Queen Isabel Review
Rating by category
Additional details
After spending 2 days in Lisbon we were taken by coach to the Queen Isabel, stopping for a buffet lunch at an hotel along the way. After a short wait in the lounge with a welcoming drink we went to our cabins where our luggage was waiting for us. We had opted for a Junior suite cabin on the third floor which featured a small balcony. Room was nicely decorated with an adequate bathroom and includes slippers and robes. There was no Nespresso and tea station as advertised in their brochure and as far as I am aware nobody else had it in their cabins. There was a tea and coffee station on the second deck, as well as lemon water and biscuits, where you could help yourself.
Staff are lovely and charming, but there would seem to be strict rules to be adhered to on this ship, and there is no flexibility or regard to customer satisfaction in some respects. Miguel plays the piano and sings during afternoon tea and after dinner in the evening and this finishes at 11.00pm. Although he would like to sing more, he is not allowed in case he disturbs other guests. As down below the lounge is the restaurant and we had the first cabin nearest the lounge, we know that you could not hear the music in other parts of the ship.
Evening meals can be confusing as the menu was often inaccurate, eg minestrone soup turned out to be a very watery vegetable soup and orange pudding was cinnamon pudding and steak turned out to be veal. So we were well versed to being told that it was a mistake on the menu, which was quite disappointing to be served something you didn't think you had ordered. Apart from the vegetarian menu, the main menu offered either a meat or fish course as the main meal. One evening my husband asked if he could have the rosti that accompanied the lamb shank with his fish meal instead of the risotto, but this was refused by the chef. We have never experienced such an uncompromising attitude with regard to food choices before and although when bringing this to the attention of the cruise manager who agreed with us, many other people encountered the same problem. I would say that the food was a bit hit or miss, portions are small and there is a lack of vegetables with main courses. Although a small eater, after the first night I had all courses, because I still felt a little hungry.