We chose this cruise for a number of reasons living close to Liverpool it was an ideal place to set off from. Another reason we chose this particular one is that the Marco Polo is not to big as we felt that some of the other ships were rather daunting due to their size. We chose Norway Fjords because the scenic beauty of these appealed. Although first timers we were guided through embarkation without any problems, and the same with disembarkation. The ship was an ideal size for finding your way around and also made for a friendly and more intimate atmosphere. We had a standard plus twin which was basic but comfy with adequate room for all our needs. The dining facilities were very good as was the food with a good variety. The youngsters that put on the twice nightly shows gave a good variety of entertainment even when the sea was a bit rough. There was a variety of other activities held to suit a vast majority of people. The service was excellent with all of the crew being very friendly and helpful. The whole cruise was excellent so much so that we have booked to go on a 28 day cruise on the Marco Polo in 2017. Read Less

This was my first cruise and after reading some of the reviews I was slightly worried- but to no avail - we both had an excellent time. The ship is beautifully maintained and spotlessly clean . The atrium was a relaxing place to have a coffee or evening cocktail. Despite the size of the ship , it never felt crowded and we were always able to find somewhere to sit and only once had to wait for a table in the restaurant. All the staff were courteous and the service throughout was good. Food was variable but more good than bad. The choice was good and the service prompt. The buffet was always busy but on the few times we used it we were always able to get a seat. We ate in a few of the supplement restaurants- would really recommend the Lime light club and the Beach House - not so keen on the Epicurean.( fun for the experience but wouldn't do it again) although the afternoon tea was lovely. Entertainment was varied - the shows in the main theatre weren't to our taste but to be fair a lot of the passengers loved them. We did however enjoy some of the invited guest - we saw an excellent classical guitarists and Darren Day was very funny. If you get a chance to see a lecture by ' Park' don't hesitate - the titles may sound a little dull but he was very entertaining and I thoroughly enjoyed the lecture that I went to. Our cabin was great - despite the bathroom being small the shower was very roomy. People have moaned about the size of the balcony but we found it more than adequate . The beds were very comfy and the rooms were well sound proofed so we were never disturbed by noise from adjacent rooms or the corridor. Excursions were expensive but well organised - thoroughly recommend the gardens in Stravenger . (We did these in the pouring rain but it still couldn't lessen our enjoyment) The Land of the Trolls a must! Excellent excursions- beautiful and varied scenery - good lunch and a great day out. We paid for an excursions in Olden but there are several options you can do on your own. A land train took you on a lovely hours ride up the valley or you could get a bus to the glacier. Read Less

Scenic cruise from local embarkation . From embarkation to disembarkation at port of Tyne could not have ask for better service.on board the balmoral the service on all levels were first class. Entertainment ,bar service dinning room service food very good and waiters very helpful .great fjords great port of calls many bars to choose from .live music plenty of sun beds on rear of ship to top deck. We got a room with picture window which was great to watch the fjords go by while getting ready for your night time out two formal nights which I love to see when everybody taken a effort to dress up .if you ever fancy a go at ballroom dancing they had lesson in the afternoon and at night the host were there to encourage you to get up or if you were a solo guest they would dance with you overall five satrs to Fred olsen Read Less

We wanted to see fjords. Do not go on this ship if you are under 70 as you will feel you are in a nursing home no disrespect meant as I admire some of the older clients for attempting the trip one lady was 101 . We had to avoid morbility scooters even in the restaurant Frames and zimmers also. The ship was very dated old and worn and repairs welding and grinding were going on aft swimming pool steps whilst people were in pool and on loungers . Our first cabin was inside on 5 it was very depressing we did update to 8 outside which was better. At our cost, The dinning was very busy and we felt rushed and had to sit with other clients often. We have had better food in hotels We always had to que ,The 2nd sitting was too late in restaurant and portions small , The service was OK the drink waiters worked well but we did have to wait sometimes The shore excursions were like cattle markets especially when 2ships arrived together and the little places we visited were ruined by hundreds of people. Embankment was ok but we waited a long time to disembark We would certainly not cruise with Fred Olson ships again Very boring ,we would have taken the 48hr return home deal but thought it might get better it didn't . I really wish I had read some of the reviews I have reported this to hays travel with whom I booked .we did try to get a flight home on the Wednesday but nothing available from Oslo Read Less

