nice outdoor tables/chairs but access is via a very steep set of stairs so it's not an option for those with mobility issues).    The only two outdoor areas which are accessible to all are both smoking areas so there's really nowhere to sit except in the indoor lounges which we found too warm and stuffy.    The decor in the coffee lounge/games area/bar is a bit tired… seats are worn with wobbly arms,  and the carpet and coffee station need to be updated.  

Meals were pretty plentiful but if you're a bit of a foodie you'll be disappointed.   Food is a bit old fashioned as is the presentation i.e., paper doilies etc.   The best evening meal by far was the final night's Seafood Buffet which was very fresh, and nicely presented.  I don't really consider myself a foodie but like most young retirees, we eat out a fair bit.  To be honest the food was a bit of a disappointment.

The heating in the common areas i.e., lounge/bar/dining areas,  was a bit too warm for us… even my 80yr old mum found it too warm.   The average passenger age for our cruise would have been mid seventies with many passengers in their eighties.   The crew were VERY helpful with our elderly mum, reserving four seats for us on the end of an accessible table for every breakfast and lunch to accommodate mum's walker.   Entertainment was very much geared to the elderly… Bingo, Trivia etc.  Dinner music was provided by a pianist/singer who played all the golden oldies… again very much geared to the elderly.  

Our Stateroom had an issue with the air-conditioning in that it had a very unpleasant 'sewer smell'.  We tried using Glen 20 and kept the windows open constantly but it really was very unpleasant.  Others on our cruise experienced the same issue.   After the first two days we closed the vent and went without the air-conditioning which meant our cabin was pretty stuffy but we left the windows open and the smell was definitely less of an issue.    We spoke with the ship's engineer about this problem and he said this is a common complaint when the wind is blowing a certain way.  It's not a problem in all cabins however so it's the luck of the draw I guess. 

The star of this cruise is the Murray River which is very beautiful,  and the cruise crew came in a close second… they were so helpful.    I personally would have liked the option to sit on smaller tables  i.e., table of four, or tables of six,  for a quiet dinner instead of the 'nursing home' approach.   It would also have been wonderful to have some onboard activities geared to a younger audience i.e.,  demo cooking with local produce (Barossa produce is awesome),  Barossa wines information/tastings etc.

Filters

1-6 of 6