marco polo sea cruises

Marco Polo Sea Cruises

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Marco Polo Sea Cruises - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Marco Polo Sea Cruises

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Marco Polo Sea Cruises - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

Marco Polo Sea Cruises

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

MARCO POLO SEA CRUISES (Faliraki) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Marco Polo A wide range of facilities

Offering a wide range of public spaces and facilities, Marco Polo is perfect for those who want to experience traditional cruising. The Marco Polo cruise ship offers a wide range of public facilities including the impressive Waldorf Restaurant offering a traditional two sitting fixed time dining option and, as an alternative more informal experience, the stylish Marco's Bistro.

Accommodation

Marco Polo is an extremely comfortable ocean cruise ship with a wide range of public areas and deck spaces in which to relax. However, it is your cabin that should be the perfect place to unwind after a busy day sightseeing ashore and your unobtrusive cabin steward will ensure that you enjoy a high degree of comfort and service, whichever grade of accommodation you decide best suits your holiday requirements. There are fifteen categories of cabins and suites, primarily graded according to size and deck position and even in the most economical cabins, the standard features are impressive.

Food & Drink

With attentive staff and beautiful cuisine, Marco Polo is a great platform to broaden your gastronomic tastes. From the Waldorf Restaurant to the Pool Deck, there's plenty of choice including casual and fine dining options.

Life on Board

The Marco Polo is brilliant if you want to enjoy a laugh at sea. From the stand-up comedy to the vibrant choreographed shows, there's plenty to keep a smile on your face.

Get a feel for life onboard the Marco Polo by browsing through the image gallery. Click on any of the images above to get started.

Marco Polo Cruises

May we present you with a small selection of the wide range of cruises available on Cruise and Maritime Voyages' Marco Polo. For more details click on one of the links below.

Deck Plans Marco Polo

Browse Marco Polo's deck plans to get a feel of her layout. Explore cabins, restaurants, entertainment and shared spaces at your leisure.

The Cruise and Maritime Voyages Fleet

We believe our smaller more intimate ships offer a leisurely and traditional home from home country house style of cruising with the emphasis very much on personal service and going that extra mile.

Find your perfect cruise

Let's start by selecting a destination, date and duration below and we'll help you find your perfect cruise.

With 352 cruises aboard 524 ships from 54 cruise lines we're confident that we'll have exactly what you're looking for.

Test Voyage Our crew are working hard to get this website shipshape and Bristol fashion before our big launch. If you see anything that doesn't look quite right please let us know.

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Learn more about our cookie policy .

Marco Polo Sea Cruises

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Marco Polo Sea Cruises - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Expeditions
• Complimentary Brochures
• Athens (Piraeus) to Bangkok (Laem Chabang)
• Bangkok (Laem Chabang) to Athens (Piraeus)

Voyage of Marco Polo

• From $17,998
• 16 Guided Tours
• 11 Countries
• Dates & Pricing
• 2024 2025 2026
• Athens (Piraeus) to Bangkok (Laem Chabang) Bangkok (Laem Chabang) to Athens (Piraeus)
• Day 1 Athens (Piraeus), Greece
• Day 2 Sail the Aegean Sea
• Day 3 Haifa, Israel
• Day 4 Haifa, Israel
• Day 5 Cairo (Port Said), Egypt
• Day 6 Scenic Sailing: Suez Canal
• Day 7 Luxor (Safaga), Egypt
• Day 8 Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
• Day 9 Aqaba, Jordan
• Day 10 Sail the Red Sea
• Day 11 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• Day 12 Sail the Red Sea
• Day 13-14 Sail the Gulf of Aden
• Day 15 Salālah, Oman
• Day 16 Sail the Arabian Sea
• Day 17 Muscat, Oman
• Day 18-19 Sail the Arabian Sea
• Day 20 Mumbai, India
• Day 21 Mumbai, India
• Day 22 Mumbai, India
• Day 23 Goa (Mormugao), India
• Day 24 Sail the Laccadive Sea
• Day 25 Colombo, Sri Lanka
• Day 26 Colombo, Sri Lanka
• Day 27-28 Sail the Bay of Bengal
• Day 29 Scenic Sailing: Strait of Malacca
• Day 30 George Town, Malaysia
• Day 31 Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Malaysia
• Day 32 Singapore, Singapore
• Day 33 Scenic Sailing: Gulf of Thailand
• Day 34 Koh Samui (Nathon), Thailand
• Day 35 Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand
• Day 36 Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand

Sail the Gulf of Aden

Follow the centuries-old trade route linking the Red Sea to the Arabian Sea. This historic waterway was named for the former British Crown Colony city of Aden, an adjacent port in today’s Yemen. As you sail today, attend an informative lecture or watch a film in our state-of-the-art theater. A range of insightful TED Talks and desination-inspired seminars are offered daily.

