autotripper

Sorry to say that I decided to cancel when I saw how high the airfares are to Asia, even with the help of air miles programs. Rosie

Hello Alexandra:

The exchange I had with Glutenhab was concerning the former ship owned/used by Voyages of Discovery, the MV Discovery. They are no longer using this ship. Back in December, I think I was under the impression that they were going to bring it back, but I have since realized that is unlikely. However, the MV Discovery website still has references about the former ship as if she is still part of the cruise line. But there are no sailings scheduled for it.

 

Actually the situation in respect of the Discovery is slightly more complicated than that. The ship is still owned by Voyages of Discovery but managed by Cruise & Maritime. Both VoD and C&M are marketing the forthcoming cruises on the Discovery - VoD under the name Discovery Sailaway for which they have issued a brochure [you can see it online on their website] which describes Discovery Sailaway as "A partnership between Voyages of Discovery and Cruise & Maritime Voyages". On the VoD website both the ships are listed [as Voyager and Discovery Sailaway].

 

As far as the crews on board are concerned the original crew of Discovery have transferred to Voyager whilst C&M have put their own crew on Discovery [including some from the Marco Polo].

 

Hope that that clarifies the situation a little. :)

 

We are booked on the Voyager and the Discovery and looking forward to our cruises on both ships.

 

Alan

Hello Alan:

I was just on the V of D website a couple of days ago and I did not see the Discovery Sailaway. I will have to re-visit and look more carefully. Thank you for the clarification!

Rosie

Thinking of upgrading to jr.suite with balcony, if I chose this cruise.Have you seen them or booked them?Very little info here to review.

More interested in excursions,speakers,port length,food,etc..

Any details would help.:confused:

Hello Alexandra:

The exchange I had with Glutenhab was concerning the former ship owned/used by Voyages of Discovery, the MV Discovery. They are no longer using this ship. Back in December, I think I was under the impression that they were going to bring it back, but I have since realized that is unlikely. However, the MV Discovery website still has references about the former ship as if she is still part of the cruise line. But there are no sailings scheduled for it.

This forum's subject cruise will be conducted on Voyages of Discovery line's rather newly acquired (but not "new") ship, the MV Voyager. Confusing, with all of these similar names, isn't it? I have never sailed on Voyager, just their former ship, the Discovery (3 times). It has been reported by V of D that the Voyager has been upgraded, and here is a link to some details, including photos of the Jr Suite and it's bathroom:

http://voyager.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk/gallery

Having been part of the hoards of travelers affected by the Iceland volcano in 2010, I can attest to the fantastic customer service provided by V of D during those 8 days of travel chaos. While thousands were truly stranded with few options, V of D took care of our group to the max, providing transportation, hotels, meals, and excursions, until they were able to obtain air tickets to fly us to Turkey to meet the ship. We had missed 8 days of a 13 day cruise, and while they were not able to offer us refunds for the missed days, they gave us pro rated credits for them which my husband & I used towards a Norway cruise the following summer.

Rosie

Hi There: For anyone who's booked this sailing, or a segment of it, my husband and I have just returned from a 10 week trip, so now I am ready to start checking on things to see and do in the ports.

Rosie

I keep wanting to book this line because of the great itineraries & longer port stays but always back off at the last minute when I see reviews mentioning tiny cabins & a postage stamp size pool that is never used, as well as breakdowns because of the age of Discovery & repeat older patrons thinking they "own" the ship.

 

I can easily get by without a pool, although it is nice to have the option & to see others enjoying it. I can even manage with a slightly smaller cabin. But all of these things combined make me steer back to Holland America etc.

Am I right in being concerned like this & does the newer ship make a difference?

Hello Again Glutenhab: You may have seen it, but I answered your question on the other forum. Let me know if you have more concerns.

Rosie

Hi Rosie

I know what you mean - so many cruises, so little time!:)

I'm sure that the itinerary will be repeated in 2014 if you don't make it next year.

Alan

Hello Alan:

Just when I start to think that my "list" is getting shorter, I realize that there are still so many places I want to see, or to which I want to return. There will be Black Sea itineraries, but this one has more port stops than the usual ones. We'll have to see what 2013 has in store for us I guess.

Rosie

Hi Rosie

The only port we have visited on that cruise is Tokyo so very much looking forward to the new ports. Maybe you could advise me about what to see in Tokyo?

We did a China river cruise with Viking this year which didn't come up to our expectations so river cruises on hold for the time being. Have done three Nile cruises in the past which we very much enjoyed. We have done a Nile cruise and the Lake Nasser one. We still talk about those and it was 10 years ago. I hope you won't judge all river cruises by the China one. It is very different from other river cruises. It's a cultural thing, I believe, but we enjoyed that trip. Viking is a great line. We did their Christmas markets cruise 2 years ago and loved it.

All the best

Pam & Alan

I am looking at quotes for the Black Sea cruise you mentioned. Don't think we can swing it, but it doesn't hurt to look!

Rosie

Hi Rosie

Yes, I agree you need to book itineraries like these when they come up. Not been on the Discovery before but we are doing a Black Sea cruise on her next year [under Cruise & Maritime management].

We have also got an Asia cruise booked next year, from Singapore to Mumbai on the Azamara Journey.

We very much like the smaller ships although the Voyager is the smallest yet.All the best Pam & Alan

Hi Pam & Alan:

I looked at the Black Sea cruise on the Discovery. What a great itinerary! I wish we could book than one too. We'll have to chance it that they do it again. So many ports, which is what I cruise for.

We have never been on Azamara, but our friends have and they loved it.

The Voyager will be the smallest yet for us also, other than the river cruise ships, which we also like.

Have you been to any of the ports for the Feb. 4, 2014 cruise?

Rosie

Hi

We are on the first of these two cruises - Tokyo to Manila. Like you a number of new ports for us.

Well, Hello! I am pleased that you are going on (part of) this cruise, too. It's great that you've posted. When we went on V of D 2 times previously, no one else ever posted on Cruise Critic about those sailings. I guess it was like I was writing a blog. Of course, it will be our first time on Voyager. We've been on the MV Discovery twice. We also sailed on her when she was Princess Cruise's Island Princess, in 1998. In fact, that was the first cruise we ever took. Even though we are going to Asia in 2013 (Singapore to Southampton on the Rotterdam), I couldn't resist this cruise itinerary. You have to book these unique itineraries when they are offered, because they may never be repeated.

Rosie

Booked the 2/4/14 and 2/18/14 Back to Back sailings for a total of 28 days on the MV Voyager. Embarkation is at Tokyo, with disembarkation at Bangkok. Lots of new ports for us, with Sihanoukville and Bangkok being the only familiar ones. Anyone else booked on the "new" Voyager, or thinking about it?

Rosie