A Big Thank You! Interview with Voyages to Antiquity Competition Winner

Catch Up With Voyages To Antiquity Competition Winner, Martin Myers.

In cooperation with Voyages to Antiquity, Iglu Cruise hosted a competition with the prize of a fantastic cruise for two on board Aegean Odyssey from Bordeaux to London. To win the competition we asked Iglu Cruise fans to say why they wanted to sail with Voyages to Antiquity in one sentence. Over a thousand cruise fans responded but it was Martin Myers who was lucky enough to win the fiercely close competition. His winning answer was “Intimate ship, included excursions and tips, overnights in port and informal dining- What's not to like!?” Martin’s winning response may express everything that makes Voyages to Antiquity a cruiser’s favourite, but he hasn’t finished having his say. Here, we catch up with him after his dream prize cruise with Voyages to Antiquity and see just how he got on.

How did you find Aegean Odyssey?

We then boarded Aegean Odyssey again a seamless process and were escorted to our cabin where our luggage was already present, we then began to notice that within a few short hours that all the staff were not only incredibly friendly and professional but already knew our names without need for introduction, this blew us away and added another level to an already very high standard of hospitality.

How was your accommodation on Aegean Odyssey?

The cabin was spacious, light and well-appointed with a good sized bathroom. This was the first time we had sailed on a small ship and both myself and Lee were not at all phased by this, in fact quite the reverse as we had everything on board required. As we toured the ship in more detail during our sea day it became apparent that the standard of maintenance, cleanliness and decor both inside and outside were second to none, along with some well thought-out rooms such as the Library, Observation Lounge and Lido Deck where the Tea & Coffee station was a great addition.

What entertainment was there on Aegean Odyssey?

We were invited on one evening to pre-dinner drinks followed by dinner with Voyages to Antiquity’s General Manager Mr John Kain. At first, we weren’t sure exactly what his role was but the charming Charlene at the reception desk nicely educated us. Some fellow passengers were also invited and the evening was a great success, of note too was the friendliness of the other passengers and the camaraderie that was fostered whilst out on excursions and dining. The lectures on board were well presented. In particular, the one given by Mr John Hughes about the Eden Project was excellent as we are both keen gardeners and John's knowledge of plants was extensive.

How was Aegean Odyssey’s food and service?

The meals in both the Terrace Grill and Marco Polo Restaurant were faultless from start to finish. This was not only in terms of choice and quality, but in innovative menus featuring new ingredients and styles of cooking. This all lead to a sense of care being taken not only in preparation but in delivery as well. We also enjoyed the wines which were served with dinner and the level of service in both areas was outstanding with nothing being too much trouble as all the waiting staff were brilliant. Special mention has to go to Maureen in the Terrace Grill and Charleston Lounge and to our cabin steward Melody who made sure we were well looked-after.

How were Voyages to Antiquity’s excursions and tours?

On the second day after breakfast although the weather was not kind we did enjoy our visit to some of Bordeaux’s famous vineyards. We had a very informative tour of the town and saw beautiful countryside. Here, we were able to see the vines, caves and the processing area where the wine was made along with a tasting in a very pleasant setting.

The port of Falmouth gave us an opportunity to see St Michael's Mount which has long been on our bucketlist and in Dartmouth we were able to visit Agatha Christie’s holiday home Greenway again. This was some where we had been meaning to see, however, the icing on the cake was that in Dartmouth we were able to meet up with my mother and brother who live locally. We spent some quality time with them quayside in glorious Devon weather. The sail-away from Dartmouth was unforgettable as it seemed the entire town had come to the banks of the River Dart to wave us goodbye.

Would you recommend a cruise on Aegean Odyssey with Voyages to Antiquity?

Yes! Our time on the trip was fantastic from start to finish, all the arrangements were seamless and the quality and location of the hotel in Bordeaux could not have been better as the visit coincided not only with the tall ships being moored along the banks of the River Garonne but also the annual wine festival all directly outside the Hôtel Mercure Bordeaux Cité Mondiale Centre Ville, where we also enjoyed spectacular views of the city from the 7th floor breakfast restaurant.

What was your highlight with Voyages to Antiquity?

I could go on and on as on as we felt like we had won the lottery! But, we’d have to say the ship was by far the highlight of our stay. Our time onboard Aegean Odyssey was unforgettable for so many reasons and we would like to thank all those at Iglu Cruise who made this possible.

Want a similar experience to Martin with Voyage to Antiquity?

If you like the sound of Martin’s fantastic experience, you can check out all Voyages to Antiquities’ latest and greatest deals onboard MV Aegean Odyssey and find the perfect cruise for you.

Plus, be sure to keep an eye on our Iglu Cruise competitions page, where you'll find information about all current competitions and past winners.