Butlins

[Mkyomo]

We have just got back off a P&O Caribbean cruise on the Azura, first I feel it like so many people say it is going like Butlins, but I am sure the entertainment would be far better, first the had a group singing that when they came on people left when ever they came on, that girl singer was nothing more than shocking she could empty a room in seconds. Their food in the selfservice was not good at all every other day it was some sort of curry and noodles. One of The young girls who done the bingo( not that I play it) she also done the music quiz on deck 15-16 kept doing it wrong and when people started booing her she said as far as I am concerned you can all boo as much as you want it doesn't bother me. Tropical night we thought penny pinching no garland s around or parlm itree put out like what they used to do, In all so many cut backs and we feel penny pinching, But we do feel the CAPTAIN was nothing more than shocking he was American or Canadian, when he came on giving you daily information  you could not hear or understand him he literally just waffled on. At the peninsula greeting he came on and he looked as if he had slept in his clothes again he just waffled on and on and that's it he just said enjoy the party. Done many P & O  but we both feel this the worst one ever and we think it's time to start looking around at other cruise companies.

[Eglesbrech]

Usually the people who say it’s like Butlins have never been there. I remember it in the 70s and believe me a P&O cruise is nothing like it, so the analogy is a bit flawed. 

 

It is however a real shame you did not enjoy the cruise and I would agree there have been cut backs (but then the price is also lower). It may have got to the point that the cutbacks and penny pinching is just a bit too much. I don’t think the buffets are adequate any more and tend to eat in the Glasshouse or MDR to avoid them.

 

I’m really surprised by the comments about the Captain as the ones we have seen have always been beautifully turned out and very professional. Was the issue the sound system and did you report this to the front desk?  If it Captains accent, with all respect to you I sometimes think people don’t try hard enough to tune in to a different accent. I am Scottish and don’t have a particularly strong  brogue but often get comments about it on cruise ships from people with equally strong regional accents whom I manage to understand perfectly - because I try.

 

I have also never been on a ship where passengers booed at anyone. That is a bit concerning if that kind of behaviour is creeping in. 

 

Hope you find something that suits you better. You may however just have been unlucky on this cruise to have these sorts of issues. 

[jeanlyon]

I'm afraid I had a hard time understanding some of your post.  Was none of the entertainment to your liking?  Personally, I have never had a problem with the buffet, lovely salads and other dishes, or at least there was last time.

[Britboys]

It is always such a shame when you have looked forward to something and it doesn't come up to expectations.  If P&O are cutting back to the degree your post suggests, they are playing a dangerous game indeed as there are plenty of other options available to all out there.  It is however also quite interesting to see that cruise prices in general seem to be on a significantly upward trend at the moment.

 

It is such a shame that your first post on CC is an unhappy one.  Hopefully you will have much better experiences in future that you can let us know about too.

[Ian T]

We was on Ventura last summer and they had a new singer for Pulse, and each time she came on by the pool everyone disappeared. It got that bad that the rest of the band would play without her.

She departed the ship when it returned to Southampton.

Some of the entertainment team can be fiery but usually change their ways with guidance from above.

[daiB]

30 minutes ago, Britboys said:

It is always such a shame when you have looked forward to something and it doesn't come up to expectations.  If P&O are cutting back to the degree your post suggests, they are playing a dangerous game indeed as there are plenty of other options available to all out there.  It is however also quite interesting to see that cruise prices in general seem to be on a significantly upward trend at the moment.

 

It is such a shame that your first post on CC is an unhappy one.  Hopefully you will have much better experiences in future that you can let us know about too.

Andrew I do not believe that there are the cutbacks on the scale implied by the poster. You know how many times I cruise and I do look for changes but there are not that many. 

[Mkyomo]

To the person who said they don't believe there are that many,I don't want to start a slagging match but believe me I was being very conservative about my views. There was a lot more we could have said but did not, and we have done over thirty cruises as well. P & O are going to find I believe many people will start looking at other cruise companies.

[majortom10]

5 minutes ago, Mkyomo said:

To the person who said they don't believe there are that many,I don't want to start a slagging match but believe me I was being very conservative about my views. There was a lot more we could have said but did not, and we have done over thirty cruises as well. P & O are going to find I believe many people will start looking at other cruise companies.

Many already have but there are those that wear rose coloured spectacles with regards to P&O and will always stick up for them and wont have a wrong word said about them. Many have never cruised with other cruise lines so cannot compare or see the decline of P&O cruises since 2000 and would have a shock if they did.

[Harry Peterson]

22 hours ago, Mkyomo said:

Their food in the selfservice was not good at all every other day it was some sort of curry and noodles. 

Did you eat in the Main Dining Room at all?

[Josy1953]

2 hours ago, daiB said:

Andrew I do not believe that there are the cutbacks on the scale implied by the poster. You know how many times I cruise and I do look for changes but there are not that many. 

