Cruise ship reviews - who to believe?

[Simpo Two]

I've been on two cruises, both with P&O, and found them generally excellent.

Now looking at one from Ambassador, and the ship is Ambience. So I started looking for more info...

The first lot of reviews found via Google make some grim reading:

https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/memberreviews/getre...
https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/memberreviews/membe...

But when you go via the Ambassador website, all is great: https://www.ambassadorcruiseline.com/reviews/

I was going to contact them and ask, but the website has no e-mail or contact form, and it's not something a front-line phone answerer would know.

[Slowboathome]

I looked at the Google reviews too. They aren't great. I guess it's how they compare with their competitors - maybe people who take cruises are quite fussy?

I personally put a lot more weight on Google reviews rather than reviews on a firm's website

[redrabbit29]

Simpo Two said:

I've been on two cruises, both with P&O, and found them generally excellent.

Now looking at one from Ambassador, and the ship is Ambience. So I started looking for more info...

The first lot of reviews found via Google make some grim reading:

https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/memberreviews/getre...
https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/memberreviews/membe...

But when you go via the Ambassador website, all is great: https://www.ambassadorcruiseline.com/reviews/

I was going to contact them and ask, but the website has no e-mail or contact form, and it's not something a front-line phone answerer would know.

This probably doesn't help but I really like this YouTuber and she had a funny experience on there when it was cancelled after boarding

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jppzHpO_8xU

As I said, probably doesn't help but interesting as she covers hundreds of cruises so it's entertaining and also quite informative

[mcflurry]

IMHO they're not going to be up to the level of Cunard or Royal Caribbean, but then they're a fraction of the price and leave from Tilbury, so ideal for Essex residents...

[Simpo Two]

mcflurry said:

IMHO they're not going to be up to the level of Cunard or Royal Caribbean, but then they're a fraction of the price and leave from Tilbury, so ideal for Essex residents...

I wasn't expecting it to be like a brand new Cunarder, but I want better than lumps of fat with lettuce for supper! Or:

- chicken with prawns and gravy

- ham with bubble and squeak with HP sauce

- cabbage in orange juice

- honey glazed gammon ham with raisin sauce

- breaded chicken with cheesy potatoes and gravy

- pineapple and smoked salmon ravioli

- potato and mint toasted sandwich

- pasta dish with potato in it

- chicken with couscous and roast potatoes

- cock a leekie soup with prunes

[stevemcs]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

What cruises have you been on ?

[Simpo Two]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

The other fable is that you have to wear a suit and have dinner with the Captain.

As a P&O customer I like the idea of a luxury hotel that takes me where I want to go, so I can visit and admire foreign lands with minimal aggro. No horrendous airports, they park your car for you, very little queuing to get on, excursions (if you want them) all organised so I don't find myself on my own in Foreignville wondering how to get a taxi or where to eat. I have my own room and a smart restaurant exactly where I know. In short, it's easy. The only downside is that ships are slow, and GB is not ideally placed for the best destinations.

[dundarach]

It's not the ship, the travel or the tours that put me off, it's being around loads of British people.

When I go abroad, the last thing I want to see are British people on holiday.

[redrabbit29]

dundarach said:

It's not the ship, the travel or the tours that put me off, it's being around loads of British people.

When I go abroad, the last thing I want to see are British people on holiday.

You should give Benidorm a try. It's a bit of an unknown location and really is authentic Spain. Get it booked and thank me later

[bad company]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Great to see such an open minded opinion.

[Simpo Two]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

For me it's just stress, and in a foreign language. You can of course get off the ship and wander freely ashore if you want - eg Stavanger is a lovely little town; I enjoyed exploring it.

Agree with the camper van though - I have a boat and it fulfills the same job, only away from the roads.

[redrabbit29]

My issue when going on land is I have visions of hoards of locals waiting for the big ship full of tourists and then following or just harassing them. I guess it depends on the location and if you can get into the main town away from them quickly

[bad company]

redrabbit29 said:

My issue when going on land is I have visions of hoards of locals waiting for the big ship full of tourists and then following or just harassing them. I guess it depends on the location and if you can get into the main town away from them quickly

That’s why we only cruise on small ships.

