riviera yacht cruise reviews

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Riviera River Cruises   Reviews

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Reviews 4.1.

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Medieval Magic

Much enjoyed a week's cruising on the George Eliot - a new addition to the fleet and beautifully decorated. The crew were lovely, attentive and worked hard to make sure we kept safe (masks etc.) whilst giving us a good time. Food was out of this world - nothing too much trouble. Mostly enjoyed the guided tours but would have liked a bit more free time at some destinations but also appreciate that a schedule had to be kept as there are many locks en route. If you want less engine noise, make sure you book a room to the front of the ship.

Date of experience : October 09, 2021

Riviera River Cruising is the way to go I thoroughly enjoyed the intimate…

I thoroughly enjoyed the intimate vacation style of river cruising. I don't think I can go back to those oversized ships- so cold and impersonal. With RR cruising, wait staff was able to learn our names and provide unparalleled service.

Date of experience : August 24, 2022

Memorable Cruise

As one of just a few non-British passengers aboard the ship, and travelling solo, I wasn't sure how I would be received by my fellow passengers. I needn't have worried; I was often invited to join small groups for drinks or was joined by others who observed that I was alone. The food served throughout the day was delicious and the shore excursions were interesting. My stateroom was meticulously maintained and the ship was spotless.

Date of experience : May 20, 2022

Reply from Riviera River Cruises

Thank you for your gracious review - Riviera tries to always exceed guests expectations.

The staff was wonderful and helpful

The staff was wonderful and helpful. Emily Bronte is a beautiful ship. Loved the 24 hour coffee machine with the best cafe Latte. Good to know that the excursions were included and we had very good tour guides. Mostly had enough time for shopping. The food was well presented and a very good variety. Enjoyed the specialty restaurant. Excellent steak. Cabin was spacious enough for two guests with a door that opened to watch the views and get fresh air. My concerns were WIFI wasn't always consistent and prior to going to Saltzberg I would have liked to see the movie Sound of Music in the lounge.

Date of experience : October 23, 2022

Fantastic Cruise

I went on the Enchanting Rhine and Yuletide Markets cruise December 2021. I am booked on the same ship, MS Oscar Wilde, this December. I was solo last time and will be this time as well. First off, no single suplement! Thank you for that Riviera. I had previously cruised Viking 5 times and while Riviera was less of everything, it was just as lovely. My booking and check in was so smooth and my stateroom was great. Service was wonderful and the food was pretty good. It was so well presented I just can't complain and I'm always in it for the Christmas Market food anyway. The gift shop was stocked with so many pretty things I went back a couple of times! I read the other reviews here and the complaints about tipping are what made me want to review. You need to tip for service! You know it's theright thing to do and anyone who says differently has no respect for the service industry at home or abroad. They do not tell you what to tip, just suggestions to be helpful. Tip what you can afford. But if you can afford a European cruise, don't skimp on your providers please.

Date of experience : December 07, 2022

As of January 1,2023 Riviera River…

As of January 1,2023 Riviera River cruises will be the only river cruise company that my company Travel While U Can will be marketing. In 2018 when Riviera River cruises started marketing in the US I became a Specialist. I find the prices affordable for my senior clients. No hidden fees. Great value. Bruce Metzendorf is a great BDM, he goes above and beyond helping with bookings and listens to suggestions. His presentations are very personable and professional. My agents and clients are always glad to see and hear one of Bruce's presentations. He is a keeper as we say in the travel industry. Riviera River cruises may not be well known here in the states due to the competition of the higher priced companies. I would like to hear from Riviera River cruises about the possibility of shared advertising in local papers in my area. I am opened to the idea since I know the editor and publisher personally.

Date of experience : November 13, 2022

Our host did a fantastic job of making us feel welcome

Our host did a fantastic job of making us feel comfortable and welcome. We were the only non-UK guests on the ship and she made a point to make us feel welcome and part of the group. The second was the dining room staff. They were also outstanding in their service and friendliness.

Date of experience : June 03, 2022

They had good ship leaders/guides

They had good ship leaders/guides. They gave everyone the drink plan, which was nice. They tried to meet a variety of needs on the last day -- scheduling 3 different buses from the gardens to the boat. They provided a good variety for our food preferences/allergies.

Date of experience : April 25, 2022

The Douro River is a great river experience

Got to experience a wonderful voyage on the Douro Splendour with a great crew. The trip is very scenic and the ship looks great. The food was good, but not wow. The included wine selection was fairly limited. The service was excellent. The Douro River is a must see for river cruisers.

Date of experience : November 06, 2022

Food/Service

The food was ok but saying that I'm an American. The dining staff was not consistent. Some nights we would get water and bread right away and other nights no bread and needed to wait for water. My daughter has an allergy and they tried. Salad was not served most nights and that is something we missed. The tea/coffee station only have pastries a few of the mornings, not all mornings. Also, no snacks most days, I did see 3 cookies one afternoon. The cabins were clean, and the tour guides were exceptional. Most guests were European, and I think they seemed happy with the food.

I thought Riviera had some great…

I thought Riviera had some great excursions and liked the fact that alcohol was not included in the overall price; however, the pricing was quite reasonable for wine or beer. Service was good and ships were quite clean and attractive.

Date of experience : December 16, 2019

The Riviera Blue Danube Cruise

Riviera Blue Danube cruise from Budapest: our first ever cruise and it was fantastic! We'd waited from 2020, kept amending the dates each year, but it was certainly worth the wait! I was one of the youngest guests on board at not yet 60, but didn't feel to be of the wrong generation. Everything from the excursions, to the cabins, to food & drink, from staff to itinerary was fabulous. The crew are helpful, polite, efficient & welcoming: nothing is too much trouble. The local guides are excellent too. We had a fabulous week, relaxing, seeing & experiencing new countries, meeting new people & just enjoying the whole experience. We loved our top-deck cabin with the wonderful complimentary extras like fruit and prosecco in the cabin one day, pre-dinner drinks every day, chocolates when in Austria, handcreams etc. But the middle-deck cabins would be great too, but we feel lower-deck would not be for us. Not much entertainment but then this suited us, the odd evenings that something was on, was fine. Already booked our next cruise, so obviously we were impressed! Our cruise was on the William Wordsworth.

