Good points of P&O

[Harry Peterson]

2 minutes ago, Bazrat said:

I cannot claim to be a fanboy or have any connection with p&o as I have yet to take a cruise,but I have noticed your need to be the centre of attention I have mentioned previously that you should seek compensation from p&o assuming you have a genuine complaint.

I have mentioned previously that I was told to ignore this site because of people like yourself with an axe to grind against p&o and make my own judgement which we have done,we have now booked a third cruise for next year on Ventura because of the positive comments and watching some videos from obvious happy patrons of p&o.

Delighted to hear that. Enjoy your cruises.  That's what research is all about.  😊

[grapau27]

15 minutes ago, Bazrat said:

I cannot claim to be a fanboy or have any connection with p&o as I have yet to take a cruise,but I have noticed your need to be the centre of attention I have mentioned previously that you should seek compensation from p&o assuming you have a genuine complaint.

I have also mentioned previously that I was told to ignore this site because of people like yourself with an axe to grind against p&o and make my own judgement which we have done,we have now booked a third cruise for next year on Ventura because of the positive comments and watching some videos from obvious happy patrons of p&o.

That's fantastic news.

Once you do a cruise you are hooked.

I am sure you have made the right choice and wish you all the best for many more fabulous cruises.

Graham.

[Selbourne]

We don’t really fit the categorisation of classic or contemporary ships either. We have cruised on every ship in the P&O fleet and our favourite ships are Aurora (yet we didn’t really like Arcadia) and Britannia (yet we aren’t great fans of Ventura & Azura). I could list positives and negatives for every ship in the P&O fleet. None are perfect and each have their own strengths and weaknesses, depending on which aspects of cruising matter most to you. 

[Britboys]

Further to my post #93 above, yes, of course there are many people who enjoy the wide variety of P&O ships on offer but I am aware from quite a few reviews over the years that sometimes people who have sailed on say, Britannia, then go on, say Aurora and post that they were bored, found the ship tiny, dark & tired.  On the opposite side, some who have sailed on, say Aurora then go on say, Azura and post that is far too big, busy & noisy.  Personally, I just feel separating the two styles of cruising that P&O offer by the way that they are marketed could be helpful.  I'm not suggesting separate brochures or anything - just a branding in a similar way to 'Holiday Inn' & 'Holiday Inn Express' (not that I am suggesting either style of P&O cruising is a better or lesser quality). 

[daiB]

25 minutes ago, Britboys said:

Further to my post #93 above, yes, of course there are many people who enjoy the wide variety of P&O ships on offer but I am aware from quite a few reviews over the years that sometimes people who have sailed on say, Britannia, then go on, say Aurora and post that they were bored, found the ship tiny, dark & tired.  On the opposite side, some who have sailed on, say Aurora then go on say, Azura and post that is far too big, busy & noisy.  Personally, I just feel separating the two styles of cruising that P&O offer by the way that they are marketed could be helpful.  I'm not suggesting separate brochures or anything - just a branding in a similar way to 'Holiday Inn' & 'Holiday Inn Express' (not that I am suggesting either style of P&O cruising is a better or lesser quality). 

Andrew, is the division not already there with Adult and Family. 

[Britboys]

No I don't think it is Dai.  The family/adult only is only one aspect of a cruise.  I really feel the smaller ships give a very different cruise experience.Just my opinion of course.

[Strawberry field]

15 minutes ago, Britboys said:

No I don't think it is Dai.  The family/adult only is only one aspect of a cruise.  I really feel the smaller ships give a very different cruise experience.Just my opinion of course.

 

I agree as our first cruise was on Britannia and we loved it our second was on Aurora and I found it too small and lacking something. Our third was on Britannia and booked again on Britannia and Iona. Horses for courses I suppose although my wife loved Aurora. 

 

Edit

Just thought of another thing I like about P&O.... fried bread

Edited April 11, 2019 by Strawberry field

[terrierjohn]

10 minutes ago, Britboys said:

No I don't think it is Dai.  The family/adult only is only one aspect of a cruise.  I really feel the smaller ships give a very different cruise experience.Just my opinion of course.

