We chose this cruise, and ship, because we wanted to visit South America and the itinerary was just what we wanted. Never having sailed with HAL before, we were encouraged by remarks that they are 'just like Cunard', our favourite line. Sadly this proved to be, most definitely, not the case.

The embarkation, at Valparaiso, was the most shambolic we have ever encountered in 20+ cruises. There were around 2000 passengers all waiting to board, in a small terminal with very few seats, no access to water or food and nobody who seemed to know what was going on or how to organise anything. We had to stand for almost three hours before they actually started to board passengers. At no point did anyone from the ship offer any advice, help or apology for treating people who had paid so much money so badly.

We breathed a sigh of relief once we were actually in our cabin, until finding that we had to actually attend a muster on deck; this was another hour standing (again whilst no-one seemed to know what was supposed to be happening) but in the sun this time. No other cruise lines seem to have done this since Covid led to in cabin videos. Read more