Boycey

Thanks CP, particularly the bit about drinks package. We too had the package but just assumed it was invalid as your cruise card would be on the final morning. Good to know otherwise!

Hi Jules57. We came off our first P&O cruise for a long time a few weeks ago, and one of the absolutely stand out parts for us was the embarkation and disembarkation. In Southamptom P&O seem to make a bit of a song and dance of things (or at least they used to) but Valetta was a dream. Airport to onboard ship in less than 30 minutes but the real treat was disembarkation. We too had a late flight and though you have to be out of your room by 8, you are free to use the ship up until your transfer out to the airport.(4.30pm in our case). It meant practically another full day aboard. Tip if you do stay aboard, you can use the spa changing rooms to shower and freshen just before you leave.

We’ve just come off Azura and probably the only thing that hasn’t changed in the years we’ve been away is the willingness of one group of British guests to criticise the dress preferences of another. It happens nowhere else in the world and to the extent it happens on other lines, it’s only when sailing from UK. I do sympathise with P&O as they are trying to ride two horses simultaneously, but the speed with which they’re prepared to jettison other cruising traditions shows it’s all a matter of calculation. The quicker they adapt their policy to have one regime on the ships that attract traditional cruisers and a more relaxed policy on the others - and make it clear that that’s the case - the quicker they will avoid this one anachronistic topic having such an impact on people’s enjoyment - both sides of the topic.

I don't drink alcohol and DW drinks very little, but still we find the package convenient, particularly purchased as part of the all-in offer. We get through 2 or 3 coffees minimum plus soft drinks all through the usually hot days and water in the cabin, and though I'm unlikely ever to sit and calculate a ledger, my feeling is the packages are worthwhile. Convenience has value.

lovely and balanced comments. Thanks very much. We too like the Princess product, but find a slightly bigger gap between the two lines than maybe you yourself did, but of course it’s all subjective in the end, and post-Covid still very variable. Enjoy whichever comes next

We've just got off Reflection, and there were zero Apple products. At least earlier in the summer they had some 2017 vintage I-pads! There were some no-brand watches but that's all in the i-lounge.. I always imagined Apple products were provided on a sort of consignment basis from Apple, but apparently not. Celebrity buy the products and resell them just like any other reseller, so post-covid cash is too tight to sink into speculative products. Better to spend it on passenger experience and get people back on board. Shame, as we would have bought products this year too.