Boudicca Lisbon & the Canary Islands (D1106), Not happy

[amberline]

I am probably going to open a can of worms here but here goes.

We returned from the above cruise yesterday and have to say we were rather dissapointed, we have previously been on this ship last year and there had been an outbreak of novo on the cruise before us, the ship was deep cleaned before we got on and we were restricted for the first few days then everything was ok. We thought lighning couldn't strike twice, we were wrong.

 

Within a few days of leaving liverpool we were informed that there was a gastro bug on board (they never said it was novo) and suddenly the salt and pepper vanished of the tables to be replaced with little sachets, the jaccuzzis were emptied, the sauna was closed and staff served at the buffets. You couldn't even make your own drinks in the iceni room, but had to wait for someone to come and do it for you. We were told that the first case of this gastro bug was reported within a few hours of sailing out of liverpool!!! These restrictions were lifted 2 days before we returned to Liverpool.

 

We were also very dissapointed in the entertainment, the so called boudicca show company were awful, they couldn't sing, they couldn't stay in step and they performed the same sets as they have done in previous years.

 

On Country and Western night we all dressed up and were looking forward to a great night and what did we get, exactly the same show we got last year, performed very badly. There was also a film crew on board doing a video for freds web site, were ever they went, the show company went too!!! They were filming in the Lido Lounge one night and suddenly the dancers and singers appeared, we had never seen them in there before. Also the duo on the Lido lounge are well past there sell by date, the female half of the duo had a voice like a strangled cat!!!

 

I have to say that the best nights entertainment was the Crew show, these people work very hard on the ship in there various jobs and then get together and put on a wonderful show. The Trio outside the Secret Garden and Fletch were good.

 

I do have to add that the staff were fantastic and the food wonderful, its such a shame when we had looked forward to this cruise for a year and then this happens, i will think twice about going on boudicca again.

 

I do appreciate that this is my opinion of the cruise and others may have other opinons but i feel better for getting this off my chest. Also I have come home with a sore throat, a runny nose and a cough.

[trinitytrees]

I am probably going to open a can of worms here but here goes.

We returned from the above cruise yesterday and have to say we were rather dissapointed, we have previously been on this ship last year and there had been an outbreak of novo on the cruise before us, the ship was deep cleaned before we got on and we were restricted for the first few days then everything was ok. We thought lighning couldn't strike twice, we were wrong.

 

Within a few days of leaving liverpool we were informed that there was a gastro bug on board (they never said it was novo) and suddenly the salt and pepper vanished of the tables to be replaced with little sachets, the jaccuzzis were emptied, the sauna was closed and staff served at the buffets. You couldn't even make your own drinks in the iceni room, but had to wait for someone to come and do it for you. We were told that the first case of this gastro bug was reported within a few hours of sailing out of liverpool!!! These restrictions were lifted 2 days before we returned to Liverpool.

 

We were also very dissapointed in the entertainment, the so called boudicca show company were awful, they couldn't sing, they couldn't stay in step and they performed the same sets as they have done in previous years.

 

On Country and Western night we all dressed up and were looking forward to a great night and what did we get, exactly the same show we got last year, performed very badly. There was also a film crew on board doing a video for freds web site, were ever they went, the show company went too!!! They were filming in the Lido Lounge one night and suddenly the dancers and singers appeared, we had never seen them in there before. Also the duo on the Lido lounge are well past there sell by date, the female half of the duo had a voice like a strangled cat!!!

 

I have to say that the best nights entertainment was the Crew show, these people work very hard on the ship in there various jobs and then get together and put on a wonderful show. The Trio outside the Secret Garden and Fletch were good.

 

I do have to add that the staff were fantastic and the food wonderful, its such a shame when we had looked forward to this cruise for a year and then this happens, i will think twice about going on boudicca again.

 

I do appreciate that this is my opinion of the cruise and others may have other opinons but i feel better for getting this off my chest. Also I have come home with a sore throat, a runny nose and a cough.

Amberline

 

I posted a thread re our experience re noro virus, we were very dissappointed with the measures, but more with the fact the bug was aboard before we got on board, it must have been when the cruise before got letters informing them that 20% of passengers had contracted it........re entertainment, we thought it was way below past experience and we echo your comments, we said the singing in the company was atrocious, one male in particular, the duo well well past sell by, but fletch we loved, and Rossario fantastic, and appreciated talents of melody lane, comedian produced lots and lots of very old tired jokes.

 

our waiters at our table were fantastic, and we met some lovely hard working crew.

 

the cruise director we thought very unprofessional, and on the BBQ night he and most of the team playing tick game running around like school children in playground. some people old and less mobile not able to get close for fear of being knocked over, i just hope it was captured on film by the film crew, but im sure it will be edited out.........but may I add that Sam was by far the most professional totally comitted member of the entertainment team. well done sam a credit to FO.

I asked the producer of the film crew would he show things closed, hot tubs casino etc and all measures re sanitisation etc, he of course said no, its a promotional DVD he was producing.

 

and where in the world would you have to vacate your hotel room by 7am? I had spent the entire night coughing my heart out and found it hard to be out by 7am...........sorry ive gone on a bit.

