Cruisemeister2002

I recently purchased 100 Carnival shares. Apparently you have to show proof of ownership at least six weeks prior to a cruise. I bought the shares through Hargreaves Lansdown and they have said they will confirm Carnival (P&O) before I cruise. It is annoying, but then how do they know without proof that you still have the shares as I had 100 some time ago made a couple of hundred on them (Could have been £500, but the wife put me off selling) and as I say have recently purchased 100 as i have a couple of cruises next year and it will be £300 onboard for an outlay of £700 and I will still have the shares and hopefully more OBC. Good luck anyway.

Reading through the various replies to this topic my opinion for what it's worth is that those that don't cruise probably still won't cruise. Those that do cruise may over the next year or so have a very good choice as to where and with whom they travel. Me and the wife have done 17 cruises, 16 of them with P&O. Are they the best ? possibly not and my concern for the future is as a cruise line in which direction they are heading. We have seen a distinct lowering of the level of service since we started cruising in 2002. Staff in the main are polite and do their best. Our cruises have encompass many Countries from the US to Egypt, the Ukraine to Istanbul and although many thousands of pounds later when I could have had a better car or a bigger house or now a bungalow if it wasn't for the reasonable prices P&O charge for their cruises I doubt whether we would have been to a quarter of the places and met the very good crew and fellow passengers we have. As far as Iona and Arvia are concerned I hope to try both. I loved Oriana and although she's in her 20's now Aurora. I know the theme is for bigger and bigger but I'd still like to see a couple of ships join the P&O fleet of a similar size to Oriana and Aurora.

Well not being the fittest I flagged after a couple of circuits of the deck so from my point of view they are all flag ships. Good job there's a nice sunbed or cabin to have a snooze in the afternoon but I tend to make that noise like a pig and wake myself up.

Would imagine that it will be as with other flagships they grab the best staff from other ships. May be a bit more difficult as it appears from fellow shipmates on this forum that on most cruises at present some amenities aren't available because of lack of staff. It won't really pay for P&O to nick staff from other ships making them even more understaffed as the revues they receive aren't going to be pleasant reading as after all whichever ship you are sailing on you deserve the same level of service.

Great review. Thanks. We, that's me and the wife sailed on Ventura some years ago and although my slight preference is Azura as I wasn't keen on watching footie whilst trying to see through people stopping in the thoroughfare that ran through the sports lounge. Not sure if it's changed since then ? Perhaps a recent traveller could fill me in. We are due on Ventura early part of next year and can't wait as we last sailed in September 2018. I don't say I am scared to try other cruise lines as out of 17 cruises 16 have been with P&O it's just that from what I have deduced Cunard are too stuffy, Carnival and Virgin too razzamatazz, Saga too expensive, although we are considering trying them, Princess we tried and whilst entertainment excellent and the food was good unfortunately loads of fish on the menu so wife ended up with steak every night and she doesn't like baked Alaska with runny meringue. Not sure about Ambassador cruises, ships are pretty old and some of the other lines don't sail from Southampton and seeing as the wife can't fly it rules a few out.

Tried that but apparently they don't understand Morse code on ships nowadays.

Water ?

We loved Oriana and sailed on her on her last season. I have been on most of P&O ships except Arcadia and Iona. We are due to sail on Ventura and Iona next year. That will be our first cruise since 2018 as we have had one on Ventura cancelled in 2021 due to Covid and one which we cancelled due to an itinerary change in February this year which was due to call in at New Orleans, Key West, Miami and Port Canaveral but these were all dispensed with and another stop in the Azores and another Caribbean island put in place. I also understand from another writer on this forum that one or other of Belize or Roatan was also missed therefore rather more sea days than we liked. P&O did however give the option of a pretty good increase in OBC or total refund or to transfer to another cruise which is what we did.

Sorry, not meaning to say you are old. We didn't start cruising until 2002 and it was Portunas then and the way P.O.S.H. Club was spoken about by those in that club sounded like it was quite a few years earlier. Besides I am nearly 72 and sometimes feel it and sometimes don't. It was said, but some dispute this that P.O.S.H. meant Port Out Starboard Home ? Obviously the current Peninsular Club name comes from Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company or P&O as we now know it.

Our second cruise was on Sea Princess which funnily enough took the name of our first cruise ship Victoria formerly being Sea Princess. Before that it was the Kungsholm and after P&O sold it the Mona Lisa. It would have been around 2003 we sailed on the Sea Princess and I'm pretty sure you got half the number of points towards what was the Portunas Club, now the Peninsular Club as part of the Carnival group. More regular older sailors would remember the P.O.S.H. Club but this was before we started sailing.

She only on loan, you never Ona.

Never fancied a Virgin cruise. They don't go all the way.

P&O IT system as follows She Her It To be confirmed ?

