Ventura questions Can you help?

[Lindypops]

We have just booked our first cruise with P & O Ventura and looking forward to it very much.

Please can anyone help with the following ;-

 

1. is there a kettle , coffee and milk in the cabins or do I need to take my Kettle

2. What are your experiences with Freedom dining? we had the table from hell on our last cruise, moved twice.

3. is the buffet open every evening?

4. Are beach towels provided?

5. We have cruised with RCL and Princess and Costa ( still a very painful memory) are there any significant differences?

 

Thanks for your help

[u2cruiser]

Hi Lindypops, have you got snow this morning?

 

Recently returned from Ventura and .....

 

1, Yes, attached pic

2, Couldn't get Freedom dining as we booked late and oversubscribed, so ended up in traditional.

3, Yes, there is also a section with waiter service and tablecloths, but you may have a wait for a table there.

4, Yes, beach towels in your cabin, changed by your attendant.

5, We've cruised Princess and RCI.

Main difference was all Brits, which we didn't look forward to, but it was great and very friendly.

Crew and waitstaff mainly Indian. Very, very nice people.

Officers and crew interacted with passengers far more than other cruises.

Food slightly better on Princess, especially meat (in our experience)

Drink prices are excellent and no 15% gratuity added at bars.

 

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did :)

[tom_uk]

Hello Lindypops

 

First, I'll echo U2cruiser's advice. Next I'll point you at a couple of entries I made my blog from the two cruises we've done on Ventura: Canary Islands in September 2008 and West Med on May/June 2010. You can find the review for the second one here, and a link to individual posts is here.

[Lindypops]

Thank you both for your replies they have been a great help

[Thejuggler]

Freedom dining - done it on both our cruises and it worked for us.

 

We did notice the second time that it had become much more popular and we had at least a 15 min wait for a table every night (worst was captains night when it was 40 minutes, but the free drinks made up for this!) and we were arriving at between 7.30 and 8.30pm. One night we went at 9pm and we were given a table for two with no wait.

 

Some people don't like it as you have different table companions every night so the conversation can be the same - where you live, what you do etc, but you may meet diners on one night and arrange to eat together on subsequent nights.

[u2cruiser]

Freedom dining - done it on both our cruises and it worked for us.

 

We did notice the second time that it had become much more popular and we had at least a 15 min wait for a table every night (worst was captains night when it was 40 minutes, but the free drinks made up for this!) and we were arriving at between 7.30 and 8.30pm. One night we went at 9pm and we were given a table for two with no wait.

 

Some people don't like it as you have different table companions every night so the conversation can be the same - where you live, what you do etc, but you may meet diners on one night and arrange to eat together on subsequent nights.

 

Can you get tables for 2?

[AlisonH]

Can you get tables for 2?

 

 

Yes - but you may have to wait as there are not that many of them. Personally, I think Ventura (and Azura) is a good ship to do Freedom dining as there are so many options for eating.

 

Alison

[u2cruiser]

Yes - but you may have to wait as there are not that many of them. Personally, I think Ventura (and Azura) is a good ship to do Freedom dining as there are so many options for eating.

 

Alison

 

Thanks Alison. We usually eat late and don't mind a wait, with cocktail in hand of course lol! Hope we manage to get Freedom Dining next time.

[Thejuggler]

There are a very limited number of tables for two, to get one you either need to eat early or late, or be prepared for a long wait.

 

Our table for two was actually a table for four, but as it was so late there were lots of tables empty so no need to share.

[Elaine0138]

We never had a problem getting a table for two on Ventura

[Lindypops]

Do P & O provide port maps / Information on each port?

Also do they announce when you can go ashore?

 

On RCI we always got a map and some info with the newspaper the night before and they announced when we could got ashore.

 

On Costa we got nothing and no announcement:(

[u2cruiser]

Do P & O provide port maps / Information on each port?

Also do they announce when you can go ashore?

 

On RCI we always got a map and some info with the newspaper the night before and they announced when we could got ashore.

 

On Costa we got nothing and no announcement:(

 

At the start of your cruise you get an information pack with an overview of your cruise in your cabin, with individual port leaflets, which contain a (basic) map. There is also a port information channel on TV which is quite good.

 

There are announcements in public areas to say when you can go ashore but not in the cabins, if I remember correctly. I think you will be quite impressed with P&O's organisation - we were! :)

[Lindypops]

Just received the A4 booklet from P & O with luggage labels very impressed:)

 

On Costa cruise we had to print our own on paper and take a roll of sellotape to attach them. :o

 

not long to go now getting excited :D

[u2cruiser]

That was a nice post-Christmas present. :D

[LibraLass41]

Yes the port map/guides in the cabin are handy, always worth taking with you on the port day as the harbourmaster phone number is printed in there in case you 'miss the ship' or are running late.

There are lots of tables of 2 the problem is there is only about 6 inches between them and are so close together you may as well be on a table 4/6 as the tables next to you are so close.