Follow the centuries-old trade route linking the Red Sea to the Arabian Sea. This historic waterway was named for the former British Crown Colony city of Aden, an adjacent port in today’s Yemen.

Sign up to receive updates from Viking

Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content.

Company Information

• Order a Brochure
• Special Offers
• Sweepstakes
• Travel Advisors
• Media Center
• Investor Relations
• Health & Safety Program
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Manage Cookies

Viking River Cruises

• Mississippi

Viking Ocean Cruises

• Scandinavia
• British Isles & Ireland
• North America
• Caribbean & Central America
• South America
• Mediterranean
• Quiet Season Mediterranean
• Australia & New Zealand
• World Cruises
• Grand Journeys

Viking Expeditions

• Great Lakes
• Longitudinal World Cruises

Find Your Cruise

Cruise Type Expedition Cruise Ocean Cruise River Cruise

Destination Africa Alaska America Antarctica Arctic Circle Asia & Far East Atlantic Islands Australasia Baltic British Isles Canada Canary Islands Caribbean Central America Europe Greek Isles Hawaii Iberia Indian Ocean Mediterranean Middle East Nile Cruise Norwegian Fjords Pacific Panama Canal River Scandinavia South America South Pacific West US/Mexico

When June 2024 July 2024 August 2024 September 2024 October 2024 November 2024 December 2024 January 2025 February 2025 March 2025 April 2025 May 2025 June 2025 July 2025 August 2025 September 2025 October 2025 November 2025 December 2025 January 2026 February 2026 March 2026 April 2026 May 2026 June 2026 July 2026 August 2026 September 2026 October 2026 November 2026 December 2026 January 2027 February 2027 March 2027 April 2027 May 2027 June 2027 July 2027 August 2027 September 2027 October 2027 November 2027 December 2027 January 2028 February 2028 March 2028 April 2028 May 2028 June 2028 July 2028 August 2028 September 2028 October 2028 November 2028 December 2028 January 2029 February 2029 March 2029 April 2029 May 2029

Cruise Line Abercrombie & Kent Expedition Cruises AmaWaterways Atlas Ocean Voyages Azamara Cruises Celebrity Cruises Celestyal Cruises Crystal Cruises Cunard Elixir Cruises Emerald Waterways Emerald Yacht Cruises Explora Journeys Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Holland America Line Hurtigruten Cruises Hurtigruten Expeditions Oceania Cruises P&O Cruises Paul Gauguin Cruises Ponant Cruises Princess Cruises Regent Seven Seas Cruises Riverside Luxury River Cruises Saga Cruises Scenic Ocean Cruises Scenic River Cruises Seabourn Cruises SeaDream Yacht Club Silversea Cruises Star Clippers Cruises Swan Hellenic Cruises Uniworld River Cruises Viking Cruises Windstar Cruises

