Banjo499

Thank you Fran. I will add it to our list.

Hi LTC, Someone else on a different forum also strongly recommended the Dinner in the Rice Field. So with two recommendations, it looks like it is on our To Do list. Thank you.

Hi Fran, Many thanks for your very helpful reply. We have booked. Vietnam and Cambodia - here we come! Now just a matter of saving up our children's inheritance to pay for the trip. 😁

Fully understand the recruitment issue as it effects the majority of hospitality in UK. By the by, the ship was virtually full with passengers which compounded the problem.

The first cruise was just after Covid and the staff levels were excellent. We experienced two ships, due to the low water levels, on our recent October cruise and both ships had insufficient staff to serve, clear away and check whether glasses needed topping up. The staff that were there were first class, very helpful, friendly and willing to go that extra yard. It was there was just not enough of them.

We have been on two Emerald cruises, Amsterdam – Basel (really outstanding) and more recently Amsterdam – Budapest in September/October 2023 (enjoyable, but badly let down by a marked lack of Emerald bar and restaurant staff on two Emerald ships (we had to swap vessels due to low river levels); hence drinks and breakfast coffee refills were minimalistic every day). We are looking at various river cruise providers to do a river cruise in Vietnam and Cambodia in 2025; this includes Emerald’s 21 Day Grand Tour of Vietnam & Cambodia. We would be grateful for advice/recommendations on this tour: Recommended way to travel: Hanoi to Ho Chil Minh City or vice versa. The quality of the 2-day Halong Bay cruise ship (any photos or links would be helpful). Approximate breakdown of nationality of passengers of recent cruises. Ease of access of the onboard passenger laundry room and iron board. Yes I know - very sad!! Recommended DiscoverMORE trips for this trip. Finally, for those who have done repeated Emerald cruises over recent years, have you noticed a reduction in Emerald staff in the bar and restaurant areas on European cruises? I am trying to gauge whether the paucity of staff on both ships on our last cruise (Sep/Oct 23) was a one off or whether Emerald has cut staff levels or have a difficulty recruiting. Thank you.