You only have once chance to make a good first impression. Many of us had traveled many hours and arrived in Lucerne, tired and a little bit "cranky". We were anxious to get on our coach for the transfer to Basel and Emerald Dawn. Emerald's representative at the airport, Yvonne, was welcoming and pleasant. Unfortunately she didn't know where our coach was. First it was stuck in traffic (10:00 am Saturday morning?), Then "we aren't certain where it is". Finally it is in the airport and doesn't know where we are. Similar occurrence for guests arriving later. Their delay (over two hours) caused them to miss the light lunch by about twenty minutes and having the beer or wine charged to their room. CD Michael should have taken care of this.

That having been said, Emerald Dawn was a great ship with a wonderful crew. Everything was remarkably clean and "fresh" appearing. Room was immaculate , spacious with great balcony and very efficient bath. Breakfast was nicely handled with a large buffet in the main dining room and or a light continental version in the lounge area with access to the open decks.

Tours were well organized and had the advantage of starting at "civilized" hours like 9:00 am. Guides were fluent in English, knowledgeable of the local area and offered helpful suggestions for free time exploration. Lunch and dinner were well prepared with many options. Local wines and beers readily available for these meals. The pool and movie area are certainly unique on Emerald and offer a special experience. Read more