Harry Peterson

There’s a potential downside to that. We were absolutely all set on a Honda Jazz, visited dealer for test drive prior to negotiating price, test drove vehicle and found there was absolutely no way for my smallish wife to reach the pedals and drive it safely. Two salesmen tried to find the right adjustments but had to admit it couldn’t be done. We’ve had various VWs over the years, and Skodas now, with never a problem but oddly the Jazz was just impossible for her to drive safely and comfortably. If we’d bought online we’d have had a useless car. With you entirely in principle on price though, except that you can frequently persuade a main dealer to match, or very closely match, the best internet price just to get a sale, particularly if they need it to achieve a target. We imported two VWs from the Netherlands in 2000 and saved thousands because of the exchange rates and the differences in pricing, with a couple of nice holidays thrown in, but that little game no longer works. Good while it lasted!

I think that’s entirely understandable and plausible. And if P&O simply gave the actual reason, rather than simply coming up with the absolutely unbelievable ‘operational reasons’ cliché every time the suspicion about motives would perhaps disappear. I know of no other sector that assumes it can hide behind vague phrases like this time after time - why cruising, and why P&O?

You’ll enjoy it - I’m pretty confident of that. I suppose it all depends on expectation levels, and if you’re expecting luxury you’ll be disappointed, because that’s not what the P&O brand represents these days. The price reflects that, though, and if you’re looking for luxury it’s going to cost a lot more. In hotel terms it’s probably somewhere around the Premier Inn mark. If you go to a Premier Inn expecting that, you’ll be happy. If you go expecting full service luxury, you won’t. It’s good, middle of the road cruising at a reasonable price. No luxuries, a lot of chargeable extras which used to be included (all avoidable though), but most of the complaints you read are fairly minor.

Wonderful! Really great place for a relaxing break. Some of our best family holidays were spent round there, and lovely Norfolk people too. Plus a rather good fish and chip restaurant! Much better, we found, than the much more expensive but better known one at Cromer. We were in your county today visiting our son and daughter-in-law. The second time we’ve been inside a house other than ours since March 2020, and the first time was there too last October after they’d bought the house. Lots of open windows and, as my wife pointed out on the way over, the first food I’ve eaten since March 2020 that she hasn’t prepared! It’s a beautiful county, Derbyshire and not an area we’ve spent much time in, but I envy him the location - though not the fuel bills. The house was heated to all of 15 degrees last winter - no way!

Glad we're not the only ones still garaging our cars - seems almost freaky now. Cars are rarely garaged, but given the size of modern cars that's hardly surprising. Today's Polo is about the size of yesterday's Golf. Trouble is, no cars on the drive suggests nobody's at home to burglars!

'Operational reasons'? That's the usual excuse - which usually means: 'We've found a way to save some money, but we can't tell you that because you might claim compensation.'

Our first air conditioned car was a 1958 Austin A30, bought for £50 in 1972 and sold a year later for £49 - £1 depreciation in 15 months. The air conditioning was provided by holes in the floor near the driver’s seat. Petrol then was around 7p a litre, but only scientists knew what a litre was. The VW Beetle that replaced it cost about £950 new in 1973 - but we had it for 16 years, so that wasn’t bad depreciation either.

Good question, but as always with stock market investments impossible to answer. The price now obviously represents what investors as a whole think the shares are worth, and without insider knowledge there’s no reason to think they’re worth more - or less. It’s a straight gamble. I thought they were worth buying at a much higher price - but I was badly wrong, and I always have been when buying shares primarily for the perks. It’s not a good policy. As always with shares, ask whether you can afford to lose the lot (that’s the big risk here), and whether you’ll pick up sufficient in shareholder benefits to make that risk worthwhile. I feel there’s still a lot of downside in that price, but I’m almost invariably wrong!

How very different from the early 60s, when we used to cycle pretty much every sunny day in the school holidays from Truro to St Agnes, Perranporth, or maybe even Newquay. What a place to grow up! And the Palace cinema in Truro on wet days if we had the money. Long way to school in Falmouth on the bus though!

To be fair, it’s highly unusual for any Express story to be based on anything factual. Most of it’s simply clickbait.

This is our go to: https://www.theatremonkey.com/

Sounding very much as if we didn’t miss much? Morning everyone. Enjoy the day.

It’s a question I asked when we first cruised with P&O, and the suggestions we had were essentially to turn up around 1300 and hope to be allowed through. It worked a treat, but I suppose a lot depends on the length of the queue and luck! I’d give it a go, but there is a risk you might be asked to come back later.

A legend! An unforgettable character………

I haven’t, but strangely my wife tells me she sees one every time we leave the cabin.

It might be slightly problematic for P&O, but most things are. Experience provides information for future planning. Not doing anything will certainly be costing P&O money, because those who don’t want the restrictions imposed simply don’t book with P&O. They won’t know how many potential customers they’re losing, because it’s impossible to calculate, but reasonable adjustments to keep them booking makes a lot of financial sense.

Skegness was up in arms that it came bottom! It’s still enormously popular, but very much not a resort for the typical Which? subscriber. P&O Cruises also featured in Which? a few years back. It did not do well.

That’s my recollection too - 4d. Which was, I think, 16 Blackjacks or Fruitella. Or 4 large gobstoppers. Jamboree Bags 3d. Dental charges as a result - astronomical!

I apologise. Nice to meet you, though. 😉

I don’t care what they call it, but there should be a decent, free of charge, table service restaurant available for all passengers who prefer just to wear smart casual and are therefore excluded from the MDR. That doesn’t sound unreasonable to me, and it wouldn’t inconvenience anyone.

I’m not affected by this, but as a parent and grandparent I can readily see the impact of that, given the very clear statement on the website: https://www.pocruises.com/onboard-activities/Children/childrens-clubs-(2-4-year-olds) Have they offered any explanation or alternatives?

That's excellent news - where else is now included, then, aside from the buffet and chargeable options?

Sounds very sensible. One of the main gripes with P&O is that if you don't want to dress up you're consigned to the buffet, and that's just ludicrous. Smart casual rarely offends and I'd be very happy with that.

Well this is going well, isn’t it? How does everyone feel about tipping? 😇

Like you, I dislike formal nights, though my wife likes them. I go along with it, playing by the rules with a dark suit, but only in order to eat in the MDR. It's an anachronism with today's P&O - a bit like Prezzo demanding that you dress for dinner. I can see why they do it, because it makes the whole dining experience seem grander than it actually is, and a lot of people like it, but I don't like the falsity of it. Horses for courses, though - plenty of people do, though the percentage is falling fast with a younger customer base and I'd guess it'll soon be dropped. As soon as their research shows that it alienates more people than it attracts, that's it gone.