bee-ess

Hi bee-ess. Yeah I'm aware of the Taster Dinner at the Glasshouse and really fancy a try. We'll wait until we board as we want to make sure we don't clash with the Formal nights, which we really enjoy in the MDR, and probably make quick bookings at all three - Sindhu, Seventeen and the Glasshouse. On previous cruises we've been on, the first night or two at the select dining venues was always discounted which is why we've not booked them via cruise personaliser which are all currently full price. Really looking forward to a fantastic cruise :)

The 2 times we have done this it was a 'Jacket Required' night. In the Caribbean there were 2 Taster Dinners - 1 each week.

Could it be they mean ANY drink within that package is included? I cannot imagine a package that allows access to absolutely any drink onboard.

 

 

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Would have to have a price limit per drink, surely

If P&O are trying to compete with Celebrity out of the UK they may well include it. We had the standard drink package with Celebrity last year and it included Prosecco(very nice it was too) and Courvoisier.

Yes Guys the Celebrity one includes Prosecco, Champagne, Port and Brandies, We have had the basic package twice and upgraded it to Premium which is far better we think. With the Premium one if your drink is over the limit price you only pay the difference, not the full price. Also on the Premium is all soft drinks, water (not cheap to buy) and premium coffees. Although we do drink quite a lot of alcohol, a big portion also goes on soft drinks and coffee, as well fresh orange at breakfast. I think if P&O do it they will have to include these things to make it attractive.

We hired a car earlier this year and drove around the island for the day ending up at Lac Bay for the afternoon. Lac Bay is a nice beach with shallow water but quite small, it seems that lots of passengers had just got a taxi there for the day. The other popular thing to do was to take a boat out to Klein Bonaire which can be done easily independently but if you do that apparently there is little shade there.

You just don't get the same quality on AI it's no wonder you never see anyone drunk I'd much rather pay for my drinks and drink less but proper branded wine and Vodka,we did Thomson's last year and quality is pretty rubbish .

Celebrity's packages although expensive are all branded drinks, I think that P&O's would be as well.

£10 per day seems to me to be a No Brainer as they say, £28 is I would suggest over the top.

 

 

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Don't go on Celebrity then Dai - premium is $59 pppn !!

They may offer them free and use it as an incentive to sell cruises early at Select prices which is in effect what Celebrity do - full prices cruises with 'free' drinks packages.

This is good on Celebrity if you have one free but you have to drink quite a lot to break even if you have purchased a premium one at $55 per person per day. Also how many sea days you have is a consideration when purchasing one. I would also say that it undoubtedly makes you drink more.

Not overly impressed. No 'wow' factor anywhere on the ship apart from The Headliners who were excellent. Plumbing problems and water leaks were evident the whole 2 weeks. Disappointed at lack of places for late night snacks, why does The Conservatory close down? Al Fresco is too small to accommodate everyone and you can't linger because you are conscious of the queue.

 

We did enjoy ourselves but wouldn't return to the Oriana and would think twice about any other P&O ship; the itinerary and price would have to be fantastic before we would even consider booking. Intrigued that 'die-hard' P&Oers couldn't see any problems at all and the thought of trying an 'American' ship sent them almost frothing at the mouth, although most admitted they'd never been on board such a ship!

 

Will do a full review later.

Sorry that you did not enjoy Oriana I would say that expecting the 'wow factor' from a ship that has been cruising for the last 20 years when cruising was much different than today may have expecting a bit much. We like the big brash more modern ships and out of the P&O fleet we prefer Azura and Ventura style of ship. I do have to say though that we had one of our best ever cruises on Oriana last year when it was one of those times when everything 'went right' and we had a great time but more comfortable and relaxing than 'wow'.

Hi spf. We've already booked 3 excursions - Katakolon (olives and wine) Piraeus (The Acropolis - Crown jewel of Athens) and Zakinthos (Blue caves and shipwreck). The last one is already showing as limited availability. We haven't booked any of the speciality restaurants yet but will certainly do so as soon as we board and we know the evening dress codes: We prefer the MDR on formal nights and wouldn't want to miss them. I realise that they will be probably on sea days, but prefer to wait before we book. Only 44 days to go :)

Hi Lynne - Been on Azura a couple of times and we prefer it to Ventura - I see that you are looking forward to the Glasshouse and one thing not widely advertised is the Taster Dinner that runs a couple of times each cruise in the Glasshouse for about 20 people. They pair a different wine with each course of the excellent dinner and is really worth the money. (about £25) You have to book quickly though when you first get on board as it books up quickly. (It is also known as the Supper Club). In the past I have emailed the food and beverage manager on board prior to the cruise to ensure that we get a place. This is the email add we used in March this year to prebook, worth a try - azfb@pocruises.com

Enjoy your cruise.

