1st time on a cruise

[smackalec]

My soon to be wife and i are travelling on ventura next year, it will be our first cruise. We have a son who will be just over 3 at time of travelling. I've read lots of different things on this website and others about what to expect but there are a few questions i would ike clarified. We're really excited about getting dressed up for the formal nights and i have seen that there are 4 formal and 4 non formal nights. what are non formal nights? Does anybody know what the childcare facillites are like on board? And how does the evening slumber care work? How much should i expect to spend on board? We are going on a wesltern med cruise. full day in rome full day florence etc but how much time will that give us by the time we take transfers to and from the cities into consideration? Whats the spa and gym like?

Thankyou for taking the time to read my post.

cheers, ash.

[scrozuk]

Hi,

 

Haven't been on this ship yet, will be able to give you an answer in a couple of weeks, but...

 

Formal nights are smart dress, like suits for men, preferably dinner suits. For the ladies, it's time to get the gladrags out. My wife loves these nights, and has spent a small fortune on ball gown type of dresses, but you don't have to go completely all out, unless you want to.

 

Non-formal nights, is smart casual, e.g. long-sleeve shirts and trousers for the men (possibly with a tie, not sure on P&O), and smart casual for the ladies, i.e. dresses/skirts etc.

 

T-Shirts/shorts not allowed in the restaurant.

 

As for the little one, these dress codes do not apply, but most people I know like their children to appear smart at the dinner table in the restaurants. I know my two boys do, and for our next cruise in 2 days time, they have a suit each.

 

Scrozuk

[supered]

Hi Ash

 

It's difficult to say how much you would spend on board. It depends how much you like to drink, whether you drink bottles of wine with dinner etc, how many spa treatments you buy and shore excusrions purchased. Having said this the bar prices are average UK (outside London) prices. The house wine by the glass (and half litre and litre caraffe in the restaurant). On our recent Oceana cruise a large (250 ml) glass was £2.95 and a litre caraffe was £14.95, pretty good value I think.

 

I don't have any personal experience, hopefully someone who has will be able to help. However, I understand it is open from 6 pm to 2 am with last admissions at 11 pm. Beds are filled on a first come first served basis and are limited.

 

The spa and gym are first class. If you think it is something you would want to use I would suggest getting a tour on the first afternoon you get on board. That way you will see all the facilties before they are being used. On the next morning you will disturb people on your tour, especially in the Thermal Suite. Be careful with the spa as the treatments, although good value, are not cheap and the cost can mount up. The gym is free. The Thermal Suite is very good but is charged at £10 for a 1 hour session or £60 for a cruise pass (£100 for couples) which gives you unlimited use. However there are only 5 ceramic beds so they make you book a slot. However on our Caribbean Transatlantic in October it was not policed well so often the beds were taken even although you had booked. Having said this the aromatic steam room, multi jet showers laconium and steam room were fabulous. I would only get a cruise pass if you plan to use this at least 6 times to get your money's worth. The Thermal Suite is mixed so bathing costumes are required.

There are single sex saunas and steam rooms in the male/female changing rooms and these are free and well used.

There is one treatment for couples I would recommend that you get at a reduced price if you have a cruise pass for the Thermal Suite. It's called the Rasul and consists of covering each other in mud and then sitting in a steam room for as long as you want. You then shower the mud off and you rub moisturiser all over each other. It is good fun and is very good for your skin, it leaves your skin felling like a babies bottom. There is no therapist involved and you are in your own private locked room for the duration ;)

The gym is at the front of the ship and is accessed via the spa. It is very well equiped and has good sea views.

 

I haven't yet been to Rome and Florence/Pisa so can't comment but hopefully someone else can.

 

I hope all this helps.

 

Eddie

[Princess123]

For info on the ports you could try looking in the Ports section on this website. We took the 'Rome at your own pace' (and ditto Florence) tours, which basically was just the bus in to the centre from the dock, with a guide on board the bus giving some ideas, and a map, of where to visit. I seem to remember we were in both cities for quite some hours (the coach was about one hour each way) and had plenty of time to see the major sights and have lunch, without feeling rushed. This did not include visiting museums or the Vatican though as this would have involved either being organised and buying tickets in advance, or hours queuing. Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps are definite musts in Rome but if you are prepared to walk quite a bit you can certainly pack a lot in. I think the bus in Rome dropped off near the Basilica but can't remember where in Florence. And warn your wife to wear sensible shoes - no one told me about the cobbled streets in Rome - definitely not suitable for kitten heels!!

[tom_uk]

My soon to be wife and i are travelling on ventura next year, it will be our first cruise.

 

Which cruise is it?

[smackalec]

its not until sept 11th next year. thanks for the info much appreciated. really glad i stummbled across this forum/website.

[Noblemount]

We have been on Ventura and for first timers I think you have made a good Choice.Good to hear you are ready to dress up on the Formal Nights it really adds to the occasion.Semi Formal normally means Lounge Suit and tie for the gents and smart Dress short or long orTrousers and Tops for the Ladies.However I think on Ventura you may find that there are only Formal and Casual Nights.If you look at page 231 in P&O's 2009 brochure you should find all the details you need.But P&O will advise you about dress codes when sending your tickets,details will also be found in the Daily ships newspaper which will be delivered to your Cabin each day.

