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Airtours

MV Carousel

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: Patrick Rogan
# previous cruises: 2
Date of Trip: August 8, 1998
Itinerary: Mediterranean

Firstly, the Airtours fleet rate nowhere near the luxury and space of lines such as Royal Caribbean and Seabourn etc., or so I'm told by people who have tried both. They are offered as an alternative to the usual summer holiday to the Spanish Costas and Islands. Look at them like this an you will not be disappointed.These cruises cater for the British mass holiday market, and therefore American passengers may not get the humour of the staff and crew.

The sun and pool decks were quite spacious, especially on days in port. The pool was an acceptable size, and the wrap-around promenade was very pretty and provided great vistas. The show lounges were comfortable, if a little crowded.

The food was excellent. Period. It was delicious, although I did find it even nicer on the Airtours Seawing. On both of my Airtours cruises, we were seated with lovely people whom we quickly became friends with. The buffets at breakfast and lunch were usually theme'd, eg. Indian food, and it too was piping hot as well as very tasty. My only complaint was that it could have been difficult to find a table, even though you could have eaten at your sun lounger or in the restaurant.

Our superior inside cabin on A Deck, was not the most spacious room I have ever been in. But for sleeping, showing, changing clothes, and maybe catching a few minutes sleep during the day it was perfect. Air conditioning, piped music, BIB world news, telephone. All the usual accessories. The shower was a decent size and we could get our clothes and cases into the closet. Our cabin was located 4 cabins from the back of the ship, and therefore could get quite noisy when we were docking. Otherwise the noise was acceptable.

We attended all the shows on board. For the first sitting dinner passengers, the show was at 8.30 then repeated at 10.30 for second seating dinner passengers. There was an alternative show at 9.30 as well. The quality of the shows was excellent, with cabarets, musicals, as well as guest comedians and singers brought in from the UK. The cruise staff and entertainers were very friendly and professional.

Our cruise stopped at Naples( for Pompeii,and Soren & Capri),Sicily( for Termini and Mount Etna), Malta, Tunisia Menorca,and then the ship's home port of Palma de Mallorca. The tours are all in air conditioned coaches and have very experienced and informative guides. On board the Carousel the pool was open and a whole range of activities were on offer. The pool was quite large by cruise ship standards, and the gym and saunas were open throughout the day.

Most passengers on Airtours Summer cruises are British or Scandinavians, most Americans and Canadians using the Winter cruises in the Caribes and Cyprus. At dinner you are seated with people of your own nationality, making it considerably easier to become acquainted. We have kept correspondence with some great friends we met on board. Many of the passengers had previously been on Airtours cruises and the fact that they return year after year says a lot for Airtours.