GolferT

1 hour ago, Tom Baker said:

Golfer T, Why is your night cap "cheeky"?

 

It’s just what we say where I’m from, not a clue why haha

1 hour ago, P-L-B said:

You say you have been on numerous cruises but just to be clear are you basing you calculations and savings taking account of the current low prices that P&O charger for their drinks compared to other cruise lines.

Yes I have only ever cruised p&o in the past, changed this year but will be back with p&o now

I understand to a lot of people it won’t be cost effective to buy the package, but for myself it saves me a fortune. I’ve been on numerous cruises and on average both myself and partner spend on average £100 - £110 per day, so that’s over £200 where as on the drinks package it’s £80 a day, save’s me £120 a day, times that by 14 (normally do 2 week cruises = a massive saving)........we usually have 4-5 large cocktails during the day whilst sunbathing or participating in the day time activities, then 2 drinks before we go in for dinner, a glass of wine or 2 at dinner, then normally 2 or 3 watching a show or doing a quiz and then maybe the cheeky night cap. The price soon adds up. I am by no means the minority in this either, I’ve spent many late nights in the late night venues on ships talking to fellow passengers who do the same, many who I am good friends with still to this day. We all go on holiday to enjoy ourselves and whilst some like a odd tipple here and there, some also like to have a few more. I actually stopped looking at future p&o cruises as the total holiday price was actually getting to High so I started to cruise other cruise liners who did AI packages. Now with this introduction it’s down to the travel agents to get booked up with p&o again. 

Well I think it’s great that there giving people the option. For me it would save us a fortune to do a drinks package. At least it’s an optional extra so if you don’t drink a lot then great, just pay as you go. Win win In my eyes, everyone is happy.........actually no sorry this is a cruise forum so no doubt someone won’t be 

We had to laugh on our last cruise on Ventura, as smokers me and my partner were sat in the smokers designated area watching the sail away when another couple asked if we minded if they joined us at our table, we of course said no problem, our cigarettes were clear to see on the table and after a while I decided to light up and the look of disgust we got from the other couple was histericial.....I don’t understand what there problem was, they chose to come into a smoking area, sit on a table with obviaouly 2 smokers and then moan when we light up.........you just can’t win.

I’ve booked 2 saver fares in past. 1st one was on Oceana and we were given 2nd sitting table of 8. 2nd one was on Ventura and giving 1st sitting table of 8.

We were told to go speak to the restaurant manger on embarkation day to ask for a change, you can’t miss it the que is massive haha loads of people wanting to swap.

Oceana we weren’t allowed to change but Ventura they swapped us.

I think it’s just pure pot luck as spoke to other passengers on waver rates and some got freedom when others didn’t.

Certainly can, was on Ventura few weeks ago and took two bottles of vodka and bottle of champagne with no probs, only difference now is they stock your in cabin fridge so you have to ask cabin steward to take them away to fit your own drink in haha

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Just got back off Ventura yesterday, you can check what the dress codes are for each day once on board on your tv in your cabin. Or like others have said speak to reception. The offers on board were first night epicurean was 1/3 off for any time that night, then next few nights free bottle of wine if you dined between 6-6:30 (this was for sindhu and epicurean) We took a educated guess to when the formal nights would be as like you we wanted to eat in the select restaurants and we got it right, but like people say this can change at short notice, however when we realised epicurean was a 2 hour dining experience we simply rang up the restaurant and changed the times etc, no problems at all.........I know the epicurean was full one night but apart from that you could always get a table last minute. We pre booked epicurean for 2 nights before we left, however we loved it that much we ended up eating in there 4 times haha well worth the money........any other questions just ask

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Always makes me laugh threads like this.......just because p&o give your a boarding time it's not set in stone, even they have said they will aim to get you on board.....it's purely a way to try and stop mass amounts of passengers arriving at once, what makes the system rubbish in my opinion is it's pot luck what time you get unless you have early boarding down to your loyalty tier (which I have no probs with btw) why should it be pot luck?? It doesn't take in to account people circumstances, I personally am travelling down the night before and staying in a hotel as I like to relax before my cruise and not worry about the 6+ hr drive to Southampton, as I get kicked out the hotel at 12pm and my embarkation time is 15:30 p&o are really giving me no option but to arrive at the terminal early. My car is staying at the hotel for the cruise so I can't drive round Southampton and don't see the point in going to the shopping centre or pub to kill time so I'm treating it like a flight, arrive 3 hours before departure and just chill in the lounge. If I get on early fair enough, if I don't then so what. P&o haven't thought this system out at all as I'm sure on a boat of 3000 + passengers I won't be the only one travelling down the night before and having to check out at 12.

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Turned block pop ups off and worked a treat, thank you [emoji3] i always thought technology was meant to make life easier haha I'm only 32 and feel like I'm a decade behind haha

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I've been trying to print my e brochure out for weeks now and it won't load at all, I can get on to the part where it gets you to select what you want printing off, then I click print and noting, I've tried on iPads, Mac book airs and base computers running on windows.......very annoying

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I'm sorry I should not have said that:) Everybody like different things.

 

My impression was they had moved their best staff to Britannia and the ship was very unfriendly e.g. I don't think 1 waiter interacted with either child the whole week. The officer that shouted at a toddler for talking during Muster did not create that family friendly feeling either.

 

Food was very poor(but i have heard better reports from elsewhere) & entertainment was abysmal with what seemed to be a very poor Cruise Director. Special dietary requests were far too difficult to get compared to elsewhere.

 

On a positive front the kids club was very good but outside of this the was nothing for kids to do.

 

Despite being marketed as family friendly I didn't feel it was and had a really bad atmosphere.

 

The were several issues with customer services prior to boarding which came across as P&O simply do not care about customer care and I had considered even cancelling before traveling.

