Victoria '82

Have to say I find the most anti-social behaviour are folks who 'taste' the food on display with their fingers. I mentioned it once to a lady who was tasting the chips and her husband almost punched me, he was so aggressive. Or the folk who fill their water bottles from the buffet water/juice dispenser. Don't they know about the Norwalk Virus and how easily it can spread.

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111 P&O cruises - 12 in the pipeline

Just a though folks - those of you driving down to the port and using CPS should be aware that if you arrive too early you will be diverted into one of the short stay car parks adjacent to the terminal until security deems it time to let you proceed to the CPS lanes. What happens then is those diverted, although technically first in the queue, end up quite some time behind those arriving after them. I've seen a lot of frustrated folks joining the queues behind me!

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111 P&O cruises - 12 in the pipeline

Just a thought - wouldn't it be good that instead of loyalty points you got 'club points' much the same way as you do with your credit card. That way you would gain points for each pound you spend on your cruise ticket which could be redeemed later against a future cruise or OBS.

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111 P&O cruises - 12 in the pipeline

Just so that I understand - if I get a code from the NHS site, am I able you quote this code to P&O reception and obtain the additional 5% discount on future cruises or, do I need to book through the NHS site to get the discount. Thanks.

After my Britannia cruise recently whereby I found the pillows in the cabins too soft, I may consider taking a pillow from my own bed...

 

I like firm pillows not soft pillows

 

Does anybody know if its possible to ask the cabin steward for firmer pillows ?...

Hi Cruisefan 2012 - the answer is yes. Tried this a year or so ago and they were not that firm so continue to take our own on. Might have changed now of course and may be different from ship to ship. Nothing like your own pillow though!!

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111 P&O cruises - 12 in pipeline

As the party with the Captain is in the Atrium no point in having an invite as you have no where to hand it in. Naughty people go to both.

I think there is a point to the invitation as it lets ALL passengers new and old know there is a party going on. Take the case of Big Stevie (by the way, great first cruise review), he's a new cruiser and had no idea that the Welcome Party existed, or why! so passed through the throng taking a drink or two with him - an invitation might well have said to him and others new to cruising with P&O, here is an occasion to attend. Thing is it must be very easy to miss out on an event when only listed in the Horizon paper, especially on the second day out.

It is interesting to see from comments that Ventura seems to be the only ship dropping the invite - perhaps testing the water as to eventually dropping it altogether throughout the fleet, which would be a shame as it is an opportunity to see who the senior officers are.

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111 P&O cruises - 12 in the pipeline

Just returned from another fabulous cruise on Ventura. Noticed that no invitations were distributed for the Captain's welcome aboard party, only a mention in the Horizon paper. Thing is that the number of pax attending were at least half that as when the invitation was sent out, I guess many newcomers were unaware of the event! I thought on our previous cruise in March that there had been an oversight, but clearly not. Also noticed that there was no video showing at the photographers area of the bash this time. Frankly I don't mind a smaller gathering as it is easier to claim a drink:) but wonder if this is an event that will disappear in time as a cost saver - bit like the senior officer parties - shame. Perhaps it's just on Ventura though. Folks, what's the experience on the other P&O ships?

Wow, lots of teddy bears .. does anyone remember the couple who used to take large gollywogs (can I say that) and take the 2 of them down to the MDR and sat them around the table each night .. spooky. I used to take a kite with me and fly it off the stern of the old Victoria, did it on a number of cruises until the Captain asked me not to .. stinker!!

Just packing for our next adventure and it made me wonder if we were the only ones to take our own pillows onto the ship. We like ours quite firm and the ones onboard don't do it for us. We have done this for many years and the cabin steward changes the slips as normal throughout the cruise. So folks, what odd items do you take to supplement your enjoyment, apart from booze.

It is always entirely possible, last year on Adonia friends we were travelling with were upgraded from a cabin to a suite at check-in which was fabulous for them. I have to confess we were just a tiny bit miffed as they were given a suite on the stern and our was under the bridge and, would so much have preferred the stern but none were available at booking. Anyway, even if the fairy doesn't pass your way, enjoy the stern as it is simply the best location. Well from our point of view it is. Good luck and enjoy.

