"Lisa Cubbon" wrote in message
news:5MTye.48312$Xv.42267@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
> You are pretty much on target with your comments but I think you will be
> pleasantly surprised. We were on the MP in Jan 05 and it was delightful.
> It is not the same caliber at Crystal or HAL but the real highlight of
> this cruise is the expedition staff and the change to actually step foot
> on Antarctica.
>
> It is an older ship and the staterooms are not as elegant but everything
> was very comfortable and the stewards could not do enough for you. The
> food was also pretty good. Especially the daily grill items at lunch like
> lamb chops and the pasta.
>
> The ship does have stabilizers and rides very well.
>
> If you are interested, please email me and I will send you a link to our
> trip report. We would go back in a heart beat on the MP.
>
> Lisa
>
> Odysseus wrote:
>> I am booked on the Orient Lines Marco Polo for a January Antarctica
>> cruise.
>> Does anybody have any comments or suggestions about the ship or the
>> destination?
>>
>> I have low expectations for Orient Lines. The reason I chose it was that
>> it
>> is the only pleasure cruise ship, as compared to an expedition cruise
>> ship,
>> that has Antarctica cruises. I am expecting an old ship that is clean
>> but
>> in need of being refurbished, small noisy cabins, mediocre food,
>> competent
>> but not elegant service, and amateurish shows. Since there is no mention
>> of
>> stabilizers in the brochure, I suspect that the Marco Polo does not have
>> them. I booked a cabin on a lower deck to reduce the amount of rolling
>> motion that I will feel.
>>
>> I think Orient Lines will be a step down from Crystal or even HAL? I
>> noticed that Orient Lines is affiliated with NCL which does not have a
>> reputation as being an upscale cruise line.
>>
Orient Lines was great before NCL bought them. We took one cruise with them
post-purchase (we had signed up for it pre-purchase) and we will never sail
with them again. Never. Period.
The ship is indeed old. Russian-built for the North Atlantic. It rides well
in high seas. Cabins are small and quite noisy.
Paul
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