A change of heart at P&O?

[wowzz]

It is worth pointing out that the crew numbers reflect total crew members,  not just customer facing staff.

So, the number of engineers, for example,  on Iona, may be the same as on Aurora, despite the difference in ship size.

Therefore the fugures need to be interpreted rather than be taken at face value. 

[RJChatsworth]

On 2/18/2023 at 3:22 PM, davecttr said:

Just back from Iona. My steward services 21 cabins and in the evening changes to a grey uniform and works in the MDR escorting passengers to their tables. I don't expect evening turn down service to resume.

That’s interesting.  We are just back too and had a turn down service every evening except the first.  Perhaps it’s a perk for being in a suite!  We were surprised to see the same bits on the carpet for two weeks.  Not ‘hoovered’ once in that time.

[Eglesbrech]

15 minutes ago, RJChatsworth said:

That’s interesting.  We are just back too and had a turn down service every evening except the first.  Perhaps it’s a perk for being in a suite!  We were surprised to see the same bits on the carpet for two weeks.  Not ‘hoovered’ once in that time.

It probably is an added perk for suites.

 

We on the other hand had regular cleaning and hoovering. The cabin was kept spotless.

[Advanced Diver]

3 hours ago, davecttr said:

Crew to passenger ratios

Arvia/Iona - 2.95

Britannia - 2.7

Azura - 2.48

Ventura - 2.55

Arcadia - 2.41

Aurora - 2.17

 

sums it up nicely, more passengers per crew member on the new ships

I wonder if that takes account of seasonal staff. For example the ship takes on extra staff for the school holidays, they had Ventura's youth staff on for last week's cruise where they had 900 kids on board Iona. Then again the passenger numbers are possibly increased (unless the ratio of kids is what changes).

[Obobru]

Suites may still have turndown but it's not for most rooms. 

 

As for cleaning the cabins get the bed made, bins emptied, towels changed, light wipe around, replacement of cups/glasses/coffee, refill of bathroom liquids. No vacuuming, bed changing on one week cruises, and no mopping of bathroom. 

 

[Obobru]

3 minutes ago, Advanced Diver said:

I wonder if that takes account of seasonal staff. For example the ship takes on extra staff for the school holidays, they had Ventura's youth staff on for last week's cruise where they had 900 kids on board Iona. Then again the passenger numbers are possibly increased (unless the ratio of kids is what changes).

They might add a few additional entertainment/kid staff but where would they put extra waiters, bar staff and cleaners? They would need to put them in the lifeboats the staff beds are full all the time with the staff they have and guest rooms are all sold. They do put guest entertainers on the 4th deck in guest rooms. 

[Adawn47]

7 hours ago, jeanlyon said:

Me too Avril, although my wonderful friend of 86 has just died, so got nobody to call me a young pup any more.

You're still a young pup Jean. I'll keep reminding you, don't worry.

Avril

[carlanthony24]

Just read that Royal are also changing to servicing rooms once a day and are being given extra rooms to clean. 

[Snow Hill]

4 hours ago, carlanthony24 said:

Just read that Royal are also changing to servicing rooms once a day and are being given extra rooms to clean. 

As are NCL, plus merging of Stateroom Steward and Junior Stateroom Steward with an increase in salary for later, plus scaling back for former. Plus an increase in service charge for guests, so paying more for a poorer service.  They state the change is due to their commitment to reducing impact on environment. 🤔

 

https://crew-center.com/norwegian-cruise-line-reduce-stateroom-cleaning-services

Edited February 20, 2023 by Snow Hill

[Ardennais]

On 2/19/2023 at 4:32 PM, RJChatsworth said:

That’s interesting.  We are just back too and had a turn down service every evening except the first.  Perhaps it’s a perk for being in a suite!  We were surprised to see the same bits on the carpet for two weeks.  Not ‘hoovered’ once in that time.

I also noticed some bits on our carpet weren’t removed. I left them there just to see, and there they remained! 

[P&O SUE]

On 2/10/2023 at 9:46 AM, Obobru said:

The newer ships attract a younger guest and I don't think younger guests like myself are as interested in afternoon tea, it's a hangover from the past like a cliché Americans think of when they think of Brits. 

 

As for the turndown I like it because they changed the towels, made the bed if I have a nap and emptied the bins. Before on most ships the attendants would clean up to 15 rooms once a day and then give them a quick tidy in the late afternoon. Now they are having to clean 30 rooms fully all day which is much more work for them as these are full cleans. It's all about cost cutting their is no staff shortages just staff cuts. 

