Onboard - MS. Astor
My Cruise aboard the MS. Astor
Our flight took off on time and the transition through the airport was quick with our luggage arriving on the carousel very quickly. As soon as we passed through Customs we were met by two very friendly ladies holding "Astor" signs. Once all of our party had arrived (11 passengers in total) we were taken to the transfer coach and were on our way to the ship. The transfer from the airport was the most picturesque transfer I have even taken. The sights of Nice are wonderful with dramatic, historical buildings lining one side of the road and beautiful beaches full of beautiful people on the other side of the road leading to a stunning blue ocean. Although we travelled in September the beach was full of bikini clad females making the most of the afternoon sunshine.
We passed the marina full of impressive, and I am sure, expensive, ships and were informed that Elton John's ship was in port. Nice certainly is a millionaires playground with stunning yachts moored in the harbour all awaiting their next exotic location. We catch a glimpse of the Astor and are all excited that we have reached the ship. Boarding was extremely swift and the staff very welcoming. We were shown to our cabin straight away and our luggage had already arrived! German efficiency. After a quick look at our cabin which is nicely laid out and the shower room which is immaculate we make our way to the sun deck and take in the wonderful views that surround us as well as the sun.
After we set sail we visited the dialysis unit to meet the dialysis doctor onboard. The doctor's English was perfect and the dialysis centre well laid out with 3 beds to each room. All guests who travelled with us, (9 in total) remarked how clean and efficiently run the dialysis centre is. The doctor and her team were very highly praised.
The same deck as the hospital (where the dialysis centre is located) also houses the Wellness Oasis. This is where the beauty treatments are available and there is also an indoor swimming pool. The Wellness Oasis is a very calming environment and is the perfect place for a little pampering.
We decided to explore the ship starting with the Promenade deck. The Waldorf restaurant, the Admirals Salon and the Commodores Salon are all located on this deck along with the Captains Club and the boutiques. All photographs taken during your cruise are also displayed on this deck for you to purchase if you wish. The shows onboard take place in the Astor Lounge which is also located here.
One deck above is the Boots deck. The Ubersee Club is located here which is the buffet restaurant. There is also an outdoor pool on this deck located next to the Ubersee Club and it is very convenient to take your dining experience from the restaurant onto the open deck.
The Bruken Deck has a fitness centre and also the Hanse Bar, this is a bar reminisent of the olden days of cruising all full of dark wood and brass fittings. Doors from the Hanse Bar lead to the sun terrace.
The Sonnen deck, sun deck has a jogging track and is the perfect place for soaking up the sunshine.
Reception is located on the Atlantic deck and there are two sets of lifts available on every deck.
Following our explorations, at 8.15pm we made our way to dinner (early dining is also available at 6.15). The menus are varied and offer many different choices including vegetarian. I was impressed with the presentation and also the flavours of the food served and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. Our waitress, Marina, had spent 3 years working for a large hotel chain in the UK before joining the Astor. Our menus were provided in English and the staff also spoke perfect English.
Alternatively, for a more informal dining experience a buffet restaurant is also available. The buffet serves the same food as the restaurant however is self service. This restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Afternoon tea is also served here. Also, for those of you who are still hungry there is also a late night snack served every evening between 2300 and midnight in the Captain's Club,
In addition there are two more restaurants on board. The restaurant Toscan and also the Admirals Salon where a 'romantic dinner' is available. These restaurants are open on selected evenings during the cruise and can be booked by guests in advance.
Following dinner we enjoyed entertainment by the pool along with a welcome drink. A presentation by the Cruise Director was made in English and also German and all English guests were specifically welcomed onboard.
Our first port of call was Civitavecchia, the port for the wonderful city of Rome. We took the train into Rome however a coach is also available provided by the ship which can be booked onboard. We disembarked the train and after a short walk reached the breathtaking sights of the Vatican. We were overwhelmed by the size of the buildings and the imposing statues that look down on visitors to Rome. After a few photographs we made our way, on foot, to the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Coliseum. For guests who prefer not to do quite so much walking there are plenty of 'hop on, hop off' buses that continually tour the city.
