I wrote a review on Ovation of the Seas at the end of the inaugural Singapore-Beijing route in June. On that occasion it was already a less than impressive cruise compared to Quantum of the Seas from Singapore to Shanghai in June a year before. My wife and I saw the opportunity to sail on her again only this time it was a round trip from Hong Kong to Japan and Korea and back from November 4th to November 13th. Based on previous cruises I highly recommended this one to my close friends and four couples chose to come along. I am compelled to write this review as I felt entirely responsible for them to have listened to me and came away with an appalling experience.

Where do I begin...

The Booking: acting on behalf on my group I asked immediately for suite accommodation when it was first advertised four months ago and I was informed by my TA that I had to wait for confirmation from the Shanghai HO. Incredibly, three months checking with my TA he told me Shanghai was not responding . Worry there might not be any staterooms left I had no choice but opted for four balcony staterooms three weeks before sailing. On-board check-ins came through just four days remaining I quickly logged on to the Cruise Planner to book dinner seatings in the complimentary restaurants, the shows, iFly, North Star etc. At the website complimentary dinner seating was locked out as I was told the Shanghai outfit unlike its predecessor did not believe in pre-bookings but rather have passengers cramping in long queues outside the four restaurants at dinner hours. The lines (three-deep at times) was frustrating. This was in complete contrast to the relaxed system at earlier sailings. Read more