I chose to travel to Canada and the Cruise and Maritime Marco Polo was available for the cruise. The ship is small and old. Built many years ago. It tilts and sways alot. It is suitable for retired and elderly people. I experienced stress because of a elderly woman who talked non-stop. The male supervisor who works in the buffet area, stares at you in a hateful way. He behaves as if he resents passengers helping themselves to food that they paid for! The buffet cooks behind the counter also stare in a nasty unpleasant manner. The tall, male security guard with dark hair, enjoys stalking women in a creepy manner. He follows women like a creepy shadow. WiFi is not available, so I could not access online banking. Some of the tours were suitable. For example, Montreal, Quebec and Sydney. The Marco Polo cruise was for 30 days to Canada. My dining experience in the buffet found a variety of cooked food. Chicken, fish, and vegetarian. Also salads. The Waldorf restaurant provides a daily set menu to choose from. Two or three starters, main meals, and desserts. Alcohol has to be paid for as extra expenses. Activities such as, comedy drama and singing was pleasant entertainment. There was a daily £5 charge for art classes, for this reason I only attended once. The service by staff in general was basic. The Scotts bar, had 1 good bartender who served nice cocktails. The cabin i stayed in was a standard room. Two single beds, a cabinet with drawers, a double wardrobe and one chair. A small shower room. With basic soap and shampoo with a unpleasant smell. Towels were changed by request. Read Less

Our last time on the Marco Polo was in 2011, our second cruise, after our first on NCL with a butler and a concierge and lots of fancy extras. We’ve done lots of cruises since, but the Marco Polo has stayed VERY special and both times have been equally enjoyable. It’s a shame this is the last time the Marco Polo will visit Canada, so I’ll concentrate on the ship, rather than the ports. If it were to return to Canada, I’d suggest calling it “Canada with a fall”, as a lot of people took the title “fall” rather too literally and actually fell, which kept the doctor fairly busy (although he always seemed to have time for a cigarette – and the occasional brandy - out on deck!)! On arrival, the new parking facilities at Tilbury made things much easier. As we went towards check in, we were greeted by Sheena, a member of staff who recognised us from 2011 – she was also there to wish us a safe journey home when we got back! Check in took no time, and within minutes, we were in our cabin. We really like CMV, and yes, there are things they could do better – information about the ports could have maps, there could be more mugs available and a couple of the waiting staff might be a little more courteous at times (that said, our waiter, Pritish, was fantastic). Sometimes, perhaps a little more attention could be paid to detail. Getting the time zone wrong was a good example, but it does add to the quirkiness of CMV and probably why we rate it so highly. It’s a small ship experience with a very friendly and very helpful crew (mostly) and very friendly passengers (mostly), with no casino, no art auctions, very few queues, no huge upselling – and no kids (although most passengers are very young at heart). Calling it a “small ship” is correct, but as the cruise progresses, it takes longer and longer to get anywhere as you keep nattering to people on the way! We’ve racked our brains as to what facilities a larger ship has that we’d use and can’t think of anything that really makes a huge difference to our overall enjoyment. We booked a “guaranteed” cabin and were allocated 655, an accessible cabin on deck 9. It was very big and exceedingly well situated. It had more than ample storage facilities with a large dressing table and three wardrobes. And very usefully, lots of wall hooks for coats and dressing gowns that we brought with. One of the dressing gowns came in particularly useful to block out the light from under the door. Most of the time the noise from Scott’s Bar didn’t bother us, however we did have to make sure the big doors were closed before we went to bed, and were annoyed by the selfish people who opened them once or twice late at night despite the signs. Our cabin door rattled - we managed to remedy it by using a sock - the cabin attendant did say he’d inform the carpenter, but that didn’t seem to happen, however he did keep the cabin absolutely spotless and never seemed to stop working. The hold rails in the bathroom came in very useful when we were taking a shower in rough seas. However, as for true accessibility, the ship isn’t modern and one day a lady was in tears after climbing the gang way back up to the ship which was very steep due to tidal conditions – she didn’t leave the ship again until disembarkation. However, others (including yours truly) managed to dance in Scott’s Bar in rather rough seas until the small hours. With so many sea days, we were delighted with the daytime activities, especially the creative writing classes by Chrissie – and the drama classes with Harry and Emma. Doing these meant that there were clashes with some of the lectures but the ones we saw (especially Steve’s maritime history ones) were great. Sue was always on deck saying we’d just missed a whale (seriously, she was fabulous at explaining the natural world around us) – and Lucy was a real trooper although a lot of what she said about photography rather went over our untechnical heads – we just want to point and click to get a photo! Given that our previous Marco Polo Cruise Director was the amazing Richard Sykes, Josh had a lot to live upto and he was a really great Cruise Director – a very talented showman with a great future. The standout moment for us was when he unexpectedly appeared during our drama class in his costume for the cocktail competition. At that moment, it confirmed we were in great hands! The nightly entertainment was mainly very good, although we thought the comedians were rather past their best before date. At nearly 60, I really struggled with some subjects, such as putting sixpences and aspirins in stocking suspenders that broke in the wash. Thankfully some other passengers explained it to us. One thing we would change about the “Round the World” would be the English bit. Surely Gracie Fields, Vera Lynn and some outdated jingoistic claptrap about how we’re going to widen our “Empire” could perhaps be replaced by something more in keeping with the modern world, perhaps a couple of Beatles songs, like “With A Little Help From Our Friends” and “Imagine”. Or even Scooch’s Eurovision entry, “Flying the Flag”. Or something less innocuous like “My Old Man”. It was nice to see a smattering of same sex couples, perhaps we should have asked for an LGBT meet up to be put in the programme as we didn’t get to know one couple until the last few days. Being gay obviously wasn’t a problem, but we were rather more cautious about talking about politics and very carefully “came out” as pro-EU – and were delighted to find so many likeminded people – and were over the moon that EU flags sometimes adorned our cocktails! Unlike some other lines, CMV isn’t “totally” British, we very much enjoyed having a smattering of Dutch and Australian etc passengers onboard. The food was very much to our taste, I’m not sure I ordered anything I didn’t like, and there was a very good variety with very few repetitions during the 30 days, although my pescatarian husband had a couple of veggie dishes he wasn’t keen on, but they were changed very quickly to something he did like. Our waiter, Pritish, was absolutely brilliant and dealt with our dietary requirements superbly. Portions were huge and our only complaint was that the food was too nice so we ate too much! Of course, it wouldn’t be CMV without a few quirks – vinegar springs to mind where at first it came in a gravy boat, then the waiters just brought the plastic bottle! Shame I can’t be as enthusiastic about the house wine. My husband refused to drink the house white after a while and we ended up buying bottles – even at £12 after the discount, it mounts up and is rather annoying when you’ve already spent around £1200 on two drinks packages. For our next cruise, we’ve decided to take the VIP package, reluctantly, in the hope that the wine is better. To cut down on eating, many times, we had the free “breakfast in bed” – toast, a croissant, a pastry, orange juice and tea/coffee was enough – inside cabins don’t have a kettle, so this was a way round getting a hot drink in the morning. A cooked version for a tenner was also available, although I’m not sure how you’d actually eat it comfortably in most cabins which don’t have a table. We only missed one port, St Johns, due to a hurricane, the rest of the time, we got to our destinations, although the tender process was a little chaotic at times, and our last Canadian port, Sydney was only until 1pm, meaning a very short stop for some – thankfully we pre-booked an excursion meaning we were off the ship quite early, but didn’t get a chance for a walk round the town afterwards. The excursions we went on were well priced and well organised and most of the time, free shuttles to the city centre were laid on by the port authorities, but that’s down to the port authority, rather than the cruise company. There’s no denying that CMV is truly unique and not for everyone. There’s simply no point in comparing it to other lines, it does things differently, it will suit some people more than others, and I’m sure there will be reviews about the “rust bucket” and “rude staff” etc. It certainly isn’t a rust bucket and 99% of the staff are friendly and helpful. Towards the end of the cruise, we had no hesitation in booking another with CMV where we got a 5% discount – plus free parking from cruise.co.uk! We’ve now got three CMV cruises to look forward to, none on the Marco Polo, which is a shame as it’s a fantastic ship, but I hope we’ll put that right soon enough. Read Less

