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• Cape Verde cruise on Harmony V (March 2026) — dramatic islands, rocking seas, brilliant crew (and a few frustrations)

  MikeY989,Mar 15, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Cape Verde cruise on Harmony V (March 2026) — dramatic islands, rocking seas, brilliant crew (and a few frustrations) We went on a Variety Cruises cruise aboard the Harmony V around the incredibly interesting and dramatic islands of Cape Verde, off the west coast of Africa, in March 2026. There are 10 islands in total created by God after creating the earth and dusting off his fingers and the dust falling into the Atlantic ocean forming these 10 beautiful islands. We visited 6, and it still felt like a proper adventure. The ship was clean and well maintained, and everything worked as it should — but it does feel like it needs an upgrade in places. The seas were choppy… properly “rock n rolling” out there in the Atlantic, so if you’re even slightly prone to motion sickness, come prepared. What truly made this trip was the crew (and of course the other fellow travelers especially the non paying ones!!!!) Made, Ibrahim, Wayan, and the hotel manager Kavi were outstanding — friendly, calm, professional, and they couldn’t do enough for us. This is exactly why we love these small ships: they feel personal, safe, and like a sanctuary. Friends are made stories are shared and laughter all around as well as the the small dramas of toast wars and seat positions - Hunger games-esque! A small scrap over goats cheese was also memorable. Food-wise, I’m the kind of person who’ll eat anything and for me it was healthy, tasty, and spot on. For my wife (vegetarian), it became a bit monotonous and not as flavourful as it could have been. Also, fruit during the day was lacking, and the bread was underwhelming — it feels like they could do so much more here, especially if they leaned into fresh baking. Cape Verde itself was… complex. A mix of hope and sadness, with visible poverty and tough living conditions in parts. We heard a lot about how many Cape Verdeans live abroad and how challenging life can be on the islands. There’s also a strong pride and sensitivity around history and independence — you can feel it in conversations. It’s a striking place, not just in landscape, but in the weight of its story. The cruise director was energetic and capable, but also made it very clear he was exhausted and getting off at the end of the seven days. His style was quite authoritative — at times it felt like paying guests were being managed like children, which was frustrating. That said, it all worked out fine and the trip ran smoothly. One thing to know: there was a big focus on excursions, and not a hell of a lot to do if you didn’t go on them. Some parts of the excursions were tedious, and the lunches provided were underwhelming — and no snacks, which is always a mistake on a long day out. On the plus side, the local guides were great — knowledgeable, helpful, and often the best part of the day. All in all… for me this was a perfect second honeymoon. Not flawless, but memorable, safe, and genuinely special — and the crew were the kind of people who make you want to sail with Variety again.   “Rock n rolling Atlantic, brilliant crew, complex Cape Verde” “Harmony V Cape Verde: outstanding staff, choppy seas, excursion-heavy” “A perfect second honeymoon — with a few rough edges”

  

  

  

  

  

  

• CAPE VERDE TOUR 3*

  Daydream13343575520,Dec 29, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  3.00

  We chose this tour after reading the FRAM description and checked the quality of the 3 hotels mentioned. We were therefore pleased to have been assigned to the CESARIA Hotel. Arriving at PRAIA airport we are taken to the hotel PRAIA COMFORT (?) NO FRENCH SPEAKER at this hotel. Room number 12 is spacious. The bath WITHOUT hot water (a micro water heater added under the sink). Intermittent WIFI. NO FOOD in this hotel; we are directed to a 'local' (poor) Fast Food located in the square opposite... where we will enjoy each evening; mainly pasta (the pizza oven is out of order). No interlocutor to take into account our disapproval. Thanks to Suzanna Cape Verdean Francophone who came to guide us on the last day of the excursion, who informed us about her island and its culture, FRAM customers for several years, we feel that we have been downgraded and left to ourselves totally out of step with the usual quality of the services provided.

• santiago

  nilsond642,Feb 25, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  very beatifull landscapa amazin good vibes and very safe and clean cabo verde e sabi dmaas , nhos bem looooooove so muchhh

• Cape Verde through my eyes

  398margied,Aug 19, 2022

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  had the pleasure of doing a tour with Bu Country Tours on 9/3/2021 - 9/9/2021. I thoroughly enjoyed my tours with this company. Each staff member went above and beyond to assist us with our needs. On the last day of the Admilson surprised us and took us back to Bar Restaurante Do Mundo for dinner(by the way, I raved about the tuna dish I had from there the entire trip)! After dinner, he also went above and beyond the call of duty by taking us to the grocery store to pick up local spices and items for us to take home. This company coordinated everything (transportation to and from the airport, transportation to the different cities, covid tests, and obtaining results), and everything went smoothly. I can't rave enough about this company as they provided excellent service! If you're ever in Cape Verde or the surrounding islands, please consider Bu Country Tours.

• 7-days on Santiago

  DetroitSimone,Sep 12, 2021

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Amazing week in Cape Verde with Admilson, Maria and Zenildo! The team showed us the wonders of Santiago's beaches, mountains, cities and villages, as well as the kindness and hospitality of Cape Verdean people! Take this tour and enjoy being treated like old friends!

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