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

[kent05]

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:

 

Do they allow smoking on Ovation of the Seas???

[drummerdavebmth]

Is that a bar near the floor of the shower to make it easier to shave your legs??? If it is, that's brilliant!

 

Yes....it is!!! :cool:

[drummerdavebmth]

Do they allow smoking on Ovation of the Seas???

 

 

To be fair, the casino is the only indoor public space where smoking is allowed.

 

The only other smoking area's were in outside public areas that could easily be avoided.

 

There is a strict no smoking policy on balconies.

 

Unfortunately I had to put that to the test on the 3-night part of our cruise. In the stateroom next door, there was a 17/18 year old kid. On the morning of the 2nd day he was stood on his balcony talking quite loudly on his mobile phone to his friend who was obviously in another stateroom. He was telling his friend not to let his parents know how drunk he was the night before (apparently he spent the whole night being sick - that would explain why I kept hearing his toilet flushing throughout the night!).

 

He was telling his friend all this whilst swearing constantly and flicking ash from his cigarette over his balcony.

 

Jen was trying to enjoy our balcony at the time and came back in, quite disgusted.........I was straight on the phone to Guest Services to report him. Guest Services thanked me for reporting it and said they would get someone from security to have a word with him straight away. We had no further problems after that.

 

Luckily this next-door neighbour was only on the ship for the 3-nighter. We had a really lovely older couple next-door for the 5-night cruise.

Edited April 28, 2016 by drummerdavebmth

[Macca Jsy]

What a great review, have just sat and read though the whole thing with a cuppa and its brought back lots of very happy memories of our cruise to the canaries on the Anthem last October. We really love the quantum class of ships and would have jumped at the chance of trying out the Ovation whilst she is enjoying her short spell of time in Southampton but unfortunately our hot water cylinder went pop and all and any spare cash had to go towards that instead!

 

My favourite places onboard where 270, the Solarium (especially the huge hot tubs at the front with the view) and Vintages. We enjoyed eating in Icon and Chic more than Silk and the Grande too and had a fabulous (if rather filling) meal at Jamie's. All together it was a fabulous cruise on a stunning ship and something that will stay with me as a very happy memory for a very long time to come.

[drummerdavebmth]

What a great review, have just sat and read though the whole thing with a cuppa and its brought back lots of very happy memories of our cruise to the canaries on the Anthem last October. We really love the quantum class of ships and would have jumped at the chance of trying out the Ovation whilst she is enjoying her short spell of time in Southampton but unfortunately our hot water cylinder went pop and all and any spare cash had to go towards that instead!

 

My favourite places onboard where 270, the Solarium (especially the huge hot tubs at the front with the view) and Vintages. We enjoyed eating in Icon and Chic more than Silk and the Grande too and had a fabulous (if rather filling) meal at Jamie's. All together it was a fabulous cruise on a stunning ship and something that will stay with me as a very happy memory for a very long time to come.

 

Thank you!! Really glad you've been enjoying my review so far....

 

It seems like we share the same favourite places on this class of ship! :)

[drummerdavebmth]

The next place we visited was the Sint-Janshospitaal (Saint John's Hospital). It has an 800 year old history of caring for pilgrims, travellers and the sick. It has medieval wards, where the nuns and monks performed their work of mercy as well as a chapel, archives, art works, medical instruments and paintings by Hans Mewling.

 

 

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I hope nobody's eating....

 

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Now, do you remember that "Rapunzel" tower that we walked pass as we first arrived in Bruges? Well, take a look at this medieval painting and look to the right. Outside of the window in the painting, you can see the very same tower....

 

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Edited April 28, 2016 by drummerdavebmth

[drummerdavebmth]

And now it was time for chocolate........There is chocolate, and then there is Belgium chocolate!!

 

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[drummerdavebmth]

We bought some chocolate for my parents (to say thank you for dropping us off and picking us up in Southampton) and Jen's parents (who were looking after our pet Budgie - Archie).

