M/V Discovery Entertainment and Cabins

[Mel]

Could someone who has been on the Discovery recently please tell me what the entertainment has been like? We were on it in June and really enjoyed 'Trio Con Brio', three lovely women playing classical music (even though I'm not really a classical music fan!). We are going on an Antarctic cruise with the Discovery in December and wondered what to expect, since there will be quite a few days at sea.

[oceandream]

Hi Mel,

 

Sorry I wish I can help. I am trying to get comments and details on this ship. Should you can help, I will provide email contact. Thanks

[Mel]

Hi Oceandream,

We were on the Discovery in May/June/08 and because of the engine problems they had been having for a few months (but we weren't told about until two days before our cruise), two ports were cut out of our itinerary which was very upsetting. However, now that the engines are fixed we are going on another cruise with them which must tell you that we liked everything else about the ship. It is a small ship by todays standards and not so glitzy but the food was very good, staff were really friendly and did a great job, entertainment was not up to big ship standards, but very pleasant. I think you go on this ship for the itineraries, not the amenities. Let me know if there is anything else you would like to know. Mel

[oceandream]

Hi Mel

 

Thank you for your reply. Glad to read your comments. This confirmed my research on this ship. I am wondering about cabins and dining arrangements. Also, did you book with a TA or with them directly.

 

Thank you again. Oceandream from Montreal. cerclepacifique@yahoo.com

[Mel]

I tried to send an e-mail to you as per your address above, but it was returned as undeliverable! Anyway, here is the message:

 

We booked through our travel agent (the price is the same either way). They have two sittings for dinner, we like the late one (8:15pm), early is 6:15 I think. We also like a large table - 6 to 8 people, so we can get to know a few different people quite well. You get to eat in their alternative dining 'Yacht Club' at least once a week - you just make a reservation if you want to. It was really good and everyone seemed to enjoy it when they went there. They had tables for 2, 4, 6 and up in the main dining room, tables for 2 or 4 in the Yacht Club, I think. The cabins are pretty basic, but very clean, beds comfortable and enough storage space. In June we were in cabin 3106 which we picked specifically because it was quite a bit larger than others in that category. If you are looking for good value, we would definitely recommend this cabin. We travelled with a friend who was in cabin 4276, one category above us and our cabin was quite a bit larger! Because of the problems with the itinerary on our last cruise, they have upgraded us to cabin 7116 which should be very nice!

 

Anything else I can help you with, please let me know

 

Mel from Toronto

[oceandream]

Mel,

 

Sorry, this was my mystake. It is not 'com' but 'ca'. So the email is cerclepacifique@yahoo.ca. If I may I would have other questions but I am not allowed to use cruise critic as it refers to a specific TA. My other email is: ymen@videotron.ca. Thank you, thank you and thank you. Yvon

[Geordieboy]

I was on Discovery recently and the classical music trio are "Cafe Concerto" who were on before Trio con Brio.

[Tarheelbelle]

I was on the Discovery 1/08 in Antarctica and South Georgia Islands. Loved it! The entertainment was good for a very small ship. Cabins: I had an outside on deck 4. It was midship. It was a double but I booked it as a single. Very adequate storage for a small ship. Any specific questions?

[franu]

I have just booked for January 2010 for Asia, "Grand Orient". I was an ardent fan of the M/V Marco Polo but now looking for a new home away from home. This ship was also a product of Gerry Herrod who did the MP.

 

Because of the engine difficulty and the way the company handled it, I am slightly reticent. Please write about your Antarctica experience when you return. "An inquiring mind wants to know".

 

Fran from Toronto

[Mel]

Hi Fran - will do! Mel

[jp2001]

I would love to hear about the bridge lessons and bridge play (duplicate bridge or social bridge? in the middle of the day, late afternoon, during one of the dinner seatings, late night, a mix of those?). Also, what is the dress code and how do people dress for dinner?

