Coastal Cruise Reviews

L'Austral was an extremely elegant ship. We received a fulsome welcome from the moment we stepped aboard to be handed towels to mop our brows from the Italian heat. We were then shown to our cabin which was delightfully appointed with a massive bed. One of the nicest features was the wet room with a superb shower with a sliding panel which allowed you to see the scenery as you glided along the coast whilst in the shower.
 
We had read about the excellence of the food and again this did not disappoint. The meals were superb with excellent French cuisine and wine to match. It was a very relaxed atmosphere and you could wander in to dinner when you liked and told to sit wherever you fancied. The staff were very pleasant and eager to please. In fact there were as many members of the crew as there were guests. The whole atmosphere was very relaxed. Being on a small ship made it all feel very immediate. We have never been on a cruise before where the Captain said you were welcome to visit the bridge at any time providing we didn't speak to Officers if they were busy. In fact we saw more of the Captain than we had ever experienced before.
 
The itinerary was also excellent and we visited some lovely places on the Dalmatian Coast. Again the size of the ship meant that we could visit places which would have been off limits for a large cruise ship. Even when we had to tender ashore the design of the ship was such that this proved to be a very pleasant exercise.  Bottled water in the cabin and small bottles to take ashore were complimentary.  Also, most of the ports of call had a beach within walking distance and towels were provided.
 
We had two so called 'formal' evenings - Bastille Day and a gala dinner at the end of the week ,when all guests dined together with an opera group to entertain.  Formal wear encompassed long evening dresses to 'best' jeans.  Several gentlemen wore linen suits or sports jackets or just a nice shirt and slacks. . I was glad not to have to wear my  dinner jacket because it was so hot, but possibly on cooler cruises this may not be the case.  However, in his welcome,  the Cruise Director mentioned dress code but stressed they wanted everyone to dress how they felt comfortable.
 
It just remains for me to thank you for the extremely efficient and courteous service we have received from your company and you in particular and would have no hesitation in recommending you to friends and acquaintances. Indeed, we hope the time may come when we can try another of the cruises of the Compagnie du Ponant as it is a unique experience.

This was one of my favorite trips ever. I highly recommend it for great scenery, awesome architecture, quaint villages, beautiful beaches,snorkeling and swimming reasonably priced food and wine while in port - this trip has it all.  It is certainly not a glamorous boat - but that was part of the charm and we were not expecting that. Just a ton of fun.  Food was fine, rooms were clean, bartender / server was great.

Booking was great - cannot remember - (has been awhile since the trip) who took care of me - but she was fabulous.

LA BELLE de L`ADRIATIQUE is a beautiful ship,quality built. The cabins on their main decks have two large picture windows. The beds were perfect. The whole crew without exception could not have been more helpful. Excellent food and entertainment.

The itinary was very good. You did not really need a guide for the town walkabouts because so much information was available to you. Looking forward to doing the same trip next year because there is so much to see and there was not enough time to fit it all in.

This was our very first cruise.  It will not be our last.

The scenery along the Dalmation Coast is spectacular.  The towns and villages are rich with history and interest.  When on land, we had ample time to wander around and absorb the culture.  At each land visit, there were optional walking tours provided by guides who spoke French and English.

On board the ship, La Belle de l'Adriatique, we were very spoilt.  The cabins were roomy and spacious.  The common areas (lounges, bars and decks) were comfortable and friendly.  The crew went out of their way to please and serve.

Our meals were wonderful.  The chef and waiters went to no end of trouble to make the dining fun, tasteful and memorable. Many meals had special themes, and the crew dressed appropriate to the theme.

 We recommend this cruise.  We will certainly be using the tour company again.

The gulet was great fun. 

We had been allocated to "Lopar", sailing out of Split, along with twenty one others of a similar "mature" age group. We had travelled as a group of four from the UK, three English speaking couples from Switzerland, four couples from the USA and the balance from Australia, who also spoke their version of English! [both UK couples have children and grandchildren living in Oz]

The cabins were a little Spartan but it was no great hardship for a week.  
There was a lower double bed with a single bunk above - some couples used the bunk as a shelf to supplement the limited wardrobe space, but even at the end of May it was so warm at night that we were pleased to sleep apart and dig deeper into our luggage, stowed under the bed, as and when we needed clean clothes.  The standard flushing toilet (no pumping) and shower shared a small "wet room"; it was important to remember to remove the toilet roll before showering.

The continental breakfast was more than adequate, no one needed to take up the supplement for "full English". 
Despite the cramped galley, lunch was consistently good, gourmand rather than gourmet, but perhaps a little too plentiful for those of us who have already developed a "middle-age spread". One evening this was aggravated by a truly excellent Captain's Dinner (no formal dress required). My wife despairs of me ever losing the excess weight.

