Ovation of the Seas Review

4.5 / 5.0
757 reviews

Odyssey Cruise of Ovation of the Seas

Review for Around the World Cruise on Ovation of the Seas
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Jack Voyager
6-10 Cruises • Age 70s

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Sail Date: May 2016
Cabin: Deluxe Obstructed Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony
Dinner in the desert excursion in Oman
Harbor of Gibraltar
Cabin 6166 (part obstructed) view in Suez Canal Egypt

I am a widower and this complicates fare prices for such a long cruise. I saw this positioning cruise offered (5 back to back cruises in one) and it was just right for me. Airfare and two hotel nights on each end were included. Their rep met us at the airport, and on embarkation, transported and escorted us through with no problems.

I had a partially obst. view cabin with balcony and was pleasantly surprised that the view was very good, unless you wanted to view the pier below you in port. Many times my port side view faced the open harbor in port. It was spacious and lots of storage. Bath and shower were excellent designs. Colors were a soothing RCI blue and the couch comfortable enough for a nap. My cabin attendant(V Bascombe) all the way to Singapore, met every perceived need and was superb service. Service was available for $30 that washed and folded my laundry. As I was a single in a double cabin, I received two points daily in the Crown & Anchor status. I started as Gold and ended the last cruise as a Diamond! I thought this very generous of RCI. Their service center also accepted my much earlier RCI cruise based on photos of my wife and I on board. Ovation of the Seas (OS) was new and exciting with inovations like North Star the fair like ride into the air 300 feet over the water and the side of the ship .Surf riding , roller scating , bumper cars and other team activities. North star was fun every time. My only problem was with the crew at the free fall ride that signed me up, gave me a wrist band , asked me to wait an hour for my appointment time ( I came early in case of a crowd or instructions) and then decided after all this to weigh me and decided that I was over the limit. I explained that I had not gained or loss a pound waiting the hour I had been sitting there. The food of course was a central part of the trip on any cruise . At first I was in the rotation for the four gratis restaurants. This was fun and the food very good. The waiters and their head waiters were going to amazing lengths to please every wish. As long as you were in the rotation, you saw the same service each time. I failed to turn in my request slip on one segment and then fell out of the rotation. I found this not unpleasant , as a single guest I could be fitted into any group including some Germans I found very pleasant company. As I met others I became attached to them and we had excellent dinners together. The menus were supposedly varied by restaurant, but in the long run (52 days) , Salmon is Salmon no matter what you name it. I never had a bad meal. On one occasion I casually remarked to my table mate that this beef was more well done than the rare I had asked for. The waiter wisked it away in an instant and returned in moments with a new plate with rare beef apologizing the entire time. I became very fond of the wait staff. The staff out front of the restaurants had to put up with a lot from guests too early or late for reservations, showing up with groups of up to 20 Chinese who want to sit together ( this takes up many tables that other guests are expecting to have nightly) . I seldom ate at the buffet other than lunches, but it offered all anyone could ask for. The army of young staff there kept it clean and offered pleasant smiles to all. The entertainment on board was selected by Joff, he was a excellent and charming director. The acts were delightful and varied each night. The big event in the hi tech theater 270 was Spectra, a real wow show the first time seen, special effects and lights, circ de sole acts etc.. Once was enough. Another great show was the high energy Vegas show with feathers and show girls that never got old. Local acts were added at each port and many were very, very good. After Singapore , a new cruise director (and many other crew and staff) came and he seemed to employ old friends who should have retired. I mean really, a mimic doing Tom Jones? The ports were great and I chose this voyage because of the many Asian & middle eastern stops I had never seen. The size of our ship meant that many ports were not available to us and we had to dock at container ports. Shore excursions were varied and fun. The value of a "ship will wait for our own excursions" was proven several times over the two months by late buses. The captain turned the ship around in the Yellow Sea to recover a body seen in the water. We did a complete accountability of all guests and crew, then took it to S. Korea with us. The debarkation at the port in China was the usual wait for bags but it must be said the Chinese authorities did their best to help and cooperate with the crew and passengers. It went well as could be expected for 4500 people departing at the same time. The voyage was a real adventure and a lifetime experience . I will always appreciate the genuine kindness and concern of the many RCI staff and crew that did so much to make two months at sea a fresh and beautiful experience.

Cabin Review

Deluxe Obstructed Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony

Cabin DO

Large spacious partially obstructed . Very large bed. Great storage, nice balcony but seldom used due to either rain in Europe or heat and humidity in Asia. Good location close to the elevators and stairs. Easy access to the Royal theater in evenings.

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