11 independent reviews for Maldives vacations, Dhoni cruise
Reviews for Maldives vacations, Dhoni cruise
Jane and Keith Miller review 3 Oct 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The peace, the relaxation, the underwater world, the attentive crew, the amazing guide.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
If you are 70+ you need to be very mobile and fit to climb on and off dinghies, snorkel for 3+hours a day etc. we were and we loved it but being hauled in and out of a dinghy in a rolling sea with 2 hip replacements was quite challenging!3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes - local crew and guide. Visited local islands with strong guidance on what to wear, how to act. No plastic on board - water maker so fresh water on tap into recyclable bottle provided4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was wonderful. We were looking for a relaxing switch off break between very stressful work commitments and it exceeded the brief!Neil Harvey review 21 Mar 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The food.The whole trip was wonderful.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
None every thing was explained adequately by Explore3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes .4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Very good.I had done four other trips with Explore previously ,but I only found out after that I was eligible for a discount from Explore.This was a disappointment,other wise the trip was wonderful.Cazz Lang review 7 Mar 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The snorkelling was fantastic2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take care booking return flights - final day ends at 7am yet Explore booked me on a flight leaving at 11.35pm3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Maybe4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Wonderful way to see the MaldivesFiorella Abbarchi review 29 Nov 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Swimming with Nursery sharks, and by that I mean proper snorkelling with a multitude of them whilst being fed. They swam around me like I was nothing, not bothered or threatened by our presence, it was a phenomenal calming experience.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
If you don’t like being too basic in the bedroom/shower facilities then consider an upgrade will cost you £1kg more but that’s up to you. I managed on the wooden bed with a reasonable thickness mattress, and the toilet showers were backs but clean. And don’t do a resort. A boat has no mosquitoes and a constant panoramic view of the sea, dolphins and flying fish. What a view.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We visited a couple of islands that were established and in the process of establishing. It’s was a shock to see such vast big control masts on the islands but understands how this is life changing to their survival. It was good to see recycling center on the islands and good use of recycling of past obsolete items.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
10/10. It was memorable in every way.Clare Graham review 17 Feb 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The authenticity/rusticness of the whole thing2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
(1) buy a Maldivian SIM card at the airport. It's very cheap & there is good 3-4G coverage throughout the cruise (2) you will need to leave the boat between 7- 9am on the last day & there really is no where to leave your luggage after that as the boat departs & you can't get back to it. Consider what the time of your return flight is & what you can do with the time between the two. On our cruise, we had another night at a hotel in Male, others put their luggage into storage & went out for the day, others booked a hotel near the airport for the day to use the facilities etc. (3) It took 2 hours from joining the queue at Male airport to get through security 1, check-in/bag drop, passport control, security 2 i.e. don't leave it too late (4) there is no airconditioning or WIFI on the boat3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, but they are really up against it in the Maldives as most of the islands have been leased to international resorts.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Five stars for me, but then we love the rustic authenticity i.e. airconditioning & WIFI wouldn't have done it for us ...Diane Few review 22 Nov 2021
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The ocean2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Book the big boat. More stable and ensuite3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. We did fill 3 large black sacks of rubbish.avoided using an anchor4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Peaceful stunning gorgeous food lovely friendly helpful crew amazingly friendly knowledgeable tour leaderLinda Moldauer review 9 Feb 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The size of the boat the crew and natural beauty of the Maldives was a win win situation.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Bring swim shoes. The coral and rocks are sharp.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes but unfortunately ocean garbage was everywhere and impossible to keep clean.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
A 10!Raelene Shea review 31 Mar 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The snorkeling was great - saw many beautiful fish, turtles, sharks, dolphins,2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be sure that you can manage two people in a very small cabin - or be prepared to sleep on deck. Take something to do, eg, books, games, etc for the down time. The boat had a small bookshelf but no games. Take very little clothes beyond a swimsuit - but do bring clothes to cover knees and shoulders as this is a Muslim country and you must dress appropriately to visit the island towns. Bring a health appetite as the food was fabulous.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Some souvenier shopping on the small islands would benefit the people. Our crew were very careful to retain all plastic, glass, paper for apprpriate disposal in port.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I really enjoyed this vacation.Heather Daniel review 18 Feb 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing a dolphin chasing a flying fish was extraordinary...and one of so many fantastic sights and experiences on board.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Don't take too many clothes - you just don't need them! Changes of swim suits are a must.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
It provided employment for local people. There did not appear to be much waste generated. We only stopped at one inhabited island where there were shops and so our money went to a small local community. The downside was the vacation involved diesel fuel to power the boat which moved each day and small plastic bottles of water were used quite a lot.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It exceeded my expectations and the description of the vacation from the web site was pretty accurate.Pam Stewart review 7 Jan 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
So many wonderful memories of this vacation, the great group of people I met, the dolphins swimming in their natural environment and releasing a turtle back into the sea after having found it caught up in a fishing net. The beautiful sandy beaches and clear waters, my first attempt at snorkling, the list could just go on and on.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Go with an open mind to the basic accommodation, it will not spoil your vacation. If you are traveling from the North make sure you get the correct information about the transfer, the only downfall to this vacation for me was that Explore do not seem to cater well for the flights that land early from northern airports. Don’t just think about it book it you won’t regret it I am sure3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Local people benefited from the night they performed a local drumming and dancing session. I was however concerned about some of the rubbish we saw on the uninhabited Islands, the Maldives does not seem to have any recycling in place so I question how our rubbish from the boat was disposed off, a concern about these beautiful Islands and preservation for the future4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Basic accommodation, fabulous food and crew, sailing around is simply the best way to see the Maldives and experience local life The best vacation I have ever been on.David Antcliffe review 3 Dec 2013
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The multiple shades of blue, and the clear underwater views of the Maldivian coral and fish. A great team on the boat (Captain Mog, Super Chef Bablu, Waiter Ahmed and Room boy Yoonus). Not forgetting our guide Bongo. And the other passengers were a load of fun. This was our first vacation with this operator, and will not be our last.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
A great deal and well worth it.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
A little BUT the trash in the Maldives is getting worse and spoils the islands and the sea.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent value for money.Holiday Reviews
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