Colin Smith

Review of Cruise1st UK

We booked our "Holiday of a Lifetime" with Cruise ...

We booked our "Holiday of a Lifetime" with Cruise 1st which was a package deal Cruise from Sydney to Auckland, N.Z. to include four nights Hotel stay in Sydney plus two nights in Auckland.........wonderful, or so we thought!

Before travelling we requested upgraded rooms to at least a King, or better still Super king bedrooms.

Following a long flight to Sydney and arrival at our allocated Hotel, The Capitol Square Hotel, (there were three couples, so three rooms) all we wanted to do was to get our heads down for a couple of hours, but on entering our respective "Standard twin rooms" we simply could not believe the disgusting condition of the rooms, which, collectively we decided no way could we stay in such an establishment. The very worst Hotel rooms we have ever seen by a Country Mile and nothing like the photo's on any website!!!

We then spent much of that day seeking three alternative available rooms elsewhere for the four nights.

Our Hotel in Auckland, the Ascotia off Queens, was very little better, whilst cleaner, our standard twin rooms were cramped and uncomfortable with nowhere to put anything down, other than on the floor. (Slightly grubby carpet) Only two nights here so we put up with it, but the very worst Hotel we have ever stayed in. On checking out other guests were complaining also.

On returning home Cruise 1st did refund us some monies, after asking for documents to prove we had booked an alternative Hotel in Sydney.

However, when we requested they provide us documents showing the cost of the Sydney hotel, which they agreed to refund some monies, they refused, saying they could not give a breakdown on costs as the holiday was "sold as a package" ???

We discovered Cruise 1st DO NOT book the hotels themselves, but it appears they put out to tender, and we suspect they take the cheapest deal with no regard or knowledge of the hotels used.....so BEWARE!!

We shall not be using them again!!! (Would not allow me to post this without giving a star rating)