 

I am thinking this ship is probably more casual than other ships due to its itinerary but I might be totally wrong.

 

Do you think a 30 yo (solo or with DBF) would feel out of place? I'm probably on the younger side of the crowd from what I read but I enjoy simple things like reading a book, afternoon tea, playing bridge, talking with fellow passengers, working out at a fitness class or in the gym (info about that would be appreciated too). I heard there is a Night Club but I guess it's probably not very lively out there (I don't mind really, just curious).

[Mel]

We just returned from a trip on the discovery which was great. We didn't play bridge but a friend travelling with us did (probably an average of twice a day). It seemed they had lessons quite a few times and played both duplicate and social bridge. He loved it!

 

The engine problems have been fixed, so no problems in that department.

 

There were quite a few singles on the Antarctic cruise we were on which really worked out great for all of them. Our friend absolutely loved it and they all got along great and have already arranged to meet up at a future date.

 

There were all ages on board, but probably most people were over 50. However, it sounds like all the things you are interested in are on the cruise - in particular, they have a great afternoon tea, fitness club (my hubby used it every day and said it was fine), two outdoor hot tubs (which we went in while in the Antarctic with a huge iceberg behind us - had to get a picture of that!!).

 

We found the food excellent (much better than we expected). I think it is geared more to British tastes than American, which is fine with us! We ate in the Yacht club three times in the two weeks on board and the specialty menus there were excellent. They had a Jazz dinner, Italian menu, Oriental menu and all were very good. The dining room staff and room stewards are the best we have ever had on all of our cruises. So friendly and helpful - we can't say enough good things about them. Because there were only 275 guests on board, they changed to single seating in the dining room in the evening - you could go any time between 7pm and 9pm, but last order was at 8:30pm. Most people seemed to go about 7:30pm. There is a buffet breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea on the Lido deck which was very popular and an 11pm snack table, just in case you needed something else to keep you going until breakfast.....

 

The lecturers on board were very good and everyone seemed to be interested in this aspect of the cruise. I think that most people go on the Discovery for the destinations and interesting ports of call and the lectures certainly helped with this.

 

The entertainment was fine - not up to big ship standards, but entertaining, nonetheless. There is a nightclub and our friend was in there most nights with his new buddies having a great time, but he did say that there were not many people in there after midnight!

 

The whole experience was wonderful - the staff tried their hardest to make the most landings and zodiak sail-bys that were possible and we saw and did so much - definitely met all our expectations. We met so many nice and interesting people on board and will be keeping in touch with a few of them!

 

Any questions, just ask.

 

Mel

[jp2001]

Thank you very much Mel, the info you provided convinces me even more that I want to go on that ship.

 

Unfortunately, the trips that interest me the most are also the longer ones but they are too expensive for me and I only have 4 weeks of vacation time per year. I guess I’ll have to settle for a shorter itinerary. Who knows, I might win the lottery and be able to join the Grand Voyage from Africa leaving at the end of the month - a girl has the right to dream :)

 

What is the dress code like? Do you have many formal nights and do people dress up in long gowns or is it a more laid-back, casual experience? While I own a couple of floor-length gowns, I would hate to haul them and realize that I am overdressed when I show up at dinner (especially since I'm younger, I would look so out of place). On the other hand, I don’t want to bring mostly casual and semi-formal clothing and see everybody else in tux/gown and feel like the young girl who won't dress up.

 

I don’t know why but I get the feeling that this ship is not as dressy as “regular” cruise ship (maybe because of the demographic and also because of its port intensive itinerary).

 

Thanks again for your help.

[Mel]

On our two week cruise there were two formal nights and three informal, the rest were casual. Surprisingly (to me, anyway), on the formal nights, there were quite a few tuxedos and formal gowns (not very many floor length gowns, though), however there were also a lot of people who just wore dressy pants and tops, etc. You certainly didn't feel uncomfortable if you weren't dressed up to the nines! It seemed like anything goes and yes, it is not as dressy as a regular cruise ship.

