I was down at Tilbury this week for a glimpse of Marco Polo, the Orient Lines' ship that Norwegian Cruise Line sold to Global Cruise in
The ship is now chartered by
Know what? Hardly anything has changed. The casino is now the rather contemporary - for Marco Polo at least - Columbus Lounge and some of the furnishings look new, but that's about it. They have even kept some of the threadbare carpets (I'm told they will be changed during a refit next year!).
Sadly, the Filipino crew has also gone, to be replaced with mainly Eastern Europeans - a situation apparently forced on the new owners by NCL - which I am told has upset some returning Marco Polo devotees, not to mention the crew who had worked in the ship for umpteen years.
Cruise and Maritime sales manager Michelle Daniels tells me this year is all but sold out and 2009 is being snapped up fast thanks to the efforts of just a few cruise travel agents and tour operators.
In fact, C&M is doing so well, they are in talks with Transocean about chartering the vessel year-round just for the Brits (outside summer, when it is chartered by C&M and sold exclusively in the UK market, there is a Heinz 57 selection of passengers on board, including Aussies, Americans and South Africans).
As the ship holds 700-800 passengers, that's quite a commitment. I wait to see what happens.
Jane Archer
Comments (2)
I was very sorry to see the Marco Polo sold and the Filipino crew who were the heart of the ship disbanded.
From what I saw of the adverts, the price points have been taken further down-market and I can't see me ever travelling on her again.
I really do think they should have changed the name. Former Marco Polo passengers who think they are getting a bargain could be in for a big shock.
But I was encouraged to hear that Orient Lines brand has been bought and the intention is revive a proper service.
Unfortunately it was a mistake for NCL to buy it in the first place and they started to nickel and dime their way down and reduced the destination cruise brand to just going where everybody else did.
Posted by Paul Simister | July 11, 2008 9:17 AM
Posted on July 11, 2008 09:17
I'm sure you're not the only person to feel like that and indeed it was sad that the Filipinos were not able to move over. I travelled on Marco Polo when it was Orient Lines and can see why it had such a big following, although there were faults then, but I was also impressed by what I saw this week. The service does need sharpening, but I'm sure they'll get there. I thought the food they served up to old standards. It certainly is a bargain. Guess one always has to remember that there's no such thing as a free lunch!
Posted by Jane Archer | July 11, 2008 6:32 PM
Posted on July 11, 2008 18:32