Boudicca Review
Lots of Port Time in Both Belgium and Holland
Rating by category
Additional details
We chose this cruise due to the excellent itinerary. There was lots of port time, including two overnights in Antwerp and Amsterdam, which gave us chance to have time off the ship and not rush back to the ship every night and the chance to have dinner ashore. We have travelled a lot on Fred's ship's, mainly because of the more unusual destinations.
The food and dining experience was excellent as usual - both food and restaurant staff being of high quality. The set meal times are not what we would choose as they are either too early or too late, but at least the self service is available as an alternative. One very big improvement is the fact that the self service restaurant was open until midday every day so we did not have to rush to finish breakfast by 10am or skip it.
The cabin was good and of a good size for a porthole cabin, with enough storage space and a bath with the shower over it. We always used the shower, but there was a lot more space then the dedicated shower cubicles. Unfortunately there was no full length hanging space as a fridge had been installed at the bottom of the longer wardrobe. We were however not impressed with the two occasions when they turned the water off ship wide without any notice being given - particularly on the change over day between this cruise and the next (we were on back to back cruises).
Cabin Review
Outside Cabin
As mentioned good sized cabin with to portholes and a bath - which meant more space to shower.
Port Reviews
Antwerp
A great port and we were moored in the centre of the city. Plenty to do and great to have an overnight so we could spend time ashore in the evening and not rush back to the ship.
Ghent
An excellent, rarely visited port. We had been previously on a land holiday, but lovely old city which was great to visit again.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam was badly damaged in the war, so has been mainly rebuilt since then. Hence no old town, but very interesting to see and enter one of the 'cube houses', which is part of an unusual development of houses built in a modern 'wacky' style. Still had a good time wandering around the town as well.
Amsterdam
A great port which we have visited a number of times and again we had an overnight, which gave us a night out as the city gained the 'buzz' of night life. We went to the tourist area of Zaanse Schans by bus the first day, where there are reconstructed working windmills and old style workshops, which were extremely interesting.