Number of formal nights to be reduced?

[davecttr]

Just a rumour I found via my email and another cruise site where someone wrote that they had been told aboard that from next april Oceana and Ventura would have either 2 or 3 formal nights depending on the length of the cruise.

 

this would suggest that 14 nighters will have one formal removed.

 

however the same source had Oceana and Ventura having smart-jackets required removed but as we know Ventura does not have these anyway and they don't happen on Oceana in summer.

 

Maybe just a garbled rumour

 

or is it :eek:

[Capnahab]

We were told on Ventura in Nov at the Penninsular lunch that when Ventura goes to the Med there will be one formal night per week - dumbing down cruising again

[NSWP]

We were told on Ventura in Nov at the Penninsular lunch that when Ventura goes to the Med there will be one formal night per week - dumbing down cruising again

What a great idea, too many formal nights on P&O UK for this Colonial Boy. LOL.

 

The Med cruises should be relaxing and more casual.

 

Just my 2 bobs worth, stand by for incoming, helmet on, flak jacket on.

[davecttr]

We were told on Ventura in Nov at the Penninsular lunch that when Ventura goes to the Med there will be one formal night per week - dumbing down cruising again

 

That makes sense. Their main competitor for the future british ambience market is Thomson and they have one formal night a week. If they also reduce the number of venues where formal dress is mandatory (only the mdr on Thomson) they will hope they can attract Thomson cruisers to P&O.

 

ps - for those who don't know or won't admit it. Thomson ships are NOT full of chavs and the 'lower classes' ;)

[jeanlyon]

I like the odd formal night, enjoying dressing up, but chopping one wouldn't bother me. We are off on Balmoral in January for 23 nights and there are 4 formals. Going to have to be very careful with the packing as we are flying home.

 

Also, on a Med fly cruise, surely nearly every day is a port day, so be difficult to get back late and then dress for a formal. Makes sense to me.

Edited December 17, 2013 by jeanlyon

[geecee1]

We were told on Ventura in Nov at the Penninsular lunch that when Ventura goes to the Med there will be one formal night per week - dumbing down cruising again

 

 

 

 

Here we go again. I am sick to the eyeteeth of your suggestion that not wearing a tatty tux and not wanting to eat overrated food in those overcrowded MDrs is "dumbing down".

All cruise ships by definition are a dumbed down version of a decent 4* star hotel, from the tiny cabins to the average food ( except East, Beach House and La Luna(on OV) and the fact that 3000pax are crammed into something 1000ft long.

But we love the Caribbean Islands and will continue to have HOLIDAY AFLOAT as an alternative to Mexico or Barbados, when the price is right.

[oldfella73]

Here we go again. I am sick to the eyeteeth of your suggestion that not wearing a tatty tux and not wanting to eat overrated food in those overcrowded MDrs is "dumbing down".

 

My Tux is not tatty thank you and I have not seen any others in the MDR meeting this definition:-

tatty - definition of tatty by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and ...

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tatty adj. tat·ti·er, tat·ti·est. Somewhat worn, shabby, or dilapidated. [Probably from tat, a rag, shabby person.] tatty [ˈtætɪ]. adj -tier, -tiest. Chiefly Brit worn out, shabby, ...

[davecttr]

No point in going over the formal/informal argument again. P&O will follow the money and if the money is in less formal that is what will happen. Carnival have decreed that their formal line is Cunard and P&O is mass market, thats the way it is.

 

Just copied this from the Princess forum

number of formal evenings

1 - 3 days 0

4 - 6 days 1

7-13 days 2

14-20 days 3

21-28 days 4

29+ days 5 minimum

 

As P&O is equivalent to Princess this is how they may end up with perhaps retaining a formal for 1-3 days

 

By days i believe they do not include embarkation day so a 14 night cruise is 13 days?

Edited December 17, 2013 by davecttr

[Denarius]

We were told on Ventura in Nov at the Penninsular lunch that when Ventura goes to the Med there will be one formal night per week - dumbing down cruising again

 

More like moving with the times. :)

[Denarius]

No point in going over the formal/informal argument again. P&O will follow the money and if the money is in less formal that is what will happen. Carnival have decreed that their formal line is Cunard and P&O is mass market, thats the way it is.

