|
This was sold to us as a luxury cruise. It was far from this.
The checking-in procedure at Singapore was pathetically inefficient and confused. We had done the on-line pre-boarding thing, yet had to wait in the same line as those who had not, making huge long waits, standing in the extreme heat - very difficult for the many elderly and infirm passengers.
Being used to cruising with Royal Caribbean, we expected certain standards. In some respects, these were achieved.
The food was excellent. We particularly appreciated the fresh-squeezed orange juice and excellent pastries at breakfast and the free table wines at lunch and dinner.
The staff were all courteous, helpful, cheery and in all ways satisfactory, especially our cabin cleaning lady, Girlie, all the Guest Relations staff, especially Louise, and in particular, the Cruise Director, John, who was indefatigable and appeared to be doing the work of ten men, with cheerfulness and a positive attitude at all times. Our only staff criticism would be of the ballroom dance instructors, who were inefficient and spent most class times arguing with each other. The beginner ballroom dancers were confused and the instructors took little trouble to assist them.
Regarding the fitness center - there was nobody in charge for most of the cruise, so that there were no properly organized fitness programs until Dubai.
The entertainment was amateurish and of a consistently low grade, in some cases embarrassing in its low quality.
The huge amount one had to pay for internet service was extortionate. Nowadays, most people need access to the internet on a daily basis and since the ship had wireless access, the huge charges were nothing but a money grab....hardly "luxury".
Pay-per-view movies in the stateroom were very expensive, and the much-advertised free movies had virtually no sound - none at all in most cases - so were unwatchable.
Twice, the toilets blocked up for hours on the entire deck where our stateroom was. Several times, there was no hot water in the morning for our showers.
With respect to the "luxury" designation of this cruise, I am sure that there are unfortunates from some third-world countries who would find travel in "steerage class" of the Titanic luxurious, but people who are accustomed to cruising expect higher standards on any cruise, especially one which is touted by the cruise line as being a "luxury cruise".
|
