Glad Bailey

As they used to do.

Have to agree 100%

6 hours ago, Eglesbrech said:

For me the biggest change is the food which is, in my opinion, nothing like as good as it used to be. Others disagree and think nothing has changed, it could be down to personal food preferences but for me there is nothing like the same choice, quality or portion sizes.

 

That said with the much lower cost for cruises now you can use what you saved on the basic cruise to have meals in the speciality restaurants. On the new bigger ships the choice is quite extensive (but managing to get a booking can be a bit hit and miss with the new “app”).

 

As @Bazrat suggests above it depends on what you need / like as to whether or not some of the changes will bother you. For example no evening turndown, charges for all room service, only one sit down afternoon tea per week (available every day in the buffet), no wine waiters, cheap biscuits on the tea tray etc.etc.. The changes while small in themselves do give less of a “special” feel to P&O cruises compared to the past.

 

The customer base has also changed. P&O set out to bring in a younger and more family based passenger demographic. They have achieved this and consequently the passenger mix on some ships and at some times of year don’t appeal to me. I don’t like overcrowded ships which happens when the rooms are 3 or 4 up rather than 2 per cabin. While that has always been the case the success of marketing means it’s much more noticeable. Choose your time of travel and ship wisely for your personal preferences.

 

The lower (sometimes very low) prices certainly make cruising more accessible across a range of people who would perhaps not previously have considered it and this can change the atmosphere. That change is neither good or bad, just different from years gone by.

 

I would not describe P&O as “downmarket”, it’s just a lot more basic and less special than it used to be. This “feel” is not helped by some of their lack of customer service eg long waits for anyone to answer the phone, less than helpful reception staff onboard or making customers wait out in the cold and wet if they arrive early.

 

With all that P&O still offer a decent cruise with food, decent entertainment and a clean cabin taking you to places of interest at a good price.

 

The balcony cabins on Caribe deck are NO bigger,but balcony

is twice the size as standard balcony on other decks

We board Britannia in 11 days time and there has been

no facility for pre booking in advance.

Assume therefore,it has reverted to first come,first served.

May I add two pennyworth as someone who was on this cruise

Simply put the question that I and I believe others on the cruise want

answered is 

Why did we enter the Bay of Biscay (and the only cruise ship to do so)

when such a violent storm was known about.

Could we have held back or even turned around to avoid the storm even

if it meant being late back to Portsmouth.

I am happy to accept that the Captain and Officers did everything possible

to mitigate against the effects of the storm once we were in it,but

could we have avoided being there.

So far Saga has simply said that they are sorry but they can’t control

the weather

SOD- Captain has just given us an update,and we should

be docking in Portsmouth about 21.00 this evening

We are in the English Chanel and sea conditions are smooth.

As part of his update the Captain read out a letter from Saga CEO

 Nigel Banks,a copy of which will be sent to our cabins later.

Apologies were given and the rationale for crossing the Bay during

the storm were explained (basically that La Coruna,Lisbon etc we’re not

available)

Some passengers were accepting,others not.

Nigel also said we shall receive another letter once home with offer

of compensation

Although we have been asked to stay in cabins,

when opening door for meal service,have seen some wandering about

Don’t know for sure but I would guess that the dining room is

no longer being used for the injured as we have been told that all

dining rooms and public areas will be available from breakfast to morrow.

I think the fact we are still having meals in cabins is just over caution

after previous problems.

Dinner just arrived - china plates for main,paper for deserts.

Assume any passengers who are able to take their own bags off

could disembark tomorrow night,but majority will have included transport

home so will need to wait until Tuesday morning.

Many thanks for all the good wishes

Dinner is to be served in our cabins again- still a bit bumpy

but nothing like during the storm

Good points

As a passenger on board,being told the ship can cope is not much

consolation.It was scary and very uncomfortable 

The Captain did what he could to minimise the effects of the storm,

but the question that needs to be answered is why we entered

the Bay at all and were the only cruise ship to do so

We have just been advised that we should be back to Portsmouth

tomorrow night.Lunch is being delivered to cabins.

24 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

I  refer back to a post at the beginning,  

 

 

Weather has turned out even worse than predicted and 9m waves would have been no fun, never mind 12m they hit. The question isn't can the ship cope of course it can. The question is should the passengers have to cope. Looking at forecast they could have waited South then got back to Portsmouth perhaps a bit late, but much more safely.  If the rumour of a broken hip is true then for many Saga passengers that's life changing.

 

A complete opposite of the ultra precautionary principle with covid, when Saga resisted putting books in library even though public health said risk was negligible 

 

Update from SOD

After a rough and sleepless night,we are experiencing less motion

although we have been advised to stay in cabin and breakfast will

be delivered.

We ‘hove to’ in the Bay until 05.30 this morning and now underway

for Portsmouth.Can’t wait to get off.

There have been numerous injuries including a broken hip.

Although the crew have been marvellous in helping us through things,

there are a lot of angry passengers asking why we were the only cruise

ship going through the Bay of Biscay in the storm

Seas still violent but hopefully wind will start to drop before morning

Dinner has just been brought to cabin - bangers and mash on paper

plates.

The staff are really going the extra mile

Thanks,will look it up

No reports on the injuries I am afraid.Let’s hope none are serious.

Have to give full marks to crew.

We had message over tannoy to say menus are to be delivered to cabins,

We are asked to fill in requests and food will be delivered.

Its horrendous for us passengers but must be as bad if not worst for crew

SOD conditions horrendous with broken glasses/cups etc in cabin.

Have been several injuries and we have been told to stay

in cabins sitting down.

Some are questioning as to why we entered the Bay of Biscay as we

still have a long way to go.

Captain just gave us a weather update.

Conditions overnight we’re worse than forecast but as we move further

into Bay of Biscay wind speed should ease.

Seems we are making direct for Portsmouth 

Captain is Franko Papic

If we are heading straight back to Portsmouth I don’t see

how it can take until 05.00 on Tuesday 7th.

All in good time the captain will let us know

SOD - currently off the North West coast of Portugal

Has been a really bumpy night.I can normally sleep through

anything,but not last night.

Eagerly awaiting Captain telling us where we are going!

Think I’ll skip breakfast and stay in bed awhile (missing a meal no bad thing)

Thanks FannyLiz,

Just getting ready for dinner in Coast to Coast specialty,then

Cliff Richard tribute act.Got to make the best of it.

Feel really sorry for those with severe mobility issues.Have to stay

in cabin and use room service

Is there room for two in Falmouth harbour !!

On SOD at present

Captain’s latest announcement,as La Coruna is closed we are

pressing on to the Bay of Biscay,but should keep ahead of upcoming

storm.

Should be bumpy though.

He hasn’t said if we are going direct back to Portsmouth or

stopping somewhere else.

Spending more time in cabin than usual but they are still

putting on shows and lectures in theatre.

Not long returned from Sky Princess and they had reasonable

space between 2 tops in anytime dining restaurants