51 Reviews
Traveller Rating
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Excellent23
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Very Good9
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Good12
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Average2
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Poor4
Review Overview
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Cleanliness
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Entertainment
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Food
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Service
14 years 1 month ago
I left Fremantle, Australia on the Athena embarking on a 40 day cruise to Portsmouth UK with trepidation considering the length of the cruise and travelling on my own. Within the first week all fears were put aside, fellow passengers were great and made some great friends along with the entertainment crew - Lynsey, Beth, Nicole and George were fantanstic not only in there shows but mixing with passgengers. The food was five star and can not think of one complaint always something different and plenty of it. The service unbelievable nothing too much trouble. One minor complaint is that tea and coffee was not available whenever you wanted it unless you paid but this is minor compared to everything else. Each embarkation and disembarkation was conducted smoothly and effeciently. We stopped at 11 countries. Well worth the money and recommend this ship and crew very highly. Thankyou Athena for an experience never to be forgotten and to my fellow passengers also especially - Jim & Anne, Phil & Jo, Lee & Jenny, John & Elaine, Tom & Irene, you all made my trip unforgettable.
Travel operator: Athena
Recommended
14 years 1 month ago
I can't comment on the ships ratings as our cruise begins on the 6th of march 2011 and from what we have seen of the Athena we are looking forward to it. This will be our 10th cruise and we are looking forward to a lack of crowds and a more personal service, where as cruising on a larger ship you are in a queue for an hr everywhere you go or do. To the ppl that wrote a good review of the Athena, you know how to holiday and we thank you as it is you that convinced us the to travel on the Athena. As for the whingers, you don't know how to travel, get a life!
6th of march, can't come soon enough for us, bring it on!
6th of march, can't come soon enough for us, bring it on!
Travel operator: Lots
Recommended
14 years 2 months ago
We arrived at the fremantle passenger terminal for our first ever trip away and by one glance at the ship she was beutiful. When it came to embarktion time they were very polite and more than willing to show us where our cabin room was. The ship is very clean and every day of the cruise someone always had the beds ready made to sleep in and little chocolates left on our pillow WOW!. Food was 5 star in the olissipo restaurant and the entertainment excellent.
Whenwe walked around the ships deck someone from the crew always said goodmorning or goodafternoon and the other passengers sometimes would strike up a conversation with you.
We went from Freo to Albany then to Bunbury and back to Fremantle and in my eyes it all went to fast.
I was SAD to see the trip end.
I WOULD DEFINITLY go back on the Athen again!!!.
Whenwe walked around the ships deck someone from the crew always said goodmorning or goodafternoon and the other passengers sometimes would strike up a conversation with you.
We went from Freo to Albany then to Bunbury and back to Fremantle and in my eyes it all went to fast.
I was SAD to see the trip end.
I WOULD DEFINITLY go back on the Athen again!!!.
Travel operator: Flight Center Kardinya
Recommended
14 years 3 months ago
We sailed on the Athena to celebrate my wife's Birthday out of Adelaide to Tasmania.
We had a comfortable cabin on Pacific Deck, bed was a bit hard but it was comfortable, linen changed daily, en-suite was roomy and water hot.
The food was excellent. Waiters were very courteous and helpful and the Menu was top class. The dining room staff really went out of their way to surprise my wife on her birthday. A group of staff, led by the Maitre d came to our table & sang happy birthday & produced a lovely birthday cake & candle.
We chose to eat all our meals in the Olissipio Restaurant. We could have eaten in the smaller Lotus Restaurant for more casual dining.
The entertainment was excellent. On this cruise we celebrated Australia Day and the staff went to great effort to decorate the ship accordingly. The entertainers produced one of the best shows I have seen to celebrate Australia Day.
This ship is not big which is a big advantage, everybody got to know each other quickly.
We will cruise with the Athena again.
Thank you Athena staff for making my wife's birthday a memory she won't forget.