On Friday in the morning we visited Naples which is a very busy, traffic heavy town, this was followed by a short sail to the beautiful isle of Capri. The views from the ship are stunning and the sea is a wonderful azure blue. We were taken ashore by tender boat and arrived at the shops and cafes which adorn Capri's sea front. A short walk takes you to the marina where many luxurious yachts are moored. We then began a 750 metre ascent to the town centre. This is a combination of steps and slopes and is very challenging indeed! However the climb is worth it when you reach the centre full of wonderful, if very expensive, designer stores displaying their covetable goods. After a couple of hours window shopping we began our descent which was far easier coming down than going up. Of, course, you may wish to take a bus or the vernacular railway and arrive in the centre a lot more refreshed than we did!
Saturday was a relaxing day at sea and we made the most of the sunshine by lazing around on the deck all day. Of course this was nicely interrupted by a wonderful lunch followed by afternoon tea. Saturday evening was formal and the Captain's Welcome party. This is your opportunity to have your photograph taken with the Captain and all of the senior staff are introduced to the guests. Formal nights vary from ship to ship however there was only a handful of tuxedos on board as mainly men wore a tie and jacket and the ladies mainly dresses. This is not an overly formal cruise and there were no full length dresses to be seen. Dinner was followed by a show in the Astor show lounge which was a French theme ending with a dramatic can-can.
On Sunday we arrived in the wonderful picturesque town of Katakolon, Greece. From here you can visit Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games. However we decided to explore the town and amble along the beach. There are some wonderful shops selling gold jewellery and leather items. You can walk miles along the beach and around the marina looking at the new glossy leisure boats alongside the traditional Greek fishing boats. The sea front is full of wonderful restaurants with fabulous views of the coast line. As it was Sunday the local inhabitants were dressed in the Sunday finery enjoying the good food on offer in this pretty town. In the evening back on board we were treated to a wonderful show entitled Circus Show presented by the Astor Showteam. All songs were in English and we were entertained in a most colourful way.
Arriving in Sarande, Albania, we were met with a coastline of construction works. Albania is quite new to cruise ship itineraries and it is obvious that it is enjoying a building boom. Apartments with a sea view are selling at around €58,000 and are probably being snapped up by purchasers around the world. Sarande town itself is increasing in desirability and there is evidence of new shops, one assumes to take advantage of Sarande's booming tourist industry. The beach is pebbly and the sea is crystal clear. I assume that if I were to return to Sarande in 10 years time it would look totally different as changes are already evident.
Our final port of call was Dubrovnik. After enjoying sunshine every day of our cruise and temperatures in the late 70's we were very disappointed to see rain. However, we reached to the back of our onboard wardrobes for our rain coats and our umbrellas and went exploring. Dubrovnik is full of historic buildings and if the mood takes you, you can enjoy a walk along the city walls and take in the fabulous views.
Sadly we finally reached the last full day of our cruise. I have been on many cruises (both with dialysis onboard and without) and sometimes when it gets towards the end of your cruise you feel like the staff can't wait to get rid of you so that they can welcome the next guests. However, the Astor experience was completely different. On the last day you were made to feel as welcome as the first day. Afternoon tea was a very special affair served in the show lounge, the display of cakes and pastries was exceptional and the choice amazing. I must say I over indulged which was not such a good idea as in the evening it was the Captain's Farewell dinner. More wonderful food followed by an Abba tribute show which was fun and a great ending to a really good day.
On the day of disembarkation breakfast was served at the usual time (instead of early as is sometimes the case on the last day on other ships) and everyone left the ship in Venice in a very relaxed and organised manner. Our transfer to the airport was uneventful as one would hope and our return flight home went very smoothly.
So, would I recommend the Astor to our clients? - definitely and without a doubt. This is a wonderful ship with an extremely efficient crew led by Romana, the Cruise Director, who is a bundle of energy and keeps everything 'shipshape'.
The Astor represents excellent value for money and is quite an informal cruise. The majority of guests onboard are German who will always make the effort to talk and pass the time of day. All documentation, menus and onboard announcements are also available in English.
Kind regards
Lisa Parnell, DipM MCIM
Cruise Specialist
Telephone: 0844 800 2624
Fax: 0844 484 2203
