[Mike SX]

After cruising with Royal Caribbean, Cunard & P & O (never had any problems) some "acquaintances" persuaded us to give Fred Olsen a try. So we thought, a quick 7 day "Easter Getaway", across the North Sea & up a couple of rivers, what could go wrong !

A letter arrived just before departure stating; "Some F/O Braemar passengers have been affected by mild Gastric Flu, therefore there will be a delay in departing". I phoned their office and was told "some people had taken on-board viral gastric flu from grandchildren, but no one had been positive tested for noro-virus". Fred O Ipswich told us that no Car Park booking paperwork was required as APNR was in place at Harwich, I queried this, as we needed it when sailing from Harwich before and were told we were incorrect.

We arrived at the car park - no ANPR was ever in place, this caused additional delay as well as embarkation due to fumigation. Finally on board, access   to our cabin was prohibited as we had to carry our hand luggage & wear the lifejackets for the Evacuation Drill.

Breakfast & lunch were taken from the cordoned off open buffet containers by serving, non fluent waiters. Food requested and quantities misunderstood. At all meals salt & pepper packets, butter, sugar etc. had to be repeatedly requested. The waiters were overwhelmed and often did not return with the requested items before the food, tea/coffee was cold. All this took a considerable time, with no additional time allowed for consumption. We were regularly rushed to leave the restaurants, closing at, say 9.30 a.m. didn't mean last orders - they wanted you out the door by then. No fresh milk whatsoever available through out the cruise.

Inclusive draught mixers were always flat; bottles & tins were available at additional cost.

Despite the heighted hygiene measures with all the disinfectant spray (causing rough & swollen hands) menus were handed from passenger to passenger, and with each drink order a signature was required - using the same, possibly infected pen (we used our own). Identical food (under another description) was served from buffet lunch to dinner. All guests were forced to sit very close together yet dozens of tables were empty (with less guests each time as the "Gastric Flu" clearly spread).

When asked by us where their "partner" was, we were regularly told "they're got a cold or flu", one guest (with a straight face) said her husband got sunstroke (in cold, 5 degree Hamburg the previous day!). Maybe the Ships Doctor had told them not to admit to any possible Gastro Problems. Often when noticed a new red sticker over an open door, we could see the poor patient laying in bed, no bunk beds in there - the reason for a red sticker often used to denote additional beds.. There were large red bins marked "Gastro" parked in the corridors, the cabin On the only sunny afternoon, we could not sit in certain deck areas because of "cleansing protection, for our passengers wellbeing". The Captain updated the situation every day, blaming the passengers, but they were fine for the first couple of days. His final comment was always "Look after each other". We purchased hand wipes, for use each time we touched door handles etc.

I saw no Male public toilets with urinals, consequently queues of men formed to use the single WC, toilet rolls rolled around the floor. After two days the Captain requested everybody to return to their cabin if they needed the toilet.

When berthing the ship's bow thrustors shuddered & rattled so much that decorations fell over. The Captain often chose this time to make his announcements, and his comments were drowned out and any useful information lost.

Two days in Amsterdam consisted of arriving very late afternoon (dinner at 6.15pm) and leaving next day at 3pm. After arriving at the Church in Hamburg on Easter Monday, access was not possible as it was restricted to the regular Worshippers. The entry to Hamburg miniature railway world was delayed because F/O did not purchase the entry tickets in advance or advise the tour operator the numbers.

The cruise was so stressful & rushed, upon returning home we are paranoid and still won't touch anything & are constantly washing our hands. I went to put my hand on the bannister and quickly recoiled, before I realised I was home.

In contrast, my only reasonable experience were the evening meals served in the Grampian Restaurant.

All in all a complete waste of money and a wasted week of our lives. 

[Shambles]

I'd ask for some recompense for that - sounds an absolutely dreadful experience 

[eye30]

Sorry to read about your novo cruise.

Hope you complained and completed all the complaint forms on the ship and have copies for your compo claim.

Submit your compo  claim and don't be fobbed off.

They may, if accepting claim, offer vouchers against another cruise.  Reject and only accept money.
Better still if paid by credit card, submit a claim against them as good/service as described not provided

Ps
Was the car ok when you got back?

[eye30]

Even with debit card the bank have liability.

Check this out

http://www.money.co.uk/article/1004510-is-debit-card-protection-the-same-as-for-credit-cards.htm

[AlanHo]

Crikey Mike - My flabber is gasted.

My wife has been harping on about a cruise holiday for the last two years and pushed an advert for the very cruise you were on under my nose about a month ago. A big late booking discount was offered - I don't recall the figures because I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for and the price looked rather cheap for what was offered.

I'm now able to have a gloat - I just gave her a copy of your report and beat a hasty retreat.

I'm so sorry it turned out so bad - you should claim compensation a'plenty.

[Shambles]

Well I want some compo too. Reading that report made me feel quite ill   

[Mike SX]

@AlanHo
Well Alan, I didn't consider £1850 for 7 days  as particularly cheap.
Never had a problem with Royal Caribbean, Cunard or P&O.
F/O seem to have a very loyal, older clientele, in many cases know each other well, and may not have investigated alternative cruise lines, although some said they didn't like Americans who "always complained loudly" 
Rightly so, otherwise nothing ever gets sorted.

