FatBoy20

Cruises 21 days & over are likely to have 4 Formal Nights (minimum of 3). Formal Nights are not always on Sea Days.

Service, Food Quality & reduced Menu choice are the main bugbears but wine has increased by 70% since 2019 & Wifi price has doubled in 12 months!. The P&O policy seems to get you onboard for a reasonable price then make you pay high prices for anything.

The 2023 E-Brochure was sent out in the first week of March & I received the phone call on the 15th March. It looks like a repeat of dates for 2024.

Have a look on CC under Ventura Reviews for Xmas & New Year Cruise for 2022. It is not a good read about Food (or anything else!).

If you book a guarantee Cabin on Saga you could end up anywhere High, Low, Forward or Aft & also it could be in a Standard Cabin if no singles available. We booked a Guarantee on Spirit of Discovery last October & were very pleased with location (E Deck) & Price.

Spirit of Adventure is not due Refit Work until 2025 at the earliest & is currently on the way to Lisbon enjoying nearly six metre waves entering the Bay of Biscay!. Spirit of Discovery is currently having a Refit in Bremerhaven Germany until early February.

On the first day you can also go to the restaurant of your choice from around 4pm & book in person.

Having been on 20+ Cruises with P&O we tried Saga post Covid when some restrictions were still in place & thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a big step up in Service & Food quality & Choice provided by P&O. We went on Ventura last March (booked before Covid) & were very disappointed with poor service & the cut backs so P&O is in the past for us!. Enjoyed 7 nights to the Fjords on Spirit of Discovery last October & have 2 more Cruises with Saga booked for 2023. As others have pointed out you will find no issues with Dress Codes & you wont see the like of Track Suits & T Shirts/Shorts in the evenings on Saga.

Arcadia late leaving Southampton last night due to some plonker delivering all the Booze Supplies to Arvia!. You couldn't make it up!.

Saga also have Representative with Luggage Labels/ deal with any issues etc available prior to Check In.

They usually come with the pre-embarkation letter. Give Saga a ring on the after sales number & get them to post out to you/E-Mail.

The Questionnaire takes place in the Terminal. With regards to pick up times we live just over 200 miles from Dover & were picked up at 10am & arrived at the Terminal just after 2pm (Saga like to phase Taxi arrivals). The Buffet is open until nearly 4pm & is normal full buffet offering.

When onboard in October I asked the question re-books & was told by Reception they were awaiting instructions from Head Office!.

Saga paid a percentage of wages to all Staff during Covid & this may be why most have returned. Saga have had three Senior Food & Beverage Staff transfer from P&O due to "being treated poorly by P&O during Covid!"

If the staffing & supply issues are bad now what happens when Arvia launches in December!.

I think the statement should read "a lot different to what they were". Harry Peterson talks about Butlins/Ryanair I would add McDonalds at Sea to the list! P&O have had over a year to sort out the issues of Staff/Supplies etc, the cuts are here to stay.

Believe me the product you thought you had paid for will bear no resemblance to what you get!.

Best of luck getting a face to face appointment with a GP within two weeks to issue a sick certificate. The Cruise will have departed & probably returned & the Insurance Company won't pay out then as the certificate will be dated for the day of issue & that will be to late!.

Speak to Customer Services who are very helpful.

Are they still serving you in the Grill Buffet?

Is the Cheese Trolley back or is it still ordered from the Menu?.

The answer is yes your Tuxedo need to travel with you. The "Premium Drinks" are for Branded Spirits & not House Label types as available on current sailings.

In March on Ventura poor connection & price had doubled to £15 per 24hrs!. P&O trying to get back the losses of the pandemic!.

P&O Shuttle into Porto takes about 25minutes.