Cruisemeister2002

Appreciate that. Wasn't sure although must admit I thought that was the case. I think I would find it very difficult to consume 15 drinks a day. In the past have been out with mates and they are consuming their third pint whilst I am still on my first. On a cruise it differs from one day to the next. If it's a sea day and there's football on in one of the lounges we go along, my wife generally reads as I watch the football and she will partake in a Pina Colado, G&T or a cider and I a pint or two. After the afternoon proceedings we go back to the cabin. Have a G&T or Vodka & Tonic whilst getting ready for the evening meal which is usually around 20.30 we then go to a bar and have a pre diner drink. Sometimes we have a bottle of wine, but not always. Once leaving the MDR we usually go to the Theatre for a show. We don't normally drink whilst the show is on. More times than not we then, after the show, make our way back to our cabin. Occasionally we go to see a cabaret and will have another drink. So realistically no more than half a dozen drinks per day, very rarely more, very often less.

Personally, if P&O want people to purchase drinks packages then in my opinion they should be geared to various needs of their passengers. Some as has been indicated believe that a few beers pre dinner, wine with their meal, beers after dinner and a nightcap is what they consume. Some have one, maybe two beers a day, a wine at dinner and unless going to a club maybe don't have any more. Some may not drink at all, but like speciality coffees, mocktails etc. I do think that P&O could be a bit more inventive. Not make so many restrictions on things like doubles, bottles of wine and costs per drink. After all as long as the daily cost isn't exceeded what difference does it make ? Also for those who wouldn't come anywhere near the daily cost why not make a package for two people. Although some would not blink at the daily cost many like myself try and keep spending in check and although I am not saying that my daily limit can't be exceeded I do try to not go too overboard (besides you get wet ). So in essence, please don't feel I am getting at you if like a few bevvies. But I personally, even when cruising, don't have more than two beers a day. I like the occasional scotch and American Dry and am partial to a glass of Port. We have when at dinner stretched a bottle of wine over two nights. But generally we would consume at one diner. So currently wouldn't buy a drinks package.

We must all realise that photographers onboard are exactly that. They take photo's and are probably paid a meagre wage enhanced by sales as with cars, double glazing etc. Many of them are very nice people and if you don't wish to have your photo taken then just decline. I must admit sometime they position themselves where it is difficult to avoid them and it can when you are a bit hot and bothered be annoying. But I feel it's best to politely decline rather than go off on one.

I perfectly understand things like Ports of call being changed due to adverse weather as with places like Bar Harbor for instance where the ship has to use it's tenders to get passengers ashore and Ports like Guernsey which we have missed due to adverse weather. On one occasion and I'm not sure how often this happens we ended up docking at another Port due to the weather conditions. As for cabins this is a different situation. I do not believe for one minute that upgrades are done for the benefit of the customer. They are done to attract those looking to pay less for a lower grade cabin. After all, you very rarely, if at all, get upgraded from an inside to an outside or a balcony unless stated by the cruise lines in their brochure or via an agent. Upgrades that I have received are in my opinion rarely that much better than the chosen cabin and quite often less accessible for amenities. That is why in general we refrain from accepting upgrades. Where a passenger pays for the right to choose a cabin they should unless there are problems that cannot be overcome get what they choose. As for cabins being used to quarantine, they should be designated once plans are finalised for the seasons itinerary for that ship and not be changed around.

I have never bought a drinks package and to me it's a bit like "Supermarket Sweep", buy the drinks package and you feel you have to get your money's worth. When you take say a 14 night cruise, possibly 6 of those will be port days, the location, not the drink. Therefore you are left with 8 sea days. Most people I imagine go ashore and either take in an excursion or venture somewhere themselves. This may take 3,4,5 hours away from the ship, I know a few excursions are virtually all day. Taking this into account are you going to be drinking the best part of £40 worth of booze, coffees or whatever per day. Whilst I don't consider myself a miser I do allocate a certain amount of money per day and when I have a handful of receipts I go through them and make sure I am keeping roughly to my ultimate spend. My wife may purchase a handbag and I a watch. Not always and I guess the next cruise I take I won't be getting any more watches, can't say the same of the wife buying a handbag. I think it's her favourite pastime ? So in essence I won't be buying a drinks package. But that doesn't mean others won't. Must admit I am not quite sure, bearing in mind it's £39 + per day whether you can carry over part of this to the following day or whether that's it and if you don't spend the one day allowance it's lost. Do feel you should be able to get a bottle of wine at dinner on this allowance as long as it doesn't put you over the monetary limit.