 

However many people rate the ship highly including my parents so you should have a great time :)

 

I am tempted to book Britannia but our previous experience does make me hesitate.

That great cheers.

There hasn't been many reviews recently for the Ventura so it's good to hear from someone who was on board recently.

I like to get the whole picture from both people who loved it and from people who didn't. When we were on the oceana last year there was things we didn't like as well so we know p&o ain't perfect.

Thanx

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Sadly this was our experience too and the cruise was even worse.

 

Despite being tempted to sail on Britannia our Ventura P&O experience makes it highly unlikely.

Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy your cruise.......can I ask what went wrong?? As I'm due to sail on the Ventura in a few months

Thanx

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12 o clock the tannoy was put out for our flights cabins being ready, we got on the ship for half 10 so by time we had a little explore and two pints of peroni whilst exploring the bars since we were in Italy haha it was time to unpack.

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We did the same cruise last year flying from Manchester. Was very well organised, literally a rep every 20 yards pointing you where to go, from landing in Genoa to first drink in yacht and compass (first bar you hit when boarding the boat) was very quick and well organised

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Can't comment on others but we have no choice, hotel check out is 12 so if they give us a late check in its only option, I don't really fancy wheeling round the suitcases round the pubs haha

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We are travelling a day earlier and staying at a hotel that does the transfer to the cruise terminal as car stays at hotel so won't have the car, I don't mind a mile walk if that's what it is like as if we get a late boarding it will kill time from checking out hotel to boarding

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Hi

How far is the walk from mayflower terminal to the pubs?? We are also going from there in a few months and it's the first time I've departed from Southampton

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Just because thousands of people don't post on this forum doesn't mean they think the embarkation system is good

 

Dai - pity you weren't in the terminal on my last P&O cruise when all around people were complaining about the system

 

You are lucky you have priority boarding so it is not a problem for you but please accept it is a miserable experience for lots of others who now spend several hours on embarkation day hanging about hotel lounges, Southampton (with hand luggage) or the terminal building

 

 

 

Remember we are paying P&O thousands of pounds to cruise with them - its time they pulled the finger out. I would be seriously astonished if P&O dd not have some monitoring forums and social media. its time for them to act

If it was such a issue as what use are all making of it and the majority of p&o customers complained then I'm sure they would change it.

REALITY is there not, it's a small percentage that ain't happy with it........simple solution take your business else where

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I cannot improve on this sentiment, Dai, except to suggest you count the posters who have made complaints, instead of exaggerating the numbers in your favour, as usual.:)

Even if you get 100 complainers (which there defo isn't in this thread) on a boat the size of Britannia or even the smallest in the p&o fleet, seems to me the MAJORITY don't have a problem with the embarkation process. The percentage must be tiny.

Yet again it's the minority who want to shout the loudest and stamp there feet. How can people claim to be offended when you have expressed your opinion so others are entitled to express there's.

P&o if you do read these please can I come and work for your customer service team one shift, it would be the best days work I've done as I bet it's full of calls and emails like this.

We (British) find it easy to pick the negatives at many things, but rarely praise the positives, well I will repeat well done p&o, keep up the good work and I will certainly be booking many more future cruises with use.

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I accept everyone will have different experiences and ideas about how p&o should run there business.

I'd like to say well done p&o, it finally looks like your adapting and changing for the good (I'm not just referring to the boarding times). It's time to move on and change for the better. On my first cruise the freedom dining was over subscribed showing that the MAJORITY no longer want set dining times. The select restaurants were full as people would rather pay than do the old way.

I embrace change however it seems to cause up roar on here, I'm just glad that this forum only reflects the minority.

If I used this forum before I went on my first cruise I would never have booked it, it portrays cruising as a terrible holiday where there is so much to pick at. When in reality it's the best holiday I've probably had.

Anyways I've got some house work to do (seems like some people like to state what they have planned on here) so best be going

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As I have stated on numerous previous occasions, this is cruise critic and I have the right to discuss the embarkation process as I have now experienced it first hand. I am concerned because I would like to see it improved.

 

 

 

No, the Manhattan trip isn't relevant, but then again neither were earlier discussions about salutations with regard to boarding times. Perhaps I'm just saying that I have better things to do than continue this discussion. :rolleyes:

Yeah I've met a few people that like to do that on my last cruise.........

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Yes, check out my future cruises, no P&O ones there despite purchasing a Fcc. Not found a deal yet that warrants a £50 pp with P&O. I could spend that in an afternoon, if I could get on board at what I consider a civilised time. Anyway, off to plan my Manhattan prize trip.

So if your not going to go with p&o again why you so concerned over there embarkation procedure.......or are you trying to just slate the company to put people off cruising with them??

Also I don't get why you mentioned a Manhattan prize?? Is that relevant to this thread like as I must of missed that one??

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I know people will probably give me loads of stick for this........but if use are so unhappy with p&o boarding procedure why do use book with them.

If it's such a issue that it's made out to be on this thread why don't people book with the companies that apparently do it better.

I know one thing for sure I certainly ain't worrying about what embarkation time I get on my cruise in oct, if I get a late one so be it, I'm travelling from the north so booked into a hotel night before, so after checkout I'm sure I can occupy a few hours before making a move to the terminal.......I certainly won't lose any sleep over it.

If I ever get to a point where I'm annoyed at a certain thing p&o are doing I will just go and spend my money somewhere else,not complaining on a thread where nothing will change it.

I thought this forum was for help and advice.......but suppose the clue is in the name

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cool thats great.

so basically as long as i can prove that i bought them in spain/portugal then no worries is my understanding.

random thought but wonder if this will again change depending on the result of the vote in a few weeks. hmmmmmm watch this space haha

anyways thank for the replies has been very helpful

T