The disembakring experience in NYC ruined the cruise. There was no representative from Silversea to assist passnegers attempting to find the bus to LaGuardia airport. No one on the ground knew which bus was destined to this airport. We literally wandered around trying the street to find our bus - again NO ONE from Silversea was there to assist this operation. Bus driver admitted he was not familar w/ streets of NYC. He refused to take passengers to their terminal besides terminal B at LaGuardia. I was forced to gather all my luggage abd walk through the airport terminal w/ my luggage trying to find a transit bus to transport me to the Delta terminal at LaGuarda - terminal D. It was a total mess - many passengers were visibly upset. This was excusable on the part of Silversea - you had our money and now we were less than human. Someone from Silversea should be TERMINATED for this toal lack of civilty and service. Many people on the bus voiced the consensus opinion that this will be our last cruise because of the fiasco in NYC. As a trained PH.D. ethicist all the people on the bus to Laguardia should receive financial compensation for the disgraceful behavior we were treated by Silversea. We were viewed as cattle who did not to be treated as a human being.I would gladly talk to some representative, but doubt my opinion matters. You failed to make this cruise memorable by the manner you treated people disembarking the ship in NYC. Shame on Silversea!!! Read Less

Expensive cruise (cost me 10k with flight) staff never bothered (only waiters giving out drinks all the time) Partially disabled and ordered wheelchair to board the ship. When I arrived was told none available they had ran out but only a couple of yards to walk or wait 1/2 hour. I walked, Almost 100 yards. Struggled. Passengers asked if I needed help. Staff didn't bother. Lots of restaurants but charged 60 dollars extra in some. Food varied but always luke warm. Breakfast in cabin always came wrong. I complained the first time, to no avail. Even staff when standing next to doors seldom held open for you. Ignorant. The service wasn't as advertised. Packing case/unpacking. Paper on floor after cleaner had come in to clean. Was fed up with it all. The first night was asked if I wanted to sit with someone. I prefer this but was never asked again. Passengers asked me if I wanted to join them though. Found attention from passengers embarassing- but very thoughful . I'm not one to seek attention. I didn't think after compllaining to steward I wanted to complain anymore and cause to be be singled out by the staff. I decided to leave after 3 days. I wrote to Silver seas to ask for plartial refund. 500 dollar onboard credit never spent (couldn't have all been profit) but refused. The cabin was on standby and only booked a couple of weeks before. Cancellation I expect. Silver Spirit did offer 1k on future cruise. This was the last of finances and now on state pension and a bit of disability. Which I did convery to them. So impossible for me a future cruise. This was the cruise of a lifetime for me and the last one. Anyway if free wouldn't go again. Just a bog standard reply from them I expect./ They really don't care (well, they do when you book) ninutes to answer the phone. Week when you complain. Sign of the times. Read Less

Silversea cruises always exceeds expectations and this North Atlantic crossing was no exception. While we had done southern crossings of the Atlantic in the past, this was a new adventure - London to New York with intermediate stops in Ireland, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Boston, and Newport. Due to storms in the Atlantic, the captain opted to take us further north, which resulted in smooth sailing. Unfortunately, the weather was not as cooperative (one of the few things Silversea does not control) and we had unusually cool, overcast days and more rain than anticipated. We previously sailed on Silver Spirit but this was the first time since the stretch. The changes we wonderful -- the Arts Cafe for coffee and light bites, the new pan-Asian restaurant, and the new main dining room. One thing we especially enjoy about Silversea ship design is the fact that one is never forced to walk through the casino to get from place A to place B and the Spirit was no exception. The public rooms sparkle after the face lift and there are numerous small group seating options. These encourage making new friends and this trip was no exception. Our fellow passengers were globally diverse -- UK, Germany, Australia, Canadian, US, etc. Our suite was an oasis. We opted for a classic veranda suite on this cruise. It was tastefully decorated with plenty of space. The bathroom features both a full size tub and a separate shower. The living area has a small sofa, separate chair, and coffee table (that rises for in-suite dining). The walk-in closet provides ample storage space and helps keep the suite free from clutter. At embarkation our butler stopped by to confirm our choice of refreshments and thereafter the fridge was stocked with our preferences. The service and cleanliness were impeccable. Silversea planned a myriad of inside activities for guests - enrichment lectures, dance classes, cooking demonstrations, informal language classes, team trivia, etc., which were especially welcome given the weather. This particular cruise also had a bridge theme as well as being an Ecole de Chef cruise. The dining was excellent. We frequently dined in La Terrazza, which specializes in Italian food, and found it excellent. At lunch, it also features a great buffet with different salads, sushi, hot foods, a carving station, a pasta station, and a stir fry station. There is a dedicated Japanese restaurant and well as a Pan Asia restaurant - both were excellent. The former main dining room is greatly improved as "Atlantide" with a smaller size, new interior design, and diverse menu. La Dame, while still excellent, seems to have slipped just a little. At dinner the ship also features "Hot Rocks" -- cooking on volcanic rocks and a new Pizza restaurant - both of which are outdoors. No matter which dining venue we opted for, the food was delicious and the service excellent. Also of note with respect to dining, notwithstanding the weather, Silversea maintained the outdoor dining options, but, always considering the guest's comfort, they erected plexiglass barriers to block the wind and turned on the overhead heaters -- resulting in a comfortable place to dine outside. Given less than ideal weather, we decided to use the cruise to recharge our batteries and it was a wonder place to do that. We find the Silversea experience to be outstanding and have two more cruises already booked -- although we have opted for warmer climates for the next two. Read Less

