I was travelling, fist time and it was a brilliant journey!

Our complaint is related to the total lack of communications in English. All announcements we made in Lithuanian and a few also in German. When I tried to determine how we would embark the reception person could not explain any of the process in English and seemed annoyed that I should ask. She didn't attempt to refer me to a person who was able to give any instructions. Fortunately the bar tender was very helpful and explained the process. If there was an emergency on board I don't know how we would have know the expected process. There was an instruction sign on the cabin door with some information.

The cabins were comfortable and all the facilties all worked. It seemed that the boat was recently renovated as all the fixtures looked new. We were the only customers in the sit-down restaurant during the dinner hours. The food and service was excellent and the price reasonable. It was only slightly more expensive than the self service area and the food was much better. The buffet breakfast was adequate.

Travelling back to Moscow we decide to avoid an extra bordercrossing as the Latvians make you wait for long periods (6 hours at least). On both sides of the crossing it would help to provide a route description. The journey itself was agreeable and accomodation was good.

I have driven from Italy to Lithuania several times but this was my first time through Kiel via Ferry.
Fantastic! I havn't seen a Traffic-light in the whole trip.
If you are thinking about it, just do it: GO Ferry!

Although I'm technically only rating the trip from Kiel to Klaipeda, we did travel round trip, so this applies to the totality of our experience. The ship was nicer than we expected - quite new and well-appointed. The food was awful, and extremely overpriced. We went hungry rather than eat it. Allegedly there was a restaurant with much nicer (and one suspects even more expensive) fare, but it never opened, and no one ever seemed to know if it ever did.

Staff varied considerably in customer service. A barman (young fellow - sorry I don't remember his name) was excellent. Shore personnel at Klaipeda were outstanding, especially the woman who ran the office. Purser over was fine - back not so good.

Cabin was affordable on the way over - unaffordable on the way back - nearly double the price. It was "the season". How sailing with empty cabins that could have been sold helps the ferry line escapes me, but policies are policies, I guess.

So we endured the reclining seats, with half-drunk noisy partiers going until after two in the morning, and the staff refused to do anything about it.

In short, a convenient way to travel, but definitely not cruise line quality.