Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Sherlie Carls
Email: Cardinalconsultants@compuserve.com
Age: 60
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Renaissance-I
SailingDate: 09/20/98
Itinerary: Greek Isles and Israel
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 89
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue: 73
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 80
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 80
BeautySalonStaff: 80
EntertainmentLounges: 82
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 80
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram: 70
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 28 Oct 1998
Time: 21:55:43
Remote Name: 209.154.93.139
Remote User:

Comments

We just returned on the brand new R1 which had its inaugural sailing in July, 1998. Unlike the
smaller Renaissance Ships we've been on (100 - 114 passengers) this new ship carries about 700.
We weren't sure what to expect, given the fact that we purchased a package that included
return air from Miami, 2 nights hotel stay in both Athens and Istanbul and a statroom with a
balcony on a 10-day cruise all for under $7000.00 for the both of us. To begin with, the air
service was fine. (We flew on Delta.)

However, some of our children and grandchildren were
scheduled by Renaissance on Olympic Airlines that was, according to them, the pits! The hotel in
Athens was the Grand Bretagne. I guess it was suposed to have been a five-star hotel, and
maybe it was 20-years ago. But now it's no more than a high-class dump! It did have a nice
lobby and a great location. After our stay we were transported to the ship. Beautiful, thats what
I first thought.

Embarkation was easy and we were soon escorted to our room. The reception has
a beautiful staircase with wrought-iron banisters, marble steps and a rich red carpet. The walls
are decorated with beautiful oil paintings and dark wood that gave us the feeling of being in a
English Manor. The R1 has four dining rooms. The main one is called the Club. The others were
the Italian, The Panorama Buffet and The Grill. It was all open seating, which worked well for
those of us on our own time schedule. The food was excellent and the waiters knocked
themselves out for us every night. We spent 8 of the 10 days calling at different ports. We
averaged 8 hours in each one. This was great as I'm prone to sea-sickness. Also, we wanted to
spend as much time as possible seeing sights such Ephesus. Our cabin was very spacious and the
balcony (of which most of the cabins on the ship had) was perfect. I don't think will ever take
another cruise that doesn't offer a cabin with a balcony.

Our cabin-stewardes was beyond belief!
Lets just say that when we first got on the ship and read what the suggested tipping amount
was we thought it was highway robbery. But we ended up tipping twice that at the end because
of her. The only thing that I could really complain about is the lack of self-laundring facilities. I
know that they had a service, but if they bother to advertise a laundreate the least they could
do is put more than four machines there. The Ice-tea wasn't always fresh and the coffee was hit
and miss. I was disapointed with the tour offered that went to Nazereth. But I can't blame
Renaissance for that. I will say that I felt the tours ran on the high side, especially for a family of
eight Istanbul was delightful and the hotel, The Ciragon Palace, was outstanding. Overall this trip
was that of a lifetime and has made me a commited Renaissance client. Especially if they can
insure better coffee!

Name: Kenneth Berg
Email: ken@valrico.com
Age: 46
Occupation: Engineer
NumberOfCruises: 30
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Renaissance-R1
SailingDate: 11/19/98
Itinerary: Athens to Istanbul
FoodDiningRoom: 88
CruiseDirector: 75
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 89
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 60
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 20
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 75
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 75
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 89
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 06 Dec 1998
Time: 18:39:00
Remote Name: 24.92.218.200
Remote User:

Comments

To start with, I used to be a travel agent, but no longer am. Therefore I am not affected by any of the political arguments surrounding
Renaissance and commissions. It does mean that I have experienced many different cruise lines and ships.

The R One is a beautiful ship. Much has already been written that I won't repeat. This is a great itinerary and the shore excursion staff does a
terrific job. If you go on this cruise you are going for the itinerary (very port intensive) and the ship is just a bonus.

There are two main dissapointments here: the food service and the entertainment/activities. I'll summarize the dining experience by saying
although in an upscale setting, the food quality and preparation is not as good as Celebrity, on a par with the other better mass market
cruiselines. One might argue that entertainment is not the focus of this cruise, and that is true. What I think everyone would agree was missing
was any kind of program of experts lecturing on the history and geography of this magnificent part of the world.

To sum up, I believe the R One is the right choice for the Greek Isles and Holy Land itinerary. If it were sailing the Caribbean, I would choose
Celebrity instead.

Name: Alan J. Mong
Email: am@admiss.duke.edu
Age: 51
Occupation: Accountant
NumberOfCruises: 9
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Renaissance-R1
SailingDate: 11/29/98
Itinerary: Greek Isles, Turkey, and Israel
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService: 100
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 93
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 94
FoodVariety: 93
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 98
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 97
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 100
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 88
SpaceRatio: 99
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 21 Dec 1998
Time: 11:52:44
Remote Name: 152.3.31.59
Remote User:

Comments

My mother, sister and I just returned from this wonderful ship. We had a portside cabin with a balcony and there was plenty of
room for all three of us. The ship is incredibly beautiful with lots of rich wood, scallop designs in the carpet and furniture, and very
tasteful lighting. I loved how the design carries from cabin to lounge to dining room throughout the whole ship instead of the new
big hotel ships.