 

Just copied this from the Princess forum

number of formal evenings

1 - 3 days 0

4 - 6 days 1

7-13 days 2

14-20 days 3

21-28 days 4

29+ days 5 minimum

 

As P&O is equivalent to Princess this is how they may end up with perhaps retaining a formal for 1-3 days

 

By days i believe they do not include embarkation day so a 14 night cruise is 13 days?

 

Celebrity are roughly the same - a max of 3 formal in a 2 week or longer cruise, no "jacket required" evenings, formal only expected in the MDRs and premium restaurants, not the bars and other public areas. P&O always follow the pack at a safe distance, but follow they do - eventually.

Edited December 17, 2013 by Denarius

[joeholiday2]

That makes sense. Their main competitor for the future british ambience market is Thomson and they have one formal night a week. If they also reduce the number of venues where formal dress is mandatory (only the mdr on Thomson) they will hope they can attract Thomson cruisers to P&O.

 

ps - for those who don't know or won't admit it. Thomson ships are NOT full of chavs and the 'lower classes' ;)

 

Spot on there Dave.

Fly cruise to med, less formal nights, they are going after the Thomson cruiser. They just need to improve the entertainment and get the staff to have more fun with the guests.

 

Sent from my Hudl HT7S3 using Forums mobile app

[geecee1]

Here we go again. I am sick to the eyeteeth of your suggestion that not wearing a tatty tux and not wanting to eat overrated food in those overcrowded MDrs is "dumbing down".

 

My Tux is not tatty thank you and I have not seen any others in the MDR meeting this definition:-

tatty - definition of tatty by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and ...

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tatty adj. tat·ti·er, tat·ti·est. Somewhat worn, shabby, or dilapidated. [Probably from tat, a rag, shabby person.] tatty [ˈtætɪ]. adj -tier, -tiest. Chiefly Brit worn out, shabby, ...

 

 

 

Apologies Old Fella, wrong adjective!!!

 

I am sure you look very smart in your tux. I am responding to those on this forum who have suggested that I invest in a cheap polyester dinner suit ( Matalan?) just so that I can join in "the cruise experience".

Well we have had 4 Caribbean cruises, 3 of them on OV ships, and enjoyed them all, dressed (very) smart casual and will to continue to do so.

 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

[geecee1]

Spot on there Dave.

Fly cruise to med, less formal nights, they are going after the Thomson cruiser. They just need to improve the entertainment and get the staff to have more fun with the guests.

 

Sent from my Hudl HT7S3 using Forums mobile app

 

 

 

 

Could not agree more. I have long argued that they should adopt this approach in the Caribbean also.

Also adopt the attitude of the OV staff who interacted with the customers at every opportunity.

 

P&O will have to move with the times or perish.

There are posts on another website of planes leaving Gatwick and Manchester to Barbados with fewer than 100 passengers to join Ventura in November. Also passengers being offered extra weeks at knockdown prices.

 

Suggest that Denarius, davecttr ,you, Joe, and myself, are seconded to P&O marketing dept. forthwith. LOL

[daiB]

Could not agree more. I have long argued that they should adopt this approach in the Caribbean also.

Also adopt the attitude of the OV staff who interacted with the customers at every opportunity.

 

P&O will have to move with the times or perish.

There are posts on another website of planes leaving Gatwick and Manchester to Barbados with fewer than 100 passengers to join Ventura in November. Also passengers being offered extra weeks at knockdown prices.

 

Suggest that Denarius, davecttr ,you, Joe, and myself, are seconded to P&O marketing dept. forthwith. LOL

 

Well that would be right you could have your own cruise line. You have gone on and on and on about it for long enough.

 

OV did not work, if it did it would still be there.

[Midsomer Madness]

Spot on there Dave.

Fly cruise to med, less formal nights, they are going after the Thomson cruiser. They just need to improve the entertainment and get the staff to have more fun with the guests.

 

They will also need to bring in a competitive drinks package 😉

[davecttr]

Well that would be right you could have your own cruise line. You have gone on and on and on about it for long enough.

 

OV did not work, if it did it would still be there.

