New to P&O, any tips?

[Bryce1962]

You must do what suits you and yours, and make sure you enjoy yourselves.

I love the formal nights as it's rare that I get the opportunity to go "posh" (I'm a t-shirt and shorts/jeans type of guy), after the meal a few drinks and a boogie I make my way to the casino and pretend to be James Bond.... And guess what? Nobody cares![emoji106]🏼[emoji12][emoji106]🏼

[cremma14]

You must do what suits you and yours, and make sure you enjoy yourselves.

I love the formal nights as it's rare that I get the opportunity to go "posh" (I'm a t-shirt and shorts/jeans type of guy), after the meal a few drinks and a boogie I make my way to the casino and pretend to be James Bond.... And guess what? Nobody cares![emoji106]🏼[emoji12][emoji106]🏼

 

 

The best way to be! :D

 

(Now i'll think of everyone being James Bond when I see them off to dinner haha)

[themanwithahat]

Also we are not fussed on the formal nights, can we give these a miss? I assume we can go to the buffet on these nights so we are out of the way.

 

I'd give it a crack. It isn't spectacularly formal. I have a proper Tux now but didn't for my first three cruises, jacket and tie is fine, smart frock for ladies, but it doesn't have to be sumptuous ballgowns and so on, it's more about being a bit ahead of smart casual. Also, I think they occasionally do special menus on formal nights.

[Sea Green]

I'd give it a crack. It isn't spectacularly formal. I have a proper Tux now but didn't for my first three cruises, jacket and tie is fine, smart frock for ladies, but it doesn't have to be sumptuous ballgowns and so on, it's more about being a bit ahead of smart casual. Also, I think they occasionally do special menus on formal nights.

 

The formal nights have the Gala menus - this is when the Lobster etc will appear and the tables will be dressed up all fancy.

 

Each to their own of course, but I would caution the OP and anyone else against dismissing the formal nights out of hand because, and this IS just MY opinion, I find the evening buffet on P&O the weakest element - not terrible, but not with the options that other line seem to have. No fresh cooking stations, and every night is a theme dinner so if you dont like the theme on offer on formal night.....youre a bit stuck.

 

Two formal nights on a 7 day cruise so really a dark suit and tie, and one eveningy type outfit - does NOT have to be a ball gown - should see you through. And Im sure the dress code for children is just smart casual, so no need to shoehorn them into a mini-tux! :)

 

The fjords are stunning and I'm sure they will have a great time, what ever they do.

[themanwithahat]

And Im sure the dress code for children is just smart casual, so no need to shoehorn them into a mini-tux! :)

 

Yep. Younger children can do smart casual, as they get older they can wear a shirt and tie w/wo a jacket or a nice dress or something.

[BigJH]

Our kids (12 and 8) love the formal nights, especially my daughter who is at the age that she likes "dressing up", so at least the prom dress gets another outing, where as my son is a smart polo shirt or similar shirt. I find the MDR more relaxing as you don't have to:

A. Find a seat

B. Find a waiter for drinks

C. Go back and forth to the buffet to get something different for the kids along with desserts etc, and

D. Eat too much, which invariably you do when faced with all of the choices on display...

Like others have said, M&S do a great dinner suit for less than £100. For our first cruise a few years ago, I got mine from a good charity shop for £30 - no one will know where you got it from...

Enjoy your cruise, we are off to the Fjords on Azura on the 25th, can't wait...

[Presto2]

Thanks for posting this link - what a really useful website! Saved to my favourites too!

 

Same here - a great site - thank you. :)

[Presto2]

 

Second tip is be prepared for the "This is the 50th cruise I have done, and things are not like they used to be" brigade. When you get a group of them together it is like the Monty Python Yorkshireman sketch.

 

Bet they haven't slept in a cardboard box though ---- this made me laugh out loud. :D:D

[poppydog]

Hi we are new to P & O too. We are going on the Azura next month and are really looking forward to it. I've enjoyed reading the posts and its given me some tips. Could I just ask a couple of questions please. On the cruise personalizer there isnt an option to add your card details before you go, like we did on our previous cruises. How do they add these details is it when you check in? Also auto tips do you leave these on or do you tip who you wish.

[Mysticalmother]

Card details are taken when you check in. Just make sure they remember to do it! Last year they forgot , as did I initially and when I went to use my card for the first purchase of a glass of wine it refused it ! Ended up down at the pursers desk before I could even get my first drink......

 

Auto tips......there are loads of threads about tipping on here...basically you do what you think fit. I think the majority of people do leave them on ....and some tip on top of that too......others have them taken off........ and tip individually.:)....or not at all:mad:

 

Personally I leave them on. And what, if anything, I do in addition is my secret!

[bluedot2014]

 

Formal night still makes me suck my teeth like a builder... lol

 

Not long to go now and I think the part I am finding so exciting is sailing from Southampton, I've heard it is a lovely place to sail out of. :)

 

Sophie

 

I think you'll find the view is better when you turn left as you enter the Solent and look across to the Spinnaker Tower and Southsea Seafront, maybe I'm a little biased though ;)

 

Do keep an open mind about the formal nights. This is our second cruise, the first one was 5 years ago and I wore a dark suit, didn't feel out of place at all. I've gone the whole hog this time and purchased a tuxedo, now can anyone beat this, £10.50 off of eBay?!! And it still had the labels on so it is unworn, hey it maybe from George at Asda but it looks fine and with a decent shirt and shoes it'll do me for a couple of nights! :D

[wobblybob74]

Also auto tips do you leave these on or do you tip who you wish.

 

This is a very thorny issue no matter what cruise line you sail with.

 

My personal take on the subject is that you should leave the auto-tips on if you have chosen Anytime/Freedom Dining as you won't be served by the same waiters each evening. Also, bear in mind that the auto-tips get shared out to some members of the crew that you will never see.

 

It's about time that the cruise lines included this in the price of the cruise or, as some do (RCI I think), allow you to pay before you embark.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[c*r*u*I*s*e]

Hi Cremma

When we were in Norway (September 01 to 15 2013) the weather was sunny and warm most days 65-75'

Apparently Norway usually gets a warm stream from the south around this time of year which keeps the temperatures fairly mild to good.......with one or two showers I have to add.

Hope you enjoy!!!

 

Steve n wendy