Date of experience : July 15, 2022

Wonderful ship and wonderful staff !!

Wonderful ship and wonderful staff !!! I would never hesitate to book or suggest Riviera Cruises to anyone ! They are as good as all the other riverboat companies that have been around for a long time ! I am very happy that I was able to experience this !!

Date of experience : October 09, 2019

Very disappointed having returned from…

Very disappointed having returned from my first Riviera Cruise having paid a large premium for sole occupancy in a cabin to travel with a man and wife team, I am now in a position that I was planning to travel again with 3 friends so as to have a cabin share and have been told that both occupants MUST pay for the drinks package. I am happy to do so as are the other two guests sharing a cabin but my friend in my cabin is not allowed to drink due to medication; however Riviera simply refuse to give one drinks package and one pay as you go for the other cabin member. I feel having brought 3 new guests to them, I myself being the returning traveller, have very much drawn the short straw. How very disappointing and sad for our entire party of 4 that they should be so short-sighted and so badly customer focused.

Date of experience : July 31, 2023

The staff were amazing

The staff were amazing. Very knowledgeable and always around to assist if need be. Cabins were nice and always kept clean by an amazing cleaning crew. Food was good - maybe a few more options for people who do not eat meat and rich foods. Only thing I would have to say that was not great was the full day trip to Normandy with the box lunch. Great idea but if it rains there is really no where for you to go and eat so I did see a lot of the lunches being thrown out. Also might include a few more tours as you really had plenty of time on your own to explore and first timers to an area might like a bit more of guided tours. Overall had an amazing time and would travel again with Riviera Cruise Lines

Date of experience : August 30, 2022

This was the most relaxing vacation I…

This was the most relaxing vacation I have ever taken. The staff and our guide, Marthese, were friendly and helpful. The ship was in excellent condition and the food was outstanding. My one complaint was because we scheduled from American, we were given no help with transportation getting to the ship. The people from Britian were given a lot of information that we were not provided so we felt a little left out. We did have difficulty in locating the ship on the day of departure because the ship wasn't where it was supposed to be the morning of embarkation. It is my understanding that the ship usually docks the Sat. night before the day of the cruise. For some reason, that did not happen this trip. We had walked the docks for several hours, even stopped at the Coast Guard office and they could not help us in any way. We were ready to call the emergency phone number when we finally spotted the ship. Also, we were not informed that there would lunch served that day. Having said all that, we would highly recommend Riviera River Cruise and hope to sail with them again.

Date of experience : August 28, 2022

A very enjoyable Riviera Cruise

We had a great trip with Riviera River Cruises aboard the MS Geoffrey Chaucer. The ship is beautiful, the itinerary was interesting and onboard atmosphere very relaxed, friendly and fun.

Date of experience : October 19, 2022

Riviera River Cruise Review

The staff, ship and cuisine were all fantastic! I would highly recommend Riviera River Cruises to anyone interested in river cruising in Europe.

Date of experience : October 24, 2022

Wonderful surprise.

My wife and I just returned from our first and definitely not our last Riviera river cruise aboard the George Eliot. I was not expecting anything special as the price was so attractive. We were the first to board the boat as our hotel was only 200 feet away. My first impression when I stepped inside was that it was every bit as nice as Viking and Avalon. Actually only Uniworld's interior exceeded what we found aboard the George Eliot. The Staff was as good and in some cases better than Viking's and that says a lot as I am a huge fan of Viking and Uniworld. The boat was clean and felt brand new. The food was crazy good and desserts were always over the top. The only area I felt could be improved, was the bathroom, which was very small but being 234 pounds was part of the problem. When we first arrived, we let the people in customer service know Air Lingus had lost my wife's luggage two days previously and we were getting very little assistance from the air carrier. A very young but professional woman by the name of Bernadette said she would take care of the problem AND SHE DID. This was my eighth river cruise and dollar for dollar the best value! The Medieval Germany River Cruise is a must do itinerary.

Date of experience : June 13, 2022

Your beautiful vessels

Your beautiful vessels. Your amazing staff. The dining is always 5*. Everyone made you feel like family !! We can't wait to go again next year !!

Date of experience : April 29, 2022

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Riviera Travel   Reviews

In the Tour operator category

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Reviews 4.6.

4,152 total

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Review of booking experience only

We have looked at so many companies and websites before choosing Riviera and did so primarily because the Signature Tours have a max group of 25. The search function on the holiday pages could be improved but it wasn't awful. When it came to booking it looked as though we had two identical options to choose from - when I check them, one offer a double room that the other didn't even although all the departure information was identical. Seemed a bit odd and unnecessary but I found what I wanted once I double checked it.

Date of experience : 17 July 2024

Long wait on telephone

The wait in the telephone queue was around 25 minutes but once answered I was dealt with professionally and efficiently. I was trying to update passport details online but could not as the departure date was 45 days away. Perhaps consider reducing that to take the load off telephone enquiries.

Date of experience : 13 July 2024

Reply from Riviera Travel

Good afternoon, thank you for your patience whist we investigated your long call wait. May we sincerely apologise for your lack of service on this day. We did indeed have an unprecedented volume of calls in a short space of time and this created a temporary extended wait to speak to our agents. We will now review if it would have been possible to avoid this for the future reference, by analysing the call flow versus available agents during this period. Once again, our apologise and thank you for raising this with us. Customer Relations Team.

Problem solved!

I was trying to book a danube river cruise for next year on line. Entered all the information, got to the payment page, clicked on pay .... and lost my Internet connection! So I phoned Riviera, got connected very quickly to an agent called Charlotte who was very efficient in finding my details,importing all my information onto their system and getting the holiday booked. So problem solved, stress dealt with and now just the holiday to look forward to. Very impressed with this service.

Thank you for your lovely comments for Charlotte, these are much appreciated and we are so pleased all was sorted to your satisfaction. Best regards, Riviera Travel

4 Star prices for 1 Star service

Our return flight was cancelled Riviera Travel have left us to sort out claims. We paid for an all-inclusive package flights etc. All this company can do is take your money and once in their hands ignore all complaints. Supposed flight was from Bristol then changed to Gatwick 0600 book-in. Incurring hotel and rail cost. Be very aware before using them. We shan't again.

