P&O Cruises - Artemis Ship Cruises Reviews

Thursday 9th Feb 2012

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Artemis

Panama Canal Transit On P&O

Panama Canal transit on P&O

Reviewed By: Beveridge, Colne on 9th Mar 2010
Cruise Line: P&O Cruises	Times cruised before: 10+
Cruise Ship: Artemis	Sailed: February, 2010
Destination: Panama Canal	Age: 65+
Cabin: Outside

Acapulco to Barbados on Artemis After a long and arduous journey being sat in a very cold seat for 14 hrs on a Thomson’s First Choice aircraft, we arrived in Acapulco, and after a pleasant transfer by coach we were checked in and on board Artemis within 30 minutes. We were pleased to be back on Artemis, but O’ how her condition has deteriorated in the ten months since we last sailed on her, she now has encrusted salt on the inside of delaminating window frames in the Horizon lounge, a broken hand rail, and patched carpet on the upper decks, overall she now looks very very sad, and it looks like P&O have given up on her. Artemis has been sold and it is said that P&O are paying for the next refit before she undertakes her last world cruise, I hope it is not just a makeover she really needs a major refit, unfortunately P&O are still charging top prices for cruise on a very run down ship who’s condition is put to shame by some older ships in the Thomson fleet, among others. Our first day was a sea day and a report was given that NoroVirus was on the ship, and food in the buffet was dispensed by crew in, although this was relaxed after a day or so, and hand gel was dispensed by crew, and I never saw anybody refusing to use it, or trying to dodge using it. Not long into the cruise at around 23:00 ish, a big bang was heard and all the lights went out for around ten minutes, or so I am told, I did not hear or see this myself for after such a long journey I was still fatigued and in the land of nod !! The bang was a serious one, as it was major trouble for one of the four engines, and depending on which crew member you talked to the report was either a clutch failure, a seized engine, or a broken crank shaft, whatever the fault we were informed that as to be able to keep to the cruise schedule the ports of Fuerte Amador and Dominica were to be missed out. The first two ports of Puerto Chiapas and Puerto Quetzal were very poor with nothing at all within walking distance, although the locally provided music and dance troupes within the port boundaries were excellent. Up at 04:45 for the Panama Canal transit, it was a nice warm morning and the dawn broke as we entered the first lock, the transit was most interesting as we were shown the new locks being constructed and the widening operations along the canal, passing the Oceana going the other way through the Gatun lake was a good photo opportunity, and also an opportunity for both ships to toot the horns with gusto, which they did bringing a smile to everyone on deck, we also saw two crocodiles. The train and boat ride we took at our next port of Limon was most enjoyable and we saw monkeys, bright green lizards, slothes and Iguanas, unfortunately it did rain most of the day although it was much warmer than at home so I was quite content. The sea days were well also well spent, as very interesting lectures on canals were provided by a civil Engineer Mr John Laverick, and humorous recounts were also given by ex weather man Mr Bill Giles, while passengers of an artistic bent were catered for by three other lecturers in art, of whom it was said were all very good. Dancing in the Starlight lounge is now provided by the professional Sunshine Band, unfortunately that super cruise director Mike McCann? Has left Artemis and I feel that side of the organization has slipped a bit, and most of the entertainment staff being young let the music rip outside on the decks on party nights, and having to shout to converse to the person next to you is not so enjoyable so back indoors we went, a pity though as the music was good, it was just far to loud. As for the shows in the evening we were well entertained by singer Susan Gale and a very funny Irish comedian called Adrian Walsh who showed that you don’t have to swear to make people laugh, and once again the Artemis show Troup the headliners were also excellent, and if the energy and professionalism of this troupe could be bottled, Artemis would run on free fuel for many a mile. To sum up we enjoyed our cruise on Artemis, the staff and quality of service are just as good as it ever it was, although the drinks were a little more expensive this year they are still quite affordable, and as we already knew the food on Artemis is good and the choices are plentiful, while the table waiters are a happy bunch and will liven up your evening. So would we sail on Artemis again? Well yes, because despite her faults Artemis is still a proper ship, and she looks like one, she has usable terraced after decks with good views, and plenty of deck space topside with no crowding, she has good all round views and no blue tinted glass obstructing the forward view, unlike the latest cabin bound boxes they call ships
Quality of Food
Coral Dining room
Entertainment
The Headliners
Shore Excursions
Limon, the train and boad trip
Staff
Very friendly and professional table waiters
Children's Facilities	n/a

Onboard Activities
Good lectures
Cabins
OK for a few weeks, not enough drawer space for longer, mattresses are thin and not very comfortable, in cabin brewing facilities most welcome.
Overall Rating

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Opinion: Disagree Comment by Roberts, Sheffield (09 Mar 10 21:58) about this REVIEW

My husband, myself and 4 friends have just returned from this trip. The ship is very tired to say the least, This was my 5th cruise and by far the worst. Although the staff were very pleasant, the captain was virtually invisible!! The entertainment, compared to previous cruises, was very lack lustre. After talking to other passengers we got the impression that the entertainment package was aimed at the older passengers. The comedian Adrian Walsh, although mildly humerous, performed a very safe set, almost as if being careful not to offend anyone. It was hardly the cutting edge of entertainment. Whilst we appreciate some people are easily offended, others of us would have enjoyed a late night adult spot. Perhaps in the Horizon bar. The cruise director seems to me to be getting paid for nothing. The dance shows were very lazy, I have seen better productions at my 14 year old niece's dancing class!! The sail away party's were poorly organised. For example, on the Caribbean night (which by the way was while we were in mexico!!) not one Caribbean tune was played. On another day the band played Agadoo and Superman and there was me thinking it was a child free enviroment!!! I have cruised with four other cruise companys and never have things been this badly organised, there was no effort on the so called entertainment crew's part. I really don't feel that the entertainment took into account the varying ages of all it's passengers. We are all 47 years old not 87!! The ship broke down on our first night at sea and we were told one of the engines was down, this caused us to miss two of the ports we should have been visiting. Athough we were given a "good will geture" I don't feel this compensated for us missing a quarter of our ports of call. This was our first time with P&O and I personally would think twice about recomending them or going with them again.

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