And that was that.  Yet another cruise on this fabulous little ship over.  To see more photos of the various ships on our travels, click here.

I just want to add a little post script.  We had been due to return to Marco for a 4 night cruise on the 8th May from Bristol via Rouen to Portsmouth.  My dad's 9 night 80th birthday cruise to Norway in 2021 had also been booked.  Marco Polo was his favourite ship and he refused to consider any other to celebrate the milestone on.  On the 13th March, cruising was officially suspended in the UK because of Covid-19.  Marco, like all the CMV ships and others, had to return without stopping, except for fuel and provisions.  Marco was laid up in Bristol.  On the 20th July 2020, Cruise and Maritime Voyages went into administration.  All the ships (except Astoria which they only chartered) were auctioned that October, Marco supposedly bought by someone with grand sailing plans but who actually turned out to be an asset stripper and she ended up beached at Alang on the 14th January 2021.  Many things were removed in Bristol, including her builders plate, Aleksandr Pushkin bell and the statue of Rudolf Nureyev by the pool.  It was a terrible way to end a 55 year career.

In just over 17 months, I was fortunate enough to have clocked up 24 nights on this wonderful little ship.  My dad managed 21 nights in 13 months.  People knock CMV but they never promised to be a luxury line.  Instead, they made cruising affordable for many.  Heck, Marco was half the price of the Balmoral and Black Watch Christmas cruises, both also 15 nights.  As it was a replacement cruise, we would never have been able to afford it otherwise.  Every other one was over £3000 per person.  Yet, in my experience, despite higher fares, those other lines make cuts to save money.  With CMV, there were no illusions or pretence.  What you saw was what you got.  They may have been cheaper but never skimped and were very good value for money.  I've had far better food and service on CMV than the likes of Cunard  I began cruising in 2006 and finally found my favourite cruise line in CMV.  The crew make a cruise and each time on Marco (and Astoria), it was like coming home.  If this virus hadn't happened, I could see myself only booking Marco until her natural time was up then I would have moved to another of their ships.  CMV are a great loss to the cruise industry.

I will really miss Marco Polo.  She was unique, having outlived her four sisters.  Her quirks will become the stuff of legend.  Her sheer, camber.  The frustrating way the cabin numbers didn't correspond with deck numbers, but you got used to that after a while.  She was fabulous in rough sea, pitching, rolling, corkscrewing like a bitch!  She was one of the last true liners and had an ice breaking hull.  She wasn't my favourite ship.  That place is reserved for Astoria.  But she is a very, very, VERY close second.  Her loss cuts deep.  Some ships get to you more than others and she joins Canberra, Discovery and Saga Ruby as those whose beaching broke my heart.  I never sailed on Canberra and only visited Rubes but they had tight hold of my heart.  Landlubbers don't understand.  There are more to ships than cruising.  It's the memories, the people.  Ships come, ships go.  It's the way it's been forever but we will always remember those which meant a lot to us.  Farewell, beautiful Marco Polo.  Thank you for all the good times and memories.  I couldn't have chosen a better cruise to end that chapter.  It will now always be more special than it was already.