Maryvera
rated the Black Watch as follows:
| Ship Cleanliness |  | | Crew | | | Ship Food |  | |
| Onboard Entertainment | |
| Maryvera said: Sept.2006.
Baltic History cruise from Dover - St Petersberg via Kiel canal. Ports of call Oslo, Copenhagen, Gdansk, Tallinn, Rugen; St. Petersberg.
Bad start- our travelling companions had to cancel at 11th hour because of a serious accident but we were compensated by being seated with strangers who became friends and congenial dining companions.
Good start - we were upgraded from Junior Suite to Balcony Suite on Bridge Deck, No. 8019 - actually 4 berth accommodation which suited us perfectly. I had the teeny twin "bedroom", my husband (who snores!) had a single bed (sofa by day) in the very spacious living room. Adequate well equippedd shower room. Decor a little tired and in need of refurbishment but we only realised this when we visited ship-board friends in their Superior suite on the last night.
Our cabin/suite and all public areas were spotlessly clean. The food was so-so, never quite reaching the promise of the menu descriptions but cheerfully served by amazingly friendly hard working staff. Wine prices quite reasonable. A choice of formal restaurant or Bistro style available at all meals.
The ship's shop was excellent,selling anything you might have forgotten from toothpaste to tiara at competitive prices.
The on board lecturers were first class, absolutely excellent - you almost had to fight to get a seat.
The entertainment included a classical music element, which had attracted us, but was low-key and a bit disappointing. But it provided useful experience for the young musicians at the start of their professional careers.
The Showtime, not usually our scene,included a multi-talented comedian-mimic-tenor and was really very entertaining.
Shore excursions were reasonably good value for money and the local guides were very good indeed.They were not cheap and our dining companions seem to have a good time going ashore independently in several ports of call. Because Black Watch is a comparatively small vessel (though the biggest we have cruised on) it is able to berth right in the harbour of the places we visited and there were shuttle buses or local transport readily available close to the quay.
There was a programme of daily activities to suit almost any interest from water colour painting through golf to ballroom dancing - and everything in between.
The ship's staff were excellent and greeted regulars like long lost friends. The passengers were almost all of retirement age, many quite elderly, and some disabled who were well looked after by the staff.
We are 70ish but were dismayed by the company of a few whiners and grumpy old people who never stopped complaining, and by the boozing-all-day 50 year olds!
We would though have no hesitation in choosing Black Watch again. |
A.F.W.Dixon
rated the Fred Olsen Black Watch as follows:
| Ship Cleanliness | | | Crew | | | Ship Food | | |
| Onboard Entertainment | |
| A.F.W.Dixon said: The wife and my self have cruised to many parts of the world when she was alive and i told the family
that i would not be going away again because of.
I lived with the son at St Margarets Dover for a
year and August 2005 found myself embarked on a
twelve day cruise (12th---24th)the family finally
got their own way.The seating arangement was
excellent,8 singles we did not know each other but
i did unwind.The food was excellent well presented
by a dedicated staff.Cabins of the highest quality
Bridge Deck cabin 8025.Shore tours well organised
and visited many places i had been to before with
the wife.Entertainment was of the highest quality
and i congratulate FRED for running a tight ship.
The next time i cruise it will be from Southampton
as i am now residing in Hampshire not to far from
the terminal.Thanking you once again for a very nice
cruise A.Dixon (the cruise was BW562) |
maureen
rated the Fred Olsen Black Watch as follows:
| Ship Cleanliness | | | Crew | | | Ship Food | | |
| Onboard Entertainment | |
| maureen said: Travelled on a three night mini cruise from Southampton to Rouen to visit the Christmas market.Party was eight adults.Husband and me, my parents,our son and fiancee and her parents.Very enjoyable trip. We had an outside cabin with portholes.Plenty of space for storage. Cabins cleaned twice daily, plenty of towels, shower gel etc.Single beds quite comfortable. Food great, staff very attentive.Could do with more going on in the day time as it was too cold to be out on deck. Obviously this would not be so important if you were in a warmer climate like the Med.Would definately sail on this ship again if given the chance |
Sunny Says there
are 315 visitors online
Maryvera from Monmouthshire sailed on Black Watch with
Fred Olsen
on a couples holiday.