Trip with challenges

Item: Ovation of the Seas
Rating: 3.3
Author: sarumkd

Ovation of the Seas Cruise Review to Alaska - Inside Passage

sarumkd

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 37

Overall rating:

3.3 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Alaska Glacier (Seattle Roundtrip)

Sail date: October 08, 2021

Ship: Ovation of the Seas

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 10136

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 3 years ago

Review summary

Glad I went but the ship is dated, offerings on board are limited for a cruise that may keep one inside due to weather, I didnt plan to have to be on a moving mall. No interesting on board activities ... staff were preoccupied with the fact this was a last cruise for the season and rather detached from service.

Embarkation

3 out of 5

Lots of lines because folks dont honor their time to boars schedule

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Herds of people to get into main dining..staff couldn't manage well

Onboard Activities

2 out of 5

Outdoors upper decks closed due to winds..unless you shop or play bingo games little to do.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Average shows.

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

Room steward very nice, waiters were okay but food was always served on the cold side

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Ship is dated but very clean

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Cabin was very clean but the bed was terribly old and uncomfortable. Bathroom area well kept and useable

Ship tip

Be prepared for lots of walking to and from venues

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Seattle, Washington

3 out of 5

Cruise Inside Passage, Alaska

5 out of 5

Very beautiful region

Thumbs Up 0

Juneau, Alaska

4 out of 5

The city is an interesting visit and excursions a good value.

Thumbs Up 0

Skagway, Alaska

2 out of 5

Have to go there to get to Yukon area..excursions are limited but interesting historically. Never got to Whit Pass.The weather and trestle repairs shortened both excursions..really only train ride and bus ridae.

Thumbs Up 0

Sitka, Alaska Did not visit port

Storm kept us away so we went to Ketchikan

Thumbs Up 0

CRUISE ENDICOTT ARM & DAWES GLACIER

5 out of 5

Amazing to see in person

Thumbs Up 0

Disembarkation

1 out of 5

Less then one star..horrible process staff totally lost control of process and folks were totally uncooperative with assigned times to depart

14 Comments

KDuke 2 years ago

Looking at all the reviews this person should stop cruising because they are unhappy with just about everything. I guess you can’t please people that are looking for perfection instead of relaxing on vacation!

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loralor 3 years ago

We had a great time on this, our 27th cruise! It was one of the most relaxing cruises we have been on! We did go to a couple of shows and spent time in each of the cities shopping and taking pictures. We went to the Klondike National Monument in Skagway. We went to the State Capital Building in Juneau. We found many friendly people in all of the towns. After 25 months between cruises and having 22 cruises cancelled I was ready for this cruise. We enjoyed every day and would do it again in a minute!

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Curt34 3 years ago

Thanks for the review and sharing your experience.

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izrgreen 3 years ago

Thanks for sharing

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RoyalCruzer 3 years ago

The ship is gorgeous and approx 4 years old. Go try a Carnival old clunker and see how you like that. Perhaps you should try another means of travel.

Thumbs Up 4

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javawoody 3 years ago

Thanks for the review

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NJCruiseGuy 3 years ago

Good thing you didn’t cruise in the 80s. You would have been miserable on a 30-40 year old ship with very little entertainment. But we thought it was fabulous.

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PJandJesse 3 years ago

Not sure how you can describe Ovation as dated. Lines were crazy from time to time because the ship went from 1,800 to 2,800 guests sailing to sailing and yes, crew were a little off, but I’d say that was more from general rudeness of low cost passengers rather than what should have been on their minds being sent home for 2 months… and then the day before disembarkation they were all told they were going home for 7 months. Keeping things in perspective, this is a billion dollar ship built 5 years ago, running 3 weeks past the end of the season, with a crew that was in limbo with passengers that didn’t pay even a 1/3 if what this would’ve cost 2 years ago… with all that in mind, this cruise was a 5/5 stars.

Thumbs Up 1

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deboftheseas 3 years ago

Wow, if you think Ovation is dated stay away from 2/3 rds of the ships out there, lol

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hollysmomtravel 3 years ago

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it

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CruzeFan 3 years ago

Sorry you didn’t enjoy it. I don’t believe a 5 year old ship would be “dated”. Cruising in Alaska after mid-September is risky based on the typical weather then. The cruise lines have been extending the limits on the traditional Alaska cruise season of mid-May to mid-September, but it’s probably not a good idea.

Thumbs Up 3

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RetiredRay 3 years ago

From this review it sounds like you were onboard with a crowd of rude jerks and self centered ‘people’, as well as a bad weather situation making it worse. Ship also sounds old and crew needs training.

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cruising2004 3 years ago

Thank you for sharing your experience

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AuntPinkie 3 years ago

Appreciate your feedback. Sorry this cruise didn’t meet your expectations!

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Other reviews of this sailing

Ovation WOWS again

Great ship