Ranchi

We don’t drink much (alcohol wise) but found the package worthwhile (Heineken zero chips in @~$7) A word of warning…don’t expect too much of the special deserts. We held almost everything but the ice cream to make them palatable. We loved Alfredo’s & I think that’s now paid for but included a couple of times with the plus package & a couple of coffees a day will soon mount up.

Shared facilities, you don’t see those any more. 😉 Three taps in the bath. Deck tennis (the one with the rubber ring & high net.)

We too use wall calendars. Next Christmas this one will be recycled ( not for the first time!) Calendars like nostalgia ain’t what they used to be!

Ah, we too sit at the back…I wondered if that was the problem ie the sound balanced for the centre of the theatre. Clearly not. I don’t have a problem with loud music but distortion irritates me. Thanks for your reply.

Could I ask about the ‘hi tech’ entertainment on Arvia & Iona? We haven’t been on either ship but have sailed quite a bit on P&O & other lines. In recent years we have become increasingly irritated by the sound in theatre shows on P&O - to our minds it seems the mantra is ‘if the amp goes up to 11 then that’s what is best - despite the distortion. pour most recent cruise was on Princess (Sky) and there were some aspects of the cruise we liked there were others which were disappointing. The theatre shows were impressive. The computerised graphics, backdrops and special effects really were good and certainly enhanced rather than detracted the performances. It was unfortunate that during two of the performances the computers froze and had to be reset. The sound levels during the shows was good and free from distortion. How do shows on Iona & Arvia compare to shows on say Britannia, Azura or Aurora?

We gave Princess a go earlier this year and whilst the programme looked good in fact most activities were unhosted. We certainly found P&O better for organised activities but perhaps things are changing on P&O too.

We had ballroom dancing in the Crystal Room on Britannia this June. There were dance classes taken by international dance duo - they also gave a couple of exhibition displays in the evenings. The couple usually compèred the dance sessions in the evenings (occasionally ents team did this). The music was recorded but unfortunately none of the evening dance sessions had a live band. Having said that Britannia’s Crystal room is much better than the atrium style dancing that happens on some ships.

Request for ‘dry sherry’ elicited head scratching from the bar waiter on Sky. He did manage to find a cream sherry. A shame as dry sherry was quite on trend not so long ago.

We did a cruise on Sky & one on Britannia about 6 weeks apart. Preferred MDR on Britannia. Preferred organised games on Britannia and also ballroom dancing. Thought Alfredo’s was excellent as was International Café on Sky. Preferred theatre shows on Sky. Liked the medallion and lightning fast embarkation on Sky. Plus package (15 drinks, gratuities & wifi ) excellent value (it was on offer at 1/2 price.) Drinks much cheaper on P&O ( hence the package) Princess Patter full of activities but most are non- hosted so many don’t really happen. Loyalty laundry service v good on Sky. Laundrettes free on Britannia ($7.50 on Sky) Free ice cream bar on Sky. Live Lounge entertainment pretty awful on Sky. Crown Grill & Catch at Rudi both more pleasurable than Epicurean on Britannia ( maybe we just had a bad experience in Epicurean.) Almost impossible to get a seat in most venues during the evening on Sky. Also not a good look to have passengers sunbathing on towels due to shortage of sun beds on Sky. Room serviced twice a day on Sky (excellent steward) Disembarkation better from Sky.

HSBC also use Aviva and they provide a letter of confirmation of insurance. You used to contact the Aviva corporate website but now I think you go in through your bank’s online portal and follow travel insurance options. I take the letter and have a copy of the whole policy as a pdf on my phone.

Sad to hear some of the reports of poor service and decor on Britannia. We thought things were gradually getting back to normal on P&O. We were on her earlier in the summer and found the MDR very good. We had a slow emptying shower that was never fixed despite several reports but otherwise we thoroughly enjoyed almost everything. Epicurean (not used it before) a big disappointment: had to send a steak back as it was all gristle (never sent a meal back in our cruising time). My wife had to eat her meal while a replacement steak was cooked and then had to wait for me to finish mine. A minimal apology was offered. Also been on Sky Princess this year (similar class to Britannia) better in some way but lacking in others. Cabins serviced twice a day. Decent quality table tennis balls supplied (catch up, P&O) - but competitions played to seven points! (read ents officer wants to be someplace, anywhere else.) Staff very cheerful -some worryingly so…did we really want the waiter in Rudi’s to serenade us (fortissimo) with Stevie Wonder songs as he boned and served the fish? Full daily schedule of entertainment but most of it is un hosted so little goes on. Sun beds on Sky definitely an endangered species and seats in any venue almost impossible to come by. Theatre shows probably better than Headliners (& not played with the volume turned up to 11) having said that, we enjoyed Mr Tickerton’s Circus (?) a new show (to us) on Britannia. It’s a long time since I’ve seen the Yes/No Interlude but that has resurfaced as Live Lounge evening entertainment on Sky…it missed the charismatic Bob Danvers-Walker! One thing I would like to see imported from Princess to P&O is Pickleball. Good fun (the rules etc. we’re explained to us by US passengers - you’ve guessed it, it was un hosted.)

