Windsurfboy

This was the tables on the side undercover,leading from back of the buffet to the rear teracce, there were about 5 tables either side. It was over 30 degrees so we liked the full shade

we just sat down at the tables outside without cutlery. It was brought straight away, along with a question what did we want to drink. Could then either order off outside menu , or go to buffet , choose prawns from buffet.

Pity the dining arrangements didn't work out for you. Contacting you when a table for two was available is something they should thought about. Haven't been on a table for 2 in P&0 as we used to like tables for 6. However Post covid gone for twos , so have been twice on a table for two in Cunard grills one QG one PG , both these were tighter than Saga, under a foot between tables. So even paying their prices doesnt guarantee space. Given all the complaints about lack of availability in P&O MDR on bigger ships, I would have thought they would be squeezing as many tables in as they can. Pay extra restaurants on P&O would be different of course, which is where we hope to dine on next cruise, but for food not space. I think you have to go very upmarket to get same space on cruise as in restaurants. We were on Saga early last year so thought being taken to table in grill was a covid track and trace protocol , surprised it's still going on. We only used outside terrace at lunch not main grill, but there you could choose own table. Never use grill at night didn't realise it was purely same menu as MDR. That reduces choice. Glad you found the food good , but if you weren't comfortable with the seating arrangements then that would ruin it a bit.

Looking forward to next instalment

Taking everything into account adding it all up , P&O is still cheaper than Saga. But if you are willing to pay for quality go Saga. The problems getting into speciality restaurants, may be the finsl straw for a high quality P&O experience.

It's a problem as you cannot get a table at the time you want, and the app says it's always full. If tables were available it would be a change

Was that for the Cunard fare, or early saver. I thought Cunard fare had choice of dining. The problem with Arvia is it's 100% freedom even for select.

If Saga stuck to mid week sailing, you are right no problem with slots. But not all Saga passengers are retired. Weekend slots hard to get at Southampton

Everyone on Cunard can opt for club dining with a fixed table , albeit two sittings in Brittania

On Cunard there is space for everyone in the MDRs. That is part of promise. That's why even Cunard Brittania is more expensive than equivalent P&O

A first class modern cruise terminal should offer direct access to ships , lifts and escalators to take you up to ship level and jetties to the ship that are level and dry. Cleary Prtsmouth fails these criteria. I fully accept your analysis why this was not possible using the current berths at Portsmouth without vastly more expense. However it is still therefore a major compromise. To be fair to Saga, one of the major advantage of Portsmouth as well as cost is availability which may be more important. I understand that Carnival and MSC contributed to cost of terminals at Southampton, they therefore get first dibs on slots. Given that Saga is one of the last to announce its schedule, it would get the leftover slots after all the other cruise lines which makes scheduling very difficult . I presume a long term contract with Portsmouth gives it priority availability. If the walk to ship was literally 400 yards , it should not take 10 minutes. The normal walking speed for a normally fit person is 3 miles an hour, up well until your 80s so 400 yards takes 4.5 minutes . 10 minutes is 1.35 miles an hour, extremely slow nearly half the speed of a 90 year old at 2.1mph., the average Saga passenger is not that slow. Although there will be a significant proportion who will need the bus , undoubtedly. As you say it may not be possible to make it safe and ideally covered, but don't dismiss it as to far. Less than most airports. On the other hand you have people sprinting onto a bus, with hand luggage in 5 minutes. At Portsmouth you will have to wait 10 minutes for the other people to check in and be ready, board the bus, speed will be controlled by the slowest. Gives every will have hand luggage for medicine, valuables, passports. Drive to ship, wait while everyone gets off. My estimate is it will add half an hour to process compared to direct access from terminal. Availability may be a pressing reason to move , but it's not as convenient as Southampton.

