Doris Cruise

We had a wonderful time. The ship was fantastic, with clean cabins and a layout that worked really well. Since we’re vegetarian, the staff adapted the food for us and were incredibly attentive. Big thanks to Jessica, who took such good care of us. Best cruise I’ve been on!

The food was all included and genuinely tasty. Lunch came as a set menu, then there were afternoon snacks, a seafood-heavy buffet dinner, breakfast, and another buffet lunch. Drinks cost extra, and they weren’t cheap. We felt that two days and one night was about the right length. The whole trip ran for 24 hours: a small boat took us from the pier to the larger boat around noon, then another tender brought us back to the pier at noon the next day. There wasn’t a huge range of activities. We went kayaking and did the cave tour. The jacuzzi was available, but it was shared, and we didn’t feel comfortable using it, especially with people in it wearing street clothes. Our room was okay, though the bed wasn’t especially comfortable and there were signs of wear. The lamp had odd stains and the paint on the walls was rough, which made the room feel less comfortable. The bathroom was spacious, the bathtub was a nice extra, and having a balcony was great. It was so hot that we mostly stayed inside and admired the view. WiFi didn’t work at all during our stay. We’d been told that might happen, but it was still disappointing since we used up half our limited mobile data. I’d call the experience okay, but in my view the facilities didn’t match a five-star boat. If I were comparing it with a hotel, I’d give it three stars. That’s just my impression, especially for anyone arriving with high expectations.

The staff were lovely and really helpful, and we especially enjoyed the second day, when the cruise went farther into the area, away from the traffic. It was beautiful and much quieter there. It’s a long journey to get there and back, so I’d strongly recommend spending two nights on the cruise. For me, one night wasn’t worth it. The room had some dirt in the corners, and parts of the food were pretty average. They handled vegetarian meals well, but vegan options need work. They’ll make them, but be very clear and check what you’re getting. Some of the tofu dishes were fantastic. It was a decent cruise, just short of the five-star experience we expected. I’d also like to see more attention to sustainability, given how badly the area is affected by overtourism.

The crew were fantastic, kind, and helpful. When two people in our group got badly seasick, staff arranged to get them ashore and helped them find a hotel for the night. We had to cover the speedboat cost ourselves. We spent one night and two days aboard. The activities filled the time, but there wasn’t much to help you explore and enjoy the surroundings. Food was similarly average, with little variety and some repetition. Drinks at lunch and dinner weren’t included and cost extra. The room was decent but only about 80% clean. The basics were there, though I would’ve liked shaving kits. I’d suggest checking out similarly priced alternatives if you can. If not, this is still an okay option.