Cruisemeister2002

Wouldn't have mattered on Ventura Caribbean and USA departure 02/03/23 as she had arrived 5 hours late due to a supposed refit. Which piece of carpet they had changed to account for this delay I am not sure, but apparently it was done in Germany ? But there were still British workers fitting carpets several days after departure as we meet them in a lift with buckets marked do not move on the lids and they explained they were about to fit carpets in the staff quarters. Suffice to say having to queue outside the terminal building along with thousands of others and baggage piled up everywhere. The complimentary lunch was extended to 3 p.m. but we still didn't make it in time. But if the fare dished up by the MDR throughout the cruise was anything to go by it was just as well we missed it as I can only recall 4 meals, 3 in Sindu and 1 in the Beach house that I would class as good. Ventura didn't set sail until 11.30 p.m. The cruise was frankly a nightmare. I am giving P&O one last chance next year on Arcadia. Then I will either cease cruising or go somewhere else.

Best to put the dubbin on after you get out of bed and not before getting in.

Whilst I am highly unlikely to ever purchase a drinks package. I cannot understand the logic by P&O that restricts the cost of a drink to £6.95. Whilst I am aware that there has to be some sort of restriction otherwise you'd probably have people quaffing champagne from morn to night and also that when going abroad to these package type holidays the drinks aren't branded, why does there have to be such a strict limit on consumption and what is drunk by P&O. Is it because their cruises in the main are cheaper than many competitors and they make up the difference by charging more for drinks and the standard of fare in the MDR's isn't what it was so as to steer passengers to places like Sindu and the Glass House ?

Appreciate your reply. In answer to your remarks regarding being fat I am 6ft 2" and around 18.5 stones. Perhaps I was just lucky. really don't know. A few weeks ago also bought a pair of jeans from a fairly local charity shop. They still had their Maine (Debenhams) label on them at £30. Got them for £6.99. Don't get me wrong, most of my clothes are purchased new. The most expensive being a Crombie coat I paid £600 for in their January sales. Mind you the same coat is now £800 or maybe a bit more.

Seconds out, ROUND TWO. Formal or no formal. Where people have stated the cost which can be restrictive there are ways around this. My first cruise back in 2002 I didn't know whether I would like it or not. So I hired a tux. Suffice to say I fell in love with cruising and bought a very good quality tux jacket from the ship we were on. Have to say the quality of one's available on the ships now are nowhere near the quality. Whilst some will say " I don't do charity shops" which I have already had aimed at me by another forum writer you can get very good tuxedo's from charity shops. I have a black one which cost me £15. My wife has picked up several cocktail type dresses costing new several hundreds of pounds for £20-£30. I have bought brand new shoes for a fraction of their original price. In fact probably 8 or 9 years ago I got a pair of Loakes brogues for £69. Retailing at just under £200 and recently bought a very smart blue suede jacket with black lapels which still had the price on it for £80. Cost the seller £149. I have also bought cumberbands, patent shoes etc for a fraction of their original price. So cost really shouldn't come into it. Which I see is isn't the case with everyone. Some just either don't want to or cannot be bothered with the hassle of getting something that's going to be worn a few times on a cruise and dependant on whether you cruise more than once a year, maybe only a few times per year. Some obviously would be content for formal to be scraped, but then many still enjoy the chance to look dapper.

I do believe if you have a dress code that there should be a level of smartness required for a formal evening. I have absolutely no objection with regards to this. If you, meaning anyone prefer to wear jeans and a tee shirt then there should be areas within the ship to cater for those that wish to dress down rather than dress up. I don't want an us and them situation, but have myself been in places where I have been quite smart and felt out of place because others have come in wearing boilersuits and jeans. So I see it as working both ways. Although I suppose there are those that don't care either way.

I do agree. I like formals, although not too many. If you have them, then enforce them in the areas deemed necessary. But have read on this forum of many instances where people are turning up in chino's and are allowed in. This is obviously a case of whoever is in charge not wishing to upset the individual but being prepared to upset those that have made the effort in the belief that this is the requirement.

