My wife and I have cruised with many major cruise lines over several years, including twice with Cruise and Maritime before. Whilst we accept that they are not the largest or the most modern ships and make allowances for this, nevertheless we were disappointed with our latest experience with CMV. It's the first time we have left from Liverpool and we arranged to park at the cruise terminal. The instructions were inadequate and I had difficulty finding the car park when I had dropped off my wife and the luggage a the terminal. In fact, even after asking the way, I had to drive around and then back to ask again.

The Azores was 67 years old and I think that this was her last season with CMV. However she was clean, well furnished and comfortable. We were uprated to a Junior suite and the cabin was very nice although it was one deck above the waterline, with portholes which had to have their deadlights screwed down when we encountered some choppy weather.

My main complaint was about the attitude of quite a few members of the crew. Both girls on the reception counter were curt, unfriendly and unhelpful. Our table waiter seemed to resent our presence and dinner time was not to be looked forward to. At our first breakfast in the restaurant we were kept waiting for twenty minutes for a simple bowl of porridge which was finally delivered after we had asked three different waiters. There were some very nice and helpful waiters/waitresses also, but a chain is as strong as its weakest link and even a small cruise ship can equal the service on the main liners. Read more