"Myself and my husband Brendan liked the idea of cruising around the Indian Ocean for our honeymoon, as it is somewhere neither of us had been before, and with it's hot weather, romantic setting and powder-soft beaches we couldn't imagine anywhere more idyllic. We chose to sail on her 'Jewels of the Indian Ocean' itinerary, which included a hotel stay at the Flamingo Beach Hotel in Kenya before and after our cruise, plus a 1-night Masai safari package.
African Safari Club was our ideal choice as they offered tropical itineraries aplenty with the option to join a safari in Kenya, but with the added bonus of sailing on a smaller, more intimate ship. Although the ship wasn't a brand new superliner, it was fully refurbished last year, and once on board we found the cabin and storage space more than adequate.
M.S Royal Star exuded plenty of character with teak wood panels and brass features, and we particularly liked the ships' wooden steering wheel as it really gave it a superbly traditional feel. The standard of food and service definitely made up for its lack of innovative or modern facilities that newer superliners offer - we can definitely rate these as five-star! The atmosphere on board was relaxed and informal, and we found there was still plenty to do both ashore and on board.
Just like larger ships, M.S Royal Star offers formal evenings and entertainment, even though on a smaller scale. The smiling staff ensured we were well looked after at all times, and the personal touch was present as they remembered our names and our preference for drinks etc. The beauty of a having smaller crowd on board meant we regularly met up with fellow passengers and enjoyed making friends and sharing our experiences over dinner. We also found that as there were only 200 passengers on board, we didn't have to queue at meal times or on embarkation/disembarkation, which made for a refreshing change.
Our ship was easily able to visit smaller ports of call, and for us that was the real attraction to this cruise. We wanted to explore destinations that were relatively undiscovered and more unusual to make it a truly special experience for us. We saw turquoise lagoons, emerald palms and exotic fish, as well as relaxing on some of the most silken sands we've ever seen! The Masai safari was at the Kilimanjaro -Kimana Game reserve, and was a magical experience as we had a two-day game drive where we saw a variety of animals, then returned to camp on the evening for dinner in a wonderful setting.
Before joining our cruise we enjoyed a two-night stay at the Flamingo Beach Hotel on Shanzu Beach, Kenya. This was a fabulous resort, with a huge lagoon shaped swimming pool and friendly staff. The hotel is rated as a five-star and offers plenty of facilities, but we would like to mention that a five-star Kenyan-rated hotel may not be comparable to standards in other countries. Having said that, Brendan and I felt this only added to our experience, giving us a realistic insight to local life in Kenya.
Both Brendan and I can't speak highly enough of this unique cruise holiday, and we would certainly travel on her again. We found her to be excellent value for money, and we would recommend M.S Royal Star to couples and families alike."