The food was very good and plenty of variety because you have 4 different dining options. I really enjoyed the alternative dining
and being able to eat when you want and with whom you want. The Italian restaurant wa superb. The staff was the best I've
encountered so far. It began with Derrick, our captain, and continued throughout the whole staff. Everyone is so personable and
happy plus the service is very good.

So I highly recommend a cruise on any of the R1 to R8 ships. You will have a wonderful time. We plan on going again on the R3
to Tahiti!

Name: Leonardo & Maria J. Ardin
Email: ardinl@pdvsa.com
Age: 36
Occupation: Computer Consultant
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Renaissance-R1
SailingDate: 11/29/09
Itinerary: Istambul-Athens
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 80
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon: 50
CasinoStaff: 60
PrivateIsland: 0
GoodForFamilies: 70
LoungeService: 70
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff: 70
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 100
EntertShowLounge: 60
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon: 60
EntertainmentPoolside: 60
CruiseActivities: 60
Casino: 70
AirSeaProgram: 80
MedicalFacilities: 100
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 0
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 60
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 25 Dec 1998
Time: 15:47:24
Remote Name: 200.1.171.129
Remote User:

Comments

My wife and myself took this cruise from New York city flying to Istanbul with Delta with a crowded flight and worst in-flight
service. Once we arrived in Istanbul we checked in at the Intercontinetal's Ceilan just magnificent hotel! with an acceptable time
at we have all our luggage in the room just a short time after. Istanbul was really an quite an exotic experience we really enjoyed
out three day in this beautiful and at the same time chaotic city. The off shore tours that we booked while in Istanbul were
managed in a very professional way by the tour guides, I recalled the company ITS provided well written information that help us
to complement our own books. After this wonderful three days we boarded the brand new R-One, in a very fast and convenient
way. The food aboard was very good not quite the fast American food that most people are used to. We really enjoyed eating at
the Italian restaurant but the Grill was very good too (try the barbecued baby pork chop !) and the shrimps in the Italian.

Offshore excursion were well organized with the exception of Israel (Jerusalem / Bethlehem) the tour guides were more interested
in taking us at the shops they selected (I guess based in % commission they received from them). I strongly recommend not to
shop in any store recommended by these guys, you can find better prices in my case 4 times lower in Jerusalem crowded inner
streets. The Excursion desk personnel at the Ship were not of any help at all, in the briefing they do not have the elementary
notions of history to explain the most important sites and the history behind the Holy land. I recommend to plan in detail your
excursions while in Israel ports (Haiffa-Ashdod)and do not follow any recommendations regarding where to shop from the tour's
guide.

In general Greek Islands do not have much of activity as expected during November-March but do not miss while your are in
Kusadasi, Turkey the Roman city of Ephesus is just Great !

Athens’s Intercontinental Hotel was ok, but the location was not good they provided a shuttle to Prakla (Athens Tourist area)
every 30 min. Athens was a little disapoiment, traffic jams all around and very expensive food and not god quality. Besides
Athens Acropolis/Parthenon try not to miss the archeological museum.

In general R-One was a very good experience, but the must review offshore excursions especially in Israel, not the best
price/value and the tour company selected by Renaissance is probably the worst !

Name: Bonnie Dickson
Email: BHDickson@yahoo.com
Age: 50
Occupation: Homemaker, part-type bookkeeper
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Renaissance-R1
SailingDate: August 1, 1998
Itinerary: Athens to Istanbul
FoodDiningRoom: 96
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 75
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService: 98
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 80
LoungeService:
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 80
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 75
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Jan 1999
Time: 13:14:41
Remote Name: 209.210.140.108
Remote User:

Comments

My daughter Andrea, age 17, and I took the cruise on the Renaissance R1 together. This was my second cruise and her first.
The first cruise I took as to the Eastern Caribbean on the Norway and there were quite a few differences between the two. This
was the first trip either of us has taken to the Eastern Mediterranean, but this part of the world was extremely interesting to us
since Andrea and I are both very interested in history and archaeology. We shopped quite a bit on the internet and in travel
guides before we decided to cruise with Renaissance.

The cruise we took was part of a package that included one full day and two nights in Athens, then six days on board ship
(including embarking and disembarking, so really five full days of cruising), then about a day and a half and two nights in Istanbul.
There were three days in ports (Santorini, Rhodes and Kusadasi) and one day spent completely on ship sailing from Kusadasi to
Istanbul. The ship would sail during the night and spend a full day in port, generally from about 8:00 a.m. till 9:00 p.m.