Dai,  We were on Ventura in December and I found that the level of cutbacks have become very obvious now.  The MDR food was the worst that we have had on 48 cruises, they have introduced a number of vegan items and they were very poor, I have never tried vegan food before so it maybe that it was simply not to my taste.  Every night 2 of the desserts were both vegan and gluten free.  The gf/vegan carrot cake was so hard that when I tried to put my fork into it shot across the table and landed on my husband's lap,  I am sure that neither vegans or coeliacs can be any happier with these offerings than those of us who have no particular dietary issues.  We found that we were eating in the Glasshouse, Sindhu and the Beach House more than usual.

Since we got back we have cancelled the 2 cruises that we had booked at launch and have booked with Celebrity for one of them and Silverseas for the other, they are costing us more and we have lost our deposits but we have reached our limit with P&O.  We are continuing with our April Princess cruise but if they are following P&O's falling standards this will be our last Princess cruise.

Entertainment was also very poor other than the headliners, I am not a headliners fan but we went to all of their shows because the other offerings were all ones that we had seen before and had no desire to see again.

Edited January 29, 2019 by Josy1953

[john watson]

It sounds more like Maplin's than Butlin's from this critique.

 

Regards John

[janny444]

Hi....it is nearly 12 months since we sailed on the Azura and if the OP has not exaggerated then it appears that the Azura has gone " downhill" very fast. We had nothing to complain about last year but we never eat in the buffet and the food in the MDR was quite acceptable.The only point that I am in agreement with the OP is the remarks about the captain and I am not mentioning names so not sure if he is the same captain that we had last April....he was the worse captain that we have ever had and especially with following on from the excellent Robert Camby...the difference really really showed.

We could hardly tell what he was saying...garbled monotone....that was when he decided to speak at all. It came across as a daily pre recorded message and by the end of the cruise we had our doubts as to whether he was even on the ship at all. Never ever saw him around the ship at all

 

The atmosphere around the ship under the command of Robert Camby was outstanding....he interacted with everyone....guests and crew alike....he was seen about the ship every day....many times several times a day. It made such a difference to the crew who positively looked happy in their work.

[daiB]

3 hours ago, majortom10 said:

Many already have but there are those that wear rose coloured spectacles with regards to P&O and will always stick up for them and wont have a wrong word said about them. Many have never cruised with other cruise lines so cannot compare or see the decline of P&O cruises since 2000 and would have a shock if they did.

 

Only telling the truth I know you don’t like it. 

 

Cruising with other lines has nothing nothing to do with it at all. Although as you know I have been on another line. 

[daiB]

3 hours ago, Mkyomo said:

To the person who said they don't believe there are that many,I don't want to start a slagging match but believe me I was being very conservative about my views. There was a lot more we could have said but did not, and we have done over thirty cruises as well. P & O are going to find I believe many people will start looking at other cruise companies.

I have heard this over and over again for the past 15 years. Someone perceives they have had a bad cruise and as a result claim many people will move to another line. Well the increase in cruisers and the cost of cruising rising would tell another tale..

[daiB]

1 hour ago, janny444 said:

Hi....it is nearly 12 months since we sailed on the Azura and if the OP has not exaggerated then it appears that the Azura has gone " downhill" very fast. We had nothing to complain about last year but we never eat in the buffet and the food in the MDR was quite acceptable.The only point that I am in agreement with the OP is the remarks about the captain and I am not mentioning names so not sure if he is the same captain that we had last April....he was the worse captain that we have ever had and especially with following on from the excellent Robert Camby...the difference really really showed.

We could hardly tell what he was saying...garbled monotone....that was when he decided to speak at all. It came across as a daily pre recorded message and by the end of the cruise we had our doubts as to whether he was even on the ship at all. Never ever saw him around the ship at all

 

The atmosphere around the ship under the command of Robert Camby was outstanding....he interacted with everyone....guests and crew alike....he was seen about the ship every day....many times several times a day. It made such a difference to the crew who positively looked happy in their work.

You are going to have to move to Oceana as that is where he is at the moment.

[Eglesbrech]

Perhaps it’s just me but my only concern with regard to Captains is that he or she gets me where I am going on time and safely. 

 

I also don’t think it is fair to mention individuals by name in a negative way when they have no right of reply.

 

 

[Harry Peterson]

45 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said:

Perhaps it’s just me but my only concern with regard to Captains is that he or she gets me where I am going on time and safely. 

 

I also don’t think it is fair to mention individuals by name in a negative way when they have no right of reply.

 

 

Agreed. The old days of socialising with the Captain and his/her fellow officers have long since disappeared with the advent of the larger ships. 

 

There are also potential libel issues!

 

 

[janny444]

1 hour ago, daiB said:

You are going to have to move to Oceana as that is where he is at the moment.

I would go back on the Oceana in a flash unfortunately can only sail from Southampton...our flying days are over

[Presto2]

Oh dear - we are on Azura in April for our first cruise on her. We didn't particularly like Ventura but want to give her sister a chance. We have booked a cabin that we wish we had booked on Ventura so are looking forward to that. Just a bit worried re the comments about the Captain. We do find that a good Captain makes a happy ship and have always found a happy crew when Andrew Willard has been on Oceana. Hope that things change before we go on our first cruise of the Fjords ….

