ocean village cruises, ocean village review

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Average Ratings
Food - quality & variety	7.4/10
Entertainment on board	6.3/10
Value for Money	6.6/10
Reviewer Rating	6.8/10
Overall Rating	6.9/10

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Review of Ocean Village Cruises, Ocean Village Mediterranean Cruise

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By Dangeroos Dave on 8th Nov 2003

Dangeroos Dave's Ratings
Accommodation	4/10
Food	2/10
Customer Service	0/10
Resort	1/10
Value for money	0/10
Overall value	1/10
Dangeroos Dave's recommendation

Good Points

Value for virgin cruiser, itinerary, food when paid for in addition...

Bad Points

Hygeine, staff training quality, type of client...

General Comments

The Ocean Village cruise line is P&O's attempt to introduce the younger traveller or family to cruising.

How wrong they got it for the 2003 season!

Having been on numerous American cruises it was obvious a carbon-copy had been taken of Carnival, you know I'd go so far as to say the ship is the same type as Carnival Insipration / Facination and the dancers HAD stolen a routine from Carnival Summer 2001 without doubt. Take that and mix with staff and sorry, but all you get is abrupt "no fun" people running Butlin's-on-Sea with the same quality passengers.

OK now I'm not a snob but at £1200 a ticket for a C class cabin, upgraded to an A class creaky old suite below the outer (noisy) pool deck due reasons to follow, even on a casual relaxed ship you don't expect track suits on the dancefloor. The Battersby's would have been well at home but how did they afford a ticket, because 90% and I mean that many were Benidorm regulars...? Simple, P&O srewed up and dumped their excess tickets to Thomson for £495.00 on a best cabin available basis ... hence our upgrade, but sorry again if you want to travel Airtours and mix with the less heeled then do that.

The ship itinerary is beautiful but wasted upon the clientele, the complained that the ports visited were posh and too expensive, Monte Carlo, Rome, Barcelona, Portofino. I mean one night we snacked at the buffet after a large selection of Tapas and watched a passenger pick all the big prawns from the rice and ask the chef server to bring up the next plate, this was nothing compared to most other scenes we were witness to... Saying that the Bistro Grill (£9.95 per head extra) was nice but empty, you see the louts on board wouldn't pay extra to eat when there was free scram on offer and the Bistro didn't have Egg & Chips ... just that posh muck.

Toilets spewing into corridors because the scum flushed items they shouldn't, staff that knocked your door "knock knock knock knock knock knock" without break until you answer, lousy waiters and I mean awful...

On the way back a distinct divide was apparent, some thought it was luxury and the nicer people (those not wearing new white trainers) will never travel P&O again, on any ship and we spoke to several couples.

Now the age, as Ocean Village is aimed at the younger group and families ... well I was born in 1971 and was the youngest adult on board bar a handful, by a LONG way.

My advice, don't ... go to the USA and travel with a true fun ship.

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14 Comments on Review by Dangeroos Dave for Ocean Village Cruises, Ocean Village Mediterranean Cruise

Caribbean Queen on 12th Feb 2004

Oh dear what a bad review - it has certainly made me reconsider booking this cruise - infact I won't be doing so! I had a wonderful cruise on the Royal Caribbean's 'Explorer' (a freeby with my daughter who was writing a review on it for her company)- leaving my husband at home so keen to show him how fab cruises are. Maybe this isn't the one? We don't want 'scummy' people and unfortunately on a cruise you are stuck with them and can't run & hide - or maybe just jump overboard ;-)
libray1 on 17th Apr 2004

Having literally just returned from cruising on Ocean village in the Carribean, we won't be using this ship again. Our main complaint is the percentage (albeit small) of really rough passengers, on two occasions we had our door pounded at night, there was no one there when we answered. The night before we were due to leave I was nearly knocked off my feet by an angry and aggressive passenger who considered I had pushed in at the meal queue,(being vegetarian we had not stood in the queue for meat, but headed straight for the vegetarian section in Waterfront restaurant) he was also verbally abusive. Although my husband was standing next to me it was me, a female, this bully chose to push and abuse. Technically assault I suppose, but what do you do? Certainly I have no intention of putting up with this behaviour, so will not be booking with Ocean village again.
We had been aware of this rough element throughout our cruise, however never dreamt that this would happen. Who on earth are you targeting as passengers Ocean Village? People like this do not mix with respectable families, working class people who have worked hard to deserve a holiday, or professional people, you will end up with a cruise ship full of ruffians, as respectable people will no doubt book elsewhere.
Caribbean Queen on 17th Jun 2004

