Ovation of the Seas bad reviews in China

[dchurchward]

My family and I are cruising on the Ovation of the Seas next year when it goes to Alaska. Asa part of my research, I have read many reviews from multiple sites. One pattern I see regularly is that when the ship is in Australia or New Zealand, the reviews are mostly good, but when it is China and Singapore, the reviews are consistently poor.

It strikes me that the focus of the negative reviews relates to the overwhelming abundance of Asian food and the behavior of the passengers. It strikes me that the tone of the reviews may mainly relate to who the cruise line is treating as their core demographic for a particular itinerary. I would be surprised next year to see the majority of the food remain Asian themed when the ship goes to Alaska, and I would also expect that if passengers from China came over and took the cruise in America, there would likely be many things we do that would shock them.

 

Is that the impression that anyone else gets when they look at ship reviews of the cruises based out of Asia?

[Biker19]

Is that the impression that anyone else gets when they look at ship reviews of the cruises based out of Asia?

Maybe, but since you are going on her in Alaska, that won't matter.

[springaussie]

Most of the cruisers from western nations who go on China Cruises have no idea of what other countries expect on cruises. While Royal is in Asia the prime target market is locals. Any others are a bonus to Royal.

While Royal is in Alaska it's prime target market will be North America; Australia, UK. Europe and South America so Ovation will change to adapt.

[dchurchward]

Maybe, but since you are going on her in Alaska, that won't matter.

 

That is a fair point. When I was reading the reviews, I was trying to see what areas may still be applicable when it sails in Seattle, and what will likely be different.

Edited August 20, 2018 by dchurchward
language

[taglovestocruise]

By the time you sail most of the Asian influence will have been removed, from signs in Chinese to the Kung Foo Panda Noodle Shop being redone to once again being Johny Rockets. Once she leaves Alaska the city of Sydney will be her home port, no more Asia. A lot of Westerners were shocked to find the Solarium for suite guests only. China based ships sail with the caste system in full swing.

[dchurchward]

By the time you sail most of the Asian influence will have been removed, from signs in Chinese to the Kung Foo Panda Noodle Shop being redone to once again being Johny Rockets. Once she leaves Alaska the city of Sydney will be her home port, no more Asia. A lot of Westerners were shocked to find the Solarium for suite guests only. China based ships sail with the caste system in full swing.

 

Yes, I am sure there will be several differences. I am always interested in learning about the ship that I am on so I can be prepared for what to expect. There will be things that change, but getting impressions of the ship facilities, activities, etc. are useful. While researching, I was just surprised at the dramatic differences in the reviews between Australia, and China.

[euphscott]

I'm on the Hawaiian Island reposition, so this is something I look froward to seeing. Loved the Anthem, so I am hoping for a similar experience with the Ovation.

[dchurchward]

I'm on the Hawaiian Island reposition, so this is something I look froward to seeing. Loved the Anthem, so I am hoping for a similar experience with the Ovation.

 

I hope you will write a review so I can see how your experience is. That cruise sounds great!!!

[markm196]

I ‘m hoping they keep the Kung foo panda noodle place. It would be fun to try something different.

 

 

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[ONECRUISER]

I ‘m hoping they keep the Kung foo panda noodle place. It would be fun to try something different.

 

 

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Would be but most likely not going happen...

[ONECRUISER]

Maybe, but since you are going on her in Alaska, that won't matter.

Agree. By time gets Alaska be whole different ship, even most the crew will all be changed over by then...

[lovelife]

I'm on the Hawaiian Island reposition, so this is something I look froward to seeing. Loved the Anthem, so I am hoping for a similar experience with the Ovation.

 

I'm on that one too plus the 19-night Transpacific following. A little nervous about 29 days aboard the same ship. Hope it is as great as Quantum and Anthem.

[Merion_Mom]

I'm on that one too plus the 19-night Transpacific following. A little nervous about 29 days aboard the same ship. Hope it is as great as Quantum and Anthem.

I did 67 nights on the Radiance last year, including the Transpacific and Hawaii legs. It was awesome!

 

And there is even more to do on the Ovation, to put it mildly.

