Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Irene Croft Jr.
Email: Journeys@kona.net
Age: 53
Occupation: Independent Travel Columnist
NumberOfCruises: 13
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Radisson-Flower
SailingDate: April '97
Itinerary: Bombay-Persian Gulf-Dubai
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 93
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 93
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 98
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 98
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 22 Aug 1997
Time: 23:03:56
Remote Name: 206.127.242.127
Remote User:

Comments

Song of Flower is the jewel of Radisson Seven Seas. I love the intimacy, personalized service and delectable dining experiences that are
always a highlight of a voyage on this yachtlike ship. Shipmates are interesting, well-heeled travelers who mix easily among a passenger
complement of only 172. I wish all staterooms were at least 250 square feet, plus a verandah. Deck 4, Category E staterooms are right
next to very pricey suites and offer best value on ship. What I don't like about Song of Flower is its relocation of slot machines from a
separate Casino to the hallway leading from main reception area. This puts a tacky face on a very stylish lady of the sea.

With complimentary spirits, wines and other beverages, all gratuities included, air & pre-cruise hotels, and even shore excursions offered
gratis on all Asia cruises, Song of Flower provides irresistible cruise value. This luxury 5+-star ship does not discount but look for earlybird
and other price incentives. I've sailed with Radisson five times and always return home delighted with my voyages.

Name: Hugh Rennie
Email: hughrennie@legalchambers.co.nz
Age: 53
Occupation: Lawyer
NumberOfCruises: one
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Radisson-Flower
SailingDate: 21 October 1998
Itinerary: Istanbul/Aqaba
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 98
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 92
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 100
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 95
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 15 Jan 1999
Time: 02:16:47
Remote Name: 202.27.181.87
Remote User:

Comments

We went on this as our honeymoon. It was all we hoped for and better than we expected, despite all the advance
praise. Things should go wrong - but they never did!

Service was superb - we were treated as real people with courtesy and interest. Everyone who went as
passengers turned out also to be courteous, nicely balanced between friendliness and privacy too.

We never did get to try the Italian restaurant - we booked for the second night and some authoritarian we never
identified cancelled our booking, closed the restaurant, and said we all had to go to the formal dinner. Why? We
never found out.

The land excursions were exceptional, both before (Istanbul), during, and after (Petra/Jordan/Jerusalem). It
wasn't Song of Flower's fault that Israeli immigration at Allenby Bridge were so rude and oppressive that we
nearly gave up.

We would not only go again - we will have difficulty ever sailing with any line that offers less.

Name: Karen Anderson
Email: einar2@earthlink.net
Age: 57
Occupation: Community volunteer
NumberOfCruises: 10
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Radisson-Flower
SailingDate: March 27, 1999
Itinerary: Dubai to Aqaba
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon: 50
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 0
LoungeService: 99
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 100
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 99
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 60
AirSeaProgram: 85
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 18 Apr 1999
Time: 17:52:05
Remote Name: 1cust97.tnt2.gilroy.ca.da.uu.net
Remote User:

Comments

It is not true that Radisson never discounts. Many passengers had discounted fares. Not huge discounts like 50% but this
ship is very expensive so a couple of thousand dollars for a 2 week trip is not a great percentage. Our trip was a mix of folks
who signed up prior to a Harvard Alumni group's charter and the charter folks. Both groups had passengers who had been
discounted (including us). The ship was not full - had only 90 passengers - because of fear of Yemen. A few months before
some tourists were shot in a government attempt to rescue them from kidnappers.

The ship itself and its crew were marvelous. It became a joke to see if one could carry one's own plate from the buffet table
to one's seat. The staff did everything for you except eat your meal! The food was quite good, though not entirely
imaginative. There is no midnight buffet nor a lobster/flaming baked Alaska grand finale. Which is not to say that anyone
starved. One open seating at 7 P.M., which everyone liked. Also, many very expensive ingredients, like truffles and cavier,
were used unstintingly. The Hollandaise was perfect on the Eggs Benedict.

Being a small ship, the entertainment was not the lavish productions the larger ships have. The young singers and dancers
were excellent but the magician was met with very mixed reviews. Almost no one used the casino.

This is a ship of retirees - old and moneyed. Maybe 1/5 of the ship was our age (about 60). One retiree's 38 year old
daughter was on board and a poor 20 year old college student accompanied his parents and grandfather. Then a gap to
age 50. Most retirees were near 80. A few were old grouches and hard to avoid when there were only 90 passengers.
Someone else's mix could be different.