At a time when although we are aware cruise lines need to make up for two years of lost revenue. You would think bearing in mind what is happening in this Country and what is about to happen come the winter that they would sharpen up on their desire to make cruises everything they purport them to be. No good coming on a video and proclaiming you have been on several ships recently and are appreciative of those loyal customers to P&O and then doing basically the opposite by alienating travellers by not making their cruise a once in a lifetime experience even if they are having their lifetime experience on a regular basis. As with any form of holiday there's always another option. We cruise again, God willing, next year and we hope the experience is just as good as before. After all our money is just as good as before.

I'm no expert in this. But would think that if they advertise "Select Price = Choice of Cabin Number" Then they have to give you what you have chosen. Alternatively, if they have a clause in this due to covid, which I doubt they have, then you should be entitled to choose another Cabin. Falling that you should get some sort of compensation such as a bit of OBC.

can honestly say Pompei is highly recommended. Did it a few years ago and thought it was amazing. Plenty of walking though and astounding to see how advanced they were for so long ago. Funnily enough the last time we visited Civitevechia for trips to Rome as we had been to Rome before we stay in Civitevechia. Sometimes it pays to not go on trips, but to venture locally.

I think your attitude is spot on. I am not so concerned with leaving money for the kiddlewinks, all grown up now of course with kids of their own. Hopefully they will have the house split between them which will be far more than my dear father left me. I can't afford hugely expensive cruises but I do go on a 35 night cruise next year we booked for this not last year but the year before and both times we ended up not being able to go for one reason or another. We generally go for an inside as we like to spend our money on other things rather than the cabin as we just see this as somewhere to sleep, get dressed and shower. Obviously shower first and get dressed afterward. With regards to my Grandchildren I put money in my Daughter's account for them every month and bought my Granddaughter a car a couple of years ago. If they have been in trouble financially I have helped them out as best I can.

Must have been misled. Thought the Captains name was Speaking. As they always say "This is your Captain Speaking "

It may be cheaper to put the central heating to frost free and go on a cruise for a couple of months after all even if you go to cold ports of call you'll be warm in your cabin and obviously if it's hot you won't need heating at all and what's better than sitting on deck cocktail in hand, fish and chips and a burger or pizza available or a light lunch in the buffet or a 4 course meal in the MD ?

I suppose Azura and Ventura will take over the Atlantic cruises. Neither of which I prefer to Aurora or Oriana. Oriana has obviously departed and Aurora must be close to going as is 22 years old and obviously ships of that age and capacity are more expensive to run than one running on LNG such as Iona and Arvia. I must admit the itineraries of both these ships don't fill me with excitement. One seems to go mainly to the Fiords and the other has the Med with the same itinerary month after month. Whether this is due to the availability of LNG or the size of these ships I don't know. It has been said that certain ports of call are out of bounds to this size of ship. Which again leads me to question the necessity for vessels of this size especially when comments have been made with regards to the facilities afforded by P&O on these ships stating that they don't for their size have what Royal Caribbean have. It does seem to an extent they are caught between a rock and a hard place as to whether to cater for old fogies such as myself or the younger generation. They are clearly putting off some of the older clientele with larger ships whilst not appealing to the younger generation by not having all the bells and whistles on the new ships.

I was viewing P&O's itinerary for 2024 and Aurora and Arcadia are cruising to Canada and the US in September of that year. Sadly it must be said that the chances of her going much beyond then must be limited as Oriana has gone and she was four years older than Aurora. A lovely ship who we have had many very good cruises on along with Oriana. As I stated, I'd love P&O to at least bring in two more ships with around 2,000 passenger capacity as I would rather sail on one with 2,000 passengers than one with 5,000+ . I currently have a cruise booked on Iona for next year, but would prefer Arcadia (which incidentally we haven't been on) in Sept 2024 USA and Canada 30 night. God willing.

I am glad to see that P&O are now doing 30 night cruises to America and Canada taking in two days at Boston and three in New York, definitely needed. Have been to Egypt and Turkey (Istanbul) and would like to revisit. Cannot fly so many cruises are not on the itinerary. I would like to go on the 30 nighter to American and Canada and although it's not until 2024 on Arcadia it had gone up considerable as I have a cruise booked next year 35 nights on Ventura inside cabin at £6,200 and the 30 nighter on Arcadia again inside is £8000 +.

