Great ship and lovely cruise

Ovation of the Seas Cruise Review

SuperDav3

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 8

Overall rating:

4.8 out of 5

10 Night South Pacific & New Zealand (Sydney Roundtrip)

Sail date: January 05, 2020

Ship: Ovation of the Seas

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 7234

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 8 months ago

Review summary

Was a great cruise for us overall. We were disappointed in the engine issues which triggered a four hour delay (had to reschedule our fight home but Royal reimbursed change fee). Wonderland restaurant is a must for us. We went there three times during this cruise and just love the creativity and presentation. Some of the most delicious dishes too!! All in all, we had a great time.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Very well organized and friendly people to guide each step of the way. The night before, we stayed at the Marriott close by and just walked on board.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5

Got the soda package but there were inconstancies whether bottled water was included. Some attendants said yes, others said no. Not a big deal but that was a first for us. Also highly recommend getting the specialty restaurant dining package. We got our fill at wonderland, chops (steak), Jamie's (Italian) and izumi (sushi).

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

We did the I fly and North Star. Both were fun and amazing. North Star folks up fast so be sure to book early.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

I find the Royal cabin crew always fantastic. Top notch and always whining to help.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Cabin was nice. All the typical cruise fun (towel animals, always attentive staff, etc). We got a larger balcony which was a nice touch once we figured out how to open the extension.

Ship tip

Pay close attention to deals and specials prior to the sailing. Generally speaking, the more you book upfront the cheaper it will be. The ship had engine trouble on the second to last day and ended up getting pretty rocky. They provided Sea sickness bags, but I always travel with ginger so it didn't affect me too bad.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Auckland, New Zealand

5 out of 5

High end shopping a few blocks away from Port. Explored and a little more and found some amazing New Zealand historical spots. We stayed off ship the longest here and made it back with about an hour to spare.

Thumbs Up 1

Mystery Island, Vanuatu

5 out of 5

Beautiful island. Lovely people come from neighboring islands to sell stuff, do tours, etc. We walked around the island and went swimming. Amazing time here and loved it.

Thumbs Up 0

Noumea, New Caledonia

5 out of 5

Walked around a little. Disappointed. Walked back on the ship early. I'd recommend shining this one and having this ship to yourself for a while instead of wasting time here.

Thumbs Up 0

Sydney, Australia

5 out of 5

Bridge climb is expensive but oh so worth it!!!!!

Thumbs Up 0