Only our second cruise having been on the Island Princess for a 12 night Mediterranean cruise last August so in comparison I'm afraid the Brittania cruise to the Norwegian Fiords fell a bit short. Embarkation and Debarkation was well organised. Cabin was good and the entertainment was good and the food in the any time dining restaurant was lovely but the buffet food was dreary. Same food at all the stations and very limited variety. The food on the Island Princess was fantastic! I agree with others who say the Atrium areas was lacking in atmosphere as this was soulless and boring. Not enough variety of activities on board during the day but I liked the quizzes in Brody's Bar at night. Where is the giant screen for Movies Under the Stars? No free ice-cream and the burgers were terrible. Our cabin steward was friendly and generally all staff were pleasant. The shows were fabulous and we saw 3 different shows during the 7 night cruise. I am cruising again on the Brittania departing Southampton on 16th July on the Iberia cruise and have booked the Brittania for the Caribbean on 17th December 2016. Being a teacher the dates and destinations suited us but if I had travelled on this cruise earlier I would perhaps not have booked the Brittania again. Back to Princess cruises for us from now on because they offer more variety in buffet food and activities and more inviting pool areas. I hope the food situation is sorted out before our next cruises. Read Less

My first cruise and a big ship to start this process! Ship very grand, food excellent but never had a properly hot meal except in the lido restaurant. Main dining room the meals arrived barely warm. Variety of food very good but still, eating good food at a lukewarm temperature is not my idea of perfection. Worst thing of all was we were in cabin 1090 and this suffered from the full effect of base sounds from BBKing performances. First started off at about 21.15 and ended, some nights at 0.25 hours. I had poor sleeping for the whole of the fourteen nights. When we complained onboard we were greeted with apathy, although they did admit it had been complained about on several of its mini cruises. They said they would have changed our cabins but they did not a like for like to accommodate us! We received a $50 per person credit in our final bill which amortised out over 14 nights was appalling little. I wrote a review to the company, as requested on my return and in return received a typical "American reply" which said nothing, admitted no blame ( we were never warned before we joined the cruise of the possible problems) and basically said off you go we intend to take this no further than let the powers that be know. I am appalled by such a hollow customer services response and a reflection of the same apathy we received on board. Anyone who travels with this ship should be aware of noise problems and I guess the soundproofing is partly to blame but they, knowing the problem should not think that lifting the carpet and brushing it under will solve it or stop this complaint process continuing. Is this the American way of making amends because if this is the case, I would not travel on an American ship again and will do whatever it takes to let others know what they may have in store. The whole matter was treated as though it was our fault for being picky. It is a marvellous area to travel to and so much is right with the concept but once people try to make me feel it is wrong to complain and I should just go away and forget about it, then I become more determined to take it further. Read Less

I had never been on a cruise before, this being on my Bucket List. I had a really great time, I could not fault the Ship or her Crew. The sailing was very smooth and the scenery spectacular. I would recommend this to anyone, I enjoyed it so much I have booked to sail on another cruise next year. The shore excursions were well organised and interesting, with a local guide who knew the area well, and could answer any questions asked. The facilities on board could not be faulted and the food was well above average. In fact I might have gone just for the food. There were plenty of activities for those who wanted them, or for people like me a quite relaxing time chilling out and reading with the occasional glass or two. The evening entertainment was good and varied with different artists at various locations on board. Overall I would recommend this to anyone. Read Less

We did the Norwegian Fjord 7-day cruise, departing from Copenhagen, in May. This was our first cruise. We were pleased with everything. The food was excellent, the employees were genuinely friendly and the ship was managed very well. My wife and I are close to 60 years old, so traveling in May had a lot of people our own age, which was fun for us. The fjords were all I expected and very beautiful. I had wanted to see the fjords since I was very young, so it fulfilled a dream of mine. We also docked at the towns of Alesund, Geiranger, Flam and Bergen. Each had their own charm and unique things to see. It was very easy to get on and off the ship. Again, the ship and crew were very organized, which made everything easy and simple for the guests. We didn't purchase a special dining package, so we primarily ate at the Versailles and Aqua rooms. The food choices were great, with appetizers, entrees and desserts. The service was also excellent with attentive, friendly servers. We felt like we were at a top-class restaurant. We didn't purchase any of the cruise's shore excursion packages because they seemed over-priced. We booked our own excursion when we landed in Flam, which was the ferry from Flam through the Naeroyfjord to Gudvangen. It is one of narrowest fjords in Norway and had 30-40 waterfalls around 2,500 to 3,000 feet high. It was the highlight of our trip. Read Less