Ship A&K L'Austral A&K Le Commandant Charcot Allura AmaBella AmaCello AmaCerto AmaDahlia AmaDara AmaDolce AmaDouro AmaKristina AmaLea AmaLilia AmaLucia AmaLyra AmaMagdalena AmaMagna AmaMelodia AmaMora AmaPrima AmaReina AmaSerena AmaSiena AmaSintra AmaSonata AmaStella AmaVerde AmaVida AmaViola Arcadia Aria Amazon Arvia Aurora Azamara Journey Azamara Onward Azamara Pursuit Azamara Quest Azura Balmoral Bolette Borealis Britannia Caribbean Princess Celebrity Apex Celebrity Ascent Celebrity Beyond Celebrity Constellation Celebrity Eclipse Celebrity Edge Celebrity Equinox Celebrity Flora Celebrity Infinity Celebrity Millennium Celebrity Reflection Celebrity Silhouette Celebrity Solstice Celebrity Summit Celebrity Xcel Celebrity Xpedition Celebrity Xploration Celestyal Discovery Celestyal Journey Coral Princess Crown Princess Crystal Serenity Crystal Symphony Diamond Princess Discovery Princess Emerald Azzurra Emerald Dawn Emerald Destiny Emerald Harmony Emerald Kaia Emerald Liberte Emerald Luna Emerald Princess Emerald Radiance Emerald Sakara Emerald Sky Emerald Star Emerald Sun Enchanted Princess Eurodam Europa Europa 2 Explora I Explora II Ganges Voyager II Grand Princess HANSEATIC inspiration Insignia Iona Koningsdam Le Bellot Le Boreal Le Bougainville Le Champlain Le Commandant Charcot Le Dumont D'urville Le Jacques Cartier Le Laperouse Le Lyrial Le Paul Gauguin Le Ponant Le Soleal M/S Paul Gauguin Majestic Princess Marina Mekong Jewel MS Fram MS Fridtjof Nansen MS Kong Harald MS Maud MS Nordkapp MS Nordlys MS Nordnorge MS Nordstjernen MS Otto Sverdrup MS Polarlys MS Richard With MS Roald Amundsen MS Santa Cruz II MS Spitsbergen MS Trollfjord MS Vesteralen Nautica Nieuw Amsterdam Nieuw Statendam Noordam Oosterdam Queen Anne Queen Elizabeth Queen Mary 2 Queen Victoria Regal Princess Regatta River Duchess River Empress River Princess River Queen River Tosca Riverside Mozart Riviera Royal Clipper Royal Princess Ruby Princess Ryndam S.S Beatrice S.S. Antoinette S.S. Bon Voyage S.S. Catherine S.S. Elisabeth S.S. Joie de Vivre S.S. La Venezia S.S. Maria Theresa S.S. Sao Gabriel S.S. Sphinx S.S. Victoria Sapphire Princess Scenic Amber Scenic Azure Scenic Crystal Scenic Diamond Scenic Eclipse Scenic Eclipse II Scenic Gem Scenic Jade Scenic Jasper Scenic Jewel Scenic Opal Scenic Pearl Scenic Ruby Scenic Sapphire Scenic Spirit Seabourn Encore Seabourn Odyssey Seabourn Ovation Seabourn Pursuit Seabourn Quest Seabourn Sojourn Seabourn Venture SeaDream I SeaDream II Seven Seas Explorer Seven Seas Grandeur Seven Seas Mariner Seven Seas Navigator Seven Seas Splendor Seven Seas Voyager SH Diana SH Vega Silver Cloud Silver Dawn Silver Endeavour Silver Moon Silver Muse Silver Nova Silver Origin Silver Ray Silver Shadow Silver Spirit Silver Whisper Silver Wind Sirena Sky Princess Spirit of Adventure Spirit of Discovery Star Breeze Star Clipper Star Flyer Star Legend Star Pride Star Princess The Elysium Ventura Viking Hathor Viking Helgrim Viking Hemming Viking Jupiter Viking Mars Viking Octantis Viking Osfrid Viking Saturn Viking Sea Viking Sky Viking Star Viking Tir Viking Torgil Viking Vela Viking Venus Viking Vesta Vista Volendam Westerdam Wind Spirit Wind Star Wind Surf World Navigator World Traveller World Voyager Zaandam Zambezi Queen Zuiderdam

Duration 10 to 14 nights 15 nights or more 4 nights or less 4 to 7 nights 7 to 10 nights

Home Blog Marco Polo Cruise Review

Marco Polo Cruise Review

Five days on the marco polo with anthony nicholas.

Anthony Nicholas recently enjoyed a cruise of Northern Europe’s aboard one of the world’s most illustrious ships.  Read his Marco Polo cruise review and find out why he believes this distinctive vessel still has a lot to offer.

DAY ONE- FRIDAY

Arrive at Tilbury to a drumbeat of falling rain. None of which dampens my enthusiasm for being back on Marco Polo . Even through the drizzle, the ship looks great after all these years.

The hull is a sixties throwback. Curves gracefully upwards at both bow and stern like a slow, languid smile. Looks beautiful in royal blue, with two blue bands running around it. The bow is sharp, raked and wonderful to behold. From the rain speckled Thames, the hull rises upwards into a pair of soaring flanks.

On board, and the curved outdoor terraces are sodden through. Hot coffee is a godsend. Indoors, most of the public rooms range the length of one deck.

Much remains familiar. Art Deco predominates, lightened and pointed up with Oriental statuary in nooks and crannies. A lot of colourful, stained glass ceilings in lobbies and the main dining room. Pastel shades predominate, mainly cool creams.

Upper deck cabin has two picture windows, two single beds, and plenty of storage space. Excellent shower. Flat screen TV never got used- too much going on elsewhere. Boat drill over, and we’re swinging out into the Thames. Ship is almost full with around eight hundred passengers on board.

DAY TWO-AMSTERDAM

Arrive in driving rain that miraculously lifts to gift us a warm, sunny day. Around seven hours free and we’re docked right in the middle of town.

