New to P&o

[Dwalkerdave]

I have cruised with Princess and Royal Caribbean. Booked our first P&O cruise five minutes ago, Ventura next July !!!!!

 

Can you re-assure me I made a good choice ? :):):):)

 

Thanks

 

Dave

[HomelessBear]

Hi Dave,

 

We were on Ventura last xmas / new year and have also booked for this xmas and June next year. So we must think its OK!

I've found P&O to be a similar experience to Princess, and the Ventura & Azura are the same basic construction as some of the Princess ships (such as the larger balconies on C deck), although different inside obviously.

 

You'll probably read some negative comments about Ventura, but we were happy with our last cruise. Go with an open mind and don't expect perfection. I'm sure you'll have a great cruise!

[Host Sharon]

Although not a fan of Ventura I personally prefer P&O to Princess - there is far less nickel and diming and hard sell.

[CCFC]

Although not a fan of Ventura I personally prefer P&O to Princess - there is far less nickel and diming and hard sell.

 

What hard sell?

[richleeds]

Although we dont mind P&O, we find the service standards bar to be higher on the US lines and maybe a bit more party/holiday feel to the cruise.

[kevinyork]

Although we dont mind P&O, we find the service standards bar to be higher on the US lines and maybe a bit more party/holiday feel to the cruise.

 

 

I'd agree. Service on P&O has been average compared to excellent on RCI and Celebrity. Many of the MDR waiters on P&O have been downright miserable.

 

 

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[Sealoveragain]

We've only so far cruised with P&O, but I'm not really a fan especially after our cruise this year on the Oriana when we experienced a really arrogant waiter in the MDR who put a real damper on our cruise. After our next cruise which is a World cruise, I'm thinking of trying other cruise lines.

[jeanlyon]

We have had nothing but excellent service on P&O, even down to the bartender, who, by the time we got to the bar, had our drinks ready. Mind you, that is on a smaller ship, Oriana actually.

[Sanjam cruisers]

Hi Dwalkerdave

My wife and I have cruised with P&O at least once a year sometimes twice a year since 2005, we have never had a bad cruise but over the years we have seen small signs of cost saving nothing major and P&O are not alone in this. We were last on Ventura in March in the Caribbean and had an excellent cruise. A large number of the Dining Room waiters are Indian and can be somewhat reserved but we have always got on very well with them by taking time to speak to them, perhaps because they have some difficulty in pronouncing my surname and it normally ends up in a bit if banter when they try. I note that one of the previous posters does not appear to have been on a P&O ship since 2012. While P&O are not perfect I have enjoyed their product and will continue to cruise with them for the foreseeable future, in fact I will be on Ventura on 28/02/15. As previous poster HomelessBear said go with an open mind and not preconceived ideas from some of the negative posts you may read and enjoy your cruise. I would suggest you try a meal in the Beachhouse Restaurant in the evening this is part of the buffet which turns into a waiter service restaurant at night(no booking) with some courses at a slight surcharge, ie: Lava Rock cooked fillet, Seafood sizzler, The Glasshouse is also worth a visit for Tapas Snack (choice of three for £5.00) which is served all the time it is open or indeed for a meal. I hope this info is of use if you have any further questions just post there will always be someone who can help you, do have a great cruise.

[majortom10]

What hard sell?

 

I agree completely never ever had any hard sell of anything on a Princess cruise. We have cruised with P&O for over 25 cruises and these last 2-3 yrs after doing 3 cruises a year and getting disillusioned switched to Princess and find the service and food far superior than on P&O.

[richleeds]

I agree completely never ever had any hard sell of anything on a Princess cruise. We have cruised with P&O for over 25 cruises and these last 2-3 yrs after doing 3 cruises a year and getting disillusioned switched to Princess and find the service and food far superior than on P&O.

 

You should try Celebrity.

[Scriv]

We had wonderful service on Oriana in the MDR and in the Crows Nest last June, but agree that a miserable waiter can put a real dampener on the dining experience.

[Host Sharon]

I have never had anything but excellent service on P&O but again - I only sail on the smaller ships. All the crew seem happy in their work and I do take time to chat with them and build a rapport.

 

On Princess I could not say the same thing. The service was good but felt forced and in the photo shop and spa there was very much a hard sell - that doesn't happen with P&O anymore. Also most of the cafes - even the coffee bar in the buffet - were all extra.

[heywood]

Our first cruise was Celebrity - over 10 years ago though- but the service was wonderful. At that time, there were waiters in the buffet areas ready to carry your tray and all staff seemed happy.

We have sailed with Cunard several times and service was varied there. Some waiters and room stewards were quite off hand whilst others seemed over eager to please.

I do dislike the 15% service charge though.

We have only sailed P and O once which was fine and another coming up so we will see.

The best food and service we found last year with Fred Olsen. Our waiters were a delight every evening. I loved the buffet area which seemed quite controlled and lots of service. Additionally nice place mats etc made it seem civilised. I also liked the fact that food was not served all hours so there was nothing stale or sad looking. :)

[richleeds]

On Princess I could not say the same thing. The service was good but felt forced and in the photo shop and spa there was very much a hard sell - that doesn't happen with P&O anymore. Also most of the cafes - even the coffee bar in the buffet - were all extra.

 

On Ventura I had a free 2 min sample back massage just at the entrance to the spa, I expected a bit of a sell to buy a full 30 or 60 min massage but the sell was ridiculous, push push push, every single second of the 2 mins, escorted to reception after I had finished to see what slots were available etc, said I would think about it, phone call in cabin to see if I had made my mind up.

 

I went to the gym later that day and as I passed reception said I wanted no more calls or contact!