This was our first cruise, so we did not know what to expect, but we are definitely going again. The best thing on board is the high quality and selection of the food. The service was fine and we never had to wait long. Sadly some drinks and soda tasted like chlorine, but the wine was great. The balcony cabin was fine and the staff real friendly and nice. The only disappointment: We booked a Shore excursion for a 4h hike in Geiranga, that was not worth the money as we could have walked to the waterfall on our own, not having to wait for the group all the time. We spend one night at the Casino which was great fun. All the ports are amazing. We enjoyed to walk up the Mountains where the views are amazing and in Bergen we went up to the Mountaintop with the Ulrik-lift. Read Less

Just returned from six days on the Marco polo, an old ship but well maintained, as this was our first cruise didn't know what to expect.... The food was excellent also the service was too, couldn't do enough for you, being a small ship was a bit of a squash at meal times especially breakfast, we had the all inclusive drinks package of £17 per person per day which was good value and the drinks were good quality, entertainment sadly was not very good at all the nightly show was too short and very amateurish and quiz games disorganized and hard to follow, also the choice of music needs up dating... Our cabin was small which I expected on a ship but was clean and the service from our steward Yuri was excellent but I did begrudge paying £2.20 for a bottle of water in our room and should be included in the drinks package.... All in all an enjoyable week but don't think cruising is for us as we found it to confining and Norway is beautiful.... Read Less

This was our first cruise and we really enjoyed the whole experience. Embarkation was a very smooth process ;taking less than an hour from arrival at the car park to eating our lunch aboard. It was well organised and we were instructed where to go clearly throughout. We had a superior cabin on the 9th Deck and it had two windows which was a nice surprise. The furniture and fittings had seen better days but everything was clean and functional - precisely what I expected from CMV's photos and the price I paid. The room was cleaned twice a day and we opted to have a continental breakfast in bed the majority of the mornings. Information was provided in a nightly magazine and there was plenty to do during the days at sea. The entertainment was again, in keeping with the whole experience of being fun and functional. The shows were slightly cheesy, the quizzes silly and the musicians in all of the different bar/ lounge areas were fantastic. If you opt for a cruise like this, you need to embrace the spirit in which it is intended and join in. Everyone we spoke to was of a similar opinion- you get what you pay for and if you throw yourself into the 'small friendly boat ethos' then you'll get a lot more from your experience. We ate in the Waldorf restaurant each evening and there was a wide range of food which was cooked well and served at the right temperature by a highly efficient team. The food was a little bland and 'safe' to my taste but it was perfectly edible and fun stuff like 'the parade of the baked Alaska ' complete with indoor pyrotechnics and the night the head waiter danced to Zorba the Greek with a giant bottle of Olive Oil are what made this holiday so much fun. Norway itself and the excursions were fantastic. We paid for two and did Bergen on our own. I'm glad that we went on the guided tours as they were well worth the money, had very well informed guides and allowed us to see things we would not have been able to plan on our own. The fjords were spectacular and my best moment was waking up early on the second morning of our cruise to find that we were cruising the beautiful Hardangerfjord. Norway was very expensive and I feel that this cruise offered good value for money as an alternative to staying in a hotel and exploring on our own which is what we would normally do. The whole boat was spotlessly clean and staff seemed to be cleaning constantly throughtout the day. Hygiene was very important and at every meal time we had to clean our hands before entering. I thought this was a good thing. Since this was an entirely unpretentious cruise, there was little emphasis on dressing up and hanging out with the captain which suited us and our companions. That said, there was a meet the captain evening which was well organised and good fun. The majority of travellers were older than us but they seemed to be up for more of a good time than the younger folk and for me, this laid back approach to travel only added to the experience. There truly was no hurry to get on coaches/ upstairs/ into bars - we were supposed to be on holiday! My only grumbles would be that the 'Bistro' area was not very pleasant; it was reminiscent of a mid 1990's department store and was often hot and smelly. It could do with a refurb and a reconfiguration of the space. Also there were not enough bar staff circulating particularly during the evenings which led to considerable frustration when trying to order drinks. These however, were only minor issues and would not put me off travelling with this company or ship again. We had heard horror stories about disembarkation but like every other part of the trip, this was a smooth calm process. We opted for express disembarkation and, if you are able to carry your own bags and use the stairs, I'd definitely recommend this. We got off about 15 minutes after docking and the buses were waiting to take us straight to the car park so we only had about 30mins where we had to do any waiting around. So, I would recommend this cruise to first timers and those who enjoy chatting to other people and simple pleasures such as reading a good book in the sunshine and working ones way through the cocktail menu of an evening. It was a laid back, fun holiday. Read Less

