We sailed on our first river cruise a few weeks ago. We were scheduled to be on the Emerald Destiny but owing to some port issues, we sailed on the Star instead. I was originally a bit disappointed only because Destiny is a newer vessel. However, the Star and its crew exceeded all our expectations. There were 7 in our group - celebrating my upcoming birthday - the ages ranged from 27 - 68. And we are a fairly tough bunch to impress - several of us had traveled fairly extensively - but a wonderful time was had by all.

Vessel - was sparkling clean, well-maintained and we had no complaints. We were in the lower staterooms which were nicely-sized, well-appointed and had large windows. On several occasions we were beside port walls or other boats and were glad we didn't spend more on balcony rooms. We had plenty of space for our belongings and stowed the suitcases under the bed. Around mid-week, we had some occasional noise from the area below but it was easily blocked if needed overnight, by the provided earplugs. I used these on 2 nights. Others did not use them and had no issues with noise. Room was services twice a day - always clean and tidy. Loved the aesthetic which was modern and on the "glam" side. Lots of chrome and contemporary touches. Tasteful throughout. Lots of space to spread out and not crowded for dining or port talks in the lounge. There is a small gym, small pool, massage room and salon, on board. The top deck is very comfortable for viewing the beautiful scenery while traveling between ports during the day and at night.

Staff -- we can't say enough about the stellar staff on this vessel. Everyone was very, very good. These folks know hospitality and take pride in their work. The cruise director, Geanina, was beyond excellent. Calm, cool and professional at all times and handled all issues with care and consideration - making special accommodations for us several times. Communication was thorough and timely throughout the week. Ziggy (overall manager) went above and beyond on several occasions for us and Constantin (dining manager) checked in routinely to make sure everyone was happy. Kris, our main server made the cruise special for all of us. His attention to detail, good humor and commitment to his work was obvious. Exceptional focus that made for a truly memorable celebration. Martin was more behind the scenes but did a wonderful job keeping our stateroom in great shape. Read more