Ocean Village Cruises, Ocean Village Review

Overall Rating

Entertainment on board is a big plus. The staff in all areas were extremely polite and tended to all passengers extremely well except on the last day.

1. The biggest gripe I have is that sunbeds are allowed to be reserved all day. I noticed each day sunbeds with towels on from as early as 6.00am (according to my husband who was walking the deck). These beds were not used until passengers had returned from trips, sometimes as late as 4.00pm in the afternoon. I think staff/crew should ensure that people are not allowed to do this - I feel it is unfair on other passengers.
2. I didn't think the dress in the dining rooms was appropriate for eating during the evening hours. I think passengers should not be allowed to eat inside when they are shirtless and shoeless. I think this is not fair on the passengers who make an effort to tidy up to eat.
3. I felt that having to be out of my cabin for 8.30am on departure day when my flight was 21.30 is inappropriate. Supply of a cabin for £40 to secure my hand luggage and for a shower until 1500 only is insufficient in my view, and in my opinion should be supplied FOC to those who have such late flights. Also I think this facility should be available until 1800. The facilities in the spa were not adequate.
4. To me it seemed that staff were not interested in any kind of reasonable service on the last day on board. Bills had been paid and questionnaires filled in and I think as far as they were concerned we were no longer of any interest. Considering I paid in total £4700 for a fortnight on board this ship I would say this behaviour is extremely unsatisfactory.

The staff on the Ocean Village (apart from the last day) were great, the entertainment was varied and there was plenty of it.. I felt the trips were in the main overpriced. I paid a large sum of money which would have been better spent on a cruise line that insists on certain standards from its passengers. To be sat near beer-bellied men and women inappropriately dressed or shirtless whilst trying to each my evening meal was off-putting to me to say the least. After all we couldn't eat in the James Martin restaurant every evening now could we?

Members' Comments onTolfreey's Review

• Whale Watcher on 12th Aug 2008

  Hello Tolfreey - agree with you about the sunbeds, although I did see some of the crew placing time labels on some 'reserved' sunbeds and I think they can remove towels after an hour has elapsed.
  
  We generally avoided the top deck during the day, having decided on day one that it was like a scene from Dante's 9th Circle of Hell!