Date of experience : 27 June 2024

Good afternoon, thank you for your comments and we are sorry that your flight was cancelled. There may be many reasons why an airline cancels a route, and so we are required to offer guests an alternative. Naturally, there is no obligation to accept the alternative and a full refund could be actioned if before travel. However, we have asked you for more information so that we can check the circumstances and investigate this thoroughly and respond further. Best regards, Riviera Travel

Didn’t wait very long before Laurie…

Didn’t wait very long before Laurie answered the phone. He took me through the booking process for our Guided Tour of Sardinia. Checked all our details and explained all I needed to know about the Tour. As for paying my card would not appear on his computer but he asked me to input it again, still not working. Apologied the problem being his end. Said he would ring me back, which he did but it still would not register. Ask if my wife could try, so he phoned her and it registered, however, the card was declined . Laurie was not flustered as we then used another card, which worked first time. Again he apologised, not his fault. He was so understanding and so polite. We completed everything fully. I have had many holidays with Riviera and everyone I have spoken is professional and personal, thank you.

Thank you for sharing your experience of our booking process. We are delighted that you have been satisfied with our service and look forward to welcoming you on your holiday.

Helpful staff

Helpful staff, Gemma guided me through the booking process, and looked at every option for joining the cruise to ensure we had the best option for us.

Elaine is so efficient and helpful…

Elaine Kilford is so efficient and helpful each time I book a holiday.. Seven now! She advises me and points out things I may like and is always quick to respond with any of my queries. Well done

Date of experience : 16 July 2024

Thank you for sharing your experience and we are delighted you are satisfied with our service. We look forward to welcoming you again on your next trip.

Solo traveller

I Phoned to enquire about a potential solos holiday to the Italian Lakes. The sales advisor was so friendly, professional and efficient. Everything was explained well and I was made to feel valued. The price was good too! Needless to say I booked the holiday.

Great to hear and many thanks for sharing.

Great customer service

I rang the Riviera office to book a holiday for next year. I spoke to Sue, who was very friendly and helpful. I have been on several Riviera holidays, and always enjoy them.

Date of experience : 15 July 2024

Thank you for your kind review for Sue and we are so pleased you enjoyed our holidays and we hope we can welcome you on any more to come. Best regards, Riviera Travel

We keep coming back to Riviera Travel!

We've travelled with Riviera Travel several times and have always had a memorable experience. There are so many different types of holiday and locations to choose from and the staff- both when booking, and when on holiday - are very professional and attentive. There are often good incentives to become a repeat customer too! So getting back in touch today about special offers on a 2025 holiday was very productive!

Thank you for your kind review and we are delighted to read you are satisfied with our service. We very much look forward to welcoming you on your next trip.

Excellent Booking System

I was able to book most of my holiday online, but when I had a query, I called their number, and almost immediately was through to a polite, helpful member of staff, who swiftly sorted out my query.

Date of experience : 11 July 2024

Just got back from a wonderful yaught cruise on MS Mendula with Riviera Travel. It was our first experience of a yaught cruise and we will definitely be doing another one. There were six of us in our party, the yaught had 15 cabins so only 30 customers and they were a great bunch everybody really friendly. The first night we ate on board, a beautiful 3 course, couldn't fault it. There were 4 tables of 8 and everyone seemed to get on well. Staff were great especially Jo our waiter who went above and beyond to help and please you. Our cabin was a great size in the bottom of the yaught with enduite, our friends were on first level but rooms were smaller but brighter. We stopped at some lovely coves for swim stops and gorgeous little harboursides for free time or tours. All in all a wonderful experience.

Date of experience : 29 June 2024

Thank you for your review and we are delighted you enjoyed your first yacht cruise with us - we hope you are hooked! We very much look forward to seeing you again soon.

I tried to book our river cruise via the website booking but unfortunately it hung half way through. I called instead and was glad it hung online because the booking was taken by Jessica who was absolutely lovely and so helpful. It was a much better booking experience for me and I cannot praise her enough for her customer service and attention to detail. Well done Riviera, if our cruise experience next year is as good I will be a very happy customer indeed.

That's lovely to hear and many thanks for sharing your experience. We look forward to welcoming you on your holiday.

Extremely Helpful

Extremely helpful lady on the telephone. She understood our requirements and we were happy to go ahead and book.

Date of experience : 12 July 2024

That's great to hear and many thanks for sharing your experience. We look forward to welcoming you.

Niki was extremely helpful

Niki was extremely helpful. I lost my dear husband last year, and so have to now book holidays by myself, which isn't easy.

Thank you for sharing your experience of our booking process and we are so pleased you are satisfied with our service. We look forward to welcoming you.

Friendly and Informative easy to book

Actually being able to speak to a real person, who knew all about the holiday we were booking and was able to advise us on which cabin and answer all our questions. Very easy and a pleasure to talk to the customer service agent. Thanks

Date of experience : 09 July 2024

Many thanks for sharing your experience of our booking process and we look forward to welcoming you on your holiday.

The easy way to book a trip

A superb operator /agent dealt with my booking in an outstanding fashion (Lucia). She made the process easy and re assuring giving me complete peace of mind. Cannot speak highly enough about her professionalism and competence.She would be an asset to any business.

Thank you for sharing your experience of our booking process and we look forward to welcoming you on your holiday.

Jane was so helpful

Jane was so helpful, answering any question that I had, and the the whole process was done quickly.

Thank you for your review and we are delighted to hear you were satisfied with our service.

Dissatisfied and concerned

We tried to do a booking on line, but we found that the actual booking could only be done on line if you already had an account with Riviera. As we have been with Riviera several times before, we manged to do that. However, when the confirmation was sent by email we found an error, which I tried to correct, but this was blocked, and we could only contact by telephone. I did get through and was promised that this would be corrected immediately. Now 24 hours later, despite further emails from us, on line chat from us, and the phone call promise, this error has not been corrected, and we have not received a corrected confirmation. Today all the phone lines are ridiculously busy, and we have not been able to get through again. We remain dissatisfied and concerned, not what we have come to expect from Riviera.

