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Spirit of Adventure Cruises | Holland America Cruises | Yachts of Seaborne Cruises | Voyages of Discovery Cruises | Other Cruise Lines

Baltic cruise on Discovery
Reviewed By: Mottram, Chester on 31st Aug 2008
Cruise Line: Voyages of Discovery	Times cruised before: 3-5
Cruise Ship: MV Discovery	Sailed: August, 2008
Destination: Baltic	Age: 65+

My wife and I and two friends flew to Copenhagen on 14 August 2008 to join MV Discovery for a 10 night cruise in the Baltic. First impressions of the ship were that it was well furnished and attractive but a little dated and in need of some modernisation. We were in a grade "G" cabin which was of adequate size and reasonably well equipped with TV, shower etc. There was some engine noise which was quite noticable on the first night but thereafter became normal and I fell asleep within seconds of throwing myself on the comfortable bed - my wife usually finds it difficult to sleep in strange beds and suffered some sleepless hours in her bed on the ship. Talking about engines, it should be mentioned that one of the ship's four engines was not working and in consequence the ship's speed was reduced and the time spent in some ports was less than shown in the originally published programme. We had been notified of this a couple of weeks before sailing so it was not a surprise. The meals on board were of a high standard and the waiter service in the main restaurant excellent. On one night of the cruise one is allowed into the "Yact Club" restaurant and the food and service in there is top notch. The entertainment was provided by: the ship's singers and dancers; a band comprising 5 musicians; a trio of young ladies on piano, violin and bass and a male guitarist and woman singer. All were good. In addition there were the usual quizzes etc. The ship had an historian and a Baltic tour expert on board who gave excellent lectures in their respective subjects. The historian was the most eloquent speaker I have ever heard. The officers and crew were all very helpful and friendly and the atmosphere generally on board was very relaxed and congenial. Independent travel in Russia necessitates the purchse of a visa at a cost of £72 so we did the tours organised by the ship for which no visa is required. The tours were well organised but the sites, particularly the Hermitage, were packed with fellow tourists and it was no pleasure jostling in the crowds. I would not recommend a visit to the Hemitage in August. The ship prices for drinks were very reasonable (pint of Bass £2.45) and no attempt was made to add gratuities to the bill (I suspect American passengers are billed) and no charges were levied for use of port shuttle buses which I understand some cruise firms do.
Quality of Food
Breakfast and lunch in the self service Lido and dinner in the Seven Continents restaurant, except one dinner in the excellent Yact Club
Entertainment
Ship's entertainers all very good - however no comedians and no visiting entertainers
Shore Excursions
Best was canal trip in St Petersburg but did not enjoy visit to overcrowded Hermitage
Staff
Waiter Jerome and his colleages were very good.
Children's Facilities	n/a

Onboard Activities
Good choice available
Cabins
Good size and facilities
Overall Rating