I work for the NHS Ambulance Service, I have a website to do with the Ambulance Service - it is main...
I work for the NHS Ambulance Service, I have a website to do with the Ambulance Service - it is mainly a discussion website with forums and chat rooms plus lots of other stuff, Live in the SSW of the UK in a county called Dorset.
Member since:06.12.2003
Reviews:3
A review of my honeymoon, on the Ocean Village and why not to do it!
I booked a honeymoon cruise onboard the Ocean Village cruise ship, for a one week cruise around the Mediterranean, I had to pay just about full price, just under £1000 each for a outside cabin with a window on the "D" Deck – the view from the window was obscured by a giant lifeboat just outside.
We knew about the lifeboat blocking the window prior to our cruise, but I could not afford an upgrade and I certainly was not going to downgrade - as it was our honeymoon after all.
No problems booking, the travel agent were very helpful and advised that this would be the best type of cruise for us as a young honeymoon couple because the ship is very informal, lots to do onboard, Facilities include: eight bars, four places to eat, two swimming pools (one with swim-up bar), a kids centre, cinema, casino and nightclub, Ocean-view gym (with a full range of treadmills, rowing machines, weights and resistance equipment), 4 Jacuzzis, Spa (including sauna, steam and massage rooms),
Hair and Beauty Salon, Jogging track, Golf driving nets, Lifestyle/fitness/yoga classes, Table tennis, deck football and volleyball court, Mountain bikes for use ashore.
The travel agent spoke to someone on the telephone whilst we were booking and stated that we were a honeymoon couple and is there anything special that they could do as a gesture of good will...
They said they would do something and left it at that, we found out whilst on the cruise this meant pushing the two single beds together to make a double bed and nothing else.
We had to meet the ship in Palma, Mallorca, so flew out from London Gatwick to commence our journey.
We got to the ship via an organised coach from the airport, whilst boarding the ship our luggage had to go on via another door, we got onboard the ship and were told that we could not enter our rooms until approximately 3-4pm, at this time it was around 11am.
The weather was very hot and we were wearing the same clothes that we had been travelling in since the early hours of the morning from England.
I made an enquiry about getting our suitcases so we could get changed, I was told our suitcases would be delivered to our room and I could get to them between 3-4pm.
Not a good start to our honeymoon! but we were told that we could use the restaurant and have some lunch, also use the bars all around the ship, the prices for drinks are around the same price as most pubs in England, As far as I can remember I paid about £2-£2.20 for a pint of Stella, all the food is inclusive in your holiday price.
You could dress up in the evening for dinner if you wish and eat in a slightly higher class restaurant, but you had to book and pay extra.
When we eventually got to our room at about 3:45pm after we had some lunch, I entered to find a rather plain looking room, something you would expect from a budget B+B but it was of a reasonable size, as promised our honeymoon treat (the beds pushed together), a very small WC/shower room that smelt of urine, dust on window sills and ledges around the room, a safe for you valuables, a fridge that was as cold as a fire, and guess what… NO suitcases in the room.
I found my suitcase, along with lots of others down the corridor - a member of staff said he was delivering them to the rooms, whilst he was doing this the cases were left unattended and not secure, I found both our cases and took them back to our room.
When leaving the ship at the end of your trip, your suitcases have to be in the night before and you have to leave your cabin very early in the morning of departure, I would recommend if you did book a trip with Ocean Village - just make sure you have an early flight back home or you will be in the same situation as arriving, having to wait around in the blistering heat with clothes you will be traveling in back to England. They do provide shower facilities and a place to store your hand luggage during the day of departure, but they state it is not watched, and therefore not secure or safe.
Whilst in the room I developed a severe stomach ache and vomiting which I put down to the mussels I had for lunch, it was only a short spell - but I thought I better report it just incase it was something worse.
I did report it and they said they would let the chef know and there was nothing else they could do, they did not even take my name or ask if I was okay.
I felt fine by this time, but there is an onboard medical team should anyone need it, but you better have a fat wallet because it is not cheap and not everything is covered by your insurance.
During the week the overall cruise was excellent, visiting countries around the Mediterranean, the weather was very good, the food in the restaurants was not bad, one of the restaurants is open 24/7, the ship is very steady and I could not feel that we were at sea at all, plenty of activities to do.
Each night you get a daily newsletter giving you information about the next port and what is going on around the ship, I found this useful.
The ship is very busy, and at times it felt like "Butlins" on water, you couldn’t rest very much onboard during the day for all the noise around you from the children and entertainment.
I spoke to several people onboard during the week, they said they had paid half of what I paid by booking last minute and they had FREE upgrades to cabins with a balcony.
I was very disappointed as we had paid alot of money and it was a special occasion, Our honeymoon was not acknowledged by the cruise company or any staff at all, we were offered an upgrade prior to the cruise but would of had to pay several hundred pounds for the privilege.
I would not recommend this holiday to anyone, I did contact P+O Princess Cruises who own the Ocean Village - I told them everything in this review, they wrote back to me stating that there was nothing that they could do, they did tell me that I could of had one of their celebration packages ranging from £22-£50, but would of had to pay for it myself.
The top package: A flower arrangement, box of chocolates and fruit basket on your arrival. Then a nominated day to have a luxury continental breakfast, including champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries, delivered to your cabin - if you give them £50..........
A friend of mine went on a honeymoon cruise with another company and had a FREE upgrade to a room with Balcony, Jacuzzi, Champagne, Flowers, A chocolate on the Brides pillow everyday plus a credit of £500 in an onboard account.
Added 29/12/2003:
I have not reviewed the countries I visited around the Med - this review is about the Ship and the company P+O only. Most of the countries we visited you get less than one day to see them but this did make the honeymoon a better trip - only for the fact that you could get away from the ship.
Good Luck!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I'd never considered a cruise until an agent told me on the phone today that the Ocean Village would be perfect for me and my fiancee.
Naturally.....one will search around for some reviews before taking the plunge.....and I'm glad I did!
I've been offered a deal at around £500, so cheaper than you had to pay.......so that intially caught my interest. Now I can see why!
I'm really glad that at least something good can come of your bad experience.....that being my fiancee and I shall not be spending our money with this firm! Thanks for the thorough opinion!
casacath 13.02.2004 01:00
Oooo Dear ! Does P & O stand for 'Pathetic Operation'?. Cath.
buster_uk 28.12.2003 19:47
I love goin on cruised, been on two of them, one to Norway and one around the mediteranean, they're brilliant. i usually dont hear good things about P&O though. a good read. Jimmy:)
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likka75 22.08.2008 (22.08.2008)
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