Australia, Dubai and Marco Polo….Part 3

This is the part where I would never do this type of trip again.

So after 2 weeks in Australia having the time of my life, 2 nights at The Atlantis, The Palm whizzing around the Water Park and eating like a god it was now time to fly back to the UK, get a train across to Bristol ready for my work Christmas cruise on Cruise and Maritime’s Marco Polo.

Arriving into the Port of Avonmouth, Bristol had none of the Luxuries of the major ports but the check-in process was quick and easy and before I knew it I was on board.

The Marco Polo is a small 22,000-tonne ship that has 425 cabins accommodating upto 800 passengers. I am not sure when it was originally built but it was rebuilt in 1993 and with this gave the look and feel on parts of the outside of the ship to a ferry.

Although it looked elegant when getting onto the ship my first awareness was the fumes from the engines, being in dock i hoped this would go once the ship left port, unfortunately that never happened.

My cabin was a standard outside cabin and had plenty of room, even though I have travelled on ships with alot larger space in their staterooms, I use my cabin for changing and sleeping so for me it was more than OK.

That was as good as the cruise got though.

There really is not much good to be said for the ship, the staff, the food and the bar staff walking around taking drink orders that never came as well as the room key card disappearing with the drink order and waiter.

The Irish sea was also not kind with rough waves, all the way to Dublin and all the way back it was up and down, the ship has stabilizers but they were either not used or not sufficient. Of course no one can do much about the conditions of the seas but what I know is I will not sail on her again during the winter.

Click here to view a few photos I took.