BornLucky

7 minutes ago, Centuryrace said:

There wasn't one, there was on my last cruise in January, but as I said it was a dead ship as far as the officers went, particularly the captain. 

If there had been a Q&A i reckon the first question would have been:

how come the officers / high Latitude members dinnner leaving Belfast had wine flowing while the rest of your paying customers werent allowed any alcohol until 11.40pm?

The whole day / evening in Belfast officers were notably absent from public areas.

Having got off Star this morning my main disappointment is that at no point did pasasengers get any hint of an apology never mind compensation. All we got was "thank you for you understanding".  The problem was NCL not the Ports. If you had said "SORRY" I might have been more understanding. NCL: Shame on you.

22 minutes ago, Jammy Bun said:

Could someone tell me which ships have the planetarium… about to make a booking and want to avoid if possible!
thanks 😊

Orion and Jupiter have the Planetarium dome. There are, I understand, no plans to add on any future builds.

I know lots of people think they are a waste of time and space but if utilised in the right way by Viking it can be a real treat. On Southern Atlantic Crossing last month the resident astronomer was fantastic. His Theatre talks, on deck stargazing and yes, Planetarium sessions were a highlight of my cruise.  The other dome shows were worth the time as well. The resulting loss of sitting space is hardly a problem given the multitude of quiet areas on all Viking ships.

8 hours ago, Australia08 said:

We were not on this trip, but we just disembarked the Viking Sky.  Each time we dined in the Restaurant (arriving between 7:30 and 8:00), we felt there were too few servers.  The servers were running from table to table, there was little relaxed conversation or suggestions about the menu.  They seemed in a rush to take an order and “get going.”  I think Viking is understaffing the Restaurant.  We went after 8:00 a few times when there were very few diners remaining, but then you had the issue of servers then cleaning the dining room.  I understand them doing this if there is no one dining in the section, but the spray cleaning bottles being used right next to your main course, is off-putting.  The Restaurant was not a fine dining experience on our cruise.

Had been following this topic as had intyerest in afuture  Panamana Canal cuise.

We disembarked Jupiter last week after a 21 day voyage. The Restaurant and World Cafe were extremely poor. Not just the service but the menus and food preparation way below previous Viking standards so it is obviously a wide ranging problem for Viking. Had been on the same ship a few months ago and it was great but many of the experinced crew had been moved to the newer and Ocean and Expedition ships.  On a positive note the Entertainment staff were excellent.

11 hours ago, majortom10 said:

P&O drinks package is not the worst offering of any cruise line have you seen Cunard's. A lot dearer to purchase at $69pppd with almost exactly T&Cs as P&O and yet the drinks on Cunard are much more expensive so limited choice within the $12 limit.

With respect I disagree. Yes the Cunard price is higher but they offer you a huge choice of properly made and presented coctails within the limit. On P&O there is almost no choice and the presentation is amateur. Basic P&O drinks are the best value and for most paying as you go is probably the better option.

19 minutes ago, Malibustacey79 said:

As you say…each to their own. There wasn’t a cocktail option for either of those drinks even if I’d paid, but collecting a Costa on the way up to the pool suited me fine. I don’t tend to have any more drinks after wine with dinner on an evening. 
 

Husband was really pleased with the selection of draft beers he could get so he was happy. But the cocktail lists didn’t compare to the other lines we’ve been on (Celebrity/Marella/MSC), included or otherwise. 

Glad you made the package work for you. I dont't think anyone could argue with my view that the P&O Ultimate drinks package is the worst such offering of any cruise line. It is the only line where I don't buy the package and have pretty much switched my custom to other cruise lines. Even when other Carnival Group lines have similar rules on paper they are in fact much better in terms of the choice you get. I do however agree P&O have a good choice of beers but they are only about 4 quid anyway so don't justify buying the package.

On 10/21/2022 at 5:56 PM, Malibustacey79 said:

 

It’s worked out better than I thought TBH, although I still think the ‘rules’ are often nonsensical. I’m usually a cocktail drinker and the included choices definitely aren’t great - although I did discover a little hack by getting a Fruit Cooler from Costa then ordering a peach schnapps to go in it, and same with an Iced Latte and a Baileys. A few issues with actually getting the Costa’s drinks, but those issues are non-drinks-package related!