We had a comfortable cabin on Pacific Deck, bed was a bit hard but it was comfortable, linen changed daily, en-suite was roomy and water hot.
The food was excellent. Waiters were very courteous and helpful and the Menu was top class. The dining room staff really went out of their way to surprise my wife on her birthday. A group of staff, led by the Maitre d came to our table & sang happy birthday & produced a lovely birthday cake & candle.
We chose to eat all our meals in the Olissipio Restaurant. We could have eaten in the smaller Lotus Restaurant for more casual dining.
The entertainment was excellent. On this cruise we celebrated Australia Day and the staff went to great effort to decorate the ship accordingly. The entertainers produced one of the best shows I have seen to celebrate Australia Day.
This ship is not big which is a big advantage, everybody got to know each other quickly.
We will cruise with the Athena again.
Thank you Athena staff for making my wife's birthday a memory she won't forget.
Travel operator: CIC
Recommended
14 years 3 months ago
We sailed out of Adelaide to Tasmania and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.Because the ship is small with few passengers we felt that the staff were able to provide a more personal service. Our waiters in particular were very efficient with Jeff most entertaining. The drinks were quite reasonably priced with various specials available each day. Our debriefing session each evening with yeugen at the Aeolos bar was pleasant and memorable. Our thanks to Joakim for spoiling us and arranging a tour of the bridge. We feel privileged to have spent Australia Day on the cruise and will remember with affection all the lovely people we met. We will travel on the Athena again but are disappointed that there will be no more cruises out of Adelaide such as this.
Travel operator: CIC
Recommended
14 years 3 months ago
My husband and I along with my aunt and uncle went on the Fremantle to bali trip. This was our first every holiday,we were a little apprehensive.Once we boarded all fears were put aside,the crew were very welcoming and the cabins were a great size and extremely clean.The food was five star the menu choices were perfect.Every night the dining room was a buzz with singing for birthdays and anniversarys and the waiters and bar staff were very friendly,every where you went you were greeted by the crew, you never felt left out.The Bali tours were fantastic and very cheap, for first timers it was a relief to have these we had no idea where to go or what we could do..Durring the whole trip we had endless entertainment. I have never relax so much in my life and I loved this experience so much that as soon as we docked back in Fremantle I re-booked for the 10th of January 2011 cruise. My photos and videos of the cruise has convinced 5 others of our family and friends to join us..Thank Athena..and thank you travelescape Rockingham.
Travel operator: travelescape
Recommended
14 years 4 months ago
We had never been on a cruise before as I am sick sea on the ferry to Rotnest island.
I booked this mini cruise to see how I would go.
We sailed on my Birthday as it happened, we only had a modist cabin, but could not have asked for more, bed was comfortable, linen changed daily, en'suite a bit snug but it had every thing in that we needed.
The food was excellent 110% it was served by great waiters, all very kind & helpful, Menu was like a 5 star hotel choice & portion size was spot on.
the wine list was realy good, some one told the wait staff it was my birthday, a group of them came to our table & sang happy birthday & poduced a lovely birthday cake & candle..........
We chose to eat all meals in the Olissipio resturant, but there was a small Lotus resturant for more casual dining...
the drinks were very cheap $7.25 for a cocktail, the beer was cheap as well, unfortunatly some people used this fact & became very drunk & loud......
The entertainment was excellent....
we have enjoyed just doing nothing, but there was organised events should you wish to join in.....
we enjoyed the fact that we were not just a room number,we met some great people & had some very intersting talks with fello passengers,this I am told you just dont get on the larger ships.
we would love to cruise with the Athena again, a very enjoyable intro for me while I gain my sea legs....
Thank you Athena staff for making my birthday a memory I would to forget forget...
I booked this mini cruise to see how I would go.
We sailed on my Birthday as it happened, we only had a modist cabin, but could not have asked for more, bed was comfortable, linen changed daily, en'suite a bit snug but it had every thing in that we needed.
