   
  Life Aboard, 2007
Reviewer: H. Mcphee from London, UK
What can I say? I've cruised the world on may well known cruise lines and the Van Gogh is budget cruising at its best. Don't go on expecting the Ritz as it's a far cry from it, but the friendliness from the Travelscope Staff & Crew made the cruise one to remember. If you are booking through the Travelscope office take some deep breaths first as you blood is sure to boil. The booking department had no idea and made me think twice about booking full stop and was the biggest letdown of my experience. This is not the case onboard, where the Travelscope staff are helpful, and happy to answer any questions.
The food was what you would expect from a 3 star restaurant with a selection to suit most. There is not a great deal to do whilst onboard during sea days unless you enjoy 'linedancing', quizzes & activities alike. My advice would be to take a good book. If you are travelling for more than a week spend the extra few pounds and book a suite or as close to it as you can, the cabins are very tight and you will appreciate the extra room.
During the evening there is always something happening in the show lounge. The production shows were brilliant & would rival that of any West End Show! Truly something not to be missed.
Overall the Van Gogh is a small cruise line on which you get what you pay for. I would travel again.
 Awful Cruise, Sep 2007
Reviewer: R. Atkinson
It was obvious that this was a final cruise before this ship was going into dock for a "sort out"
The food was awful, hard bacon every morning with cold egg and tomatoes. Only saw the cabin steward twice but he did make the beds after a fashion.
No announcements from the crew as to where we were on the cruise. Cancelled shore visit in the Scillies and a return to Falmouth with no news from the bridge that we were in fact going back there. There is no way I will ever travel with Travelscope ever again. This was one very expensive garden visit and a great mistake.
 Life On The Ocean Wave, May 2006
Reviewer: Peggy Burns from Cornwall
I travelled alone but quickly found friends on this wonderful, friendly ship. This year, having kept in touch, we are travelling together on a Baltic cruise.
I found my cabin, and the Van Gogh itself beautifully clean (I'll never forget the young man whose constant task was to polish the brass handrails, using a toothbrush for the awkward bits!), and the staff were friendly and helpful. Food on board was excellent and plentiful, with tea and coffee on tap on deck. The entertainment was varied, enjoyable, and very professional. I'm very much looking forward to my next trip on the Van Gogh.
Fab cruise, August 2006
Reviewer: Jess from Cornwall
This cruise is brilliant; staff and crew treat you really well. Our room was cleaned twice a day and was spotless when finished.
We were really worried after we heard about the Norovirus, but we had travelled with them before so didn't panic to much as we knew that the ship was clean.
Definitely going again in August 2007
Fantastic cruise at fantastic price, July 2005
Reviewer: Donna Spark from Port Glasgow, UK
Firstly this was a holiday for me I am 27 my young nephew who was 16 and my parents who are both over retirement age. The cabin we were in was a grade 5 outside cabins for 4, this was adequate with plenty of room with a large window. The shower room in the cabin was adequate for us, and had toiletries provided. The cabins were cleaned twice a day with towels being changed twice a day cabin steward was very friendly and good at his job.
The public areas of the ship there, are three main bars which were nice with staff that were very friendly and always smiling. There is also the main show lounge which has a bar open during the evening performances. This is a spacious lounge with plenty of seating. There is a small casino which was seated next to the library which to me seemed a bit odd the casino had a nice seating area also. The library was well stocked with books and games. There is a teenage and children room which seemed well equipped considering the size of the ship. The shop was small but well stocked. There is a hairdresser which I never used. There is a small but well equipped gym, a small swimming pool with children’s splash pool which seemed to be freezing cold no matter the weather and there is a pool bar here also and seating around the pool. There was a small sunbathing area just below the pool area. There was also a sauna although I never used this facility. There was also a cinema which had tier seating and a disco.
Entertainment
The cinema showed a variety of different films to suit different tastes throughout the cruise at various times although sometimes at odd times with films for kids being on at midnight and films such as Lord of the Rings which is a 12 rating being shown at lunch time. There was deck quoits, giant connect four, giant chess, darts and other games being played through out the day. There was also a children’s and teenagers clubs running various activities throughout the day. Quizzes, bingo and how to demonstrations such things as ice carving and napkin folding. There was also dance and exercise classes and arts and craft classes.
In the evening there were again various children and teenager activities including a disco, as well as the evening cabaret show which was done twice due to two dinner sittings, again films in the cinema or you could go and listen to the pianist or you can take part in a quiz. There is always plenty going on and on one of the evenings there was a barbeque and fancy dress competition up on deck.
Restaurant and Food
Breakfast is a buffet served either in the restaurant or up on pool deck (weather permitting). Large variety of cold meats cheeses, fruit, bacon, scrambled eggs, fruit juices, cereal, tea and coffee etc. This was served in both the restaurant and the buffet. Also in the restaurant you get toast and items such as poached and fried eggs which were specially prepared on request.
