Cruise & Maritime Cruises Reviews

I find your review totally at variance with my experience on the Christmas cruise (and the Amazon voyage). It looks like your expectations were at a 'Cunard Queen's Grill' level when you paid for a value for money cruise on a magnificient proper ship. I don't know why you expect CMV to get in touch with you unless you are seeking some form of compensation. I find your comments with respect to the eastern european crew particularly offensive but it probably speaks volumes about what kind of person you are. Personally, I am very glad that you will not be travelling on the Marco Polo again!!!

Very unfair review. Have been on Marco Polo several times and just back from a SUPERB 45 night cruise. Here's the truth: Water £1.50 per bottle (and you could get free water for your cabin if you asked). All cruise companies are interested in making money! Why would they be in business otherwise? Norovirus is carried on board by passengers - the instance of occurence in the UK is high (often called winter vomiting sickness). Fred Olsen, Princess Line, NCL, Royal Caribbean, P&O all had bad cases last year. Why single out Marco Polo? You said yourself that you didn't have symptoms till you got home. No cruise company would accept any blame once you have left their ship. What you paid against what others paid is irrelevant - virtually all cruise Companies discount as the cruise date gets nearer, just like airlines. If you didn't negotiate on price I'm afaid it's more fool you. Bistro seating can be in short supply in bad weather BUT PLENTY OF SEATING IN RESTAURANT. Smoking is confined to Starboard side of deck. All ships need regular and routine maintenance whilst at sea. Only one part of a deck is undergoing maintenance at any one time - there are plenty of areas to sit out besides the pool deck - and the ship is in good shape for her age. ALL the staff go out of their way to help in any way they can and most are an absolute delight. I have been with Fred Olsen, P&O, Voyages of Discovery, Thomson, NCL and Saga - Marco Polo is good value. There's a straightforward adage: "Don't expect Cunard quality unless you pay Cunard prices". On board entertainment is excellent and the show team are the best I've experienced. There are a couple of problems that should be addressed - Bistro staff don't replace cups and cutlery fast enough and one of the tenders smokes badly (and has for the past 3 years). Food is good (though perhaps not excellent) and there's plenty of it. If you are on a table for dinner that you don't like, the maitre d would have changed you, I'm sure. It's a great shame you didn't enjoy your holiday, but you say yourself that you haven't holidayed for 10 years and things have changed in that time.

I see it is knock Marco Polo season again. I have cruised on Marco Polo four times, not through any sense of loyalty but for the following reasons. My husband will not fly. We have to take our holidays outside the main holiday period. I have done the holidays with unruly brats running around all over the place. My own daughter was brought up to behave and respect others and I expect it from other children. Marco Polo was going to places we wanted to visit, at a time we wanted to visit and at a reasonable price.I have stayed in first class hotels in this country where the food has been inedible, the service appalling and a cocktail costs more than four times the cost of one on Marco Polo. I have never been let down with a cabin or the staff servicing it. Yes Marco's can be crowded when the weather is inclement and everyone decides to eat at the same time, go downstairs for waiter service. The east european staff can be a bit daunting but take the time to get to know them, most of them have a wicked sense of humour. I spent most of my last mini break explaining to crew that my husband was not with me on that trip, I was having a girlie shopping trip with my daughter. I remember one deckhand, whatever the weather he was out polishing and scrubbing for all he was worth, even in the teeth of a gale he was unfailingly polite. The entertainment staff are all classically trained musicians and dancers and do a brilliant job. Peek behind the stage and check the size of the dressing rooms, how do six girls all change costume in less than one minute in that space. I met people on all of my cruises who had travelled on other liners who said Marco Polo was good value for money. Compared to the Cunarders or the Queens with thier myriad ( and I've been told costly) dining options Marco Polo is a simple ship providing good standards for the price paid. And as for the Norovirus, the ship does not cause the virus, that is caused by people who will not comply with basic rules of hygiene.

went on their sister ship the Ocean Countess and found similar things to what you have said. Food in the buffet was served up day after day no wonder there are problems. I found mould on the tomatoes and salad. Fleeced is the word not worth the money you pay for cruising.

Don't hold your breath waitng for a reasonable response. Once off the ship they couldn't care less and have no interest in your complaints whatsoever. I understand exactly how you feel as I also had a nightmare cruise with Princess cruises. I found them to be untruthful obstructive and made you feel a nuisance. they lost my case in the sea so I had no clothes except what I was wearing. their help was a small bag of toiletries and the loan of a bath robe. Iwas not compensated for my holiday or my luggage just out of pocket expenses. good luck

Well, I am surprised about your comments re the Marco Polo. My husband and I have cruised on this ship 3 times and are about to go on our 4th. We have always found the staff cheerful, pleasant and willing to help. The cabin stewards bend over backwards to make sure we are comfortable and the waiters in the Waldorf restaurant where we always eat are obliging and very diligent. Talking of the Waldorf, the food is plentiful and well presented. The entertainment in the Marco Polo lounge, performed by a regular eastern European dance troupe is colourful and professional. Richard Sykes, the Cruise Director is the “best” and his energy and enthusiasm is to be applauded. The after show cabaret which is held in Scott’s bar is performed by the entertainments group along with Richard and is so popular that there is always a great rush to get a seat (not always successfully). Keady’s comments seem to infer that he expected a 5* cruise. Well it isn’t, it is a 3* and doesn’t claim to be anything better but is a good one that is very value for money. As you can see I am a Marco Polo Fan – go on try it. You might like it and come back for anything more!

We had a brilliant cruise last year on Marco Polo. "In search of the Northern Lights". The cabin was very clean and the best storage space we have ever had on any ship, including the giants. The food was good, although in the buffet, a little more choice would have been good, but it was perfectly acceptable. The wines are expensive (but not a bad as Celebrity) and we found the wine package a good option for us. The shows we found very good (and we don't usually bother with the shows). The cruise director Richard Sykes really "made the cruise". We loved Scotts Bar and the dancing - again, we don't usually bother much with dancing. The small, intimate ship was wonderful for us. We would like to go on Marco Polo again. So sorry you had a bad experience.

Been on a dozen or so cruises with Fred Olsen, P & O and Celebrity, am now considering cancelling our booking for M Polo although she has the right itinerary at the right time of year which is why we chose it. Can anyone give us a reason why we should still stick to our original plan?

I have to stand up for the Marco Polo. Okay, it's not the best ship in the world but if offers good value if you don't want the higher cabins and the entertainment was absolutely first class!!

You only have to look at the Health history of this ship..It should be taken out of cruising.It seems to sail to all parts of the globe, everytime you open the newspaper there are special offers for this ship. Please people, do not go on this ship.