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Airtours

MS Seawing

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: Patrick John Hagan
# previous cruises: 4
Date of Trip: October 17, 2004
Itinerary: Mediterranean

Despite THE FACT that 95% of the Ships Crew & Company were working their Notice, the Professionalism, morale and atmosphere was terrific. Even Capt. Philip Rentell was in keen anticipation of his P45 (Pink Slip) on 2nd Nov!

So popular is She, was the fact that we were being "pursued" by our Greek Cousins in an ownership dispute (ROC), which meant docking in Pireaus was out of the question Fri 29th. The old girl may be frayed and tatty around the edges but the friendliness and attention to detail by staff made Her Gold Plated in most peoples' opinions.

All reception areas and bars were kept spik and span and the Eldorado Dining Room (two sittings) was clearly the pride and joy of the Maitre 'D and his waitering staff.

The Staff in the Duty Free had a hard job and smiled all the time as we emptied the shelves of quality Brandies and heartily good value Scotches at rock-bottom prices -- hic and Cheers!

The quality of the breakfast ingredients let breakfasters down: it was obviously the last two weeks run and someone got a 'special deal' on bacon misshapes? YUK but lunch, buffets, dinner and passrounds were of the best quality, backed up by even better personal service. Expanding waistlines and full tables prove the point!

Compact and bigeau - heck most PAX new this B4 booking and setting off! The SS Voyager She is NOT (although we did Beat HER out of port in Corfu :-)!!) The cabins are cramped and only for sleeping, ablutions and dressing for dinner. Suites (or Staterooms) could be booked but we got the same on-board experience for far less $$$ and spent that on liquids of a stronger nature! Cabin Stewards and Maids worked their Sox off and everything was spotlessly clean despite wear & tear - Thanks Milanos and your team.

Changes every week and the Two Bobs (CD and ACD) with their staff, sweat buckets to make sure the PAX ALL enjoy themselves. Bob Boyd is a Star and sounds like Elton John - enjoy the break in Ibiza and look up Alan Hamliton! The Seawing Orchestra (four guys) are fantastic musicians and we did miss the smiles of Victor!!

The main laughs were provided by the one and only Dave Evans, backboned behing the scenes by his wife of 40x years, Shirley; Dave dances, plays Sax, piano, clarinet, tells rib-ticking stories and jokes AND sings like an Angel. The 'old man has got it and holds an audience in his hands - BRILLIANT!! How can we "rate" THE best?

Thanks to Alex and Joanne, trips ashore were full of breathtaking content, well couriered, good food when needed, and in some of the most interesting sites in Europe including Mt Etna, Ephesus (Turkey), Dubrovnik etc. The olympic size swimming pool talked of by the Capt kept shrinking to a postage stamp - must have been the God-Sent good weather!

Here's the RUB: 117 follow-on PAX from the cruise before (weekly change of destinations), 841 PAX for Her last and final week; a thirty seven percent repeat PAX average AND many were aboard for their fourth trip (some on ninth PLUS) FACTS speak volumes and scream out that Mytravel's Board are plum daft (crazy). SUNCRUISES is a prime-brand and it us being thrown away. I'll buy shares in any new venture!!

A huge cross-section of British, American and Canadian Societies, and from mid-twenties honeymooners to very late octogenarians - AND MY BOSS!!!. THAT is the appeal of such a small and friendly SHIP, with a Hear and very big Soul.

WE WILL MISS Seawing and ALL her Compliment; there was hardly a dry eye on board or on the buses, as we waited to leave for the Airport! The stiff upper lip of us Brits trembled more than Her old engines!!

Betcha the folks on NH Westerdammer (hi Bob n Jean from Michigan), SS Voyager, MV Orianna etc will remember The Seawing and her Master, P Rentell as She sailed out of ports, horns blazing and on-deck speakers blasting away to BBC Proms Concert favourtes and old sea-shanties? We drummed on the decks as white flags, towels, huge smiles and affectionate waves swept across from every balcony of these 'Super Cruiser' alongside. Warms the heart for sure and totally unforgettable!

The Old man, "Old Rock Dodger Rentell" himself said, "We paid half the fare and got twice the fun" and it was true! GOD BLESS and GOD SPEED, SEAWING.