Having spent a lifetime sailing and never having seen the point of cruising in a big ship my wife finally persuaded me that is what we were going to do. She had enjoyed Christmas shopping trip on Marco Polo with a friend and was keen to see the fjords so I read the reviews of Magellan and having enjoyed a tremendous week I have come to the conclusion that the detrimental reviews are more about the reviewer than the ship. We met several people who seemed to be there just to moan and that was before they had even boarded Fortunately we didn't have to eat with them. Yes Magellan rolls when the sea is rough, so does everything else that floats, some more than others. I forgot to unscrew the inclinometer from my own boat and take it but I didn't notice a permanent list or anything more than the usual heel in the wind and when she navigated tight bends. Yes she is an elderly lady but she is kept beautifully clean and the crew were marvellous. Nothing appeared to be too much for them. The cabin was spotless, the odd creak from a ship underway doesn't keep me awake. I rate excellent based on what I pay and CMV give tremendous value for money. The Port of Tilbury does have more than a few problems none of which are in CMV's control. It is very convenient for us as we live on the Essex Coast and no doubt for the millions of others living close to London but access by road can be a problem so allow plenty of time. Would we sail on Magellan again - we have already booked. Read Less

Four of us booked a Fjord cruise having never cruised before, we were a little worried by the varying reviews on the Magellan, however all we can do is give our honest opinion....we loved it. On arrival at tilbury there was a little bit of a hold up as the last trip had arrived back late so there was a two hour of the ship trying to play catch up. After that slight hiccup everything was super. Our cabin, an inner was roomy, very comfortable beds, plenty of wardrobe and drawer space and the bathroom a decent size. The food on the ship was lovely, though we heard grumbling a of 'small portions' there was 5 courses every evening...how much do people really want to eat. Breakfast, plenty of choice from continental to full English. Breakfast not being long over then lunch, again something for everyone. Afternoon tea from 3ish...who could possibly eat any more? The staff on board we met were all very friendly, happy to chat and a pleasure to talk to. We were undecided as to take the drinks package...we did and when we cruise again we would probably not use the drinks package as the drinks were on par with UK pub prices. So unless you drink quite a lot, it's probably cheaper to pay for drinks as you go. We took a couple of the trips, but we all felt that the trips we took, could have been booked and arrange very easily independently, just do a bit of homework before you travel. Around the ship all he areas are spotlessly clean, there seems to be a staff member cleaning all the time. The ship,is immaculate. Not really sure why the ratings are only three star...we will certainly book again...loved every moment....well done! Don't worry about the negative reviews on the Magellan....we loved it! Read Less

We chose this cruise because we had always wanted to visit the Norwegian Fjords. We got a buy one get one free offer. The facilities on the ship were excellent. It was all very clean. The food choice was amazing and the staff were very friendly and polite! The entertainment was brilliant and the comedian was very good indeed. I'd never had a cocktail before, but now I think that they're lovely!! The musical entertainment was superb, especially the pianist and the violinist. There was also a large number of shore excursions to choose from. The guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. The Captain went around and spoke to people, which we thought was very nice and he seemed a really nice guy. All of the staff worked incredibly hard and they were always very attentive and smartly dressed. All in all a superb cruising experience and we would go again! Read Less

