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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Rebecca Gaither
Email: rgaither@pgahq.com
Age: 47
Occupation: Special Events Director
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Radisson-Diamond
SailingDate: June July, 1996
Itinerary: Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Estonia, Cope
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 98
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 75
LoungeService:
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 100
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities:
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 75
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 16 Sep 1998
Time: 15:15:59
Remote Name: 205.152.230.165
Remote User:
Comments
The Radisson Diamond was an outstanding experience, which also was our first real cruise
(discounting a four night Bahama island hop). The ship,
staff and staterooms lived up to all expectations. Starting at the top in the world of
cruising will make it difficult to match on our next cruise.
The most delighful and usable feature was having a private balcony, where we spent much
cruising time. In-room dining offers the full menu from
the fine dining restaurant and is served in courses! This was such a pleasure, and the
accommodations so comfortable, we spent three nights
dining in our stateroom.
The main dining room, situated on the bow with floor to ceiling windows on three sides,
was the dining haven for most guests. The views,
spectacular.
We were on a summer music festival cruise with several private concerts and operas. Among
others, one was at the Royal Palace in Stockholm and
one at The Hermitage in St. Petersburg. These were unforgetable experiences.
Don't let the brochure intimidate you into over-packing. The great majority of the guests
dressed conservatively and VERY comfortably. Whether it
was the draw of the itinerary or the nature of the guests, rarely did we see the twinkle
of jewelry, men's or women's. When paying this kind of price
for cruising, I suspect most guests feel they should enjoy it in their own way, and this
group was definately low key.
The staff was superb in all areas.
Disappointments: The Italian Restaurant (informal) did not produce a quality experience
consistant with the rest of the ship.
Our embarkation in Stockholm was not very smoothly handled, but staff were gracious. This
was a new port for the Radisson Diamond, which may
have led to some of the snags.
Delays in disembarking in St. Petersburg limited our time in the city. Traveling back to
the ship for lunch was a waste of valuable time better spent
exploring another city site.
Name: John May
Email: jayyam@webtv.net
Age: 75
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 29
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Radisson-Diamond
SailingDate: 10/24/98
Itinerary: Rome-San Juan, P.R. 19 days
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue: 60
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 75
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 50
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 80
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 23 Jan 1999
Time: 23:11:41
Remote Name: 209.240.197.20
Remote User:
Comments
The Air Sea dept. of Radisson routed us from Washington-Dulles to Rome via Frankfurt, with
a 3 1/2 hour layover
there. Surely there must be thru or non stop service between the two capitals More about
their routing from San
Juan to Dulles later. We arrived at the Diamond at 1.20 p.m. to find that a crew of dock
workers were
manhandling the gangway for some reason. After 10 minutes thay left (happily it was not
raining) but we stood on
the pier for another 12 minutes before being allowed to board. There was no explanation
except for a crew
member who wouldlook down at us, shake his head and then disappear. Our cabins would not
be ready until 3
p.m. so we were directed to the Windows Lounge for coffee & a sparse selection of
sandwiches-not very
satisfactory after the long trip. The emergency briefing was very good indeed. The food
was about the best we
have ever had especially in the alternative restaurant (Don Bito's) which we rate 6 stars,
not only for the food but
also the staff, who, in addition to serving us very well, also entertained us with songs,
music and comic relief.
The Windows Lounge was poorly adapted for entertainment, and had one outstanding
presentation, a Polish
husband and wife team called Andre & Agnes. She played the violin & he played the
piano. They were a couple of
virtuosos, with an incredible repertoire, & played, not only here, but also in Don
Vito's and the Reception area. A
trio of singers called the 3 Diamonds was TOO LOUD. The MC was quite good, and played a
very good trumpet.
The ship's band was above average, except for the male soloist, who should have stuck to
his instrument. As to
the rest of the entertainment-it wasn't! The tender service to and from shore was
expeditious and well planned.
