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P&O is more Butlinesque than Thomson

davecttr

By davecttr,
in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

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davecttr

davecttr

Posted
Posted

Yes it is!

 

P&O is obsessed with quizzes and they infest the main bars with them

 

On Thomson you might get a quizz free drink in the main bar, Ocean, Raffles, Hemingways or Rendevous. Also no karaoke. Thomson have bars for such stuff, Medusa, High Spirits, Liberties, Royal fireworks,

 

Not so on P&O. the main bars on the ships I have been on all have quizzes and Karaoke in the main bar, plus loud music. The yacht & compass on Oceana, the rising sun on Arcadia and the Exchange on Ventura (worst bar aboard any ship for me) are all spoiled IMO.

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joeholiday2

joeholiday2

Posted
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Don't they have some kind of quiz league?

 

The one day we sat in a bar and did a quiz they were talking about those that did it yesterday to put your chit in for the extra points towards the total at the end of the cruise.

 

It got really serious for some of them, it's just a bit of fun if you happen to drop across it for us, not something we think we have to be on time to attend daily....

 

They are definitely not party ships, the Ship was really quiet at 11pm Christmas eve.

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davecttr

davecttr

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Don't they have some kind of quiz league?

 

The one day we sat in a bar and did a quiz they were talking about those that did it yesterday to put your chit in for the extra points towards the total at the end of the cruise.

 

It got really serious for some of them, it's just a bit of fun if you happen to drop across it for us, not something we think we have to be on time to attend daily....

 

They are definitely not party ships, the Ship was really quiet at 11pm Christmas eve.

Thats the syndicate quizz which can get very serious. It is usually held in some out of the way place such as the Crows Nest (Horizons) or maybe even the buffet. You can win bottles of wine etc. Previous winners are handicapped by point deductions.

 

I don't know why P&O can't have dedicated venues like Thomson. The ships are a lot bigger.

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gillhalfpint

gillhalfpint

Posted
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All the references to P & O have got me reading their threads now, and I read that one from start to finish and it was brilliant reading. (That sounds bad really that I got such a laugh at others calling each other!!).

 

Read their dining one Linda started and must say I am glad I go with Thomson.

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geomagot

geomagot

Posted
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over 100 years of distributive wealth/tolerance/social mobility & equality and it would appear that some cruise line (p&o) passengers (bigots) are hanging on in there and still refuse to grasp the simple concept that cruising class's have been dead and buried for decades!!.... ever-so-slightly spine chilling (they must feel ashamed of themselves?... surely??)

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Iain1873

Iain1873

Posted
Posted (edited)
over 100 years of distributive wealth/tolerance/social mobility & equality and it would appear that some cruise line (p&o) passengers (bigots) are hanging on in there and still refuse to grasp the simple concept that cruising class's have been dead and buried for decades!!.... ever-so-slightly spine chilling (they must feel ashamed of themselves?... surely??)

 

Having cruised with P&O on a couple of occassions and thoroughly enjoyed it , the above is the exception rather than the norm from what i've found , in fact some of the nicest folks we met , one couple in particular who had crusied at least once per year for the past 50 years with P&O !! were the nicest people you could have met , and were a great source of knowledge not only about cruising but about P&O in general , while a couple cruising for the first time were dreadful snobs , they even asked another guy at our table , a Londoner from the Eastend how he could afford to cruise so often !! , am surprised they never asked how we could afford to get down to Southampton from the colonies up North ;)

Edited by Iain1873
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kruzseeka

kruzseeka

Posted
Posted
over 100 years of distributive wealth/tolerance/social mobility & equality and it would appear that some cruise line (p&o) passengers (bigots) are hanging on in there and still refuse to grasp the simple concept that cruising class's have been dead and buried for decades!!.... ever-so-slightly spine chilling (they must feel ashamed of themselves?... surely??)

 

You would think so wouldn't you geo? But we've not been on P&O much but must say I didn't come across anyone like that. Did you on Ventura? Although I would guess that the Caribbean crusies are more relaxed.

 

Yes, we did meet a young couple who had done three cruises on Cunard - all on Cunard and that obviously made them feel just a tad superior. But I soon put them right - admitted up front that we'd done a lot of Thomson in a very gentle way pointed out the error of their assumptions!!! I actually think it says a lot for their feelings of self esteem (somewhat lacking) that they have to validate themselves through which cruise lines they sail with and assume a superiority over others to boot. It's the old story of feeling better about yourself if you put someone else down (or cruise line :rolleyes: ) - except I deplore that and think badly of those who do. (Being somewhat judgmental here myself! :o :rolleyes:)

 

Yes times have changed - and isn't it a joy that so many people are able to afford to cruise? I feel no sense of shame looking for cheap deals - we've worked hard all our lives and now are enjoying being able to travel in a way we could never imagined when we were younger. We work on the theory that we can go away more often if we get good deals - but contrary to what one or two on the other site seem to think, getting a bargain doesn't equate with being uncouth, bad mannered or lacking in social graces. Such dreadful stereotyping! I certainly don't condone poor behaviour nor would I want to spend time around such people - but by the same token I don't relish spending time with bigots either.