The first surprise was finding out the old ship was sold out leaving Bergen. What better testimony for the popularity of the MS Lofoten. There were all kinds of loyal passengers on this voyage. Retired professors among the older crowd, many middle aged couples, and some young people. A lot of Norwegians, many Germans, several British, and a few Americans. Definitely the word has spread about the Lofoten experience. The wifi internet service was fast...and free. The food service was good considering the purpose of the ship. I was not disappointed. The only rolling seas felt on the ship was while it was out at sea from Bergen. Otherwise, mostly smooth sailing...even in the Barents Sea area. The scenery made the round trip worthwhile. Understand that this ship is an old sea ferry not a cruise ship. If you can not easily entertain yourself with the scenery and port visits than you should seek out a big cruise ship. Pay attention to the currency exchange rate before buying anything especially drinks on this ship. The taxes will seem very high for those individuals from other countries. Even without the taxes the drinks are not cheap. Know what you are paying. I booked a 12 day round trip. I noticed that for about a week everybody enjoyed getting to know everyone else. The second half of the trip once everybody had gotten acquainted many of the passengers tended to settle in with certain small groups. It was a comfortable crowd. I thought the next time I ride a Norwegian coastal ferry I may want to make the voyage a one way with other options. Check out train service options or flights. But most likely I will do the 12 day round trip voyage again as the cost is very reasonable doing the round trip. If I find it difficult to book a cruise on the Lofoten again with less than a full boat I may try to book on the MS Vesteralen, but only if it is not sold out. It is nice to find available chairs in the lounge areas which a less than full boat will have. I used the Hurtigruten booking agent located in Seattle, USA. The agent also booked the flights and the hotel in Bergen. That was good service. Read Less

We wanted to complete Norway and the Northern Lights for sometime and after looking at various options we decided on a cruise aboard the Oriana would probably be the best solution. We are very independent travellers, and had some reservations but thought a new experience would be a good idea - especially to get to the Arctic Circle. The ship in general was fine, although we were delayed for 5 hours leaving Southampton and we lost all electrical power for 10 minutes on leaving Flam. In the dining room we often had a really bad 'vibration issue' on some nights from the engines or props - not a ship expert but it seemed to be directly under our table in the Oriental. Sindhu was very good, and we liked the Crows Nest and Andersons. We had 8:30 dining and the food and service was excellent. The ports of call were; Stavangar - Nice town, we did our own thing and explored the town and museums. Tromso - Not long enough and a pretty poor tour by coach which was rushed Alta - Saw Northern Lights from back of boat in Alta, did not book the expensive P & O Northern Lights Tour as we though we would see them from the boat - and we did. Flam - Spectacular location took the Norway in a Nutshell tour and overall good - just too many people - not something we are used to. Overall fantastic scenery with lots of snow covered mountains and fjords. Bad outbreak of flu on-board which affected many people and for our last few days we were both very ill. I suppose when you have nearly 3000 people confined within a small area it was bound to happen. You do not have the freedom 'normal' holidays offer and you only get a 'taster' of each location. For Northern Norway it was fine for us, but I would not go on another cruise, its just not for us. Read Less

Our embarkation was at Amsterdam Cruise Terminal, very nice terminal at walking distance of centre of Amsterdam in comparison to the Tilbury terminal which was located in an industrial area 40 km from London. Well done Amsterdam!! After a quick registration we were escorted to our cabin. Specious cabin with a double bed window and a lot of storage space. Our dinner was served at the Waldorf restaurant, good quality food and TOP service by our waiters Ashley and Ivan. We used our breakfast at Raffels buffet restaurant, the varierty of the food was excellent. A lot of fresh fruits. Restaurant can become crouwded due to people who remain sited after they have finished their breakfast, lunch or tee due to the cold weather. Reception staff was not very friendly and lost ?? a form for a refund request on our account statement. The saying "how colder the destination the older the passengers" was correct, we felt that we (age 46 & 55) were bringing down the avarage age on board. In relation to the destination of the cruise "North Cape" we were shocked about the high number of disabled people on board. During the evacuation drill we were the only ones waiting at the lifeboats for a long time. The lifts could not handle the high amount of olderly people. Read Less