Warm enough to take the jacket off. Fabulous view out over the city spires from the terrace of the Amsterdam Hilton. Easy to see how the city was built in a series of concentric rings. Trains running into Dam station look like toys at this height. Excellent coffee and cookies. Would come back to this spot any time.

Back on board, a delay as we enjoy dinner in the Waldorf restaurant. Container ship ahead slows our voyage down the North Sea canal by several hours. Changes afoot as a result.

Evening passes in pleasant whirl as the lights of oil rigs wink at us. Still unfeasibly warm. Passengers enjoy the open air terraces until the wee small hours.

DAY THREE- HONFLEUR

Instead of staying overnight in Rouen, our delay gives us the added blessing of a call in Honfleur, around twenty five miles upstream.

Honfleur is pretty, petite and walkable. Few ships nifty enough to get in here. The yacht harbour is rectangular, with houses looming up in shades of red, green and slate gray. Cafes and strollers flood the cobbled streets. Fishing boats fussing in and out, past the carousel on the quayside.

The Monet gardens are lush, tranquil and expansive. They open onto a broad, dusky beach. Quality of the light in the sky quite haunting in its beauty. And it is still blissfully mild.

After a fine dinner on board, I wander back into town. Quieter now, with pools of light dancing on the water. A few glasses of fabulous Muscadet, and all is well with the world. Think I was made for this.

Out on deck, with a final nightcap as we head upriver for a truncated call in Rouen, another fifty miles upstream.

DAY FOUR- ROUEN

The rain returns. And how. Early morning street lights reflect on sodden cobblestones as we make a lightning tour.

Houses are amazing, half timbered confections that flank cobbled squares almost empty of people. The Gros Horlorge is a staggering burst of blue and gold bravado, looming against a lead tinted sky.

By noon we’re sailing back upstream. Fabulous views from the upper deck hot tubs. Chateaux and ancient abbeys peep out from among the rolling greenery on both flanks. Marco Polo churns up the steel grey Seine behind us. Barges and container ships steal past us in the opposite direction.

Scenery is amazing. Villages unchanged for centuries tumble down to the river’s edge. Cows grazing quietly. Still raining a little, but not enough to interrupt this magical panorama.

Pre dinner drinks in Scott’s Bar. Cool and civilised. Warm light glowing on soft colours. Dreamy mood music. Great company. The martinis are zesty, and served with a smile.

DAY FIVE- ANTWERP

Mother nature back in synch today. Mellow sunshine as we negotiate the sixty mile passage of the Scheldt, bound upstream for Antwerp.

Walk from the dock to city is literally five minutes. Grand Place is a glut of gothic architecture on a formal square. Looming gingerbread spires, fountains and lethargic horse drawn cabs. Fine Belgian beer and the world’s best chocolate.

We take waffles and coffee in a fabulous, hugely over the top, century old restaurant. Short visit to the Rubens house proves it to be more of a palazzo than anything else. As much a work of art as the cake rich, mid blowing masterpieces that peer down from the walls at us.

Time for beer and cheese tasting, as symmetrically perfect as Rodgers and Astaire. Local beer sommeliers have a dedication to their craft as fierce and finely honed as any wine professional.

Back in the square, afternoon sun tints those vaulting gothic buildings a shade of gentle rust. Streets teeming as the rush hour approaches. Uptown trams slither down streets like giant mechanical snails, each one packed to the gills.

A band on shore serenades us as Marco Polo nudges into the stream. People on deck applaud. I’m applauding the whole Antwerp experience. Truly sweet.

MUSINGS…

Saw an incredible amount in five days. No worries about transfers or carrying luggage. The hotel travelled with us. Quite literally.

Size of the ship made it easier to get into the smart places like Honfleur. Also created a warmer, hospitable atmosphere on board. Unpretentious, yet full of charm.

Marco Polo is a child free, high density ship. She can feel crowded at debarkation and buffet meals. A beautiful old lady, with some corridors that seem to end suddenly. Bit like a beloved, sometimes slightly maddening old aunt that still manages to make you smile.

All in, a thrilling and rewarding few days. Kudos for the care and comfort on board. Marco Polo has style in spades.

Consider that you get snapshots of three countries in five days, plus precious ‘me’ time, and fold in the comfort and security of a safe environment. Inclusivity is key, with all main meals included. Drinks prices reasonable in the extreme.

This kind of city cruise is a no-brainer. Marco Polo can beat any four star hotel for price, variety and style. Loved every moment of this.

You can book Marco Polo cruises with Cruise & Maritime Voyages .  Call us for our best fares on 0800 008 6677.