Good afternoon, thank you for your comments and we are sorry you are unhappy. You do not require an account to make a booking with us, but one is supplied upon confirmation. This allows you to input your passenger information. However, if the change is regarding important flight information such as name changes, this cannot be actioned in your account, as we need to inform the airline and ensure they will change this without penalty or if we need to book a new flight. Without knowing the full information this is merely a possibly, so I have requested your details to take a better look at your account and will reply once we have more information. Best regards, Riviera Travel

Hidden potential increase in price

I disliked that having booked online we were phoned next day to say air fare was subject to change. In our case it was increased. Seemingly this happens in smaller airports - in our case Edinburgh. This obviously should be made clearer. Have flown with Rivera from Edinburgh previously with no problem.

Date of experience : 24 June 2024

Good afternoon, we are so sorry to read that the costings increased for Edinburgh flights. This generally occurs when we request extra seats from the airline, after our main allocation of seats are sold out. We do understand this will have been disappointing and would usually be able to offer an alternative airport so that you have options before deciding upon the extra costing to gain Edinburgh. We hope you have a wonderful holiday. Best regards, Riviera Travel

REVIEW: RIVIERA RIVER CRUISES ~BASEL-TO-COLOGNE RHINE RIVER CRUISE ON THE MS GEOFFREY CHAUCER

In mid-October, my travel buddy, Judy, and I flew to Zurich to embark on a Basel to Cologne Rhine Cruise offered by Riviera Cruises. Our transportation was not included, so we flew to Zurich and then took a train to Basel, where we boarded the ship.

Evaluating the Cruise

Scoring is done for each category with a maximum of 10 points each.

10/10  Boarding and Disembarkation: Upon landing, guests with airline packages from Riviera are transferred to a coach and brought directly to the ship docked in Basel, Switzerland. Others arrive on their own by taxi. On the final morning of the cruise, all guests disembark in  Cologne., Germany. Their luggage gets picked up outside staterooms, transferred to a holding area, and rechecked with each guest before departing. Seamless!

Why choose Riviera:  I’ve taken two Riviera cruises, and they successfully provide a high-end cruising experience at a value price. They offer very similar facilities and destinations when compared to luxury brands. I would not hesitate to recommend and would love to take another Riviera River Cruise.

10/10  Ship Design: The Geoffrey Chaucer, Riviera’s newest boat, is an ‘all suite’ ship, Swiss-operated, and genuinely world-class. The ship carries a crew of 44 who serve 169 guests. The public areas include surrounding glass windows, so you always keep sight of what’s outside. The upper Sun Deck offers a splash pool, putting green, and 360-degree views. The ship also has a fitness center, sauna, steam room, and an elevator between floors.

10/10  Staterooms:   Cabins measure 183 square feet, among the largest on any cruiser gracing any European river. Rooms were designed to offer a place for everything. The floor-to-ceiling windows slide open, so you feel like you are standing outdoors even without a balcony. Marble bathrooms are compact but functional.

10/10 Drinks: Complementary wine, beer, and soft drinks are served with lunch and dinner. Guests on the Diamond Deck (upper) receive a coupon for a complimentary cocktail each day. Bartenders are very knowledgeable.

5/10  Shopping: River cruise itineraries highlight historic and cultural sites, making shopping less important. The ship contains a small gift shop. Guests receive limited time to buy items in the Black Forest, Strasbourg, Rudesheim, and Lucerne when ashore.

5/10 Entertainment: Evening entertainment on this river cruise is limited. Occasionally, a local musician or dancer performs. The resident piano player was good, but his voice could have been better. Most guests retire after dinner to prepare for the next day’s activities.

10/10 Staff Attitude:   All the staff and crew were very friendly and helpful. Servers in the dining room quickly learned individual preferences. Housekeeping staff cleaned cabins twice a day. The cruise director gives daily informative presentations about upcoming excursions in the lounge. FYI:  Staff tips are not included, so envelopes are distributed at the end of the cruise.

10/10 Communication: Riviera’s online communication was easy and efficient. A packet of travel documents was sent ahead of time that answered every question. Emergency numbers were provided if a guest encountered delays in arrival. Wi-Fi onboard was free and surprisingly good.

9/10 Dining Aboard the Geoffrey Chaucer:

The Main Dining Room can accommodate everyone in one sitting. Riviera’s policy is open seating, so when you enter the dining room, you can find your own table or join others.

The central area serves a breakfast and lunch buffet. In the morning, the buffet presents just about every breakfast food you can imagine. There’s an omelet station at one end, or you can order breakfast off the menu.

Lunch brings a full salad bar, a variety of bread and cold cuts, a pasta of the day station, and a choice of other daily menu features (always including a hamburger). Of course, you may choose among many delicious desserts.

Dinners are more gourmet four-course meals (appetizer, soup, entrée, and dessert) and wine (included in the drinks package.) You may choose from three entrees of the day (one is vegetarian) or pick from the always-available salmon and beef dinners. Anyone still hungry may ask for seconds. The dining room staff are friendly and most helpful.

A smaller dining room option on the Diamond Deck is the Chef’s Restaurant. Guests can reserve a spot for dinner, but lunch here is first come, first served. Diners can watch the chef prepare entrées from the open kitchen. I felt this intimate restaurant offered a higher quality meal. Early risers will find pastries available before the main restaurant opens.

10/10 Ports of Call:  One of the best benefits of a Riviera cruise is that all shore excursions are included. Typically, they involve a walking or a bus tour at least once a day. Expert local guides lead the tours in each city. Passengers board the ship in Basel. Switzerland. They spend the following day in the Bernese Alps. Half-day excursions include the Black Forest, Strasbourg, Speyer, Rüdesheim, Koblenz, and Cologne, Germany.

Switzerland – The journey through the Bernese Alps, some of Switzerland’s most iconic countryside, is absolutely outstanding. The cogwheel train to the summit at Schynige Platte brought breathtaking sights. It’s impossible to describe the picture and emotion of standing before the legendary triumvirate of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. As a bonus, participants were greeted by two men dressed in traditional costumes playing Alphorns, those lengthy musical instruments.

Black Forest – This excursion begins with an early afternoon drive through the picturesque Black Forest to the crystal clear Titisee Lake. We stopped in the town of Titisee, where we saw a demonstration about cuckoo clocks. Some stopped for a slice of iconic Black Forest cake. Unfortunately, Titisee doesn’t offer much more than souvenir shops, so I was disappointed.

