LETTERS EMPRESS ERROR?
Dear WoC I have just read the latest edition (Summer 2011), which is even more interesting than usual, if that is possible! However, may I query the content of the Star Letter from Mr Brian Kelly as he is clearly mistaken in his recollection? The original Ocean Monarch was built in 1957 as the Empress of England and was sold to Shaw Savill Line in 1970, becoming Ocean Monarch. From the Passenger Ticket shown, Mr Kelly clearly sailed on her for the day in 1974 but the ship was broken up in Taiwan in 1975. The Princess Daphne referred to was built in 1955 as a
cargo-passenger ship and was converted to a cruise ship in 1974. Since then, she has sailed under various names, including Ocean Monarch, and her name was changed to Princess Daphne in 2008. Peter Smith, via email
The Editor Says: Yes, you are absolutely right, Peter, this is an error on our part that we should have spotted and we are grateful to you for pointing it out.
STAR LETTER STAR LETTER
DANUBE MEMORIES
Dear WoC In your Summer issue, I was pleased to see the advert for the new Danube Express train from Budapest to Istanbul. We had the pleasure of travelling on this train in May to join our cruise ship in Istanbul – and what an amazing journey it was, travelling through Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. Stops were made morning and afternoon for local sightseeing excursions to fascinating places we had never heard of before. This, combined with excellent onboard meals, local wines and a comfortable en suite compartment, made for a most wonderful experience. Yes, the train departed Budapest precisely at 11.18am but did arrive in Istanbul four days later, two minutes late! John Knighton, York, UK
POOR, P&O
Dear WoC Having recently returned from a two-night mini cruise (Southampton to Zeebrugge) on Oriana, I have to warn against anyone booking one of these short trips as a taster of cruising. I have previously cruised on Celebrity’s Eclipse and
on Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas. In both cases, I was overwhelmed by the ships’ atmosphere on board and by the crew’s eagerness to please. Oriana could not have been more different. Almost
from the minute we boarded to the time we left, the majority of the crew were indifferent to our needs. The restrooms on board were often dirty, lacking in soap or simply out of order and, when our air-conditioning stopped working, the cabin steward could not have been less interested. The gel dispenser in the buffet restaurant was empty (or faulty?) while getting a drink after muster took 35 minutes. I am not surprised the hen parties on board (of which there were many) pulled cases full of bottles on with them. The food in the dining room was fine but the service,
I hardly know where to start. The waiters didn’t bother to introduce themselves and gave us around 30 seconds with the menus before coming to take the order. And forget having wine with the meal – ours arrived with our desserts and we were told we weren’t the only customers when commenting. When asking the assistant waiter why the asparagus soup didn’t have the parmesan croutons as advertised on the menu, we were told that we should have asked if we wanted them! If you were in a hurry, I guess the service was good; our meal was completed in less than an hour on both evenings. On the final morning, I decided to use the bathroom before leaving to start the drive home – easier said than done, since all apart from one set had been closed. Another passenger asked a crew member why this was the case and was told they had been cleaned ready for the next cruise. What about the one we were on? Overall, my first P&O experience was disappointing to say the least. I was
Continued on p.81 8 WORLD OF CRUISING I Autumn 2011
Get YOUR cruise views in print
Write to us at: Editor’s Postbox Cruise Line House 109-111 High Street Hurstpierpoint West Sussex BN6 9PU
Or email:
woc@cruiseline.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100