Request a Brochure

Enter your details below or call us on 0800 008 6677

Enquire Now

Privacy overview.

Tom Loves Cruising

Cruising has changed – come and sea…

REVIEW: MS Marco Polo – Quaint, Quirky, Confused.

MS Marco Polo is a truly unique boat amongst the modern mega-ships that cruise the oceans today, but can she keep up with what guests expect in 2019? I stepped onboard in June 2019 to find out.

Myself, my partner Jimmy, and my friend Tobi booked onto MS Marco Polo for a one-night ‘Sample Cruise’.

The cruise departed Portsmouth at 4pm on Saturday 29th June 2019, and arrived in Tilbury Essex at 8am the next morning.

Getting to the port of Portsmouth

Portsmouth is located centrally on the South Coast of England and is connected via rail to London Waterloo.

The train journey from London Waterloo to Portsmouth & Southsea takes between 1hr 30m and 2hrs. If you book in advance you can get a single ticket for £15, and purchasing on the day costs £39.

Be sure to alight at Portsmouth & Southsea, the station Portsmouth Harbour is actually further away from the cruise terminal.

The distance between Portsmouth & Southsea station and the Portsmouth Cruise Terminal is 2 miles. We grabbed an Uber which took approximately 10 minutes in moderate traffic.

Embarking at Portsmouth Cruise Terminal

Embarkation at Portsmouth was a dream. Due to the small size of the ship, and the fact there weren’t any other ships docked at the terminal, it meant we breezed through.

On arrival we were greeted, filled in a health form, had our ID checked and cards issued, went through security and were onboard within 10 minutes of getting out of the Uber.

Now that’s how it should be done.

First impressions of MS Marco Polo

The MS Marco Polo was built in 1965 as the Aleksandr Pushkin as a Soviet passenger and cargo ship.

In the early nineties she was purchased by Orient Lines, completely refurbished and then re-launched as the MS Marco Polo in 1993. She’s changed operator a few times, but has been sailing with Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) since 2010.

Weighing in at a diminutive 19,860 gross tonnes and 176 metres long she is by far the smallest cruise ship I’ve sailed on – in fact she’s about a tenth of the size of the Meraviglia which I sailed on in April.

She can accommodate 820 passengers conveying them between destinations at 19 knots.

MS Marco Polo – click to enlarge

When walking onto most modern cruise ships you end up thinking “Wow, this is insane” , with the Marco Polo we ended up thinking “Wow, this is what a working boat feels like” .

She’s not a luxury, glamorous, cruise ship but a comfortable passenger liner designed to get you into smaller ports where larger ships can’t. She might not have a crystal staircase, but she has an old world charm – and a faint smell of diesel.

One thing I’ll say early in this review is that I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this ship for disabled folks, or folks with mobility issues. There are lots of water tight seals to step over in corridors and very few elevators.

Our stateroom

At the time of booking we secured a three person outside view cabin for £59 per person, for the one night. A very reasonable rate.

The stateroom we were allocated was 122 on Deck 4 ‘Caribic Deck’.

Given the age and size of the ship we were pretty pleased with the size of the cabin – especially given that it was intended for three people.

The cabin was set up with two single beds with a chest of draws in between. The beds are not reconfigurable to a double bed setup. The third bed was a wall mounted pullman bed on the righthand side of the cabin.

As with most of the ship the decor is stuck firmly in the 1990s but it has all been well maintained with few obvious signs of wear.

Our cabin had its own bathroom, not a certainty for ships of this size and age, which had a serviceable flush (not vacuum system) toilet, sink, and shower – with the dreaded shower curtain which led to our bathroom flooding each time we used the shower.

I’ve never shared a cabin with more than one other person before, but due to the generous size of the cabin and plenty of storage space it was far more enjoyable than I had anticipated. The beds were also incredibly comfortable and suitable for my ~6ft height.

Muster Drill Madness

Let me prefix this by saying that I’ve sailed on nearly twenty different cruise ships over half a dozen cruise lines and I’ve never experienced a muster drill quite like this one before.

We were asked over the PA system to go back to our cabins and collect our lifejackets and report to our muster stations, ours was Marco’s Bistro – the buffet restaurant.

Once we got there we were asked to put on our lifejackets so the crew could check them, and we all had to shout “PRESENT” to our names being ticked off a list.

Next came the longest muster drill announcement I’ve ever heard in my life. Seriously, this announcement took nearly 30 minutes and included how to safely jump off the ship into the water should there not be any available life boats. That’s a new one on me.

Then came the hilarious spectacle of having to form single-file conga lines, hand on shoulder of the person in front, and slowly walk “through the smoke” to our respective life boats where we’d be given another lengthy PA announcement.