I think the initial review sounds like an honest, rounded appraisal. 'Snobbery' doesn't enter into it - courtesy and being respectful of other people is just good manners isn't it?
joe2 on 18th Jun 2004

I have personally travelled on this ship and had a brilliant time, which is true of every other person I met. Variety is the spice of life, and having all the same type of people on a cruise ship would make for a very dull holiday. If you didn't book ocean village on account of this review, I'm afraid you have missed out on an incredible holiday.
lynzs on 21st Aug 2004

I Could not disagree more I had a great time. Ocean village is Brillaint and all staff and passengers were very friendly.
juliegoldsmith on 6th Sep 2004

Having just returned from a cruise on the Ocean Village, we would like to say how rude and very 'Les Battersby' the comments were. Only someone who is such a complete and utter snob would let other clientele affect their holiday. Ocean Village is designed for people who want to relax whilst enjoying their holiday and maybe make some friends instead of looking down their noses at people who don't dress up in cocktail dresses and tuxedos just to eat dinner
louisehanson on 10th Sep 2004

Having just returned from a two week med cruise with Ocean Village, I have to say that I am shocked that some people can be so snobby about it. Maybe Ocean Village has changed a lot since this review was written, but to say that people are "rough" and "rude" is completely wrong. It is just a shame that people will read this review (as I did before we departed) and think the worst of the ship. However, there are many more reviews of Ocean Village on this site that prove that this one writer has got it all wrong about the cruise. It was excellent!

p.s. how can people who are on their honeymoon be classed as "les battesby?" its quite offensive!
libray1 on 13th Sep 2004

No I'm not a snob, I love mixing with all kinds of people, loved the fact that I didn't have to dress up for dinner. We were actually worried before we went by the number of children who might be aboard, infact there were a lot of children, all very well behaved and just getting on with enjoying themselves, which after all is what holidays are all about. However I would still choose not to be knocked about by a bully, as I said these people were in the minority, but unfortunately for us our holiday was spoilt. We were unsure of the security arrangements aboard Ocean village, and there did not seem to be many staff around to police the yobbos. The people in the cabin next to us seemed to have a row every night, and you know how thin the cabin walls aare! Perhaps we were just unlucky, but we would not chance it again. I'm glad that the rest of you have had a different experience.
Dangeroos Dave on 14th Sep 2004

Well, so ok and let's be fair about this as after all what we're looking for is a well rounded appraisal of this ship...

We agree that there is an "element" upon this vessel which some of you didn't experience, possibly you were lucky or those of us whom did experience the "element" were rather unlucky but the fact remains, they were there. Caribbean Queen hit the nail on the head and Julie Goldsmith got it so wrong where in fact dear your Les Battersby comment means the exact opposite of your confused point and like I said in my review that Butlins floats ... well you don't get dressed up there to eat either but you can eat with your mouth closed and your fork in your left paw, again back to Caribbean Queen's point...

snobbery (n) : the trait of condescending to those of lower social status.

Part two of the point, perhaps you don't see anything wrong with such attitudes and behaviour and perhaps that's why the English are the most hated group of tourists in the World. (Fact: DofT 1998 Survey) Which is in no small way due to their attitudes, "egg & chips and not eating foreign muck" which relates in Spain to hens with English bums glued on 'em and potatoes flown in from Engerland.

Social Status, there's a contentious one and to clarify the Oxford Graduates I am a snob and damn well proud of it and let me tell you why. As an ex council house dweller of working class origins, the moment I worked hard and reaped the rewards you "non snobs" turned your backs and spoke behind my back (I use the word my for all like us). "Why should he get more money than us, flash car, big house, nice family and holidays four times a year..?" Then you "non snobs" don't speak and draw dirty looks, because you do feel inferior due your own laziness and insecurity... well tough cheese! You are what you feel.

reverse snobbery (n) : the trait of condescending to those of higher social status.

