sometimes intermit at other times claustrophobic

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sometimes intermit at other times claustrophobic
Reviewed By: Aldrich, Eastleigh on 2nd Jul 2009
Cruise Line: P&O Cruises	Times cruised before: 3-5
Cruise Ship: Artemis	Sailed: June, 2009
Destination: Norwegian Fjords	Age: 46-55

Artemis is definitely showing her age, and the vibration of the engines can be felt everywhere on the ship. The old style layout of the decks does give a lot of prime public space at the rear of the ship. The cabins are on the small side and if you want a double bed then you can only get out of one side; and while on the subject of bedding the mattresses are quite thin with several fellow passengers complained of back problems. The public areas can become congested especially in the dining areas. The food in the casual dining areas was OK and nearly always available, although a friend literally had a dish taken away from under the spoon because it was 1 minute past the final time for that type of meal. Most of the waiters are from India and at times struggled with simple requests and seemed often to be more concerned with just getting their job done even if it inconvenienced the guests. For us the menu and quality of the food for dinner in the main dining room was a big let down, and we heard frequent comments on how it use to be a lot better but has definitely gone down hill with the new chef. On the plus side the in-house entertainment is good but there were few guest artists. The shows/films/dancing was always after the dinner sittings which produces limited options for those on 2nd sitting. The 15 day cruise we were on visited the Norwegian Fjords, Iceland, Douglas and Dublin and this itinerary worked very well, and despite the above comments we enjoyed the cruise. Would we sail on Artemis again? Yes but the price and destinations would both have to be right to make up for the short comings
Quality of Food
We generally took breakfast and lunch in the casual dining area, dinner in the main dining room. The quality of the food was actually poor rather than unsatisfactory, but the menu is unimaginative and would not be out of place in a cheap sdeaside hotel.
Entertainment
In house enterainers are very good, which makes up for there being very few guest artists. there is also a good selection of films it is just a pity that if one takes 2nd sitting one must also choose between the show and the film.
Shore Excursions
The Geirangerfjord excursion from Olden was our favourite but we were very lucky with the weather. The Golden Circlefrom Reykjavik could have been very good if only the timings at the locations were altered - they were too short or far too long
Staff
The dance teachers were very good (full time - not just members of the shows dancers). Although sometimes just seemed to treat the activity as a chore to be done ASAP (e.g. the quiz masters).
Children's Facilities	n/a

Onboard Activities
Timings could be improved.
Cabins
The cabin was compact as expected but the thinness of the mattresses was not.
Overall Rating

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Comment by Kingswood, Cottingham (05 Jul 09 18:40) about this REVIEW

I get really fed up when I read reviews complaining about the food on any cruise ship. It makes me wonder what the complainers eat at home. If you weren't happy with the food on Artemis then you probably wouldn't like the arrangement on the QM2 where the main evening meal comes plated up, you don't get a choice of vegetables.

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Comment by Wynne, Denham (05 Jul 09 19:56) about a COMMENT by Kingswood (05 Jul 09 18:40)

Why do you get fed up, aren't people allowed to express an opinion? Its not a case of getting fed up with people expressing their opinion, its a case of saying, OK I respect your opinion, but mine differs. As it happens I heard a number of passengers on this cruise refer to the standard of the meals, I personally had no problem with the food, but I still respect this passengers opinion. You sound like some of the other passengers I encountered on the Artemis, you can have an opinion as long as it agrees with mine!

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Comment by Freemantle, Fareham (03 Jul 09 16:53) about this REVIEW

It depends on your cabin choice as to wether you are wise to have the bed made up as a double. I do not recognise the Artemis you speak of. We were on her in May and it was one of our best P&O cruises. Ours was a music cruise and apart from the concerts there was plenty of other entertainment on board. We took all our evening meals in the Coral Restaurant. Perhaps we had a different chef from you because we thought the food was splendid. I agree there were sometimes queues for the Conservatory and on occasions we had a leisurely lunch in the restaurant. The menus were certainly not unimaginative. Our Executive Chef was Carl Withers and we thought there were some interesting things. Hopefully if you go on Artemis again you will have a better experience.

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Opinion: Agree Comment by Woods, Ashford (03 Jul 09 14:17) about this REVIEW

Since 2002 apart from Ventura we have cruised aboard all the vessels P&O have had in service, some on more tham one occasion and can honestly say that Artemis is our least favourite vessel. We travelled on her in Sept. 2006 on an anniversary cruise and were most disappointed, in fact had it been our first P&O cruise we would probably have not go back to them. I do admit that Artemis does have its faithful followers but don't count us among them. Like you we found considerable vibration especially in the Coral Restaurant. You mention back problems, this is probably due to the fact that if you book a standard outside or balcony cabin the second bed is folded up against the wall during the day to give more floor space. This prevents a thicker mattress being fitted. Also we found that in the standard balcony cabins it is not practical to have a double bed configuration as it means climbing acroos the bed to access the balcony.

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