Waiting to perform the spectacle that is the muster conga – click to enlarge

Now, I’m all for safety and am a huge proponent of the SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea) convention – but only the Brits could take something so far. The whole thing took well over an hour.

Drinking onboard MS Marco Polo

For a ship of her size we were pleasantly surprised how many bars and lounges the MS Marco Polo had to offer.

The Pool Bar overlooks the main pool/lido deck and offers full bar service as you watch the wake of the ship.

Going up one level and heading inside takes you to Scott’s Bar . This large, lounge style, bar has comfortable seating surrounding a wooden dance-floor. You can walk up to the bar, or simply take a seat and wait for a server.

Scotts Bar on MS Marco Polo – click to enlarge

As you walk through the ship you’ll hit The Columbus Lounge . This small space feels more like a foyer, or waiting room, than a bar but due to the small size service from its dedicated bar was fairly swift.

The Columbus Lounge on MS Marco Polo – click to enlarge

Carrying on forward you finally hit The Captain’s Club . This bright and airy bar, decorated in light colours with large windows, was our favourite bar on the ship. There was plenty of seating, and usually someone playing piano whilst you relaxed and watched the ocean go by.

The Captain’s Club on MS Marco Polo – click to enlarge

Whilst we enjoyed our drinks we found that many were made quite differently than we would expect. For example many drinks, like my Pina Colada, which you’d expect blended came served over ice cubes – and other classic cocktails like Cosmopolitans came served in tumblers rather than martini glasses.

Drinks Menu & Prices aboard MS Marco Polo – correct as of June 2019 Click to enlarge

Whilst we’re on the topic of drinks we found them to be reasonably priced (see menu above), but there was some confusion by passengers and crew over VAT on beverages…

Where’s the VAT?

The dedicated bars onboard stated on the menu that VAT (the British sales tax charged at 20%) was included in the price of drinks on the menus. That’s fine, thanks for letting us know.

However things took an unsavoury turn in the main dining room. Our table ordered a very nice bottle of champagne and an equally pricy bottle of wine, taking the drinks menu at face value as per the other bars. So you can imagine our irritation when at the end of the meal we were presented with the drinks bill PLUS 20% VAT (around £25) added on top.

We queried this with the head waiter who basically said “that’s the way it is done”, we reviewed the wine menu throughly and there was no mention of VAT – either inclusion or exclusion. We paid the bill and made it clear we’d be following up the next morning.

The next morning we went to see guest services and pointed out the inconsistency between the dining room bar and all the other bars. We also pointed out even though we’d been paying VAT that the VAT line on each receipt showed £0.00. We were far from the only passengers who’d noticed this and we all got canned responses to “complain to head office if you’re not happy”.

We asked for a VAT receipt to go with out final bill – as you are legally entitled to ( Value Added Tax Regulations 1995  requires a VAT registered person that makes a taxable supply to a taxable person to provide a VAT invoice).

The guest services manager was “unable to provide” the VAT receipt for our final bill, or any of our drinks orders. Something not quite right is going on aboard CMV’s Marco Polo – and it left an unpleasant taste in our mouths.

Dining onboard

With just one night aboard we headed to the Marco Polo’s main dining room the ‘Waldorf Restaurant’ .

The space is a very traditional cruise line main dining room, but on a smaller scale. Booths line the windows of the room, with circular tables for groups filling the centre.

Due to the number of passengers and the small space the tables were both a little smaller and a bit closer together than was entirely comfortable, but once you got squeezed in you quickly forgot.

Waldorf Restaurant aboard MS Marco Polo – click to enlarge

I started dinner with a Seafood Gratin – served in a scallop shell which was a nice small portion but perfectly cooked. My partner Jimmy had a heritage tomato and mozzarella salad – he said it was delicious but wished there’d been more mozzarella.

Starters – click to enlarge

Then for mains I had the Prime Rib of Beef, served with Yorkshire puddings and vegetables and Jimmy had Duck a l’orange served with sugar-snap peas and croquettes.

Both were well cooked and served piping hot.

Main Courses – click to enlarge

As a general rule of thumb when choosing your breakfast aboard a cruise ship you either head to the main dining room for a la carte table service, or you head to the buffet for self service breakfast.

So you can imagine the surprise when we got to the Waldorf Restaurant, waited for a table, and then were told it was buffet self service. We were a little disappointed. The food was OK, if not terribly hot.

Pools & Hot Tubs

The MS Marco Polo has one swimming pool and three hot tubs.

