arendale1

Just to add to this thread. We had two cabins and both had the evening room service every night including the first.

Our cabin had three of us, so one of the bunks had to be made up each evening, but our teens cabin was also made up every evening too. Nice coming back to a cosy, ready for bed cabin each evening (and the little chocolates).

4 hours ago, grapau27 said:

On our last P&O cruise we had different biscuits left for us every time the CS had tidied our cabin.

We didn’t even look at our tea supplies, so have no idea what was there 😆

Wow! I had no idea that kids places were restricted to club spaces.

My kids have never been to a kids club on land or at sea - they would balk at the idea. So we have no idea what they involve, but also had no idea that places on a cruise were restricted as such 😳

20 minutes ago, Babyeddiedog said:

 

That's a very good point. We opt for freedom because it gives us....freedom, but maybe we should change to club. I guess early is going to be WAY to early for us, can anyone tell me what time the late sitting usually is?

Early sitting is 6.30 and late sitting is 8.30.

When our kids were younger, 6.30 was a good time. Now they’re all older, we find freedom works best as it’s more flexible.

With regards to Freedom dining , we chose this as we liked the idea of not being restricted to a set time. We didn’t mind having to wait for a table, but the service was poor 😕

19 minutes ago, Bazrat said:

I bet those two meals your hubby had by mistake we’re two big juicy steaks.

Haha no! He ordered a fish dish, but ended up with salmon which he didn’t order. No big deal as we both are pescatarian so love fish.

Our daughter also got a wrong order, but she spoke up straight away and they changed it.

30 minutes ago, ozzysdad said:

We travelled on the same cruise (N907) and experienced much of what you described with regards to the MDR, we seemed to be being treated  in a certain way because as a family of three we wouldn't share a table with others, even being told to use the buffet when we questioned why we had to wait for a table for an hour and a half, twice we gave up after an hour and went to the glass house which as nice as it was cost us £40 plus on both occasions - for the food, on the third occasion we encountered a significant wait I wandered into the MDR and saw at least four suitable vacant tables which we would of been happy to take and that was just down one side of the dining room.

 

I did question this and was told the wait was down to the demographic of the cruise and that there were too many families who'd requested freedom dining,  even though our previous cruise at Easter the year before had over 100 children more on board we didn't have to wait once, it appeared to me there was a concerted effort by P&O to force dining arrangements on us even though we had paid for and expected some sort of freedom, to add to the mess service was hit and miss, drinks, toast, steak knife, condiments, all had to be requested which was in stark contrast to the year before, we even received the wrong food on more than one occasion although I must say I've never had a bad meal in the MDR and think the food is very good.

 

Oh well never mind they are not huge issues but just leave a nagging feeling of disappointment. 

I’d forgotten the instances that my kids weren’t given steak knives and they had streak most nights (hubby and I are pescatarian so don’t cook meat often), so they made up for it.

Also, twice hubby was given the wrong meal. He just ate it, but really should have mentioned it.

We were also asked each evening if we wanted to share. No, our family time is precious to us and we wanted to enjoy our time together without having to try to engage with strangers.

2 hours ago, Bazrat said:

Hi what is too British ?.

it does sound like you had very poor service which is no way acceptable.

We would have chosen RC if our children were in there teens because they seam more family oriented,now they have flown the nest or did a few years back we chose p&o.

The entertainment and food/drinks are all aimed at Brits - so it felt a little too much like being at home. When we’re on holiday we like to experience different things and be around all nationalities. 

Of course, lots of Brits like familiarity (like all the British pubs and ‘egg and chip’ cafes in the Costas. But, we’re not keen when on holiday tbh. RC being American, gave a bit of a different experience and my kids much preferred all of that (they like the US). Plus, more varied nationalities. 

I’m sure we’ll try P&O again at some stage, as I think we were just unlucky with the service. But, our kids won’t go, so it’ll be sometime in the future 🙂

I am by no means biased for or against any cruise line. We’ve only cruised with RC previously and just last week was our first time on P&O.

I really wanted to have a great time and we did make the best of it. Loved our time in the ports (even IJmuiden), and Ventura is a lovely, well kept ship. Our cabins were fine, as was our attendant.

The big thing that let us down, was the service, both in the MDR, the buffet on the one occasion we ventured in there (kids went more often than us - hungry teens), and the reception staff when two of us had a problem with the WiFi.

