Excellent cruise let down by high drink prices

All aspects of embarkation, room, public areas on board ship were excellent. The only thing that let the ship down was the extortionate charges for drinks and other amenities on board. In the first instance, the daily “service charge” for a couple is $23 per day (current exchange rate £1.27) which amounts to £18.11 x 14 night cruise amounts to £253.54. Then everything purchased on board is levied with a 15% service charge, no matter what. Cheapest bottle of wine in restaurant is $29. Average was around $45 plus 15% service change. If you take your own wine to the restaurant, then it’s $20 plus 15%! So if you are use to having wine with your dinner, it can get rather expensive. After dinner drinks are on average $20 each, so again things can mount up. Dining in the Veranda Restaurant will cost you close on $40 each plus of course any drinks you have during and after you meal. If visiting the theatre and you want a box for the shows, again this will cost you $60 plus 15%! But be aware the show is only on for 45 minutes.

The shows on the whole were average, although the two nights with the comedians and the two nights with The Beatles Experience were first class. All other shows were passable, but bear in mind that this only accounted for 4 out of the 14 day trip! The two daily speakers were OK but one was about Customs and Excise, the other was about Military Bands, so if you are into either then it would be right down your alley – but not mine!.