Ovation of the Seas - Inaugural B2B cruise review (with lot's of photo's!!)

[drummerdavebmth]

This review is great Dave. Thanks for sharing ALL the pics!!!

 

 

Glad you're enjoying it :)

[bigque]

Very Nice Pictures! The ship looks good an I hope to sail on her one day! :cool:

[Zawmer]

Thanks again Dave, great seeing all the pictures really building my excitement :)

 

Did you notice how much the internet was, I don't know whether to book now or wait until I'm on board ?

 

They are introducing a differently-tiered internet plan which will be cheaper for those who book in advance. Specifically, 30% cheaper.

 

I'd read elsewhere that others were seeing the new Voom offerings in the Cruise Planner. But I wasn't seeing it. Yesterday morning it showed the old prices of $20 per day for a single device, $30 per day for two devices. But then in the evening I checked again... and it had changed. There were now different prices for plans with video streaming vs. no-streaming. And all plans were 30% off if booked & paid for in advance. So I paid for mine at $12.99 per day.

[drummerdavebmth]

Very Nice Pictures! The ship looks good an I hope to sail on her one day! :cool:

 

Thanks! She is a great ship :)

[debgreg]

They are introducing a differently-tiered internet plan which will be cheaper for those who book in advance. Specifically, 30% cheaper.

 

I'd read elsewhere that others were seeing the new Voom offerings in the Cruise Planner. But I wasn't seeing it. Yesterday morning it showed the old prices of $20 per day for a single device, $30 per day for two devices. But then in the evening I checked again... and it had changed. There were now different prices for plans with video streaming vs. no-streaming. And all plans were 30% off if booked & paid for in advance. So I paid for mine at $12.99 per day.

Thanks that's why I asked because if you want the streaming version it actually works out more with the 30% offer than the buy one get one 50%

[cincicruisers]

So h a wonderful review. Thanks for sharing.

[debgreg]

I'm afraid I didn't notice how much the internet was (someone else might be able to tell you).

 

I'm quite old fashioned in the sense that, whilst I love technology at home, I like to disconnect totally whilst on holiday and not get distracted - I always put my phone on "Airplane Mode" for the duration and just use it as a camera. :)

 

Thanks Dave, we are leaving our kids and Grandson at home so we want to be able to Skype

[drummerdavebmth]

Thanks Dave, we are leaving our kids and Grandson at home so we want to be able to Skype

 

That sounds like a good idea (Skype-ing). They did have Voom (high speed) packages - both bookable before hand and onboard.

[drummerdavebmth]

So h a wonderful review. Thanks for sharing.

 

 

Glad you're enjoying :)

[drummerdavebmth]

Thanks for your kind words everyone.....

 

So, we are now in Zeebrugge, Belgium. We had a morning excursion booked for Bruges today, which we were looking forward too ('Bruges of your own').

 

Good Morning Zeebrugge!!

 

Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

 

 

 

 

 

As this was our last full day of the cruise, this was to be our last 'Morning Show' (sniff, sniff). I actually made it on TV this time though, when I nipped down to Boleros to get a couple of wine glasses the night before!

 

 

My 2 seconds of fame!!

 

 

Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

 

 

 

 

 

Before we knew it, we were on our coach.....then on our way!!

 

 

Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

[drummerdavebmth]

After a short 30/45 minute coach journey we arrived in Bruges. Our guide led us to a meeting point where we were to meet back in 4 hours.

 

That tower ahead of us is a medieval tower dating back to the 1300's. Later on in the day, we saw a painting of one of Bruges early Mayor's (from the 1400's) and you can clearly see this tower in the background...

 

 

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your fair hair!"

 

Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

 

 

 

The Swans certainly seemed to be basking in the sunshine....

 

 

Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

[Helly133]

Dave,

 

We leave next week for the Barcelona to Dubai leg and have booked DD Classic and will have the rotation of the 5 free restaurants over the 16 days. This means we will probably be in the Grande 3 times. I know the dress is listed as formal which is a suit and tie for the men. Are there any exceptions? My husband doesn't want to pack his suit as we are traveling from Australia with a couple of stop overs before we get to Barcelona. Will he be allowed in with just a shirt and tie?

 

If not, we will go to some of the other restaurants on those nights.

 

Thanks for the great review.

Helen.

[drummerdavebmth]

Dave,

 

We leave next week for the Barcelona to Dubai leg and have booked DD Classic and will have the rotation of the 5 free restaurants over the 16 days. This means we will probably be in the Grande 3 times. I know the dress is listed as formal which is a suit and tie for the men. Are there any exceptions? My husband doesn't want to pack his suit as we are traveling from Australia with a couple of stop overs before we get to Barcelona. Will he be allowed in with just a shirt and tie?

 

If not, we will go to some of the other restaurants on those nights.

 

Thanks for the great review.

Helen.

 

Hi Helen,

 

Men have to wear a jacket for The Grande. However, they did have some available at the front desk for any gentlemen arriving without one, so that could be an option.

