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Thanks for all your replies, as I said loved the ship, and if possible would have travelled out of School Holiday's, I also understand that cruises are cheaper and thus, putting it simply attracts a wider spread of the population, the downside is it also allows standards to have dropped without anyone noticing etc.

P&O seems to have lost the good old cruise feel, and more like a floating hotel than ever before, like I said aim olde school, loved the sailing part and fact you are on a ship not a floating resort.

Would say Britannia is a must if you have not tried her, in terms of passengers, standards have dropped across the board, but fighting in children's tea and other areas around the pool would have had you thrown of the ship years ago.

Like I said only small issues and for 14 nights had a fab time.......but enough to question sailing with P&O again.

Just a quick review of the ship.

Great ship if not now my favourite, love the style very elegant, great to see the Crows Nest pop up again.

Loved the rear Sunset Bar, shame I had to walk through a cloud of smoke to get there, opted for other side most nights.

Wish the child pool was more child like both family pools too deep.

Limelight club great meal, needs to be opened up after 11.30 as a nightclub.

Fellow passengers, decline in certain standards which would most probably stop me from booking with P&O again. I have cruised with them since 1990's and the decline now was larger than I had previously seen. Still had an amazing time, and for sure don't let any comment but you off from booking.

But when you see men wanting fights in Children's tea over wearing of no tops was one of many less than desirable episodes, with more than I would wish to write on a review.

Definably try Britannia but if you are an old time Cruiser, I think their are other lines with smaller ships that, that maybe offer a better more olde School cruise than I think P&O are now offering.

Cabins - Great if only balcony's wider.

Stairs only an issue if you can't walk.

Entertainment - Hit and miss

Food - Great on formal nights , again hit and miss other times.

Ports - St Maarten the best , St Vincent talk a tour.

Overall 3/5 And sad to say looking like my last Cruise with P&O .............

I would say that the Child gets a seat next to the parent not sure they charge you for this?, I know when we flew to the Caribbean we had three seats next to each other.

If any of you have them, a uk Charge card that is contactless can be used on the Tube swipe when you enter then swipe when you leave. Easy this will only be for UK charge cards / debit cards with contactless option.

I must admit I am a fool !! If I have sailed on the ship before which in most cases I have I tend not to attend the muster drill I check the muster station on the back of the Cabin door and bobs your uncle.

If its your 1st time on-board always do it.........or else

I have always been a naughty boy

I love 1st time Crusiers, as someone else said you will find some past cruisers who's 1st question will be,

Have you sailed on this ship before, its just P&O one-upmanship. I tend to not mention if I have cruised before.

Advise, check your table with the Restaurant manager make sure its ok you can always move, there tends to be a few arguments from people who have not go the table they want etc.

If you are freedom dinning don't worry.

Another good tip while many go to the Buffett to eat go and find a bar lower down always one open to escape the numbers of passengers at the Buffet.

Also have a walk around the ship while you wait, sometimes its fun to explore when you 1st get on.

If you sail on Venture there is a front Balcony open to passenger's hidden I forget which deck but its nice to stand on the front, not that hard to find but worth using when you sail in and out of ports.

That lead on to my last bit of advise, get up early for good ports to watch the ship said into port. I still love coming into Lisbon, Port Said was always fun.

And Gib, some hate it I love it.

Have fun!!!

That's a shame,

I bet ships feel like naughty school girls, "Could have done better"

I have always said there will never be ship that fits ever person in every way.

In many respects, Britannia was what most wanted, Crows nest many moaned and moaned abut the lack of one on other ships now they have one people do not seem to care.

Look forward to seeing your view.

Great photo's

It's funny but I have been waiting for some good photo's not sure that the P&O website offers many for such a great looking new ship.

She really looks a stunning ship, love the look can't wait for my Christmas cruise on her.

I think I have spotted my fav spot already sunset bar at the rear love the look of this..........

10/10 for photo's.

Ps how were the stairs :p:p

Great photo's

It's funny but I have been waiting for some good photo's not sure that the P&O website offers many for such a great looking new ship.

She really looks a stunning ship, love the look can't wait for my Christmas cruise on her.

I think I have spotted my fav spot already sunset bar at the rear love the look of this..........

10/10 for photo's.

Ps how were the stairs :p:p

Interesting thing about ship size is that Oriana was one of the biggest ships out when she was first built many said she was too big at the time. I thought she was massive !+

I'm even seeing comments like I only like Ventura sized ships, which makes smile as when Ventura 1st came out people moaned at here size.

You got to love the cruise public

Kids should be put in a kids club and confined to areas not frequented by real Cruise Passengers.

 

 

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You love a good old WUM Lynn,

Now I draw your attention to the adults with sticks that always manage to make it to the left or food queue before everyone else and fail to say please or thank you unlike most Children I have encountered on cruise ships, and who in general are very polite.

Term time you will not really notice, you will still find Children on board of course.

Seems odd to advertise a ship like Oriana

I bet she needs a new engine!!

See this link

http://www.qpsmarine.com/custompage.asp?pg=ships2

Always been a niggle of mine, I tend to write it down on the cruise comments card but it never seems to improve.

I also hate the old half day approach I know they charge them a lot in some ports as my sister works in the shipping industry used to be Nav. officer on a P&O ship.

We had to get a GP letter as we were flying she still had scabs but the infection had gone, made getting on and off the plane really quick as people parted like a wave.