Strasbourg, France –  We were extremely lucky in Strasbourg because our guide moved our group into the empty cathedral directly in front of the famous astronomical clock. We were the only people there! The group was fortunate to see the clock in all its glory and watch the movement when it chimed on the hour. We also walked past the city’s canals and around the area called Le Petite France. Afterward, the outing included free time to explore and shop. Strasbourg offers fascinating history, detailed architecture, a fabulous cathedral, and fun shops.

Speyer – The boat traveled overnight, and the following morning, we visited Speyer. Unfortunately, it was Sunday, so many places were closed. We took a guided tour of the picturesque medieval town, highlighted by the city’s stunning Romanesque cathedral, founded in 1030. It contains a unique crypt and the tombs of eight German emperors, kings, and three empresses. However, mass was underway at the cathedral, so we couldn’t go in. In 1981, Speyer’s cathedral was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the largest and most important Romanesque structures.

Rüdesheim –  This stop brought a guided tour of the charming wine city of Rüdesheim, including the Drosselgasse, the heart of the old town, and Brömserburg Castle, dating back to 1275. Those who paid a bit extra were delighted by a tour through ‘Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet.’ Before returning to the ship, we enjoyed a special Rudesheim coffee made with Asbach brandy over three sugar cubes, hot coffee, and whipped cream with chocolate shavings. Yummy!

Koblenz – Rain was falling when we arrived in Koblenz, where Rhine and Moselle’s rivers meet. Nevertheless, I took an excellent guided tour of the historic center. I wish we’d had a chance to go up to the fortress, but we sailed onward toward Cologne in the early morning.

Rhine Gorge: – The afternoon brought one of the cruise highlights: castles. We passed through the famous Rhine Gorge, seeing picturesque riverside views of many castles. It’s no wonder the region is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cologne – We docked in the late afternoon, and many rode the coach as far as permitted and then walked to the cathedral. Cologne’s Gothic Cathedral stands a whopping 515 feet tall. The foundation was laid in 1248 and gradually added on until 1520. But, the church remained unfinished until the 19th century. The exterior suffers from pollution and needs cleaning. The interior is also rather dark.

Areas for Possible Improvement

The short time allotted in Lucerne is not long enough to allow participants to take in the memorable city highlights. The box lunch for this full-day Switzerland excursion could have been more hardy. Riviera offered no guided tours of Cologne’s cathedral, which would have been welcomed.

About Riviera River Cruises:

Riviera River Cruises offers river journeys through Europe on the   Danube, Douro, Main, Moselle, Rhine, Rhone and Seine rivers .  The company also offers small ship ocean cruises in the Adriatic.

Riviera attracts nearly all their guests from the United Kingdom, typically 50+ year-old couples. However, you’ll find some Americans and other English-speaking individuals aboard. The cruises focus on visits to historical and cultural sites. Guests are prepped for excursions by experienced cruise directors. The tours are led by local guides who are caring, professional, and highly knowledgeable. They are passionate about sharing what they know.

Why choose Riviera

I’ve taken two Riviera cruises, and they successfully provide a high-end cruising experience at a value price. They offer very similar facilities and destinations when compared to luxury brands. I would not hesitate to recommend and would love to take another Riviera River Cruise.

Photos credit Debi Lander

Cover photo: Castles on the Rhine

Thank you to Riviera River Cruises and All Things Cruise.

See Riviera River Cruises (cruisecompete.com)

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What it’s really like to go on a yacht cruise in Croatia – from idyllic swim stops to local cuisine

Author: Lucy Abbott

Published on: 21 September 2022

Updated on: 26 September 2022

Lucy Abbott joins Riviera Travel to sail the Split, Hvar and the Delights of Dalmatia itinerary, and discovers the beauty of a relaxing yacht cruise.

Standing on the dedicated swim platform at the rear of MS Mendula, I gaze out at the crystal-clear Adriatic sea, as majestic mountains frame the sky and the peaceful rocky beach lies ahead. I can’t help but jump in, breaking the peaceful water and joining an array of colourful fish. I pinch myself to double check this is real life and not an amazing dream that will rudely be interrupted by my alarm clock. Swimming further out, I look back to admire Riviera Travel’s stunning MS Mendula, the 30-guest twin-mastered yacht.

The start of an adventure

I join this vessel on an itinerary that is crafted to sail to lesser-visited ports and one that focuses on relaxation – all of this is delivered and more, helped by the ship’s petite size, which allows us to access ports of call not visited by larger ships. Stepping on board for the first time truly feels like the beginning of an adventure. Although small, with just one dining venue, the ship features everything needed for a week’s adventure and more.

Exploring the ship further, glossy wooden interiors, plush blue seating and expansive open-air areas greet me.

Beyond these public areas, my room (an A-class cabin) is conveniently located in the middle of three decks – on the same level as the dining room and swimming platform.

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There are four other A-class cabins on the same level, featuring a high-pressure shower, twin, double or single bed, air conditioning as well as plenty of under-bed storage for a suitcase. Above on the top deck are three A+ cabins, which are the same size as the A class, each with twin beds. Here, guests can enjoy top deck views through one port hole window and one opening window. The most budget-friendly option is the B class, located in the lower deck, with two porthole windows for plenty of sea gazing and daydreaming. After only a few hours on board, I can safely say this is shaping up to be my dream cruise, and, with a week in which to take it all in, I can finally live out my yacht fantasies.

Soaking up the yacht cruise experience

A massive benefit to sailing on a Riviera Travel yacht cruise itineraries is that all the excursions are included within the price. So, I’m looking forward to a mix of locally guided excursions and cultural experiences in our ports of call – Brac, Bol, Jelsa, Korcula, Vis, Hvar and Trogir. After my morning of a buffet-style breakfast with my newfound friends and a quick swim, we pull into the first port of call – Brac. The main trades in Brac are olive oil and wine, which is evident by the constant flurry of olive oil trees and vineyards we pass. After absorbing the magnificent panoramic view, we head over to a quaint olive oil restaurant to partake in an olive oil tasting. Although I personally cannot stomach the idea of drinking a spoonful of olive oil, when combined with sea salt, fresh tomatoes and soft bread, I feel as if I am in foodie heaven.