Each to their own. I pefer the bar staff to make my cocktails rather than me doing a venue crawl to pour from cup to cup. How about getting the cocktails you want on your holiday?  Your compromise saves you a few quid, probably not a significant proportion of your overall holiday cost.  If budget restricted take some drink on board and have it in the cabin. Either way has to be better than calling a 25ml (dirty the glass) measure of Baileys in a coffee a cocktail.

2 hours ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

Hi

As I read it the 15 drinks limit is alcoholic drinks,it doesn’t include soft drinks,water or coffee.

Am i right?

soft drinks equals three fountain drinks: pepsi, pepsi max, R.White lemonade. Nothing else, so no e.g. ginger ale or milkshakes.

coffee is regular size.

38 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

No you cannot as Cunard have a limit of $12 on any drink and because Cunard bar prices are a lot higher than P&O there are many drinks not covered by drinks package and at ,$69-95pppd is a lot more expensive.

two rubbish cocktails permitted on P&O drinks package. Pages and pages included on Cunard and all properly presented. 

The problem is that P&O restrict the choice of inclusions far more than on the others. The Cunard package is more expensive but you can have pretty much any drink  you want. On P&O you almost have to ask what you are allowed !

The problem with the drinks package is not the number of drinks allowed but rather the absurd restrictions on what you can order and the way it makes you feel (3rd rate passenger). On every other cruise line I have been on I buy the drinks package. On P&O I did the last time but the resulting frustrations ruined my cruise experience, I will cruise P&O again but no matter how much I spend on drinks by ordering as I go it will be better than with the package.

I think a related problem appears to be that capacity has been cut, so more are showing as sold out quicker. If you are not in a P cabin expect to have a restricted choice. For some activities there may be a physical capcity restriction, but too many that are showing as sold out merely require another bus and guide. If you look at roll calls here on CC it seems to be that more passengers than usual are opting for third party small group tours.

You can bring unlimited soft drinks (and tea/coffee) with you when you board plus two litres of alcohol for in cabin consumption.  That is an easy way to have drinks you like, keep costs down, then pay as you go for some nice drinks in the bars / restaurants. Far less hassle than trying to work around the drinks package restrictions. I think one of the daftest restrictions I encountered was being told I could only have a single espresso coffee after dinner, not a double !

25 minutes ago, Malibustacey79 said:

I’ve gone back and forward a hundred times on this decision! Have always had a drinks package with previous cruise lines, and I was aware that P&O doesn’t offer a great one - one reason we’ve never chosen them before. But the price, dates and itinerary won me over.

 

I do think we will get it, but today I have seen posts on another website saying that a number of the few included cocktails haven’t been available recently due to lack of ingredients. I will be disappointed if this is the case as they don’t appear to be offering alternatives from what I’ve read and I do like a cocktail! But I’ve done the calculator and I think we will spend more if we do ‘pay as you go’. 

I suppose time will tell if it’s disappointing enough to put us off another P&O cruise but the constant weighing up of the issue is certainly taking the pre-cruise shine off things at the moment…

I would rather pay 60 pounds a day on drinks i want rather than 40 on ones that P&O deem to allow.

In all probability will end up up not spending much more than 40 anyway. Also heartening to me that I can feel a satisfaction from giving my money to a grateful bar owner ashore rather than endorsing the P&O Ultimate Frustration package aboard.

Unlike many other cruise lines I can honestly say from experience that booking a "cheaper" grade on Viking Ocean has zero impact on the way you are treated from the moment you step aboard. First class consideration all the way.

Why are you baffled at the qustion coming up? Most people asking are yet to cruise and are looking for a heads up from those with recent experience.

I also doubt anyone has a total handle on the full extent of the absurd restrictions. I was told on a  P&O cruise this year that some wines listed  in The Glass House were not allowed despite being 6.95. They refered me to the T&C's which mean they have full discretion on what is included / excluded.  You end up drinking what you can have rather than what you want. You onlly realise how bad the package  is by having the misfotunate to have chosen to buy it. P&O should drop it, ot at the very least stop calling it Ultimate.

