NCL alternative to OV?

[skybosun]

Hi folks, couldn't believe that this forum was still going when I saw it. Did the last length of the med 16 days on OV1 just before she left and haven't been away since. Looking for somewhere to go in Oct/Nov 11. NCL Pearl doing a 7 day western carib preceded by a 7 day stay in Jamaica caught my eye. Can any of the OV survivors reading this offer an opinion as to how she compares to OV style. Thanks.

[Barkeeper]

Originally Posted by skybosun

Hi folks, couldn't believe that this forum was still going when I saw it. Did the last length of the med 16 days on OV1 just before she left and haven't been away since. Looking for somewhere to go in Oct/Nov 11. NCL Pearl doing a 7 day western carib preceded by a 7 day stay in Jamaica caught my eye. Can any of the OV survivors reading this offer an opinion as to how she compares to OV style. Thanks.

We did one cruise on OV in 2009, Med loop via Tunsia, Italy,France and Spain. We really enjoyed this informal type of cruising. The great buffet food, intimate shows and lively bars. Especially the reasonable prices of drinks and excursions, all in good old sterling.

We have just returned from a cruise on NCL Jade out of Venice to the Greek Islands. We had a great time but there is no real comparison to OV. The ship was half as big again with 2400 passengers. Cabin size smaller. Food was good with a large buffet, but always crowded. Two formal dining rooms but no dress code except no shorts after 6.00pm. There were 7 speciality dining options with a 10$ per person surcharge. Shows were in a 800 seater but a good standard. Casino very large and those awful art auctions. Ther is of course a daily service charge of $12 per person per day added to your account.

Onboard prices were a little high $6.95 for a tin of Fosters + 15% auto tip. Draft beer only available in a few locations. Cocktails more reasonable $5.95-$9.95 again with auto tip. Excursions were quite expensive, we did 3 at $89 each. They were good trips with free wine on 2 and tapas and ouzo on the other. Bottled water was also provided. There is a free room service menu plus some items you have to purchase as extras. A small charge after midnight. Food was being wasted was the reason given. No tea/coffe making facilities. Order from room service.

Overall a great time but no real comparison to OV, but closer than our RCI cruise. Hope this helps.

[Single Cruiser]

Yep, as mentioned.. NCL is close to OV in dress code etc.. You can pay your daily service charge at the time of booking... I did and treated it as part of the cruise cost (it works out slightly cheaper than the onboard charge as well!), I did a review for Epic which you can find on the NCL Boards..

I have also done RCI Indy and agree NCL is closer than RCI to OV.

But then I hear OV is to be relaunched.. so maybe wait a bit...

[hobnob1871]

What exactly have you heard Craig ?

[Single Cruiser]

Originally Posted by hobnob1871

What exactly have you heard Craig ?

Christine posted in the FB group that she had spoken with crew members on Arcadia in Liverpool recently and they had confirmed plans for it's relaunch.. P&O are getting a 4300 pax shop in 2015 and I can't see them filling that in addition to the existing fleet...

Hopefully her sources are reliable as we have heard that before...

[hobnob1871]

Thanks Craig , ( hell will freeze over before I join facebook !)

If true , this is fantastic news and I will be first in the queue . It would be interesting to know the number of OV customers retained by P&O . Maybe not as many as they had expected .

[Single Cruiser]

Originally Posted by hobnob1871

Thanks Craig , ( hell will freeze over before I join facebook !)

If true , this is fantastic news and I will be first in the queue . It would be interesting to know the number of OV customers retained by P&O . Maybe not as many as they had expected .

I think someone quoted they had lost about 60-70% of OV pax..

[Spartan kent]

printmgr file

This is on the net

phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item...t=1
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
our board of directors in January 2010 with its decision to reinstate our ...... (d) The Ocean Village brand is being phased-out with the planned transfer of its ship ...


I think the rumour is based on this, It's the Carnival 2009 Annual report

it reads with its decision to reinstate our quarterly dividend at $0.10 per share.