The cruise was very destination-oriented and this was one of the things that made it a very different experience from what I had
on the Norway. Not better or worse, but different. This meant that since the main focus of the cruise was the ports where it
stopped, there were not very many activities on board. There was an excellent fitness room and a very good aerobics instructor,
but not the extensive fitness program that the Norway had. Which was find because after a day of exploring the very interesting
ports there was neither the need nor the energy to do fitness-oriented activities. There was a track for walking or running as well
as two or three treadmills and good weight machines and some stairsteppers. Other activities included a daily quiz or crossword,
bingo, movies either on TV or the staterooms or in the lounge (I'm not sure of the location since I didn't go). There was a
comedian one night that someone told me wasn't very good and there was a dance floor. The library was excellent, very
well-stocked with new books. Of course the travel books concerning our destinations were snatched up the first night. I hope
they're able to keep up the quality.

This naturally leads into whether this is a good cruise for kids. It definitely would depend on the individual child since there were
no activities or programs geared to kids. There were also few kids on board, but they seemed to be having a good time when I
saw them. There was my daughter, a couple of girls that looked somewhere around 8-11 years oldl, a boy 7-9 years old and a
couple of young men in their late teens or early twenties. The lack of a kids program didn't bother my daughter at all since she
wasn't interested in socializing with kids she didn't know and was focused on seeing the ports we were going to. I doubt she
would have participated in a youth program if there was one. Kids who are more gregarious and less interested in the ports might
not have such a good time.

The ship itself was absolutely beautiful, very tastefully decorated, not at all gaudy or overpowering. Our stateroom was outside
with a window, but hte window looked right into a lifeboat. The room was very wel laid out and we never felt cramped. There were
two twins convertible to a queen, each with its own nightstand. The mirror behind the beds added to the feeling of spaciousness.
It was very quiet and we never were bothered with noise. Our stewardess did an excellent job, as did all the staff we came in
contact with.

Now to the food. The food was excellent and I don't remember trying anything that was disappointing. There are four restaurants
on ship: the Club Restaurant, a sit-down full-service restaurant; the Panorama Buffet; the Grill; and the Italian Restaurant. The
last two are reservations-only. We ate only in the Panorama Buffet except for one evening when we tried the Grill. I should say,
though, that there were some bugs that should be worked out. They may be by now since we were on the first of the regular
sailings after the ship's initial cruise from Amsterdam to the Eastern Mediterranean. We only ate once in the Grill because we felt
really uncomfortable as two women eating alone. Chances are, this was because teens feel uncomfortable if they don't blend in
with everyone else. However, two women we met on board, single teachers traveling together, felt very uncomfortable in the Club
Restaurant because the maitre-D was quite chilly to them and seated women with men ahead of them. We felt that the service in
the buffet was a bit illogical. After we got what we wanted on our trays, a waiter would approach us and carry our tray to a table.
Then we had to figure out a way to get the placemat out from under the dishes and put the dishes back on it. I felt that it would
make a lot more sense to have placemats on the tables which could be changed between diners or have them rolled up with the
napkins. However, the waiters were for the most part very friendly, nice and eager to help. The menus in the Club restaurant and
buffet were identical--except for the last night on board when lobster tails were served everywhere except the buffet and we didn't
find out till we'd filled our plates at the buffet.

Excursions: We only took one of the excursions offered by the cruise line, the one to the temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion.
We didn't especially enjoy it and felt sort of like we were back in grade school on a field trip. The lunch included wasn't very good.
After that we ventured out on our own and had a great time. We probably missed some things, but we didn't care because we
saw most of what we wanted to see and had read extensively before we went. At Kusadasi we hired a taxi with a family from the
Grand Princess (which was docked next to us) for $20.00 apiece and flet hat was a much better deal, not only price-wise but
also since we could see what we wanted at our own pace. We bought a guidebook of Ephesus from a street vendor for $6.00 (a
little further on we could have gotten it for $3.00) and that worked grat for us. In Istanbul we found it easy to get a taxi from our
hotel to the Blue Mosque and that was easy walking distance to the Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace. It was easy to get
English-speaking taxi drivers and guidebooks. I should say here that hte best thing one can do before going on a trip like this is
to read, read, READ about the destinations. That way one has a fairly good idea of what one is seeing without having to do a tour
or bury one's nose in a guidebook the whole time.

The transfers were very well-handled. Our plane was late into Athens and we were met by a Renaissance rep who took us to our
hotel. when we left Istanbul our bags were picked up from our room and we and they were taken to the airport. As we were
standing at British Airways waiting to check in we wondered if our luggage would get to us before we got to the head of the line,
but it did with time to spare.

I would definitely recommend the R1 as a good value for someone who really wants a destination-oriented cruise and doesn't
expect a lot of activities on board. We had an absolutely wonderful time with few reservations.

NOTE: Save all documents. We were promised a $200.00 shipboard credit and didn't receive it. As the documentation got thrown
out, there was no way I could prove this.

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