The itinerary was the key. Start in London, finish in New York: Perfect! I will say however, the North Atlantic is not for everyone. Cool temperatures and a sea that has a mind of it's own. But, knowing that in advance is helpful so, be prepared. We loved the cruise just the way it was. The itinerary was excellent, considering the geography and that this was essentially a re-positioning voyage. We got to see a lot of Canada that we've not seen before including Halifax NS which was charming. Would have been nice to spend a bit more time in Boston and Newport, RI This ship has been recently refurbished and lengthened. The refurbishment was par excel-lance, the suites were very well appointed and up to date. The public spaces were fabulous and encouraged congeniality and friendship. The lengthening? Not so much, since it put more passengers aboard which I can do without. (Prefer the Wind and Cloud) On Silversea there is a 'no-tipping' environment but in the past (this is our 8th Silversea cruise) there was always some people who deserved extra consideration for going the extra mile. On this trip, the service was outstanding on EVERY level and honestly, with the exception of the bartender, Albert, I couldn't distinguish enough to single out any others. The one advantage of the lengthening is the added variety in the dining options. There's something for everyone and the food was uniformly outstanding. It seems that the standard beverage offering has been cut back, the wine list needs some tweaking and there was no deviation from the standard liquor offering despite an advance request. It didn't used to be that way but, it was all good anyway. If you are thinking about bringing young ones, this isn't the cruise line for you. There was a lot of gray hair aboard, including mine. Read Less

We were nervous about first cruise on Silversea cruise because, although many positive reviews, there were many negative comments. One was the food. We loved the menu in Atlantide which changed frequently; Indochine excellent; La Terrazza was good but not as excellent as main restaurants. Another was wine. Their selection of included wines was excellent and if you prefered one they would go get it. Service: unlike some comments we were served quickly and competently. The wait staff and wine stewards bent over backwards to make us happy. Maybe the Transatlantic cruise has a higher ratio of crew to passengers, but we were overwhelmed with the quality of Silversea on this cruise. Entertainment has been also been rated poorly. The Silversea Singers were 6 young and very talented singers who included opera singers and jazz singers and all could dance. They put on a charming and highly entertaining show evry night. Cruise director Moss is excellent and if he is on your cruise you will be assured of a fun time! Read Less

the only luxury cruise with a reasonable single supplement. really luxurious even with multiple on-shore glitches (bad delivery to airport, delayed pickup from airport, inexplicable delays in guests admissions). In over 5o cruises this was the best food ever. The alternative, no fee restaraunts rival any anywhere for flavor, and presentation and Seishin was well worth the extra charge. The cruise director was as good as they come. He seemed to delight in running programs, especially the very well attended, Jeopardy. The future cruise consultant overcame handicaps to book me. Tthe ports were easy on easy off with no waiting. embarkation and debarkation went without a hitch except for the transportation part. Even tendering was no trouble. I am a solo traveler. We were assigned both dance hosts as shepherds. They were kindd and attentive and made sure we danced when we wanted and never had to eat alone, making multiple reservations where necessary. All-in-all a most satisfying trip. I have 3 more booked. Read Less

Enjoyed the whole Silversea experience. But they MUST attend to the internet issue. Cabin was excellent so was service. Menu not changed very often which was disappointing. Ship had unexplained juddering at speeds above about 15 knots. No relationship with sea conditions. Maybe caused by the recent lengthening. Was a bit unpleasant at times. Crew were almost all very obliging and cheerful. I would put our experience on Silver Spirit a little below Crystal. The entertainment was not as good as expected. The amplification of singers and instrumentalists was way over the top and spoiled the effect of good musicians. Not everyone is as deaf as the amplification suggested. These various negatives have prevented me from giving our cruise a top rating. By far the most serious matter was the appalling internet service. We hope to sail on Silversea again but would not do so unless this problem is fixed. Read Less

The itinerary for this cruise was very appealing - not many cruise ships sail up the Amazon, and the price was extremely attractive: 42 nights for under £2k (inside cabin), or around £2.5k (sea view). The boat is old, but having cruised on some of the biggest ships, I found that the Magellan is small enough that you soon get to know your fellow travellers, and many of the crew (who were generally very helpful and friendly). We had force 9 storms in the Bay of Biscay, and the ship pitched and rolled, but strangely enough very few people seemed to suffer drom sea sickness. I found the gentle movement of the boat in heavy seas quite relaxing! Unfortunately an earlier review draws attention to the problems with coughs and chest infections on this ship. We suffered the same problem. In fact we heard that 13 people died on this trip (unconfirmed, as the cruise companies naturally do not want this publicised), but we certainly saw hearses driving up to meet the ship in some ports, and enough rumours circulating around the ship to suggest the numbers were well into double figures. The medical centre seemed to be out of its depth and unable to cope - it is a private practice, so money seems to be the overriding motivation for them. We heard of passengers being lumbered with bills for thousands of pounds after their travel insurance companies declined their claim. It is interesting to note that the medical centre ran out of cough mixture after less then two weeks, and there is no on-board pharmacy, so buying even basic medication from them will result in extortionate charges being added to your onboard account. Entertainment was OK - we appreciate its difficult to do 42 consecutive shows on a limited budget. The entgertainers are very talented, and do their best. Lauren (Assistant Cruise Director) is particularly outstanding, and Tony (Cruise Director) did a great job of whipping up the entertainment, but he is now off to Australia to join the Columbus. There were some dodgy old-school stand-up comedians from the UK who should probably have retired years ago! Service in the restaurants was, I thought, outstanding. The food was a bit variable, but generally very adequate, with a good choice. The ship is kept very clean, so I think the infection problem is probably something to do with the ductwork - most people I met suffered coughs and sore throats, and I suspect germs are cirulating through the old piping. The on-board accounting system is outdated - posting an account under your door every two weeks, without even an envelope, is ludicrous. The staff at reception were sometimes a bit stroppy about dealing with errors (and there were a few.....). Cruising the Amazon was interesting, but at times a bit false. Boca da Valeria is a fake village where you will be greeted on arrival by scores of kids demanding money to take photographs of them posing with various animals. We saw a half dead catfish plonked on a table for all to see. Horrible. The 'indigineous tribespeople locals' (ha ha) will happily offer to take you up river to see where they really live for a fistful of dollars...... The rest of the itinerary was great, though the ship-bought excursions are very expensive, and you will do far better buying locally organised tours at the ports. But overall this ship has a good atmosphere, all the facilities you need and, if you stay healthy, you will have a great time. Read Less

