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This special charter trip was booked three years ago at great expense. Unfortunately our devoted travel agent left the industry and from then on we were treated like a number and not discerning cruiser.
Not only were we slugged with a fuel surcharge in AUD,much cheaper for UK passengers(when I asked Fred Olsen if everyone had to pay and also the same amount, answer was in the affirmative , yet when we asked fellow passengers, this was incorrect). Front office staff and more importantly Miles Morgan staff on board treatment of passengers was high handed. Embarkation was badly organised in spite of all passengers getting info beforehand. This spoilt all the fanfare that had been planned for the trip, resulted in delay in leaving and arriving too late in Cobb Ireland, where the local population had waited very patiently for us to arrive and excursions being cancelled.
The ship, Balmoral is falling to pieces and polluting as she goes. We had sailed on her in 2010 and not much has been repaired.
Our cabin and dining room staff were fantastic as were all the guest speakers and as everyone has something in common viz an interest in the Titanic, most passengers were very nice as was the very special memorial service over The Titanic site. We had ordered the DVD namely for the memorial service but I regret to say the DVD had not been edited very well and the moment was not captured. Toiletries was like using paint stripper. I strongly feel robes and slippers should be provided free of charge especially if one has paid extra for a balcony cabin. For passengers travelling from Australia and with luggage restrictions carrying an extra item is futile when it should be supplied. What is happening to cruising?
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