Crown Odyssey
 

My husband and I are booked to sail Orient's Crown Odyssey-Rome & the Rivieras, this summer and was wondering if anyone who has sailed this itinerary, can share some opinions on the ship, the shore excursions, hotels, etc. We are Orient first timers. Thanks!

I would also like to know what Orient did to upgrade this ship. Before it was transferred to it's sister, Norwegian destroyed the ship ..... lack of maintenance.<BR><BR>Paul

We are also booked on the same cruise June 12. Any advice?

My husband and I are booked on the Grand Med 11 Cruise/Tour Aug 23 - Sept 7 so I will be very interested in following these posts. As this will probably be our only cruise to the Mediterranean (big expense for our 35th Wedding Anniversary) and would love to hear of other people's experiences and/or recommendations regarding the Odyssey and the various Port excursions. Thanks<BR><BR>Shirley

<BR>Would you all please post the condition of the ship when you return. The last time I sailed her there was plywood covering many public areas and there was no seating on deck for the buffet. Passengers were eating in the library. Toilets were backing up and hot water lines were bursting in the ceilings.<BR><BR>Orient always has been a well-respected line (as their Marco Polo has shown) and I presume they brought the Odyssey back to its Crown glory.<BR><BR>Paul

Paul<BR>Don't know when (or if) you really sailed on this line. I was on her in August/September 2000 and found it a brilliant cruise. People eating in the library??!??!

My wife sailed on the Crown Odyssey Last year in the Med, we did 17 nights on her. she is a beautiful ship, she was renovated when taken over from NCL. all of you will love her, say hello to Bong and Bunch for me. they are the best bartenders I have ever met.<BR><BR><BR>

Thank you Rel and Ken for your positive feedback on the CO. Ken, did you go on the ship's excursions (and did you find them good value) or did you tour the ports on your own? Does the CO have a good band and/or music to dance to in the evenings? <BR><BR>Shirley

Hello Shirley,<BR>We went on all of the ships excursions, they were all very good and prices were not bad. we did just take the transfers to Rome since we wanted to do our own things, the staff is the best. John was the excursion manager. my wife and I are in our 20's so about the music.. We did enjoy Judy, the Disc jockey in the nightclub (top of the Crown) at midnight. good dance music, prior to that time they do have an orchestra and they were relaxing at times. they did have 3 guys that called themselves the three amigos (I think), they were great, and they would perform all around the ship. The entire crew is from the Philippines and they truly are the hardest working people. Paul, there is plenty of space to eat in the buffets and around the pools. We are planning to sail on her again to Australia next year. Have a great cruise <BR><BR>

GREAT CRUISE LINE! MARCO POLO #1

Rel,<BR><BR>I did sail Orient (Marco Polo - Antartica). <BR><BR>I sailed the Crown (Bermuda) when it was operated and destroyed by Norwegian Cruise Lines.<BR><BR>I sailed the Crown Odyssey in 1988 when it owned by Crown Cruise Line. The ship was a work of art.<BR><BR>Paul<BR>

Paul:<BR><BR>Glad to hear you have at least personal experience but any info from 1988 would have to be pretty useless in my opinion.<BR><BR>As far as I am aware Orient, Norweigian and Star Cruises are one and the same family.

Rel - you must realize by now that Paul doesn't like NCL (or RCCL for that matter) and he also likes everyone to know how (apparently) extensive his sailing experiences have been. After all, he's been on 73 cruises! I don't think anyone has told him that the Staten Island ferry doesn't count.

I have posted an answer to your questions twice, but they aren't showing up. I will try again, briefly, to see if this appears:<BR><BR>My husband and I sailed on the CO last June, also on the Rome/Rivieras tour. The ship is in good shape w/ a few notable problems. I will try to elaborate later...if I can get this post to show up!<BR><BR>Pat