[Simpo Two]

redrabbit29 said:

My issue when going on land is I have visions of hoards of locals waiting for the big ship full of tourists and then following or just harassing them. I guess it depends on the location and if you can get into the main town away from them quickly

I've only visited Portugal, Spain and Norway by ship but at no point were there locals trying to sell anything. There's usually just a small car park, where the 4x4s or coaches wait for those who booked excursions. If you want souvenirs you'll have to find a gift shop.

No doubt in poorer countries you might be accosted by locals badgering you to buy breadfruit or carvings of the Virgin Mary!

[Bullett]

redrabbit29 said:

My issue when going on land is I have visions of hoards of locals waiting for the big ship full of tourists and then following or just harassing them. I guess it depends on the location and if you can get into the main town away from them quickly

Even on the big ships this doesn't really happen. Yes, there are throngs of people close to the port and yes in some parts of the world the local salespeople can be quite forward you can wave them off without issue. There is always someone following you along.

I've done a couple of European and a Caribbean cruise all on P&O. Not my first choice but the FIL pays for the kids to go so it's relatively cheap for me. The food is pretty good especially if you up-dine, the booze is fairly priced and you are sure to have somewhere to sleep. The entertainment is generally high quality.

Unless you miss the boat, they will leave without you. Love watching the last few stragglers trying to run/waddle for a departing ship.

You can get off and explore by yourself which is what we like to do, think of it more as a sampler for each location.

It is Butlins at Sea and it does have a lot of the old and fat and sometimes both. It's quite 'council'.

[Simpo Two]

Bullett said:

It is Butlins at Sea and it does have a lot of the old and fat and sometimes both. It's quite 'council'.

The thing about the big cruise ships, like Ventura which I went on first, is that they are huge! You really can get lost on them. I found there was a mix of 'classes' on board - if you wanted to sing Agadoo by the pool and go to the cheap buffet, you could. But if not, it was easy to avoid - just use the other 90% of the ship - plenty of other entertainment if you want it. The level of deck and restaurant you choose makes a big difference - in other words ticket price. And there also cheap cruise lines and expensive ones, and family ships and adults-only ships - just pick your level.

So I'm fine with P&O, it's just some of the others I'm unsure about.

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 20th July 20:37

[eliot]

redrabbit29 said:

This probably doesn't help but I really like this YouTuber and she had a funny experience on there when it was cancelled after boarding

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jppzHpO_8xU

As I said, probably doesn't help but interesting as she covers hundreds of cruises so it's entertaining and also quite informative

Yes well worth watching her videos. There's a bloke that does them too.

[Trevor555]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I thought similar until I actually went on one.

I've been on 70 odd now, mostly as a solo traveller.

If you're ever tempted, try an NCL cruise if the elderly are not for you.

[Muzzer79]

Simpo Two said:

Bullett said:

It is Butlins at Sea and it does have a lot of the old and fat and sometimes both. It's quite 'council'.

The thing about the big cruise ships, like Ventura which I went on first, is that they are huge! You really can get lost on them. I found there was a mix of 'classes' on board - if you wanted to sing Agadoo by the pool and go to the cheap buffet, you could. But if not, it was easy to avoid - just use the other 90% of the ship - plenty of other entertainment if you want it. The level of deck and restaurant you choose makes a big difference - in other words ticket price. And there also cheap cruise lines and expensive ones, and family ships and adults-only ships - just pick your level.

So I'm fine with P&O, it's just some of the others I'm unsure about.

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 20th July 20:37

I did a P&O Caribbean cruise years ago and loved it, so much that I was wary about using another cruise line and going to the med in case it was a let down.

The OH convinced me to do a Greek cruise with Royal Caribbean and we went the week before last.
Unfortunately, my concerns were valid. The cruise experience is good, but it’s very dependent on getting a good, modern ship (our RC ship was over 25 years old) and the other clientele on board.
Let’s just say that our ship had a lot of seemingly culturally rude customers on board.
We had a good time, but I’d research the ship more next time and don’t think I’d use RC again.

[Jamescrs]

I would believe the Google reviews, on the companies own website they will likely just delete any reviews they don't like.