Certainly we had no great appetite for any large evening meals in the many pleasant restaurants in the interesting, and in some cases spectacular, ports of call.

In the evenings, we were often moored (rafted) alongside other gulets who had younger and much noisier passengers, who kept us awake at night.  There was one night when we were spared the party makers, but that particular tiny port of call had a full blown chorus of cats, who eventually set the dogs off, who then woke up the cockerels but at least we weren't forced to listen to noisy and slightly drunken conversation.  There again, there was one night when the extraneous conversation and the decks were drowned by a thunderstorm; it is strange how much easier it is to sleep through "natural" noise than people shouting.

At the end of May, the sea was supposedly "too cold" for the crew, who were a really nice group of lads, but we, from more northerly climes (and the Aussies who will swim anywhere, anytime), were happy to have a swim most days when we were anchored in secluded bays for another gargantuan lunch.

We had a lot of fun (six of us went on the white water rafting excursion), enough "culture" to widen our horizons without becoming tedious, enough sun to top up the tans we had got during our winter holidays and more than enough to eat and drink to last for several more weeks.

What was wrong or less good?  Being asked to be careful with the tap water but not being provided with a plug for the basin; hardly a big deal.

What would make it better? Not having to pay, as a supplement, for bottled water; it wasn't that expensive but it would have been easier for the passengers and the crew if there would have been a basketful of bottles available each morning; they would not lose out on alcohol sales but it would keep people "hydrated"; or they need to reassure passengers that the tap water is safe and potable.

We have just come back from one of the best holidays we have ever had, cruising the Croation islands from Dubrovnik with Katarina lines booked through Blue Water Holidays. Everything about our trip was good - the boat, the crew, the places we visited and the helpful and friendly staff at Blue Water.

The trip itself was idyllic, getting under way around breakfast time and cruising for a couple of hours, chatting or sunbathing, to our our next location. There were opportunities to swim off the boat before lunch, after which we had time to explore the port and surrounding areas before stopping off at a bar for a beer before dinner! We liked the idea of evening meals ashore as it gave us a chance to sample the local cuisine and soak up the atmosphere.

This a a trip we would heartily recommend to everyone - we meet some great people and saw lots of wonderful scenery. We plan to do the same again at some point in the future but in a different location - we'll be trying Blue Water first!

Review to Follow

We spent a week on this fantastic cruise from Slovenia along the Adriatic Coast, taking in Croatia and Montenegro. We visited the Pula with its Roman amphitheatre, the beautiful bays of Rovinj, the clear blue seas at Zadar, the famous walled palace of Split, the picturesque island of Korcula, the historic city of Dubrovnik with its 2 km of city walls, the Montegrian city of Kotor, the coastal resort of Budva and the world famous bridge at Mostar. We cruised on the Arion at the beginning of September and weather was superb, with temperatures varying from high 20s to mid 30s.

MS Arion was amazing. With only 330 passengers at full capacity there is a lovely small ship friendly relaxed feel onboard. All menus, announcements, briefings and entertainment are in both French and English. I found the staff to be consistently attentive, friendly and obliging.

As far as dining is concerned, Arion provides at feast for your tastebuds, starting with a buffet breakfast which offers a choice of cooked breakfast, fresh fruits and a variety of bread and brioches. Lunch and breakfast can be taken either on deck in the sunshine or in the main dining room. At lunchtime there is a choice of either a plentiful buffet out on deck - meat, fish, vegetables, salads, all fresh high quality international food or a five course lunch with waiter service in the restaurant! Afternoon tea of sandwiches and cakes is generally served on deck at around 5pm. For dinner you are allocated a table that you stick to for the week, and are served an extravaganza of six courses every evening. The menu was extremely varied and always with choice of meat, fish and vegetarian. If you have any space left at all then you can indulge further in the midnight snacks that are brought to the bar for you! Once a week there is a special buffet at midnight a grand affair with amazing food carvings and the traditional cruise Baked Alaska parade.
Every evening after dinner there is entertainment of one form or another, in the bar/main lounge. This varied from a low key band with singer, to a full-on singing and dancing show.

Drinks on board are incredibly reasonably priced, especially if you opt for the drink of the day or the BOGOF beers at lunchtime!! Tea and coffee are included at meal times but to be paid for during the rest of the day. The ship operates a no cash system during the cruise, but bills can be settled on the last day either by credit card or cash.

There is no shortage of places to enjoy a drink, with the outside seating area, the Lido bar, the main lounge, and the bar area all being pleasant areas to sit and relax.

Also onboard is a plunge pool (filled daily with sea water and not heated!!), quiet sheltered seating areas, a shop stocked with essentials and souvenirs, a photo shop, extensive outside areas with sun loungers, a hairdressers and beauty salon, and a doctor.