This was my first cruise, and probably my last. Cruising simply is not for me. Over and above that I have a few grumbles some of which apply as much to a hotel as a ship. The lifts in the Magellan are very slow {very}. And yet half the lifts are not in use or don't work. The crew and all their odds and ends also use the lifts, thus I travelled up and down at various times with, a table, a stack of chairs, and a large trolley. not a good impression. everything about the ship says "hotel" and yet there is no shoe polisher or cleaner. Embarkation at the start of the cruise and disembarkation at the end was fine, but getting on and off the ship for shore excursions was painfully slow. All passengers are issued with a cruise card, which have to be swiped by a crew member, each time you leave or board the ship. In a card wont read or scan correctly the entire queue has to wait. Twice we had to stand out on the quay for well over 15 minutes. It didn't rain, but I would have been furious if it had. The gangway, was, for the most part a narrow single gangway, fixed to a low deck, where the effect of the tide has a dramatic effect on the gangway angle and the height of the ship above the gangway. thus people with crutches and wheelchairs had great difficulty, and to watch some of the people with a whole range of disabilities negotiating the gangway, sideways and having to duck deep to avoid banging their heads at the same time was a depressing sight. Too much emphasis at booking is put on Dress code and formality. Casual is fine and most people seemed happy to be casual except for the odd Formal evening. We had a very pleasant cruise without the need of party frocks and dinner suits. Read Less

As this was our first cruise we were very apprehensive, especially when seeing the very mixed reviews previously, however, we can honestly say the experience was thoroughly enjoyable. We took out the drinks package, but in all honesty if you are not big drinkers, (as we are not) it was not worth it, the drinks were reasonably priced eg, £3.20 for a large larger/beer, £5.00 for a large glass of wine to have with dinner. The staff were polite and efficient, entertainment was good, with a variety of options available during the day, lectures, craft, sport, games but to name a few. The entertainment staff were friendly and professional. It was a shame to hear others complaining about the portion sizes at evening Dinner, the portions were sufficient, bearing in mind you could have a 4 course option every evening. For those wanting "larger portions" then the "all you can eat" Raffles buffet would have been the right option!! On the point of Raffles!!, it was difficult to get a seat on occasions, this was predominantly due to the fact that once guests had eaten they remained at the tables, chatting, most annoying when they can see other guests struggling to find seat to have their meals. This was not a fault of the ship/crew, but other inconsiderate diners!! There was a daily bulletin providing all the information you needed for the following day, this was clearly set out and easy to follow. Excursions: now these were expensive and how the company had the "cheek" to charge the prices they did for some of the excursions amazes me. The stop off destinations were very scenic and nice places to visit, it was a shame the Northern Lights were a little elusive, but alas they can not be ordered to show when you are there!! This however did not take away the enjoyment of the cruise. Would we go on another cruise - Yes Would we go back on the Magellan - Yes Read Less

Re Norway - Hurtigruten Cruise - Hunting the Light - 12 days Just back from a fabulous holiday. The whole package was superb. Everything was very well run. The ship, Polarlys, was superb - so beautifully equipped. The staff very helpful, friendly and professional. Food - great; lovely to have the 'Coastal Kitchen' menu which centred on local recipes and produce - fantastic fish dishes. Lunch buffets were wonderful, masses of choice, hot & cold, something to suit everyone. Excursions well organised and interesting, only disappointment was that due to lack of snow we couldn't do the dog sledding. North Cape was amazing and Tromso Cathedral concert a wonderful peaceful experience, and there's something special to look forward to as you cross the Arctic Circle! Certainly a good company to travel with and provided some stunning locations and scenery. Highlight is that we saw the Northern Lights on two occasions and the second time it was especially clear - dancing curtains of pale green right across the sky. Yes we can certainly recommend this trip. If you like something a bit different, enjoy spectacular scenery and like some comfort and relaxation and have a hearty appetite then this is for you! Recommend a good quality down jacket (so glad we bought ours) as it's rather chilly on deck and that's the best way to appreciate the views as you gently sail through the fjords and islands of the Norwegian Coast. Also do the whole return trip so that the parts you pass in the dark on the journey North you will see in daylight travelling south. An upgrade in cabin was a good move to provide that extra space and on a higher deck, quiet and with good views. And KLM were a great airline, talking to others we were the only ones that got any refreshments on board! Read Less