The split between guided tours and independent discovery is perfect. On our visit to Bol, we have the choice between exploring quaint alleys and coffee shops in the centre or walking to one of the most famous beaches in Croatia – Zlatni Rat. This perfect balance is crafted by our cruise director, Pina, who possesses so much information about each port of call that I am left in amazement as to how she keeps all this in her head. She also has the ability to think on her feet as she changes our e-bike tour of Hvar to a wine tasting.

In fact, Pina thinks of this cruise itinerary as her “baby”, adding: “There was a huge interest with people who have already travelled in Croatia, so why don’t we come up with a really relaxing journey where it is just us, and we have all that peace.” Speaking of peace and quiet, before we depart to our final port of call, we stop for one last swim. As I float in the serene water dreaming of my next yacht cruise, I wish I could bottle the feeling, as I know this will be an experience I will remember forever.

Shortlist announced for the 2024 Wave Awards

Win a four-night escorted group tour to iceland with saga, celebrity cruises announces first president’s cruise for norwegian fjords, competition: win a seven night european river cruise for two, meghan trainor named godmother of utopia of the seas, competition: win a seven-night fjordland cruise for two with ambassador cruise line, competition: win a 15-day svalbard line voyage for two with hurtigruten, competition: win a regent seven seas cruises limited edition globetrotter suitcase, competition: win a luxury food hamper worth £500, travel companions enjoy five consecutive voyages on new cunard ship queen anne – who only started sailing in may, about lucy abbott.

Lucy is a cruise journalist who has sailed on a variety of ships, from expedition to river – with her favourite being expedition cruising.

Lucy is interested in new sustainable ways to cruise as well as how cruising is becoming accessible for all.

She works together with Kaye Holland to keep the World of Cruising website up to date with all the latest cruise news.

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Reviewed: Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition

• By Kevin Koenig
• Updated: February 7, 2020

The Australian builder Riviera has always occupied an interesting niche in the world of yachting. The company epitomizes the Australian ethos of building rugged, do-it-yourself vessels that can handle most any sea—yet it’s also a legitimate luxury brand, brandishing its bona fides in the fleet’s stitching, woodwork, and overall fit and finish.

Which is to say, Riviera doesn’t have many soft spots. That is why it’s exciting to see the builder challenge itself even further in creating the Platinum edition of its Sport Yachts series, including a 4800, a 5400 and the flagship of the line, the 6000.

I stepped aboard the hydraulic swim platform under blue-gray skies on a typically low-lit winter’s day on Sydney Harbour, and proceeded forward via the portside staircase leading to the cockpit (there’s a mirroring staircase to starboard that nicely aids with feng shui). The steps are on both sides of a tender garage with a Muir winch and LED lighting that can fit a RIB up to 10 feet, 5 inches.

The cockpit itself is wholly devoted to entertaining. A transom barbecue with twin griddles, refrigerated compartments and a stainless-steel backsplash handles the alfresco cooking duties and serves an L-shaped dining settee to port. That settee has an adjustable teak table that allows it to convert to a sun pad once lunch has been served. There’s also a lounge opposite the settee. An electric sunshade overhead protects guests from ultraviolet rays as well as from sun-showers on days when there’s just enough drizzle to be annoying. Joystick control stations on both sides of the cockpit are a boon when docking—a touch not often seen on yachts of this size and class.

A glass bulkhead separates the cockpit and salon, though “separates” is perhaps not exactly the right word because the two areas are melded by a sliding glass door and a flip-up window above the aft galley (all framed in mirror 316 stainless steel). The aft-galley setup makes the space more informal and open to conviviality, and can serve the salon and cockpit equally.

The salon has standard high-gloss walnut that really shines when it comes to joinery, pun not intended. Riviera builds its boats in Coomera, Queensland, where it runs an apprenticeship program for boatbuilders. The program helps ensure its employees have a high degree of construction knowledge and craftsmanship.

A formal dining settee to port is forward, across from the helm, and there is a sofa to starboard at amidships. All the seats in the salon are at a height that allows good sightlines out the windows, so everyone can enjoy the view no matter where they are sitting.

The twin Recaro helm seats also enjoy excellent sightlines, something that was extremely helpful as I wheeled the nimble boat through a busy Sydney Harbour and out to the rolling Pacific 3s and 4s. There, the Riviera’s hand-laid, vinylester-resin hull proved sturdy and quiet, not to mention soft-riding as she rose and fell with the well-spaced-out swells. With twin 725 hp Volvo Penta IPS950s churning below our feet, we saw a 28-knot top speed and cruised at 21 knots. Range at the latter speed is 370 nautical miles, or about the distance from Miami to Jacksonville, Florida.

If you did decide to cruise that far, you could overnight in one of three layouts belowdecks. The Classic setup has an amidships master and forepeak VIP, as well as mirroring guest staterooms between them. An optional Lounge version replaces the portside guest stateroom with a lounge and TV, which is great if you’re traveling with kids because it gives them their own area to hang. Last, the Presidential option converts the portside guest stateroom into an en suite head for the master, which opens up the stateroom’s main living space, making it full beam.

As I stepped off the 6000 and watched her pull away, I admired her sleek appearance, accentuated by the Platinum Edition signature black-and-silver color scheme. Her oh-so-recognizable Riviera lines were apparent at a glance, yet the hot new paint job really made her dance. It was just another detail that shows how much Riviera Yachts understands that offering safety and performance is good, but putting it together in style is great.

Sisterships

Riviera’s Platinum series has two other modes: the 4800 Sport Yacht Series II and the 5400 Sport Yacht. The 4800 has twin

600 hp Volvo Penta IPS800s that give it a reported top hop of 35 knots and a 28-knot cruise. The 5400 has 725 hp Volvo Penta IPS950s the builder says provide a 34.5-knot top speed and 28-knot cruise. Both boats have the black-and-silver Platinum-series styling.

Steady as She Goes

The 6000’s side decks allow plenty of room to maneuver; I could put my heels on the superstructure and still had space for my size 12s. There are also nearly 3-foot-high, stainless-steel handrails going to the foredeck’s twin sun pads. Also up front is a Muir stainless-steel anchoring

system. The attention to crew safety and comfort—and the less glamorous aspects of yachting, like docking—is evident throughout the yacht’s design.

