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Thanks for the feedback. I was on Mediterranea last year and really enjoyed it. I recall that the part of the restaurant I was assigned to was like a separate room so perhaps someone decided to give it a try on freestyle dining...

On the subject of the waiter singing and dancing, that happened as well when I was on Diadema at the end of 2014...

When the then Royal Viking Star was lengthened in 1981, it took three months. The extended dining room could then sit all passengers in one sitting. It seems that was one of the reason for the extension of the vessel, but other owners decided to return to the two sittings model, converting half of the Dining Room into other areas. Now a bit more of that area (untill recently the Braemar Garden, The Courtyard, etc) is becoming more like a restaurant, almost going back to the 1981 idea.

Extending those vessels then was costly and was not as popular with Royal Viking passengers as expected. Some say that it would become one of the reasons for the company's end. Probably the ships felt 'too big' then to pax used to more intimate surroundings. 35 years on and now the same ship is considered small and what a delight that is so. Not so long ago, 'small' vessels were the likes of Epirotiki's Jason, Sun Lines' 'Stella Maris', etc ad those were really small

Fred Olsen also confirmed that the Braemar Lounge is going to disappear and not be moved somewhere else. I think it is a pity for the ship to loose it as there are not many ships out there now which still have a 'pure' lounge room, almost like a Drawing Room. Curious to see the new deck plans

Black Watch arrived Hamburg last Saturday night. Lets hope they can do it all on the 26 days which are planned for the drydock

Not 4 star but Hotel Jazz was in a great location and worked well for us. We'd stay there again.

 

 

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I would say the same. Not far from ramblas and the Gothic Town, also near metro station. Nice hotel, good breakfast

My bet is that, to make it easier on the Accounts, it shall remain as Euros till Ft Lauderdale

Costa was never geared to North American tastes even before they were bought. However I still feel they became Carnival cruise line on the other side of the pond. I read that there have been serious cutbacks to save money to cover the staggering expense of the Concordia disaster. So let me know if you see any signs of cutbacks. I still want to sail the Deliziosa or her sister. Next year I am sailing on MSC's Meraviglia and figure I will follow up the next year with the Costa Diadema so I can compare. I do think Costa has to step up their game before MSC runs over them; I just hope Costa doesn't try to compete on price and become the bargain basement line. I don't think that would work in the long run. I still have a soft spot for Costa.

Actually they are both very similar. Differences are:

+ If you go top (suites, etc) MSC is much better with the Yacht Club product

+ When it comes to MDR, Costa at least places olive oil and balsamic vinegar in each table. In a MSC's MDR you have to ask for it...

+ Costa has a better loyalty programme. Pax get more perks as they 'climb the ladder' than at MSC

+ MSC ships have a more subdued, classic, minimalist sometimes, internal decor. Mostly it is an Art Deco theme but the lounges are really nice and the seats are comfortable. Costa is bright and shinny, often overwhelming. One see's some creativity on the seats but that does not always translate into comfort

+ Costa ships still have a chapel. MSC doesn't

+ Costa tends to be more 'friendly' towards solo cruisers than MSC

+ MSC's disco is far removed from cabins and has an stunning view as well as a 'balcony'. Costa's disco are 'deep down', and often not that far from cabins

Servicewise they are almost the same. Prices on board have little difference between the two. Space ratio on board is also similar between the two as it is the quality of the entertainment

Thanks for that. I have looked at it and I am just not entirely sure I would like to do the walk from the station (Gravesend) to the ferry with luggage (have been told already that taxis would not take me that short distance) but it remains an option (the distance from Tilbury Town to the cruise terminal is even longer).

Discussed the dartford option you mentioned in another forum and apparently traffic can be a problem there sometimes.

If I do the ferry will let you know :-)

I tend to agree with you on the Italian crew but perhaps then rather than now. MSC Fantasia recently had Italians on the restaurant. Sure it was nice but not as it was on Eugenio or even Enrico.

Princess had a lot of Italians in the crew, probably because they started with Italian vessels (Carla and Italia)

September 2018: I quite liked Costa Classica but it is a bit 'dark' inside (somehow not much natural light in certain areas) but nice. More of a feeling of Costa as it once was. I also liked Luminosa but then again I quite like that platform (same as Queen Elizabeth) with the wrap around promenade deck, etc. Will be sailing on Deliziosa in a few days. Expecting it to be similar to Luminosa. Really liked Mediterranea (definitely over the top in the decor but in a playful, not overwhelming, way

My first Linea C (Costa) ship was then the already ex-Eugenio C. and no ship has ever since been able to create the unique atmosphere that ship had on board. It was a real legend.

