yorvik

On Azura there is one socket that is always live, as the rest go out after you remove the key card from the light switch on leaving the cabin.

Not on Ventura as they dont have the keycard light switch

I cant think of any balconies that are obscured in anyway

You will embark on deck 5 which is the lowest floor of the atrium, ,and will have staff greeting you and trying to sell you spa treatments and speciality dining times.

Even the standard Azura/Ventura balcony is twice the depth of Brittania side balconies

Hi, this is our first cruise with 8 yr old grandson. We have only sailed Princess as a couple so would welcome any hints, tips sailing with an 8 yr old. We will be on the Ventura May 2015 on a 4 night cruise break. I know the layout of the ship is like the Crown Princess but how different is P and O to Princess cruise lines. We have a balcony cabin on C deck....likewise any info welcome. thank you

A fairly similar feel to the cruise, other than P&O staff are not as mixed nationality as Princess, the food menus are a bit more varied to US tastes, P&O being more like typical Uk Hotel type menus.

Beef quality was also far better on Princess.

Much better entertainment on P&O and less public announcements ,eg table top sales and the like.

Think that's because of Venice banning large cruise ships from next year.

I am sure i read somewhere the ban has been lifted, after complaints from business owners in Venice fearing loss of income.

Most people seem to be comparing the ships but the main difference is that Azura is sailing from Southampton and you would be flying out to join Ventura. If you're happy with more sea days, then go for Azura but if you want to be in the Med at the start of your cruise choose Ventura. We really love Azura (our favourite ship)but we'd also choose the Azura cruise, all things being equal because the Eastern med itinerary is more likely to include ports we've not visited already whereas with Ventura cruising between Venice and Genoa it's more likely to be the usual Med ports, which we would certainly have done. Decide on your preferred itinerary and the sea days issue and your decision is made.

I think Ventura is back in Southampton 2015 its Oceana thats Med based next year.

I am sure it was a $25 deposit on Royal Carribean and you had to hand it back in at the Towel Cabin each day.

Just back off Azura and had no problems finding a sunbed, the forward sundeck by the retreat was the quietest, less noisy from the Music and away from the sea screen, i did see people hogging upto 8 beds with towels, and leaving, but if i saw anyone looking i informed them to just remove the towels as the people had left it unoccupied, also for the first time 3 Pool attendents, NOT lifeguards ,but all they did was stand by the pool watching the kids,and chatting up all the prettiest girls.They even let children as young as maybe 4 into the Jacuzzis and maybe 20 kids at a time when clearly a sign says 8 Max and a 16 year old age limit

Two offers here in almost 20 cruises, from SDL to a suite ,BUT at an extra £600 each, hardly an upgrade, more like Upselling . Both last year on Ventura. We declined, would have considered it if free,lol

9 Times on Ventura = 6 Times on Azura

All previous reasons are good points of view, also less Jazz/Swing music played on Ventura in general. Both great food and service though.

I would only ever carry it on, as the cases are thrown around and loaded maybe 100 at a time into cages and unloaded again onto conveyor belts. As stated you will have to lug it up escalators, along long check in queues, throught security queues,have it scanned ,repack, and a long walk into the ship,and probably have to hang around till your cabin is ready.

After all that you will need a few stiff drinks just unwind before unpacking.

I heard that P&O were introducing a new tip balance device on their conveyor belts. Any case over 20kg would automatically be tipped into a skip and would not be loaded onto the ship. Apparently it's to do with H&S legislation and because of the number of slightly built female cabin stewards employed these days, after all you can't expect a woman to lift heavy cases can you or for that matter a man under equality and manual handling legislation. Disgruntled passengers can recover their overweight cases from the skip and carry them onboard themselves if they so wish. :)

Also you lose 50 Loyalty points per Kilo over.:D:D:D:D

On the Ventura refit they managed to slot in 16 cabins ,by cutting off half the Exchange bar,on Azura this is already in place, a lot of new carpets were fitted as well as a fair bit of upholstery too around the bars and restaurants and corridors.

No doubt the engines are given a good service after 5 years work non stop.

On Azura /Ventura. almost every balcony is overlooked from the Fly Bridge wings, and i am sure are also covered by CCTV cameras.

Where would smokers doff out their cig butts,and leave them????

I did spot a few puffing their Electronic cigs on balconies recently.

We have not seen Beef Wellington or Fillet Steak on the menu for maybe 3 years now. Lobster yes,and can have ordinary sirloin any night.Gala night the menu is now just a bit fancier than normal.Lemon for Salmon is now wrapped in a muslin bag.!!!!! :rolleyes:

Euro,s are fine,the ships coach tour will drop you off at the Mosque,which is worth a visit, then take you along the Corniche,to the posh area,and a hotel for a Cola or Mint tea, then drop you in the city centre and guide you to no doubt a souvenir shop belonging to the tour guides family.

If it rains the dockside is covered in coal dust and is filthy.

The city is large and is bustling with life, and traffic,huge coaches and cars mingling with hand pulled carts.

One villa near the Mosque even had its own Anti Aircraft gun in the front garden,pity those poor burglars,lol

Book the highest cabin in your grade and you MAY be lucky to get an upgrade to the lowest of the next grade, or even they may call and still offer an upgrade if you are willing to pay, nothing is certain.

I beleive its a good few hour coach ride plus the hike up and down again, look for videos of it on the Norway Tourist website, an English guy does a video of the whole trip.

The balconies on Oceana are cutouts within the hull structure and not added on like Ventura/Azura, so the opening is a rather large square cut out with rounded corners, and not glass fronted.The lower half is the steel hull of the ship.

Yes you can stay on your balcony for the sailaway.

Bruges is a pretty town to walk around, but is a good stroll to the Markt Place, which if you google it,it has a webcam. Do take a map because its very confusing street layout

I think texts on MCP are 50p to send and the same to receive ,so save texting till you connect in port at least. Free wifi is the way to go.

Apologies if I was given bum information or misunderstood, but we got the impression that the pool was part of the Retreat package?

 

If it wasnt then I dont know why it would be almost deserted on a sunny sea day?

It used to be on Azura but never on Ventura.

The front pool, 'The Oasis Pool', on The Ventura is not part of The Retreat. It is freely accessible, for adults, via the spa.

Or just by going down the steps,to it from deck 16, as the retreat fence is erected beyond that entry point.

Been on Oceana, Grand Princess, Celebrity Eclipse and Ventura, Ventura 4 times,so guess which ship we like best!! Depending on what time you go on her,like out of school holiday season ,she will feel a completely different ship,but there are always a good cross section of ages onboard,and things to do.

Alreday booked for her again next year. Dont worr,just go and have fun.

Rob:D:D