Worried about Braemar!

[Cruiseroz]

Hi Jospen.

 

I've written both negative and positive about Olsen Lines.

We often were told to be careful about the hot water on

the Braemar. I think it was hotter than the English Hot water systems.

As we are Australian I cannot comment.

But we found the hot water fine, as long as you mixed it before stepping

under the shower!!

 

Braemar would be fine for us if we had a better bathroom, paying for a

suite it was disappointing. But the crew in the Galley and Dining were

first class we could not fault them and I have been on boats most of

my life! [i am nearly 64].

 

The entertainment was fair, some acts considerably better than others!

But as we did a back to back cruise the acts were repetitive!

I think there needs to be some thought into this problem, perhaps the

'acts' could have a wider cycle of repeats!

 

Personally we feel senior management let the crew down because they

put the vessel back into operation too soon. The crew worked their

little hearts out.

 

Talking to some of the crew they told us that they get paid fifty pounds[uK] a month and of that thirty is taken out for Union Fees, so the tips

they get are important for them to make ends meet.

 

We did wish that their various quizes were a bit better managed some of

the questions were repeated! The passengers soon told them!

What I objected to was the same winning table called in friends from

outside to help with their answers! LOL right under the noses of the

crew!:cool:

 

Oh well I guess thats life!:D

 

 

I can only tell you my experience about Fred Olsen. We were on the Balmoral in April this year. There were also some poor reviews about that ship on this board & I was dreading it. BUT we had a fantastic cruise. We loved Fred Olsen & would definitely sail with them again.There were many people on board (just as there are on this forum) who complained about trivial matters..... one lady complained about the hot weather! Most were comparing the Balmoral this year with the Braemar last year etc etc.

Go & enjoy.... we did!

[balf]

Hi Jospen.

 

We did wish that their various quizes were a bit better managed some of

the questions were repeated! The passengers soon told them!

What I objected to was the same winning table called in friends from

outside to help with their answers! LOL right under the noses of the

crew!:cool:

 

Oh well I guess thats life!:D

 

Ah yes I had forgotten the FO quizes. The questions are set by the young entertainment staff (probably using Wickepedia for the research) and half of them have the wrong answer at the end. This invariably causes a mini riot from the people who have got the correct but "wrong" answer".

 

The question master then takes a vote to decide which answer will be accepted. They got so desperate eventually that they asked the passengers to set the questions. Of course everyone who had was there next evening hoping to get some of the questions they had set themselves. OK, who invented the Leica camera? Well, we knew that one and a few others we had handed in. It was the only time we won all that cruise!!

 

Please FO don't change a thing, it's the best laugh aboard. (except possibly the "artwork")

 

David.

[Gelbel]

Hi Englishlady

 

See my review on Artemis - I loved her and did a a few concerns beforehand because of the distorted opinion that people put in their reviews.

 

Enjoy your cruise on her - can't wait to find another cruise to go on her again.

[merecat]

Did a month on her last year before she went in for a refit,didn,t like her ,although the crew where very good ,P&O managed to get us into port on most sundays ,bank holidays and religious days when everywhere was shut.

Food was pretty awful but then its what you might be used to at home ,the only cruise I have lost weight on.

The ship suffered constant vibration ,bathrooms fell apart ,toilets didn,t work ,lifts didn,t work,cruise director booed because things kept breaking down ,we had a fire in the laundry ,so no towels or sheets changed for 2 days.

Just hope shes better now but Balmoral is far superior.:)