Cruise Reviews

Scary experience at sea on Marco Polo
Reviewed By: Wright, Mapperley, Nottingham on 12th Jul 2008
Cruise Line: Transocean Tours Times cruised before: 3-5
Cruise Ship: Marco Polo Sailed: June, 2008
Destination: Northern Europe Age: 65+
We were on the cruise to Iceland on the Marco Polo recently and were disappointed. The main reason is that the atmosphere on board among the crew was not good and this seemed to permeate the ship. The mainly Eastern European staff seemed to be disinterested in their passengers and some were downright surly. I particularly noticed this in the Captain's Club where the waitresses would be chatting in their own language at the bar with other staff and ignoring passengers who were trying to catch their eyes for service. The exceptions were our cabin steward (Camen) and waiter in the Waldorf Restaurant (Dimitri) and a delightful young lady who served soup in the Marco Polo Bistro (always a pleasant smile - so lacking in others).

Our main concern was the quality of the seamen, notably those manning the tenders (lifeboats) to shore excursions. The service was sloppy and, at times, downright dangerous in their handling of the tender and passengers on transfer from ship to tender and vice versa. There seemed to be no supervision. We experienced a truly scary episode on lifeboat 10 tender to Heimiae. The sea was quite rough and we had a 2km journey from the ship to shore but before we got anywhere near the harbour the engine seized and we were adrift. We had no information from the crew on board and did not know what was happening. After a while another tender came out to us from the ship, had a few words with our crew and then left us, still adrift, to return to the ship. Eventually the Viking Tour boat from the harbour came out to us and towed us in, 45 minutes after leaving the ship and we were an hour late for our shore excursion.

Three days' later (after I had written a letter of complaint) we were invited to the Captain's office where he was totally honest, very apologetic and up front about what had happened. Also present were a Mr. and Mrs. Johnson who had also written, the Chief Engineer and Ms. Cavilleri (Transocean Tours). We were reassured that there was no mechanical fault with the lifeboat but that it was being piloted by a female trainee who did not have her Certificate. The Captain also admitted his own worries about the quality of the seamen and told us that most had only worked on container ships and had no experience of passengers.

