The Problems with this cruise began about 2 months prior to sailing. The itinerary was changed. What we were told there was a problem with the Coast Guard, whales, the speed the ship could travel. Stops at Gaspésie and Charlottetown Canada were removed and Corner Brook and Sydney were added. During the cruise it was announced that we were not going to stop at Corner Brook but would stay an additional day in Quebec. We were also not able to go ashore in Newport, RI. A schooner ship had gone aground at the entrance to the harbor the night before.

The ship the Seven Seas Mariner is 15 years old and needs some/more renovations. The ship has 6 tenders/life boats. Unfortunately only 3 are licensed to tender people to ports when needed. At one port where tenders are needed only 2 were available because one was used on a emergency basis to carry a sick individual to port. On the 2nd/3rd day it was announced that there was an outbreak of a flu virus and there were 9 individuals inflected. The protocol for a outbreak on the ship was put in place. This means that the crew was constantly wiping down everything (hand rails, table tops, chairs, elevators knobs etc) with a wet substance that made everything sticky. All the common area restroom doors were propped open. You also could no longer serve yourself in the buffet line or even serve yourself a cup of coffee. If you check the CDC website you will notice that this ship had a reportable outbreak for a cruise in Aug/Sept.

The good news is the Wifi is included in the cruise fare. The bad news it just doesn't work very well. Read more