Really enjoyed the cruise and the city breaks at both ends but the only negative point was the queues in Singapore and Tianjin they were awful, thank goodness it wasn't raining as it was all outdoors in China. The ship was excellent and the crew were a credit. Didn't like the tipping regime as it was unexpected cost on the budget. Have booked again for next year so we obviously enjoyed it.
Ovation of the Seas is a amazing ship, although it is a big ship, it never feels crowded, you can away find a quiet area to relax, if that’s what you chose to do. Alternatively there is so much to do, North Star, dodgems, flow rider etc etc. I have only scored the entertainment lower as we were so busy we didn’t actually see much. I would love to go on Ovation again. Planet cruise were great and Borneo AMAZING!!! It’s a YES from me.
I had a reasonable time onboard. However embarking and disembarking was nothing short of chaotic. Lack of training or not . The windjammer eating area was just like a scramble for seats everyone milling around with food in hand . This is not quantum class dining . The staff were outstanding throughout the ship
Excellent crew, however very poor overall management. Queuing for hours seems the norm with Royal Caribbean. 3+ hours to embark plus queues at almost every port and disembarkation and guest services queued constantly. No empathy or apology shown by captain or cruise director and absolutely no attempt to explain reasons for queues or assist controlling them. This is not a cruise line it is a queues line.
Whilst the Ovation of the seas is a very impressive ship, there is one big drawback to the sheer number of passengers on board. Getting on or off the ship for excursions etc is a time consuming process and could be better planned. The service received from the staff on board was very good. Friendly and attentive, you couldn't ask for more. The packages we purchased prior to our holiday proved excellent value for money. If you are a coffee lover or don't want to be thinking of a large bill to settle at the end of your holiday, well worth setting this up before you go. The only disappointment on this cruise was the long hours of travelling. In hindsight, I will make sure there are direct flights on any future long haul destinations. Overall, I would cruise again with Royal Caribbean but only on a smaller ship.
I have coeliac disease. Need more food choice such as pasta and rice dishes. I felt I was very restricted
The service wasnt as good as my previous RCI cruises, the cabin was excellent and easy enough space for myself. The only issue I have is the shore excursion in Dunedin/Port Chalmers meant I was unable to do anything else that day apart from walk round the tiny Port which can be done in 20 minutes. The trip should have been first thing or late afternoon. The other issue was with the very limited time ashore in Wellington due to shuttle buses, I only ended up with 3 hours. The ship needed longer in port and a better system for getting ashore. The my dining was ok, nothing spectacular and the food in the windjamner was also good. The onboard activity was nothing short of excellent with so much to do onboard, flow rider, I fly, rock climbing, trapeze, skating, dodgems and more. I would have liked ice carving, cookery demos, art auctions as well but sadly they weren't on board. Although I probably saved money by not purchasing any art. The ship lacked a spiral staircase and maybe another set of lifts. The evening entertainment was very good with the exception of one evening with a juggler act. All in all an excellent cruise and superbly organised by Lucy Frampton of Planet cruise who sorted it all out and ran very smoothly throughout