MV Columbus very nice ship well appointed. Spacious cabins good storage space, cases under beds. Lovely crew all friendly and very helpful. Good launderettes on two decks. Dining, food seemed to be down to price nothing special compared with other ships. Very popular was fish and chips when served during a special culinary buffet. Desserts too sugary and hot desserts not quite what it said on the tin. During the days at sea, expensive craft lessons, only two lecturers, both on wildlife and photography and one a lifestyle expert as well. No regular dance classes, therefore no dance sessions except for a couple of attempts which were failures. Scheduling of things to do wasn't done with much thought so a lot of overlapping. The ship's entertainment company of singers and dancers were excellent very, very talented. Good shows, good choreography and costumes but the same faces every night. Late in cruise a couple of comedians came onboard. One a good song and joke act. For once a good band, no tinny trumpet but the music whether live or recorded drowned the singers. Free shuttle buses at some destinations. Excursions seemed expensive but we enjoyed the ones we went on but mostly we did our own thing with taxis etc cheaper. Disembarkation a complete shambles, cases all mixed up lack of trolleys. We were using the coach connection which meant self load the cases, not enough coaches, delayed departure due to trying to squeeze people in, luggage wouldn't fit missed our connection. If CMV improves the food, entertainment, daytime recreation we would go again with them. Read Less

I have just returned from MV Magellan’s cruise to the Amazon, West Indies and the Azores. I wanted to share my experiences with you and to thank you so much for the trip of a lifetime. I took my late husband’s niece with me; for company. She is about to turn 43 so lowered the average age of the passengers by about 90%! She is full of life and energy and impressed everyone from the Cook to the Captain. She certainly ensured that I had a wonderful time as I hung grimly onto her coat-tails and enjoyed the ride. There were a number of people who did nothing but moan but I suspect that the majority of them moan for England. When I book my next cruise, please can you weed out moaning passengers in order to make my voyage more enjoyable. We all know Magellan is not looking her best at present but as she is due for a refit she should emerge with the majority of her problems behind her. I think my only comment is that she is looking a little tired and needs some attention to her plumbing and leaks but no doubt, those things will be addressed. I shall start with the unpleasant things that happened to me and get them out of the way: on leaving Lisbon, in the teeth of a gale, I succumbed to the dreaded D&V lurgy. Being flung around the bathroom as the ship pitched and rolled while suffering is not a memory I wish to dwell on. On alerting Reception to my illness, the situation was instantly taken in hand. Two spacemen turned up shrink-wrapped in plastic with every cleaning agent and gadget known to man. Under the tutelage of the lovely Head Housekeeper, they proceeded to restore health and sanity to the cabin all the while reassuring me that I was not a nuisance, couldn’t help it and they were there to make it better. They did. Such lovely boys: their mummies would be proud of their professional approach and their kindness. Two days later when we were due to be released from our confinement, my niece went down with it so we were incarcerated under the same strict conditions for another two days. You can imagine our joy at being able to see the outside world again and have normal food . One of the most pleasing aspects was the attention given to hygiene in all the public areas: there were always members of the housekeeping team scrubbing, rubbing and polishing to prevent illness being passed from one person to another. What a shame that so many passengers failed to follow the same protocols and failed to protect fellow passengers with their indifference to handwashing and sanitising, not to mention filling their water bottles from the machines in Raffles. No wonder the bugs spread. We were warned about thieves and muggers in Manaus and it soon became obvious that the ship’s company and passengers were being targeted; such a shame when the town needs all the tourism it can get. Horrid stuff over; now down to the sheer pleasure of the cruise. Where to start: the food was good with plenty of choice and really, if there was nothing appealing on the menu for the evening meal, that has to be down to the individual. Having had a tour of the galley (at the end of the cruise when we had dinner at the Chef’s Table) I understood better the constraints under which the catering staff work and indeed, am very impressed with their achievements. Well done, chaps. This leads me on to the crew in general. What a fantastic set of lads and lasses. They were always, without exception, helpful, kind and willing. There were several I would happily take home with me as I am sure they would look after me much better than I look after myself. Even when the dreaded bugs struck, there they were with their precious time off cancelled, making sure we had food to eat and things to drink, probably far more than the majority of us either needed or wanted but heyho, life on board ship tends to centre around food. They still kept smiling. Wherever, one encountered staff be it in the bars, restaurants, corridors, cabins, we were always met with courteous greetings and smiles as well as excellent service. The entertainment provided was varied and fun; it may not have catered for all tastes all of the time but it certainly covered most of it for most of the time. What more can they do with such a varied clientele? The dancers were simply fantastic and the singers terrific. I thoroughly enjoyed the shows I watched. As for the lectures, Louise Bonner has to be the star of the show: her knowledge, her variety of subject matter and her entertaining delivery made listening to her a sheer pleasure as well as being so informative. I’d do the cruise again just to listen to her. I had some amazing experiences while taking part in the excursions. I’ve never snorkelled before; now I’ve learnt to do it, swum with turtles and enjoyed watching a variety of fish as I swam over the reefs. Amazing. My only complaint about excursions is that I needed to cut myself into about three pieces so that I could do more of them. Can I suggest, that when you call in at St Lucia, passengers are enabled to do the aerial tram ride and the zip wire ride; they are side by side. I begged, pleaded, promised the earth but to no avail! The memory of the animals and birds I saw, the beautiful scenery not to mention the warmth, blue sky and sea, delightful people and different surroundings will stay with me for the rest of my lifetime. What a good thing I kept a journal and took a ton of photographs. I shall be able to bore for Britain for the next year or two. Having had a quick look at the Cruise Critic website, I was amused to see comments about the gales. The poor Captain might be the chap in charge but even he can’t control the weather and I thought he did very well to outrun the storm on the way home. All credit to him. As for the ship listing, my secret mole (another passenger who had spent 20 years in the Navy) explained to me that the degree of listing to starboard was between 10 and 20 and was due to not having the stabilisers in use at that time plus the huge volume of fluids sloshing around in the bilges being pumped gently from one tank to another in order to maintain the level of the ship. I am sure both the Captain and my friend Ian would have been delighted with the Captain’s Q and A session where someone asked the exact same question and Captain Nikos repeated almost word for word the explanation I had been given earlier. What a relief that they both got it right! As for the huge bang while coming back down the Amazon, it was clear that we had hit a log, a not uncommon hazard in those waters and there was no harm done but of course, the doom and gloom merchants had a field day. On the personal front, my niece and I were invited to the Sailaway Bridge Party on leaving Iles du Salut. The guests consisted of those passengers who had suffered at the hands of the muggers in Manaus and those who had been inconvenienced by Magellan’s, ahem, deficiencies... What a fun evening we had, sitting in the Captain’s chair, wearing his hat and taking silly photos. It was a charming and thoughtful way of “kissing it better” on the part of Captain Nikos and it was much appreciated by all of us there. Even better, we were then invited to the Captain’s Table, a new experience for me and one unlikely to be repeated. That was very special. Thank you to all concerned. Read Less