Breakfast was the worst. Apart from the first day, when we had a great experience with a lovely server, the rest of the week was quite frustrating. Being seated and then left for ages, others coming in and being seated and waited on quickly. No drinks offered, had to keep asking, no toast brought etc, etc. Now, these things are nothing major, but we had to ask all the time. 

Lunch times in the MDR were much different and we had some lovely lunches.

Dinner was hit and miss depending on where we were seated. First formal night we were given a buzzer and ended up waiting 2 hours for a table. We only got a table then because I went and asked if our buzzer was working.

We don’t believe we got the service that most on here seem to tbh, and that has put us off P&O. We are polite and never got impatient or demanding, so not sure why our service wasn’t up to scratch.

We never say never, but P&O are unlikely to be our first choice for future cruises. Our kids didn’t enjoy the experience, they were comparing to RC and for them P&O just didn’t compare.

Also, and we know they are a British company etc, but they are just too British for us. The entertainment wasn’t our cup of tea at all - sorry but bingo? No thanks.

I know we are in the minority, but this is just our experience. I know lots of people love P&O cruises and that’s great. They have lovely ships and are great value for money and as most have said, they sail from Southampton. Maybe we’ll try them again in the future, as I said, never say never.

Thanks for the MSC suggestions - I’m just having a look at them too.

Any good for teens? Mine didn’t like P&O at all, they’ve all said never again 😕

3 minutes ago, Vampiress88 said:

 

“class of fellow cruisers does not come up to there own impeccable standards.”

 

😂😂😂 that would be us

Class is about how people conduct themselves imo.

Are you rude and ignorant? No? Then that would not be you 🙂

Manners cost nothing. I don’t care what someone earns or their so called status in life. A rude person is rude however much money they do or don’t have in the bank, or whether they are a doctor or a supermarket checkout operator. Give me fellow passengers who are respectful of others and I’m happy.

8 minutes ago, booksurfer said:

 

Yes, most (if not all) P&O ships will have a variety of pool side bars that provide fast food type meals such as burger, fries, salad, pizza etc, mostly free, some more upmarket ones may charge. Check which ship you're on and what facilities they have. Very handy if you don't want to go back to the cabin to change for a sit down lunch in the restaurant.

 

I have to confess I've never tried the buffet, the horror stories I heard from other passengers put me off wanting to eat in the buffet.

 

I always took my evening meals and lunch in the Main Dining Room as I like more formal dining.

The buffet is somewhere we tend to avoid. 

We ventured in one day last week to see what was on offer. Walked out with nothing and almost injured after a very rude ‘lady’ decided she was too important to wait in line, so decided to put her arm in between us to grab some gravy, just missing my arm when she spilt some. We walked out and never went back 😕

I don’t mind formal nights, but it would be nice to have one of the restaurants left as smart casual on those nights for those who don’t want to dress up. The buffet is not an alternative imo.

My hubby wore collared shirts with black/dark jeans for smart casual nights. 

I think you’re worrying too much about this - there were people wearing normal T-shirts and blue jeans some nights. I thought they looked a little too casual personally, but each to their own.

12 minutes ago, docco said:

I think you've hit the nail on the head there about expectations.

 

Probably the more you've paid the greater the expectations, but having paid for a full suite I'd have expected a shower that drained, constant hot water and TV channels which weren't out of action for most of the cruise.

 

Unreasonable?

Not at all unreasonable.

We wouldn’t have been happy with those issues in our normal outside cabin - nobody would be, surely?

We had no issues at all with our cabin or our cabin attendant. 

Unfortunately, service let us down over and over again. 

58 minutes ago, molecrochip said:

I'm 36 and have been Oriana, Ventura x 2, Aurora, Azura x 3, Britannia x 3, Carnival Sunshine and Royal Princess.

 

The clientele really depends upon whether its a cruise within the scope of school holidays or whether its mid term. The atmosphere is really different.

Surely that’s just down to families of school age children or not, rather than clientele as in (at the risk of sounding snobby) class?

We’ve only cruised with RC and P&O both in school holiday time. Totally different clientele on each. Maybe that’s down to itinerary? But the Fjords aren’t that different a destination as Netherlands/Bruges (or so we thought). The price difference may have had an impact though 🤔

44 minutes ago, Angel57 said:

Several reasons - but mostly because although a holiday/cruise is what you make it, it certainly isn't as special as it used to be altho admittedly much more affordable. I personally do not like the larger ships and i fancy giving river cruising a go.

