themanwithahat

There isn't one because you are only seeking a derogative term for someone doing something that they are perfectly entitled to do.

Doesn't mean they aren't cheapskates though.

Wouldn't the cabin crew be able to detect it using the interactive TV ?

The only downside with paying "direct" is there are a lot of people who work hard who you don't ever see - kitchen and so on ?

Only ever been on Ventura/Azura :) Good to know though. I like both ;-)

Given the choice though AEBE I think I'd stick with P&O.

I thought there wasn't a huge difference. Cunard fancied themselves as a bit more upmarket ; so there would be things like Bridge (for example) rather than a Disco. P&O is unashamedly British with things like the Sailaway.

Noticeable differences:

Drinks are cheaper on P&O

Photos are much more expensive on Cunard

Food quality was about the same, but the service wasn't as good or friendly. Cunard doesn't have the static menu part.

Cabins about the same.

More talks on Cunard

Seemed to be slightly more entertainment options in the evening on Cunard

P&O have the interactive TV.

I think all Cunard's Room Service food is free.

We went on one of the early ones (Ventura) and cases were pretty much the same as Southampton - check in at the airport, they appear in your room. Then you leave them outside your cabin on the last night, the next time you see them is on the carousel.

Honeymoon? Then dine in the speciality restaurants every night for the duration of the cruise. :)

Well, every early evening anyway ....

From what I can glean:

A)The food will be fine, and if not someone will fix it. Failing that I can always go and eat somewhere else that evening. I'll certainly not be going hungry.

B) The attitude of the service staff and crew is likely to be phenomenally better than the attitude of some of the passengers.

C) There will at times be crowded areas, such as around the pools. When seeing such an area, I'll simply turn around and find somewhere else. Worst case I'll retreat to my balcony for an hour and try again later - no rush, I'm on holiday.

D) This will be my first foreign holiday for several years, and the thing I'm looking forward to most is getting away from the phone for two weeks, and experiencing something new, where there's a dedicated team of people waiting to fix any problems instead of people bringing them to me to fix :rolleyes:

E) It's an adventure. Things WILL go wrong. Someone will fix it, and that someone won't be me! I'll be too busy doing nothing but enjoying myself.

A) The food will be fine. Like any other restaurant, some things are better than others. At worst it's "good hotel" standard.

B) Yes :)

C) Actually (been on V twice in the holidays) it never seems crowded. Getting on and off you see the numbers, and you see it in the theatre and the muster drill, but it never seems like you are on a boat with 3000 people.

D) This is great. There is a daily newspaper (sheet) so you don't get too disconnected but you can just forget stuff for a week. And people can get in touch if absolutely necessary

E) Bang on attitude. My experience is the staff will do their best to fix any problems that arise.

Incidentally you might want to keep half an eye on your spam folder - sometimes messages get put in there.

Hi,yes everything the same with freedom or set dining on formal night or any other evening

I have a vague memory (heck, I'm vague ....) that occasionally on F/Es they do a "special menu" (though the same for everyone).

The only problem is they don't do the every-day menu (Steak, Egg Mayo, etc.) which was a problem for Master Hat who is a bit fussy.

Not necessarily. The more the industry moves to mega ships the more the smaller niche operators will thrive.

You pays your money. Most of Fred Olsen's (My mum's fave) are quite small, and then there's the Regent/Seabourn group for those that want a luxurious / more private experience.

I know loads of people say they only change and sleep in their cabin and I am sure for some of them that's true. However I have shared a table in the past with couples in an inside cabin and then you see them wandering aimlessly about the ship trying to kill time and clearly doing anything rather than go to their cabin.

I've always found that there is only one time when there's not much happening, that's from about 6:30-8 ish (roughly) when the first seating is eating but the shows/entertainment haven't started up.

Mrs Hat and Miss Hat usually need that long to get ready anyway, formal or not ....

I wouldn't go on a cruise with 3000 passengers.

 

David.

Oddly, all my cruises (not that many) have been on large ships, but it's never really felt like there are 3000 on there, (except getting on/off and shows)

Surely though the smaller the cabin with no natural light means you are likely to spend less time in it?

 

If you have a balcony you will utilise it lots so spend more time in your cabin.

I dunno so much. I think some people are very gregarious and do absolutely everything and anything going, and almost literally just sleep in it. Some people (like me) are a bit quieter and like to just relax on a balcony with a good book from time to time.

I remember one lady who got a bit annoyed with a boor (the only one I've come across) on a cruise who clearly thought only "the poor" went in inside cabins, she explained later if you aren't going to use it why not spend the money on something else.

(Plus on some Arctic/Antarctic cruises it might never get dark enough... some people can't sleep when it's light)

Have just checked. I got emailed a PDF "Cabin Allocation AZURA <ref>" which gives cabin, room details, final invoice etc.

It was emailed me on 7th October 2014 for a cruise departing on 25th October 2014.