Our cabin steward was a stewardess and she kept putting our stuff away in drawers so we could not find it. We were told that
they are not supposed to go into dressers, etc. so we told her to stop, which she did, until the last night when she emptied
everything in my nightstand onto the bed. One woman's stewardess kept laying out her nightgown on the bed in various
strange ways...

Our itinerary was awesome. The best. Some of the execution was not perfect but part of it was that Radisson - with or
without Harvard - provides the land tours as a part of the price. Everyone goes together which leads to disagreement on
museums vs. shopping, etc. We were dying of heat in one remote town in Yemen where the stop occurred during the Middle
Eastern mandatory shop closing from 12 to 4. No shade, no stores, no museums, just standing around for an hour and a
half! Very poor planning. We were fortunate that Harvard opened doors for all of us to visit Jeddah, Saudi Arabia -
practically impossible for tourists. Yemen, believe it or not, was the highlight - great architecture and culture. The Gulf states
just show what can be done in a short time with unlimited funds.

Next year's trip will depart about 4/30 and it sounds like Harvard will charter again so it will include some professors who are
experts in the area. During the days at sea we had two lectures a day. Be aware that it will be warmer then.

Name: Dennis Roberts
Email: dennisroberts@earthlink.net
Age: 52
Occupation: Travel Agent
NumberOfCruises: 19
TravelAgent: Yes
Ship: Radisson-Flower
SailingDate: 7/4/99
Itinerary: Baltic Capitals
Cabin: 401/Main Deck
FoodDiningRoom: 96
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 97
CruiseStaff: 98
CabinAmenities: 92
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService: 98
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 80
LoungeService: 95
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 98
OverallCruiseValue: 96
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 Aug 1999
Time: 17:05:46
Remote Name: pool0757.cvx12-bradley.dialup.earthlink.net
Remote User:

Comments

This was our second trip on the Song of Flower. The first was a wonderful itinerary that circled Italy back in 1997.
The staff of the Song of Flower was immediately put to test the moment we boarded the ship. British Airways had
lost a very important piece of luggage. The ship's purser immediately jumped on the problem. Within 2 hours we
had our lost luggage and the trip was uphill from there. Not only was the purser helpful, but after getting to know
her on this episode, she always greeted us by name whenever she saw us.

The Flower is a real gem for those who enjoy a small ship with a high degree of personal service. Normally she
holds around 180 passengers with 150 crew members. On this particular cruise, she had 130 on board. So with a
crew to passenger ratio of better that 1 to 1, you can imagine the service level. The Flower is an all-inclusive ship.
Once you have paid for your cruise, everything is paid for including all adult beverages, soft drinks and gratuities.
Only the very expensive wines are extra but why one would need them is beyond me. The wines served in the
bars and at meal times are all top quality. I am a big wine lover and I would estimate that most of the wines would
be in the $25-$60 range in most restaurants. With so few people on board, it only takes a few days for the ships
personnel to begin to recognize all of the passengers and their likes and dislikes. Entertainers do double duty on
this ship. They help with the shore excursions and all activities on board. They too are likely to sit beside you and
have a drink to discuss the day's activities or any concerns you might have.

Food is always an important aspect of any cruise. Only the freshest of ingredients are used usually befitting the
countries you are visiting. The Song of Flower does a wonderful job with fish and seafood. This has always been a
problem on most cruise ship with overcooking seafood. Not so on the Flower. Wonderful things are also done with
lamb, veal, beef and chicken as well. The dining room lunch always had a choice of ordering off the menu or a
small theme buffet daily. Once again, delicious fresh presentations were always present. No leftover, warmed over
foods here. The staff was constantly rearranging and cleaning to make the food as appetizing as possible.

There were almost always complementary shuttle buses available to central locations in most ports we visited. The
shore excursion staff was very helpful with special requests and generally speaking had a good working
knowledge of the ports. Shore excursions in general were well priced and presented good value for the money
spent.

All in all, everyone was sad to see the 10 day cruise come to an end. Disembarking the ship was an absolute
breeze compared to other ships. Although the Flower carries a fairly high per diem rate, she fairs very favorably
with other ships in the premium range.

Although I did not cover the ports themselves in this review, I would be happy to pass along any information for
those who would like to contact me directly.

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