Take the next step: rivieraaustralia.com

This story originally published in the February 2020 issue of Yachting Magazine

• More: 2020 Digital Show , February 2020 , Reviewed , Riviera Yachts , Yacht Reviews , Yachts
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Margaritaville at Sea

Portfolio from the Business

Highlights from the Business

Discounts available

Large group friendly

All you can eat

Kid friendly

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Review Highlights

“ As it was our very first cruise together, remember it's a short cruise and to take advantage of your time there. ” in 3 reviews

“ We had a wonderful dinner at JWB prime steakhouse where Arias was our spectacular server. ” in 4 reviews

“ When we first boarded we went to the 11th floor which is the top deck where everything was happening. ” in 3 reviews

Location & Hours

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1 E 11th St

Riviera Beach, FL 33404

Serving Riviera Beach Area

About the Business

The Margaritaville at Sea Paradise is the only 3-day and 2-night cruise sailing from the Port of Palm Beach to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. On this floating island vacation, you can relax, unwind, enjoy the endless opportunities of entertainment, soak up the sun and cruise in casual-luxe comfort. …

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What is the best package to purchase? chill ? faster chill? ultimate?

None cruise is awful

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Overall rating

211 reviews

Was on inaugural sailing of Islander! Had a great time & the crew did a fantastic job! It wasn't perfect but, they resolved issues very quickly! Great job! #MASIslander #MargaritavilleAtSea #LakeProtection

See all photos from Nathan L. for Margaritaville at Sea

I've seen many bad reviews and don't know what the fuss is all about but I had fun on this cruise so I give this solid 3.5 rating. Don't expect grand scale or super modern rooms or public areas, this is a small refurbished ship originally from Costa turned into a floating Maragritaville-themed vessel. Again, you get what you paid for. It's only $99 per cabin for 2 to 4 people for a 2-night getaway (depending on the current specials). Plus you have to pay the Bahamas govt fees of about $100 plus, then $18 gratuities per night, plus $57 for 3-day parking at the port of Palm Beach. Then it's up to you which package you want to add to your cruise. The total cost for my cruise was about $450 because I added a premium bev package for $119. So if you split the bill in 2, that comes out to $225 per person. Also, you don't have to buy 2 bev pkgs. You can use the 10 credits that it comes with for yourself or others in your group. My only complaint about the cost was the fuel surcharge. NO OTHER CRUISE SHIP DOES THIS! Room - It was pretty spacious. It can accommodate up to 4 people. My room had a double bed and 2 bunk beds. Everything was clean, especially the bathroom. However, the bathroom was very tight. Lots of storage. Cold A/C. Big TV. Desk with mirror, ice bucket, blow dryer, and safe. There's also USB, US socket and also EU socket. I brought a 5-port USB charge so I only used one socket. Bars - There's plenty by the main pool, adult pool, next to the burger station, inside the karaoke bar, piano bar, and dance club, plus the main lounge called Euphoria (my favorite place to hangout). I highly suggest getting the premium bev pkg. You can get any cocktail you want (not limited to just $12). Also, I wouldn't just order the specialty cocktails on the menu like Mai Thai, Long Island, or Margaritas, they were all pre-made and too sweet for my taste. I stuck to martinis for the rest of the cruise cause they actually made them to order. Food - It was decent. Lunch buffet was served when we boarded plus a burger station outside. Then they shut down when Fin's Dining opened which was also complimentary. The menu was different for each night. There were 2 sittings, 6pm and 8pm. There's also a coffee/gelato, pizza stall, and JW Steak for an upcharge but I don't think its worth it for a 2-night cruise. The buffet also reopened at 7 for breakfast. My favorite was the omelet station, then it turns into lunch around 11:30. I highly suggest the pasta and panini station during lunch but there's plenty of food in the buffet. Entertainment - I was honestly impressed. Variety show on 1st night then Caribbean Heat 2nd night. The piano bar was also fun after the show. If you're brave enough, then go to the karaoke club and sing your heart out. Then if you're still up, go to the Hemisphere club at the very top deck. It's small but the music was decent. Staff - Everyone was very nice and helpful as expected. The activity hosts were very enthusiastic. I participated in several games that I wouldn't normally do. As I mentioned earlier, the ship maybe older but it's clean. Everywhere I turned, I saw a staff member cleaning something. Embarking & Disembarking - Getting on the ship was pretty easy. I waited in line for about 40 minutes (check-in and embarking). I didn't have luggage to check in. Disembarking took a lot longer due to long US customs lines. It took about 2 1/2 hours from the ship, waiting in line at customs, and waiting again for valet to get my car. Would I do it again, absolutely, For the price, this quick getaway was worth it. I left on Sunday and then came back Tuesday early morning, just in time so I could get to work. Also FYI, I didn't leave the ship when it docked in Freeport because I took advantage of the fitness room, hammam, massage, and pools plus the hot tub because there was nobody around :) Next time, I'd probably check out Lucaya Beach with my mates if the weather is not cold.

I honestly like bed everything about this short cruise. A day trip to Freeport Bahamas! Staff was amazing. Food was adequate and drinks delicious. Our cabin was comfortable. We found enough to do while sailing. If you are looking for a get away. It's really fun!

See all photos from Charlotte P. for Margaritaville at Sea

The ship is older and looks it-Fairfield Inn with Motel6 vibes, is the best I can do. Staff however is top notch. Attentive, friendly and kind. It's not their fault items don't get replaced when needed. Maybe if they charged more for the cruise they could replace items that are in need? Food is best described as cafeteria quality, the shows are ok. If you view it as a ferry ride to the Bahamas it's a lot better than a cruise. I had hoped for more Margaritaville vibes than the decor. Music, people, but this is being marketed to the budget travelers more so than parrot heads.

See all photos from K R. for Margaritaville at Sea

It was ok for a quick 2 night getaway. My mom, daughter, and I had fun dancing, engaging in the activities, and swimming. There isn't much to do at Freeport unless you want to go to the beach. Living 10 mins. From the beach we opted to stay on the ship. The food was ok. The ship was clean and the staff was friendly. I would join the FB group to get more insight.

