jodylynn007
Contributor
REVIEW PART I
BAIT AND SWITCH: Oceanic III, Tubbatatha, Philippines - to be fair, the reef itself and the diving was lovely. If you choose to visit this area, you will not be disappointed. Just DO NOT book your holiday through All Star Liveaboards or onboard either boat owned by Mr. Lars Chua: the Oceanic III or Stella Maris (as they are dishonest and untrustworthy).
MY REVIEW of a completely misrepresented vacation sold to us by All Star Liveaboards aboard the Oceanic III vessel (boat owned by Mr. Lars Chua) to Tubbataha, Philippines, May 9 to 22, 2019.
There were so many issues and I know this review is going to be terribly long, but I wrestle with what to cut out in order to shorten it and what needs to be left in so that others can learn from our experience.
BACKGROUND
We contacted All Star Liveaboards attempting to book two one week back to back trips aboard the Stella Maris. As it turned out, that boat apparently booked up during the dates we wished to visit and it was suggested that we book on their other boat, the Oceanic III. We held off on making a reservation as there was not much information about that boat available at the time but several months later after still seeing availability for the Stella Maris online, we contacted All Star again and were told it was an error and they could put us on the Oceanic III.
To this day, I do feel as though it was intentional that no information for the Oceanic III was available and they just funneled guests calling for the Stella Maris onto the other less desirable boat. We were assured though by All Star that the “All Star Oceanic Explorer is a sister ship with a very similar design” … and is “almost identical to All Star Stella Maris and will be coming out of dry dock with a full refit this Fall.” However over the months approaching our travel dates and despite repeated requests for photos of the boat, none were ever provided, only many excuses as to why they weren’t available yet.
We booked cabin C2 as it was the least expensive and specifically asked why that was the case, we were advised that “the primary reason for the lower price is the low ceiling height and that it is a seated shower”. We were fine with that but did clarify that we would have a private en-suite bathroom and air conditioning.
When we arrived at the boat, we found out that our private bathroom was actually located one deck higher than our cabin, up a rickety metal staircase! I don’t know about you, but even the suggestion of leaving my room in the middle of the night on a boat to use the bathroom just wasn’t going to happen.
.... As my review was too long to post, I will continue with it further below...
@AllStarLiveaboards
#allstarliveaboards
@DiveASL
All Star Liveaboards (@allstarliveaboards) • Instagram photos and videos
BAIT AND SWITCH: Oceanic III, Tubbatatha, Philippines - to be fair, the reef itself and the diving was lovely. If you choose to visit this area, you will not be disappointed. Just DO NOT book your holiday through All Star Liveaboards or onboard either boat owned by Mr. Lars Chua: the Oceanic III or Stella Maris (as they are dishonest and untrustworthy).
MY REVIEW of a completely misrepresented vacation sold to us by All Star Liveaboards aboard the Oceanic III vessel (boat owned by Mr. Lars Chua) to Tubbataha, Philippines, May 9 to 22, 2019.
There were so many issues and I know this review is going to be terribly long, but I wrestle with what to cut out in order to shorten it and what needs to be left in so that others can learn from our experience.
BACKGROUND
We contacted All Star Liveaboards attempting to book two one week back to back trips aboard the Stella Maris. As it turned out, that boat apparently booked up during the dates we wished to visit and it was suggested that we book on their other boat, the Oceanic III. We held off on making a reservation as there was not much information about that boat available at the time but several months later after still seeing availability for the Stella Maris online, we contacted All Star again and were told it was an error and they could put us on the Oceanic III.
To this day, I do feel as though it was intentional that no information for the Oceanic III was available and they just funneled guests calling for the Stella Maris onto the other less desirable boat. We were assured though by All Star that the “All Star Oceanic Explorer is a sister ship with a very similar design” … and is “almost identical to All Star Stella Maris and will be coming out of dry dock with a full refit this Fall.” However over the months approaching our travel dates and despite repeated requests for photos of the boat, none were ever provided, only many excuses as to why they weren’t available yet.
We booked cabin C2 as it was the least expensive and specifically asked why that was the case, we were advised that “the primary reason for the lower price is the low ceiling height and that it is a seated shower”. We were fine with that but did clarify that we would have a private en-suite bathroom and air conditioning.
When we arrived at the boat, we found out that our private bathroom was actually located one deck higher than our cabin, up a rickety metal staircase! I don’t know about you, but even the suggestion of leaving my room in the middle of the night on a boat to use the bathroom just wasn’t going to happen.
.... As my review was too long to post, I will continue with it further below...
@AllStarLiveaboards
#allstarliveaboards
@DiveASL
All Star Liveaboards (@allstarliveaboards) • Instagram photos and videos