Lunch was either in two sittings in the restaurant at your designated table were there were around five courses with several choices for each. You could also have a baked potato and chips you could also have the pasta appetizer for you’re main course on request. Evening meal was normally served in two sittings and again there were several options for this. There were also late night sandwiches available and the fabulous midnight banquet which was out of this world. My only criticism of the food was that they put tomatoes on all the sandwiches and I hate the things. Also there is not a children’s menu although they will make the kids and teenagers alternative meals if you ask but they don’t tell you this. The staff in the restaurant and indeed all the staff on the ship work really hard and really long hours but they are all still really very and helpful and I cant praise them enough. If you have a special occasion they bake you a cake and sing to you.
Ports of call and shore excursions Lisbon, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Tangiers, Vigo, and Dublin. With the exception of Vigo can’t really criticise the ports of call lots to see and do and the shore excursion we did were very good, informative and well organised. Vigo the problem with this port was it was a bank holiday and so the shops as you would expect don’t open to later unfortunately we arrived very early in the morning and were just about ready to leave when they started to open up for the day.
Booking of holiday
This is my only main gripe about this holiday is with booking and this is due to the fact that the Van Gogh was firstly not the ship that we were due to sail on this was changed because the ship we were to go on failed its safety test and secondly the changed the sailing schedule for this trip.
Although on the upside we were upgraded due to the fact that the grade 6 which we booked can’t accommodate 4 people. Also I find the staff at Travelscope office to be friendly enough but not very helpful when you have a problems that you wish to discuss you get not my problem attitude at times which in my opinion probably has lost them lots of customers.
However would I go again yes and I am this time taking my niece as well. The Travelscope staff on the ships are very helpful, professional and go way out to help if you have any problems or concerns shame there office staff don’t have the same training. The cruise staff were very friendly and helpful and went out of there way to make our holiday special especially for my nephew who has learning disabilities they were only to happy to let him join in with the activities and went out of there way to make sure he had fun.
The happy clappy ship, August 2005
Reviewer: Rob Byrne from Hampshire, GB
We wanted a special holiday to celebrate significant birthdays and a graduation in our family this year, and as there are five of us price was an issue, although we didn't want to compromise quality, after all "you get what you pay for" don't you ?
We chose the Summer Sunshine Cruise, a grade 6 outside cabin for my wife, son and I, and a grade 9 inside for my daughter and her fiance. I'll break down my findings into sections for easy reference.
BOOKING; Awful, although booked 18 months in advance cruise was cancelled, alternate dates offered. Re booked alternate date by return of post, notified weeks later all cruises full, although website still advertising and cabins available (outside only). Phoned to ask if they would consider an upgrade of our inside cabin, answer NO. Abrasive customer services despite explaining the significance of the holiday to us. NO LUCK. So I had to get heavy and start making a noise. A miracle all sorted with the cabins we originally requested !
TRANSFERS; Very smooth, if a little long. Princes Pavillion in Falmouth comfortable and welcoming.
CONDITION AND FACILITIES ABOARD; Excellent, Excellent and again Excellent, the ship is 30 years old but the crew have such a love for and pride in the ship, you could be forgiven for thinking she was brand new ! She gleams brightly white, her windows are clean, inside all is clean and welcoming. The cleaning and painting is ongoing, nothing left to rust or become dirty. There are several comfortable lounges and bars, a casino, cinema, sauna, fitness room, nightclub, shop, library, swimming pool, kids room and all the deck games from basket ball to giant chess. You want for nothing.
FOOD AND STAFF; Without exception SUPERB, FUNNY, MULTI TALENTED. our main waiter "Magic" as his name suggests is also a fabulous magician and napkin folder. There are also dancers, funny men and if it is your birthday, (like my daughter), the restaurant staff know and bring you out a big cake with a very large sparkler in it, and perform a very funny happy clappy ritual, then a chorus of "One more Time!!!" and start again. Evening entertainment in Club Live is also good in traditional cabaret style.
PORTS OF CALL; Good with plenty to see, several excursions available in each port. On our cruise we called at Oporto, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Tangiers, Lisbon and Vigo. Although due to a force 8 which Van Gogh handled well, Tangiers was cancelled by the harbour master. Disappointing but made up for by a very long day to explore Lisbon the next day.
WOULD WE GO AGAIN; Without doubt YES, there can be no happier ship on the sea than Van Gogh, and it was a great holiday. Do you get what you pay for ? NO what you get on a Van Gogh cruise far exceeds your expectations, you could throw as much money as you like at any other cruise ship, and not get better, bigger yes, glitzier yes, but they would have to be very good indeed to come anywhere near as good as Van Gogh !!!
|
Print Friendly
Email this Page