All in all, not the best cruise, but some of the passengers we met made up a little for the shortcomings. Would not travel on the Marco Polo again, nor with Transocean Tours.
Quality of Food1
Least - meat (Chicken, lamb, turkey - all tough) Veg - all undercooked and almost raw. Could not eat any of them and I love my veg! Most - Cold cuts (cheese, ham), olives, tomatoes, soup (excellent). Except for soup none of the others by choice. Prefer hot food. Glad to get home cooking.
Entertainmentn/a
Not into cruise entertainment so not applicable. Prefer socialising and reading and Soduko and scenery on deck.
Shore Excursions3
Best - Blue Lagoon, Akureyri. Worst - Missed out on Shetlands as Captain would not put out tenders (don't blame him!)
Staff5
Cabin Steward - Camen. Pleasant, obliging, attentive. Cabin well maintained. Waiter - Table 14, Waldorf. Believe his name is Dimitri. Went out of his way to oblige me. Always professional, friendly and attentive to his table. Girl serving soup in Bistro - smiling, obliging. The Rest - Best forgotten! This rating for those mentioned only
Children's Facilitiesn/a
Onboard Activitiesn/a
Not applicable to us as we prefer our own activities - socialising on deck mainly
Cabins3
Yes - would have been nice to have hot drink facility but otherwise everything was in good order
Overall Rating1
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Comment by Nuttgens, Ashburton, Devon (30 Jul 08 12:30) about this REVIEW.
Quality of food was good; helpings not large, but this was made up for by the number of courses available. Entertainment was excellent from the Marco Polo team, and good from the others. Shore excursions were good, but the excuses for not landing at Lerwick were feeble. Staff-cabin staff & waiters were excellent, bar staff & reception good, deck & tender crews poor-they needed training in the lowering & raising of the lifeboat tenders. This was my third cruise & it was up to the standard of the first two; my wife & I enjoyed it, as did two friends who came with us. p.s.it is to be expected surely that a 12 day cruise across the North Atlantic will have on or two rough days. It was four star. P.Nuttgens, Ashburton, Devon
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Comment by Burrows, Southampton (27 Jul 08 16:28) about this REVIEW.
Unfortunately, cruising on ANY ship of ANY cruise line has its risks, but when you choose to cruise with a "Budget" cruise line on an older ship, then these risks are multiplied! In many peoples eyes paying a higher price to cruise on a BRITISH ship with BRITISH officers gives them a sense of security and safety which they are willing to pay that extra price for. The same also applies for other major premium lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America, etc. There is NO substitute for crew training and experience when a crises arises. Unfortunately this costs a lot of money that some of the budget lines are unable or unwilling to spend. There is an old saying that "you only get what you pay for." Unfortunately this sometimes does not become apparent until it is too late! Happy cruising.
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Comment by Vincent, Market Bosworth (28 Jul 08 19:05) about a COMMENT by Burrows (27 Jul 08 16:28)
I would suggest Burrows of Southampton takes a walk along to the 'Titanic' memorial, it's in Southampton so he has not got far to travel! This was a British ship, manned by a British crew and British officers,the cream of White Star Line and as for being a new ship, they don't get much newer.The fares were not cheap either, even by 1912 standards, 1st Class down to steerage.I think we can all remember her fate!I have cruised 20 times on most of the 'premium lines' that he refers to and some not so 'premium'. The amount paid does not always guarantee quality or value for money.The Marco Polo is an old ship but if you have ever read the 'Berlitz Ocean Cruising Guide'you will see that under Orient Line she was very highly regarded and came out much better than some newer builds! Orient Line were very competitive and had a loyal following,the high quality of the crew and service was one of the reasons passengers returned.I have sailed on her more than once, I have also sailed P O and others many times in my view Marco Polo crew were very much better. Speaking of old sayings there is also one that says'there's no fool like an old fool',sorry Burrows but I have read some of your comments before this one.
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Comment by Wright, Nottingham (27 Jul 08 19:07) about a COMMENT by Burrows (27 Jul 08 16:28)
Take your point, Burrows, but this was NOT a cheap cruise - we paid about %3,300 for this cruise and all our points are valid. Been on a "budget" cruise from Australia to UK on Funchal with Phillipino staff and it was a happy ship and delightful experience. The Marco Polo was not a happy ship.
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Comment by Brown, Sunshine Coast (26 Jul 08 05:14) about this REVIEW.
The manner in which some passengers spoke to the counter staff in the Bistro,they should consider themselves lucky the staff didn't jump the counter and flatten them.What a whining ,bleating lot they had to put up with.
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Comment by FINNIS, NORTH RODE (14 Jul 08 19:23) about this REVIEW.
Hi regarding the comment you added to my review on you experience on the tender, I do understand how scared and worried you were. My husband and I experienced a similar ordeal on the Arcadia when we were in the Caribbean on a tender to Mayreau. We tendered to the island without a problem but while we were there the sea conditions changed, and they weren't sure they were going to be able to get us back to the ship .We were sitting on the tender boat at the jetty, the boat was moving up and down some of the wooden planks of the jetty also started to move. Eventually they decided to take us back to ship, getting off the tender boat on to the ship was scary as it was bobbing up and down so much. I do agree that passengers safety should be paramount. Rough Seas have a lot to answer for!!!.
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Opinion: Agree Comment by Parnham , Derby (13 Jul 08 22:30) about this REVIEW.
We too were on "lifeboat" 10. It was a very scary experience! I have bee a small boat sailer for over 25 years and have never witnessed, let alone been involved with such catalouge of errors. It is more luck than judgement that we all got through the trip. It should have taken 20/25 mins...ours took an hour, our trip time ashore was subsequently reduced. Regarding the staff; with one two notable exeptions, (our cabin steward and the waiter in the resturant) They were surly and indiferant (I wish this thing had a spell checker) The younger crew seemed to take pleasure in trying to ram you with the variuos trollies and carts. Never once did they stand aside or slow down in order for us (the paying guests) to pass. On a few occasion, The easten european staff were temorarily replaced by Philipeanos and Indians ( forgive for my ignorance about their exact race) but it was like a breath of fresh air, on these occasions...gone were the surley expressions, to be replaced by happy smiling one's. No we will not be going back on the Marco Polo.
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Opinion: Agree Comment by Landlubber, Brighton (13 Jul 08 16:00) about this REVIEW.
Well done you for complaining about your tender experience. We weren't on the one that broke down but ours was over-full and you could tell they had no idea what they were doing. It's a shame when the best you can say about a holiday is that you are glad you survived isn't it?!
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Opinion: Disagree Comment by johnson, stoke -on-trent (12 Jul 08 20:39) about this REVIEW.
quite concerned as we will be sailing to St Petersburg on Friday 18th July... oops what have we let ourselves in for........
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Opinion: Disagree Comment by Wright, Mapperley, Nottingham (13 Jul 08 18:04) about a COMMENT by johnson (12 Jul 08 20:39)
Hope you have a better time than we did - by then the crew may be trained up a little better!
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