As a carnival shareholder, if that is true , that biggest seller is cheapest cabins, then Mr Ludlow doesn't deserve his bonus. There is something wrong with design or marketing of big ships if cabins that sell out first are dearest suites (smallest % only 1% of cabins) and very cheapest inside. Traditional cruisers who like balcony seem to on the main , but not all prefer the older ships. This makes it hard to decide on other things, e.g. balance of traditional MDR , vs diner , Quays etc , vs speciality restaurants

what I can't understand is why design a cruise terminal that doesn't have direct access to ships. No one would build a new airport without jetties to planes. They should have built terminal where ships berth. Or even if necessary dredged out by terminal to let ships berth alongside. Even if there are plenty of busses, loading a bus depends on slowest can take 15 minutes , similiary unloading. All for a 3 minute walk. Sorry minimum is a covered safe walkway, better with a travelator. Very bad planning and design. Roll on roll off ferries and cruise ships have very different requirements. They need seperate berths and port areas.. Looks like moving to Portsmouth a retrograde step.

I'm sure many Saga passengers are easily capable of walking 400yds if my experience of them pounding round deck and quite a few running/walking 10k is anything to go by. Many would prefer that to waiting for a bus to fill up , and everyone to slowly get on and off. All depends on weather and a safe route.

Lift etiquette. Thought you always let those with chairs and walking aids on first. However they are not the issue as not that many, it's the queue jumpers. Always thought you mentally keep a count and let those who were there first go first. You can spot the jumpers by their body language, my technique is to move quickly, get in front then stop, stand in front of them until those who have been waiting have got on. Don't say anything to them just say to others you were here first.

Agree, unfortunately if they restricted speciality restaurant bookings doubt if they would treat it as a significant change and allow you to cancel. The big difference between Saga and P&O is Saga restaurants are not extra cost. Historically the extra cost has controlled demand on P&O, it looks like this is no longer working. Saga by the way is not 100% strict with its only one booking per cabin , Butlers seem to be able to book more than one. Yet on P&O @megabear2 mentioned heard a couple in a Suite complaining that their butler could get them in anywhere at all. P&O will only do something if it looks as if they are loosing valuable business. The people more likely to abandon them are those paying select in dearer cabins and suites, who aren't used to the queues and for whom the price difference with other lines is smaller. The people P&O don't want to loose. The big question, do they ration and if so how. Logically they should restrict booking in advance to select fares, completely inline with historical , first choice of dining sitting for select.

I wonder if they could make a safe designated walk way , and the shuttle bus optional on nice days. Is bus stop under cover, presume still get wet walking from bus up gangway to ship. Not optimal, a bit third world.

Select fares are not cheap, they used to have benefit of first choice of dining all you get now is the cabin you want. Perhaps select should have some dining priority in booking fixed table in MDR, and also a couple of days start on booking speciality restaurants. Of course people will say it's not fair.

So the solution entails Guaranteed booking of MDR or other included restaurants Better food in MDR and included restaurants. This would entail perhaps more staff, more tables and better ingredients. All in all higher prices. But P&O need to keep prices low to entice people on biggest ships , a dilemma. Too much uncertainty, looks like after next and last P&O , back to Saga

Yep that's the way of the world, some people go on cruises, some can't afford any sort of holidays. Prior to the app, you booked on board, Suites , Liguirian, Baltic got first dibs, so it's never been equall. Perhaps if P&O rationed booking they might take a pragmatic commercial approach, giving priority to highest paying and loyalist passengers as it used to be. Restricting pre booking to select fares, to encourage people to pay more. Be carefull what you wish for.

Discovery first ship to use new portsmouth terminal what was it like?

Yes did look at Saga offers on website thst was my comparison

All I can say is our last cruise had a lot of availability similiar numbers to yours, however when we boarded, it was still nowhere near full. I see you guarantee price is back to orginal 35% off.

I asked that question on a specific thread about Arvia , unfortunately no one , not even @molecrochip had any numbers for how many covers in MDR and other included restaurants (excluding buffet).

Staying up and booking at midnight is one of the best bits of advice on this board. It's sad and a bit unfair on those that don't know. However I'm not that altruistic to ruin my holiday by not booking what is a vital part of our enjoyment. Firstly we love food, secondly the experience with booking included restaurants on day seems a nightmare. Like the Norwegian taster menu, Do they do similiar on other cruises, e.g. Spanish taster in Mediterranean cruises.