I think it's a sad state of affairs when those cruising have no idea as to what to expect when turning up at an MDR on a formal night. It appears to be a wishy washy policy where those responsible for enforcing the rules that P&O state in their literature or online in some cases allow passengers in to certain areas and some don't. I don't necessarily see the wearing of formal attire as being a generational thing as some young and some old either prefer to wear it or not. I like a mixture myself of formal and informal. It seems because of this diversity with regards to the wearing of formal or not that P&O seem stuck between to stools. Do they do away with formals and alienate those that like them ? or do they continue with them and have those that prefer not to dress formally going elsewhere for their cruises/holidays.

On the same cruise. Hope to see you around the ship. If not have a great time. I am sure we will. Have been to most ports except Roatan and Belize. have been very surprised with regards to the number of excursions either sold out or limited availability. I booked ours well in advance. But haven't booked many as a lot of the excursions like the Everglades, Great Universal, have done before. Current temperatures at around 22C for Bermuda and between 25 and 29C Cozumel and Miami.

Hi, have received a further email after the first one which I flagged up as trying to be helpful and this one said I don't need proof on covid jabs, but recommend that I have had them and I don't have to do a covid test no longer than 3 days prior to cruise. Except as you say J301.

To be quite honest I think it's best to wear a mask in say a packed lift and maybe the theatre as I have often found even prior to covid that coughs are rife in the theatre. Once one starts it goes around. We both have underlying health issues and on the last but one cruise my wife contracted Norovirus on the last night prior to disembarkation.

I was really making the point of there being no need to fill in the online Health Declaration. This has only just come up as I went to my emails this morning expecting to find the form. Apparently some countries like Spain still require masks to be worn in some shops ? Does seem as you say that proof of covid negative test doesn't apply every cruise. Also many are stating that no one is asking for proof of certain things despite P&O website stating checks will be made and requirements for such documents are necessary. We will ire on the side of caution and take all current requirements according to the P&O website. The last thing we want is to be turned away because we haven't got all the paperwork.

Caribbean and USA on Ventura

Whilst not trying to seem insensitive as my ex Mother-In -Law passed away some years ago. I really did have a soft spot for her. It was a bog down the bottom of the garden. She used to say "Your effeminate" I'd answer " I am compared to you". When I got married to her Daughter she asked " What sort of wedding would you like " I said "Just a quiet one " She turned up with a silencer on the shotgun.

Hi Everyone. Just a heads up on P&O latest protocols. Received an email from P&O today. It states that " You no longer need to fill in an online Health declaration 3 days prior to your cruise". You do however need proof via a Lateral Flow test no longer than 3 days prior to your cruise showing a NEGATIVE covid test, plus either a driving licence or passport (Up to date, of course), date and time test taken.

We did a cruise some years ago on a P&O ship and they had a phone in quiz at around 5 p.m. If you knew the answer you phone in and there were some very nice prizes. I think I won either 3 or 4 very nice photo frames and I didn't cheat. But believe the guy who was running this quiz was maybe pulled up on it for giving away so much. I can't recall that happening on any cruise since. We did a Mr & Mrs thing another time where we were on stage and had to answer questions about each other. We won, but the wine we were given was only good for cleaning the sink in the cabin bathroom.

In all honesty I personally don't notice the difference whether I am forward, Aft or mid. Although many will say mid is where you should aim for if you are a bit queezy if it's rough. Funnily enough me and the wife go on a cruise shortly and I booked a forward cabin. But due to what I believe to be in the event of covid cases and isolation we have been moved down a couple of decks to a mid location cabin.

Thanks Jane. Bit strange that. My wife's name is Jane and my ex wife was Jane also. I must be the man working on the Jane gang ? When we do the pick up at Newmarket as I say usually about 8.45 to 9 a.m. we don't normally get to Southampton until 3 ish.

