eddie11

I don’t know for certain, TJ.

That is what I have taken from the posts I have read

If CPS customers are automatically ushered *to the new place*, I think I might try to buck the system, drive in as an ‘independent’, do the drop-off and then find the CPS sticker to put in the windscreen before heading to the official spot

Anyway, I don’t know the new system for sure, and we no longer use CPS anyway (though I liked it when we did), so I’ll butt out of this conversation and allow others with experience of the new system to answer with some certainty 

This thread has gone delightfully off-track!

Easier to do it the other way round?

Pull in at the ‘hole in the wall’, hand over your luggage; mobility-impaired passengers certainly step out and head for the downstairs departure area, with their hand luggage; other car passengers decide whether to alight or whether to stay in the car with the driver; car goes to *new place*, driver deals with CPS;  driver walks, empty-handed, the short distance back to departures meet up with rest of party

Having typed that it feels that everyone but the driver should step out at the hole in the wall, with all the hand luggage

Yes - subject to restrictions on drinks/hour and price ceiling (probably set out somewhere in the T&Cs for the package)

I brought back the menus from our week on Ventura, returning one week ago, as a friend asked to see them.  Well, I have 6 days worth, none for the first evening.

I’ve done a quick look through and found dishes offered with rice, gnocchi or polenta cake, plus offers of lasagne with garlic bread and chicken tikka massala.  The vegetarian choice always seems to come without potato.

Each to his own and all that.  Personally I think the choice on offer in the MDR  is very wide.  It would be boring to discuss that many of us oldies actually grew up experiencing hunger, so learnt not to be too fussy.    It’s also a good social skill to enjoy a wide variety of food.  
 

Enjoy your cruising everyone; enjoy what you enjoy; leave others to enjoy their preferences.  If a company can accommodate as many hundreds of thousands as P&O does every year it must be broadly on the right lines

Just back a week ago, so am up to speed, but thanks

Have a great cruise.  Smooth seas

You wouldn’t really want to know ...

I suppose - but “fancy dress” feels a bit odd to me.  Why?

Theme nights - tropical and 60s or 70s are the only ones I’ve ever seen - are one thing; people dressed up as random bananas or pantomime horses or gladiators ... well, just why???

I’ve only come across one group - on Marella - wearing Team <surname> polo shirts.  They were a bit noisy - perhaps the “team” thing encourages that?  Haven’t seen - but can imagine - Hen/Stag slogans.  Don’t think I’d like that

Weren’t those groups, and maybe other, similar ones, putting people off booking short cruises?  I think I remember that as the reason given for the policy change

I’d say those prices feel relatively low, when compared with summer fiord cruises.  I may be misremembering though, it’s about 3 years since we did a summer trip

Perhaps the lower visitor numbers mean they have to take care not to price out potential customers?

Pop over to the Roll Call section and check if there’s a thread there from people departing shortly?  They are likely to have their excursion booklet with 2019 prices

Thanks Eglesbrech

I suspected that

In fact I’ve seen plenty of examples where the Select price minus OBC is less than the Saver price

I expect others have too

Has the price differential changed?

I’ve always thought the two price structure is a bit odd/potentially confusing.  I would prefer a simple *price* with cabin and dining choice plus shuttles, included.  The *price* could be fluid, throughout the booking period, with the company raising or lowering it, as they do now, to maximise sales.  Only at the very last minute should there be any thought of any *clearance price*, which would be interior, sea view or balcony cabin and pot luck, no changes permissible on cabins or dining.

But, what do I know?  Certainly don’t understand P&Os business reasoning.  I guess the Select/Saver works for them.  Does any other cruise line do it?

As long as the match is available for free elsewhere - cabins or bar - I don’t begrudge them making this offer

No tipping

So, just be your normal, polite, self

It’s quite likely that, if you are a creature of habit and drink in the same bar at the same time, one or more of the waiters will get to know you and be ready to get your drink toot sweet!

