Not a great cruise

Item: Balmoral
Rating: 3.5
Author: JFeat

Balmoral Cruise Review to Canaries

JFeat

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 61

Overall rating:

3.5 out of 5

Authentic Andalusia

Sail date: December 22, 2019

Ship: Balmoral

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 4 years ago

Review summary

This ship seems to have a bit of a cult following, popular with the older generation. Deserted after the last show finishes

Embarkation

3 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Dining rooms were good, buffet was better. Food was variable. Sometimes really good other times was a long wait, cold food, not the fault of the waiters, seemed to take ages coming up from kitchens

Onboard Activities

2 out of 5

OK if you like carpet bowls or bridge otherwise not much to do.

Entertainment

2 out of 5

Ship's company were good but the 'paid for' entertainment was very poor, a comedian long past his sell by date and the same singers in the bars every single night

Children's Programs

1 out of 5

n/a there were only a handful of children on board

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

All waiters and room stewardesses were lovely, friendly and couldn't do enough to help you. Didn't see too much of any officers

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

The common areas were generally clean and tidy, although there was much sickness on the ship. Norovirus raised its head as did a nasty chest infection that seemed to be spreading through the ship like wild fire. The layout was good

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

Cabin was clean and tidy and the stewardesses did a great job. However, I suffered with a severe chest infection that kept me bedridden for the final week and when the crew went in to change the bedding for the new occupants, that is all they did - change the sheet, quilt cover and pillow case. The severe infection I had didn't seem to matter much and I wonder how the new occupants of the room got on and whether they caught it from the bedding..... hope not.