ITTN’S Sharon Jordan was one of the lucky Irish guests (Michelle Anderson and Lorraine Kenny of Sunway, Gearoid Mannion of Travel Counsellors, Jean Cusack of Icon Travel, and Dean Quigley of Cassidy Travel) onboard Club Med 2 – Club Med’s only cruise product – which, if you haven’t heard of before, is a 5-masted computer-controlled staysail schooner and is operated as a cruise ship.
It combined the power of seven computer-operated sails, and watching these sails go up is super cool and adds an element of excitement – for the nerds among us.
Here’s what Sharon has to say about the experience and the ship...
With a slightly bumpy start in Marseille, with non-arriving luggage for some, and a country-wide taxi strike, our Club Med host Jemma Bridges, Key Account Manager for the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, eased the group in true Club Med style by introducing everyone and treating us to chilled rosé wine while we waited out the traffic delay at the airport. Once the mayhem cleared on the roads of Marseille, it was on to the ship aboard a luxury transfer. We were embarking on a mini-cruise from France to Spain and return. It’s what Club Med refers to as an amazing way to ‘spend a weekend’ and oh boy, do I agree!
On arrival to the ship we were seamlessly checked in, handed champagne and our luggage was promptly delivered to our staterooms. Every guest gets a bracelet on check-in that is your room key and used for any extras you may purchase. It’s really cool technology and means you don’t have to remember a key everywhere you go.
After check-in, the group ran up to catch afternoon tea in the lounge where delicious treats awaited along with some fabulous music from the on-ship entertainment.
It was then on to a navy and white pre-dinner party with appetisers cooked fresh on a bbq out by one of the two onboard freshwater pools.
We got to meet the Club Med team and dance a little to the live DJ. Think French, think elegant, think Club Med. We opted for the buffet restaurant this night, and those of us who have experienced Club Med before will know that this is not just any buffet. The food onboard a Club Med will always impress.
I started with soup, then I had a blue cheese soufflé and followed that with freshly cooked steak and Mediterranean vegetables. I wanted to try the fish and chicken, but I just couldn’t fit anything else in, I’d been eating since boarding! Afterwards, we hit the dance floor and joined in with the French as they showed us the moves to some of their more popular songs. I tried, I failed, but boy did I laugh!
Club Med is Premium All Inclusive and drinks are free-flowing and fun is always on the cards. I’ve never been on a Club Med holiday where the bar and dance floor is not full after dinner and this cruise was no different.
The next morning, after one of the most extensive breakfasts I’ve come across – from juice to cold fruits, meats and cheeses to the hot buffet area; this is an impressive spread – we broke off into groups to do a ship tour and we got to visit all the public spaces in more detail.
Club Med 2 has two restaurants – one buffet, one a la carte, 3 bar spaces, 1 indoor with a theatre area, and two outdoors, a boutique, a large gym, spa, and, in my opinion, the star of the show – the nautical hall where you can engage in included water sports from the hull of the boat. This is a real hook when selling this product as they have more water sport options than any other Club Med resort.
And, from a cruise perspective it’s extremely unusual to be able to jump off a ship of this size to have a swim in the sea. Some of our group opted in to snorkel and canoe. I didn’t, the wetsuits put the fear in me! There is also included windsurfing and wakeboarding and lots more that the crew will detail depending on the weather – the team here are exceptional and so experienced.
On day two we docked just off the coast in Roses, Spain, where we tendered in on Club Med’s own tender boat that ran back and forward all day. Roses is a small seaside resort that offers the opportunity to potter around, shop, stretch the legs and perhaps grab some tapas and sangria – if you can possibly fit in any more food! Which, of course, we all tried to do. Research purposes of course; it’s very important!
Later on that day was white party night, many of the group wanted to get back onboard and prepare for the festivities ahead. Some got their hair blowdried, and coming in at €55 for medium hair, this was good value comparing to other cruises I’ve been on. Others just wanted to make it down on time to meet the captain and his nautical crew (who always attend this event) and watch the 5 sails be brought up, drink the included champagne and eat the pre-dinner snacks.
Again, all cooked fresh out on deck by the pool. This evening we chose to go a la carte in the Monte Carlo Restaurant. Club Med partners with Ferrandi for this culinary experience, and it was another treat level. Starting with specialty prawns, then monkfish for the main, finishing with tiramisu and a cheeseboard paired with free flowing wine it had me dreaming for my bed. But, the disco was starting and it would have been rude to let the group down – or the French who had meticulously taught me the moves the night before. So, dancefloor and mojitos it was, until I physically couldn’t dance anymore, and well, yes the DJ ended.
All good things come to an end, and, after a leisurely morning onboard and, of course, some more food, it was time to depart for the airport. French air traffic delayed the flight, but I’m pretty sure everyone left the trip with a real knowledge and feel for this unique product.
My opinion is that while the ship is on the more rustic side of what we would be used to on larger cruise ships, and the cabins have port holes (there are no balconies) and the en-suites are small (but they do have amazing Sothys product and gorgeous fluffy towels and gowns) you really have to remember this is a Club Med product and, therefore, it’s premium in many, many other ways and the rooms aren’t as important to Club Med guests – who tend to be active, fun and, to be fair, barely in their rooms.
I would, however, always try to upsell to a renovated Deluxe room. I found these to be perfect. Check out our highlights on social media for videos on the room types.
Camaraderie and fun is the name of the game on a Club Med product – which of course, us Irish absolutely love. Unlike some other Clubmed product, this isn’t a family orientated one, kids over age 8 are welcome but with no kids club I wouldn’t see the point, I was told that there is a kids programme, but for me this is an adult holiday where you can kick back, relax, enjoy and think only of you, as the Clubmed GO team will do their best to take care of the rest.
The style of this ship gives off French summer beach vibes, relaxed barefoot luxury. It’s all about the staff, the food, the service, the water-sports, the inclusions.
And I, for one, will certainly be back.