The food was excellent 110% it was served by great waiters, all very kind & helpful, Menu was like a 5 star hotel choice & portion size was spot on.
the wine list was realy good, some one told the wait staff it was my birthday, a group of them came to our table & sang happy birthday & poduced a lovely birthday cake & candle..........
We chose to eat all meals in the Olissipio resturant, but there was a small Lotus resturant for more casual dining...
the drinks were very cheap $7.25 for a cocktail, the beer was cheap as well, unfortunatly some people used this fact & became very drunk & loud......
The entertainment was excellent....
we have enjoyed just doing nothing, but there was organised events should you wish to join in.....
we enjoyed the fact that we were not just a room number,we met some great people & had some very intersting talks with fello passengers,this I am told you just dont get on the larger ships.
we would love to cruise with the Athena again, a very enjoyable intro for me while I gain my sea legs....
Thank you Athena staff for making my birthday a memory I would to forget forget...
Travel operator: Cruise plannet
Recommended
14 years 5 months ago
Our cruise exceeded all our expectations and this is our fourth sea voyage - three have been cruises and one long one took us from Sydney to Southampton on the Fairstar many years ago.
Anyway back to the Athena - we loved the crew especially the very multi-skilled animators and the great cruise director by the name of George who we found to be very obliging and met all our needs with efficiency. He conducts himself with humour, intelligence and lots of tact! We are already missing the 6pm quiz!
The food was good - our only complaint is we returned many kilos heavier - our fault!! We liked the fact that the ship was not too big and we were on first name basis with many of the crew. We felt very comfortable also with our fellow (mainly Australian) passengers and our NZ cousins.
We would not hesitate in returning some time and would thoroughly recommend sailing on the Athena.
Anyway back to the Athena - we loved the crew especially the very multi-skilled animators and the great cruise director by the name of George who we found to be very obliging and met all our needs with efficiency. He conducts himself with humour, intelligence and lots of tact! We are already missing the 6pm quiz!
The food was good - our only complaint is we returned many kilos heavier - our fault!! We liked the fact that the ship was not too big and we were on first name basis with many of the crew. We felt very comfortable also with our fellow (mainly Australian) passengers and our NZ cousins.
We would not hesitate in returning some time and would thoroughly recommend sailing on the Athena.
Travel operator: CIC
Recommended
14 years 10 months ago
We were booked on a Mediterranean Cruise from Athens to Turkey, Eygpt, Crete etc and after booking and paying months in advance, we were told today that the whole cruise is cancelled less than 3 weeks away.
Travel operator: Flight Centre
15 years ago
MV Athena 37 nights Fremantle to Harwich.
**** W A R N I N G ***** to all intending passengers.
Professional thieves have access to cabin safes on this boat.
2nd Day at sea we had $1000 + £400 stolen from a handbag stored in a cupboard.
At least 4 other cabins had money stolen from their safe.
Our loss was reported and to now has been answered by the company stating "the ship's owners are not liable to provide compensation for the alleged loss of money."
Imagine the effect and stress this has had on our once in a lifetime holiday. The thief had to have had access to our cabin, and the master codes for the safes.
We could not allow anyone into our cabin without one of us being there. We had our cabin locked by the Chief Housekeeper for every shore excursion.
**** W A R N I N G ***** to all intending passengers.
Professional thieves have access to cabin safes on this boat.
2nd Day at sea we had $1000 + £400 stolen from a handbag stored in a cupboard.
At least 4 other cabins had money stolen from their safe.
Our loss was reported and to now has been answered by the company stating "the ship's owners are not liable to provide compensation for the alleged loss of money."
Imagine the effect and stress this has had on our once in a lifetime holiday. The thief had to have had access to our cabin, and the master codes for the safes.
We could not allow anyone into our cabin without one of us being there. We had our cabin locked by the Chief Housekeeper for every shore excursion.
Travel operator: Classic International Cruises
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