I think it depends on what is regarded as small. I would say a small ship holds about 700 passengers. Most of these tend to be top end cruise ships with top end prices. P&O I would suggest never had or have had problems filling Aurora, Oriana or Oceana all around 1800-1900 passengers which nowadays I suppose is either classed a medium or small because many are now coming in at 5,000+. Maybe and I class myself as one of them we view small ships around 1800 passengers. Beside P&O no longer have Victoria (Formerly Sea Princess), Artemis or Adonia and I presume there's no plan to bring ships of their size back into the fleet. Though I would love to see them bring in similar size replacements for Oriana and Oceana and when she does retire, Aurora.

Have seen a few tribute bands and individuals. Annie Lennox on Ventura, Whitney Houston, Freddie Mercury all very good. Going past one of the lounges a few years ago and two guys who were excellent opera singers past me by I said "Your the two fivers are you" ? They laughed and carried on into the lounge.

Met up with a "Middle of the road group" once. Sadly they all got run over.

I suppose we are like many cruisers. First cruise you buy anything and everything then you realise how expensive they are and do you really want someone taking a photo of yourself when you have been up since the crack of dawn feeling hot and dishevelled only for someone to say " Let's see a nice smile" when all you feel like is to sit in the bar and have a quiet drink and unwind a bit. We still on rare occasions buy a couple of photo's and because I purchase an Ultimate Package part of this is a Formal Photo in frame. The only downside to that is you notice how much older you look from the last time.

Kids seem pretty cheap to me.(7s6d) Don't need any though as I have four of my own and 8 Grandkids . Showing my age with old pounds and pence. No offence meant.

We, that's myself and the wife have been on 16 cruises so far. 15 of them with P&O and although a bit long in the tooth compared to yourselves it can be quite amazing how the enjoyment of one cruise is different to another. Like the old saying goes " You never forget your first time " not sure that related to cruising, but never mind. You get my drift. Some ships seem to have it and some don't and really it's personal choice. We have loved Oriana, Aurora and even Artemis. We liked Britannia and Azura. Didn't enjoy Oceana or Adonia and wasn't as keen on Ventura as we were on Azura although very similar. We adored Victoria, our first cruise. As I put in an album " A true Queen " Many would totally disagree with our assessment of these ships. Iona is obviously pretty new and we look forward to cruising on her next year. But as a fellow shipmate has pointed out it really does depend on what you found good on one ship and poor on another.

The only Penthouse I've ever had was on the top shelf in a newsagents and that was a long time ago.

Does moving with the times mean we have to enjoy dodgem cars, wall climbing, water slides and zip wires. Oh course it doesn't but sadly I think the days of cruising for the older generation means either putting up with lots of things that past cruises we enjoyed we had have finished. Whilst you will still be able to read and relax I fear that Formal nights and set dining times may become a thing of the past. That will of course depend on how many people in their 30's, 40's and 50's rebel enough and insist on certain things remaining. But having cruised since 2002 and I expect many who cruised way before then have noticed how things we took for granted are either no longer available or you have to pay extra for them. Drinking chocolate and sandwiches late evening, little bags with toiletries in them, chocoholics in the MD, free tours of the Bridge ( Not Stamford) and galley, steaks as a separate item, not on the menu, but you could ask for one if there wasn't anything on the menu you liked. Vegetables served at the table and as much as you liked. Sailed on Oceana, Oriana and Aurora all fond memories. Aurora is still going and has cruises up to 2024 I believe. Oriana was about 4 years older than Aurora so as you say she can't have many years left. My hope is they bring in a couple of ships of a similar size, but have my doubts they will.

Had a couple of upgrades in the 16 cruises we have taken, but in honesty couldn't tell the difference. Just waiting to book an inside and get upgraded to a suite with butler and a couple of grand OBC. Oops, just woke up from my dream. Nowadays we usually pay the Select price, pick a cabin and don't request to have an upgrade because the cabin we have chosen is the one we want to be in and as I say I haven't seen a significant difference when supposedly upgraded and in honesty don't think there is.

Sounds like P&O are turning into a subsidiary of DVLA with their lengths of time to refund road tax and not paying the days left, only full months, then if you have to take out road tax for another vehicle even if you only have a few days left until the end of the month you have to pay for the whole month. When in the past I have had an excursion cancelled either because of lack of passengers wishing to take that particular one or through a port being missed altogether refunds have been almost immediate. Perhaps like the DVLA you will have to wait 4-6 weeks and then get paid by cheque ?

Oh where have you been ? I want you back for good.