We were delighted with the cruise. The Northern Lights were on our bucket list, as was the Norwegian coast. We wanted a relatively small, modern no-frills ship, so we chose the Trollfjord. It's obviously not your typical luxury cruise, but that suited us. We opted for a mini-suite to get a double bed and a bit more room for the 11-night voyage. We knew we had a good view when pax frequently stood in front of our window, taking photos. The crew were very friendly and helpful (and spoke English well). Our room was very clean & comfortable, with plenty of space. Although we'd read both complaints and praise for all the fish, we found quite a variety, even a vegetarian selection in the lunch buffet, as well as plenty of vegetables. So, even after flying to Bergen after having spent 3 weeks in France, we were very pleased with the food (with a delicious soup at each lunch), and creative, elegantly presented 3-course dinners. Determined not to be taxed out of enjoying wine with dinner, we opted for the wine & water package (alcohol is pretty heavily taxed in Norway), and were quite pleased with the wines selected for the meals -- quite good, and a wide variety. We like this time of year to travel because fewer people are traveling -- on our sailing, roughly 150 pax northbound and under 100 southbound (vs. a sleeping capacity of 600+). It's a very Norwegian experience -- Norwegian crew, Norwegian food, and the beautiful coast of Norway. And, we got to see the Northern Lights on 2 nights. We highly recommend the Trollfjord and Hurtigruten. Read Less

Although I cruise regularly this was my first time on the Cruise & Maritime Voyages "Magellan. The cruise was entitled "land of the Northern Lights". The ship called in Amsterdam for sightseeing and to pick up Dutch passengers. The ship sailed from Tilbury, a port I haven't used for many years. Although not the most attractive cruise terminal the boarding procedure was one of the most swif and efficient I have encountered. The time between my arrival at the terminal and boarding the ship was less than 20 minutes. My luggage arrived at my cabin a few minutes later. The ship looked very attractive and in good condition. However, there are some aspects of its design which mar the cruise experience. There is no promenade deck which is an essential on a cruise ship. In addition, there is a quirky layout of the public rooms whereby it is not possible to walk through some decks. I had an outside cabin on deck 6 which was sold as a single cabin but had a double bed and was quite spacious. It had plenty of storage space, a picture window, television and efficient air conditioning.There was a personal safe which was unreliable and had to be repaired on three occasions. The one thing that the cabin lacked was tea/coffee making facilities. The public rooms were quite spacious and quite well laid out. The library was much too small. The theatre which was on two levels was spectacular but perhaps too large. It was greatly under-used. I dined in the Waldorf restaurant which was also on two levels. There were allocated tables for dinner and open seating for for breakfast and lunch there and in the Kensington restaurant. As an alternative all meals, afternoon tea and all-day tea/coffee service could be taken in the Raffles self-service bistro. The quality of the food was good but the menus were rather limited. The dinner menus were a trifle lacking in imagination and there were few beef or lamb dishes. Breakfast menus were fine and the expert omelette chef was a star performer. One oddity was that there was no choice of fruit juices, it was orange or orange! The daytime entertainment followed the normal pattern but the lectures were somewhat unimaginative and lacked variety. The evening "Showtime" entertainment was very limited and wasn't helped on more than one occasion for announcements of sightings of the Norther Lights. The shore excursions at the many fascinating ports of call were good although the on-board organisation of these was a little hit or miss. It would be hard to pick out the best ports of call as they all had good points but Alta and its great Tirpitz museum, the North cape and the Trondheim heritage train were very enjoyable. Although I didn't take an excursion there the visit to the lovely village of Olden was a time to remember. Many members of the the staff gave friendly and excellent service but overall the service left a great deal to be desired. The service in the lounged was often poor with unenthusiastic staff often seeming indifferent to the wishes of passengers. Lunchtime in the Waldorf restaurant when the ship was at sea could only be describes as chaotic. There seems to be a serious lack of effective and experienced supervisors to ensure good service. Overall, the itinerary was excellent and the sightings of the Northern lights spectacular but the cruise lacked character. The cruise directors was hyper-active and was much too fond of giving extended messages on the intercom. Many of my travelling companions comments that it reminded them of a holiday camp of yesteryear. The international staff, many from Eastern Europe, were a mixed back and are much in need of training to bring the service up to an acceptable level. It was very much a basic, low-cost holiday which might suit first time cruises but does not compare with Fred. Olsen or P&O. Read Less