Obviously this was just this one, but I've got the impression that this is about normal, so I would expect yours RSN - maybe contact P&O if you get nothing 7 days beforehand ?

From memory they email you. I shouldn't worry about it too much, as long as your paperwork is in order, you can get on the travel personaliser and so on, should be no problem.

Some years back we shared a table one lunchtime with a lady and her daughter who booked the cruise because it was visiting a port in Italy within easy taxi ride of her husband’s war grave. The daughter had never met her father as she was born while he was serving overseas and the widow was beginning to think that age and health were conspiring against her and that it was to be now or never, she had never visited the grave before. The lady also mentioned some significant anniversary regarding her husband’s death but I forget what that was.

Whilst it is nice they got there, if it is *that* important then a cruise is the wrong choice.

P&O are in a bit of a lose lose situation. Some may like the celebrations, some may find they get in the way of doing what they want. However, unless unavoidable, they should stick to the itinerary.

Indeed, but seems to be a couple of weeks or so in practice, though not guaranteed obviously. Is likely to vary depending on how full the cruise is - if they push late deals out it may change.

That's Bridge. Our instructor on a cruise was very intimidating. However we met a lovely couple through Bridge lessons. We did play Deck Quoits once and found that a bit intense. Not sure what anyone can get wound up over throwing a bit rope. I just thought it was for fun. :)

Reminds me of when Miss Hat was at nursery, and there was a Parent race. I've never seen anything like it, it made the All Blacks look like a dance troupe.

I would have made it a three legged race or something like that.

Some people take these things far too seriously.

My Hatlets are a bit old for the Kids Clubs, but I've been on three P&O cruises, all in the school holidays and barely seen any children. I know they are there because they appear at mealtimes and so on, but during the day they just vanish. Whatever P&O are doing with them they seem to like it :)

Why not ask P&O :)

There's always little things that annoy you ; some people choose to let these wreck their holiday. They just make the most noise. It's like some of the idiotic stuff on Tripadvisor "My light bulb went, it took them a WHOLE TEN MINUTES to fix it, one star".

First cruise we all went on, the Hatlets toilet flooded on the first day (fortunately empty), wouldn't stop pumping water. The crew bent over backwards to (i) sort it out and (ii) sort out alternatives when they couldn't immediately fix it. Complaining about it would be absurd, stuff like this happens. It's how companies react to problems that makes or breaks them (e.g. Fred Olsen and the recent "Fire" on Boudicca).

The (admittedly not huge) cruises I've been on, most people seem happy most of the time.

Personally I think Cruising and P&O are brilliant, as do Mrs Hat and the Hatlets. It took Mrs Hat and I 20 years to get started. I remember we seriously discussed it for our Honeymoon ; if we had done that we might be Platinum by now.....

So what is the coffee provided in the cabin with the kettle? Only sailed princess and haven't had the luxury of. Kettle in the cabin...can't wait :)

OTOMH I think they provide those little tubular sachets for coffee. Okay unless you are a coffee fan. If there's something particular you want, take your own would be my advice :)

New to cruising and going to book a 7night Norwegian fjords on the Azura in July. We have to book I think its called Select as we need choose cabin (Limited Mobility so need to be near lifts) and be able to choose a dining time (Cant eat late due to health problems). As new cruisers you don't know if the price they are giving you is good or not. They are saying £1499pp plus £370 on board spend for a deluxe balcony room, you can choose cabin and dining etc. Can anyone tell me if this is good or if its best to wait awhile for offers or do you find that the if the prices reduce you cant select cabins, dining etc.

Sounds a little bit pricey to me (though the OBC is not bad if you will use it). As you say you can't use the savers because of your mobility/health issues.

I would say that you would have a good chance of getting a lower price, but of course the longer you leave it the less choice of cabin you will have. Early dining you should get on Select whenever you book it as tables are allocated fairly late.

Looking at the prices on P&O looks like you have a "Superior Deluxe Balcony Cabin". Would you be okay with a Balcony cabin ? We've been in both, and the difference is a bit of extra space and a few bits and bobs, I'm not sure I'd pay the £400-£500 extra though for this.

The problem with tipping those who deserve it is you only tip the people you see - wait staff, room staff and so on. There are many people working very hard who you are unlikely to meet..

han anything.

The biggest problem IMO with cruises is that you have a massive number of people in a fairly small space and I do think you need to be considerate and respectful of others. That is not always the case but that's not down to P&O.

We love cruising and P&O suits us and I'm definitely not easy to please.

I've only been on four cruises but my experience so far is that everyone has been very pleasant (a single exception to this). It compares well to other types of holidays I've been on.

(There was one slightly terrifying lady who we were learning bridge with once. I think she might have strangled her husband if he made the wrong bid. The bridge coaches reminded me of boxing when they step in to seperate the fighters, which may be unique. Outside bridge she was fine though :) )

Ohhhh, not a nice thing to do.

Yes, not unless you have a real genuine gripe and arguably not even then. It is the hard working service people who suffer when people do this. IME they bend over backwards for you.