[majortom10]

I have never had anything but excellent service on P&O but again - I only sail on the smaller ships. All the crew seem happy in their work and I do take time to chat with them and build a rapport.

 

On Princess I could not say the same thing. The service was good but felt forced and in the photo shop and spa there was very much a hard sell - that doesn't happen with P&O anymore. Also most of the cafes - even the coffee bar in the buffet - were all extra.

 

We have never had to pay for coffee in the buffet restaurant on any Princess ship unless you ask for a speciality coffee which is extra cost as it is on P&O.

[richleeds]

We have never had to pay for coffee in the buffet restaurant on any Princess ship unless you ask for a speciality coffee which is extra cost as it is on P&O.

 

 

... And you don't have to buy a coffee to get a delicious cake on Princess

[the english lady]

Which after all of this OP just need to go on their cruise and see what THEY think of the service etc.

We have never had a bad waiter-but then you reap as you sow. I am always chatty and smiling (yes one of those!!) I am always polite to the waiters, say hello and smile.

I do not go so far as to know their family history , but I have seriously never had a bad waiter.

Hard sell does go on, on Pando..I had a haircut on one of my recent cruises...I forget how much it cost but I decided never again. Not just because of the cost, but because of the selling.

I think I have read that spa staff are not employed by Pando, so I guess we cannot blame them for that.

[richleeds]

Which after all of this OP just need to go on their cruise and see what THEY think of the service etc.

 

We have never had a bad waiter-but then you reap as you sow. I am always chatty and smiling (yes one of those!!) I am always polite to the waiters, say hello and smile.

 

I do not go so far as to know their family history , but I have seriously never had a bad waiter.

 

Hard sell does go on, on Pando..I had a haircut on one of my recent cruises...I forget how much it cost but I decided never again. Not just because of the cost, but because of the selling.

 

I think I have read that spa staff are not employed by Pando, so I guess we cannot blame them for that.

 

 

Correct, most Spa's are run by third party companies and either pay a service fee to the cruise company or the cruise company takes a cut of the revenue.

 

Like you say, you do your bit and pay a decent price and probably tip for a service but they still try and squeeze more out of you with product up sells. This is common on all lines.

[dgs1956]

Which after all of this OP just need to go on their cruise and see what THEY think of the service etc.

We have never had a bad waiter-but then you reap as you sow. I am always chatty and smiling (yes one of those!!) I am always polite to the waiters, say hello and smile.

I do not go so far as to know their family history , but I have seriously never had a bad waiter.

Hard sell does go on, on Pando..I had a haircut on one of my recent cruises...I forget how much it cost but I decided never again. Not just because of the cost, but because of the selling.

I think I have read that spa staff are not employed by Pando, so I guess we cannot blame them for that.

 

You do indeed reap what you sow. I've only ever had a poor wine waiter. Every other member of staff have been exceptional.

The photographers and spa staff are not employed by P&O so you can get a hard sell. I also used the hairdresser once. It was £25 for a cut but I was offered it free if I took the "shave". (male of course) It was £90. A very good haircut but expensive for a gent.

[Sealoveragain]

Which after all of this OP just need to go on their cruise and see what THEY think of the service etc.

We have never had a bad waiter-but then you reap as you sow. I am always chatty and smiling (yes one of those!!) I am always polite to the waiters, say hello and smile.

I do not go so far as to know their family history , but I have seriously never had a bad waiter.

Hard sell does go on, on Pando..I had a haircut on one of my recent cruises...I forget how much it cost but I decided never again. Not just because of the cost, but because of the selling.

I think I have read that spa staff are not employed by Pando, so I guess we cannot blame them for that.

 

How lucky you and others are not to have experienced what we did. We certainly did NOT reap what we sowed. We are always friendly and polite (we've NEVER been unfriendly or impolite) in fact I tell my husband off sometimes because he is too friendly. We have always asked them to call us by our names but they always stick with Madam and Sir. On our last cruise the waiter asked US what our names were and we thought how nice a really friendly waiter. I won't go into all the detail but he actually was NOT friendly and as I've said was quite arrogant. He came as quite a shock to us and I can assure you it was nothing to do with our attitude at all. All the other staff on our cruise were the usual friendly, polite people we have been used to.

[SwissDave]

Also most of the cafes - even the coffee bar in the buffet - were all extra.

 

The only extra charges for coffee on Royal Princess are the speciality coffees from the International Cafe (not a buffet) and the Princess Live Cafe (again, not a buffet). If you order a speciality coffee after dinner in MDR then that is extra charge.

 

If you go to the buffet, i.e. Horizon court and Horizon bistro, standard non speciality coffee is free.

[CCFC]

I found the champagne sail away on P&O was a bit of a hard sell, they have trays of champagne and put it in your hand only afterwards asking for a signature by which time you have probably had a sip!

[richleeds]

I found the champagne sail away on P&O was a bit of a hard sell, they have trays of champagne and put it in your hand only afterwards asking for a signature by which time you have probably had a sip!

 

 

Surely at the sip and afterwards point, you say "Oh sorry you didnt inform me of a charge" and put it back on the tray, then see what happens.....

[Scriv]

Re the Spa, it is run by Steiner Leisure Ltd as I was informed when I had an after sales issue after the cruise. I was surprised to find that the fitness seminars inevitably led to a sales push for a product or a service, but they did not put on any pressure if we were not interested.

 

On this note, can anyone tell me which parts of the Spa are free for us to use? Can we use the sauna and steam room for example without charge or sales pressure?

 

OP - enjoy your cruise with P&O and do let us know your views when you come back. :)

Edited September 26, 2014 by Scriv