Oh dear. I hope some of these thing are going to return as interaction with the crew, Steward, Bar staff and Officers was always part and parcel of a good cruise. Will miss the chocolates, not because they were so good but we saved them and took them home to the Grandchildren. The first cruise we went on with P&O was on the Victoria, a small but lovely traditional style ship rather than the block of flats ships that are built today. We went to the Canary Islands and Madeira and as we sailed into port we had a running commentary by a fella by the name of David who did a super job. I do believe that not only is the itinerary important but also those you sit with at dinner. Cruises are the whole package, itinerary, food, drink, fellow passengers, crew, ship entertainment. In order to make the holiday one to remember you need, in my humble opinion, all these to align. It's a bit like a cake, leave two of three ingredients out and you end up with something bland and inedible.

I would imagine the Captains name was " Speaking" as they always say this is your Captain speaking ?

You would need to hold 100 shares. There are varying degree on OBC, 6 days or less £30, 7-13 days £60 and 14 days or more £150. Whoever hold your shares will need to inform P&O of your holding as someone could buy 100 shares, sell them and then tell P&O that they hold 100. Hargreaves Lansdown say they will do it for me. But in order to get the OBC via this method you must have informed them 4 weeks prior to sailing.

Don't know how far back your going with the drinks situation. But I found that the G&T's had probably missed out the G and the wine was pretty good for clearing the plug hole in your cabin sink. Still I suppose it made you feel wanted to an extent and I can understand due to Covid why they don't have mass gatherings amongst crew and passengers. Even so you would think they could at least give a voucher for a proper G&T, Beer or a Scotch and Dry.

Is anyone of the same opinion as myself that I would rather pay a bit more for some decent food on a excursion than be shuffled into somewhere and given in all honest pretty poor stuff dished up. I remember several years ago on an excursion with a guide who described himself as "Herman the German" we were shuffle along to this restaurant where the food was pretty poor. But that was only us. Other people who had either booked or turned up seemed to have very nice food. Added to this we were rushed away and didn't have time for coffee, although maybe that was a blessing ? Another time we were in Quebec and we went to Montmorency Falls amongst a few stops. One stop was a cabin with a couple of scarecrows on the front veranda this was our meal venue. One of the people from off our ship had to point out to them that we were entitled to a drink, alcoholic or otherwise as I do believe if he hadn't said anything we probably wouldn't have got a drink.

I feel that it is a knife edge situation, just as our economy is currently. Everyone is increasing prices but finding less takers for their goods. If by increasing prices you price people out of cruising you may get more money per head but fewer customers. Whilst it may be an insignificance to yourself charging £2.50 for breakfast in your cabin some who would like that service may think on a long cruise it's too much. I personal am not concerned as we either go to the MDR or if for whatever reason we get up later we go to the buffet area. My point wasn't to do with the cost it was the point of being able to get something you had to pay for and not getting something you didn't based loosely on the amount of contact with a steward, whether your own or one responsible for delivering breakfast. I am also not concerned that turndowns aren't being done. I suppose as someone said it's lack of staff.

"The Lost City" Sounds like some of the Captains me and the wife have sailed with.

Bit painful isn't it ?

You are right. They have been bouncing around like a small yacht in the Bay of Biscay. Don't think we will see £40 or £50 per share for many years. But can see them rising from the depths that they are now. People such as ourselves will always want to get away. It would make me a tad more comfortable if there wasn't more negative than positive comments with regards to P&O when it comes to venues on ships being closed due to lack of staff. I also question why they can offer breakfast in your cabin, but charge you £2.50 a time, but can't do a turndown. If a turndown is not done due to them reducing contact with passengers then surely by offering breakfast or any type of food in your cabin involves contact unless they've sawn the bottom of the doors off and slide it under ?

Sounds like he thought you were the Bouncer maybe ?

Very doubtful you ever have a faultless cruise. A cruise is made of many more things than just the ship. I have been on a few old tugs and had wonderful cruises. It is made up of the company you keep, the atmosphere, the entertainment, shore days, staff, food and drink and what you actually make it. If your attitude before you go is I'm going to enjoy this cruise then you most likely will. If on the other hand you view it with trepidation, chances are you won't. Whilst I appreciate that staff can only be in one place at once I do think that it is a bit naff that all venues aren't open. But as I say, we must make the most of it as if and when we cruise we are lucky in this climate to be able to afford the luxury of this form of holiday and to visit places some can only dream about. I have been to New York four times and if lucky enough I will go again especially as they are now stopping off for three day's. Last time, now in my 70's I did too much in the two day's. We did the Natural History Museum, then on to Times Square and then walked to Macy's which someone told us was just a short walk. The following day we went to the Hamptons. All very nice, but I need to pace myself more.

She must be enchanted ?