Having read the glowing reviews on Marco Polo's Amazon 6 week cruise, I thought I should redress the balance. We have cruised for the last 12 years on various ships, large and small, expensive and cheap, and in all weathers. Never have we experienced a trip like our 42 night Amazon, Caribbean and Azores cruise on Marco Polo.

We had read the reviews before we booked, and were fully aware of the ship's shortcomings. There was no launderette! The ship was old with no balconies. The bath towels were small and very thin. There was no port lecturer, so no help for the independents. Other lecturers were rostered, but were of a very poor quality. To have an "expert" turning his back to his audience and reading his notes from the screen muttering to himself, does not inspire confidence in the veracity of his lecture or his preparation. Yes! The show lounge was basic.All that was acceptable. But to have only song/dance entertainment for all 42 nights, except for 1 comedy night, 2 magic nights and the odd (very odd!) film, was monotonous, to say the least.The show team were very good and did their best, some of the singing was excellent, but to show G rated films or children's animated ones (Rapunzel - really?) left many passengers yawning.

Norovirus was an issue. Boy! Did the staff work hard, washing and cleaning, but they were let down by poor on board management. The various maitre'd's seemed unconcerned as to passengers' comforts/complaints, or pleas to put an extra member of staff behind the counter to speed up the compulsory serving. "Nothing I can do" was the standard answer. To have only 1 coffee station open for the 3 weeks of the virus led to huge queues (2 others were left unattended), and to shut the cold water station completely, with temperatures of 30C+ was sheer madness. After a week of complaints this was finally rectified. Read more