I was on Board the Islander 12th-16th. What a great time I had on board. JOLY at the Pool Bar, an Awesome Guy and FUN. At the Casino,.. Go See LINGGA, He's a treat!! AGUNG nd INDRI were Spot on!! I couldn't of asked for a better time and the crew is 15 out of 10. You'll be delighted you booked this cruise... Go see the top 4 servers/bartenders and you'll know your taken care of. I'll be booking another cruise soon.

This was my 15th cruise, first one on MAS. I am a big Margaritaville fan. I booked a year ago for Halloween. We did have fun, but it's what you make of it. The shows were great, but I wish they'd had a comedy club. My first impression of the ship, was that I thought the decor was adorable and right in line with margaritaville. I thought it was cute. The rooms are cute too. Food: I was slightly disappointed in the food, as I was holding a standard compared to other cruises and also was hoping for some of my margaritaville favorites, like the volcano nachos. I would've even paid for those to be honest. The buffet was pretty mediocre at best. They won't let you self serve your own ice cream either. The cheeseburger in paradise food area was very cute, but food was ok. The Fins dining room was decent and they do let you order several items like other cruises do. We did end up getting pizza, which is free on every other ship. I feel like it should be free. But it was good. Excursion: I booked my swimming with the pigs & beach day excursion well in advance to get the 10% discount. I thought it was worth it. We left the boat at about 9am and came back at 2:30pm. I wish we had brought snorkel gear because there is a reef right off shore and we saw several sea turtles popping up. Lessons for next time. The pig activity was different. They have you line up in the water and give you apples and the pigs swim out to you. You do get to hold the babies. They were so cute. They do poop, they are animals. Get over it. The restaurant and bar at the beach was great. Cracked conch was delicious. There should be more chairs. They are free. We took up a picnic table with an umbrella for the shade. Rooms: we had an ocean view room and it was really cute. They have the St. Somewhere soaps in the showers like at Margaritaville resorts. Decor is adorable. There is only one main outlet, but we brought a power strip. There was a USB outlet by the bedside too. Not sure if that's in every room. Our room steward was amazing and left us kissing Swan towel animals with rose petals. Faster Chill Package: I ended up booking this a few days before because of everything I read. We did get a special waiting area and priority boarding. Our luggage arrived by 4pm. We had special front row seating at the shows. There was a VIP disembarkation line after the cruise as well. Booked ahead and got 10% off. Drink packages: of all the things, this is probably the most worth it for this cruise. Other cruises, the drink packages aren't worth it. Here you get a preloaded bracelet and you can share. Also, booking ahead you get 10% off. To give an example, 2 drinks at the bar without a band was $35. That's $17.50 per drink. We got the premium drink package, which was about $11.50 per drink. You do the math. I am not sure we'd go again because our expenses were more than most other longer cruises we've been on and less free food options. I also didn't appreciate the surcharges being added to onboard accounts ($56 per person), where other cruises add it to the fare before so it's already paid. I personally like to prepay as much as possible so I'm not in debt after a trip.

See all photos from Ashley S. for Margaritaville at Sea

So 1st attempt at the cruise life. 1. The food- HORRIBLE- 1 star. They need to hire a new company for the food. I did not like anything. Limited selection. Even the sit down dinner at FINS is subpar. 2. Drinks- alcohol drink package I purchased was $119 for 10 drinks and my friend and I split it. 3. Shows. I attended 1 comedy show. It was okay. I laughed. 4. Room- clean. But we had to ask several times to give us two beds and that was frustrating. Shower small but the water was hot. 5. The club was a good time. Good music. I would have given two stars if we did not have a good time.

I don't bad-mouth businesses publicly ever, but I did earlier. If anyone paid any attention to that post, MargaritavilleatSea Cruiseline's Islander has redeemed itself, thanks to the professionalism and expertise of Sr. Operations VP, Anthony Stice and his willingness to treat a unique circumstance with care and a complete fix. Its a beautiful ship and we're happy patrons. I'm certain there are many growing pains with a new crew and maiden voyage on an old (but newly renovated) ship. It is apparent they are working hard to overcome the challenges. And I'm confident they will provide more accurate information on their website as soon as possible, regarding the specific details and policies of the Islander ship, as opposed to the Paradise. #margaritavilleatsea #mvilleatsea #Islander

Terrible lying cruiseline can't steal my joy in God's beauty!

The only thing I didn't like was the edible straw but the food was delicious and the service was wonderful I would recommend to anyone who is thinking about going on a cruise

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William Shakespeare Review

Riviera Travel, which operates river cruises throughout Europe and on the Mekong River in Southeast Asia, has added a new ship to its European fleet.

The 140-passenger William Shakespeare sails seven-night itineraries on the Rhine. A sister vessel to Lord Byron, the ship features contemporary decor that includes sustainably sourced tropical hardwoods and brass and wrought iron fittings. The ship's three passenger decks have been named after Shakespearean characters -- Hamlet, Othello and Romeo -- and the main public space, the Globe Lounge, takes its name from the 16th-century London theatre that showcased the Bard's plays.

The majority of cabins are 161 square feet. There are four 245 square feet suites located toward the center of the upper Hamlet Deck. They have balconies, each with room for a table and chairs. The other cabins on the upper deck and middle Othello Deck have floor-to-ceiling glass windows and French balconies. Both panes of glass on the windows slide back over the outside of the ship to open the whole window aperture to the fresh air. Cabins on the lower Romeo Deck are 151 square feet and have smaller fixed windows.

Meals are served in the dining room on the middle deck, which has an open dining set up, and evening dinner features silver service. To the rear of the ship on the upper deck is the Midsummer Bar; in the evening, it's used for an intimate dining experience where the chef serves signature dishes to 24 diners. This can be reserved onboard at no extra charge. The panoramic Globe Lounge is located forward on the upper deck, and the ship also has a sun deck.

By Jeannine Williamson, Cruise Critic contributor

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Excellent i every way

few 6-10 Cruises

I Provided A Night's Entertainment and Prizes

many 10+ Cruises

A very disappointing cruise with Riviera Travel on the MS William Shakespeare

couple 2-5 Cruises

Good but should have been better

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