Further down the report

(d) The Ocean Village brand is being phased-out with the planned transfer of its ship to P&O Cruises Australia in November 2010.

[David&Heather]

Originally Posted by Single Cruiser

I think someone quoted they had lost about 60-70% of OV pax..

Maybe they should have listened to OV customers before binning the brand

[butterflytiger]

Originally Posted by Spartan kent

printmgr file

This is on the net

phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item...t=1
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
our board of directors in January 2010 with its decision to reinstate our ...... (d) The Ocean Village brand is being phased-out with the planned transfer of its ship ...


I think the rumour is based on this, It's the Carnival 2009 Annual report

it reads with its decision to reinstate our quarterly dividend at $0.10 per share.

Further down the report

(d) The Ocean Village brand is being phased-out with the planned transfer of its ship to P&O Cruises Australia in November 2010.

What everyone seems to have missed is the fact that the ships may have gone but P & O have retained the OV brand. Why????

[Houchen9]

Wooden decks, intimate bars, belly laughing at the great comedians. The bike trip in Tunis. Memories of places visited for the first time-priceless.

Loved both OV1 and OV2. The perfect introduction to cruising.

Sailed on NCL Jewell to the Baltics which was a fantastic cruise, the ship is bright and brash and probably the perfect size.

[GixxerGal]

This is where most of us OV-ers can be found now https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/165482290153254/

[riderhotlegs]

Originally Posted by Single Cruiser

Christine posted in the FB group that she had spoken with crew members on Arcadia in Liverpool recently and they had confirmed plans for it's relaunch.. P&O are getting a 4300 pax shop in 2015 and I can't see them filling that in addition to the existing fleet...

Hopefully her sources are reliable as we have heard that before...

Just returned from india and have spent quite a lot of time with some of the ex ov crew and they were bursting with the news that carnival are looking for a ship to relaunch the ov brand.

[sheldonb14]

Originally Posted by riderhotlegs

Just returned from india and have spent quite a lot of time with some of the ex ov crew and they were bursting with the news that carnival are looking for a ship to relaunch the ov brand.

Where did they get their info, anything from any official sources or was is more wishful thinking like the rest of us on here?

All seems to have gone quiet on the relauch gossip front lately.. not saying thats good or bad as they wont announce anything until it's set in stone as they have other ships to fill, especailly at the moment.

[riderhotlegs]

Its common knowledge within the p & o crew just no firm details have been released yet. My sources of information are very reliable and in positions to know if something is in the offing, we will just have to sit tight and wait to see what happens. It was common knowledge when ov closed that the brand was being mothballed and maybe relaunched again not necessarily in the same guise as we know it now.

[daffodil255]

Originally Posted by Barkeeper

We did one cruise on OV in 2009, Med loop via Tunsia, Italy,France and Spain. We really enjoyed this informal type of cruising. The great buffet food, intimate shows and lively bars. Especially the reasonable prices of drinks and excursions, all in good old sterling.

We have just returned from a cruise on NCL Jade out of Venice to the Greek Islands. We had a great time but there is no real comparison to OV. The ship was half as big again with 2400 passengers. Cabin size smaller. Food was good with a large buffet, but always crowded. Two formal dining rooms but no dress code except no shorts after 6.00pm. There were 7 speciality dining options with a 10$ per person surcharge. Shows were in a 800 seater but a good standard. Casino very large and those awful art auctions. Ther is of course a daily service charge of $12 per person per day added to your account.

Onboard prices were a little high $6.95 for a tin of Fosters + 15% auto tip. Draft beer only available in a few locations. Cocktails more reasonable $5.95-$9.95 again with auto tip. Excursions were quite expensive, we did 3 at $89 each. They were good trips with free wine on 2 and tapas and ouzo on the other. Bottled water was also provided. There is a free room service menu plus some items you have to purchase as extras. A small charge after midnight. Food was being wasted was the reason given. No tea/coffe making facilities. Order from room service.

Overall a great time but no real comparison to OV, but closer than our RCI cruise. Hope this helps.

Thanks you for the post.