[Asterix]

That's horrible Mike... Hope you'll get a fair compensation.

[Surferdude]

Wow!

Just, wow.

[Phil №❶]

Sounds like they were all out of Waldorf's. 

Book me in, sounds like fun 

Sorry you had a bad experience, makes getting home all that much more satisfying. Make a claim of some sort, but don't accept another trip.

[Dazzler]

What Trevor said! I was expecting to hear a glowing report with glorious pictures (even more so when I saw Trev's post when I first opened the thread!) Lets hope our trip later this month goes better than that! 

[Mike SX]

Crikey Mike - My flabber is gasted.
My wife has been harping on about a cruise holiday for the last two years and pushed an advert for the very cruise you were on under my nose about a month ago.
I'm so sorry it turned out so bad - you should claim compensation a'plenty.

UPDATE (for those who may be interested.......!):-

Posted this review on cruisecritic.

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=502239

[Surferdude]

 

[Dazzler]

Thanks Mike .. Not sure if I should use a thumbs up or a thumbs down! 

[eye30]

Are they refunding?

[Mike SX]

Are they refunding?

Doesn't look like it.
The Green Party stand more chance of winning next weeks elections.

I've had No Response ...... The way of the world.

[eye30]

Are they refunding?

Doesn't look like it.
The Green Party stand more chance of winning next weeks elections.

I've had No Response ...... The way of the world.

Isn't it your bank who should be refunding?

[Shambles]

Isn't it your bank who should be refunding?

The card provider will only refund if it's proven that a product or service wasn't supplied, which could be tricky to do in this case.

[Wingerdave]

Dunkerque - Dover is the only cruise you'll get me on.

My Mum and sister once wenyt on a mini cruise to Gothenburg........ ship was full of drunken Swedes (going back, they'd done a mini cruise to England) knocking the hard stuff back like there was no tomorrow.

Just not my cup of tea.

That being said, I'm sorry to hear of your bad luck.

[John B]

Absolutely horrible Mike and so disappointing for you. I bet you was glad to get home. You will have to have a cruise to Australia on the  QE 2 to make up for it.

[Mike SX]

Absolutely horrible Mike and so disappointing for you. I bet you was glad to get home. You will have to have a cruise to Australia on the  QE 2 to make up for it.

Thanks John, but I prefer the Queen Mary 2..... 

[baroudeur]

Isn't it your bank who should be refunding?

The card provider will only refund if it's proven that a product or service wasn't supplied, which could be tricky to do in this case.

On the only two occasions that I have started a claim to my card provider the cost was refunded immediately pending further information.  In both cases the suppliers agreed there was a problem and confirmed the refunds were approved.  What would have happened in the event of a dispute I do not know.

[Shambles]

On the only two occasions that I have started a claim to my card provider the cost was refunded immediately pending further information.

I paid for my 2004 MG ZR with my Visa card. The following week MG Rover went bust and my warranty was henceforth voided. I made a £640 claim chargeback with Visa - the value I calculated the warranty to be worth - they immediately refunded that £640.

Sadly, one month later, they reclaimed the £640 on the grounds that the value of the warranty couldn't be determined from my contract of sale.

I still think Mike will have problems getting a claim to stick.

[eye30]

Isn't it all based on the premise that the company knew about the sickness yet still took bookings for the trip within a weeks or so when if he had been aware of the sickness he would not have booked

[Mike SX]

Isn't it all based on the premise that the company knew about the sickness yet still took bookings for the trip within a weeks or so when if he had been aware of the sickness he would not have booked

The Dover Health Authorities appears to have given the Ship a clean Bill of Health, and allowed it to sail up to Harwich.
Fred Olsen seemed to blame us Harwich "Easter Getaway" boarding passengers for introducing yet another gastro bug......
After a couple of meals/bread rolls/soup and/or water, Wife felt "unwell", starved herself or ate onshore. We were so concerned to be surrounded by a bunch of sick passengers and crew wearing facemasks, protective suits & gloves, whilst cleaning & filling corridor "Gastro Bins", that the cruise & holiday experience, IMO was ruined.
Reading other F/O reviews, seems a regular occurrence.
When all goes wrong, blame the customers.
Some sort of sick joke.

[Dazzler]

Isn't it all based on the premise that the company knew about the sickness yet still took bookings for the trip within a weeks or so when if he had been aware of the sickness he would not have booked

The Dover Health Authorities appears to have given the Ship a clean Bill of Health, and allowed it to sail up to Harwich.
Fred Olsen seemed to blame us Harwich "Easter Getaway" boarding passengers for introducing yet another gastro bug......
After a couple of meals/bread rolls/soup and/or water, Wife felt "unwell", starved herself or ate onshore. We were so concerned to be surrounded by a bunch of sick passengers and crew wearing facemasks, protective suits & gloves, whilst cleaning & filling corridor "Gastro Bins", that the cruise & holiday experience, IMO was ruined.
Reading other F/O reviews, seems a regular occurrence.
When all goes wrong, blame the customers.
Some sort of sick joke.

Yes, certainly far from funny.

Your bad horrific experience  (and the number of lives lost/effected by the recent NSW storms) made me philosophical about the effect the weather had on our recent two week jaunt around southern NSW.