This cruise (a 'taster' for us) was an embarrassment. Amsterdam was our first port of call (9am disembark). Ships arriving in Amsterdam must first navigate a massive lock. Between queuing up in this (surely the Captain should be aware of this possibility and take preventative action?), finally being cleared by port authorities, having a faulty gangway, and then surging en-masse to go individually through immigration we had lost most of the first morning. We queued to get off that ship for over two hours... We were given extra time on land but this butted up into teatime so most people returned after only a few hours ashore. We were given free drinks with dinner to compensate but the second glass of wine was very reluctantly poured.

Our second day was much better, as we arrived in Antwerp early. It was our first whole day out. We were disembarking back at Tilbury the next morning so passengers using porters were advised to put their cases outside their rooms for collection by 7pm that evening. People were unaware of this until this day, and several had no small bag to put their night clothes and toothbrushes in to carry off the next morning. That aside, we had dinner and I needed a loo visit before dessert, so left the restaurant and discovered the loos on two floors were closed for cleaning. I decided to take the lift to our room and use our own loo, but the lifts were all closed for baggage transfers!! I am sprightly, so despite the irritation I walked down (and up again!) several flights to our room. I passed two elderly couples en route having trouble negotiating the stairs. One lady was gasping for breath and being helped by other passengers. She badly needed one of those lifts. I should mention, a lot of people on this cruise were elderly...

I feel this cruise was run for the benefit of staff efficiency and not for passenger needs. The staff all worked hard, but lack of forethought on the first whole day, and removing essential passenger facilities on that last evening was reprehensible. I'm afraid the Captain's one and only announcement on the last evening was an insult. We passengers all thought he was going to offer an explanation or two and certainly apologise but he told us our longitude/latitude, the amplitude of the waves etc. Everyone laughed in disbelief!! I won't repeat what some of them said. Read more