Minerva Review
Rating by category
Additional details
From our arrival by car at Dover cruise terminal it was clear that this cruise was going to be a well organised experience. We drove into the terminal under the overall roof of the former Dover Marine railway station, our luggage was collected and we parked the car, still under cover.
After the usual entry controls by the friendly Swan Hellenic staff, we boarded the ship and were accompanied to our inside cabin. As we expected, the cabin was compact, but there was adequate space to put way and hang clothes, and to stow our suitcases. The only complaint was the distance between the two single beds and the restricted headroom above one of the beds, caused by the stowed upper berth above it (careful not to bang your head when getting into bed!).
The first impression was of a liner with a traditional appearance, as it only accommodates a maximum of 325 passengers across 5 decks. It feels like a real ship where passengers are not shut away from the sea, as they are on some megaliners. We investigated the ship and were impressed by the brass-work and comfortable furniture in the public rooms, and the ease of getting around on a small ship. There are two bars, the Wheeler on the bridge deck, and the Shackleton on the main deck, and two restaurants, one of which was self service with the option of eating on the open aft deck. Afternoon tea was available in the main dining room soon after embarkation, and so the pattern was set for a programme of regular feeding opportunities throughout the holiday. The main dining room had the more formal dress code, expecting a jacket and tie at most dinners, but with two black tie dinners during the cruise. The food on board was consistently excellent with a good choice (in general the same menu was served in both restaurants) and there are no allocated tables - you sit with someone different for every meal. The service at meals was consistently excellent and professional by the mainly Filipino staff; even in rougher seas they still managed to balance six meals on a single tray.
Cabin Review
B3 is an inside cabin on the lowest passenger deck near the front of the ship. There is adequate drawer and hanging space for clothes, and plenty of room under the beds to stow suitcases. The two beds were on opposite sides of the cabin, but on of them is located under a fold-away bunk bed which projects out of the wall by about 9 inches, so the occupant has to be careful not to bang his head when getting up (especially during the night in the dark). There is a small en-suite shower room with all the facilities required. The cabin is in a quiet location in the ship with little engine noise, and no noise from other cabins or the crew.