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geomagot

geomagot

Posted
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You would think so wouldn't you geo? But we've not been on P&O much but must say I didn't come across anyone like that. Did you on Ventura?

 

 

actually not at all kruz ....most people were happily going about their private day...privately...and happily:cool:... I didnt notice too much of the community villiage feel that you get on thoms ships (probably because its a bigger ship and you rarely see anyone twice?)

 

ms magot did manage to start a couple of congas.....but that may have been the queue (scrum) for the burger bar when it opened;):)

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gillhalfpint

gillhalfpint

Posted
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Well said Kruzseeka, just added a comment to P&O site, but I expect the whole thread will be taken down soon!

 

I have done nothing this morning keeping up with all these posts. It used to be bad enough with the FB pages and this one, but I have now got Pando to have fun with. Never mind, retirement means I can.

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Iain1873

Iain1873

Posted
Posted (edited)

The Ventura post on the P&O page is a corker , was amusing to see so many folk still stuck in a time warp , but i did see a couple of what i would describe as vile and ill-informed posts

 

so my brought my shaven head & tattoed arms and myself back to this page :p

Edited by Iain1873
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happy v

happy v

Posted
Posted (edited)
Thank goodness for that :rolleyes:

 

I can't decide whether it has made me more or less likely to try P&O :D

 

I would hope less!!!!:eek: :) :)

 

But I would guess none of them would be quite so bolshy without the anonymity of the forum.;)

Edited by happy v
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geomagot

geomagot

Posted
Posted

p&o is ok...it pretty much the same as thomsons only on a bigger ship....more people/more kids, more things to eat, more places to go, more choices to make

 

you dont see the same people quite so often so you dont make as many friends (as you would on thomsons ships) and more crew who move about from bar to bar etc so you dont get to know them as well (as you would on thomsons) and imo the crew dont gel together in the same way as they do on thomsons (because there are more of them)

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CRUISIN LINDA

CRUISIN LINDA

Posted
Posted
p&o is ok...it pretty much the same as thomsons only on a bigger ship....more people/more kids, more things to eat, more places to go, more choices to make

 

you dont see the same people quite so often so you dont make as many friends (as you would on thomsons ships) and more crew who move about from bar to bar etc so you dont get to know them as well (as you would on thomsons) and imo the crew dont gel together in the same way as they do on thomsons (because there are more of them)

Was it Venturer you went on Geo? Thinking I might try P&O on a shorter trip on a smaller ship

first :rolleyes:

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geomagot

geomagot

Posted
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yes ventura in caribban linda, ms magot liked it fine...i luvved the balcony, cabin was nice, food was good ....... we havnt been on any of their other ships and only been on ventura once

 

its the jamaica itinerary that has brought us back to thoms this winter

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CRUISIN LINDA

CRUISIN LINDA

Posted
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yes ventura in caribban linda, ms magot liked it fine...i luvved the balcony, cabin was nice, food was good ....... we havnt been on any of their other ships and only been on ventura once its the jamaica itinerary that has brought us back to thoms this winter

Sorry shan't be joining you Geo

1) Dream :eek:

2) Montego Bay airport :eek:

3) Yellow Fever Jabs :eek:

4) Wasn't impressed with Havana :o

 

Linda ducks down and waits for comments! Oh no, that is on another board :D:D

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CRUISIN LINDA

CRUISIN LINDA

Posted
Posted (edited)

Just found a review on "the other site" Dave that backs up what you say

 

 

If you like quizzes this is the cruise for you, 5 or 6 quizzes a day but when your clientele is mainly on sticks and zimmers it is ideal !

The entertainment was not bad, the professional dancer's in the arena were just that, very professional. The casino is very small for such a large ship and there was not enough tables or gaming machines.

The battle for sunbeds when crossing Atlantic was stupid, people were putting towels out at 5am...Butlin`s at sea

Edited by CRUISIN LINDA
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geomagot

geomagot

Posted
Posted
Sorry shan't be joining you Geo

1) Dream :eek:

2) Montego Bay airport

3) Yellow Fever Jabs

4) Wasn't impressed with Havana

 

Linda ducks down and waits for comments! Oh no, that is on another board

 

lol

 

1) dream ...I'm sayinn nothin! :p

2) montego bay airport...yep got me there :eek:(better than dom rep tho)

3) we're not having any jabs...didnt have them last time ...and nothing happened ...(apart from the 6 toes on each foot)

4) loved havana .....music is fab....night life is fab ...cigars are fab ...and the dancing girls are? ...are? :confused:... very talented;):)

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