Take the Jack Nicholson ( Five Easy Pieces) option: Godfather dessert please, hold the sauce and the cake and the cream. Oh and no sprinkles

You need to adopt the Jack Nicholson (Five Easy Pieces approach) -see end of post. May I have a Dolce Vita please? Oh and hold the cheesecake, sauce, cream, chocolate and sprinkles. Thank you…I’m a bit worried about dropping it so could I have a metal dish instead of a glass. Thank you. BOBBY: Okay, I’ll make it as easy for you as I can. I’d like an omelet. Plain. And a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast. No mayonnaise, no butter, no lettuce. And a cup of coffee. WAITRESS: A Number Two. Chicken sal san. Hold the butter, the lettuce and the mayonnaise. And a cup of coffee.

Just out of interest, is cash still king in US? I went to a local ATM this morning and it’s months since I’ve used one (or a bank). Almost all my transactions are via Applepay. I guess this is bad news for buskers etc. - I came across a Big Issue seller in Edinburgh at Christmas and he accepted ApplePay. On P&O they will give you some cash ( charged to your on board account) but as I understand it, Princess do not and whilst they have ATMs on board they have a transaction charge ( to which I object…hence my morning trip to the ATM)

Catch 22 sprang into my mind…Major Major Major.

Owing to your early start I guess you missed the give away booklet which gave the history of all the big houses on the esplanade. Did you spot the upturned sugar boat?

We certainly got a rattler from Intercruises on one occasion from Washington (think famous British heavyweight boxer who advertised aftershave & you’ll get the coach name.) It hadn’t been cleaned from the previous night’s school run (sweetie papers all over.) The return coach was better. The second (& final) time we used them the coach was modern and well appointed. We don’t use the coach now because the pick up locations are no longer convenient.

Thanks for your posts. Like you, we would put Britannia as our second favourite P&O ship after Aurora. We were on her about a month ago and our cabin deck 14 (way back near the aft suites) didn’t suffer from any vibration. We were quite happy with the MDR evening offerings (obviously not the hopelessly confusing layout of the lunch menu - we often used the buffet am & some lunchtimes.) though disappointed with Epicurean at £100 a couple with a glass of Chateau Thames Embankment each to accompany (extra tax due to UK cruise.) Off to dip a toe in Princess waters soon.

Having extensive 😂 experience of cruises including Guernsey in their itinerary I would suggest that any DIY tours you consider allow for a full refund if you fail to tender. We have had four cruises where Guernsey was scheduled but we have failed to land on each occasion. Often the weather was good in the am but the forecast was poor for late afternoon consequently the visit was cancelled. Good luck (& send a postcard! )

Or perhaps…

We had avoided Ventura like the plague…clearly total snobs! We went on her last year and must say we were very impressed. The ship’s activities weren’t up to full speed post Covid but we were more than happy with the MDR. Staff in general were keen to please. Deck games were well organise and up to schedule. Shows were similar to those on other P&O ships. We certainly found her as good if not better than Azura (big plus for Ventura is the lack of a blaring sea screen.)There isn’t a Crows Nest but the (the name escapes me) bar at the stern high up had a couple of nice nooks where you got a view forward.

Not a cut back, more a design change. There always used to be a ship’s chart showing the past and planned passage of the vessel. We were on Britannia ‘Round Britain’ and a chart would have been most useful but I couldn’t find one anywhere. Do any of the newer ships have charts on display? I know the tv navigation page does show a map but the scales (3) are hopeless for close coasting. On the smallest scale the ship is about 25miles long and the largest scale islands even a few miles away are off the chart (which is invariably a uniform sea-blue unless you are in port.) I won’t even mention changing rooms for outdoor pools on newer ships!

We were not overly impressed with Epicurean. I had to send my steak back. It was all gristle and this would have been obvious before it was cooked. It should have been rejected in the kitchen. The steak was replaced without question but my wife had to wait until I finished so it did rather spoil the evening.

We had a great time Round Britain a week or so ago. We were really impressed with MDR (fixed). Staff were great - although I never saw our steward until I searched for him on the last day. Drawbacks of Britannia are well known but we didn’t find them a problem. The moans? Epicurean; had to send a steak back - the first time I have ever returned any course (it was replaced without question but the timing of the courses was interrupted. The coffee at one of the Costa’s was pretty ropey. Everything else was ‘top drawer’. Chefs’ parade & loyalty parties are back on. Enjoy yourselves.

£1.25 for X99 is impressive. It was £6 each way last week for passengers on our cruise last week. We used the train from Dalmeny.