First Costa cruise per se? I think it was Fortuna not that long ago. Liked Fortuna... Allegra was nice and Classica reminded me a bit of Eugenio and Federico (ships I knew well as a child)

Have some menus and daily programmes in my private collection. Federico on the old days had about 40 choices on a lunch menu... nowadays... gone were the days as well of the pantry along the corridor, where one could get a juice, fruit, perhaps coffee or tea at odd hours... the steward which could be called to bring some tea or coffee, or get some item ironed, etc... all gone.

I cannot speak specifically for Black Watch, but I still have the daily sheets from our recent one week cruise on Boudicca and the fitness centre was open from 8am to 8pm every day, including the one sea day.

 

Do not know about the swimming pool. They do ask people not to run or speed walk around the prom deck before 8.00am as there are cabins below. I can understand that request as we have been in a cabin below prom deck and would probably not book the same again, though the worst noise was the scraping of chairs as they were moved around.

That is interesting... I thought there were lounges on the deck below the Promenade (Lido) deck. Or do they mean the cabins on the Lido deck itself? Thanks

On my search for the best way to get to the Cruise Terminal in Tilbury I came across a possible route via the Gravesend ferry so decided to ask, on your experience, if, coming from the Bloomsbury area, would be easier to make my way to the London International Cruise Terminal with train (Fenchurch Street) and then bus (either the shuttle to the ferry or else)/ taxi or via train to Gravesend and then ferry across. Thanks!

That is good to hear regarding the Brigadoon, but I am still wondering about the Braemar Lounge. I understand it will now be The Morning Light Pub. Is the ship to be left without the quiet, almost Drawing Room type lounge which the Braemar was?

Many thanks for the pics. It gives me an idea of what to expect. A few years ago there used to be a local bus which would go from the station to what used to be the terminal station (Tilbury Riverside). But cannot find any indication that it still exists. Normally it would not bother me much but it is in December with its shorter cold days...

Hi,

Thanks. I had seen it before but it does not mention if it is walkable distance (I am fearing long queues for taxis, etc)

Thanks

Please allow me to piggy-back on your question with mine: I will also be boarding in Tilbury in December but going to port by public transport (some companies offer transportation for Fred Olson pax but none would offer an option from central London to Tikbury). Planning to take the train from Fenchurch Street to Tilbury. would I need a taxi to the Terminal or is it walkable? Thanks!

Thanks for that. Quite helpful. Now need to find out what time will NYE dinner be on board Black Watch.

Thank you, both :-)

Hi Ceri,

I did the Diadema some time ago and was in an inside classic (which actually had portholes...). Was travelling as part of a group and we were told that our dinner restaurant would be the buffet. We managed to sit all together in a long table and it was fine as the menu was practically the same as in the MDR. But, as I said, that was some time ago.

Hi all,

Booked on a cruise which will spend the night of 31st Dec in Leith (Edinburgh). Ship is offering an excursion to take pax to the celebrations in Edinburgh and bringing them back but at quite a high price. Has anyone experienced NYE in Edinburgh? Would there be an alternative to the ship excursion? I know it is a bit of a distance between Leith and Edinburgh centre but would taxis not be an option on that night?

Thanks

I just searched through their web site and could not find the magazine online. Would you happen to have a link you could share?

Thanks! Did not know about the magazine so thanks for that.

Thank you both. Thanks also for the excellent site suggested

I am booked on a Black Watch (Fred Olsen) cruise next December. Remember been to Leith some years ago to visit HMY Britannia and wondering if the ship berths near the ex Royal Yacht. Also heard that there is a shopping center next to it now. Does anybody has any further info? Thanks!

Hi Berkshire Boy

 

Yes they have extended the refit, there must be a lot more to do than they had originally planned.

 

From what the crew were telling us it does sound like it will be a total change in some areas, for e.g.. the Lido Bar, which I have never felt comfortable sitting in.

 

I hope they don't mess around with your scheduled cruises, as it would be a great disappointment, so fingers crossed.

 

Susan

Hi,

As I am booked for a cruise in December I am curious about the refit but could not find anything published so far. So I am also hoping that it does not affect my sailing. I still recall the original Royal Viking Star so wondering what else could be changed internally

Thanks