We are about to find out as we will be on Aurora for the first time in just under 2 weeks. We have done Arcadia but that was well before it transitioned to adult only, liked some aspects of her but too many design peculiarities for my taste, more even than the Grand Princess design.

[P-L-B]

The only obvious differences we have found are size and decor. Most other things are the same throughout the fleet. Shows, food, entertainment etc.

[Eglesbrech]

8 minutes ago, P-L-B said:

The only obvious differences we have found are size and decor. Most other things are the same throughout the fleet. Shows, food, entertainment etc.

 

You are right that the basics are mainly the same but personally I think there is a totally different atmosphere onboard the smaller ships, which I prefer. The new supersized ships attract a different type of customer with different interests.

 

Also the smaller ships tend to offer more specialist entertainment for example some really excellent classical concerts (another P&O positive). I may have just been unlucky to miss them out on them but recently on the bigger ships there have not been any classical concerts.

[daiB]

28 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said:

 

You are right that the basics are mainly the same but personally I think there is a totally different atmosphere onboard the smaller ships, which I prefer. The new supersized ships attract a different type of customer with different interests.

 

Also the smaller ships tend to offer more specialist entertainment for example some really excellent classical concerts (another P&O positive). I may have just been unlucky to miss them out on them but recently on the bigger ships there have not been any classical concerts.

Unlucky is the word we had classical music on both of our Ventura back to backs. Each sea day in the afternoon.

 

That  was last month.

[P-L-B]

39 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said:

 

You are right that the basics are mainly the same but personally I think there is a totally different atmosphere onboard the smaller ships, which I prefer. The new supersized ships attract a different type of customer with different interests.

 

Also the smaller ships tend to offer more specialist entertainment for example some really excellent classical concerts (another P&O positive). I may have just been unlucky to miss them out on them but recently on the bigger ships there have not been any classical concerts.

Interesting comment about the availability of classical concerts.

The last time we were onboard Aurora they had classical concerts which were held in the cinema.

Although, this would have I am sure caused inconvenience to the cinema fans.😊

I think the good point is that P&O generally try and provide a wide range of interests for most of their passengers.

Edited April 11, 2019 by P-L-B

[Eglesbrech]

8 minutes ago, daiB said:

Unlucky is the word we had classical music on both of our Ventura back to backs. Each sea day in the afternoon.

 

That  was last month.

 

Thats good to hear Dai. Nothing last week on Brittania.

[daiB]

2 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said:

 

Thats good to hear Dai. Nothing last week on Brittania.

Was it a long cruise? The ones I have seen have been on the longer cruises. As is for bridge classes and organised play.

[Eglesbrech]

21 minutes ago, daiB said:

Was it a long cruise? The ones I have seen have been on the longer cruises. As is for bridge classes and organised play.

Just one week. We have however had classical concerts on cruises of this duration in the past on Aurora (and further back on Artemis).

 

Glad to hear fom you that it is still available on some of the (slightly) bigger ships. Have you ever seen it on Brittania?

[Britboys]

1 hour ago, Strawberry field said:

 

I agree as our first cruise was on Britannia and we loved it our second was on Aurora and I found it too small and lacking something. Our third was on Britannia and booked again on Britannia and Iona. Horses for courses I suppose although my wife loved Aurora. 

 

Edit

Just thought of another thing I like about P&O.... fried bread

 

Horses for courses indeed. I have no desire to sail on a P&O ship bigger than Arcadia.  Nothing wrong with them - just not for me.  I have been on Azura twice and on both occasions was quite happy to disembark.  I would perhaps like to try Britannia for 2 - 4 nights to see her but the images & deck plans released so far of Iona leave me cold...

 

As I say - just my taste.  Lots of people love the bigger ships and why not if that floats your boat.

