A Christmas Cruise around the Mediterranean, on Costa Riviera, ended in mutiny after just one day. Dozens of British Holidaymakers, refused to sail any further on what they branded 'a floating third world'.

Cabins were flooded, corridors were drenched in sewage, the ship listed and diesel fumes were wafting out of the kitchens, they said. None of the toilets worked. Showers were also affected.

Last night they were flying back to Britain, angry and disappointed.

Will be thinking you in all that rain as I sit sunning myself, that is if we ever get out here and Cleveland what with all the snow - bloody white stuff!
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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Originally posted by gohaze:
Costa Riviera, built 1963 as Guglielmo Marconi. Steam turbine. Same vintage as Sun Vista ex Galileo Galilei, built 1963, and the SeaBreeze ex Federico C, built 1958.
...peter

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Funny that the real troublesome old ships you mentioned ALL come from Ansaldo or Fincantieri. The Destiny class Carnival ships that come from this yard all have had trouble.

The pre 1965 British built ships like the Topaz, Island Breeze, Ocean Breeze, Regal Empress, Fair Princess, Albatros, seem to have little trouble if any.

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Originally posted by sympatico:
Malcolm - What's a MUNINY ? - your topic heading.

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MUNINY is the alternative British spelling of MUTINY! I though that every one new that?

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Originally posted by sympatico:
You know people want cheap cruises and they go on these old tubs and then they complain. You gets what you paid for.

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Sympatico - Do you really think that passengers should not complain if they choose a budget cruise? Do you really think that all old ships offer poor experiences?

Lots of people have great experiences on 'old tubs'! Remember, the QE2, Rembrant and Norway are now 'old' too.

The problem is not the age of the ship, but it's condition! People can have, and do have, bad experience even on new/er ships.

If you simply got what you paid for in Cruising, we would not need this forum! Even if a cruise cost a $1, sewage in your cabin is simply not acceptable! As paddy said, it was not a cheap cruise anyway.

Passengers may well have paid more for their European Cruise on Riviera, than they would on 'Explorer of the Seas' or any other new ships in the Caribbean?

Do I detect a touch of Cruise snobbery?

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Originally posted by LizB:
I agree with Sympatico...you get what you pay for!

LizB, sorry but I still can't agree. We have had CruiseTalkers that have paid for a high grade cabin on the QE2 and been very disappointed with the experience! What most of use are searching for is a good cruise at a reasonable price - the highest price is simply not an option anyway

Malcolm, by the way, have you cruised very often. You seem to have the last word on everything, but I doubt you have cruised that much!!

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You are right LizB. I never claimed to be an expert, I'm just giving you my opinion - I may well talk garbage on occasions? You are very welcome to tell me so I do not take it at all personally. In fact I do find it surprising when people take this forum so seriously and get upset! (Sorry If I've upset you)

Diversity is the great thing about this forum. We have people of all ages, both sexes and different races and sexual orientations. We have people that have worked or are working, in the Cruise industry. I have the greatest respect for the opinions of my fellow CruiseTalkers -you all have so much knowledge and experience.

If folks have taken 0, 1 or 100 cruises, they are still welcome to enter into the CruiseTalk debates. There are people on this forum that have cruised for 20 years with the same line only - but that's cool too, if they want to comment on Carnival or RCL etc. they are also welcome.

I regard this forum as incredible informative, but most importantly it should also be 'fun'. I do sometimes play devil's advocate a little, and deliberately try and stimulate discussion with my posts - why not, we are here to talk after all! I've even been know to change my mind during a thread!

My disagreement with Sympatico is NOT personal! (I look forward to Sympatico's response - I actually enjoy it when someone provides an arguement that my views are completely wrong, which they sometimes are!) If I disagree with someone in this forum, it does not mean that I am angry or I dislike them!!!

Maybe I do come over as big headed? This is not intentional. I have the greatest respect for the opinions of my fellow CruiseTalkers -you all have so much knowledge and experience. I am a dwarf amongst giants.

I just post my opinions - be them right or wrong. Maybe I have got a big mouth (in a virtual sense)? If you don't want me to have the last word, please simply click 'reply'

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Originally posted by desirod6:
Funny that the real troublesome old ships you mentioned ALL come from Ansaldo or Fincantieri. The Destiny class Carnival ships that come from this yard all have had trouble.

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I don't agree with you "desirod6"; also ships coming out from other shipyards had problems: Millennium and Sovereign of the Seas (from Chantiers de l'Atlantique), Paradise and Grandeur of the Saes (from KMY) are some examples. All the ships coming out from Fincantieri had some problems with the propeller shaft bearings which cause a delay in the deliveries of the Rotterdam VI and Carnival Triumph, but now they seem to be solved.

Ryndam

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Originally posted by Ryndam:
[B] also ships coming out from other shipyards had problems: Millennium and Sovereign of the Seas (from Chantiers de l'Atlantique), Paradise and Grandeur of the Saes (from KMY) are some examples
B]

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All ships have some problems. The French ships, such as the Paris, Flandre [was called flounder, due to early breakdowns] and Normandie [not her fault] all burned up.

Before WWII a ship was good for 25-30 years b4 scrap. Postwar technology can give a ship 50 good years if taken care of.

American cars of the 1950's went 70,000 miles and 5 years b4 engines wore out and rust sets in. Japanese cars of the 80's on can go 300,000 miles and 15 years before rust sets in.

As much as I dislike the aesthetics of the modern cruise ship, I cannot fault them for technology. Maybe they can have a 60 year service life

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Originally posted by LizB:
I agree with Sympatico...you get what you pay for! You go on cruise line that has no money for upkeep then you are going to pay for it!

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Cheap? £1500 sterling translates to US$2140.20 US, or $3231.00 Canadian. They had it coming to them!

These prices are for a ten night cruise: Savona -> Naples -> Catania -> Sea -> Alexandria/Port Said -> Ashdod ->Limassol -> Rhodes -> Naples -> Savona.

Now, and this is just my humble opinion, but there are many cruises to be had for much less on the likes of Royal Caribbean, NCL, Carnival, and, dare I say it, the QE2 if you don't mind slumming it in "tourist class". But, no matter what the price, nobody, but nobody, should forced to spend what should be the happiest time of a very hard working year walking around in other people's excrement.

Merry Christmas,
Paddy.