Magellan Review
Rating by category
Additional details
We chose this short, 2 day trip to try out another ship, having had several cruises on the Marco Polo. We were lucky enough to get an upgrade to a suite which was amazing- you could have held a party in there! Only downside was the open balcony which although a super facility was spoiled by neighbouring smokers. I guess you can ban it around the ship but not on the individual balconies.
Pre trip paperwork was a bit chaotic as one said departing Avonmouth and the later one Portbury; we thought Portbury more likely (having only realised the night before too late to ring the office). Arrived early as we left longer than we needed becasue of potential Bank Holiday traffic. No directions on the dock (they were put up later). A very helpful PBA staff member directed us but then the designated parking was blocked so he had to get someone to move a forklift. He then had to sweep the area clear of rubbish. Eventually we boarded our coach to Liverpool and waited over 30 minutes after it was full due to the CMV rep. not arriving until it was almost departure time. Leaving at 10.45 the coach driver gave us no indication of where he would stop and eventually pulled in at Cannock Services at 1pm, telling us to be back in 30minutes. We were, but he stood outside for a further 15 minutes smoking! Traffic was dreadful and we got to Liverpool at 4.40, instead of 2.30.
We loved the space on the ship, plenty of public areas and a good choice of bars etc. The theatre was much more comfortable than the one on Marco Polo and the whole ship much more modern and less 'tired'. So why do we still prefer the MP? The staff!! With the exception of our cabin steward we found most of the staff surly, uncommunicative and frequently talking in front of the passengers in their own language - which we were told on the MP was not permitted. When I asked for a glass of dry white wine in the Bistro I was told - 'we have wine-not dry'. The friendliest staff were the ones we knew from the MP. I suggest the Hotel Manager on Magellan takes some lessons from the MP.