[lovelife]

I did 67 nights on the Radiance last year, including the Transpacific and Hawaii legs. It was awesome!

 

And there is even more to do on the Ovation, to put it mildly.

 

Wow - 67 nights! Thanks for that reassurance.

[mugtech]

I'm on the Hawaiian Island reposition, so this is something I look froward to seeing. Loved the Anthem, so I am hoping for a similar experience with the Ovation.

Also loved the Anthem, doing the 2020 Sydney to Hawaii, thinking it will be totally westernized by then.

[bonsai3s]

When we heard that the Ovation was sailing in Alaska...our first thought was: It will be the perfect ship for Alaska...because of the completely indoor SeaPlex and the wonderful Solarium.

It will definitely change and adapt. I've posted this before so here's some random observations on our 37 days aboard the Ovation:

In Asia, you had to pay for the IFly, Flowrider, and Northstar. Not many used the flowrider...those that did used it simply for photo-op. There was a lot more gambling and they had the Diamond Lounge turned into a "high roller" casino. Wonderland was an upscale specialty dining specializing in Peking duck. There was also a very popular (long lines) noodle bar inside the windjammer. The always popular trivia...no so in Asia. Plenty of lounge chairs. Bars, Diamond Lounge, and Concierge Lounge just about empty.

When we sailed in Australia, the IFly, Flowrider, and Northstar were free. The Aussies were excellent on the flowrider. Not much gambling but a heck of a lot more drinking. Wonderland was back to Wonderland. The noodle bar wasn't so popular. And yes, trivia was again popular.

No need to write anything negative about any cultures...everyone has different ways and expectations. Much like the ship...we all have to adjust and adapt. We agree, by the time the Ovation sail from Sydney to Hawaii, then Hawaii to Alaska......she will be "reborn".

No worries, you'll have a great time on this beautiful ship. Just imagine if you just timed it just right...be on the Northstar, and looking down at the glacier...could be breathtaking.

Happy Sailing! :)

[gliles]

My family and I are cruising on the Ovation of the Seas next year when it goes to Alaska. Asa part of my research, I have read many reviews from multiple sites. One pattern I see regularly is that when the ship is in Australia or New Zealand, the reviews are mostly good, but when it is China and Singapore, the reviews are consistently poor.

It strikes me that the focus of the negative reviews relates to the overwhelming abundance of Asian food and the behavior of the passengers. It strikes me that the tone of the reviews may mainly relate to who the cruise line is treating as their core demographic for a particular itinerary. I would be surprised next year to see the majority of the food remain Asian themed when the ship goes to Alaska, and I would also expect that if passengers from China came over and took the cruise in America, there would likely be many things we do that would shock them.

 

Is that the impression that anyone else gets when they look at ship reviews of the cruises based out of Asia?

 

We are on the Ovation from Tianjin in October and you bet I noticed the difference in the reviews. At first I was a little concerned but then I thought, what the heck. It will be an adventure. I was disappointed that Wonderland wouldn't be what it normally is but I booked it a few months ago and they recently canceled the booking so I had to redo it, I wonder if that was a clue that the venue would be different? No matter, I'm game to try whatever they have there. We've been on over 20 cruises and while some are good and some are bad, we love to travel and be together so we have never had a bad cruise. And this will be no exception. And we are staying at the Marina Bay Sands at the end so there's that...:)

[Havingfun2010]

My family and I are cruising on the Ovation of the Seas next year when it goes to Alaska. Asa part of my research, I have read many reviews from multiple sites. One pattern I see regularly is that when the ship is in Australia or New Zealand, the reviews are mostly good, but when it is China and Singapore, the reviews are consistently poor.

It strikes me that the focus of the negative reviews relates to the overwhelming abundance of Asian food and the behavior of the passengers. It strikes me that the tone of the reviews may mainly relate to who the cruise line is treating as their core demographic for a particular itinerary. I would be surprised next year to see the majority of the food remain Asian themed when the ship goes to Alaska, and I would also expect that if passengers from China came over and took the cruise in America, there would likely be many things we do that would shock them.