Cannot help you about nurserys.Too old !!

About tours to Florence and Rome.Both very worthwhile.About one and half hour journey.There should be both escorted tours and 'on your own tours'both available from the ship.The on your own tours you are dropped off near to the Sites given a street map and off you go.In Rome you are normally dropped near to the Vatican and Florence about 10mins walk from the main square.Both places are very walkable.I also understand that there are rail services available but to be honest we have never tried this and of course if you do go under your own steam and return late the Captain may decide not to wait for your and sail .This does happen.

Enjoy your First

[crocsaway]

My soon to be wife and i are travelling on ventura next year, it will be our first cruise. We have a son who will be just over 3 at time of travelling. I've read lots of different things on this website and others about what to expect but there are a few questions i would ike clarified. We're really excited about getting dressed up for the formal nights and i have seen that there are 4 formal and 4 non formal nights. what are non formal nights? Does anybody know what the childcare facillites are like on board? And how does the evening slumber care work? How much should i expect to spend on board? We are going on a wesltern med cruise. full day in rome full day florence etc but how much time will that give us by the time we take transfers to and from the cities into consideration? Whats the spa and gym like?

Thankyou for taking the time to read my post.

cheers, ash.

 

just been on the ventura to the fjords-7 nights-lovely ship

 

can't help with the childcare/spa as didn't use either

 

dress code will be 4 formal nights(you can wear black tie/tux if you wish, lots of men in normal suits-ladies-a few ballgowns,lots of cocktail dresses,evening trousers and sparkly tops)

10 casual nights -no t-shirts/shorts/trainers but men had polo shirts/chinos or dark jeans(no tie req)-ladies- blouses/skirts/smart casual trousers.

 

the children on board seemed to be having a whale of a time and if your children are happy-makes for a good holiday;)-enjoy:)

[lindylou_129]

We sailed on Ventura last year with our then three year old and I can tell you the kids club is FANTASTIC!

 

Our little boy loved every minute of it - so much so that we are going back on her again next year! It was October last year when we sailed and he is still talking about how cool 'Noddy School' was!!!

 

The kids club staff are fabulous and I have never met a bunch of people with so much energy and enthusiam....but also so caring!

 

Our little boy has asthma so they gave us a bleep for the duration of the cruise just for our peace of mind - but they were happy to administer his meds if he needed them too!

 

The kids club is open from 9am daily - with a varied programme which includes things you can get involved with too if you want to! In an evening you can drop them off at the club till 10am - they have a mad half hour - then have story time and a movie (with bean bags and blankets so they can drop off to sleep). We used to collect our little boy at 10pm and take him next door to the night nursery (usually asleep) and settle him there and we could leave him there till 2am (as long as he stayed asleep - they issue you a bleep so they can get hold of you if they wake up and are upset).

 

If you want to know anything else about the kids clubs on Ventura please feel free to ask.....I would give them the highest recommendation I could give!

[smackalec]

thanks for all the replys. its been really helpful.

[AudBee]

My soon to be wife and i are travelling on ventura next year, it will be our first cruise. We have a son who will be just over 3 at time of travelling. I've read lots of different things on this website and others about what to expect but there are a few questions i would ike clarified. We're really excited about getting dressed up for the formal nights and i have seen that there are 4 formal and 4 non formal nights. what are non formal nights? Does anybody know what the childcare facillites are like on board? And how does the evening slumber care work? How much should i expect to spend on board? We are going on a wesltern med cruise. full day in rome full day florence etc but how much time will that give us by the time we take transfers to and from the cities into consideration? Whats the spa and gym like?

Thankyou for taking the time to read my post.

cheers, ash.

 

 

Have not been on Ventura but have cruised on 2 other P & O ships, childcare, I cannot praise enough. My youngest daughter (now 9, 7 at first time of cruising)would have spent all her time in kids club if we had allowed it, we could not get her out! It was almost like being on holiday alone. They organise lots of different activites, usually there is a fancy dress party for the kids, lots of art activites, pirate/treasure hunts, ice cream parties, etc etc etc. My only critism and it really is a tiny one is that you have to return to the club at 10pm to sign the little ones into slumber. As we were on 2nd sitting dinner we were sometimes still on coffee and had to dash of to sign the forms. You will have a fantastic time, I think cruising is such a wonderful family holiday

[joolsb]

Couldn't agree more about the kids activities on P & O - we have been on various lines and without doubt the best by far was on Oceana - like the previous poster said, we sometimes wondered if we were on holiday alone, since our son (I think about 5/6 on his first Oceana cruise) was never to be seen! He was always reminding us about the time - " .. can we go back to the ship - its time for my club!"

 

However as mentioned already the only slight downside was that as were on 2nd sitting dinner one of us often had to leave the table during desert/coffee to go and collect him at 10 pm. Small price to pay for days and days of peace and quiet!