This was our first cruise with Cruise & Maritime and we were a little apprehensive given the low price we paid. The Magellan was lacking in the little niceties, e.g. quality toiletries, bath robes, nuts with drinks etc. however it had all the basics needed. Checking in was speedy and efficient, we were escorted to our cabin within 30 minutes of arrival and our luggage was waiting for us there. However, as we were escorted round the side of the hand luggage x-ray machine and didn't go through the body scanner at Tilbury we could have been taking anything on board. Despite having asked for a double bed the cabin was set up as a twin. However, this was quickly rectified. The cabin size was compatible to other cruises we have been on but lacked a fridge and a decent size and quality TV. Not that it mattered much as we could not get any TV channels at all once south of the Azores. The shower was larger than many cruise ships and had plenty of hot water at a good pressure. Room service, for a limited breakfast menu, was delivered on time and free. Evening entertainment was not the quality or variety you get on larger ships but then we were not expecting West End show standards. However, what the entertainers lacked in talent they made up for in their tremendous enthusiasm. However, when the premier entertainment for one evening was, what looked like a pirated DVD of a 30 year old rock concert, we were not impressed. The staff were all very friendly and helpful, customer service was first class and didn't deserve the rudeness they received from some of the passengers whose manners left a lot to be desired. The food is as good in terms of quality and variety as any cruise ship we have been on, with evening meals comprising two or three appetisers, two soups, three salads and four main courses to choose from, followed by a choice of three sweets, cheese and coffee or tea. Everything from Sushi, Curry, Pasta and Steaks were on the menu, and there was always a vegetarian alternative. Although the meals did get boring after the third week. The only disappointment was the lack of a speciality restaurant but l guess that's just down to the size of the ship. We also prefer open dining at a time that suits us rather than the fixed early or late sittings in the restaurants. However, there is always the self service restaurant as an alternative. One real concern was the lack of hygiene in some restaurant areas. There were no staff offering hand disinfectant at the poolside Grill where I saw one woman put her hands into the tray of chips and scoop up a handful of chips from the tray onto her plate potentially contaminating the whole tray of chips. Thankfully the staff promptly disposed of the rest of the tray of chips in the bin. That says more about the passenger than the staff, but should have been prevented. The staff worked extremely hard to put on a Beach Party on Mayreau Island taking all the food and equipment ashore from the ship. This was was a great success and fully appreciated. My wife and I suffered sore throats, coughs and cold symptoms during the voyage, as did many people we spoke to, which we put down to the air conditioning. Conclusion:- The Magellan is to cruising what Lidl is to supermarkets. Good value for a limited product. Read Less

Having just retuned from a cruise to Canada on the Marco Polo and after reading some of the reviews on here i felt i should pass comment about our trip. Embarcation went smoothly and without any problems, for the age of the ship our cabin 511 was spacious and had plenty of storage space, the cabin steward was pleasent and kept it spotless. The rest of the ship to was spotless ,but then they were cleaning it all the time.The bar staff and all the waiters were frendly and very pleasent, drinks on board were reasonably priced, a coffee in the lounges was £1.70 although you could get it for free in the bistro all day, and cocktails a resonable £3.05. Again the dinning room staff could not do enough for you, there was six courses on the menu and you could have as much food as you wished, our only criticism is it could sometimes have been hotter, some of the things we did not care for but that was our choise, there was buffet breackfast with all you could want and eggs done while you wated, the bistro was again good but it did get a little crowded but if you waited a short while it did quieten down.The trips were good and we found again resonably priced against some other cruise lines we have used There were snags such as seating when at sea but we did always manage to find some where to sit. The entertainment was good and varied, the shows on the other hand could have been better. Disembaraction went well, yes we did have to vacate our cabins by 7am but that is normal on most cruise lines. All in all and for the price we paid we were well pleased, we have travelled on Marco Polo before and will again ,its not 5 star but take into consideration what you pay and its extreamly good value for money Read Less

We embarked on the Marco Polo on the 7th September from Tilbury for 34 nights destination Canada, All was OK until we got to our room 605 on a tilt and so was the bed, you can hear the Music from the show room 3 times a day, rehearsal and then the two shows at night. On the whole the ship is ok, BUT if you have a food allergy, then this is not the Ship for you. I have a NUT ALLERGY, and it did not matter how many time I mentioned this, it was totally ignored to the point where I gave up going to the restaurant and lived on soup. Food I would give a 25 out of 100 and that was on a good day. Look carefully at this as I know that everyones expectations are different, But don't say you were not warned. CMV voyages, (Cheap and Miserable) think carefully. Don,t always go for their tours check locally you will find them a lot cheaper and usually more informative. Hop on Hop off buses are cheaper independently than booking through the cruise ship. They do not have shuttle buses at most ports and walking can be for a while. Read Less