This was my Husband and I's first cruise (apart from River boats in Germany and The Netherlands). We were both slightly apprehensive having read reviews about the Magellan. I'll start with the good points. Embarkation at Tilbury was easy and well managed. On the whole the food was good and there was always plenty of choice at all meal times. The crew in the restaurants and bars were always pleasant, smiling and polite and we had some very interesting conversations with some of the crew about their various home countries and how they had come to be serving as crew on the Magellan. Our Cabin stewards were also very nice and all crew worked extremely hard day and night. I have to commend the cleaning members of the crew, they never stop polishing and cleaning. The shore excursions were well managed and free courtesy buses were at most ports for people who just wanted to do their own thing once ashore. However, as someone has mentioned, it really did have the feel of a floating holiday camp! We quite expected a "hi di hi, good morning campers" to come over the speakers. The Cruise Director was really over the top and always seemed to be shouting and yet the Captain who gave a daily announcement mumbled away and no-one could hear what he was saying. What is laughingly called a bistro is a throw back to a Woolworths restaurant and for some reason people seemed to sit there most of the day in order to get a table. Thankfully we only had to eat in there once for lunch as we'd been out on an excursion and missed lunch in the restaurant. We originally booked a mid ships inside cabin on deck 5 but were upgraded to an outside cabin towards the back of the ship and it was awful! The noise of the engine and some kind of squealing of machinery meant we had no sleep at all. We reported it once and when on night 3 it was even worse my husband again complained at reception in the middle of the night and we were moved to an inner cabin on deck 6 for the night. We were then offered an outside cabin on deck 4 and that was horrible but we put up with it. The engine noise was constant and the shower didn't work properly. I know people pay a lot of money for vibrating beds but all they need to do is sleep in cabin 4120! The Magellan is an old worn out ship, the noise of the engines is ridiculous and the smell of diesel was dreadful. She should be taken out of service. Read Less

We have just returned from an autumn Fjords cruise on Magallen. We are over 60s and quite difficult to please so I would like to dispel all the negative comments about this ship. We really enjoyed our cruise due to all the high standards on board and the amazingly friendly and efficient staff. The whole ship was spotlessly clean and, although an older ship, was run run absolutely efficiently. We had a spacious twin cabin on Deck 6 with a picture window, which was kept very clean and tidy by our cabin steward, a lovely girl from the Ukraine, who was very welcoming and friendly and added to our enjoyable experience on board. We ate in the buffet restaurant each day as we prefer to eat informally and the food was delicious with the chef providing attractive and varied food every day. We understand that the dining in the formal restaurants was superb as well. The waiting staff were efficient and friendly and nothing was too much trouble for them. They looked very smart and kept the whole buffet area clean and spotless. We attended some talks and activities and enjoyed these. There was entertainment provided every evening which we did not attend but with which other passengers were very happy. Even on a ship capable of taking 1400 passengers we could always find a quiet spot up on the top decks and enjoy the scenery passing by. Deck chairs and loungers were provided and lovely cosy blankets for the chillier times. There were also many lounges and bars to sit in and drink under cover in the warm. We encountered some rough seas with three metre high waves but they hardly made any impression on the Magallen and we could walk about the ship easily and the lifts still functioned well. We could not hear any engine noise where we were on deck 6 apart from the thrusters when we were coming into dock, which is understandable. The air conditioning was easily adjusted with the control on the ceiling. The excursions were interesting and the fjords were lovely and although this is an older ship, we would recommend this ship and cruise. Read Less

Excellent service all round; could not fault-with all ship staff being very polite & always willing to help and make sure you enjoy your holiday aboard the Megallan with a Good choice of food to a high standard with a choice of refined restaurant sitting or buffet type of dining & All Alcoholic drinks were reasonably priced for a cruise ship Excellent entertainment programme; all the singers and dancers/comedian were of a excellent standard and really put in that extra effort to make sure you had a good time aboard. Plenty of choice activities on ship to suit all taste. The ship is a true stylish looking & nicely size cruiser (not the large block of flats on water type) nicely decorated and not too over done. The Sea crossing/cruising was smooth, no problems. Myself & my Wife will definitely use CMV & this fine Megallan Cruise Ship again in the future will recommend with Excellent value for money Read Less