Capnahab

With regard to excursions getting listed, don't believe the 12 week rubbish. We are booked on Oceana for the Monaco Grand Prix in May and from booking we repeatedly asked when the excursions would be available. We were told by P&O, 12 weeks, Future cruise manager on Azura in the Caribbean, 12 weeks, further questions to P&O when ringing about other queries, 12 weeks. I happened to be on cruise personaliser before Christmas and would you believe it, they were on, some trips were sold out and on wait list! My advice to you is that if its a trip you really want to do they you must keep checking because they don't know there a*** from there elbow. My wife and I love P&O and are 30+ cruises with them but this cruise was booked to celebrate our thirtieth wedding anniversary along with the Monaco Grand Prix and we could so easily have missed out. Keep checking as I say and you won't be disappointed, hopefully!

Has anybody noticed how much better Dis embarkation is at the end of a cruise than when you are wanting to go ashore mid cruise, dis embarking this morning was rapid, the port calls less so!

A little more on the potential name, if you hover with your mouse on the new ship image from the posted link, a text box pops up with guess what......Gala!

Hi

We stayed in A106 which is the equivalent cabin on the port side for our Baltic cruise in May. The balcony is large, we asked the cabin steward about restrictions and he advised us there were none so we used it as and when. Beware of the cabin though, its classed as a superior deluxe, but it only has one TV which is offset to the bed position which you have sit/lay to watch because the small sofa is on the same wall as the TV, the cabin hasn't got a separate seating area at all as the Superior deluxe cabins have. We would describe it more as a large balcony cabin.

I wouldn't worry too much about the new brochure/prices, take my advice as a 30+ time cruiser and loyal P&O customer, sit tight and wait, the prices will drop nearer the time of sailing and you will save money.

I have always booked early, including for Britannia this May but never again.

P&O don't want loyalty they just want your money.

If the cruise is more expensive nearer sailing then choose another cruise line, simple, I've been wondering about other lines for a while, now P&O have pushed me a little closer

Thanks pne1881 for your review which was much better than my attempt.

I'm afraid I came across (to some anyway) as a snob, that I am not, being an ex miner.

Anyway your review was just about what I wanted to say, not all of course but re-enforces the way P&O seem to be going.

I think it might be getting close to the time to try Celebrity?

Happy new year to all and happy cruising

We were told on Ventura in Nov at the Penninsular lunch that when Ventura goes to the Med there will be one formal night per week - dumbing down cruising again

Oh

Tattoo thread touched a nerve, obv other points not worthy davecttr

Hello all, before I start, Id like to say that we have enjoyed 30 cruises mainly with P&O across all the current ships except Adonia, other lines being Cunard and 1 cruise on Princess so we love to cruise!

This cruise was a 14 night fly cruise to the Caribbean on 22nd November - we did the same one last year and are booked again for next year, we generally book well in advance.

So the disappointing aspects:-

No complementary drink with the in-flight meal.

Plated main dining room meals with poor service, poor presentation and un- inspiring menu choices.

Average entertainment apart from Headliners Theatre Co who continue to be fantastic.

Wire coat hangers in the wardrobes(aren't P&O a 4 star cruise line!)

Dusty Superior Deluxe cabin

Average meal in East Restaurant

Photographs continue to be massively overpriced - £10 for a photo of you getting off the ship!

Pleasing aspects:-

Pre-cruise upgrades for my son and ourselves after raising price discrepancies - massive thanks

Marco Pierre White meal was a fantastic experience

Airport to ship transfer and vice versa

Headliners Theatre Co continue to be great

As a general point, we feel that perhaps Ventura should be re-named 'Ocean Ventura' due to the leaning towards increased tribute acts, an increased number of tattooed guests and just a general feeling that she is, shall we say, trying to attract the more common guest (sorry, I'm not a snob).Its hard to express without coming across snobby but it just seems standards have been lowered.

With regard to the prices, we have two cruises booked for next year - April on Azura and the Caribbean in Nov on Ventura so we'll see how the new pricing structure works with them as the dep date approaches

We still really enjoyed the cruise and will see where Ventura ends up with its marketing towards types of guests.

Hi everyone

Any first hand experiences of Bonaire and Curacao would be appreciated, we were on a similar cruise last year and absolutely loved it, Itineray slightly different this year with Bonaire and Curacao so any experiences with beaches, visits etc would be very helpful

Thanks :)