[1160451]

Hi all

 

totally concur with the above. I was also not too impressed with some of the staff playing tig around the pool on a party night, it was pathetic really.

 

You are right Sam was a top staff member.

 

To be fair I must be the only person i spoke to who thought the entertainers were ok but I am tone deaf anyway:)

 

I do feel for fred though, what are they supposed to do, cancel the cruise or go ahead and do their best to contain it, as I said I think they are caught between a rock and a hard place.

 

All in all we had a good time but we try to make the best of it.

 

As long as there is whiskey, dancing and good company I am happy and there was all that.

 

We will not touch the Boudicca again tho.

 

I have to say that film crew got on my nerves, they even won the quiz one night, what a cheek.

 

Take it easy everybody and if that airlift was a drill then Fred should be ashamed of themselves as I saw 3 ladies in tears at the experience and possible consequences. They should have told us if it was a drill.

 

Anyway lets see how the Balmoral in August runs. my 88 year old Mum is coming and she takes no prisoners:)

[Popsey Wopsey]

I did the 20th March Cape Verde Cruise with the Scillies addon, the Gastric bug was on board,the Dr., went down with it ,another Dr., was brought on to help, the ship was sanitized in Southampton between the Scillies addon.Durring the Cape Verde cruise people said she only needed a Red Cross on the side and Boudicca would have been a hospital ship.75% of passengers had it ,some twice.

 

To my mind the ship ,now they have added more cabins is overcrowded,

 

( Also the duo on the Lido lounge are well past there sell by date, the female half of the duo had a voice like a strangled cat!!!

 

I have to say that the best nights entertainment was the Crew show, these people work very hard on the ship in there various jobs and then get together and put on a wonderful show. The Trio outside the Secret Garden and Fletch were good.)

 

 

 

Have to agree about the entertainment, thought Fletch was great and the woman in the Lido lounge should have been put out of her misery.

 

It was my 7th. cruse on Boudicca, I love the ship but until shes sorted,I,m on Balmoral.:eek:

[cannockfrodo]

I thought the show crew were OK admittedly one of the male singers (not Craig) was a bit weak in his singing.

I agree with the comments about Sam,Fletch and the awful duo in the Lido, she got worse as the cruise went on.

The Rosario Trio deserve their own show permanently and FO need to retire that unfunny 70's comic along with the terrible Jingoistic British night or maybe I'm to young to get the appeal of that.

A couple of the dance hosts were not really up to the task either.

[trinitytrees]

116051.....We like you always make the most of what we have not we have not, we had good company, lovely food, some nice weather.

 

I hope you enjoy your next cruise. we are going on another cruise in 4 weeks this time RCI. we tried the big ships before, then found FO found them better (Braemar) so now trying a fly cruise and different company again. it will be interesting for us to see how they compare whilst everything still fresh in the mind.

 

Cannockfrog.........i do recall you saying several times how many bottles of sparking you had in your cabin..........not blowing own trumpet are you?

 

the dance instructors we thought were very encouraging. we didnt use a dance host. and anyway We wouldnt comment on others dance abilities as we are novices. but happy ones! so wont throw stones when we live in glass houses.....

[KenQE2]

[chuckles quietly to oneself]

[Howmuch]

I agree with you all a terrible cruise amongst other things to moan about i was not happy having to queue at every meal, and being on the 2nd sitting did not get to the bbqs who wants to eat again at 2300 when just left dinner at 2230. Another disappointment was the fact that if breakfast or any other meal ended at a certain time it did smack on no leeway. Afraid it was my first and last cruise with FO back to P&O for me.

[1160451]

[chuckles quietly to oneself]

 

 

Hi ken,

 

Further to your other posts on dancing, I had to smile to myself while dancing on the Boudicca and thinking of your remarks.

 

I kid you not but a simple whisk would have caused total mayhem on the Dance Floor.

 

It was at times like a Cavelry Charge Two Step, but everybody had a smile on their face.:)

 

Take it easy but I think you should go with no expectations.

[Marian Paroo]

I want to take a cruise on her if only for her name.

 

I give her a wave everytime I am in London.

[trinitytrees]

[chuckles quietly to oneself]

We all have to start at the beginning, even with dance, none of us born dancing.........i think there is room in the world for all, even on dance floor. even at sea with a sway and a roll

[KenQE2]

Hey, I'm not denigrating anyone. My chuckle was in respect of the remarks about dance hosts.

 

IF I go (my friend seems to be doing well in his second round of chemo), it will definitely be with no expectations!

[1160451]

Hey, I'm not denigrating anyone. My chuckle was in respect of the remarks about dance hosts.

 

IF I go (my friend seems to be doing well in his second round of chemo), it will definitely be with no expectations!

 

 

Hi ken,

 

Glad to hear the news that your friend seems to be doing well.

 

Fingers crossed that you both make it onto the cruise and hope you both have a great time.

 

Take it easy and best wishes

[trinitytrees]

Hey Ken I knew it was a denegration remark but linked to last posts. glad friend picking up, have a good cruise.

[trinitytrees]

so so sorry i hit send before reread my post it should defo have said " know is was NOT a deregration remark"" apologies i did not mean any offence..