Riviera Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Our cruising days started in 1999, sailing with P & O and Princess. In the last three years we have hanged our allegiance to the luxury lines (Seabourn, Regent and Oceania to date), and are enjoying the difference!! We returned from our first Oceania cruise a couple of weeks ago. We went to the Black Sea starting from Istanbul, Turkey and ending in Athens,Greece. 22nd September to 2nd October.
Unfortunately, due to the Troubles in Crimea and Ukraine the company had to cancel the ports of Yalta, Sabastopol and Odessa, ports we have visited before. We had booked this cruise after the changes were made, so no complaints there. A couple of the replacement ports were however, not the best so we stayed on board.
CHECK IN… We stayed overnight in Istanbul and had a taxi to the port, arriving at about 1.00pm. We had to show our passports and tickets to a port officer, outside the port gate and it was a bit of a scrum but after depositing our luggage and going to the ship’s check in desks in the (sort of) terminal, the procedure was quick and hassle free although we did have our our passports looked at, three separate times!!
Cabin Review
Verandah Stateroom
This Stateroom is Aft. There are eight of these staterooms (I think) with double depth balconies. Of course they are overlooked by balconies above. The stateroom is not big but adequate. There are plenty of drawers and cupboards, but not all at a convenient height and the safe is very high up, you need to be at least 6ft to see into it easily. There is no walk in wardrobe which is the greatest disappointment, the sliding doors are a bit of a pain! The lighting is good and the bathroom is very attractive and well appointed.