 

Is that the impression that anyone else gets when they look at ship reviews of the cruises based out of Asia?

 

Being from the USA, traveled to Europe many times and cruised several times I find the culture to be about the same. I went in Quantum and spent 6 hotel nights in China and it’s a completely different culture. I loved every minute of it. Eastern and western cultures are different and if you go without basic understanding the main difference than all you can report is negativety.

 

Why would anyone go to China and not expect Asian food? Yet people complain!

[Cruisegroover]

I'm on that one too plus the 19-night Transpacific following. A little nervous about 29 days aboard the same ship. Hope it is as great as Quantum and Anthem.

z

 

I did 21 days on Ovation from Hong Kong to Sydney via Singapore. I did not want to get off!

[Chiliburn]

z

 

I did 21 days on Ovation from Hong Kong to Sydney via Singapore. I did not want to get off!

Obviously the cruise director wasn’t jof eaton

[The_Big_M]

Why would anyone go to China and not expect Asian food? Yet people complain!

 

The issue isn't the Asian food. The issue is the quality of the food - amongst other things.

 

I tell you what, I was so happy to get off in Hong Kong and have genuine Asian food. And Beijing where I started the cruise also had a wonderful range and good quality.

 

However, the food and dining service onboard Ovation were terrible - and not good quality Asian food by any stretch.

 

Given how widely Asian food pervades Australia and the US, you might want to question why there is an overwhelming consensus of negativity about the food onboard before you make assumptions. Do you really think only Westerners who can't handle anything foreign are sailing Ovation there?

[3monkeys4me]

Being from the USA, traveled to Europe many times and cruised several times I find the culture to be about the same. I went in Quantum and spent 6 hotel nights in China and it’s a completely different culture. I loved every minute of it. Eastern and western cultures are different and if you go without basic understanding the main difference than all you can report is negativety.

 

Why would anyone go to China and not expect Asian food? Yet people complain!

 

People will always find something to complain about. And most people aren't used to real Chinese food, they are more used to a westernized version. It took a few trips to China in areas off the beaten path for us to get used to it and we are fairly adventurous eaters. Asian food we have found in the US (and Europe) is just different. Even Hong Kong was very different. It is kinda like when you visit Bangkok and eat in the city vs. going out in the country side in Thailand. Very different.

 

Some people adapt to the changes differently than others. I can not even begin to count the amount of people I know that only eat at McDonalds or American chains when traveling. We are going to Japan in a few weeks with a large group and we have to change our trip so that we overlap the main group but have some time on our own because I know I am not going to want to eat at McDonalds or Hard Rock every day.

[gatour]

It strikes me that the tone of the reviews may mainly relate to who the cruise line is treating as their core demographic for a particular itinerary.

 

That is precisely correct. If you go on a ship that is primary being marketed to the Chinese market then you should expect more Asian dishes and should not write a bad review because of it. When the ship goes to Alaska and if it is marketed to the North American market then I would expect the menus etc, would revert the more standard RCCL menus.

 

Another example of this is Costa when it sails in the Caribbean, they still primary market to the Spanish market, so the on-board experience is similiar to what it is when they sail out Barcelona even thought they are sailing out of Florida.

[Blizzard54]

This past spring we sailed on the Mariner from Singapore to Barcelona. This ship had been based in China and had very much been changed for that market. The most obvious thing was that all signs were in both English and Chinese. When we boarded much of the crew had already been changed over. The menus had been changed to the standard Royal fare. There was some minor changes happening during the voyage as it was heading to a major drydock.

I assume that some changes will be made before the ships arrives for the Alaska season. It is easy to open up the Solarium to all adults. They will probably open it during some hours to families while in Alaska. Some other changes may need to wait until it's next drydock.

I always take reviews with a grain of salt. I have see some that say a particular cruise was the best ever and another that said it was the worst. They were reviews of the same ship the same week.

We are looking forward to sailing on Ovations first sailing to Alaska.

[Biker19]

I assume that some changes will be made before the ships arrives for the Alaska season.

There won't be much to change - she will be sailing Australian cruises before her Alaska season, so any Asian changes will already have been made.