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Brilliant first time experience |
| Reviewed By: Buxton, Bromsgrove on 20th Sep 2008 |
| Cruise Line: Ocean Village Cruises |
Times cruised before: 0 |
| Cruise Ship: Ocean Village |
Sailed:
September,
2008 |
| Destination: Mediterranean |
Age: 56-65 |
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I did both weeks of the cruise. I travelled with family who were first timers and friends who are experienced cruisers and had a great time. Before we set off from home we were impressed with information we received and the attention to detail to ensure that travel and boarding went well. We had a good flight with Thomas Cook to Heraklion and a very quick transfer to the ship. We were onboard with all the necessary procedures completed just over an hour after landing.
The ship was well suited for they type of cruising it offers. It was comfortable and homely, but with a high level of service. When my baggage was delivered to my cabin, 5 minutes after I got there, I found my aged case had been damaged on the transfer. The inside strenghtening had shattered. I went to reception looking for some sort of paperwork to use for an insurance claim, but the helpful staff asked me to bring the suitcase and they would see what could be done. It was returned to my cabin a few days later having been rebuilt - something you would never get from an airline - and top marks to OV.
My cabin was spacious and comfortable with much more room than I had imagined. The toilet/shower was well organised and best of all, the water was always hot.
The food and dining areas offer a high standard in different settings. All the food was cooked well, tasty, colourful and as much or as little as you could want. Plantation was best because you could sit outside on deck and enjoy eating in the sunshine or the cool of the evening. Waterfront was a little more sedate, eating inside with the menu ore traditional. Our meals in La Luna on two nights and our celebration evening in the Bistro were exceptional and well worth the small extra cost. Drinks did not reflect duty free prices but overall were not too expensive.
Entertainment on board was of a good standard, varied and there was something for everyone. The tribute acts to Rod Stewart, Blues Brothers, Mick Hucknell and Elton John gave us several evenings of excellent entertainment in the Marquee. I enjoyed the daily quiz but someone needs to check the validity of some of the questions and answers before doing the quiz. If you are going to use questions that use foreign words it is a help if the person reading can say them properly. It is not good enough to say the answer on the paper is right when the whole of the audience know it is wrong, but at least everyone gets it wrong. However, it should be put right for the next time the quiz sheet is used.
The gym facilities were excellent with a view over the sea to keep you interested. The pools were never too packed and the spa pools were great. We had many interesting conversations with other occupants. The table tennis area could be improved with a new table, net and some surrounds to make it a defined area that people do not pass through, but rather go around. This would also stop so many balls disturbing people lying on the sun beds that fill the area and stop players from losing points to passers-by.
The staff on the ship were so polite, friendly and nothing was too much trouble. When one of our party was sick for 24 hours the service and attention really stepped up a gear on top of the already high level.
The highlights of the cruise were the days out and the organised trips. All were good days, whether we did it ourselves or used the OV tours. The two best trips were the glass bottomed boat on Cephalonia and the tour of Ancient Ephesus from Kusadasi. The boat day was a non stop party with something new to experience every half hour or so, from seeing a dolphin alongside, viewing the bottom, swimming and snorkelling off the back of the boat, volleyball in the sea while the barbecue cooked, salad making, mud bath and finally karaoke on the way home with a final visit from the dolphin. Ephesus was a joy to walk through with a knowledable guide and the radio so that everyone could hear what he was saying. I found the cost of both of these trips were very good value for money.
I had a brilliant two weeks that felt like two seperate cruises, but each week had its highlights. Leaving the ship and the transfer to the airport were as well managed as arrival - they really have got this right. Our flight home was as good as the one out and we all look forward to cruising again in the not too distant future. If you have never tried cruising before I would thoroughly recommend Ocean Village as a good ship to try for a first experience.
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| Quality of Food |  |
| Good choice, variety, all well presented and hot or cold as appropriate. | | Entertainment |  |
| The Elton John tribute was supurb. | | Shore Excursions | |
| Glass bottomed boat in Cephalonia, Ancirnt Ephesus from Kusadsi, Athens on our own from Pireaus, Rhodes and Mykonos. | | Staff | |
| All of the staff were frinedly and courteous. They took the time to have a chat about your day and about theirs. | | Children's Facilities | n/a |
| | Onboard Activities | |
| Plenty to do all day long, lots of choice. | | Cabins | |
| Much better than expectations, roomy with lots of wardrobe and drawer space. | | Overall Rating | |
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