JeanieC,Aston

I think we can all quote good prices paid. Iona I believe is charging low prices to try to fill the ship,,,not so other ships,,Aurora or Arcadia demand high prices,,,I don’t know why. My 10 nt Silhouette cruise in May in a midship hump balcony with AI included came at a cost of £3800 for 2 of us,,,,that included £800 OBC,,,,my wife bought a iPad mini and a nice ring. Similar Aurora at the time was more for cruise only. Alas Celebrity pricing next year is of no value to me so a change of favourite is coming. I am trying Marella Voyager next month,,,,see how that goes. I can never understand the ‘My P&O good or bad’ posters.

Yes it does it’s called Murano’s. A bit expensive but people say it’s the best dinner they have ever had,,,only done it once,a bit fussy for me.

At last I can agree with you,,,Iona isn’t the same as Celebrity,,,,doesn’t even come close. There is an old saying,,,some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Im not getting into comparisons,I sail both and enjoy both. I suggest we stick to the OP question,,,,,,is P&O better or worse than in 2019? I accept there is more choice on Iona,,,there has to be with 6000 passengers. But from my experience on Iona in February the MDR was a shambles in choice,quality and service,,,,I did comment on this forum,….but is the same entertainment,food choice or facilities available on say Ventura or Aurora? I don’t think it is as good as it was in 2019.

Is it,,I don’t know but P&O doesn’t tell you either giving the impression all its food is fine dining,,,,,that’s advertising for you.

Hi Let’s get this straight,,I am not rubbishing P&O I have probably sailed P&O more than most on this forum. Some supporters take any criticism of any one operation of P&O as criticism of all of P&O. I sail P&O for the entertainment,,,John Smiths bitter (alas not available on most other lines) to enjoy formal nights,eating in Glass House,,,yes price points,Southampton embarkation,,,,,,,but the OP asked is P&O the same as in the last time he cruised in 2019 and mentioned food in relation to Celebrity. My honest answer,as was others is that MDR choice and quality has sadly gone down,,,nothing more nothing less,no rubbishing,a simple answer to a simple question If some posters can’t accept that,,that’s their problem not mine. See you on Ventura (never again Iona) next spring and let’s hope the MDR food improves. ps Grats are included on X if you take the AI option,,which I always do,,,,

Hi Don’t really want to get into comparing,but since you do I will give a example..Just looked. Fiords next June for 7 nights. P&O Iona===OV…..£980 pp Celebrity Apex,,OV,,,£1050. Not much difference eh! If anyone thinks Iona is in the same class as Apex they have never cruised Apex. For another £500 I can have WiFi that works and a drink choice that would put P&O to shame,often free pour.

Hi I was just taking the lead from P&O’s own publicity…. “Discover P&O Cruises' fabulous onboard restaurants to suit every mood. Fine dining, room service, kids' menus & more” So is P&O in cloud cuckoo land?

Sneer..??????? Who.

Hi But another poster only posted 1 hour ago to say they did a TA on Avia and only dined in the MDR x3 times and the food was average. So yes it is subjective. Nobody is talking about the speciality restaurants.

????????

I enjoy P&O cruises,but this thread is about the MDR food. Its become a miserable offering,,,,I will go on another P& O cruise but I just won’t frequent the MDR so much,,,,I can put together a much better meal in the buffet or for a much better offering pay a little extra for the Glasshouse. Unless you forget this is a forum for discussion,,,not a P&O fan club. I’ll say again…..I like P&O and will sail again on P&O (April next) but that does not mean I can close my eyes to what I feel is lacking with MDR dining food quality at the moment…..and I certainly won’t be silenced by cheap shots on social media. I don’t ‘haunt’ on this board,I voice an opinion. Let me throw one more grenade in,,,,in my almost 80 cruises my Iona cruise in February was the worse one I can remember.

As a good catholic it was communion wine,,,,,every morning!!