Despite 800+ old folks being cooped up for 6 weeks, there was a high degree of tolerance between passengers. There was some fractious behaviour, some very rude people, some who assumed entitlement, and some who complained about trivia. It was best to ignore this. I enjoyed the Food and entertainment but it is a personal matter. I had many excellent meals, and some not so good ones. Same with the shows. When the complainers were asked what they didn't. Like about the shows or food, they could not give a coherent answer, often mumbling something about Fred Olsen! Staff were very hard working. Kept the ship spotless, and provided excellent service, and more often than not, good entertainment. The ship is their home, and they made us welcome . Some passengers were rude to the staff, and there was no excuse for this. There was a full daily schedule of entertainment, lectures , games, and crafts including water colour. No boredom here! Drinks were not cheap, although there happy hours every day. Incidentally, there is a wine package that is not publicised. Ask for it from your waitor in the restaurant. It costs £85 for 6 bottles. Similar price to house wine, but much better quality. Incomplete bottles are kept till finished. We could make a bottle last for 2-3 nights. Another wheeze is to share a large glass of wine between two. Read Less

The Marco Polo is sadly beginning to show its age. The ship is small compared to most other cruise ships and with 900 passengers on board somewhat overcrowded.The ship rolls continuously from side to side and in the Atlantic swell it pitches as well which does not make for comfort. During the good weather when passengers were able to sit and eat outside, the buffet facilities and the lounges coped, but as soon as the weather changed it was difficult to find a seat at breakfast or lunch and in the lounge. The food is unimaginative and somewhat repetitive, however the names for the dishes are very imaginative. In the Bistro there is always a fish dish (usually in a butter sauce), two meat dishes, and a pasta dish with something stirred through it. There are salads, although at times the lettuce was very poor, and the cucumber had seen better days (most of them in an over efficient cooler). There were usually composite salads made of pasta with meat etc. which made one think of yesterday's left overs. The vegetarian meal was often just a vegetable, not a well planned menu with protein. These meals are repeated in the Waldorf Restaurant with waiter service. There is no drinks package. A glass of wine (250ml) costs £5 and the bottle (750ml) costs £15. Other more expensive options are available. The bar services are outsourced and the staff sometimes repeatedly ask if you want a drink. When in port there is very little information available for those passengers not booked on tours (these vary in price from (£39 - £69 per person) and town maps are generally not available. The cabins are adequate, but the beds are small, very narrow and not particularly long. Entertainment is provided by a small dedicated team of talented singers and dancers accompanied by the Marco Polo Band, which is first class. There is not a show every evening and sometimes shows are repeated. When films are shown, the screen is very small and the sound is bad. The crew are mainly Eastern European and work very hard. They are an asset to the ship, and speaking from personal experience, the medical care, although expensive, is first class. There is a very good programme of painting and art activities and and guest lecturers who speak on the Amazon and wild life. Read Less

Reading the negative reviews of the ship it would be easy to conclude the Marco Polo is one to avoid. Nothing could be further from the truth. We went on the 42 day Amazon cruise and it was exactly as we expected and a great experience, even down to the bad weather in the Bay of Biscay and across the Atlantic. The clue was in the sailing dates, January 5th to February 16th, spotted it yet "WINTER MONTHS" in the Atlantic, never going to be a mill pond experience! The other clue to the Marco polo is in the prices you pay for the cruise! Anyone remember the old saying, "You get what you pay for" but as regards VALUE FOR MONEY I give Marco Polo 10 out of 10. If you want Michelin Star food, formal nights where the dress code really is black tie, a ball room, a west end quality theatre and a chocolate on your pillow at night then book on a Cunard Queen and pay the extra. The Marco Polo is a small ship with limited facilities, that's what you get on a small ship! The show lounge isn't a west end theatre, although the entertainment staff work very hard and provide some very good shows, the food is of a good resteraunt quality but not outstanding and the service is attentive, prompt and friendly and our cabin stewardess Nattalia, was an absolute delight, as was our table waiter Kevin and many, many other crew members on board who made the voyage great fun, but the passanger to staff ratio cannot give the same level of service as a Queen. We loved the Marco Polo, it took us places a big ship couldn't go and provided an intimate exoerience a big ship sometimes lacks. There were the usual things that could have been better! The TV started repeating the programes less than half way through the cruise and the timing of the second show in the evening at 2200 meant if you were second sitting dinner then you sometimes had to chose between eating desert and seeing the show. As for the entertainment starting at 2130 in Scotts Bar or the Captains Club, then second sitting dinners just had to forgett about them! Better co-ordination of the meals and the entertainment would have been a huge improvement. Maybe something for the new cruise director to take on board! Read Less

Had I read the reviews on the Marco Polo before booking I probably would not have gone ahead. However I am delighted to read the last two very fair and accurate reviews echoing my feelings. Before that I wondered if I had been on the same ship reading some older reviews, but even on the ship there were those who never stopped whining, getting not only themselves down but others who had to listen to them. The crew were wonderful, polite, cheerful and very hard working, and although from the Eastern block their English was good and often the common language between them if they could not speak each other's. We were unfortunate to get norovirus on the ship but the crew could not have done any more to try and keep it under control, with constant cleaning even after they had finished their normal duties late at night. The food was adequate, and soups and sauces very good, also cakes at teatime. Things were not ideal once the self service bistro was closed down due to the norovirus but it could not be helped although it was more fuel for the moaners. The entertainers were very good and the dancers brilliant. We were very lucky to have very talented Richard Sykes as an extra guest cruise director who has now taken over on the next trip, without him the daytime entertainment would have been weak. Two daily quizzes, sometimes with repeated questions were enough, we did not need any extra at night which we got a couple of times. We had an excellent comedian Gerry Graham at the beginning of the trip and although we all hoped to see more of him he disembarked at Madeira. Another comedian/magician on our return who did not go down well with some people: some smut and cheap jokes at the expense of passengers he got up on stage was not considered apt but it was toned down at his next performance - presumably he got some feedback. Not sure why Michelle Monroe was chosen as an entertainer, only 'qualification' was being Matt's daughter. The choir laid on by Richard was good fun, and the jewellery classes by Linda very good. Unfortunately the room too small for art if you happened to have a seat with your back to the teacher. For future cruisers on this long cruise, take enough medicine with you to cover all eventualities - the dr's bills are exhorbitant. And although Euros or US$ are accepted everywhere you need local currency at the chemists ashore. And if on the Amazon cruise make sure you do not miss the Boi Bumba excursion at Parintins - amazing! This was a pleasant cruise and good value for money - if you are looking for 5* go for a more expensive ship, you get what you pay for! Read Less

