Mancgas1

We were on Oriana the day the sale was announced and it wasn’t a place you wanted to be. Staff who had spent whole careers on their crying eyes out. Certainly hope PandO are not as stupid as to sell all smaller ships. People like us would pay a premium not to have to spend our holidays on a ship 500m long with 5000 ship mates 😂. If they do sell hopefully an enlightened firm buy them(or make new smaller ships) to meet clear demand; not to mention lower passenger numbers and more space per person equals lower potential infection rates!

1 hour ago, yorkshirephil said:

We cruised with CMV several times and never had any problems with staff or food, the ships were old and I always thought of Marco Polo as being like a pair of comfy old slippers but they were friendly and had lots of good vibes. As with all cruise lines they didn't suit everyone but they were a budget cruise line and IMHO delivered great cruises at an affordable price. I am looking forward to cruising with Ambassador as they will deliver the small ship cruises to places others don't.

Same here - our first few cruises were with CMV and were superb, intimate and extraordinary value. Indeed on next cruise staff often ran up to us and shouted “Hello Ian’s and Sarah! Welcome back” Cracking value for money (we did 10 nights in Norway for £295 each late availability once and 14 nights in Baltic for £999). Sure some people didn’t like it, often prefaced by “No where near as good as Princess/ Celebrity/ QE2….” But if you went into them knowing you’d often paid less than a travelodge nightly rate you were absolutely amazed at quality of food, staff and particularly entertainment’. If the re- born business is half as good then a lot of people will have great cheap cruises. But if you prefer PandO Princess Celebrity or QEII levels I’d possibly give them a miss, or at least go with an open mind that some aspects won’t be as good but make best of the great bits !