They don’t do tips, but they do work on commission, so it’s in their interest that you are served promptly 

Just make sure you hold your teacup with your pinkie at the correct angle!

(joke, of course)

I don’t think so

Here’s the ‘vacancies’ sheet we found in our cabin.  I’ll put all 3 ports on.  

For what it’s worth, I’d say we had a great day out in Haarlem from IJmuiden, on MSC, several years ago.  It was a sunny day though, so we enjoyed walking round uncrowded streets and residential areas, looking at the grand houses and canals.  Much quieter than Amsterdam.  A lovely square with a busy, busy, busy clock tower with chimes and figurines

It sounds a match made in heaven.

There are solo coffee etc get togethers, if you want to be part of that.  They’ll all be notified in the daily Horizons newsheet.  
 

We’ve all got our own views and preferences on this, haven’t we?

Personally I’d go with 2 for 12 night, 3 for 13, 14 or 15 night and after that something like one per week, maximum

You’ll notice I haven’t mentioned 7 night 🙄

One would do me fine but I quite understand people thinking it’s not worth the hassle of packing suit, shirt, shoes for just one wearing ...

Glad it’s not my problem to resolve.

Iona will have a whole variety of restaurants of course.  Maybe the solution for those who want to do the “classic cruise experience” is to enjoy the MDR for the ship-wide formal, then book for either the cabaret evening or the equivalent of Epicurean for another ‘high end’ evening experience, where their best bib and tucker will be fine.
 

Sarah - lots of ladies wear cocktail dresses/bling any and every night.  Go ahead.  Fill your boots (or your strappy silver sandals)

If it works, here is a picture of the Amsterdam flyer 

Hope that helps

That’s a shame

i think  P&O run an hourly service throughout the night.  If I can find the flyer giving more info I’ll take a pic and post it for you/this thread

it looks like this might be a useful resource for other travellers

I’m on Ventura now

It’s half-term in a lot of areas and there are a lot of children on board.  Also a lot of young couples, middle-aged couples, pretty old couples, multi-generational family groups, people with mobility issues.

Ventura was our first cruise ship in 2010.  We feel she has aged well.  The ship’s fabric looks good - bright and clean everywhere we have been

One thing which has struck us - many of the individual chairs in public areas now appear to be “plus sized”.  Particularly striking in Havana, where the previous tub style chairs have gone, in favour of the armless wide seated ones.  Makes you think

2 hours ago, AndyMichelle said:

Fantastic 'live' feedback, thank you. 

We are there in 3 weeks time, think we will try the walking tour. 

Thank you for the heads up, enjoy the rest of your holiday. 

Andy 

Thanks

It was the Sandeman’s(?) red umbrella tour.  Book online.  Our guide was Axel, who was very, very good.

We docked before 7am this morning.  Shuttles were ready and I think a few intrepid travellers braved the rain and the dark

It improved greatly during the day, though soggy at times

On Ventura in IJmuiden today

Shuttle into Amsterdam , leaving here @ 8.40 took 62 minutes through heavy rush hour traffic.  We had to leave early to meet up with our free walking tour.  Very good, if anyone fancies that.  Two and a half hours, with a 20 minute stop half way.  
 Return, just now, was 40 minutes.

As Hansol states above, the drop off point is the area right by the river cruise embarkation point ... so very slightly closer to the city than the cruise ship dock, which is just a bit further on.   The same fairly crowded and unattractive walk into the centre.  There was a long queue to return but several coaches waiting, others arriving and staff on hand marshalling and assisting.  By the time we walked to the back of the queue and then walked forward again to alight there was no actual queueing at all, if you get my drift - no standing around.

Hope that helps

Hi Val

Welcome to the forum

Would it help if you look at the Roll Call for your cruise?  You’ll probably find people on the same cruise as you asking, and answering, the same questions.

We’re docked in St Vincent & taking the trip to Bequia but I have read the warnings about choppy seas.  Stugeron is my anti-emetic of choice.  I’ll be taking some

Me too

Only been there once but, on that snapshot, preferred it to Gibraltar