First cruise was in 1956 on the old Orontes, she was an Orient Line ship at the time, later to merge with P&O in 1959. Second was the Himalaya in 1959 was 15 at the time and loved it. Nothing then until 1982 which was the Sea Princess, P&O not Princess, later to become Victoria .. totally hooked. Interestingly that cruise in 1982 cost £1600 each for a porthole cabin .. times have changed somewhat, with inflation that come out at a whooping £6796 in todays money. In '82 mealtimes were strict, miss breakfast you had to wait for lunch, mis lunch then it was afternoon tea and missing that you had to wait for dinner. No snacking available in-between. Love it though and continue cruising with P&O. Off on our next adventure on Ventura this Thursday and can't wait.

The porters are big strong chaps (and ladies), you will only be recalled if your case is soooo heavy that it stands out from the crowd. Be assured they do not weight each case individually as happens at an airport check-in.

Have a lovely cruise and don't worry about it.

Looking forward to your pics Joan. We were alongside the Royal P in Barbados earlier this year and her decks have some different configurations i.e. midships she has a 'bulge' from A to G deck which provides about 10 cabins on each deck a much bigger balcony. Also from what I could see, the stern suites on seemed to be larger. As I said, look forward to the pics.

Have just booked an aft suite on Britannia for next year on D deck and wondered if anyone can advise me of the size of the balcony. I know it wraps around to the side of the ship so the side part will be the same as a normal cabin balcony, but wondered if the stern part of the balcony and the corner part was much wider!

I have tried to gauge it from the deck plans and available pics but without much success.

Any pics of D deck suite balconies would also be welcome.

Many thanks folks.

Directly through the door on the Starboard side is where the captains cabin is and, on the port side the chief engineers. In front of their cabins is the bridge.

In days gone by when the senior officers held passenger parties, selected pax were invited to these suites for drinks. Those were the days eh! all good fun.

Thank you Jenny Wren, Charleyben and joeholiday2 for your excellent summaries. It is 10 years and more since we last traveled on Oceana and did enjoy the ship very much. Times have moved on with bigger balconies as in Azura and Ventura plus lots of alternate dining, but we are very much looking forward to the cruise.

One further question, I see that the have or are about to introduce a Marco's restaurant/grill onboard, has anyone seen and sampled this yet and where is it. Also which restaurant is freedom dining.

Thanks all

We have just booked a 35 night round trip to the caribbean on Oceana. We have a midships B deck balcony cabin and wonder if anyone who has done a longer trip like this on her, any comments? good or bad.

Would also like to know about her alternate dining venues.

Thanks for your help

Thing is when we started cruising cabin stewards would have a max of 10 cabins to look after, now it is between 20 and 22. Trying to look after that number must be a trial and while some folk might want their cabin prioritised its not really fair, and then mark them down on the Q&A. Excellent on all cabins does not give them an additional bonus, it gives them a living .. mark them down for little reason and they really do lose out.

These guys really do work hard seven days a week and to lose their auto tip because just 3 folk take umbrage for little reason, it is unfair.

For my money I have always given a little extra but from our next cruise I will cancel the auto tip, get £150 from reception (2 weeks) and give it to the people who have given me good service.

Having completed in excess of 100 P&O cruises I now know that the tipping pool is only shared with those who's questionnaire shows excellent apart from the 2 passengers who might regard their service less than.

Does P&O subsidise the tipping pool, of course not, they make the service targets really high so that only the best as per the Q&A get the tips .. the rest of our money stays in the pool.

Another flyer has been that the steward has to reveal what he gets in tips from those who cancel the auto tip .. this is not the case at all.

I have to say that I believe in the auto tipping system .. well I did until a recent cruise. Speaking to a cabin steward .. not ours but a lad we had known from before .. he was saying his biggest worry was the Q&A form .. if 3 out of his 20 cabins mark him down as less than excellent he loses his bonus (our tips from the pool) from ALL his passengers. He was saying that some folk are really awful and try as he does to go beyond passenger expectations, if they mark him down he loses out terribly.

So, I guess at least if you cancel auto tips and give an envelop at the end of a cruise you can be content that at least your tip has been received.

Just a little concerned that the Britannia has no promenade deck and little deck space for sun lounging. I heard a roamer that there would be less than 1000 sun beds for the 3600 passengers on board! If this is the case, I can see a lot of early morning towels and books being left to reserve beds, and wonder how P&O will handle this. Guess it will be okay on port days, but days at sea, ummmmm fisticuffs come to mind.