Laminate and tied on with string - can get all labels required with 1 sheet of a4 laminate.

While I also think that it would be best to have the family meet you at the tender port, we have tendered at Villefranche and the distance between the ship and shore is relatively short. Also, there is a nice small terminal where the tenders dock which has tourist information, and, as I remember, a taxi stand.

Thanks, that would be the best option for us.

I have cruised with Celebrity before but have never tendered - can someone explain the process to me.

We are tendering in Villefranche and would like to get off as early as possible as we plan to visit family in Monaco that we have not seen for along time and want to maximise our time there. We are already hoping to get a taxi to Monaco but have been told that there may not be any there so that would delay us even further.

Any tips for getting to the front of the tender queue ? In the circumstances of seeing family do you think that by asking at reception they would do something for us to bump us up the queue ?

10AM arrival, then tender, then maybe no taxis, it is seeming a bit forlorn.

I never have the soup - I always have either a 2nd starter or the fish main course (smaller portion) as my 2nd course - never had a problem asking for that.

Thanks Hank for your reply - must admit I didn't really consider that there may not be a taxi available, guess we will have to use the bus or train if not. We don't arrive until 10 then there is the tender process, we just thought that a taxi may be the quickest way to Monaco.

Can anyone tell me the price of a taxi for 4 from Villefranche port to Monaco. I know that train or bus are a cheaper option but as we don't arrive in Villefranche until mid-morning plus tender time we want to maximise our time in Monaco.

We don't want a tour just the taxi ride there and I guess we will get a separate one back rather than have the first one pick us up.

Thanks

The port shuttle is now located near (a 2-3 minute walk, 1 street to cross) the Hotel Traghetto which is apparently 1 km from the train station. The shuttle has been temporarily moved because of construction. I don't know how long the construction will last. We boarded our ship on April 29.

Thanks for the information

I have just read that the port shuttle bus now drops off half a mile further from the station - anyone know where it drops off now ?

I have a Drinks Package related question but not the issue being discussed. We have been on Celebrity twice before and had a Premium Drinks Package each time when the Drinks limit price per drink has been $12. This time we are sailing from the UK where I believe the limit price is different because no tip is added (is this correct ?) - can anyone tell me what the drink price limit is on Eclipse from the UK.

Also we have 'free' Classic Package which we will need to upgrade - anyone know how much that will be pp.

Thanks

We were on Azura 2 weeks ago and you can use the Oasis Pool without paying for the Retreat - access is down the stairs from the deck above

Well we are back from Azura 405B and guess what they changed the Dress Codes from 4/4/6 to 4/2/8 and also changed the nights around exactly as the original post from C at Sea said. We had booked speciality restaurants for Jacket nights and had to change them once on board.

I both emailed and phoned P&O to get confirmation on the dress codes 3 days before we left and before buying extra luggage and was assured that it would be 4/4/6.

I have been told by the Front of House Manager on Azura that the 'Dress Code' bible that we all use is designed by Southampton and not used by the ship as they like to fit the dress codes around the entertainment (?) as if that is any consolation to us. I was also told that after complaints it no longer shows which codes are on which nights.

Why can they not all sing from the same song sheet - I have a case open with Southampton to 'discuss' this but I cannot see them refunding my extra luggage allowance.

Both the ships excursions and taxis from Zeebrugge to Bruges are expensive so the shuttle and train is the way to go if you want to save a bit of money and it is a good service.

The walk from Bruges Train Station into the old town is about 15-20 mins so you may want to get a short taxi ride to maximise your time in Bruges. Once there the sights of Bruges are easily doable on foot.

Unless you are last on you should have time to board, get your cabin and then get off and get to the D/F which is about 5 Min. Walk away.

 

You use US dollars.

 

 

Gan Canny

 

 

Dai

 

 

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Think they close about 5PM

I just wish they would stop changing things without notification. Dining times had changed on Oceana last Jan to 6.15 and 8.15 instead of 6.30 and 8.30. We wondered why we were always late to the table!!

Quite agree Sharon, why cannot they not put all the port leaving time, dress codes and dining times in the CP and stick to it. There is always something that changes.

If it is all aboard at 5 and everyone is on, I don't mind leaving then. Scenic sail away rather than in the dark.

 

 

 

 

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It's nicer to leave with a sunset !

a405b

Same cruise as us - we are packing 4/4/6 and hoping for the best. Frustrating isn't it (welcome to P&O !!), it always seems to be like this lately. Last March on Ventura our cruise personaliser said 6 PM leaving all ports and we left everywhere at 5PM. On Oriana in July they altered all the Dress Codes around and we ended up with more casual and less Jacket nights - OK as we went from Soton but with this cruise and the tight luggage allowance they should get it right, don't want to take formal/Jacket wear we don't use.