 

Hello Dai

 

Of course it worked, however the bean counters reckoned they could make more profit out of the ships by moving them to Australia. They do follow the money and the far east is where the money is.

 

In the spirit of balance you could join us in the marketing dept ;)

 

ps - the imminent arrival of the new Ventura might have had something to do with mothballing OV.

[davecttr]

Could not agree more. I have long argued that they should adopt this approach in the Caribbean also.

Also adopt the attitude of the OV staff who interacted with the customers at every opportunity.

 

P&O will have to move with the times or perish.

There are posts on another website of planes leaving Gatwick and Manchester to Barbados with fewer than 100 passengers to join Ventura in November. Also passengers being offered extra weeks at knockdown prices.

 

Suggest that Denarius, davecttr ,you, Joe, and myself, are seconded to P&O marketing dept. forthwith. LOL

well spotted, apparently one dreamliner only had 17, SEVENTEEN, passengers :eek:

 

There is an intersting blog over there from a 'free cruise' prize winner. He is aboard Oceana and the ship is only a third full. This contributes somewhat to more people in the buffet than the mdr for dinner and a complete lack of ambience.

 

Is this just a P&O problem? I suspect not. Early december cruises could be difficult to sell.

 

This does not bode well for my January cruise on Oceana. Dai and i will have to work hard to generate some atmosphere in the casino. Hopefully no fisticuffs though ;)

[Midsomer Madness]

Ocean village ceased because their ships were not up to the standard required by the EU. If the brand had been that successful they would have kept it but with different ships...

[AnnieC]

This does not bode well for my January cruise on Oceana. Dai and i will have to work hard to generate some atmosphere in the casino. Hopefully no fisticuffs though ;)

 

I thought the cunning plan was to chuck him overboard. After he's bought us a few drinks, of course.

 

Annie:)

[davecttr]

Ocean village ceased because their ships were not up to the standard required by the EU. If the brand had been that successful they would have kept it but with different ships...

Well if that is true what about Thomson and Fred Olsen ships?

 

As i wrote they followed the money and obviously if iinvestment in the ships was required that would have had influenced the decision.

[davecttr]

I thought the cunning plan was to chuck him overboard. After he's bought us a few drinks, of course.

 

Annie:)

 

Now Now Annie

[Clodia]

I went on Ocean Village, once. It wasn't even clean, and the attitude of staff left much to be desired. There was a party of young men who were always drunk, and when one of them was sick in the pool they didn't even close it for cleaning.

 

In my feedback, when asked how they could improve Ocean Village, I replied, "sink it".

[daiB]

Well if that is true what about Thomson and Fred Olsen ships?

 

As i wrote they followed the money and obviously if iinvestment in the ships was required that would have had influenced the decision.

 

Both wrong. :).

 

It was the cost and availability of aircraft that was the deciding factor. I do believe changeover day was at the weekend. A high price time.

 

BTW I am still not convinced about Ventura next year in the Med. in difficult times a company should not move away from its core business. ie. No fly sailings from Southampton.

[davecttr]

If P&O sticks to its core business expect to see the fleet reduce to 3 big ships within a few years.

 

As P&O have difficulty in filling their sailings from southampton adding another large ship would not make businees sense. They have to try different ideas. OK, it might be born of desperation but which would you rather see, a successful fly cruise operation in the med or the ship or rather 2 smaller ones being redeployed to the far east. The logic of this is Aurora, Arcadia, Oceana, Oriana and probably Adonia will be gone soon.

[Midsomer Madness]

I do wish that those who prefer casual cruising didn't try to bring p&o down to that standard. There are many casual cruise lines out there..p&o should stick to what they always were but get shot of a few ships, Aurora could go now as far as I'm concerned but I expect Dai to make me walk the plank for saying it. Formal night are great I love them. I equally like smart casual nights,but wish the emphasise was on smart rather than people dressing like they are popping out to tesco. Cheap,prices have unfortunately brought many cheap people to cruising, it's a shame. We have just returned from Queen Mary 2 it is good to see that on the whole standards are still so much better on Cunard,,although obviously you get the odd person determined to do their own thing.

 

There are enough cruise lines out there for everybody to find the one that suits them and their style,of cruising best...

Edited December 17, 2013 by Midsomer Madness