 

Maybe try that for your first night at The Grande, to see if that works (then you can decide if you want to eat there again).

 

I'd definitely recommend breaking the Dynamic Dinning restaurant cycle up with one of the speciality restaurants though. Chops Grille and Jamie's Italian were well worth the cover charge, in our opinion!

 

Glad you're enjoying the review :)

Edited April 27, 2016 by drummerdavebmth

[drummerdavebmth]

The first thing we did once reaching the centre of Bruges, was explore...

 

 

Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

 

 

Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

[drummerdavebmth]

Boutique chocolatier shops everywhere....

 

 

Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

 

 

 

 

 

There were also lots of boat tours in Bruges, a city often referred to as the Venice of northern Europe with it's many waterways running through it.

 

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1458/26507740321_e909b89e7c_b.jpg' alt='26507740321_e909b89e7c_b.jpg'>Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

Edited April 27, 2016 by drummerdavebmth

[ImCruisinAway]

Loving the pictures of Belgium. My grandparents and mother are from there and I hope to visit some day. These pictures are making plan it sooner than later! Thank you for sharing and sparking my desire to get on with the planning.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[drummerdavebmth]

Loving the pictures of Belgium. My grandparents and mother are from there and I hope to visit some day. These pictures are making plan it sooner than later! Thank you for sharing and sparking my desire to get on with the planning.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

 

Hey, glad you're enjoying the review!

 

We loved Belgium, particularly Bruges - we plan to go back for a short break one day and stay in a hotel there for 3/4 nights. A 4-hour excursion wasn't nearly long enough!

[kccrzr]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post your review. Your photos are fantastic - including of Grand Suite 9242. We will be across the hall in 9642 in June - the ship looks fantastic.

[drummerdavebmth]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post your review. Your photos are fantastic - including of Grand Suite 9242. We will be across the hall in 9642 in June - the ship looks fantastic.

 

Thank you, I'm glad you're enjoying the review! Yes, that Grand Suite looked very nice....you're in for a treat! :)

[saffikins]

Really enjoying your review.... It's helping to build the anticipation for May 10th.

 

Quick question, did you use the casino at all and if so, is it still possible to get actual cash from the cashier?

 

There's another thread with varying reports about a voucher being issued now rather than cash and you put that voucher in any slot machine, play, cash out and then get that voucher changed to cash, which seems like a long way around to get cash?

 

Sorry for long winded explanation, any insight would be appreciated, if not from Dave (OP), anyone else who has been onboard

 

Thanks

Edited April 28, 2016 by saffikins

[drummerdavebmth]

After a while, we decided to pay a visit to the 'Church of Our Lady'. This church dates back to the 13th century and boasts the 2nd tallest brickwork tower in the world (at 401 ft).

 

 

 

The sculpture has an interesting history all of it's own....

 

From Wikipedia: The sculpture was removed twice from Belgium after its initial arrival. The first was in 1794, after French Revolutionaries had conquered the Austrian Netherlands during the French Revolutionary Wars; the citizens of Bruges were ordered to ship it and several other valuable works of art to Paris. It was returned after Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo in 1815. The second removal was in 1944, during World War II, with the retreat of German soldiers, who smuggled the sculpture to Germany enveloped in mattresses in a Red Cross truck.[1] It was discovered a year later in Altaussee/Austria and again returned. It now sits in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium.

 

 

Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

 

 

 

The rest of the church was beautiful too...

 

Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

 

 

 

 

We noticed lots of original medieval artwork around the church...

 

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1613/26547845846_a097d661cb_b.jpg' alt='26547845846_a097d661cb_b.jpg'>Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

Edited April 28, 2016 by drummerdavebmth

[drummerdavebmth]

Now we are approaching the choir space and high alter...

 

 

 

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1600/26481613622_1238fcb2f0_b.jpg' alt='26481613622_1238fcb2f0_b.jpg'>Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

[drummerdavebmth]

Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

 

 

Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

[drummerdavebmth]

Really enjoying your review.... It's helping to build the anticipation for May 10th.

 

Quick question, did you use the casino at all and if so, is it still possible to get actual cash from the cashier?

 

There's another thread with varying reports about a voucher being issued now rather than cash and you put that voucher in any slot machine, play, cash out and then get that voucher changed to cash, which seems like a long way around to get cash?

 

Sorry for long winded explanation, any insight would be appreciated, if not from Dave (OP), anyone else who has been onboard

 

Thanks

 

 

Hi

 

Glad you're enjoying the review. I'm afraid I can't help you with regards to the casino as we never used it (we generally avoided the area as it could get quite smokey - especially the end nearest the Music Hall entrance).

 

Hopefully someone else might be able to answer your question, though.. :cool:

[saffikins]

Hi

 

 

 

Glad you're enjoying the review. I'm afraid I can't help you with regards to the casino as we never used it (we generally avoided the area as it could get quite smokey - especially the end nearest the Music Hall entrance).

 

 

 

Hopefully someone else might be able to answer your question, though.. :cool:

 

 

Thank you [emoji2]