 

(Re comments about cuts on P&O. I think it is fair to say that this affects all cruise lines. We were on Celebrity in August and it was definitely not as good as it had been in the past. I also think people need to recognise that P&O is not as expensive (if you can not book a cheap deal with anyone else at the last minute) as the other lines so let's be fair and compare like for like.

[ozzysdad]

Can whoever the Captain of the ship is really effect ones enjoyment of a cruise? 

 

 

I find some of the criticisms almost laughable at times on here, anyone fortunate enough to be taking a cruise for a holiday should really appreciate the positive rather than trying to find any negatives from the off. 

[Presto2]

9 minutes ago, ozzysdad said:

Can whoever the Captain of the ship is really effect ones enjoyment of a cruise? 

 

 

I find some of the criticisms almost laughable at times on here, anyone fortunate enough to be taking a cruise for a holiday should really appreciate the positive rather than trying to find any negatives from the off. 

 

It can enhance your enjoyment of a cruise if you have one of those 'charismatic' Captains who just seems to create a fabulous atmosphere on the ship among passengers and crew.

 

Please don't laugh at comments made in good faith as it comes across as being quite offensive. I would like to think that our comments re past cruises have always been, in the main very, very positive.

 

Just sharing my opinion - which is what CC is for

Edited January 29, 2019 by Presto2

[ozzysdad]

2 minutes ago, Presto2 said:

 

It can enhance your enjoyment of a cruise if you have one of those 'charismatic' Captains who just seems to create a fabulous atmosphere on the ship among passengers and crew.

 

Please don't be offensive and laugh at comments made in good faith.  I would like to think that our comments re past cruises have always been, in the main very, very positive.

 

Just sharing my opinion - which is what CC is for

Am I not allowed to share my opinion then?

 

As for offensive you should maybe direct your comments at those who compare a cruise with P&O to a weekend at Butlins, those references are not made in good faith and are totally untrue.

[Harry Peterson]

39 minutes ago, Presto2 said:

Oh dear - we are on Azura in April for our first cruise on her. We didn't particularly like Ventura but want to give her sister a chance. We have booked a cabin that we wish we had booked on Ventura so are looking forward to that. Just a bit worried re the comments about the Captain. We do find that a good Captain makes a happy ship and have always found a happy crew when Andrew Willard has been on Oceana. Hope that things change before we go on our first cruise of the Fjords ….

 

(Re comments about cuts on P&O. I think it is fair to say that this affects all cruise lines. We were on Celebrity in August and it was definitely not as good as it had been in the past. I also think people need to recognise that P&O is not as expensive (if you can not book a cheap deal with anyone else at the last minute) as the other lines so let's be fair and compare like for like.

I wouldn't worry about it.  We travel on both Azura and Ventura a lot, and last time we both felt that the standard of the food served in the MDRs had actually improved.  And (admittedly for a supplement) The Epicurean was nothing short of magnificent - ambience, food and standard of service.  The buffet was perfectly OK, but we used it only once or twice for a light snack/drink - the main problem there is not the buffet, or the staff, but some of the downright rude and unpleasant passengers.

 

These reports are always worse than the reality merits, and, reading some of the language used, it's pretty clear to me that part of the problem with P&O these days has more to do with the passengers the lower prices are attracting than P&O itself.

[Presto2]

19 minutes ago, ozzysdad said:

Am I not allowed to share my opinion then?

 

As for offensive you should maybe direct your comments at those who compare a cruise with P&O to a weekend at Butlins, those references are not made in good faith and are totally untrue.

 

You directed your comment at mine about Captains so I responded to that. Not a problem to make a comment but not sure it is within the rules of CC to be insulting to others - I felt that saying you laughed at comments such as mine offensive, so just saying that it can come across wrong.

 

Re the OP - personally I don't agree re Butlins. Have actually been to Butlins by the way when young and have fond memories.

Not sure how you know they were not made in good faith and not true.

 

End of discussion -- moving on

 

Edited January 29, 2019 by Presto2

[Presto2]

19 minutes ago, docco said:

I wouldn't worry about it.  We travel on both Azura and Ventura a lot, and last time we both felt that the standard of the food served in the MDRs had actually improved.  And (admittedly for a supplement) The Epicurean was nothing short of magnificent - ambience, food and standard of service.  The buffet was perfectly OK, but we used it only once or twice for a light snack/drink - the main problem there is not the buffet, or the staff, but some of the downright rude and unpleasant passengers.

 

These reports are always worse than the reality merits, and, reading some of the language used, it's pretty clear to me that part of the problem with P&O these days has more to do with the passengers the lower prices are attracting than P&O itself.

 

Thanks for the reassurance :-) Am sure we will be ok on Azura ----