Cruise Reviews

For my first cruise I chose Ocean Village 2
Reviewed By: Rogerson, Bury on 27th Aug 2008
Cruise Line: Ocean Village Cruises Times cruised before: 0
Cruise Ship: Ocean Village Two Sailed: August, 2008
Destination: Mediterranean Age: 26-35
Just got back from Palma the summer home of Ocean Village 2. We did the Tapas and Togas package which called at Palma, Tunis, Rome, Gerona, Cannes & Barcelona. Where shall I start - The Ship - Not a new ship but kept in great condition by the staff who all work 110% for what seems 24 hours a day. There are two spa pools and two main pools on top deck one specifically for adults. It is very crowded on top deck, especially on the "At Sea" day, so grab your seat early - They claim to remove towels places on sun loungers and left there for over 20 minutes, but i never saw any get removed, and still justled for a space to lie. - Dining - There are 2 main restaurants both of which are buffet dining og th highest class - The Waterfront 8/10 The better of the two buffet dining restaurants, and The Plantation 7/10. All food here is top quality, and could not be faulted. Your choice is also great. Lots of starters, mains, sweets and cheeses to select from. There are also 2 other smaller restaurants where you can eat with a more individual feel. These are both waiter serviced, just as you would expect in any good hotel. La Luna has a daytime and evening menu, which is very well priced. You can eat in there for £5 each for 3 courses. The Bistro is a bit more up class, as you would expect as James Martin has put his name to the creation. James was on board during our stay but we could not get in The Bistro on the days he was cooking. There are large plasma screens on the walls giving you a live feed of what is going on in the kitchens, when all food is brought to your table in a manner that you would expect to see in any good 5* restaurant. Well worth a visit at onlt £15 each. There is also a 24hour buffet service available in a smaller area of The Plantation restaurant. Bars - there are lots of bars dotted around the ship - The Marquee bar is the main event area at the front of the ship, Positioned over 2 floors you get a great view of the stage from the balcony. Jackie Graham was belting out her tunes on Monday before we left, and I believe there is a great Robbie Williams tribute on this week. - The Casbah & Connections are 2 smaller venues, where entertainment can be found. There is a casino bar called Players bar where there are the usual casion events going on, and the only place where there seemed to be any TV on board the ship - Mainly football shown, no usual channels were shown during our stay. There are many other bars, all too many to mention, but believe me, there are enough. One thing that did dissapoint me wes the fact that the only draught lager was Stella Artois (Becks in some locations), which, being a lager drinker, i could not stomach for a whole week!! Please OV2 get the Carling on!! Entertainment - Well what can I say, a mixed bag really. Sometimes amazing, sometimes awfull. On the whole acceptable. Jackie Graham was outstanding, not to be missed, Elton John tributute - Top Class. The ships band Jet Set were pretty good, but the ships own entertainment was a little - Karaoke-ish?? There were however some great individual performances. Sorry guys, i'm sure the good ones know who they are. Don't miss the Planet Show on top deck - Absolutly amazing!! Smoke, Lasers, 10ft tall walking aliens, I won't spoil it for you, just don't miss it. Leisure - There is a luxury spa facility on board which we didn't use - Too busy doing other things, the days are just so jam packed. Shopping - There are 4 shops on board - Very expensive so again we didn't bother. There are however, daily sales in the middle of the ship (The Village) which give you a market type feel, and tempt you to get your wallets out (and did!!) thing such as perfumes, jewellry, watches, designer bags etc. Cabins - Great, we had a window cabin, paid for a cabin on level 5 and got upgraded to level 9. Which was great before hand, but on reflection, it would have made no difference what level we were on as there are loads of lifts to get about on. Also the window was good, but again on reflection maybe an inside cabin and spend more in Cannes!! The cabin staff are excellent - Nothing is too much trouble for them. Really all the staff on board give 110% all of the time, they are amazing. The Ports - Palma, this is where we joined the ship, so not really much to do here, although if you wanted you could get a taxi into the centre for a few hours before setting off back. In all the ports, getting on and off the boat is quite easy and quick. Just flash your pass, and you're away. - Tunis - Don't bother - We went on the best of Tunis tour, and although I now know a bit of Tunisian hostory, I would keep your £40 in your wallet. By my rekoning, the port here is too far away to make your own plans. Rome - fantastic, awe inspiring, brilliant, don't stay on board, please plase get off. Again too far to walk into Rome, we chose the Walk around Rome - I would reccomment it. Very tough on the old legs, but you get to see everything. I took 300 pictures!! I overheard someone in the bar later that day saying they got the train from the port, into Rome, taxi's to and from the station etc ect 27 euros for 2 adults and 1 child. You take your own risk though, i paid £100, well worth it though. We were docked next to The Queen Victoria here, she looked brilliant (Very Tempted) - Genoa - Not my highlite, but close enough to do your own thing - Cannes - Here the ship does not dock, OV2 has 4 litttle tender boats that drop out of the heavens and transport you to and from shore all day long (10 min trip). Again the staff who operate these are great! Once ashore, you are right on the money - Free to do what you wany all day long. Not to be missed - Barcelona - Next to Queen Vic again. There is a shuttle bus right outside the dock terminal that takes you on a 10 min bus rise right into the centre of Barca where you are free to rome La Ramblas at your own leisure. On the whole, we had a great week, but knowing what I know now, if we went again, we would have a better one. That is why I have taken the time to write this review, in the hope somebody will find it usefull. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Enjoy your trip - Keep up the good work Ocean Village 2, and get some Carling on draught - Quick hello to Romeo, our Cabin boy, and Ken the croupier (who wouldn't make good shark food), he is the ships Bingo Bunny, but is in need of an outfit, so if anybody is going on soon, please take Ken a bunny outfit, he will appreciate it very much. Bon voyage.
