lynne17

Hi bee-ess. Yeah I'm aware of the Taster Dinner at the Glasshouse and really fancy a try. We'll wait until we board as we want to make sure we don't clash with the Formal nights, which we really enjoy in the MDR, and probably make quick bookings at all three - Sindhu, Seventeen and the Glasshouse. On previous cruises we've been on, the first night or two at the select dining venues was always discounted which is why we've not booked them via cruise personaliser which are all currently full price. Really looking forward to a fantastic cruise :)

Hi smokey01, we're on this cruise too. Cruise Director is Laura Bennison. Here's the link for all the senior officers across the fleet. https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/fleet/senior_officers

Really looking forward to a fab cruise. Only 25 more getty-ups - can't wait :)

Hi spf. We've already booked 3 excursions - Katakolon (olives and wine) Piraeus (The Acropolis - Crown jewel of Athens) and Zakinthos (Blue caves and shipwreck). The last one is already showing as limited availability. We haven't booked any of the speciality restaurants yet but will certainly do so as soon as we board and we know the evening dress codes: We prefer the MDR on formal nights and wouldn't want to miss them. I realise that they will be probably on sea days, but prefer to wait before we book. Only 44 days to go :)

Hello all, and thank you for the comments. I did notice Port Royal being somewhat critical, so decided to give my thread time to settle. I'm really looking forward to Sindhu and the Glass House as I've read some excellent reports. Also, having been on Ventura, I know that to avoid the 'scrum', the main pool area and the buffet at peak times are places to steer clear of, and anyway, I prefer the MDR for breakfast and lunch, and use the open deck away from the pools or my own balcony for some peace and quiet.

143 days to go. Cannot wait :)

I've checked the prices on a regular basis since P&O launched their Select Fares. I booked my cruise on launch day April last year, and when the recent OBS was introduced in December, I calculated I was £77 per person worse off than I would have been had I booked post OBS promotion. I emailed customerservices@pocruises.com and I have had £77 per person OBS credited to my account. Thank you P&O for listening

Hello oldfella73

Sorry, but I would like to disagree with comment by BrianI. OBC is applied 'per person' so if anyone in your party does not sign for purchases up to their own OBC allocation, the balance of their OBC will be lost. All purchases can, however, be allocated to the same credit card. This was certainly the case when we last cruised with P&O summer 2012. Hope this helps.

Even more annoyed. Just checked the P&O site, and the £250 per person extra OBS recently announced, is in ADDITION to the other benefits of free parking, free coach transfer, and OBS. As a result, for booking on the launch day and getting to choose my cabin number, my preferred dining options and free shuttles, I am £500 worse off than someone who books before Feb 28, who gets to choose their cabin number, their preferred dining option, and free shuttles.

Well done P&O. Whomever is in charge of your marketing/pricing initiatives, has actually succeeded in plunging you to new found depths of incompetence :mad:.

Happy Xmas everyone/

Yet ANOTHER kick in the teeth for early bookers. I really thought that P&O would have learned their lesson.

Booked cruise A422 (Balcony cabin on Azura, 17 nights departing August 14th 2014) last April on the first day they went on sale, and chose free coach transfer (living in the north east, this equated to about £125 per person). The price (and benefits) remained unchanged when the new pricing was introduced, replacing the Vantage/Getaway shambles. P&O have now introduced an On Board Spend for balcony bookings on this cruise of £250 per person (albeit available until Feb 28 only), making me, a first day booker the biggest part of £250 worse off for my cabin booking. I am all too aware that the actual cabin price has not reduced, but in terms of total spending, is this not the same as a reduction in the overall price of the cruise. As Essex Racer has said, where is the price promise now!!!!!

I join an ever increasing line of hugely disgruntled (ex) P&O cruisers :mad:

I'm with you on this one shilly3191. I've eaten in the White Room on a couple of occasions, and the quality of food and service were as good as I have experienced anywhere.

Hello everyone,

I realise that my original post now seems to have developed into a "roll call" (I have posted on that section too), but it really is nice that so many like-minded people have posted a reply on here.

Hi again Wwalbers, you asked "what are you looking forward to the most". I can honestly say all of it. Never been on a cruise this long, never been on Azura (only been on Oriana, Ventura and Arcadia), and love cruising. 360 days to go :)

Lynne

Hi Wwalbers.

"on count down already". You and me both. 'Only' 361 days to go :)

Thanks for the comment mandsb1990. Heard and read some really good things about the Glass House - I've seen some sample menus for the food and wine and they look really tasty. We actually prefer the formal side of cruising, so having the semi-formal nights as well as the formal nights is something which will enhance our cruise. Hope you get to go on this cruise :) :)

No replies yet unfortunately. Can anyone who has been on Azura give advice/recommendations. Thanks in anticipation. Lynne :)

We've just booked this cruise. 17 days to the central Med. Balcony cabin on 'C' deck. Excited already. Anybody else booked? Never been on Azura so would be grateful for any advice re best/worst places to go for two 50+ year olds without kids. Thanks, Lynne.