Crown Princess Scandinavian Surprise

A lovely ship with very hardworking staff. However we had a surprise most days, not of the pleasant variety. We should have embarked at 4pm but it was actually during the early hours of the next day due to ‘late embarked which then became problems with the computer.’ Communications were neither timely nor clear. However we were all compensated for this disruption. Next day at Zeebrugge coaches waited at the port from 9am to take us on excursions. We eventually got away at 3pm to Ghent, having wasted the day hanging around; again communication was neither timely nor helpful. Our coach was then stuck in Belgian Bank holiday traffic, reminding us of home. The trip was rescued by running commentary from an excellent local guide followed by another excellent local guide for our boat trip. We were among the lucky ones as this massive delay, we were eventually told, was because Belgian immigration controls insisted on seeing passports of ALL non U.K. And Europeans. The Americans were hopping mad and only one of two coaches went on our excursion. My daughter, son in law and two little girls did not get to go to Bruges as the delay was so long. This was on the hottest day of the week. They actually sat in the coach for an hour in the sweltering heat when they could have been in the swimming pool. They got their money back but we got no compensation for our disrupted trip. What surprise next we thought. We made our own way in Copenhagen so Helsingborg Sweden was next – not so! Weather conditions were not looking good for tenders so we had to miss Sweden and stay in Copenhagen an extra day. No-one’s fault but yet another disappointment. Last stop Oslo and immigration control had all non U.K. And Europeans queuing all day; don’t think the ship organised that too well. The rumour was that the passport info. had been lost when computers went down! All in all lots of unpleasant surprises and, for some, 50% of disembarkations didn’t happen; for others none happened.
All of this disruption was not good. However the ship was not a disappointment. The food was good and lots of activities took place. On comfort, mattresses on both of our beds were uncomfortable. Our steward did his best and put layers of sponge under them but they really need replacing. Some of the chairs in the buffet have seen better days. All in all, not the best cruise I have been on (out of eight.) I think further compensation is in order.