The swimming pool is located on the main lido deck outside the buffet. Unfortunately the pool was closed for our sailing, I asked several staff members why but no-one was able to say.

The three hot tubs were a welcome addition, they’re two decks up from the main lido deck. These were very crowded during our sailing, I imagine partly because the main pool was closed. We managed to sneak in during the early evening and enjoy a drink whilst overlooking the wake of the ship.

Hot tubs aboard MS Marco Polo – click to enlarge

Disembarkation

We were due into the London Tilbury cruise terminal by 08:30 and we’d been told to disembark by 08:30, so you can imagine our surprise to still be onboard at nearly 10:00. I’m unsure what had happened, but it seemed like something to do with the tug boats having trouble manoeuvring us into the right spot.

Luckily none of us had places to urgently be, or flights to catch, so we sat and enjoyed the sunshine. Once we were docked it was just a case of strolling off the ship.

From there we walked to Tilbury Town railway station which takes you directly into London Fenchurch Street. The walk took us around 15 minutes, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you had heavy luggage or mobility issues.

Disembarking at Tilbury Cruise Terminal – click to enlarge

Final thoughts

The MS Marco Polo is a very special ship. One of the oldest sailing ocean liners today, it’s wonderful to see this piece of heritage still serving paying passengers.

Although obviously dated she is being well maintained by the crew and at no point did we see anything that was obviously worn out, dirty or dangerous.

There are also a surprisingly large number of bars for a ship of this size and we always found somewhere to sit – something that can’t be said about many larger ships.

Service & Management

The crew and staff aboard MS Marco Polo were, for the most part, excellent. We had some wonderful waiters who quickly remembered our names even though we were only onboard one night / two days.

Unfortunately communication seems to be where they fall down…

• Not knowing what was going on with VAT – and every bar, and every guest services person saying something different until the oddly robotic stock reply started.
• We were told via email and social media that our one night would be ‘informal / casual’ dress code. So you can imagine our surprise to find out it was formal night when we boarded. We had to show our emails and tweets from CMV to the guest services staff and waiters to be allowed access to the dining room in our non-formal attire.
• We were told the hot tubs would be open until 8pm, but we were kicked out at 6pm after waiting all day to get in them – and no-one was able to tell us why the main pool was closed.
• Speaking to other guests who were finishing a three-week sailing they had no idea 300 extra guests would join them for the final night – and they weren’t all too happy.

All in all…

We had a fun couple of days aboard CMV’s MS Marco Polo. It was an enjoyable 24 hours aboard a vintage ocean liner, a truly unique experience that we’re all glad we had.

Due to the smaller size and lack of variety of restaurants and leisure facilities I don’t think I could see myself choosing MS Marco Polo for a full week long cruise, but I’d happily spend another weekend aboard.

If you’re thinking about sailing on this unique ocean liner I’d think about doing it soon, because I don’t know how long she’ll be around.

If this was helpful to you consider sharing it using the buttons below. Have you sailed on Marco Polo before? What’re your thoughts on CMV? Do you prefer smaller vintage ships or the newer larger liners? Got a question I haven’t answered here? Feel free to leave a comment, or contact me on twitter at  @CruisingWithTom or Instagram at @TomLovesCruising

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Marco Polo Sea Cruises

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

MARCO POLO SEA CRUISES: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• Faliraki Harbour
• Reservations: 00306947282616 fließend Deutsch • 6943283147 fluent English
• Departure time: 11:00

• 3 HOUR BOAT TRIP
• BAY CRUISE WITH BBQ
• RHODES BEAUTY SPOTS

Latest News

Home Uncategorized MARCO POLO BOAT TRIPS

• MARCO POLO BOAT TRIPS

PLACES OF INTEREST AND BEAUTY SPOTS

The marco polo boat trips offer you a fantastic opportunity to view places of interest and beauty spots from a completely different aspect. allowing you to discover,admire and take magnificent photographs in a relaxing atmosphere., 1. kalithea thermes-spa..

On the Marco polo bay cruise with BBQ our first swimming stop is at Kalithea Springs. Built by the famous Italian architecture Lombardi in 1928. Kalithea Spa is an example of majestic grandeur, with breathtaking decorative architecture which embraces the environment.

A perfect image in which nature, architecture and history have intermingled to create a unique and natural setting. The site is so magnificent that over the years it has attracted the interest of many Hollywood directors.

Films such as The Guns of Navarone with Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn, and David Niven. Escape to Athina with Telly Savalis and Roger Moore.

Agatha Christie Poirot with David Suchet. Are to name a few of the multiple films, series and documentaries that have been filmed in the spectacular setting of Kalithea Springs by entertainment companies from all over the world.