On a serious note just take a doctors note, our Cruise was also the Christmas Cruise so glad we got the note.

The stair issues will run I think................

But like not enough sun beds on Ventura ................

No Atrium on Arcadia ....................

We could go on and on.:):)

Hi,

Not Britannia but might help

We sailed on the Ventura with a 18 month old, and used the night nursery on most nights, very good and friendly staff easy to use, you get a beeper so that should there be a problem or your child is unsettled you can return back to the cabin. We took our little one down @ 7.30 and picked them up when the night had finished one night 2.00 pm !! but mostly 11/12. Means you can enjoy a meal and a drink without any worry.

We took a fly cruise and you just have to do the normal taste test of the milk.

But as you are boarding in Southampton you will have no issue in taking the powered on board.

Hope that helps.

Glad you had a great cruise, I have not had a bad cruise yet On P&O

Don't forget the shared facilities on Canberra........now there was a joy!!!

Who could forget......... Remember the small stair case down to F Deck and the size of the lifts!!! Wow we would get some moans about the old girl today.

Thanks for all the replies some sensible comments from most.

And as always, views can help make your judgment and I guess if stairs are a key to your booking criteria who I am to question your judgment. :)

Lets hope people turn to love Britannia I shall wait until I am on board later this year..................

happy cruising

So just read a few, lots of negative as one would expect from such a new ship with limited positive again it, seems to be the same when ever a new ship comes out.

As a long time cruiser 1st cruise back in 1980 my goodness people don't know they are born........... My 1st cruise with P&O was on the Canberra F deck outside cabin with covered porthole!! No carpet when you stepped out of the lift and water tight doors that closed when you entered port, one lady once said do people live down here!!

Now people moan about lack of stairs ............. wow makes me smile ships may not be as elegant today but boy do we have much better options on cruise ships these days. Having been on all P&O ships of the new generation it was the same when Arcadia was launched no atrium etc........... I loved that ship. So I shall keep my very open mind and chuckle at the reviews.... just happy to know that I will have carpet and a balcony on my next cruise!! :):)

thanks for reading

Hi Been on both ships so see if I can help.

Ventura 1st , Nice ship no major issues very British as its P&O so a little more suited to British than none Brits.

Some great features fine dinning and glass house etc. Deck space can be a little tight when its full so make sure you have a Balcony. Great little back deck for chilling, shows some good some poor. Theatre a little bland. Overall 7/10

Navigator great ship larger then Ventura and very impressive in terms of central Atrium which runs the length of the ship. A lot more things going on ie ice rink and crazy golf with Burger bar etc doing funky dancing, I found it a but too much in your face........... but that was not to say it was not a great ship. 7/10

I would say if you want more to do on sea days and you are active Navigator is for you, Ventura if you want to chill a little more and don't mind the British ship with its typical British taste etc.

Hope that helps.

Can't join you, but no Gib very well, ask if you can to do the inner caves not offered on the normal tourist sites, you get a guide to take you to the lower caves on the Rock.

Love Gib not everyone's cup of tea but for me its amazing and full of History.

Booked Britannia for 17 th - 1st 10 cabins in total was fun booking.

Back on P&O after a two year break, having sailed on the original Canberra!! My how ships have changed from that Grand old Lady.

I like the look of Britannia already, and if the lift issue is the only problem then I am happy!!

Can't wait!! woop woop

Hi,

Good review was also on this Cruise, Had a great time as it was Christmas & New Year and we had a family with us.

Will do a full review later, for us felt the ship should have found a port with Fireworks love it in Mederia

Was sailing with the Mum who has now done over 40 cruises many with P&O.

Good bits

Christmas Eve Santa .........and desk party !!!!!!!! Great fun

Christmas Eve Carole Service for Children .............so nice!!!!

Christmas Day Nativity Play ..........Made the Cruise

Comedian - Good Laugh!!!

children's entertainer better the Adults.

Ports all very nice been to all before but liked the last two

Food in Glass house Better than East which was poor and we sent main course back.

and MP White was very good.

Some great waiters on board and bar staff so top marks.

Bad.

Ventura is Ventura not my fav. ship but she's still got a nice feel with everything close

Found it a bit soulless at times almost a bit too quiet having done Christmas cruises on other ships lacked a bit of Atmosphere take Hawaiian night was a very quiet night seemed to be a withdrawn group on-board but that can happen on any cruise.

We like a good old dance and found New Years Eve full of teenagers not a problem as they danced but many were drunk and taking up a large area of the deck felt like I was at a college party at times.

Nightclub? errrrrrr They still have not listened and moved the chairs from the dance floor was very disappointing as we loved Le Club on Occeana

Captain was not the best........long story shall tell in my full review , not my fav have sailed with him when he was staff captain the old G&T jokes get a bit boring after a time.

Overall - Great Cruise , down to my family and sunshine and great ports.

Will be my last P&O for a while things still on the slide and too many people happy to go along with drop in standards. Next Cruise Celebrity crusies as I liked the look of their ships and the little touches like towels when you arrive back to the ship. Little things make a difference.

Thanks for Reading!!!

How about Ventura without the sticks........... now you are talking.

After sailing on the Arcadia and being aged 25 I would say it needs a few kids to sort out the moaners. Still they are usally in bed by 10.

Ps Arcadia is a great ship and ideal for the Younger Crowd. :)

Children may be loud at times but I will take them over the sticks anyday!!

Rude moaning just not nice to be around. (Please note this is not every stick some are quiet nice)