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What's your favourite ship and why?

As a travel writer I get invited on lots of cruise ships and am often asked what is my favourite. Right now it would have to be Anthem of the Seas, in part because of clever use of technology. For example, no check-in desks. You get checked in by staff with hand-held computer tablets inside the cruise terminal. We made it from car park to cabin in twelve minutes! In the inside cabins the blank wall is replace by a huge screen linked to a TV camera on the outside of the ship so you get the same view as someone with a balcony cabin. They have even superimposed a balcony rail. Add to that 18 places to eat and great entertainment venues and I think it takes a lot of beating. So, what's your favourite ship and why?


Created By on 27/08/2015

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MaggieB18
2nd Feb 2018 19:23:40
0
Thanks for voting!
I couldn’t see the itinerary of a world cruise without leaving a phone number. Fred Olsen rang me the next day and I got carried away and booked a world cruise with a huge supplement as a single traveller, I tried to cancel but would lose my £3,500 deposit, they agreed to let me book cruise(s) to the value of £15,000.
I was called some weeks later for a further payment.

As I was attending my dying brother I decided to change my cruise to a later date. The agent wanted to call me the next day I said I had to see my brother and wouldn’t be back until the afternoon. She called me back for the next payment and I ended up booking two cruises and paying a further £3,700 in a moment of madness and great distress. I think this was bad practice on the part of the agent as my brother was dying and I wasn’t thinking. rationally

Would I have any recourse with Fred Olsen under these circumstances?
Charpoo
29th Aug 2016 12:59:40
0
Thanks for voting!
I have enjoyed quite a few cruises and the last time I was on board harmony of the sea the new ship from royal carribian. A lovely ship with all the features one would expect
suesku12
15th Mar 2016 00:37:15 (Last activity: 16th Jun 2016 19:24:47)
1
Thanks for voting!
We enjoyed a cruise on MSC Fantasia, we had a suite at a very reasonable price. It was a good experience.
Response from Dineline7 made on 16th Jun 2016 19:24:47
My favourite ship as a child was HMS Illustrious, I think is the name. As child in Nazareth House Orphanage., and every Christmass we had a fabulous on board Party. There were other ships, but that was the best.
sanneharvey
12th Jan 2016 08:47:52
0
Thanks for voting!
I have been on Thomson, Fred Olsen and P&O. My favourite is Thomson Spirit such a friendly ship,staff and passengers. Fred Olsen would be second and P&O Azura last, just too big for us. I am off on the Oriana next month in search of the Northern Lights. New ship for us, so looking forward to exploring it.
john boy
4th Dec 2015 15:28:12
1
Thanks for voting!
p&o the oceana been on a few cruses to the Caribbean find that the staff are impeccable unfortunately the ship is getting dated love the formal nights
Boots
26th Sep 2015 15:34:45
1
Thanks for voting!
We have been on all of Fred Olsen ships and two of Thomson, both much the same in size and offering much the same by way of entertainment, trips out and so on. We prefer FO in general especially Black Watch although we also like the Balmoral. Boudicca is the one we like the least, for no real reason, just the feel of the ship. Braemar was the ship we sailed on for our first cruise, and she was quite small then, but she has since been extended and although we still like her, we think she was nicer when smaller. We like FO and Thomson as the ships are not too big, (nor too small) and the crew are all very friendly. We can sail from the UK on FO cruises which suits us rather than flying to get a ship. They may not have all the latest gadgets, nor do they have climbing walls, skating rinks etc, but they also rarely have children on board. We can easily get round the ship to where we want to go, and the people who are mainly British, are our sort of people
ab1451
11th Sep 2015 10:42:28
0
Thanks for voting!
We have only been on one cruise, which was on the Thomson Dream, on the 27 night Transatlantic Crossing from Barbados. What a fantastic experience. What makes Thomson is how lovely the crew are, nothing is ever too much trouble, and always smiling, the ship is small by U.S. Cruise ship standard, but has a nice friendly feel. Definitely will going again soon.
Cathy Crighton
8th Sep 2015 08:53:04
1
Thanks for voting!
Although I haven't been on her in a while Star Princess is my favourite ship as she was the first I ever cruised on. I have to say Anthem of The Seas certainly would be a ship I would choose to cruise on, we docked next to her in Tenerife and she is a beautiful ship. Roll on the next cruise!
Dineline7
29th Aug 2015 00:39:48
1
Thanks for voting!
Mine has to be HMS Ark Royal. I saw it leave Plymouth on her final voyage, as she came around from the dockyard, and out past the Breakwater. I was standing on the top of Renney Lentney Camp, over looking the sound and felt I could have touched her as she passed.
This evoked many memories from my childhood, when as little ones from Nazareth House, we used to go to parties on board the ship. We would come home with presents from Father Christmas, after games and a lovely party.
These were happy memories needed to offset the other memories that were not so good. There were other ships we also went on, but this one was the best loved right through my growing up and beyond.
jimrobo
28th Aug 2015 20:19:58
3
Thanks for voting!
Your discretion of the Anthem of the Seas, sounds very exciting and we will definitely consider a cruise, in 20 months time, when my wife and I will be celebrating our Blue Saphire anniversary (65 years). We celebrated our Golden anniversary on board the Island Escape, in 2002, when we renewed our vows on the bridge and that is why that ship has to be our favourite.

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