The Ultimate Drinks Package is a bad joke. For the sake of your sanity I strongly suggest you avoid it.

Soft drinks equals fountain pepsi, pepsi max, R. Whites lemonade. Nothing else included. Only been a choice of two cocktails within the limit (although this has recently been extended a touch). The restrictions will drive you crazy. Unless you only drink single measure basic spirits / beer in high quantities, forget about it. P&O guest services always say they are looking to improve the inclusions. Track record suggests otherwise.  The P&O package is the worst  offering of any major cruise line. Enjoy your cruise and pay drinks as you go. 

11 hours ago, Fionboard said:

Drink prices are reasonable. No need for drinks package unless you are alcoholic! Drinks I like are not even covered by package. 

P&O offer good value cruise fares and the beverage prices on board are reasonable.

What they do not offer is a fair beverage package.

The rules are absurd and frustrating.

I like a beverage package on cruises becauses it means I pay up front and dont' have to worry about a big number on my end of cruise ststement. It means I experiment with ordering, can drink more as not driving or working the next day; and it is a key part of my trip. That does not make me an alcoholic.

Without doubt the P&O drinks package is the worst in the business.

OK, so I don't need to buy it but inevitably I will find myself analysing what I do spend agaonst having the package which will lead to more frustration.

P&O please fix it or drop it. 

I was told by P&O that they were looking to change their drinks package offering around June so it is possible they have something similar in mind to Princess. That said in my opinion they will probably do nothing at all and certainly won't offer anything free of absurd restrictions. On other lines I like the bundle of drinks, wifi and speciality dining. On P&O I will ignore the drinks package, do without internet and pre-book speciality dining. I have an Iona cruise booked but would predict that will be my last on nP&O given more welcoming offers elsewhere.

42 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Go to Princess and buy their package for £30 pppd, and that includes WiFi and gratuities.

And their choice of both alcoholic and soft drinks is far better. 

1 hour ago, Dinglebert said:

I don't think they areally wanted to introduce any sort of ultimate package but were forced to as the other lines all had one.   Their answer was to create one which is not value for money so that no-one actually buys it or gains from buying it.

 

I can easily make a RCI drinks package work due to what they have on it and their normal drinks prices.  P+O are very reasonable for their drinks prices anyway.

I agree that P&O prices aren't too bad. I will not be buying a drinks package on their ships again. The real queation for me is do I go on P&O or give my money to another cruise line that provide the standard of drinks package I am used to. The way P&O treat passengers who have given them money is a disgrace.  Sort it or drop it.

The "ultimate" drinks package is so bad i get inro a rant just thinking about it. The restrictions are so absurd you will tear your hair out. Unless you have no interest in what you drink it is beyond terrible. 

7 hours ago, johnnylikely said:

 

I don't think there was nightclub in Limelight. On our Feb Iona- the club house was the night club for late night drinks and dancing til about 2-3am

710 had a live band and was v popular- you had to queue quite early for it!

On recent Iona.

Limelight Band  with female lead singer was warm up for main dinner act (speciiality dinner pay-up)

The same band then performed another 40 minute set at 10.15 and again at 11.15. Very good. No booking required, just turn up. No charge. 

Iona is a good example of how P&O should guage customer response on dining arrangements. There are FOUR Main Dining Rooms all serving the same dinner menu. The booking app (which isn't even an app it is just a lonk to a web page) confuses then frustrates passengers. Why not have at least one dedicated to those who prefer to have set dining?

My main gripe is that P&O appear to have no interest in what their passengers think. 

I feel less valued as a customer by P&O than by any other cruise line.

1 hour ago, gsmt47471015 said:

Had a feefo request a few days after our Ventura cruise asking all the usual questions , not sure they take any notice of what gets sent back as some things never change despite numerous comments . filled it in regardless 

May well be a waste of time but I like to feel I have at least tried to do something for future passengers. For instance, I have heard that given a constant barrage of specific complaints from recent passengers P&O are about to relaunch their "ultimate" beverage package (it certainly needs to).

I also think the guest entertainers should be rated so that the best are invited back.

The request for feedback should be the first thing you get asked for before memories fade rather than just countless book again marketing emails.