This was our first cruise and many commented that we had certainly jumped in at the deep end, however, we were not alone it seemed. Quite a few people had been attracted by the amazing cruise itinerary......The Amazon and the West Indies and a few more places thrown in for good measure !!! To be honest, we had no intention of going on a cruise but at the price this trip was offered at it was just too good to refuse. We booked a basic inside cabin and I think we were upgraded to a "standard plus". I won't say what we paid but it was an unbelievably good bargain as far as we were concerned but I do know many people paid a lot more than we did and for the extra all they got was, in our opinion anyway, a slightly better cabin in as much as a little bit more room and possibly windows too. Both we felt we didn't need. Having booked the holiday, I then started gleaning as much information about the trip as possible and soon realised the Marco Polo certainly seems to polarise opinions so here's mine ! The first thing is to consider where the trip is going to before choosing a cabin. On cold weather trips being over the kitchens might be advantageous, on warm ones probably not. Certainly being under the rear deck is one to avoid during warm weather as the noise from above must be awful when they move tables and chairs around at the crack of dawn and very late at night. Anywhere near the show lounge would probably be intolerable of those who go to bed before 11.00pm We hadn't thought about any of these things so it was by good luck our cabin was well placed and, in our opinion , perfectly adequate for our needs. We were amazed how all our luggage vanished in to drawers,wardrobes and under the bed. We had read criticisms about staff and we found them largely totally unfounded. The majority were hardworking and attentive although there are always the odd exceptions to the rule. I thought the crew in general were overworked and underpaid. I don't understand why tips are added to the bill , why not increase the fares paid and increase wages ? I don't like the fact that tips can be reduced either because it means that they are either being withheld or being unfairly handed out to the people who you have come in to most contact with meaning that if tips are seen as part of the wage packet, some crew members receive less than others. We found the food on the boat to be very good, judging by the amounts people were eating it couldn't be that bad ! Served meals in the Waldorf were pleasant, the self service Bistro is a bit canteen like for our liking but it does offer the opportunity to eat outside on the rear deck when weather permits. We chose a table for eight in the Waldorf and were fortunate to share with likeminded guests, 6 weeks of the same could have been trying had we not been lucky. Breakfast and lunch tables are allocated as you arrive so you get to meet different people each meal time which I found interesting as you shared your experiences. The ships dress code is not strictly adhered to. I chose a dinner jacket for formal nights but I'd say just as many wore suits. Informal nights suggest you wear a jacket but once the weather got warmer the majority of men abandoned the idea, myself included. I did speak to one lady who thought it was outrageous that men were allowed in to the Waldorf in such a state of undress, after all one of the reasons she booked the Marco Polo was because of the dress code. Of course she made no mention that 1) the alternative Bistro was closed because of norovirus and 2) ladies can choose to wear very lightweight sleeveless dresses. It ain't fair! Generally speaking I thought the ship was much better in appearance than I had expected. I thought the public areas were well appointed and actually, quite smart. Not tired as described by some.The outside wooden decks have a nice traditional feel but there isn't a huge amount of space when the weather gets nice. Sunbeds are at a premium and certainly, the uppermost sun lounge deck was not to our liking at all with no space between loungers to speak of, instead we chose to sit in a chair where ever a little space between other people was possible. I guess this is something that might be common to all cruises. One or two previous reports have made mention of soot being deposited on the decks. It happened again during our cruise and I have to say, on occasion was so thick it could and had to be brushed away each evening. On the last night of our trip to the West Indies, the party on the rear deck was cancelled as there were red hot lumps of burning soot landing on the decks. It was more like a firework display. I do wonder if the many coughs that people were suffering was in any way linked. I do know that clothes were actually getting ruined by sitting on sooty chairs and this situation needs some urgent attention.( Again, are you listening management?) The entertainment during the days was of no interest to me, I wanted to be outside so I can't really comment. I attended a few lectures which were of a very variable standard from poor to excellent and judging from the numbers falling asleep, even mid morning, I think my opinion was widely echoed ! Some things like the daily quizzes and the choir were very well attended, others not so much. The only one I tried was tossing bean bags in to a waste paper bin which , having been decried as "Butlins like" by an earlier poster, I have to take exception. It's damned difficult, much harder than darts ! The evening entertainment was again variable. The song and dance routines were very good but towards the end they started to be a little repetitive just because it was the same team. On some evenings they showed a film but the choice seemed rather odd, mostly children's films for an audience of pensioners. Apparently one film only had four people watching ! Our cruise itinerary was very good indeed and most stops were well planned. Arriving early, leaving late thus offering maximum time in port.There were a couple of exceptions, I don't know why Madeira was only a half day stop. Faial in the Azores became a full day to avoid a storm, why wasn't it always planned as such ? The visit to Ille du Salut was for most the best stop of the lot. The visit there should certainly be extended, this was a tendered stop and, as happens, these stops can be abandoned if the swell is too big. We were lucky that our stop went ahead despite the sea being quite rough.Take note if you are planning a cruise anywhere where the likely hood of poor weather can effect your stops. Organised trips in the ports of call were in my opinion, poor value for money. The one lesson I soon learnt was to DIY your own. Not everyone feels comfortable doing so but for us it's the only way. Not only do you usually save money, you get your own tailor made trip without being part of a crowd. I have to say though, the Marco Polo trips we went on were well organised but, particularly if you are wildlife watching, overcrowded and noisy due to the number of people involved. I was also surprised that no one asked for opinions about the trips and it also seems that no one attempts to improve them from one year to the next. Another example of no one listening as far as the cruise management is concerned. Talking of management, that's where my huge negative comes in to play.I thought they were awful. I soon discovered that the boat is leased, crew and all, by Cruise and Maritime who also appear to have some of their own staff on board. Don't ask me who is employed by who because it's not always obvious. I am not sure what the roles the Cruise and Maritime staff are supposed to carry out either so perhaps my criticism is unfair but again, maybe it's the fault of management in the constant failure to communicate. Some people criticised the fact the ship's Captain rarely spoke over the public address system Personally I don't care. We had announcements made each day on his behalf to tell us were we were and what were the available daily activities. These were made by the Cruise Director who also introduced and closed some of the entertainments in a rather unctuous Hughie Green style but was otherwise hardly seen. We had the Guest Service Manager give us daily updates on the state of the norovirus outbreak but information was limited to wether restrictions had stayed in place, and reminders about hygiene standards that should be maintained. Never were we told the scale of the problem, how many new cases there were daily and wether there were both crew and guests involved. Most importantly too, we were never told why certain things were no longer in operation. Perhaps if this had been communicated there would be less scepticism. The outbreak of norovirus seems to be something that happens regularly and not just on cruise ships and in fairness, the crew worked extremely hard to control it. They were let down by both guests and crew members who simply flouted requests to sanitise their hands. I reminded one passenger reboarding the boat and someone else remarked to the security guard scanning their pass that the four crew members in front of them hadn't sanitised either. He simply smiled.A report of the incident was made at reception but to my knowledge it was not responded to. There seemed to be little sense in some of the decisions made. Why abandon the leather bound menus in the Waldorf , issuing instead disposable ones, when on a daily basis, at choir practice the music sheets were handed out and handed back again for future use ? Why close down the card room and library use ? Fine, don't lend books and cards but a chair is a chair no matter where it is. Why shut the table tennis room if you have your own bat and ball ? How come deck quoits was still going on ? The list of inconsistencies goes on and on but again lack of communication didn't help passenger disgruntlement. As a token of good will all passengers received a £75 reduction on our individual bar bills and a 25% discount of a future cruise but you had to book within 6 weeks to claim the latter. I'm not sure if that would be considered a fair settlement by most. Personally I was happy enough but as previously stated I paid a bargain price for my cruise. Someone who had paid several thousand more might disagree. I didn't use any of the withdrawn amenities anyway, the only exception being the Bistro. It must have been unavailable for 50% of the trip or three weeks in real terms. This coincided with much of the warmer weather and eating outside would have been an attractive proposition. The other effect of withdrawing the Bistro was to add pressure on the Waldorf. Queuing was the order of the day both at breakfast and lunchtimes. For us it meant foregoing lunch and getting up early. No bad thing really as over indulging is easy when you can have three meals plus high tea ( which we also avoided because of the queue.) It was a long wait between meals though, especially for an 8.15pm dinner. My opinion of the ship's management didn't improve during our horrible storm experience either. For those who were in their cabins, as instructed by the management , there was virtually no communication at all. No reassurances, nothing other than warnings to sit on the floor as we were about to undertake a very difficult manoeuvre. We only learnt of the tragic event that led to the death of a passenger by watching the TV news, and later by ship's gossip. Once again, I thought it was in hugely bad taste that no mention, no offers of condolence on behalf of management and guests alike was made. No, it as business as usual the following day, albeit an announcement that entertainments were limite . Appalling. There will in due course be a full investigation in to the events that led up to that fateful accident and I trust the truth will be revealed. Finally you might ask, would I recommend the ship and in particularly this cruise ? I think the ship has it's own charm and it exceeded my expectations which were lower as a result of reading the negatives made by previous guests here on Cruise Critic. I guess it's the equivalent of choosing between a veteran car and a modern one. For some, the charm of a past age is irresistible, for others the lack of more modern amenities is a definite negative. Personally, I like the ship. Sort out the soot and get better senior managers who communicate properly with their guests and you have solved most problems. As for the 42 night Amazon cruise, well you can make your own mind up. I am glad we did it but I probably wouldn't do it again even though there would be a temptation to do it a second time having learnt from the first ! Again, shame the management don't try to tweak the trip to improve on the shortcomings. I suppose, like so many, the Amazon didn't deliver on the image I imagined prior to embarking. The rain forest image didn't materialise. The reality is we never really ventured very far from the main river but that in itself is a remarkable journey which takes you nearly a 1000 miles from the sea. All the other ports of call lived up to expectation, mainly because I didn't expect too much ! The sea days were a bit of a trial, especially on the return journey with so little to look forward to compared to the outward one when gradually the weather got warmer and the destinations arrived at. Again, with no previous experience, I was naive, we did after all travel nearly 120000 remarkable miles. Just being in the middle of the Atlantic and witnessing first hand this huge wilderness is something not many people have done. Go ahead, give it a try. Along with some memories there is also the strong likelihood you will make some new friends for life.   Read Less