Hi The Sunday Times travel section did a great expose on this same itinerary yesterday. Unfortunately it’s not worth putting a link on as its behind a paywall. The difference was they were advertising a cruise on the new expedition ship the Viking Octatis,,,they say the largest ship to fit through the locks. Its called Niagara Fall & The Great Lakes.same itinerary Jim and Iian have just done. It sails 8 day cruises from April through to the Autumn from £4900 inc flights from UK. No I don’t work for Virgin.😏

Here’s a P&O menu,,,,Chef’s recommendations no less. Apart from Calamari we had both Main and Dessert for our school dinners.

Just a couple of comments from posters only yesterday returning from a trip to the Baltics….. “The MDR menu was also a bit of a let down. On paper it looked good , but in reality the food was bland and under seasoned. Oven roasted vegetables were usually just boiled and I never want to see another string bean again.” Or…. “We feel that compared to Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, the dinner buffet was miserable in comparison with very little choice and lacking healthy options or vegetables. When we cruised Celebrity, I came home 8lb heavier, with P&O wedidn’t put on any weight which is a sure way to tell that the food was lacking!” Case rested….😏

I remember P&O food described as Spuds r Us,,,,now it’s ‘Green Beans r Us’. I don’t see two slices of roast beef,a scoop of mashed potato and three green beans as fine dining. Oh and don’t forget the bread and butter pudding or a bowl of cold rice pudding,,,,school dinners indeed. If any of you supporters of P&O food ever sail on Celebrity try the Prime Rib of Beef,,,you will see where the school dinners on P&O comes from.

As an Elite on Celebrity that’s the one reason I will not book in the future. I did Iona in Feb and Silhouette in May and food wise Celebrity won hands down. And don’t mention P&O buffets compared with Celebrity’s. Alas I am looking to P&O for my next cruises but never again on Iona.

The difference I can only describe as ….. P&O is school dinners level. Celebrity is restaurant level. I do agree on Celebrity losing value but that for me is due to price increases.

Hi I was on Silhouette in May,first cruise after she crossed the Atlantic. They used to stock Boddingtons or John Smiths alas they had neither,,the barman said there was no call for either in the US,,,,I did remind him they are now sailing from the UK,,,,,,they have taken both of the menus,,,,,the only Brit beer is Newky Brown. They do have Guinness now on the Premium package at $11 a can. From memory the only draught was Heineken.

I have travelled by coach for years,,,,is the ,No toilets’ thing an Intercruises coach,,,every Eavesway/Intercruises coach I have been on has had a toilet. Can you imagine 50 passengers,half with prostrate problems having one stop in 5.5 hours.😏 From Burtonwood Services where I get on (Eavesway or Intercruises) there is usually no more than 4/5 pick up stops. Southbound the stop for late breakfast/early lunch is either Warwick Services or Cherwell Valley for the driver to get his break..coming back they do a good run up to Norton Caines services for the drivers 50 min break.

Hi On my Silhouette sailing in May they had different prices. The $15 was on Premium,,,,the $17 if on PP you paid supplements,,,on Classic you paid either the $5 or $7 + Grats. Also difference from the past was on PP you now get the small glass or pay extra for the large glass.

Different experiences for different folks,,,in probably 30 journeys with Eavesway never had a problem like you describe on any of them. Done several with Intercruises with no problems,only one issue where coach (Ellisons) had no WiFi,driver said it was due to H&S rules!!! Btw,,you never claimed your cases when getting of the coaches,,,most times the coach drops you off then drives up to the baggage hatch to be unloaded. In all my journeys I think it has been a mixed coach twice,,,Iona and FO that was in February,,in summer the coaches are full to whatever ship you are picking up.

That’s true..

Hi. I did x2 cruises with FO last year their DP is pathetic. All house brands spirits,,about x3 choices of different wines,,,x1 beer Newcastle Brown or Heineken lager. I you like John Smiths,Guinness or Jameson’s as I do you pay 50% of the full price.

Hi. Correct…my mistake.