Quality of Food4
Full English breakfast every day - Proper english food, bacon & sausages etc We ate mostly in the Waterfront, but La Luna & The Bistro are not to be missed
Entertainment3
Most Enjoyable - Jackie Graham Least Enjoyable - Would rather not say but his singing was awfull Comedian - Can't remember his name, but he was good Performances - The shows were ok, very average The Plant show on the other hand was excellent - The Acrobats are just fantastic to watch, very tallented people.
Shore Excursions3
Palma - To rushed to see much of it - On board for 2:00pm Tunis - Went on tour - OK, but won't go again Rome - What can I say - Unbelieveable Genoa - Take it or Leave it Cannes - Amazing, you get a real film star rush and feel about the place Barcelona - Very cosmopolitain - A good bet Palma - Rushed again, on the coach for 9:30am
Staff5
Most of the cateing, cabin, waiting and ships operational staff are foreign, with the majority from The Phillipines and Goa. They are amazing people who are dedicated to their jobs and give 110% all of the time, making it a far more comfortable holiday in all. Romeo our cabin boy was ace, also Ken from the casino, always made you laugh when you had lost!!
Children's Facilitiesn/a
Onboard Activities2
I suppose, if you wanted to do something like this, then there was plenty of choice. There is a daily bulletin printed and posted to your cabin each day giving the itenary for the following day. There are activities on all day long. The bulletin is also very usefull for keeping you informed about the ships movements, different requirements at each port etc etc
Cabins3
The cabins were ok. Very clean and well ventilated. TV is not up to much though, Sky news when it is available, 2 film channels and that's it, apart from the OV2 channels
Overall Rating4
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Opinion: Agree Comment by foster, chesterfield (05 Sep 08 21:20) about this REVIEW.
we did this cruise 2 years ago on OV1, we thoroughly enjoyed it, Rome was not to be missed, we did the Walk around, our guide was brilliant will remember this for the rest of my life! Stay on in Tunis I hated it. This year we did the Greek Islands for 2 weeks with OV1, it was like going home, abolutely brilliant, not to be missed. We were at home 2 weeks and we have booked again for next year. We are not Butlin people, we would not describe this anything like a Butlin holiday, the one who didn't enjoy this cruise had been on the stuffy, formal cruises before, let them stay on them is what I say, cos your moaning spoils it for the people like us that enjoy it. Good luck to all of you travelling this year, I am jealous of you all and if you have an room in your case, let me know x
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Question by Hindley, eccles manchester (05 Sep 08 20:26) about this REVIEW.
Hi i am going on this cruise on 29 sept with my daughter who is 25 and a lady who we look after can any body tell me what sleeping arrangements are for three people we are on the 9 deck and a inside cabin also is it easy to up grade for a outside cabin and is it worth doing thanks gail
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Answer by bryant, mexborough (07 Sep 08 11:28) to a QUESTION by Hindley (05 Sep 08 20:26)
you will be fine .you will have a bunk bed thats is pulled up and down at night.as you are going soon you will have no chance of changing your cabin that is if you have a cabin number if not you could get upgaded to an out side.we have been on ov 11 thimes and its not the cabin your are going for its all the fun you will have outside your cabin.have a nice holiday
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Question by Robbins, Ashford (02 Sep 08 23:17) about this REVIEW.
Hi Rogerson from bury.Many thanks for a great review it has helped us plan our first OV2 cruise in Oct, very soon. In view of your tips We may skip Tunisa: do the `walk around Rome` (was our thought too` and attempt Cannes to Monaco by train. We will do our own trip to Barcelona. Just doing a week as a taster. Taking our 12 year old daughter so hope kids entertainment is good. You really have helped us with our forth comming trip. cheers to you Sally-Ann
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Comment by malone, west heath (28 Aug 08 01:53) about this REVIEW.
Wow what a good review, full of interesting facts and tips which will help us to make our holiday the best ever. It has made me even more excited about our cruise on Ocean Village 2 which starts on 9th September - I'm counting the days now :) We haven't cruised before so any information is greatly received.
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Comment by Hobson, Northwich (28 Aug 08 00:24) about this REVIEW.
Thank you so much for your review, I will be on this cruise on 14th Oct and booked since 8th Jan. Been looking forward to it all year, and you have really got me excited about it now. I will be travelling solo, and have pre booked the Portofino excusion, was thinking about a Rome one, but now think I'll take the train. Are there any other people going on the 14th Oct who whould like to share the Rome adventure? - we could all get lost togeather haha
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Comment by Robbins, Ashford (02 Sep 08 23:23) about a COMMENT by Hobson (28 Aug 08 00:24)
Hi we will be on the same cruise 14th October taking our 12 year old daughter with us.It will be our first cruise for us Sally Mike and Amy. Hope to meet up with you there and say hello. Not sure what excursions we are going to do as yet, but will certainly do the Rome trip in one way or another. 6 weeeks to go and counting!!
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Comment by butcher, Inverness (03 Sep 08 00:08) about a COMMENT by Robbins (02 Sep 08 23:23)
We going on OV with our 11 year old grandaughter Megan. Sure we will see you aboard Fred Susan and Megan
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Comment by Robbins, Ashford Kent (03 Sep 08 22:45) about a COMMENT by butcher (03 Sep 08 00:08)
Hi Fred Susan and Megan perhaps we will see you all on board OV2 very soon. Looking forward to then
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Comment by MOOR, ilfracombe (31 Aug 08 17:19) about a COMMENT by Hobson (28 Aug 08 00:24)
have done the Portofino excusion with OV, it was great, but wear sensible shoes if you are going up to where the wine is severed
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