We’re our expectations too high?

The Edge is still very new very clean and has some good facilities, the pool areas particularly are really good, with a large pool and plentiful sun beds on several decks.
Our veranda cabin was lovely, still looking shiny new and our cabin steward was fabulous he couldn’t have been more efficient or helpful.
The set up of the ship with suites and premium cabins on upper decks in the bows meant there was no access to the front of the ship anywhere on board, there was also a clear divide and class system with Gold card passengers getting priority everywhere, we know they pay significantly more but being made to feel second class at all times does not make for a relaxing holiday.

Sadly this cruise just didn’t meet our expectations, we had I think the misfortune to travel on the first cruise since Covid where the ship was close to maximum capacity, sadly the staffing levels were not at adequate levels to cope with passenger numbers.

I lost count of the number of times the absence of staff due to Covid was explained to us by staff members – annoying to say the least as we had paid full rate, and we think a right to expect at least a good service.
The four restaurants, Cosmopolitan, Cyprus, Normandie and Tuscan were often chaotic, staffing levels were low, there were delays in taking food orders, tables were uncleared and food was generally very slow to arrive and frequently warm at best. We did not receive a single hot meal on our cruise.
The menus were repetitive throughout all four restaurants with just 3 specials on starters and entrees, with just one special on desert, these barely changed throughout, and there were no side dishes of vegetables, no cheese course, I think also a particular issue for vegetarians as their choice was even more limited.

Don’t even get me started on the sommeliers, only one out of all we met had any real clue about the wine available, and we never saw a wine list despite our requests.

Oceanview Cafe was a slight improvement on food temperature (oddly no temperature checks were carried out that we saw), but getting a table was challenging and getting a drink service was nigh on impossible. Tables were generally for upwards of four passengers, throughout all restaurants, so loads of wasted tables spaces as most travellers were couples and individuals guarded fiercely.
The only way to get a table was for couples to alternate their trips to fetch foods and drinks meaning it was impossible to eat together in Oceanview.
The food choice was massive, however the chaos around tightly grouped displays and the cool temperature of the food was disappointing to say the least.

We did not try any of the extra cost restaurants, on arrival only one had any availability and $66 each supplement seemed excessive in our opinion, we had booked for one evening but comments from other passengers on service and quality and our experience of the basic restaurants were reason enough to decide to cancel and not take the risk.

The bars and theatre – sadly too few bars and places to sit and socialise, service was slow and very disorganised, why it isn’t electronic on card barcode in this day and age I don’t know, your card was removed and eventually returned often twenty minutes later wet, a hygiene issue and concerning particularly with Covid hygiene standard.
Eden was a bit of a black hole exceptionally dark during the evenings and seating very limited also quite low and difficult to get in and out of, staff again limited and communication difficult, long delays in getting drinks
The Martini bar in the central atrium (atrium and bar both very small for the ship size), was difficult to access through the ten or twelve seats immediately round the bar, waiters rare as hen teeth, who when they eventually arrived found orders incomprehensible and took ages to return with drinks.
The coffee facility was also around the atrium and always very busy especially in the evenings when passengers used it to circumnavigate the problem of getting a drink elsewhere.

The Club was very dark, though livelier than elsewhere staff worked hard but again not enough staff to cope, seating crowded and immediately around the bar service area so tricky to navigate.

The sunset bar was much better service standards than the others, staff excellent and oddly plentiful but by its very nature on an open deck meant it was not ideal, there’s no entertainment close by, limited seating and of course out of bounds really when cool or wet, seating cushions were very mildew marked and in short supply, not somewhere you would want to be or sit when dressed for the evening.

The theatre and shows we saw were generally of a good standard, the cast worked hard and their shows were energetic and of a good standard. Entertainment host was very jolly, there was no drinks service unless you were suite class, maybe they thought we second class passengers were not to be trusted to behave?

I’m not sure why nearly two decks were set aside for luxury shops selling mainly jewellery, and art which was exceptionally expensive and fascinatingly the shops were almost always empty, we saw little activity in any and felt the space could have been used for passengers.

The shore excursions were generally expensive, we can only speak for the two day Complete Istanbul journey we undertook, the guide was exceptionally knowledgeable however visiting a mosque that was to all under complete renovation and virtually totally covered was disappointing, the Bhorphorus cruise was on a very old cold dirty ferry, with appalling toilet facilities, it was sold as a complete Istanbul tour it didn’t meet our expectations

All in all not a cruise ship we would recommend, standards were not high, service was poor, food quality and temperature standards in our opinion was very poor, staffing levels much to low.

Our holidays are aimed at visiting new places trying and enjoying food and wine relevant to our journey, we like to eat well and the food and restaurant experience is a large part of our holiday we were very disappointed.