The Cannes excursion was very god, but like all excursions, way overpriced. The library
had a good selection, but
the lighting was atrocious. The Atrium, with its glass enclosed elevators was very
impressive. Afternoon tea was
mediocre, especially compared to Crystal Lines, with no sandwiches, although there was a
small selection on
the Lido Deck. The Casino staff were very friendly, but when I asked for a Cash Draw
against my shipboard
account they said it could not be done. A Visa charge by them was subject to a charge of
13.99% on $100! The
Austrian Casino International is certainly unconscionable with this charge, although their
slot payouts were much
moregenerous than Caesar's on the Crystal Line. The AirSea dept. of Radisson had us on a
6.30 p.m. flight from
San Juan to Dulles although we were due to dock at 8 a.m. When my travel agent protested
on our behalf, they
made it ealier, but via New York. Further protests got us on a 1.30 flight via Atlanta,
but then the AirSea dept. said
we would have to pay $100 for the change. You can imagine my indignation, and eventually
the charge was
dropped. Thanks to the twin hull design the cruise was the most stable one we have ever
been on. We have
booked on the new Radisson ship, the Seven Seas Navigator, due to enter service in August
and hope that by
then the Air Sea dept. will have its act straightened out. Reading some of the other
reviews I see that we ar not
alone in having to put up with their intransigency.
Name: pamela m. turner
Email: pturner277@aol.com
Age: 55
Occupation: executive
NumberOfCruises: 18
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Radisson-Diamond
SailingDate: 12/18/98
Itinerary: panama canal
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 65
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 60
CabinAmenities: 88
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon: 80
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 70
LoungeService: 82
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 70
WheelchairAccess: 80
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 70
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 75
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram: 75
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 75
DiscoNightclubs: 80
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 75
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 13 Feb 1999
Time: 14:29:08
Remote Name: 205.188.197.158
Remote User:
Comments
This was our second trip on the Diamond and what a disappointment. Things seemed to go bad
to worse from
pre-boarding until we arrived home. Many of our complaints are minors but for a ship that
claims to be 5 stars
these are unacceptable.
The physical upkeep of the ship was fine except for minor things like food stains on the
curtains in the main
dining room and very weary Christmas decorations throughout the ship. Our cabin was fine
and our stewardess
was a dream.
Arriving in Ft. Lauderdale 6 hrs. before boarding, we were taken to the Embassy Suites for
sweet rolls and coffee
but only the lobby and dining room to sit in for the whole time. When we arrived at the
dock the line went entirely
around the room with only one to two people checking us in. This took close to an hour.
The cruise director was new as well as the 3 entertainers/cruise staff. The tour director
was also new for this trip.
The cruise staff was very unhappy when they were asked to do anything but sing. One woman
said to many
passengers that she was a singer not a bingo caller. The entertainment was very
uninspiring. The same three
people singing almost every night doesn't cut it on a ten day cruise. The Christmas
program by the crew was
nice but not better than a high school show. The reglious service at midnight was short
and very uninspiring. The
ship had over 50 children on board with almost no programing for them. They were well
behaved but the
teenagers took over the fitness center since they had nothing else to do all day.
The food was good but could be spotty. Last time our wait staff were very well trained and
pleasent. This time
they seemed very unhappy and several told us they couldn't wait for their contracts to be
over.
Our shore excursions ranged from very good to a rip-off. A nice touch was having
passengers bring gifts for the
children of Honduras. Unfortunately they brought the children on board to give a program
while most of us were
on excurision. The captain's wife was the ship's representative on several trips and she
was delightful. Too bad
the rest of the staff couldn't have modeled themselves after her. The trip desk knew
almost nothing about the
shore trips but what was in the book. The shore director read the book for us during the
briefings and could not
answer our questions.
The final problem was when 30+ people's reservations at the hotel in Costa Rica were lost
and they had to sit in
the lobby for hours before being moved to other less acceptable hotels.
I hope Radisson gets it act together. They can no longer classifiy themselves as a 5 star
ship.
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