Unless you are looking for a large, glitzy ship with a casino, skating rink and broadway type shows, I'm sure you will love it. Mel

[bahrain_not_dubai!]

Am on Discovery in July for two weeks and wanted to know some things about the ship too!

[jp2001]

Here is a link to the cruiseline website. On this page, you can click on each deck and see pictures/Virtual tour of most public spaces and some cabins.

 

There is another section that describes the life on board.

 

The ship is definitely old in today’s cruise ships terms but seems very well suited for the type of passengers it attracts and product it offers. Entertainment focal point is definitely lectures; they have various rooms for those and many lecturers on board for each sailing. For me personally, the itinerary and lectures interest me the most but I also like the bridge room (I started bridge lessons a few months ago and I love it. This card room also has a great view: http://us.voyagesofdiscovery.com/id-12513/card_room.html )

 

Last time I had a ship fever like this one was when I wanted to do a TA Crossing aboard QM2. I did it last year and I hope to find a good deal on MV Discovery for this year (the sailings are much more expensive than most other lines unfortunately).

[bahrain_not_dubai!]

Thank you very much Mel, the info you provided convinces me even more that I want to go on that ship.

 

Unfortunately, the trips that interest me the most are also the longer ones but they are too expensive for me and I only have 4 weeks of vacation time per year. I guess I’ll have to settle for a shorter itinerary. Who knows, I might win the lottery and be able to join the Grand Voyage from Africa leaving at the end of the month - a girl has the right to dream :)

 

What is the dress code like? Do you have many formal nights and do people dress up in long gowns or is it a more laid-back, casual experience? While I own a couple of floor-length gowns, I would hate to haul them and realize that I am overdressed when I show up at dinner (especially since I'm younger, I would look so out of place). On the other hand, I don’t want to bring mostly casual and semi-formal clothing and see everybody else in tux/gown and feel like the young girl who won't dress up.

 

I don’t know why but I get the feeling that this ship is not as dressy as “regular” cruise ship (maybe because of the demographic and also because of its port intensive itinerary).

 

Thanks again for your help.

 

I agree its not a cheap cruise line. Im paying $3000pp for my upcoming cruise.

 

Cruise Critic included VOD in their 'budget cruise line' feature a couple of weeks ago. I struggle to understand how they could label VOD as a budget line when they are charging me much more than a conventional cruise to a simillar destination (P&O are asking for $1500).

[sparty1]

hi all,

 

Has anyone, like Mel?, had problems with this company in not providing the service we contract withthem for? Specifically, we are leaving Feb 26 and our traveling companions on Wed, Feb 18 to join the Discovery in Capetown. They told us our documents would be sent between 2-3 weeks in advance. we have not received anything, and since they only work Mon-Fri, we can't reach them either. We have left messages, and they were informed of the earlier departure for our friends. We have dealt with a number of other cruise-lines, and have never had documents delivered so late, etc. Is this an exception for them in your experience? Thanx so much, Sparty1

[Mel]

Hi Sparty1,

No, we didn't have a problem either time with getting our tickets and documents. Both times they came almost exactly two weeks before departure. Did you book directly through Voyages of Discovery? Have you tried sending an e-mail? We found that whenever we sent an e-mail, we got a very quick response. I'm sure you'll love the cruise. Sounds like a great itinerary. Wish I was going too! Mel

[patkusps]

Sparty 1,

 

We are also on this cruise and received our documents about two weeks ago. This is our thrid cruise with them and we have not experienced any problems. We usually book with Discovery and then tranfer to a TA to complete the booking.

[sparty1]

thank you all for your responses. we did finally receive our documents Fri nite! we found out it was a problem with our TA. now we are just anticipating a great cruise, starting this Fri.

patkusps, we glad you will be travelling with us, and look forward to meeting you.

 

Is their a CC Meet & Greet on this ship? I didn't notice a posting about it.

 

Thx again, Connie