We cruise with Club Med
Iglu Cruise expert Richard recently sailed the sunny Mediterranean onboard Club Med 2. Read on for his first-hand experience of cruising with Club Med.
Hotel Stay – Opio en Provence
We started the trip with a 2 night pre-cruise hotel stay in Opio. Upon arrival we were escorted to our rooms by the waiting G.O’s (Club med reps are referred to as G.O’s). The rooms were well decorated and very clean with all facilities you would expect along with a mini bar.
I had a half balcony shared with the next room but the room was empty so it wasn’t an issue. You can request and book a balcony room, if you don’t you will have a half balcony like I did.
The facilities of the hotel are brilliant; there is so much to do. There are 3 pools in total, one of them in the kids club and an adult only infinity pool along with the main pool. There is also an 18 hole golf course with driving range and putting green. A full spa with treatments available, plus activities such as archery, tennis, table tennis and even a flying trapeze for you to try. Apart from the spa treatments all the activities are included in the price.
The food is really good, dinner is buffet style however it’s not your typical buffet. With live cooking stations there is plenty of choice and the food is of good quality. All meals in the main restaurant are buffet style; however the golf restaurant offers a slightly more refined experience. Again all included in the price just make a reservation if you want to eat in the golf restaurant.
Opio has numerous bars that offer a wide selection of drinks (again all inclusive). The nightclub stays open until the last man drops.
The team of G.Os are really what makes Opio special they put on all sorts of shows along with what they call “Crazy Signs” set dance routines they put on at random times. The G.O’s are encouraged to interact with guests as much as possible. They sit with you at dinner and even come to the bar/night club with you. They are always around if you need them but they are not in your face, their main job is to make sure guests enjoy themselves.
Club Med 2 cruise
Cabins and Restaurants
All cabins are spacious with big porthole windows offering spectacular ocean views. Cabins are cleaned about 3 times a day. I found the corridors to be a bit dark but the cabins were bright with light décor.
Club Med 2 has two restaurants; we ate at the main restaurant every night due to the size of our group. The muster drill was delayed and due to this it put the kitchen behind so service was a bit slow on the first night. The second night was back on track and much better. The food was very good with always a fish option, meat option and plenty of other choices too. The desserts were fantastic.
Activities and Entertainment
Water sports are a big attraction for this cruise, the ship has a self-contained water sports marina that comes down whenever the ship tenders. Due to this, the ship tenders wherever possible.
The sports on offer are water skiing, wake boarding, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and sailing. There is plenty of equipment so you are never waiting too long to have a go and all the tuition is free.
The evening entertainment is what makes the ship in my opinion. There is a small theatre that offers a few shows which are ok but the real evening entertainment happens at the bars at the back of the ship. Club med lay on various themed evenings and these are the events that people look forward to the most. The main event is White Night; they decorate the open deck and have the five sails out. With plenty of drinks, music and once again “crazy signs”. Even the officers of the ship come to these events and party with all the guests. The bars should close at 2am however this is not enforced and the barmen go with the vibe of the guests. The inclusive drinks are premium brands and after 6pm even the Champagne is all inclusive.
The real plus for Club Med throughout the cruise and stay was the G.O team. They are always on hand and really go above and beyond to make sure guests have a great time. They create an atmosphere where everyone is relaxed and enjoying their holiday.
Got a question about Richard’s experience? Ask us in the comments below