Alaska is beautiful! Ovation of the Seas is great, but too big. Many COVID cases on board.
Ovation of the Seas Cruise Review to Alaska - Inside Passage
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 25
7 Night Alaska (Seattle Roundtrip)
Sail date: May 27, 2022
Ship: Ovation of the Seas
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 10594
Traveled as: Family (older children)
Reviewed: 2 years ago
Review summary
The cruise was great. The food was great. The crew was great. Health and safety common-sense needs to be practiced by passengers who are coughing, sneezing, etc. Just cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. It's that simple. COVID is still around! Washing hands just before going to the buffet is not enough. I don't like wearing a mask, but I wear one when I am among crowds. I have travelled extensively since the COVID travel ban was lifted first for the airlines in 2020, then the cruise lines in 2021. So far in 2022 we have taken two international land trips, and three cruises prior to this one. This is the first time both of us came home with COVID after this cruise. We have always tested negative for COVID each time on our international trips, the day before we re-entered the US by air. From what I have read, many people were infected with COVID on this cruise, Ovation of the Seas that sailed from Seattle on May 27, 2022. For the time being I will try to stay away from RCL because I am not confident about the health and safety protocols. I will sail on smaller vessels with the other cruise lines that I have been on and came home well.Embarkation
My fourth cruise in 2022 (three out of Long Beach, CA). Embarkation was a complete disaster. Arrival window time was not followed. In Long Beach, passengers line up based on arrival window, e.g. 12:00 - 12:30 pm, etc. Why have an arrival window if it is first come, first serve? Is it just a computer requirement to show the CDC? I don't know. The whole process was chaotic. We had a long wait for transportation from SeaTac airport (we just missed a set of many buses, had to wait a long time for the next set).
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Loved the choices in the buffet and the Dining Room; however, soiled utensils and plates need to be removed and tables cleaned swiftly to slow the spread of air-borne COVID virus.
Onboard Activities
Not enough activities on such a large ship. Appointments not available to participate in many activities. The timings conflicted with each other and dining room availability. Loved the nature lectures on Glaciers, Wild Life, etc. We were only able to see one Comedy Show, One Love & Marriage Show, and one Live show (by appt) on the last day. Only 3 entertainment activities on a 7 day cruise.
Entertainment
Very limited entertainment slots for a large ship that carries almost 5,000! Many entertainment times conflicted with Dining Room appointment availability. Needed reservation for one show which was not followed. Nobody checked to see if we had a reservation. 5 stars for the quality of the performances; otherwise, it would be 2 stars.
Service and Staff
Our room steward was exceptional. Many staff in the dining room and the buffet were fine. There were some that did not look happy at all and it showed.
Ship Quality
The ship is magnificent! Tables in food venues were not cleaned swiftly. Soiled plates and utensils sat for a long time before they were cleared and tables cleaned. Too many coughing people without masks making a large ship, with a confined space, a perfect germ factory. Definitely need major improvement in clearing and cleaning tables quickly.
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
This ship is beautiful but too big to comply with common-sense COVID precautions. Sail on a smaller ship!
Thumbs up
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Ports of call
All the ports are awesome. Loved Juneau! Most excursions were sold out, so we made our own excursion. Asked around at the port, took the Mendenhall Glacier shuttle from the port ($45.00 round trip/per person) to Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls and got to experience this natural wonder at our own pace. Loved it! Time and money well spent. Everyone at the port was very helpful. Always ask the locals.
Loved Skagway. Again, excursions were sold out but the train excursion was available. This narrated train trip was a good excursion. At the start of the train trip, the narrator announced that the cruise lines require masks and even offered masks to those that did not have them. We carry our own masks; however, in our compartment, there were only four people, including the two of us, wearing masks. Nobody else was wearing a mask. What was worse, there was a person two seats behind us coughing her lungs out for most of the trip and did not have the courtesy to wear a mask. I gave three stars because the mask policy mandated by the cruise line was not enforced by the excursion operators.
Loved Sitka. We made our own excursion again. Took the free shuttle (runs every ten minutes) from the pier to downtown Visitor Center. Booked a ride for $10.00/per person, round trip, with Sitka Tours (there is a rep outside the Center who sells tickets.) Please carry enough cash for your party. The tour shuttle makes two stops: first to the Fortress of the Bears ($30.00 per person entrance fee) and then to the Bird Sanctuary ($30.00 per person entrance fee) and return to the Visitor Center. These two tours are a must and the entrance fees are completely justified because of how much they do for orphaned, abandoned and injured bears and birds. Credit cards are accepted. Sitka Tours leaves once an hour, on the hour, so try to leave the ship early so you can have enough time to explore the town. There is a lot to see in this little town. After the stop at the Bird Sanctuary, we ventured on our own because the Sitka National Park is directly across the street. Free entrance to the park. Started at the Visitors Center, followed by a Park Ranger led tour. Loved this park with so many Totem Poles. The Park Ranger stopped at all the major Totem Poles and explained the signficance of each pole when it was carved. Walked back slowly to the Dowtown Visitor Center. It is an easy walk, about 10 minutes max. Stopped for some local food along the way and shopped a little before hopping on the free pier shuttle. If you have time there are many other historical places you can visit for free. Leave enough time to get back on the ship. We try to start our journey back to the ship at least two hours before sailing out and we have never missed a ship yet.
Loved Victoria! Again, we made our own excursion. The Canadian Immigration had some problem with the required paperwork from a few passengers, so no one could leave until the ship was cleared. So, our 11 am arrival turned into a 1 pm arrival. There is a money exchange place on the pier. We always like to carry the local currency. Off the pier, made a left and within 10 minutes we were at Fisherman's Wharf. Wandered around a little, and took a water-taxi to the downtown Visitor Center. The water-taxi costs $8.00 each way, per person. $16 round-trip. The Visitor Center informed us that there were no more excursions for the day because it was too late and most excursions are 4 hours long. However, they were helpful to point out that there was a museum in the Empress Hotel about the history of the hotel, a nature museum next to the hotel, and a Garden near the Parliament House. The Parliament House was closing in 15 minutes, so we could not tour that. We took a tour of the nature museum which would be on your right, next to the Empress Hotel, if you are crossing facing the Empress Hotel. Entrance fee is $5.00 per person and totally worth it. There is a bus tour that leaves for the Butchart Gardens from the Empress Hotel but it was too late for us to get there and back. It is about a 45 minute one-way drive from the Visitors Center to the Gardens.
Disembarkation
What a mess! Complete chaos! RCL needs to enforce the rules they make because the passengers do not follow them. I have been cruising for 10 years. This was my first cruise on RCL and have not had such a horrible experience with embarkation and disembarkation.