'Voyages of Discovery - M/V Discovery severe engine trouble fixed (at last) - Page 60

**neil** · 08-30-2008, 01:22 PM

Hi Ally

I still think they are running the mv Discovery into the ground as they say nothing on their website about her engine problems !

With all the different attempts at repairs it is obvious that a proper assessment has not been made of the engine problem by people who know about this make of ships engine.

The company which traded as Swan Hellenic, for many years, is now part of the same group of companies as Voyages of Discovery.

Swan Hellenic is now trading as Swan's Discovery Cruises and with a newer ship, which leads me to think that Discovery Cruises could soon cease to be in business.

Neil

**Ally** · 08-30-2008, 01:31 PM

Neil, if VoD are looking to cease operations, as Jane told me, why have they spent over a million quid on an advertising campaign for the Antarctica season?

It simply makes no sense to have a damaged ship, know you have a damaged ship but still sell and advertise cruises on it and conveniently forget about the problems that the ship has.

When my agent, Phil, first told me about this problem, I had absolutely no idea what it would become...certainly not the immense almost fraud that seems to be happening.

I had, nor have, no intention of putting VoD out of business as they seem to be doing that perfectly well all by themselves. It just totally devastates me that people who save for their retirement to cruise or those who just save up to go on a special cruise with VoD are being treated with such pure contempt by the company.

Like I said early in this thread, business is built on good reputation, and a good reputation is hard to earn, it takes alot of hard graft...you don't then take advantage of that reputation and screw people left right and center....you just do not do it.

The fact that VoD did not go public with the problem back in March only proves that they have never had any intention of being honest with their guests and that is absolutely disgusting behaviour.

David Yellow should resign from his post and anyone else who were in on the secret should also go. Its them who are bringing the firm down, no-one else.

pisces · 08-30-2008, 01:35 PM

Well done Ally!!! It was good of you to express your feelings like that. There must be so many people that are very angry and upset by the way they have been treated, and also many very sad (like me) when they remember the wonderful cruises that they have experienced on Discovery. It is essential that steps are taken to ensure that situations like these are not repeated. Cruising is a fantastic, safe and exciting way to see the world, and I wouldn’t want it to get a bad name. I can’t wait to get aboard again!!! Just a few weeks to go!!!!

**neil** · 08-30-2008, 01:35 PM

Hi Ally

Money paid out for advertising could lead them into a loss of any profit which would then affect the tax liabilities on the business.

Neil

**Ally** · 08-30-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adnil48

Hello Everyone,

We were on the Discovery in May from Barbados to Harwich via the Azores. Whilst on board we discovered that the ship had had engine trouble since the Amazon.. We missed one Caribean island and one in the Azores plus St Lucia and Antigua being cut short. We were given $200 per person on board credit as compensation plus 20% discount off any cruise booked before October this year.
Our friends had already booked the Nice to Venice trip so we decided to book the Harwich to Venice using our 20% discount.
A short time later we were told of the fuel surcharge. We would not have used our discount if we had known this. Also another friend who was with us on the Barbados/Harwich then decided to join us and when she phoned Voyages asked if the ship was repaired and was told it had been taken off a cruise and that it would definately be on four engines.
My brother in law then went on the Eclipse cruise only to find the engine had not been fixed and they also missed out destinations.
They were given compensation (not sure how much)
We have been on the Discovery several times before and always found it an excellent ship.
I just hope they sort themselves out.
We will not be using them again until we are sure they are running on four engines.
Linda

Linda, I really hope that you and your friends & family will contact Paul at the BBC with your experiences from the last 6 months. Your information will be absolutely invaluable to him.

Like you say, the company have had a great past. The problems, surcharges and the economical truths that you and your friends and family have received from VoD are exactly why I have got the media involved. You have all paid good money and received a second rate product with what are now very lame excuses.

It's totally unfair and your experiences and that of others on this and the other threads in the VOD section about cancellations and mucked up cruises from VoD are why I am not letting this go until either the ship is fully repaired or something gives along the way, and that could be the business itself.

**Ally** · 08-30-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pisces

Well done Ally!!! It was good of you to express your feelings like that. There must be so many people that are very angry and upset by the way they have been treated, and also many very sad (like me) when they remember the wonderful cruises that they have experienced on Discovery. It is essential that steps are taken to ensure that situations like these are not repeated. Cruising is a fantastic, safe and exciting way to see the world, and I wouldn’t want it to get a bad name. I can’t wait to get aboard again!!! Just a few weeks to go!!!!

The big problem is that there are many thousands of people who have been mistreated by VoD who don't have access to the internet, hence why I approached TTG, Telegraph and with the BBC on board too, I hope we can get this out to as many people as we can. Anyone who has paid out for a cruise with VoD in the last 6 months deserves to know that the ship is unfit and that their cruise could be impacted badly.

Bottom line is that we shouldn't be telling people about this. VoD have a duty of care to keep their clients informed of everything...good and bad.

If someone has paid out 10 grand on a cruise and they find out on this board that the ship is damaged mechanically...that is WRONG!

VoD should be honest and tell people the truth, not lead them on by saying it will be fixed this week, or next week or the week after that.

**Ally** · 08-30-2008, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil

Hi Ally

Money paid out for advertising could lead them into a loss of any profit which would then affect the tax liabilities on the business.

Neil

Yep...I wouldn't put it past them, Neil. Splash the cash on adverts knowing the ship probably won't make it, company goes bust...cash used for advertising is lost....yeah sound about right. Spread the assets around a bit leaving hardly a brass farthing in the honeypot for when the administrators come calling.

**neil** · 08-30-2008, 02:03 PM

Hi Ally

Someone knows what is going on and as Company Directors, if they are doing their job correctly, it is the Chairman and Directors of the company which owns the cruise ship mv Discovery !

With the way they are operating at present they are not doing their job correctly by keeping quiet about the ships engine problems until you have paid for your cruise !

It is a good job that all the cruising companies are not run like this one which has been keeping its customers in the dark for about six months.

I would not book a cruise with them in view of the way they are at present operating !

Neil

**Ally** · 08-30-2008, 02:11 PM

Something that David Yellow said in Jane's piece in the Telegraph has made me think something alot more serious is going on with Discovery.

He mentioned 'a litany of problems' with the ship, implying they were over and above the engine fault.

That part of his reply to Jane pretty much convinces me that the MCA should do a full inspection of the vessel as, and I know I am repeating myself here, if they have been hiding the engine fault, what else are they hiding that is wrong with the ship?

Discovery is 36 years old, the ship can't last forever.....what else is wrong with the ship that has caused David Yellow to say that she has a litany of problems??

**neil** · 08-30-2008, 02:28 PM

Hi

Perhaps Alang will not pay much for her !!

Neil