It is highly unfortunate that in Victorian days even the poor would be mannerly, regardless of financial status you could mingle and most of the gentry were skint. The problem is the aspiration to be middle class and frankly in your insular little island called England you don't have a clue, the Indian's kicked you out and then invaded you ... "no" you say ... look around you. When it comes to financial wealth you have now invented a whole new class, working middle (eh?) and you won't call yourselves working class any more. Now all you can do to ensure good behaviour is pay for it, which drives a wedge deeper into the divide and creates this illusion of snobbery you assume when all anyone wants is common consideration...

P&O, sorry Carnival ... errrmmm Ocean Village of the Damned have not changed, they simply re-targeted their marketing to the correct group which is why and only why complaints are on the decrease.

We (the complainants) booked a cruise that wasn't too cheap whilst onboard a P&O vessel, by the time we were due to depart the whole pricing structure changed and that opened a flood gate of Airtours clients and the like. Why, why should we have to pay so much more for our holidays just to be able to relax and not have to listen to that "element" complaining about the expensive trips and supplement for dining, watch people hassle others to get that big prawn on the fried rice, flush items down the disposal system and make the ship stink because, well just because...?

I cruise exclusively in the USA now and mix with welders, brickys, cleaners, lawyers, unemployed competition winners ... and you know what I'm not a snob after all ... nope ... I just hate you ill mannered Brits...
Caribbean Queen on 15th Sep 2004

Hooray! I agree with everything you say - we avoid MOST Brits abroad. I think it starts at the airport when you see the velour tracksuits, three quarter shorts and FCUK t-shirts with bawdy slogans and the women are just as bad! No we're not snobs, maybe just a little bit cosmopolitan in our outlook, and a lot of the time feel embarrassed to be associated with the chavs & lager louts swearing and making derogatory comments about the locals. Having said that we have some great holidays over the last few years BUT we have stayed away from resorts where Brits largely hang out!
PS If you want a really fab cruise try Royal Caribbean especially the Explorer - save up and treat yourselves!
libray1 on 17th Sep 2004

I think the idea about the American cruises is a good one, one of the best bits of our holiday was a morning spent going around Barbados with an American family from another ship. We were all focused on one thing, seeing Barbados and just sharing the experience.

Just prior to our holiday on Ocean village, I met a woman who works in the same company as myself, who said she had been on lots of cruises, and that cruising was a good way to holiday. When I said we were going with Ocean Village, she replied "Oh, well Ocean village is different!" On return she told me that as I had already booked she didn't want to alarm me, but that she and her husband would also not be travelling on that ship again. So, we are not the only ones!
judrop on 20th Sep 2004

My family and I returned from an Ocean Village cruise at the end of August. We had the most wonderful time and I find it hard to believe all the comments and so called 'experiences' had by some of these reviewers. I would like to say that it is to our and Ocean Village advantage that most of you will not take a cruise with Ocean Village again. I have never heard such bigotry and snobbery. I for one am very pleased that you will be staying away, we can enjoy our holiday next year without fear of being belittled by such people.
Lynd060203 on 6th Dec 2004

My family and I returned from an Ocean Village holiday in June 2004. We had done a stay and cruise holiday. We had a fantastic time and with a baby of 18 months there was so much for us to do. I am glad people like yourselves have decided not to go on an ocean village cruise again, as I have booked again for next year to do a 14 night cruise and i will not have to be subjected to such snobbery while we try to enjoy our well deserved holiday .
Grumps on 22nd May 2006

Hmmm, a cruise where you have to fly from the UK and it's full of brits. Shocking. How does wearing 'New white trainers' make you 'rough' or 'scum'. New white trainers are bloody expensive!! How dare people wear 3/4 length shorts when on holiday. In summer? What's wrong with these people? Surely they must know that they should be in 3 piece suits and ties. I have new white trainers. I wear 3/4 length shorts. I wear new white trainers with 3/4 length shorts. If some pompous person called me 'les battersby' or 'scum' or 'rough' just because of it I would deck them (Oh no mustn't use violence, that's so lower class !!!) I know what i'll do i'll book on a cruise that advertises itself as 'informal' and then complain that I looked like a prat in my tux. And where the hell was the captain when I wanted to eat my dinner? I am going on an Ocean Village cruise in August. I'll be delighted if there are no snobby, stuck up, "nothing is as good here as it is in the good old U S of A" foreigners on board.