[Harry Peterson]

1 hour ago, daiB said:

Unlucky is the word we had classical music on both of our Ventura back to backs. Each sea day in the afternoon.

 

That  was last month.

None on Azura the last couple of weeks. And only the one guest speaker.

 

The point about a different clientele for the larger ships could well be relevant - entertainment on Azura now seems to centre on Bingo and fruit machines.  Certainly a very different clientele from when we first sailed on her in 2011, but the destination will also be relevant and that one was to Iceland.

[Britboys]

15 minutes ago, docco said:

None on Azura the last couple of weeks. And only the one guest speaker.

 

The point about a different clientele for the larger ships could well be relevant - entertainment on Azura now seems to centre on Bingo and fruit machines.  Certainly a very different clientele from when we first sailed on her in 2011, but the destination will also be relevant and that one was to Iceland.

 

I guess it is horses for courses again docco.  I've just seen a review on another forum from a recent 12-night Azura cruise where the writer said there was plenty of entertainment, including a Comedy Pianist and excellent Guest Speaker, with a selection of films also shown.

[daiB]

4 hours ago, docco said:

None on Azura the last couple of weeks. And only the one guest speaker.

 

The point about a different clientele for the larger ships could well be relevant - entertainment on Azura now seems to centre on Bingo and fruit machines.  Certainly a very different clientele from when we first sailed on her in 2011, but the destination will also be relevant and that one was to Iceland.

You were clearly on a different cruise to others whom I know, who tell a totally different story. A day or two ago you did not know what ship you had been on. So that is entirely possible.

 

But you continue with your jaundice view of things P&O.

[P-L-B]

Fruit machines, goodness things have changed, or are we talking about the gaming machines located in the casino area.

 

If so they and the other Casino activities have always been available for passengers that enjoy the occasional gamble.

 

We do not participate in the Bingo sessions so therefore avoid, but I see no problem with passengers that do.

 

The positive is that it adds to the choice of things to do.🙂

[Harry Peterson]

1 hour ago, daiB said:

You were clearly on a different cruise to others whom I know, who tell a totally different story. A day or two ago you did not know what ship you had been on. So that is entirely possible.

 

But you continue with your jaundice view of things P&O.

I was there, and my feedback on the cruise is entirely factual. Reporting hard facts isn't taking a jaundiced view - though refusing to accept fair and factual comment certainly is.

 

And as for derogatory comment based on a mistyped word - that's pretty sad, isn't it.

[daiB]

14 minutes ago, docco said:

I was there, and my feedback on the cruise is entirely factual. Reporting hard facts isn't taking a jaundiced view - though refusing to accept fair and factual comment certainly is.

 

And as for derogatory comment based on a mistyped word - that's pretty sad, isn't it.

Sorry if it offends you but I prefer to take the word of people I know and trust, who were on the cruise.

[Harry Peterson]

9 minutes ago, daiB said:

Sorry if it offends you but I prefer to take the word of people I know and trust, who were on the cruise.

Fair enough.  Some people are more accepting of constant sewage smells on the Promenade Deck than others perhaps.  And TV channels that were unavailable throughout more than half of the cruise. And a suite that had seen better days and needed comprehensive refurbishment.

 

Such is life.

[Bazrat]

2 minutes ago, daiB said:

Sorry if it offends you but I prefer to take the word of people I know and trust, who were on the cruise.

Alas daiB you have fallen into doccos trap if you keep on responding to him on this thread he will have done his job,he as a problem with p&o cruises so he will continue with his comments till it drowns out all the good experiences you people have had.

[daiB]

4 minutes ago, docco said:

Fair enough.  Some people are more accepting of constant sewage smells on the Promenade Deck than others perhaps.  And TV channels that were unavailable throughout more than half of the cruise. And a suite that had seen better days and needed comprehensive refurbishment.

 

Such is life.

 

And of course you have missed to point, quite deliberately I suspect. I was referring to your flippant remark about the entertainment on Azura. 

 

But of course that is what you do.