AFT VIEW
“Marco Polo’s APPEAL is NOT LIMITED to her TRADITIONAL looks”
vessel, which would be home-ported in Tilbury and re-branded under the banner of Cruise and Maritime Voyages, a two ship-operation, with Ocean Countess the other component. Now they are into their second year
of operation and it is a good moment to review this new incarnation after we man- aged to get an in-depth look at this ocean- going veteran recently. The first thing to declare is Marco Polo
lives up to the promise of her external ap- pearance. She is a ‘real’ ship, with enough traditional features to satisfy the most de- manding ship anorak – from the lovely flare of her bow to her traditional cruiser stern, and with that glorious sheer in between.
H
er appeal is not limited to her traditional looks, though. Aboard, she is a delight, with spacious and comfortable public rooms and an elegant main restaurant, The Waldorf, low down in the ship in the tradition of the era. For our two-week cruise we had a cabin at the aft end of Sky Deck (Deck 11), the highest passenger deck. Large windows gave a superb view; the en suite was well appointed; and there was ample
the stern and the generous pool at the aft of Deck 8, the principal ‘public’ deck. Starting forward of this is the spacious
Marco Polo Lounge, venue during the day to a solid and varied lecture programme and, in the evening to concerts, cabarets and an enthusiastic and highly enjoyable production show team, whose impeccable rendering of most of the popular classics belies the fact they are Eastern Europeans, singing in a completely foreign tongue. Abaft the show-lounge foyer, and
drawer and cupboard space. The television accessed the World Service most of the time and offered a comprehensive programme of film choices. Deck 10 below is largely devoted to cabins, although the aft end is home to the spacious gym, with sauna facilities and hairdressing/beauty salon to starboard. Similarly, the aft end of Deck 9 is
devoted to Scott’s Bar, a popular venue for all manner of day and evening-long entertainment, ranging from choir practice to Call My Bluff, classical concerts and ‘An Evening with Elvis.’ Both this room and the gym above have magnificent views over
stretching the full width of the ship, is the Captain’s Club, home in the evenings to a delightful classical duo. This in turn gives way to the central lobby with Reception to starboard and Shore Excursions/Future Cruise Sales offices to port. Still moving aft, the port side is devoted to the Boutique and Nansen Card Room, haven for card-lovers and oftimes devoted to a popular craft instruction programme. To starboard is the Palm Garden, a quiet haven with fine sea views and a well- equipped library.
M
idships here is the Columbus Lounge, dominated by a tradi- tional wheel and binnacle, and
served by its own bar. Marco’s completes the picture, a pleasant, well furnished verandah cafe that serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner in a seemingly never-ending cycle.
Al fresco dining around the pool is
popular, and a periodic speciality burger bar/pizza parlour on the port side of the pool is a thoughtful and popular touch. What of the cruise itself? The London
Cruise Terminal at Tilbury, perhaps not the most splendid on the planet, nevertheless processed the 800 or so passengers painlessly for both embarkation and disembarkation. Our itinerary took us to the central
Mediterranean which was, for the most part, balmy in the late summer sunshine. We had but two days of inclement weather homeward bound, when Marco Polo came into her own, comfortably demonstrating her prodigious sea-keeping qualities. We found the ship to be beautifully maintained, spotlessly clean and well run, with a friendly, relaxed atmosphere engendered, in no small part, by a helpful and attentive crew. The entertainment programme on board was of a very high standard, and was presided over by one of the best Cruise Directors we’ve ever encountered – Richard Sykes. Thank you, Richard.
More info: Call 0845 430 0274 or
www.cruiseandmaritime.com.
88 WORLD OF CRUISING I Spring 2011
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