 

We naturally bought plenty of chocolate and biscuits (that's cookies, for my North American friends) for ourselves too!

 

 

 

Now it was time for some 'pommes frites' (with mayonnaise, of course!!). They were sooooo good!!!

 

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And not a bad place to eat them.....

 

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[drummerdavebmth]

By now we had about an hour before we had to get back to the meeting point. We walked passed a 'Medieval Torture Museum" on our way to the main square.....We decided to have a look on our way back. Let's just say, I'm glad I don't live in the middle ages!!

 

 

 

 

It was my idea to go in here.....Jen's putting on a brave face, but I really don't think she was so sure!

 

 

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[drummerdavebmth]

"Ok, Ok......I promise I'll give you a perfect 10 in the post-cruise satisfaction survey!!"

 

 

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[drummerdavebmth]

We came out of that museum needing a drink.......and there were plenty of nice bars and restaurants to choose from. We found somewhere not far from where we were due to meet with our guide and fellow passengers.

 

 

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[Clarea]

"Ok, Ok......I promise I'll give you a perfect 10 in the post-cruise satisfaction survey!!"...

I love it.:D

[Miamia65]

Thanks for this review Dave - it's fantastic. We are on board from Dubai on 26 May and it looks wonderful! I am especially glad to see the Music Hall there! There had been speculation that it wasn't on Ovation.

 

Is that Belle on the Morning Show with Joff? She was on Legend with us last year. Do you remember the names of any other cruise director crew?

 

Thanks so much,

Sharon

 

Jimmy Rhodes will be the Cruise Director from 13 July...

[drummerdavebmth]

Once back on board I had to get a photo with this guy!

 

 

 

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And the Wonderland (speciality restaurant)

 

 

 

Meanwhile, people were still coming back from their various excursions in Belgium...

 

 

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1541/26573737685_30f2588d36_b.jpg' alt='26573737685_30f2588d36_b.jpg'>Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

Edited April 29, 2016 by drummerdavebmth

[mit429]

Dummerdave, loving the review so far - great pictures and comments.

 

We're heading on the ship next week and are super excited (and your pictures are getting us even more excited, if that is possible).

 

Like a lot of people, I'm new to the whole DD concept, and I was curious, did you find there was a night that people were slightly more dressy (like a quasi-formal night) or did it really tend to be just a random mix based on what people were doing each night?

 

Thanks!

[kevinyork]

Would really love to read the review but all picture ,inks are broken using Tapatalk App.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[RnbwSktles]

By now we had about an hour before we had to get back to the meeting point. We walked passed a 'Medieval Torture Museum" on our way to the main square.....We decided to have a look on our way back. Let's just say, I'm glad I don't live in the middle ages!!

 

The photos of the exhibits brings back memories of a very similar museum I visited outside of Medieval times in Orlando!

[drummerdavebmth]

Dummerdave, loving the review so far - great pictures and comments.

 

We're heading on the ship next week and are super excited (and your pictures are getting us even more excited, if that is possible).

 

Like a lot of people, I'm new to the whole DD concept, and I was curious, did you find there was a night that people were slightly more dressy (like a quasi-formal night) or did it really tend to be just a random mix based on what people were doing each night?

 

Thanks!

 

Hi

 

Glad you're enjoying the review, you're going to love this ship!

 

With regards to DD and dressing up. This is where I think the general confusion is - and it's of RCI's own making.

 

One one hand, they have said that there isn't a "formal night" except for those guests wishing to eat in The Grande (where it is formal night every night).

 

 

That's fine....

 

 

Yet, on the other hand, they have decided to have what they are calling a "Royal Night" - where all guests are encouraged to "dress your best" (I presume this is to please those cruisers who like formal nights).

 

So, what you have is some people every night dressed up (presumably because they're eating in The Grande).....and then one of the nights, the majority of the ship was dressed up. So really, "Royal Night" is just another name for formal night (as far as I can tell). Let's just call it a formal night, and be done with it!