I can imagine how it must have changed over the years.

Certainly in the case of P&O, it’s affordable for most who can afford a holiday abroad. In the past, I’m guessing cruising was a little more exclusive?

42 minutes ago, Angel57 said:

Age is 59. First cruise was in 1992 on Sea Princess (later to become Victoria). Cruised every year since but think the next one will be my last. Aurora by far is my favourite ship having done several world cruises on her.

Interested to know why after so many years of cruising, your next cruise may be your last?

Vampiress88 - we’re mid 40s, first cruise was early 40s. I do think that on P&O the demographic is made up of more ‘mature’ passengers. 

21 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

Ha ha..

Wondered who would be the first to fall for it.

Andy

I wasn’t sure - I’m not into either tbh 😆

1 hour ago, AndyMichelle said:

Oh you have timed that wrong, you will miss out on the waiters in the mdr singing happy birthday in their own special way.,..

Have a great birthday and fantastic cruise and as you are sailing on May 4th, happy Star Trek day....

Andy

Isn’t that Star Wars day?

The table next to us last week had a birthday and the staff singing to them - it was a little cringy, but I guess some enjoy it 🙂

On 4/19/2019 at 9:02 PM, mrsgoggins said:

 

I’ve already posted our last week’s experience on Ventura with Guernsey and I just wanted to comment on your last few sentences. I am pretty sure that my son and family’s first cruise on P&O will also be their last.  The Guernsey tender experience is just one reason.  We had already booked one for next April on Ventura or I might have thrown in the towel too.

Sorry just seen this.

Tbh the Guernsey non event was just the final straw for us. We weren’t bothered about missing the port (especially after reading the issues with getting there), but really needed to get off the ship after the previous sea day.

42 minutes ago, Vampiress88 said:

At this rate it will be leggings some nights. 

 

This week im going is literally to “test the waters” really do see how the kids take to it. If it goes bad we will cancel the two we have next year. It’s either go one way or the other. We either dress up kids behave and watch entertainment or go kids club. Or the kids get annoying or fed up or don’t like the kids club and we have movies in the cabin then there will have been no need for dressing up

We've just got back from our first P&O cruise - I’ll be interested to hear how you get on. 

For smart casual nights, a pair of black or dark jeans and a nice top for women is fine.

23 minutes ago, sogne said:

firstly I can assure you I am not an apologist for PO infact we have only done 3 cruises with them with another one next year. Reeds Nautical Almanac states for St PP " beware of offlying dangers, strong tidal streams and big tidal range demand careful navigation"  There is more to taken into account than just getting on a tender, holding ground, enough room to swing at anchor clear of any danger for scope of chain required etc. I would imagine the harbour authorities would have given their opinion as the pilot appears to have done. I cannot imagine that would have been entered  in the log it was false for it would be simple to verify. Winds have been blowing from an easterly point for several days which might have built up a swell in swallower water close to shore. This would properly not been apparent from  the ship. This was  a spring tide period which would have maximum tidal flow and range although in my experience St PP is easier than St Helier The captain has the ultimate responsibility and I expect a major factor would have been the demographic and mobility of passengers. Some years  ago on   QV we    were  delayed by an electrical supply problem to the pods which required a new cable to installed. Some passengers were adamant this was a lie  or a porkie to      allow us to miss  the   next  port  to save money. In fact we reached that on time.

I fully believe that we didn’t visit Guernsey due to not being able to for safety reasons.

Thank you for such an informative post - when on board and not feeling much of a movement, it’s a little difficult to understand the decision made. Your post explains what a captain has to consider when making the call.

The only time we felt any kind of swell/wind was last night. The ship was rocking quite noticeably.

On arrival at Guernsey in the morning, all seemed calm.

4 hours ago, AndyMichelle said:

Is 2 formal nights on a 7 night cruise too much?

We enjoy the balance.

Perhaps they are outdated, but we enjoy making an effort and would be very disappointed if they were scrapped.

On the other hand, we would not book a cruise where it was compulsory every night.

These ships have enough options for people who don't want to partake for a couple of nights.

This is the joy of modern day cruising, there is something for everyone.

Andy

I think one formal night on a 7 night cruise is enough.

We did the first one on Saturday evening, but didn’t bother with the second one. Once was enough for us.