This was a most successful and enjoyable holiday on a well-run Belgian ship, in stunning late summer sunshine, and with a variety of historic and landscape features to appreciate among the islands and coastal areas of southern Croatia and Kotor in Montenegro.   The food served on board deserved particular commendation in its quality and variety.

On my Cruise down the Croatian Coast, I visited Dubrovnik twice in one day. In the morning we toured the town and after a leisurely afternoon and dinner back on the MS Arion evening, I joined an optional excursion to a Dubrovnik theatre for a folk-lore evening with the Dalmation acapella singers and traditional dancers. 

In the morning we entered by the Pile Gate and were led by our expert English speaking guide through the labyrinth of streets to visit the Franciscan and the Dominican Monastery, the Cathedral, the Rector's Palace, and St. Blaise's Church.

During our free time I climbed up to the city walls and took photographs of a beautifully restored city. (During the 1991 - 1997 war Dubrovnik was quite badly damaged) The evening theatre trip was delightful, as was walking through the streets in the warm evening whilst people watching and listening to the buskers.

We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise and the opportunity to see the beautiful scenery.

However compared to the Danube River Cruise which we booked through you a few years ago we found the cabin cramped and the standard of the food for dinner in the dining room, although good, was also not up to the same very high standard.  Less courses of a higher standard would be preferable.  The midnight buffet was unnecessary and it appears not taken by many people.   The special buffet after the concert in Dubrovnik was outstanding.

Whilst there were parasols over the tables on deck, there were none for the loungers and when the ship was sailing it was very difficult to find a shady spot.  These are very necessary. 

We did find being in the smaller ports was excellent so that we could easily walk into the towns where we moored without needing transport.

The trips were good, but we were told that although there was 3 hours walking on the trip to Plitvice National Park we had been told the first part would be at a leisurely pace. However this was not possible as it was necessary to keep up with the guide and it was all along stepped walkways which had to be watched very carefully for safety.  It would be better if the coach could pick up at the second stage as well as at the end of the final stage as this would avoid those less able having to climb up the very steep cliff at the end. 

We hope these comments on a very enjoyable trip will be helpful.

Tessa & Derek Phillips 

I wanted to thank Blue Water Holidays for their service and CroisiEurope for the most wonderful holiday I have ever had on board ‘La Belle De L'Adriatique' (August 2011).  Nothing was too much trouble, and Croatia and the boat were wonderful.  The holiday was bliss from start to finish, with just the right blend of islands and entertainment etc, and I really really did not want to get off the boat at the end of the holiday.  The staff were superb.  Also, there was absolutely no pressure to book on the ‘group escape' excursions which I really appreciated as David and I prefer to do our own thing on-shore.  Some holidays I have been on can't wait to sign-you up, but we were just allowed to relax as we wished and do exactly what we wanted which was heaven.

Truly, I cannot recommend this ship and this particular holiday highly enough and will sing its praises to all who will listen to me : - )

It would have been useful to have more information about the places we were visiting - there was an information file on board but not as detailed/useful as travel guides; also, the local crew would probably have more inside information which would have added to the shore visits. would also have been good to have known about the dangers of sea urchins before i went swimming and ended up in pain.

but these minor gripes aside - it was a superb holiday and i could easily have stayed on board for another week. the crew were great and everything worked out brilliantly.

i have recommended this holiday to everyone, just the right mix of relaxing and sight seeing + swimming etc. many thanks for making my summer.

THE ON-BOARD STAFF WAS VERY HELPFUL AND ATTENTIVE.

THE LOCAL TOURGUIDES WERE ESPECIALLY GOOD AND WERE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND INFORMATIVE ABOUT THE LOCAL SITES, RESTAURANTS, SHOPPING, ETC. AFTER ALL OF THE EXCITING PORTS WE VISITED, PLOCE ON THE RETURN LEG WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT. WE TURNED LEMONS INTO LEMONADE BY TAKING A SHORT BOAT EXCURSION TO THE NEAREST ISLAND MARINA,TRPANJ, OR THAT DAY WOULD HAVE BEEN WASTED.

A BIT BETTER INFORMATION ABOUT EMBARCATION TIME (LATE AFTERNOON) WOULD HAVE ALLOWED US TO SPEND MORE TIME IN TRIESTE (LOVELY CITY , regionID = , portID = ) AND LESS TIME IN KOPER (NOT SO LOVELY ). WE SHOWED UP AT 11:00 A.M. AND HAD TO KILL 7-8 HOURS IN KOPER BEFORE WE COULD BOARD. SHIPBOARD STAFF DID CHECK OUR BAGS AND HELD THEM FOR US, THO.