 

I wish there was a bit more clarity where this is concerned.

 

Anyway, hope that helps! (.....sorry for my rant! :p )

Edited April 29, 2016 by drummerdavebmth

[drummerdavebmth]

Would really love to read the review but all picture ,inks are broken using Tapatalk App.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

A couple of people are having the same issues whilst viewing using the Tapatalk app. Try using the regular website version, rather than an app - this seems to work for most people :)

[george35]

How did you get to Southhampton, how did you get to the ship. We are thinking of a transatlantic leaving from Southhampton but know nothing about how to get to th dock from the airport like how long, how much & PLEASE dont say you took a train, with the luggage my wife packs that is not possable.

 

george35

[drummerdavebmth]

Our sail away from Zeebugge was at 3:30pm. We went up for our last swim and to spend an hour or so in the Solarium hot tubs before getting ready for dinner.

 

By the time we were back in our stateroom, we were out at sea.....

 

 

 

Whilst we're talking about Chic, I forgot to mention earlier, that on turnaround day this was where Royal Caribbean put on lunch for all the B2B cruisers (and very nice it was too!).

 

Our last dinner on 'Ovation of the Seas'....

 

 

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After dinner we had little walk around, as we had time to kill before the 'Dream' show. We found ourselves back in 270, where they were showing the virtual orchestra again. As we'd already seen this earlier in the cruise, we only stayed for a couple of the "virtual" performances this time. It was still spectacular!

 

 

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https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1650/26547670446_0461da21fd_b.jpg' alt='26547670446_0461da21fd_b.jpg'>Untitled by drummerdave72, on Flickr[/img]

[drummerdavebmth]

How did you get to Southhampton, how did you get to the ship. We are thinking of a transatlantic leaving from Southhampton but know nothing about how to get to th dock from the airport like how long, how much & PLEASE dont say you took a train, with the luggage my wife packs that is not possable.

 

george35

 

Hi

 

We are lucky enough to live just a 40 minute drive from Southampton, so my folks kindly took us to the port and picked us up again.

 

However, I can tell you that National Express coaches run regularly from both the main London airports (Heathrow and Gatwick) to Southampton (about £30) - in fact, Heathrow is only 1 hour 20 mins drive away from Southampton and Gatwick is only 2 hours.

 

The other option is Taxi's........I just did a quick Google search (I searched for 'Heathrow to Southampton cruise terminal') and there are lots of taxi firms that offer this service - one of the rough quotes was £90 for 4 people.

 

Hope that helps? :)

Edited April 29, 2016 by drummerdavebmth

[KiwiGal117]

Really enjoying your review! I'm almost as sorry to see it end as you probably were for the cruise to end!! I'm really impressed with the cabin décor. We are on Harmony this summer and apparently the Harmony cabins are like the Quantum class cabins, so looking forward to our ocean view balcony. Thanks for taking the time to do this!

[drummerdavebmth]

Really enjoying your review! I'm almost as sorry to see it end as you probably were for the cruise to end!! I'm really impressed with the cabin décor. We are on Harmony this summer and apparently the Harmony cabins are like the Quantum class cabins, so looking forward to our ocean view balcony. Thanks for taking the time to do this!

 

 

I'm glad you're enjoying this review.....and say (unfortunately) all things must come to an end. I'll be wrapping up this review shortly and end with my "final thoughts" on a few things about this cruise.

 

We also really liked the decor of our Stateroom :)

[Trixie21]

Really enjoying your review. We were on the 3 day and that was a big mistake as it wasn't nearly long enough! We enjoyed ovation immensely ( had been on anthem previously so knew the layout and how the dining etc works ) - I am still planning a short review but yours will put everyone else's to shame! Glad you had an enjoyable cruise - we really like quantum class ships.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

Edited April 30, 2016 by Trixie21