Just got back from cruise to Caribbean left from Tilbury and hit rough seas was sea sick for 4 days went to see doctor on ship BIG MISTAKE. Cost me £890.83p and mine was cheapest real rip off merchant do not go to see the doctor some on board had bills for £5000 and over. I had blood tests did not know till I saw print out at end of cruise he only needed to give me an injection I was in know fit state to know what was happening. The ship is very tired but it grew on me through out the cruise soot coming from funnel and sparks hitting deck needs overall badly.The entertainment staff were amazing worked so hard did an amazing job. Could not fault them at all worked very hard. Buffet staff carried red hot water around in buckets to put in water urn and food brought up in lifts from kitchens. Could not get good cup of tea in buffet as water was not hot enough so was on coffee all holiday. Food was not bad did their best in not good conditions not a lot to choose from but very small ship the main restaurant was good. The hygiene on the ship was the best I have been on though people still had problems but it was not the ships fault they did their best. I would not go on it again it was too small for me. JUST DO NOT VISIT DOCTOR my insurance is not paying out so be very careful. Some people left at Azores before even reaching Caribbean and some flew back from Barbados did not want to do trip back. Read Less

Used the coach from Victoria without any problem. Fairly long queue for checking in at Tilbury but we were on last coach of 4 at around same time so to be expected. First impressions of Ship were very good - nice and clean and shown to cabin straight away. As advised in advance the Orinoco was doubtful and there was a letter to confirm this. Revised schedule added two Caribbean islands ( although Grenada had to be swapped to St Lucia due to forecast high swell which would have made tendering difficult and too dangerous )The Amazon and Devils Island were highlights of this wonderful itinerary. Waldorf food was excellent with good choice considering the price of this cruise,with friendly waiters. Ours was from Burma and excellent. The self service Marcos was very busy at times with lack of seating only on a few occasions at Lunch and Breakfast but then only when the weather prevented use of the outside area. Sometimes a shortage of cups / glasses but if you take one of those insulated cups you can also use this for ice! Swimming pool out of use in the Amazon due to silt and regulations. Lots of varied things to do during the days at sea although we mostly just laze away on a sunbed. Entertainment Team very good and good evening shows by the resident singers / dancers and musicians. Richard the cruise director leads from the front and probably the best we have seen. Compared to other cruises we have been on the drink prices are excessive. £3:15 for a "large" beer which was only 40 CL. Not many people drinking in the bars at these prices and many said if it had been more reasonable they would have used the bars more. Water in cabin £2:20 a bottle !! Excursions very expensive as they are on most cruise lines - we did own thing bar one trip as we wanted to guarantee seeing the meeting of the waters. Some people complained it rained alot ( IN A RAIN FORREST !! ) Our cabin stewardess deck 7 stbd fwd was first class and always very cheerful. Disembarkation was smooth enough as we were on the Victoria Coach so amongst first off apart from those who took own luggage with them. I think others might have had a long wait though. Lots of people requested tipping forms as like us they prefer to tip the Cabin Steward and Waiter personally. Read Less