Join us on our 4 hour boat trip with BBQ and you will be able to view the beautiful picturesque scene of Kalithea Springs from the deck of the Marco Polo.

In addition you will also have the chance to swim in the chrystal clear waters of the bay.

The bay is very popular with scuba divers and swimmers as it offers an abundance of underwater sea life.

Use the snorkelling equipment available onboard to discover the wonders of the sea world.

2. TRAGANOU CAVES

A series of rock formations created naturally by sea erosion, a natural wonder of small hidden caves and coves accessible only by sea. The location has peaceful and rugged landscape of natural beauty. Local wildlife, dolphins, sea turtles and seal have been spotted in the deep waters approaching the caves.

Kingfishers and Peregrine Falcon also frequent the rocky coastline.

The Marco Polo boat trips give you the possibility to explore and discover the fantastic caves of Traganou, each one with its own surprise.

Every one of all ages and different swimming capabilities are able to enjoy this unforgettable adventure, with the help from our trained lifeguard and provision of swimming aids onboard.

The Traganou caves provide an all encompassing experience for nature lovers.

3. LADIKO BAY

Ladiko Bay is a small tranquil cove. Surrounded by tree clad hills and rocky outcrops providing a truly enchanting panorama.

As one of the most beautiful bays on the island, the small sandy beach is very popular during the summer months.

So, cruise with the Marco Polo boat trips to avoid the crowds. Relax onboard and delight in the wonderful scenery. Swim in the calm turquoise waters of Ladiko bay or snorkel in the bay and admire the fantastic array of sea life with our equipment onboard. A truly soothing experience at Ladiko Bay.

4. ANTHONY QUINN BAY

The bay has the name of the famous Mexican actor. The original name was Vayies. In 1961 the famous actor came to Rhodes to film the movie “The guns of Navarone”. Some of the scenes were filmed at this beautiful bay. He fell in love with the breathtaking landscape and wanted to buy the bay to create a resting place for actors.

Unfortunately, his dream did not come to realization, even after years of attempts and investments with the Greek government. Locals have gotten use to calling the area Anthony Quinns bay that the name remains to this day.

Anthony Quinn Bay is one of the most iconic beauty spots in Rhodes.

The bay is surrounded by rugged rock formations and flourishing pine trees.

This natural blend of rock and woodland provides a spectacular vista from all around the bay.

Not only is the landscape magnificent but the sea is chrystal clear with a glorious sub-aquatic world.

This is a perfect combination which creates an environment of extreme natural beauty.

The Marco Polo boat trips allow you to relax on deck and admire the breathtaking views.

Dip into the chrystal clear waters and discover the wonderful underwater world with our snorkelling gear onboard.

The Marco Polo boat trips

enable you to visit some of the most famous places of interest in Rhodes in a fun and relaxing atmosphere.

Avoiding crowds and noise, completely hassle free. Allow us to take you on a trip of a lifetime, a memory to be treasured forever with Marco Polo boat trips.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply To Comment

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

Recent comments.

Marco Polo Ship Info

• Click here for ALL
• Ship info and tracking

On this page you will find Marco Polo features, history, sister ships, and useful facts provided by Cruisedeckplans.com.

Orient Lines Cruise Line

General information.

The Marco Polo started sailing in 1965. Former names: none. The Marco Polo is registered in . The Marco Polo has 425 cabins. You can expect between 850 to 935 passengers on a typical sailing. This means that at the higher number (usually peak and holiday sailings) Marco Polo has a space ratio of 23.6. (A space ratio less than 33 means that you may find the ship crowded in areas. A space ratio greater than 39 means that there should be plenty of space for each passenger.) When this ship isn't sailing at capacity the space ratio can be as good as 26. The Marco Polo has 360 crew members on board. There are 3 passengers for every crew member on board. There are self serve laudromats on this ship.

Sister Ships

Accessibility.

There are 0 special needs cabins on this ship. These cabins have been modified for accessibility purposes.

-1 Decks

There are -1 on this ship. The highest deck number is . The number of decks with passenger cabins is 0.

0% Balconies

This is the percent of the staterooms on board have balconies.

Other Information

MARCO POLO was built as ALEXANDR PUSHKIN one of a series of vessels for the Soviet fleet. She was bought by British based Orient Lines for world wide cruises. Orient lines was later bought by NCL who in turn were bought by Star Cruises.

Marco Polo Ship Stats

Marco polo features.

CRUISEDECKPLANS.COM Use the input buttons above to go to the main page for a Cruise Ship or Cruise Line.