We are shortly going on a cruise on Ventura and our check in time is12.15. This is our first cruise since 2018 and obviously many things have changed. We pick up a coach at 8.15 from Newmarket. Normal times in the past have been 8.45 to 9 a.m. so a bit earlier than usual. But don't see in view of the number of pick ups enroute and a usual 1 hr stop at South Mimms how we could possibly be at Southampton docks by 12.15. Any ideas anyone as to whether the check in time is the earliest time of embarkation ? Obviously it cannot be a fixed time as P&O wouldn't be aware of road works, traffic etc.

Never had a drinks package and probably never will. Not that I have anything against those that do. But my wife and I (Sounds posh, but I'm not) aren't big drinkers. I am considering a wine package ( which incidentally contradicts what I have previously said) of 12 Bottles of Captains choice. For a forthcoming cruise. But rather than pre-book will decide when getting on board and seeing the prices of wine on the menu. If anyone has a copy of current prices would be grateful. When I say I wouldn't buy a drinks package it would be the one that's just under £40 per day. I will be taking the allowance of a 1 litre bottle of spirits onboard as will the wife. Our usual drinking habits would be a beer/G&T afternoon, maybe two if watching a football match, back to the cabin late afternoon and after a shower and in the process of getting dressed for the evening a G&T or Vodka and Tonic. Then to a bar about an hour before our evening meal and then either take a drink through to our table or a drink at the table with an occasional bottle of wine every few nights with our meal. From the MDR or speciality dining venue to the theatre show, then on most evenings back to our cabin. But occasionally if a cabaret artist we like we would go from the show to that venue. Sometimes having another drink, sometimes not.

Did you by any chance sail on Oriana the year it came out of Miami and shortly after the Captain announced that they had a fire onboard, which apparently was quickly extinguished but they had to inform the coastguard whereupon we had to return to Miami. We shunted down somewhere where we docked and were met by quite a few police cars and had to remain overnight, missing Key West. Which didn't go down particularly well with some passenger. Mind you missing Key West seems a regular occurrence as we missed it again another time due to the weather as it's a tender job and a cruise we go on soon has already taken Key West off the itinerary for what reason I don't now. It's now become a sea day.

You mentioning Caf'e Bordeaux reminds of a cruise we took several years ago. We were in the MDR at a table of 8, a lovely Scottish couple, and two other couples who's only intent seemed to be to outdo each other by using the Caf'e Bordeaux as some sort of oneupmanship status symbol. I found it quite funny and I believe the Scottish couple were on the same wavelength as we were. Don't get me wrong we like to now and again go to Sindu or wherever. But I really don't consider that I am special in any way because I go to those venues. We also had a lady and gent who was given a couple of sachet's of drinking chocolate and my wife explained to her how to use them. The lady was very critical of the fare served up in the Main Dining Room and insisted that they go to one of the restaurants where you pay an extra cover fee as in her opinion the MDR fare was way below Cunard.

I totally agree, My wife often come's out with the comment "He must be mad" when seeing someone walking about in shorts in the middle of winter. I wear shorts and hope to in a week or so's time when we'll be in the Caribbean and on deck get a bit of much needed sun. But I won't and don't expect other passengers to be wearing shorts in the MDR. But then I am at the old fart time of life and if you don't have the crotch of your trousers near your knees and your usual attire isn't tracky bottoms then I suppose in the words of my yoof I'm not groovy man.

Don't get me wrong. I am certainly not a snob. But to me formal nights, whilst I don't want too many are part of the enjoyment. I am aware that to many it's perhaps old hat and they prefer a more casual type holiday. I think companies like P&O needs to decide which way they are going and stick to it. Inevitably it will alienate some whilst others will jump onboard. Perhaps an idea would be to have a ship or ships dependant on demand with formal evenings and make it clear that dressing up will need to be adhered to except in a couple of venues. Then the remainder of the fleet does away with them entirely. The only problem with this suggestion is the itinerary's may or may not be what the individual wants.

And a tee shirt with dickie bow tie and black patent shoes.