 
Afternoon tea is very popular nowadays with younger people I work with. Seen so many done for things like baby showers. I love an afternoon tea myself ‘on land’ but often have it as lunch. I don’t have it on the ship though as it’s too much as an ‘extra’.

Edited February 21, 2023 by P&O SUE

[P&O SUE]

On 2/19/2023 at 9:18 AM, Josy1953 said:

My nieces and their friends all in their 30s often meet up for afternoon tea.  My niece's daughter has decided that to celebrate her 13th birthday in May she wants to take a group of her friends for afternoon tea because that is the trend with her friends at the moment.  My niece  my sister and I are going to the same place at the same time to keep a discreet eye on them from another table. 

For my 50th we had afternoon tea in a nice hotel with all the family.

[Snow Hill]

We did afternoon tea last week for the 2 of us cost us £12, we bought all the constituent elements from shops and we had some left over to do tea & scones the next day. The cheapest afternoon tea around here is £20 pp, some charge more for gluten free options. 

[sandancer]

11 hours ago, Ardennais said:

I also noticed some bits on our carpet weren’t removed. I left them there just to see, and there they remained! 

I would have left the room attendant a nice little polite note asking if he could leave a vacuum cleaner in the room so I could clean the carpet. Seriously though, these attendants have a lot of work to do and almost all of them do a great job. No  evening turn down is not an issue for us. Bed linen is another matter. I like fresh bedding at least once in 7 nights when we are paying a decent sum of money for a cruise. 

[wowzz]

26 minutes ago, sandancer said:

I would have left the room attendant a nice little polite note asking if he could leave a vacuum cleaner in the room so I could clean the carpet. Seriously though, these attendants have a lot of work to do and almost all of them do a great job. No  evening turn down is not an issue for us. Bed linen is another matter. I like fresh bedding at least once in 7 nights when we are paying a decent sum of money for a cruise. 

Agreed - a linen change every three days or so is not unreasonable. 

[sandancer]

12 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Agreed - a linen change every three days or so is not unreasonable. 

As per Cunard/Celebrity 

[wowzz]

25 minutes ago, sandancer said:

As per Cunard/Celebrity 

And Princess.

P&O seem to be winning the race to the bottom !

[jamiebarnzy]

I remember seeing a review in 2012, which notes that P&O change there bedding less then a lot of other lines. I may be wrong but I believe it was once a week for P&O where most other lines were 2 times as week and that was back in 2012. 

Edited February 22, 2023 by jamiebarnzy

[Fionboard]

Bet most do not change their bedding twice a week ( especially with the cost of laundering it nowdays ) ! 

[Snow Hill]

13 minutes ago, Fionboard said:

Bet most do not change their bedding twice a week ( especially with the cost of laundering it nowdays ) ! 

We have only ever done it once a week. Would make sense for P&O to do the same cuts the effects on the environment, plus there would be a cost saving as well.

[wowzz]

17 minutes ago, Snow Hill said:

We have only ever done it once a week. Would make sense for P&O to do the same cuts the effects on the environment, plus there would be a cost saving as well.

If I stay at a semi decent hotel, I woukd not expect to have the same bed linen for a week. Why should I lower my standards on a P&O cruise ?

[Harry Peterson]

1 hour ago, Fionboard said:

Bet most do not change their bedding twice a week ( especially with the cost of laundering it nowdays ) ! 

I know a certain university student who changed her bedding once a term - when she brought it home!  Naming no names........

[Bobblehat71]

Have recently got MSC Europa and the crew passenger ratio was something like 4:1 . Service was excellent. Turndown service everyday and bed was changed at least 3 times. The ship was spotless at all times and the service in the bars and around the pool was great.Shows what can be done even if they are short staffed.

 

Main dining room was a disaster so they didn't get it all right 😬

[davecttr]

Surveys show that 28% change their sheets weekly, 40% fortnightly and 24% every 3 to 4 weeks.

 

P&O have obviously been taking notice

[terrierjohn]

3 hours ago, wowzz said:

If I stay at a semi decent hotel, I woukd not expect to have the same bed linen for a week. Why should I lower my standards on a P&O cruise ?

Do you change your bedding twice a week at home? Not very environmentally friendly if you do, all that water and electricity being wasted!!!!!