Joe 4.
Yelp
Great Schooner, Unprofessional Crew
I've been sailing with the Camden/Rockland Schooner fleet on and off for 20+ years and looked forward to my cruise on the Angelique; unfortunately, it could've been better. I sailed 6 days in July 2022.
The Good - Schooner Angelique has a wonderful reputation, and mystique about her. Fully rigged with topsails, and a relatively newer construction (1980) she is known as a 'fast sail', and with her distinctive sail color she's easily recognizable from a distance. Captain Dennis is knowledgeable and personable. He enjoys what he does. The sailing did not disappoint, we had a great week exploring Penobscot Bay and its many islands, and coves. It's a family business and they seem to truly care. Marty was excellent as a fill in deck hand!
The Bad - Life aboard a schooner is spartan, to be expected. However, there are small things that make a cruise more enjoyable that were lacking on the Angelique that I haven't experienced on other schooners:
Seating on deck - even though she was constructed in 1980 as a passenger vessel 'for comfort' there is a noticeable lack of seating on deck for 22 passengers. To be exact, there are only 2 benches (with cushions) for 4 moderately sized adults specifically designed as seating. Otherwise, there are lifejacket boxes to sit on strategically placed to guarantee you will be in the crew's way regardless. Envision a group of 20+ senior citizens precariously perched or standing around on a pitching deck for 6 days, all waiting to scavenge any available seating any time someone moves.
Food - The food was mediocre at best, or just undercooked. The worst offences were ... a watery 'fish stew' (served on the first day) with no fish just a layer of congealed fat coating the surface, a half-baked tomato pie - runny tomatoes with a raw bottom crust, raw tuna for tacos left out in the sun, and the infamous breakfast casserole topped with raw uncooked eggs glistening translucently in the morning sun. The coffee served at breakfast was weak dishwater every day. However, I discovered there was another thermos of coffee in the galley for the crew - strong dark and aromatic. Hmmm ...
The Dish Pan - Passengers were told repeatedly, to make it easier for the crew, passengers were expected to scrub their dirty dishes before putting them in a dish pan. This was located on the floor of the deck, with a small container of water. After a few uses, the scrub water was a slurry of food. Besides the 'yuck' factor, this was a serious safety risk. Having a group of senior citizens kneeling on a wet pitching deck 3 x day is a safety hazard. Fortunately, there were no broken hips during the cruise, this time.
Cabins - I expected the cabins to be minimal, but I was surprised to find the bunks unmade - just a pile of bedding on each bunk. At the end of the cruise passengers were admonished to strip their bunks, empty their garbage, and bring the water glass up to the galley. Not too much to ask, but the request was poorly delivered.
The Ugly - Schooner Angelique has a culture problem with the crew They don't like the passengers. At best the crew were indifferent, otherwise they were openly rude. With the exception of boarding, and disembarking (after reminding us about tips) not one crew member offered an unsolicited "good morning", "good afternoon", or "good night", nor did a crew member ask, "do you need anything?", or "how is the cruise?" - instead passengers were admonished to wash their dishes, make and strip their bed linen, and get out of the way. "You're in my way", "You can't sit there", "You need to move".
There are two crew members who stand out for their hatefulness:
Bradley the cook takes the cake - he openly hates his job, hates cooking, and hates passengers. First day boarding - while exploring the schooner I met Bradley stretched out in the lower main cabin nose in phone. I introduced myself, and he responded, "I don't have to talk to passengers until tomorrow morning", and he didn't. The crew were often told passengers, "Don't talk to Bradley!" Three times a day he'd ring the meal bell and lecture guests about washing their dishes and staying out of the galley. If he had been a good cook, it may have been tolerable - instead his food was crap served with a heaping portion of attitude.
Heidi the deck hand - infamous for never changing her clothes and her snarls at passengers. When I introduced myself, she responded "I have 28 names to remember! I'll call you what I want", from then on she was openly spiteful. She bragged about being a 'bitch', and evenings the crew could be heard openly disparaging passengers.
The crew didn't work well together, during the cruise they tore 2 new sails, and the captain repeatedly lost his shit.
There's more but space is limited =0
As a small business, Angelique faces many challenges -but they could do better, much better. I'm sailing again next summer, but not with them.
Please let Marty cook!
